US08767614B2

A buffer information report can be sent to a system station from a node for relaying communications between at least one user station and the system station. The report is generated based on a report format used for uplink reporting by a user station. An indication is also sent to the system station that the node for relaying has different buffering capabilities than the user station. At the system station the buffering capabilities of the node for relaying can be determined based on the buffer information report and the indication. Communications between the system station and the node for relaying can then be controlled accordingly.
US08767594B2

The present invention relates to a mixer for signals at different frequencies comprising a network of diodes formed by a pair of diodes mounted in an anti-parallel manner, the first linking point of the diodes being connected to the ground, the second linking point being connected to the ports of transmission/reception signal paths and to the port of a local oscillator path at different frequencies. An impedance matching network for dual-mode use is connected in series in the diode network between the first linking point connected to the ground and the anode of one of the diodes of the diode network. A filtering network is connected between the second linking point and each of the ports of the transmission/reception paths and of the local oscillator path.
US08767593B1

This invention relates to a conferencing and data collaboration operation and management system and method and, more particularly, to a managing, system and method for scheduling, monitoring and controlling of audio and video communication and data collaboration.
US08767592B1

The illustrative embodiments described herein provide improved systems and methods for conferencing enterprise and non-enterprise callers. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first call initiated by an enterprise caller at an enterprise, communicating with an enterprise media server to initiate a tributary conference on the enterprise media server, joining the enterprise caller to the tributary conference such that the enterprise caller is in data communication with the tributary conference, receiving a second call initiated by a non-enterprise caller via a public switched telephone network, interfacing the non-enterprise caller with a data center media server, creating a home conference on the data center media center, joining the second call to the home conference, and interfacing the home conference on the data center media server to the tributary conference on the enterprise media server to form a linked conference between the enterprise caller and the non-enterprise caller.
US08767590B2

The present invention discloses a multimedia conference system and method that enables peer-to-peer communication between private network and the Internet. The multimedia conference system and method that enables direct peer-to-peer communication between private network and the Internet includes: a plurality of user agents (to receive call requests) constituting a local network; a calling terminal positioned outside the local network and connected to the local network via Internet; a network address translation (NAT) positioned on the gate of the local network as barrier between the calling terminal and the user agent, and a SIP Proxy Server positioned between the calling terminal and private network and logically installed in parallel with said NAT to receive session initiation protocol messages transmitted from the calling terminal, connect, and transmit IP addresses, so as to send the message to specific User Agent(s).
US08767586B2

Methods, systems, and products simulate a topology of a residential home network. The residential home network has a residential gateway and one or more devices communicating with the residential gateway. Each device is queried by the residential gateway for configuration and performance data. A simulated view of a topology of the residential home network is then generated.
US08767585B2

Methods and apparatus for random access in multicarrier wireless communications are disclosed. Methods and apparatus are provided for physical random access channel (PRACH) resource signaling, PRACH resource handling, preamble and PRACH resource selection, random access response (RAR) reception, preamble retransmission, and transmission and reception of subsequent messages. A method for maintaining an allowed multicarrier uplink (UL) random access channel (RACH) configuration set by adding an UL carrier to the allowed RACH configuration set provided that a triggering event occurs and performing a random access (RA) procedure using the allowed RACH configuration set. A method for sending data in multicarrier wireless communications by determining a set of available UL carriers and selecting an UL carrier from the set of available UL carriers.
US08767584B2

A method and apparatus for analyzing mobile services delivery to provide a coherent, path-based awareness of the mobile services and the corresponding underlying transport elements supporting each service or path. In various embodiments, configuration information, status information and connections information associated with elements within a network such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network are used to help infer or determine the connections between network elements to be managed.
US08767583B2

A network resource allocating method for a residential gateway includes the following steps. A first downlink bandwidth is allocated to a residential gateway for process of a first service. A second downlink bandwidth is allocated to the residential gateway for process of a second service. A processing priority of the first service is higher than a processing priority of the second service. A first downlink rate of the residential gateway is detected when the residential gateway processes the first service. A second downlink rate of the residential gateway is detected when the residential gateway processes the second service. A bandwidth usage state of the residential gateway is determined according to the first and the second downlink rates. The second downlink bandwidth of the residential gateway is adjusted according to the bandwidth usage state such that the quality of service (QoS) of the first service or the second service is enhanced.
US08767581B2

A method for measurement reporting is described. A measurement configuration is received from an evolved NodeB (eNB). The measurement configuration includes a single measurement object in a carrier frequency. A measurement report for a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) is generated based on the measurement configuration. The measurement report is sent to the eNB.
US08767580B2

Methods and systems for managing resources in femtocells are disclosed. One method includes transmitting at least one frame including a first zone of resources on which a set of base stations including at least one femtocell base station and base stations that are adjacent to the femtocell base station implement transmission of signals to impose interference. The one or more frames further includes a second zone dedicated for measuring throughput of mobile stations served by the femtocell base station without interference. The mobile stations are categorized by determining throughputs of the mobile stations with interference based on the transmission of signals on the first zone. Resources of at least one additional frame are configured based on the categorization. Further, the additional frame(s) are transmitted in a cell of the femtocell base station in accordance with the configuration.
US08767570B2

Methods and apparatuses for indicating status of radio resources in a wireless network are provided. A requesting device transmits a resource request on a first radio channel to a responding device. The resource request includes a request to reserve the first radio channel between the requesting device and the responding device. The responding device transmits a resource response on the first radio channel in response to the resource request. The resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the requesting device.
US08767568B2

The invention refers to a method for scheduling traffic in a communication channel of a mobile communications network which detects small sized data bursts and prioritizes their transmission. The detection is performed by comparison with two thresholds, one being an indicator of the instantaneous size of the data burst and the second one being related to the size of said data burst along a given period of time.The invention is also related to a network scheduler comprising means for carrying out the above method.
US08767567B1

A wireless communication system uses a series of repeating overhead time cycles that each comprise a plurality of time slots. The system exchanges overhead information with wireless communication devices during individual time slots. The communication system wirelessly receives a registration request for wireless communication service from a wireless communication device. The communication system processes loading information for the overhead time cycles or a quality of service level of the wireless communication device to assign the wireless communication device to one of the overhead time cycles. The communication system wirelessly indicates the assigned overhead time cycle to the wireless communication device. The communication device monitors the overhead time slots during the assigned one of the overhead time cycles and does not monitor the overhead time slots during the not assigned overhead time cycles.
US08767564B2

A field communication system may perform wireless communication with field devices. The field communication system may include a connection allowing unit that determines whether or not to allow a connection to the field device by referring a field device list, the field device list listing tag names related to the field devices, an address issuance unit that automatically issues a communication address for the field device if the connection allowing unit allows the connection with the field device, an address management unit that establishes correspondences between the communication addresses and the tag names of the field devices by using the field device list, and a communication unit that transmits data to the field device designated by the tag name, the communication unit receiving the data transmitted from the field device, the data being used to control the field device designated by the tag name.
US08767563B2

This invention relates to a system and method of monitoring, by establishing end to end loopback testing across one or more networks with dissimilar transport technologies. The system allows for connection in loopback mode from a standard interface on a test device to a media adaptor located on an IP-based access network, such as a standard multimedia terminal adapter (“MTA”). End-to-End Quality of service delivered over the transmit and receive path can thus be monitored. Loopback tests are initiated from designated endpoints on the network and made operational by attaching a tag to a telephone number, to allow the gateway to signal connection mode to a call agent. The system and method overcome certain inherent limitations of the MGCP/NCS architecture.
US08767552B2

A wireless transmission system identifies priorities of data units and changes at least one of the physical transmission rates of the bits of the data unit, the order of transmission of the data units; and the number of retransmission attempts of the data units based on their individual priorities.
US08767551B2

Methods and systems for managing the actions that are applied to packet flows by packet processing systems. A packet processing system maintains a flow table, i.e., a list of active flows and respective actions to be applied to the flows. The system classifies each incoming packet into a respective flow, and processes the packet in accordance with the action that is specified for this flow in the flow table. Typically, the system deletes a packet flow from the flow table when it becomes inactive, e.g., when no packets belonging to the flow arrive within a certain time-out period.
US08767550B2

The disclosure provides a method for improving a service restoration speed in a transmission network, comprising: in a service set-up process, the PCE receives a route computation request including restoration attributes and constraint conditions from a Path Computation Client (PCC), and computes and saves the restoration routes available for the service according to the constraint conditions; and, when receiving the restoration route computation request for the service from the PCC, the PCE selects a route from the restoration routes locally saved and available for the service according to the selection conditions included in the restoration route computation request and sends it to the PCC which restores the service by the received route. The disclosure further provides a PCE.
US08767546B2

In a wireless network environment, techniques for traffic load management and transmission retry management assist a node to regulate network bandwidth consumed by one or more applications operating on the node, and assist the node to retransmit failed packets. Each of several software applications operating on the node may be prioritized. The prioritized applications will each receive a contention window appropriate to the priority of the application, which enforces an amount of bandwidth available to the application. In the event that a packet sent by the node fails to be acknowledged by a recipient, a retry algorithm may be utilized. The retry algorithm may use input including link quality and traffic density to adjust or maintain the contention window and/or retry count.
US08767542B2

Egress of data packets from a packet switch is controlled in a manner that involves adjusting the shaper accumulators only when a packet egress event or accumulator credit threshold event occurs. A timeline having a number of timeslots is maintained in a memory to mark the times at which events are predicted to occur. If an egress event occurs, in which one or more data packets have been sent from a queue, or if the current timeslot contains a marker, then a count stored in an accumulator is adjusted. If an egress event has occurred or a threshold event in which a count stored in an accumulator has crossed a threshold has occurred, then a marker is stored in a future timeslot.
US08767533B2

A communication network apparatus and method for routing communication signals from a source device to a receiving device. The apparatus performs only local processing on communication signals to thereby increase the speed of processing the signals. A plurality of the processing nodes is combined into a plurality of sub-networks that comprise the network apparatus. Each processing node of a sub-network need only process address information pertaining to the node's current layer, one layer above it, if any, and one layer below it, if any. Additionally, each processing node has associated communication signal frequencies/wavelengths that identify the processing node as the intended recipient of the communication signal.
US08767530B2

A communications network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising sending a fault message including degradation data, wherein the degradation data indicates a bandwidth reduction associated with a partial fault is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a fault message comprising degradation data associated with a fault, determining whether an available bandwidth is less than a bandwidth reserved for a plurality of connections associated with the fault, and modifying the bandwidth reserved for the connections if the available bandwidth is less than the bandwidth reserved for the connection.
US08767523B1

Method, apparatus, and data packet format to implement transmit diversity in a multicarrier environment is disclosed. For diversity transmission operations, space frequency encoding techniques are employed creating distinguishable first and second time domain signals from a multicarrier frequency domain symbol bearing data of interest, which are then broadcast in parallel over first and second transmission units respectively. For diversity reception operations, complementary space frequency decoding is used to recover a corrected multicarrier frequency domain symbol from a time domain signal containing either this symbol, a space frequency modified symbol based on the multicarrier symbol, or a possible partial/complete combination of both. The data packet format includes portions defining a transmission diversity semaphore, a preamble enabling training of a receiver receiving the data packet, and a payload.
US08767517B2

Disclosed is a library device in which the space to enlarge the magazine can be secured to the rear side of the library device.The library device includes power supply means for supplying electricity to the library device, medium housing means which can house a plurality of computer-readable media, medium reading/writing means for reading/writing data from/to the medium, medium conveying means for conveying the medium between the medium housing means and the medium reading/writing means, control means for controlling operation of the library device and first connection means to which the power supply means and the control means can be electrically connected when these means are installed and from which the power supply means and the control means can be disconnected when these means are extracted. The power supply means, the first connection means, and the control means are disposed along any one of two sides of the library device, and one of the first connection means is disposed between the power supply means and the control means and whereby, the first connection means is connected to the power supply means and the control means.
US08767512B2

Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) arrays and techniques for frequency shaping in pMUT arrays are described, for example to achieve both high frequency and low frequency operation in a same device. The ability to operate at both high and low frequencies may be tuned during use of the device to adaptively adjust for optimal resolution at a particular penetration depth of interest. In embodiments, various sizes of piezoelectric membranes are fabricated for tuning resonance frequency across the membranes. The variously sized piezoelectric membranes are lumped together by two or more separate electrode rails, enabling independent addressing between the two or more subgroups of sized transducer elements. Signal processing of the drive and/or response signals generated and/or received from each of the two or more electrode rails may achieve a variety of operative modes for the device, such as a near field mode, a far field mode, and an ultra wide bandwidth mode.
US08767500B2

A buffer circuit includes a pull-up element configured to pull-up drive a first node through which an output signal is outputted, in response to an input signal; a first voltage control element configured to reduce a voltage of the first node and set a voltage of a second node in a standby mode; and a pull-down element configured to pull-down drive the second node in response to the input signal.
US08767499B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a random address generation unit configured to receive a multi-bit source address and generate a multi-bit random address and a signal mixing unit configured to mix the multi-bit random address with a data, wherein the random address generation unit has a plurality of transmission lines configured to electrically connect the plurality of input terminals respectively corresponding to bits of the source address and the plurality of output terminals respectively corresponding to bits of the random address in one-to-one correspondence regardless of an order of the bits of the source address.
US08767498B2

A circuit includes a fuse circuit and a control circuit. The fuse circuit has an electrical fuse. The control circuit is configured to receive an input signal having an input pulse, and, based on a feedback signal from the fuse circuit, generates a read pulse smaller than the input pulse for use in reading the data stored in the electrical fuse.
US08767495B2

A memory includes an I/O unit that is shared between multiple storage arrays. The shared I/O unit provides output data from the arrays. The memory includes an isolation unit connected between each storage array and the shared I/O unit. In addition, each of the storage arrays and the shared I/O unit may be connected to a separate switched voltage domain through for example, power gating circuits. If one or more of the storage arrays is placed in retention or low-voltage mode, the isolation units that are coupled to the affected storage arrays may be configured to isolate the bitlines of those storage arrays from the shared I/O data paths.
US08767494B2

A wordline tracking circuit and corresponding method are disclosed, and include a tracking wordline having an impedance characteristic associated therewith that models a row of memory cells in a memory device, wherein the tracking wordline has a near end that receives a wordline pulse signal having a near end rising pulse edge and a near end falling pulse edge. The tracking wordline also has a far end. A tracking cell component is coupled to the far end of the tracking wordline that receives the wordline pulse signal. Lastly, the circuit includes a tracking bitline pre-charge circuit coupled to the tracking cell that is configured to pre-charge a tracking bitline associated with the tracking cell using the near end wordline pulse signal.
US08767487B2

Some embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods that operate to apply a first value of a drain select gate voltage during a first portion of a programming time period associated with programming a plurality of memory cells, and to apply a second value of the drain select gate voltage different from the first value during a second, subsequent portion of the programming time period. The drain select gate voltage may be changed between groups of programming pulses in a single programming cycle. The first and second portions may be determined according to the number of applied programming pulses, the number of memory cells that have been completely programmed, and/or other conditions. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08767479B2

A semiconductor memory device using a termination scheme in a global data line includes a global data line and a data line drive unit. The global data line transfers data between an interface region and a plurality of core regions each having a memory bank. The data line drive unit is disposed in each of the core regions, and drives the data global line in response to data in a data transfer operation. The data line drive unit sets the global data line to a termination voltage level in a termination operation.
US08767478B2

For data erase from an electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory cell, the following operations are performed: an erase operation to apply an erase pulse voltage to a memory cell for data erase, an erase verify operation to verify whether data erase is completed, and a step-up operation to increase the erase pulse voltage by a certain step-up voltage if data erase is not completed. A control unit controls voltages so that at least a first erase pulse voltage initially generated in the erase operation has a longer rise time than that of a second erase pulse voltage generated subsequent to the first erase pulse voltage.
US08767477B2

A non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a memory cell array and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a repeat of an erase operation, an erase verify operation, and a step-up operation. The control unit is configured to perform a soft-programming operation of setting the memory cells from an over-erased state to a first threshold voltage distribution state when, in a series of erase operations, the number of erase voltage applications is more than a first number and less than a second number (the first number
US08767473B2

In a method of multiple-bit programming of a three-dimensional memory device having arrays of memory cells that extend in horizontal and vertical directions relative to a substrate, the method comprises first programming a memory cell to be programmed to one among a first set of states. At least one neighboring memory cell that neighbors the memory cell to be programmed to one among the first set of states is then first programmed. Following the first programming of the at least one neighboring memory cell, second programming the memory cell to be programmed to one among a second set of states, wherein the second set of states has a number of states that is greater than the number of states in the first set of states.
US08767472B2

Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having memory cells coupled in series and a module to cause an application of voltages with at least three different values to gates of the memory cells during an operation to retrieve information stored in at least one of the memory cells. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US08767469B2

A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device includes performing a LSB program operation on memory cells coupled to a selected word line and a word line adjacent to the selected word line; performing a first MSB program operation so that the threshold voltages of the memory cells coupled to the selected word line reach temporary voltages lower than first target voltages; performing a second MSB program operation so that the threshold voltages of the memory cells coupled to the word line adjacent to the selected word line are higher than second target voltages; and performing a third MSB program operation so that the threshold voltages of the memory cells coupled to the selected word line are higher than the first target voltages.
US08767460B2

A plurality of element isolation insulating films are formed in a semiconductor substrate in a memory cell array and have a first direction as a long direction. A plurality of element formation regions are formed isolated by the element isolation insulating films. A memory string is formed in each of the element formation regions. A plurality of element formation region groups are each configured by the element formation regions. In a memory cell array, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a spacing between the element formation region groups is configured larger than a spacing between the element formation regions in each of the element formation region groups. A control circuit executes a write operation on the memory cell array on an element formation region group basis.
US08767457B2

An apparatus is disclosed for a memory cell having a floating body. A memory cell may include a transistor over an insulation layer, the transistor including a source, and a drain. The memory cell may also include a floating body including a first region positioned between the source and the drain, a second region positioned remote from each of the source and drain, and a passage extending through the insulation layer and coupling the first region to the second region. Additionally, the memory cell may include a bias gate at least partially surrounding the second region and configured for operably coupling to a bias voltage. Furthermore, the memory cell may include a plurality of dielectric layers, wherein each outer vertical surface of the second region has a dielectric layer of the plurality adjacent thereto.
US08767449B2

A memory device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an in-bit current limiter including a voltage controlled negative differential resistance (VC-NDR) layer in electrical contact with the first conductive layer and a memristor element in electrical contact with the VC-NDR layer and the second conductive layer. A method for programming a memory device that comprises a VC-NDR device is also provided.
US08767442B2

A semiconductor device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and there is no limitation on the number of writing operations is provided. A semiconductor device is formed using a material which can sufficiently reduce the off-state current of a transistor, such as an oxide semiconductor material that is a wide-gap semiconductor. When a semiconductor material which can sufficiently reduce the off-state current of a transistor is used, the semiconductor device can hold data for a long period. In addition, by providing a capacitor or a noise removal circuit electrically connected to a write word line, a signal such as a short pulse or a noise input to a memory cell can be reduced or removed. Accordingly, a malfunction in which data written into the memory cell is erased when a transistor in the memory cell is instantaneously turned on can be prevented.
US08767440B2

An addressing scheme for non-volatile memory arrays having short circuit defects that manages the demand for error correction. The scheme generally avoids simultaneous active driving of the row line and column line of the selected cell during write. Instead, only a single row or column line is actively driven at any one time and all other array lines are left floating. In addition, the number of memory cells accessed from a given row or column during a fetch may be limited. The benefits of the scheme include preventing short circuits from drawing excess currents through the array and limiting the frequency of read or write failures caused by short circuits to a manageable number. In one embodiment, the scheme maintains the demand for error correction to within the error correction capability of a flash controller. Exemplary embodiments include phase-change memory arrays.
US08767434B2

An e-fuse array circuit includes: an e-fuse transistor of a vertical gate type configured to have a gate for receiving a voltage of a program gate line and have one between a drain terminal and a source terminal floating; and a selection transistor of a buried gate type configured to have a gate for receiving a voltage of a word line gate line and electrically connect/disconnect the other one between the drain terminal and the source terminal with a bit line.
US08767426B2

A matrix converter control apparatus includes three AC switches each including a first and a second switching elements connected in series. The first and the second switching devices each: have a first terminal, a second terminal, and a gate terminal; pass a current between the first terminal and the second terminal when a first voltage which is a voltage of the gate terminal with reference to a voltage of the first terminal is higher than a threshold voltage; interrupt a current flowing from the second terminal to the first terminal when the first voltage is lower than the threshold voltage; and pass a current from the first terminal to the second terminal when the first voltage is lower than the threshold voltage and the voltage of the gate terminal is higher than the threshold voltage with reference to a voltage of the second terminal.
US08767420B1

It is presented a power supply for providing power to control a power switch for a high voltage application. The power supply comprises: a high voltage divider arranged to be connected to a first current terminal of the power switch; a step down DC/DC converter connected to an output of the high voltage divider, wherein the step down DC/DC converter is arrange to provide an output voltage for control of the at least one power switch to an output of the power supply; and a bypass control unit arranged to control the high voltage divider to short circuit an main input and a main output of the high voltage divider when the voltage across the power switch is lower than a threshold voltage.
US08767416B2

The configurations of a resonant converter system and a controlling method thereof are provided. The proposed resonant converter system includes a resonant converter and a hybrid control apparatus coupled to the resonant converter for generating a driving signal to adjust a phase angle and a frequency of the resonant converter such that the resonant converter would reach a relatively lower voltage gain and have a relatively lower loss during an abnormal operation.
US08767407B2

A mobile terminal includes a main body; at least one circuit board placed in the main body and comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one lateral surface; at least one conductive body disposed at the at least one lateral surface of the at least one circuit board and electrically connected to a ground of the at least one circuit board; and at least one shield member mounted on the at least one circuit board. The at least one shield member includes a base portion formed to cover at least part of the upper surface or the lower surface of the at least one circuit board and at least one protrusion portion protruded from the base portion and formed to be electrically in contact with the at least one conductive body.
US08767404B2

Integrated circuits with decoupling capacitor circuitry are provided. The decoupling capacitor circuitry may include density-compliance structures. The density-compliance structures may be strapped to metal paths driven by power supply lines. Strapping density-compliance dummy structures in this way may increase the capacitance per unit area of the decoupling capacitor circuitry. Strapping density-compliance dummy structures in this way may shield the decoupling capacitor from nearby noisy signal sources.
US08767397B2

A computer system that has an outer shape that is round in outer cross-section. The computer housing can be formed of first and second housing parts that are each round in outer cross-section where one unscrews relative to another like taking the lid off a jar. The inside of the housing can store various kinds of nonvolatile memory and a processor. The user's entire processing environment may be stored within the memory and processor, and part of that environment may include stylesheet that represents specific styles of the user.
US08767388B2

A support assembly that supports a device main body to be able to rotate includes a base member supported on an installation surface, a support unit having a predetermined curvature, coupled with the device main body on one side thereof, and reciprocating according to tilting of the device main body between an upright position and a tablet position, a guide rail coupled with the base member on a first side thereof and supported by the support unit on a second side thereof, to guide the reciprocation of the support unit, and an elastic unit connected to the support unit and providing an elastic force to maintain a tilting position of the device main body. A computer device may include the support assembly. The support assembly may support a computer device main body having a display when the computer device main body tilts between the upright position and the tablet position.
US08767368B2

The protective element includes an elastic member firmly adhered through a solder to second conductor layers and current-carrying electrode terminals formed on a prescribed substrate in such a manner to divide a current-carrying path in plural to form an electric current interruption portion. The solder has a liquid-phase point higher than a mounting temperature at which the protective element is mounted to a protection target device. The elastic member is soldered onto the second conductor layers and the current-carrying electrode terminals in a state that the elastic member maintains a level of stress allowing at least one of the current-carrying electrode terminals among the second conductor layers and the current-carrying electrode terminals to be separated from the elastic member by deformation of the solder even in a case where the solder is not completely melted.
US08767364B2

When a short-circuited FET is identified as one of low-side FETs, maximum phase voltages of three phases are detected when a steering operation is performed by a driver, and the detected maximum phase voltages of the three phases are compared with one another to identify a short-circuit phase. On the other hand, when a short-circuited FET is identified as one of high-side FETs, minimum phase voltages of the three phases are detected when a steering operation is performed by the driver, and the detected minimum phase voltages of the three phases are compared with one another to identify a short-circuit phase.
US08767363B2

Power modules and related methods are providing configured to supply power from a power source to a power consuming unit. The power module configured to disconnect power in the power module in case of excess currents through the circuit breakers.
US08767361B1

A protection circuit for an electronic circuit. The protection circuit comprises at least three diodes connected in series in such a manner that an anode terminal of a first diode is connected to a cathode terminal of a second diode to form a ring. A first terminal is connected between diodes of a first pair of consecutive diodes of the ring. A second terminal is connected between diodes of a second pair of consecutive diodes of the ring. The position of the first terminal is fixed and the position of the second terminal is selectable in such a manner that a pre-determined turn-on voltage of the at least three diodes is obtained. The diodes are formed under one or more bond pads of the electronic circuit.
US08767356B2

An MR sensor includes a first shielding layer, a second shielding layer, an MR element formed therebetween, and a pair of hard magnet layers respectively placed on two sides of the MR element. The MR element includes an AFM layer formed on the first shielding layer, a pinned layer formed on the AFM layer and a free layer formed between the pinned layer and the second shielding layer. The free layer is funnel-shaped, which has a first edge facing an air bearing surface and a second edge opposite the first edge, and the first edge has a narrower width than that of the second edge. The MR sensor can improve MR height control performance, and improve the ESD performance and decrease the PCN and RTN and, in turn, get a more stable performance. The present invention also discloses a magnetic head, an HGA and a disk drive unit.
US08767353B2

A hard disk drive including a plurality of magnetic disks and a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor includes a coil and a first damper plate for dampening vibrations generated by the coil. The first damper plate is disposed within the voice coil motor.
US08767348B1

The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the invention includes: a waveguide; a magnetic pole; a cladding layer provided between the waveguide and the magnetic pole; and a plasmon generator embedded in the cladding layer. The cladding layer includes a first cladding section located on a side close to an air-bearing surface and a second cladding section located on a side far from the air-bearing surface, and a thermal expansion coefficient of the first cladding section is larger than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second cladding section.
US08767340B1

Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting an end of a reference spiral band are described. A first portion of servo information may be written on a disk using the reference spiral band. By detecting an end of a reference spiral band, a new reference spiral band may be launched. A read/write head of a hard disk drive may subsequently use the new spiral band to write the remaining portion of the servo information, which aids the writing of data tracks on the disk.
US08767339B2

A method to compensate for spacing variations between a dynamic fly height (DFH) controlled read/write head and a rotating disk surface. Using a HDI sensor or equivalent indicator of touchdowns, a power profile is calculated for an arbitrary track on a disk. The profile tracks disk topography by recording touchdown power at each of a series of sectors into which the track is subdivided. The resulting power profile, smoothed and expressed as a function of sector position, substitutes for the usual constant TD power setting that provides only an uncompensated range of spacing variations. A fixed back-off spacing power is added to the power profile enabling the head to fly over the track at a constant spacing. The power profile can be calculated to account for various temperature and pressure conditions.
US08767337B2

Systems and methods from loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive provide for more efficient use of disk space. A method of loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive comprises determining a disk phase of a spinning disk arrangement, determining a loading/unloading position based on the disk phase, and loading or unloading the data head on or from, respectively, the spinning disk arrangement based on the determined disk phase. The determining a disk phase may be based on zero crossing of voltages for a three-phase motor associated with the spinning disk arrangement.
US08767333B2

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a noise predictive filter circuit, a data detector circuit, and a first and a second pattern dependent adaptive target circuits. The noise predictive filter circuit includes at least a first pattern dependent filter circuit operable to perform noise predictive filtering on a data input for a first pattern using a first adaptive target to yield a first noise predictive output, and a second pattern dependent filter circuit operable to perform noise predictive filtering on the data input for a second pattern using a second adaptive target to yield a second noise predictive output. The data detector circuit is operable to apply a data detection algorithm to the first noise predictive output and the second noise predictive output to yield a detected output. The first pattern dependent adaptive target circuit is operable to adaptively calculate the first adaptive target based at least in part on the first noise predictive output and a training sequence. The second pattern dependent adaptive target circuit operable to adaptively calculate the second adaptive target based at least in part on the second noise predictive output and the training sequence.
US08767324B2

A color filter substrate is provided that allows the realization of a liquid crystal display device having excellent display quality and generating no noticeable display unevenness. On a color filter substrate, a lattice-shaped black matrix is formed, and a plurality of colored pixels are formed in matrix. The maximum value of the differences between the overlap widths Wa (or Wb) in the row direction between first colored layers and the black matrix in an area exposed through a photomask, and the overlap widths Wg (or Wh) in the row direction between second colored layers and the black matrix in an area exposed through another photomask, is 4 μm or less. Further, the maximum value of overlap widths Wa to Wl in the row direction between all of the colored pixels and the black matrix is 8 μm or less.
US08767323B2

A rotation of a first eccentric member adjusts a parallel eccentricity of an optical element held by a holding member, rotation of a second eccentric member adjusts a tilt eccentricity of the optical element held by a holding member, and change of a position of an engaging member and a position where the second eccentric member is engaged with a second groove portion adjusts a position of the optical element in the direction of an optical axis.
US08767312B2

In an image forming optical system which includes in order from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, a refractive index for a d-line of a positive single lens having the largest refractive power among all lenses in the second lens group, is the smallest of a refractive index of lenses in the second lens group.
US08767311B2

A zoom lens system according to the present invention includes a first lens group with negative refractive power, a second lens group with positive refractive power, a third lens group with positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group with negative refractive power which are arranged in turn from the object side toward the image side, and the zoom lens system is formed so that, in performing a zooming operation from the wide angle end position to the telephoto end position, the first lens group keeps still, the distance between the first and second lens groups becomes small, the distance between the second and third lens groups becomes wide, and the distance between the third and fourth lens groups becomes small.
US08767310B2

The invention provides a zoom lens, characterized by comprising, a zoom lens, which comprises, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens group of negative refracting power, a second lens group of positive refracting power, a third lens group of negative refracting power, and a fourth lens group of positive refracting power, wherein: upon zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end of the zoom lens, a separation between the respective lens groups changes, upon focusing from a focusing-on-infinity state to a close-range focusing state, the third lens group moves in an optical axis direction, and the conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied at the wide-angle end.
US08767305B2

An eyepiece for a head mounted display includes an illumination module, an end reflector, a viewing region, and a polarization rotator. The illumination module provides CGI light along a forward propagation path within the eyepiece. The end reflector is disposed at an opposite end of the eyepiece from the illumination module to reflect the CGI light back along a reverse propagation path within the eyepiece. The viewing is disposed between the illumination module and the end reflector and includes an out-coupling polarizing beam splitter (“PBS”). The out-coupling PBS passes the CGI light traveling along the forward propagation path and redirects the CGI light traveling along the reverse propagation path out of an eye-ward side of the eyepiece. The polarization rotator is disposed in the forward and reverse propagation paths between the out-coupling PBS and the end reflector.
US08767297B2

An optical film includes at the least one retardation film and at least one isotropic layer made of an isotropic material, wherein the difference in average refractive index between the retardation film and the isotropic layer is at least 0.1 or more. Also, the method of adjusting wavelength dispersion characteristics of an optical film includes: stacking an isotropic layer onto a retardation film. A method for preparing optical film having a variety of wavelength dispersion characteristics by the simple method of coating the retardation film with the isotropic layer.
US08767289B2

The invention relates to a laser device comprising a number of fiber amplifiers (3) delivering a number of optical waves, which is supplied by an oscillator (1) that delivers a signal wave, characterized in that said device comprises: a coherent source (4) emitting a coherent wave at a wavelength approximately equal to that of the signal wave and the propagation direction of which is inclined to the propagation direction of the optical waves output by the fiber amplifiers; means for making the coherent wave interfere with the optical waves output by the fiber amplifiers, and generating an interferogram consisting of an array of fringes; interferogram detection means (7), the relative positions of the fringes transcribing an inter-fiber phase law; a spatial phase modulator (2); and processing/display means (6) for processing the detected phase law and for displaying it on the spatial modulator, said spatial modulator being positioned so as to be able to be read by the signal wave and thus generate a phase-modulated signal wave selectively at each of the fiber amplifiers, compensating for the phase shifts induced by said fiber amplifiers.
US08767287B2

The invention can include an apparatus for producing optical pulses, comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse repetition frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength and a first time duration; a pulse picker for receiving optical pulses having the first optical pulse repetition frequency, first wavelength and first time duration and operable to reduce the optical pulse repetition frequency to produce optical pulses having the first wavelength, first time duration and a reduced optical pulse repetition frequency that is less than the first optical pulse repetition frequency; an optical fiber receiving optical pulses at the reduced optical pulse repetition frequency and having the first wavelength and first time duration to produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include one or more nonlinearly produced wavelengths different than the first wavelength.
US08767275B2

A stationary scanner apparatus 10 comprises an image scanner 20 operable to read an item code, an imager attachment member 30 fixed to the image scanner 20, a support frame 40 configured to support the imager attachment member 30 in a state in which the image scanner 20 and imager attachment member 30 are rotatable about a horizontal axis with respect to the support frame 40, and a support portion 83 fixed to the support frame 40. The imager attachment member 30 has a first plate-shaped inclination holder 32a formed on one side of lateral sides of the imager attachment member 30 and a second plate-shaped inclination holder 32b formed on another side of the lateral sides of the imager attachment member 30. The support frame 40 has a first plate-shaped guide member 42a arranged in contact with the first inclination holder 32a and a second plate-shaped guide member 42b arranged in contact with the second inclination holder 32b. A rotational position of the image scanner 20 is held with a frictional force produced between the inclination holders 32a, 32b and the guide members 42a, 42b.
US08767272B2

A system for scanning paper media includes at least one microprocessor and a scanner connected to the microprocessor. The scanner is configured to simultaneously scan two or more printed pages using nuclear magnetic resonance and wherein the scanner is configured to send a three-dimensional data set to the microprocessor representing the printed pages.
US08767263B2

In an image forming apparatus, a discrimination unit discriminates the type of printing medium conveyed to an image forming unit. A comparator compares the type of a printing medium that has been designated and the type of a printing medium that has been discriminated. A setting unit sets a second image forming condition in the image forming unit if it has been determined not to add identification information to image information in accordance with the type of printing medium designated and, moreover, the type of printing medium designated and the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit do not match. The second image forming condition is different from a first image forming condition that conforms to the type of printing medium discriminated by the discrimination unit.
US08767238B2

An image forming apparatus has a network interface unit for communication with an electronic mail server via a communication network, a main control unit that entirely controls the image forming apparatus and does not operate in a power-saving mode, and a sub control unit that inquires of the electronic mail server in the power-saving mode about whether an electronic mail addressed to the image forming apparatus is stored in the electronic mail server. When such an electronic mail is stored in the electronic mail server, the sub control unit activates the main control unit. The main control unit shifts the image forming apparatus from the power-saving mode to a normal mode, and acquires the electronic mail from the electronic mail server. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium based on an attachment file attached to the electronic mail acquired by the main control unit.
US08767233B2

A method of detecting and correcting imaging defects in a media printed on a high-speed multi-color printer includes providing a multisensory imaging device (10); illuminating the media; sensing images on the media at high resolution with at least one high resolution sensor (20) as it passes the multisensory imaging device; transmitting an output of the high resolution sensor to a controller (19); sensing images on the media at low resolution with at least one low resolution sensor (24); calculating a correction for stitch; adjusting a timing of image data provided to image writers to align the inkjets to produce an optimal cross-track line; and providing a full page view from the low resolution sensor.
US08767228B2

The present invention provides an operation controlling method of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus using the said operation controlling method. The image forming apparatus is provided with a main controlling unit and a development unit, wherein a first information is stored in the development unit, and the main controlling unit determines an operation controlling on the image forming apparatus based on the first information when a power source is turned from OFF to ON in a state of when a cover of the image forming apparatus is closed or when the cover of the image forming apparatus is changed from open to closed in a state of when the power source is ON.
US08767225B2

An image forming apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus over a network is provided. When being accessed from the information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus obtains user information on a user of the information processing apparatus and device information on a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus from data received through communication involved in the access, and stores the user information and the device information. When the operator using an operating panel to operate the image forming apparatus corresponds to the user, the image forming apparatus makes settings a function thereof to be provided to the operator in such a manner that the function is made similar to a function of the information processing apparatus indicated in the device information.
US08767221B2

An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus includes: a size detecting unit that detects a size of each page of a document to be printed; an orientation detecting unit that detects orientation of each page of the document; a receiving unit that receives a setting of post processing that is to be performed on a printed sheet on which the document is printed; a determining unit that determines whether pages of different sizes, both having one side of the same length and other sides of different lengths, are detected in the document; a rotation control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the pages of the different sizes have been detected, rotates pages so that sides of the same length are aligned on the basis of the setting of the post processing; and an output unit that outputs the document with the pages rotated.
US08767219B2

A novel electro-optical sensor for the wideband and normalized translation of the two-dimensional position of a light beam transverse to its traveling direction into electrical position signals. Incident on the sensor is the light beam 122 which is divided with a beamsplitter 121 into a transmitted beam 123 and a reflected beam 124 which both have similar transverse motion behavior as the incident beam. From each of these divided beams the position is determined one-dimensionally with an one-dimensional optical position sensor, 125, 126. The one-dimensional position determination is done by dissecting each divided beam into two beams using a partitioning element. The outputted dissected beams have a power distribution that depends on the position of the divided beam relative to the partitioning element. Each beam is optically coupled to a photo detector which translates its power into an electric current. In each circuit 127, 128, the two photo detectors are reverse biased and electrically connected in series. The node connecting them is a current type position output. The sum current through the two photo detectors is determined using two current mirrors. The first mirrors the current through one photo detector, the second mirrors the output current of the first current mirror plus the current through the second photo detector and outputs a current type sum signal. Each position signal is normalized with respect to its sum signal using an analog-to-digital converter, 129, 130, with the sum signal coupled to the reference input and the position signal coupled to the regular signal input.
US08767217B2

An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system comprising: a splitter configured to receive and split an optical source beam generating a reference beam and a sample beam, the sample beam directed at a sample and interacting with the sample to generate a return beam; a delay module configured to receive and introduce an optical delay in the reference beam, to generate a delayed reflected beam configured to interfere with the return beam to generate an interferogram; a spatial filter system capable of filtering randomly scattered light from at least one of the return beam or the interferogram; and a detector array to receive the interferogram for spatial and spectral analysis.
US08767202B2

A substrate primarily for SERS determination, the substrate has a number of elongate elements with a density of at least 1×108 elongate elements per cm2 and having metal coated tips. When the elements may be made to lean toward each other, such as by providing a drop of a liquid thereon and allowing the liquid to dry, groups of tips of elongate elements are formed and the Raman enhancement is extremely high.
US08767201B2

A detecting system for detecting containers that exhibit features located on a container wall thereof includes a lighting unit having a plurality of light sources. The lighting unit is configured to project spaced-apart strip-shaped light beams onto a region of the container wall. The system also includes an optical arrangement having at least one camera.
US08767186B2

An object detection system for a host vehicle includes an imaging device, a ranging device and a processor. The imaging device has a field of view exterior of the host vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of an object exterior the host vehicle. The ranging device has a field of view that sweeps at least the field of view of the imaging device and that detects the object exterior the host vehicle. The processor processes image data from the imaging device and processes data from the ranging device in order to determine if the detected object is an object of interest. The determination that the detected object is an object of interest is made in accordance with a priority score.
US08767183B2

In order to improve overlay measurement, product marker gratings on a substrate are measured in a lithographic apparatus by an alignment sensor using scatterometry. Then information relating to the transverse profile of the product marker grating, such as its asymmetry, is determined from the measurement. After printing an overlay marker grating on a resist film, the lateral overlay of the overlay marker grating with respect to the product marker grating is measured by scatterometry and using the determined asymmetry information in combination with a suitable process model. The alignment sensor data may be used to first reconstruct the product grating and this information is fed forward to the scatterometer that measures the stack of product and resist grating and light scattered by the stack is used for reconstruction of a model of the stack to calculate overlay. The overlay may then, optionally, be fed back to the lithographic apparatus for correction of overlay errors.
US08767182B2

Drive-control of a movable body along a two-dimensional plane includes a process in which on switching from servo control of position in directions of three degrees of freedom of the movable body within a plane parallel to the two-dimensional plane using a first detection device to servo control using an encoder system, a detection device that detects positional information of the movable body in a direction perpendicular to the two-dimensional plane and tilt direction around at least one axis with respect to the two-dimensional plane switches from a second detection device when the movable body is in a suspended state, to a third detection device that has a plurality of detection positions placed in at least a part of an operating area of the movable body, and detects positional information in the perpendicular direction when the movable body is positioned at any of the detection positions.
US08767178B2

Immersion lithography system and method using direction-controlling fluid inlets are described. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an immersion lithography apparatus includes a lens assembly having an imaging lens disposed therein and a wafer stage configured to retain a wafer beneath the lens assembly. The apparatus also includes a plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets disposed adjacent to the lens assembly, each direction-controlling fluid inlet in the plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets being configured to direct a flow of fluid beneath the lens assembly and being independently controllable with respect to the other fluid inlets in the plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets.
US08767177B2

A support structure of a lithographic projection apparatus is configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device being configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern. A substrate table is configured to hold a substrate. A projection system is configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A liquid supply system includes a container at least partly defining a space between the projection system and the substrate, the container having a selectively openable and closeable aperture therein, the aperture having an area smaller than an area of the substrate, the patterned beam capable of being projected through liquid in the space and the aperture onto the substrate. A closure is configured to selectively close and open the aperture, and the closure is separable from the remainder of the apparatus.
US08767170B2

A flow through Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) package and methods of operating a MEMS packaged using the same are provided. Generally, the package includes a cavity in which the MEMS is enclosed, an inlet through which a fluid is introduced to the cavity during operation of the MEMS and an outlet through which the fluid is removed during operation of the MEMS. In certain embodiments, the fluid includes an gas, such as nitrogen, and the inlet and outlet are adapted to provide a flow of gas of from 0.01 Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute (sccm) to 10000 sccm during operation of the MEMS. The package and method are particularly useful in packaging spatial light modulators including a reflective surface and adapted to reflect and modulate a light beam incident thereon. Other embodiments are also provided.
US08767160B2

An MVA type liquid crystal display panel of the present invention comprises a first substrate where a light transmission section consisting of a pixel electrode 15a, whose corner portions are chamfered, is formed at each position partitioned by scanning lines 13 and signal lines 14 that are arranged in a matrix state, in which a protruding electrode 40 extending from the pixel electrode 15a is formed between the chamfered position of the corner portion and the scanning line 13 to prevent the inclination of liquid crystal molecules due to the effect of the potential difference occurring between the scanning line and a common electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an MVA type of liquid crystal display panel having high contrast, where contrast reduction caused by the inclination of liquid crystal molecules due to the effect of the potential difference occurring between the scanning line and a common electrode is controlled, even where the liquid crystal display panel employs pixel electrodes with chamfered corner portions.
US08767159B2

To improve viewing angle characteristics by varying voltage which is applied between liquid crystal elements. A liquid crystal display device in which one pixel is provided with three or more liquid crystal elements and the level of voltage which is applied is varied between the liquid crystal elements is varied. In order to vary the level of the voltage which is applied between the liquid crystal elements, an element which divides the applied voltage is provided. In order to vary the level of the applied voltage, a capacitor, a resistor, a transistor, or the like is used. Viewing angle characteristics can be improved by varying the level of the voltage which is applied between the liquid crystal elements.
US08767155B2

A method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a first electrode formed on one substrate, a second electrode formed on the other substrate, and liquid crystal molecules filled between the substrates. The method includes providing alignment layer material exhibiting a vertically orienting property for a selected one of the substrates, aligning a mask having permeable portions and impermeable portions over a selected substrate, irradiating the mask with ultraviolet rays in a first inclined azimuthal direction, and simultaneously irradiating the mask from a second inclined azimuthal direction which is substantially 180 degrees different from the first inclined azimuthal direction. Additionally, the azimuthal direction of the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in a first region of the substrate is substantially 180 degrees different from the azimuthal direction of the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in a second region of the substrate.
US08767140B2

An embodiment of the invention provides a backlight module, comprising: a metal rear plate, comprising a bottom plate, a side edge structure and a bended structure; a light strip structure including a circuit substrate and a light source disposed on the circuit substrate; and an outer frame, wherein, the bended structure is provided with a first protruding structure extending toward the light strip structure, the bottom plate is provided with a second protruding structure extending toward the light strip structure, the circuit substrate of the light strip structure is fixed on the side edge structure by the first and second protruding structures, the side edge structure is provided with a first opening aligned with to the light source, the outer frame is provided with a second opening corresponding to the first opening.
US08767130B2

A method for assisting users with channel entry utilizes channel tuning history to simplify the channel entry process. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of storing a list of channel numbers previously tuned by the apparatus; receiving a first input selecting a most significant digit of a channel number; and enabling a display of channel numbers in response to the first input, wherein the displayed channel numbers comprise at least one channel number included in the stored list and having the most significant digit and at least one other channel number not included in the stored list and having the most significant digit.
US08767129B2

A demodulator comprises a reference voltage generating circuit for generating a reference voltage, a reference resistor for converting the reference voltage to a reference current, a current digital-to-analog converter (IDAC) for receiving a digital code and generating an output signal, a comparison apparatus for comparing the reference voltage with the output signal to generate a comparison output, and a calibration apparatus for updating the digital code according to the comparison output to calibrate the IDAC.
US08767124B2

A method and a device for preparing a media stream containing more than one component stream for picture-in-picture applications are described along with the corresponding method and device for rendering the media stream in a picture-in-picture mode. The invention allows for live and dynamic picture-in-picture rendering of the component streams contained in the media stream. Extensions to the media formats that shall support various multimedia applications, such as the MPEG-2 Transport Stream and ISO media format, are proposed to enable such a dynamic picture-in-picture functionality.
US08767116B2

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging lens forming an optical image of a subject, an image pickup device outputting an image signal according to the optical image of the subject, a display device displaying a subject image according to the image signal, an image processor converting the image signal to data in an image data format to be displayed on the display device, and a storage device storing a plurality of pieces of positional information respectively specifying a plurality of enlargement areas to be enlarged in the subject image. The image processor has an enlarged image generation device generating an enlarged image of each of the plurality of enlargement areas based on the positional information stored in the storage device, and an enlargement display device displaying the plurality of enlarged images on the display device.
US08767113B2

A condition change unit of the present invention changes operating conditions of a device. The condition change unit comprises a display section for displaying images, a touch panel provided on the display section, a detection section for detecting input operations to the touch panel, a change condition setting section for setting types of change conditions, based on form of the input operations detected by the detection section, an operation guide image display section for displaying guidance images, for setting specific parameters of the change conditions, on the display section, in accordance with the type of change condition that has been set, and a parameter change section for changing parameters of the change condition based on an input operation to a screen on which the operation guidance operation images are displayed that has been detected by the detection section.
US08767098B2

A method for preprocessing analog image data to reduce noise in the analog image data that is readout from a pixel array of an image sensor during a sampling time is disclosed. The method includes generating multiple samples of the analog image data during the sampling time and then limiting values of the multiple samples to an upper and lower threshold. The method also includes pre-conditioning the multiple samples by applying a weighting factor to each of the multiple samples in response to when a respective sample was generated during the sampling time. A median value of the multiple samples is then determined and outputted.
US08767094B2

A measurement method and a measurement device are disclosed. The measurement method is adapted to a 3D display capable of producing a plurality of viewing zones, which includes following steps. At least a part of a display area of the 3D display displays an image of one of the viewing zones. Light radiation amounts of a first position of the 3D display are detected with a light detector from different viewing angles. A viewing angle with a local maximum light radiation amount is taken as a reference viewing angle, a distance between the light detector and the 3D display along the reference viewing angle is changed, and light radiation amounts of a plurality of different second positions of the 3D display are detected in different distances. A distance at which light radiation amounts of the second positions are most uniform is taken as the optimal viewing distance.
US08767082B2

The invention discloses a method and a portable device for focusing an image in the device (10), which device (10) comprises; a first image recording arrangement (24a) for recording images of an user (50) of the device (10); a second image recording arrangement (24b) comprising an autofocus arrangement for recording images of the environment surrounding the device (10); and a display arrangement (22) for reproducing the recorded images of the environment surrounding the device (10), which method comprises the step of: obtaining a plurality of gazing directions of the user (50) from images recorded by the first image recording arrangement (24a); selecting focusing areas depending on the obtained gazing directions; processing said at least one image of the environment so as to create a final image that is focused within areas defined by the focusing areas.
US08767081B2

Video sharing is described. In an embodiment, mobile video capture devices such as mobile telephones capture video streams of the same event. A video sharing system obtains contextual information about the video streams and uses that to form a video output from the streams, that output being for sharing by other entities. For example, the formed video provides an enhanced viewing experience as compared with an individual one of the input video streams. In embodiments the contextual information may be obtained from content analysis of the video streams, from stored context information and from control information such as device characteristics. In some embodiments the video streams of a live event are received and the output video formed in real time. In examples feedback is provided to video capture devices to suggest that the zoom, viewing position or other characteristics are adjusted or to achieve this automatically.
US08767079B2

This invention comprises an image sensor which captures a moving image of an object, the image of which is formed by an imaging lens, a first detection unit which detects vibration of an image capture apparatus, a second detection unit which detects movement of the object based on an image signal for each image capture period which is output by the image sensor, a distance detection unit which detects an object distance, which is a distance from the image capture apparatus to the object, a changing unit which changes an output of the second detection unit based on the object distance which is detected by the distance detection unit, and a driving unit which drives a vibration correction unit, which optically performs vibration correction, based on an output of the first detection unit and an output of the second detection unit which is changed by the changing unit.
US08767073B2

Information display device and method for a vehicle are provided. The information display device for a vehicle includes: a camera unit that generates and outputs image information on the rear side of the vehicle; a main processing unit that performs predetermined functions including an image processing function on the image information; and a sub processing unit that processes the image information and displays the processed image information on a display unit until the main processing unit ends a booting operation, when the image information is output from the camera unit in a state where the main processing unit is performing the booting operation. Accordingly, it is possible to guarantee the safety at the time of backing a vehicle up even when the main processing unit is performing the booting operation and to make a driver not wait until the main processing unit ends the booting operation for the purpose of acquiring necessary information.
US08767066B2

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information provision device is presented. The information provision device may include an image searching unit configured to detect, from an image, a retro-reflective article and an article identification associated with the retro-reflective article. The device may also include a projecting unit configured to control projecting of an image pattern to the retro-reflective article. The device may further include a controller coupled with the image searching unit and the projecting control unit, wherein upon a determination that the retro-reflective article is relevant to a route, the controller is configured to generate the image pattern to be projected to the retro-reflective article.
US08767065B2

In a recording apparatus, a first casing holds a supporting portion. A second casing holds a recording head and a first tank. The second casing is connected to the first casing so as to be rotatable relative to the first casing about a prescribed axis, the second casing being configured to move between a first position and a second position by rotating relative to the first casing, the recording head being located adjacent to the first casing when the second casing is in the first position, the recording head being further apart from the first casing when the second casing is in the second position than when the second casing is in the first position. The recording head opposes the supporting portion when the second casing is in the first position. The second casing is provided with a second tank mounting portion and a liquid transferring portion.
US08767061B2

An inattention determination device includes a sight direction detecting unit that detects a sight direction of a driver, and an inattention determining unit that measures an inattention continuation time from a time point when the sight direction is a predetermined inattention direction to a time point when the sight direction deviates from the predetermined inattention direction and becomes a direction other than the inattention direction and determines that the driver is inattentive when the intention continuation time is equal to or more than a predetermined time. The inattention determining unit maintains measurement of the inattention continuation time when the sight direction is changed at a speed higher than a predetermined movement speed from the predetermined inattention direction to a direction other than the inattention direction or when the sight direction is momentarily a direction other than the inattention direction.
US08767041B2

A method and apparatus for providing 3D still image service in a specific time interval during audio-visual service of digital broadcast are provided. The method includes receiving a reference image and a 3D supplement image, which construct a 3D still image, through a data channel or a video channel together with a 2D image; restoring the reference image and the 3D supplement image to the 3D still image; and displaying the 3D still image in a specific interval during digital audio-visual broadcast using the 2D image according to display information which includes a play time and a play mode.
US08767028B2

An image forming apparatus having: a light source for emitting a beam; a deflector for deflecting the beam; a light receiving element for receiving the beam and generating a detection signal; a converter for converting electric potentials of the detection signal into data values and generating time data associated with the data values; and a first calculator for calculating a position of center of the beam from the data values and the time data.
US08767022B2

An array substrate is provided comprising a base substrate; an array of pixel electrodes formed on the base substrate; a plurality of gate lines, each of which is formed corresponding to each row of pixel electrodes; a plurality of data lines, each of which is formed corresponding to each odd number column of pixel electrodes and the next adjacent even number column of pixel electrodes; a plurality of first switching devices, each of which is connected with each odd-number-column pixel electrode, and the data lines charging the corresponding odd-number-column pixel electrodes via the corresponding first switching devices under driving control in corresponding time sequence; a plurality of second switching devices, each of which is connected with each even-number-column pixel electrode, and the data lines charging the corresponding even-number-column pixel electrodes via the corresponding second switching devices under driving control in corresponding time sequence.
US08767018B2

A display device to change an image displayed in a display area when the display area is changed includes a memory, a location output unit and a screen display unit. The memory stores size information of a display area displayed on a screen and the image data of the displayed image. The location computing unit computes a start point of the changed display area when the display area is changed. The display unit decodes data corresponding to the size of the display area based on the computed new start point from the image data to display the decoded data in the display area. Since the start point is obtained with center point of the changed display area and its size information and then a display area to be displayed is determined based on the start point, a current search location is maintained even when the screen is swung.
US08767017B2

In a display device provided with a frame memory developing an auxiliary line image as a display image and a means of reading out and displaying the image data developed in the aforementioned frame memory, the aforementioned auxiliary line image is constituted by background pixels and dashed auxiliary lines constituted by pixels which have luminance or color that is different from that of the background color and pixels with have nearly identical luminance or color to that of the background color; and by carrying out the display of the dashes so as to move, at fixed time intervals or arbitrary time intervals, the dash display areas of the aforementioned auxiliary lines on the trajectory of the figure described by the aforementioned auxiliary lines, the system is devised to display the auxiliary lines while controlling that an identical pixel of the display device is not displayed continually.
US08767015B2

A method of image augmentation for an image of a book includes capturing an image of the book, detecting at least a portion of at least one fiduciary marker of the book within the image, estimating placement of the book's spine based upon the detected portion of the fiduciary marker, hypothesising possible positions for edges of a rigid leaf being turned in the book based upon estimated placement of the spine, processing the book image to identify edges within the image, comparing elements of the identified edges with the hypothesized positions for edges of the rigid leaf, selecting one of the hypothesized positions that best coincides with the compared elements of the processed image as representative of the position of the rigid leaf being turned in the book, and augmenting the book image with a virtual graphic element arranged in accordance with the selected representative position of the rigid leaf.
US08767012B2

A system and method for creating a visual perspective of operational information that facilitates rapid decision making. The system and method merges existing data sources from any number of computer-fed external data sources through an applications server to display data sets in easily recognizable, repeatable images (tiles) uniquely designed for a user's application. The system and method creates visual perspectives of data that accelerate decision-making and problem-solving processes by displaying repeatable images (tiles) that display performance results versus expected performance criteria in high-volume, intuitive displays.
US08767002B2

System and methods are provided for performing saturation adjustment of one or more pixels. In one embodiment, an input color value of a pixel is received. The input color value includes an input saturation component. An adjusted color value is extracted from a predetermined look-up table that maps the input color value to the adjusted color value, the adjusted color value having an adjusted saturation component that is different from the input saturation component. The adjusted color value is output.
US08767001B2

A method of compensating data uses a look-up table divided into a first area, a second area and a boundary area between the first and second areas defined by a first previous reference value, a second previous reference value greater than the first previous reference value, a first current reference value and a second current reference value less than the first current reference value. A compensation data of a current frame is generated based on to which one of the first, second and boundary areas grayscale data of previous and current frames belongs.
US08766998B1

Sampling in the process of trans-raster distortion correction is described. The distortion parameterization is analyzed to determine the maximum inflation and deflation (magnification and minification) over the image. The maximum inflation is then used to determine the optimal resolution (dimensions in pixels) of the linear-projected image such that it is not undersampled by the output image. The maximum deflation, coupled with the optimal resolution determined in the inflation step, is then used to configure the filter used in the resampling process such that aliasing due to undersampling is minimized, while simultaneously controlling the computational burden of the filter.
US08766997B1

Methods and systems for interacting with multiple three-dimensional (3D) object data models are provided. An example method may involve providing to a display device for display a first 3D object data model and a second 3D object data model. Information associated with a modification to the first 3D object data model may be received. Based on the received information, a same change may be applied to the first 3D object data model and applied to the second 3D object data model to obtain a first modified 3D object data model and a second modified 3D object data model. According to the method, the first modified 3D object data model and the second modified 3D object data model may be provided to the display device for substantially simultaneous display.
US08766990B1

A server computing system in a client-server computing environment includes a virtual display driver that marshals and transmits graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a client via a network. The server may receive capability information from the client, allowing the virtual display driver to resolve differences between the APIs supported on the server and the client.
US08766988B2

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing state information to one or more shader engines within a processing pipeline. State information received from an application accessing the processing pipeline is stored in constant buffer memory accessible to each of the shader engines. The shader engines can then retrieve the state information during execution.
US08766984B2

Methods and devices enable rendering of graphic images at a minimum frame rate even when processing resource limitations and rendering processing may not support the minimum frame rate presentation. While graphics are being rendered, a processor of a computing device may monitor the achieved frame rate. If the frame rate falls below a minimum threshold, the processor may note a current speed or rate of movement of the image and begin rendering less computationally complex graphic items. Rendering of less computationally complex items continues until the processor notes that the speed of rendered items is less than the noted speed. At this point, normal graphical rendering may be recommenced. The aspects may be applied to more than one type of less computationally complex item or rendering format. The various aspects may be applied to a wide variety of animations and moving graphics, as well as scrolling text, webpages, etc.
US08766983B2

Computer implemented methods for interactively modifying a video image are provided. The video image can be transmitted between a first user and a second user using a computer program that is executed on at least one computer in a computer network. Additionally, the first user and the second user interact through respective computing systems that at least partially execute the computer program. A video capture system is provided that is interfaced with the computer program that can be used to capture real-time video of the first user. The method continues by identifying components of the video image of the first user that can be modified using real-time effects in the captured real-time video. In another operation, the method identifies controller input from either the first user or the second user. The controller input detected by the computing system is identified to determine which of the identified components of the first user will be modified. In response to the identified controller input, another operation of the method augments the real-time video captured of the first user by applying the real-time effects to the identified components of the first user. The method then displays the augmented real-time video of the first user on a screen connected to the computing system of one or both of the first and second users.
US08766969B2

A display device includes: a reference voltage setting unit, an organic EL display unit; a monitor wire and sample-and-hold circuit which detect at least one of a high-side potential and a low-side potential applied to at least one pixel inside the organic EL display unit; and a variable-voltage source which regulates at least one of a high-side output potential and a low-side output potential outputted from the reference voltage setting unit. The monitor wire and the sample-and-hold circuit perform the detection of the at least one of the high-side potential and the low-side potential in at least part of an image display period, and the monitor wire and the sample-and-hold circuit do not perform the detection of the at least one of the high-side potential and the low-side potential in a black display period.
US08766964B2

Provided is an image display device including: a pixel circuit; a power supply line; a data line for supplying a data signal to the pixel circuit; and a current path control unit. The pixel circuit includes: a light emitting element; a drive transistor for controlling a current flowing to the light emitting element; a storage capacitor provided between the data line and a gate electrode of the drive transistor, for storing a potential difference; and a data line connection switch for connecting one end of the storage capacitor on the gate electrode side of the drive transistor and the data line. Before the data line supplies the data signal, the data line connection switch is turned ON, and the current path control unit interrupts a current path from the power supply line to the one end of the storage capacitor.
US08766953B1

Described embodiments include a system and a method. A system includes an ultrasound transmitter acoustically coupled to an ultrasound-conducting layer of a display surface and configured to deliver a down-modulated ultrasound wave to a first delineated area of at least two delineated areas of the display surface. The down-modulated ultrasound wave when delivered having a power density producing a stress pattern directly perceivable or discernible by a human appendage touching the first delineated area. The system includes a controller configured to initiate a delivery of the down-modulated ultrasound wave to the first delineated area by the ultrasound transmitter in response to an indication of a detected touch by the human appendage to at least a portion of the first delineated area.
US08766951B2

An optical touch module and an optical touch display panel are provided. The optical touch module includes a first photo sensor, a second photo sensor, and a signal processing unit. The first photo sensor is disposed in one of the plurality of pixels of a pixel array. A first terminal and a control terminal of the first photo sensor are coupled to a first scan line. The second photo sensor has a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first photo sensor and outputting a sensing voltage, a control terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second photo sensor, and a second terminal receiving a first voltage. The signal processing unit is coupled to the first terminal of the second photo sensor, so as to convert the sensing voltage to a touch signal.
US08766948B2

A touch sensor device includes: a touch panel on which a capacitance is formed with a pointer; a signal calculation unit calculating a signal output value based on a magnitude of the capacitance; a contact determination unit comparing the signal output value with a threshold and determining whether the pointer has been brought into contact with or separated from the touch panel; and a threshold calculation unit updating a first threshold used for determining whether the pointer has been brought into contact with the touch panel, if an increase of the signal output value is detected during a first unit time within a time period from a determination that the pointer has been brought into contact with the touch panel until a determination that the pointer has been separated from the touch panel.
US08766943B2

Provided are a display having a touch sensor and a method for improving the touch performance thereof, which can minimize the distortion of an execution result induced by the process of converting the resolution of touch coordinates, by compensating the coordinate values of a touch position by applying different offset values for upper, lower, left, and right sides in accordance with the sensor data values of surrounding sensor nodes adjacent to a center node having peak data.
US08766941B2

A display device having an on-screen display (OSD) menu function is provided, which includes a touch display panel, a touch screen controller, a display circuit, and a multiplexer. The touch display panel includes a display layer and a touch layer. The touch screen controller detects the touch layer and outputs a first detection result. The display circuit displays a first image of a first image source on the display layer, and the display circuit has the OSD menu function. In a normal display mode, the multiplexer transmits the first detection result of the touch screen controller to the first image source. If the first detection result complies with a predetermined pattern, the OSD menu function of the display circuit is triggered, and the display circuit enters a screen adjustment mode, and the multiplexer transmits the first detection result of the touch screen controller to the display circuit.
US08766938B2

A signal processing method is employed to operate a touch panel having a first touch sensing unit and plural second touch sensing units adjacent to the first touch sensing unit. In the operation of the method, a first signal is generated through amplifying the first sensing signal of the first touch sensing unit by N times with N equal to the number of the second touch sensing units, a second signal is generated through summing up the second sensing signals of the second touch sensing unit, a difference signal is generated through subtracting the second signal from the first signal, a comparison result is generated through comparing the difference signal with a difference threshold, and finally the comparison result is utilized for judging whether a touch event is occurring to the first touch sensing unit.
US08766936B2

A system and method are provided for a touch screen whose input is less influenced by turbulence, G forces, and/or equipment vibrations. A method of selecting one of a plurality of buttons displayed on a touch screen includes preventing buttons within a first portion of the touch screen from registering a touch; placing a portion of a hand on the first portion; and touching one of the plurality of buttons on a second portion of the touch screen.
US08766926B2

A method includes displaying a set of buttons in a first layout on a touch-sensitive display when a first orientation of the portable electronic device is detected and in a second layout on the touch-sensitive display when a second orientation of the portable electronic device is detected. An alternate mode of operation of a portable electronic device is detected. While in the alternate mode, the set of buttons is displayed in a third layout, wherein the set of buttons is displayed in a set of respective locations with respect to the touch-sensitive display for the first orientation and the second orientation. At least some information is displayed based on a detected orientation of the portable electronic device.
US08766921B2

An apparatus including a first section having a display; and a second section movably connected to the first section. The second section forms a cover for the display. The cover has a first portion and a second portion movably connected to the first portion. The first and second portions are configured to cover different portions of a front of the display. The second portion is pivotably connected to the first section by the first portion. The second portion has a keyboard thereon.
US08766920B2

A data inputting apparatus includes a plurality of keyswitches, an optical module, a sensing module and a processing module. The keyswitches are disposed on the data inputting apparatus. The optical module is disposed on a first side of the data inputting apparatus and is used for emitting a plurality of lights along a first direction, and the lights are corresponding to the keyswitches respectively. The sensing module is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side and is used for receiving the lights and generating a sensing result. The processing module is coupled to the sensing module. When one of the keyswitches is pressed, one of the lights is blocked by the pressed keyswitch resulting in the sensing module adjusting the sensing result, and the position of the pressed keyswitch is determined by the processing module based on the sensing result.
US08766919B1

An electronic device in a low power mode, for example an eBook reader device, may use a fast awake module to quickly update a display. The electronic device may receive an interrupt, begin to awaken, present a cached pre-rendered image on the display, and may resume the low power mode or pre-render additional images to refill the cache before resuming the low power mode.
US08766912B2

Technologies are generally described for environment-dependent dynamic range control for gesture recognition. In some examples, user environment including, but not limited to, location, device size, virtual or physical display size, is detected and gesture control range adjusted according to the detected environment. In other examples, a controller user interface or dynamic range status indicator may be adjusted based on the modified gesture recognition range control.
US08766910B2

Apparatuses and methods for detecting interaction of a user with a sensor array disposed on the wall of a protrusion from the surface of a control panel of a device that physically resembles a mechanical knob protruding from the surface of the control panel of the device. The method may include receiving a plurality of signals from the sensor array and detecting interaction of a user with the sensor array based on the plurality of signals.
US08766906B2

To provide a hold-type display device without a problem of motion blur and a driving method thereof. The length of a period for displaying a blanking image in one frame period is controlled in accordance with a control parameter showing the degree of motion blur, and the level of a signal supplied to a display element is changed in accordance with the length of the period for displaying the blanking image. Accordingly, the hold-type display device without a problem of motion blur and the driving method thereof can be provided.
US08766903B2

A light source apparatus includes a light source, a duty determining part, a luminance shifting determining part and a duty compensation part. The light source includes a plurality of light-emitting blocks. The duty determining part determines a duty of light-emitting blocks by using a block representative value obtained from a plurality of image blocks that are divided in accordance with a plurality of light-emitting blocks. The luminance shifting determining part compares block representative values of a previous frame with block representative values of a current frame to determine whether a luminance shifting is generated at an adjacent light-emitting block. The duty compensation part compensates a duty of the adjacent light-emitting blocks when the luminance shifting is generated at the adjacent light-emitting blocks. Thus, the duty of the adjacent light-emitting blocks determined as a block representative value is compensated so that an occurrence of flicker may be decreased.
US08766902B2

Embodiments of a system that includes one or more integrated circuits are described. During operation, the system may determine an intensity setting of the light source based on at least a portion of a video image, such as the portion of the transformed video image that includes spatially varying visual information in the video image. Moreover, the system may modify the video image so that a product of the intensity setting and a transmittance associated with the modified video image approximately equals a product of a previous intensity setting and a transmittance associated with the video image. For example, the modification may include scaling brightness values in the transformed video image. Next, the system may identify a region in the video image in which the scaling of the brightness values results in a visual artifact associated with reduced contrast. For example, the region may include a bright region surrounded by a darker region. Then, the system may reduce the scaling of the brightness values in the region to, at least partially, restore the contrast, thereby reducing the visual artifact. Additionally, the system may spatially filter the brightness values in the video image to reduce a spatial discontinuity between the brightness values of pixels within the region and the brightness values in a remainder of the video image.
US08766899B2

An active liquid crystal display panel includes a pixel array, a gate driving circuit, a data driving circuit, and an analog buffer. The gate driving circuit is used for driving M first scan lines where M is a natural number. The analog buffer is coupled to the gate driving circuit and includes M buffer circuits and a regulator. Each buffer circuit drives a corresponding second scan line according to an output signal of a corresponding first scan line of the M first scan lines, and the regulator is used for maintaining at least one reference voltage supplied to the M buffer circuits.
US08766898B2

A multi-channel circuit includes a first-channel circuit configured to receive a digital input and a second-channel output voltage, and to generate a first-channel output voltage as a function of the received digital input and second-channel output voltage.
US08766895B2

The invention relates to a driving method, compensation processor and driver device for liquid crystal display. The driving method includes steps of receiving data signal of a present frame; obtaining an average brightness value of the present frame; comparing the previous frame with the present frame, and when the difference between the average brightness values is larger than or equal to a set threshold, generating at least two back light driver pulse signals of which the duty ratios gradually changing, and outputting them to drive the back lights. The compensation processor includes a data analysis module, a data compensation module, a back light linear filtering module and a pulse generator module. The driver device employs the compensation processor of the present invention. The present invention employs the technical means of generating a plurality of back light driver pulse signals, realizes the gradual changing of the brightness of the back lights, and overcomes the picture flickering problem due to the sudden changing of the brightness of the back lights, thus improving the display effect of the LCD.
US08766891B2

A display apparatus includes a first substrate opposite a second substrate, a plurality of electrode patterns in the second substrate, the plurality of electrode patterns extending along a first direction, a plurality of barrier patterns in the second substrate, the plurality of barrier patterns being insulated from the electrode patterns and extending along a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of pixels, the first and second substrates with the pixels defining a display panel, and each pixel including a gate line extending along a third direction, a data line extending along a fourth direction, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, the pixel electrode being configured to generate an electric field with a corresponding electrode pattern of the plurality of electrode patterns to display an image.
US08766889B2

A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of data lines. Each pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel is coupled to the data line, and includes a switch, a storage capacitor, and a sub-pixel electrode. The switch is coupled to a scan line to receive a scan signal. The switch is turned on by the scan signal to receive a data signal transmitted from the data line. The storage capacitors of the sub-pixels of each pixel are coupled to the scan lines, or the storage capacitor of one of the sub-pixels of each pixel is coupled to a common electrode and the storage capacitors of the other sub-pixels are coupled to the scan lines. The switch and the storage capacitor of each sub-pixel are coupled to different scan lines. The method includes transmitting the scan signal having a plurality of voltage levels to modulate the voltage levels of one or more sub-pixel electrodes of the sub-pixels of the same pixel, thereby enabling the sub-pixels of the same pixel to have different voltage levels.
US08766880B2

A system and method are provided for a pixel module to determine its location in a large scale LED display. The system and method determine the pixel module's location based upon the data received by the module and the identity of the module's port via which the data was received.
US08766879B2

A display image to be projected onto a projection surface is formed on an imaging surface of a screen member at time of projecting the display image onto the projection surface. A projector is adapted to project a light, which forms the display image on the imaging surface. The imaging surface is formed as a convex surface that limits a curvature of field of the virtual image.
US08766872B2

Systems and methods are enclosed for processing antenna position information. The systems and methods involve positioning at least one magnetometer sensor in proximity to an antenna for measuring alignment of the antenna; at a ground station in proximity to a tower holding the antenna, periodically receiving antenna alignment information from the at least one sensor; and transmitting the alignment information to a control station for determination whether the alignment of the antenna complies with antenna specifications.
US08766864B2

Methods and systems for a smart antenna utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include a programmable polarization antenna including one or more pairs of LWAs configured along different axes. One or more pairs of leaky wave antennas may be configured to adjust polarization and/or polarity of one or more RF signals communicated by the programmable polarization antenna. RF signals may be communicated via the configured programmable polarization antenna utilizing the configured one or more pairs of the leaky wave antennas. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. The polarization and/or polarity may be configured utilizing switched phase modules. The LWAs may include microstrip or coplanar waveguides, wherein a cavity height of the LWAs is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The LWAs may be integrated in one or more integrated circuits, packages, and/or printed circuit boards.
US08766863B2

Provided is an antenna simply manufactured according to a frequency characteristic. The disk-shaped antenna having a screw tap structure includes a center post having a screw tap, a ground plane, and a disk radiator, so that a distance between a ground plane and a disk radiator can be finely tuned, and manufacturing and assembly error can be reduced to minimize differences in electrical characteristics between devices.
US08766862B2

A signal feed apparatus for an antenna including a slot through a conductive wall, comprises a non-conductive slot insert, a non-conductive block fixed to the slot insert and including first and second cable conduits and first and second plug sockets coinciding with first and second signal feed-points of the antenna. A signal cable is inserted into the cable conduits and includes first and second conductors. Conductive plugs are inserted into the first and second plug sockets to electrically connect the conductors to the first and second signal feed-points.
US08766859B2

Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antenna structures that are formed from an internal ground plane and a peripheral conductive housing member. A conductive path may be formed that connects the peripheral conductive housing member and the internal ground plane. The conductive path may include a flex circuit. The flex circuit can include a solder flow barrier to constrain flow of solder. A metal structure may be welded to the peripheral conductive housing member. A solder pad and other traces in the flex circuit may be soldered to the metal structure at one end of the conductive path. At the other end of the conductive path, the flex circuit may be attached to the ground plane using a bracket, screw, and screw boss.
US08766849B2

A mobile communication device includes, in part, a first wireless receiver adapted to determine, as it travels along a path, a multitude of positions of the mobile communication device using signals received from a primary positioning source, a second wireless receiver adapted to receive signals from one or more ambient wireless sources as the mobile communication device travels along the path, and a positioning module. An internal or external memory stores estimated positions and corresponding time references of the signals of the one or more ambient sources. The positioning module uses the data stored in the database to estimate the position of the mobile communication device when no primary positioning source signal is available. The positioning module optionally uses the data stored in the database to improve estimates of the position of the mobile communication device when primary positioning signal is available.
US08766847B2

A method and an apparatus for acquiring information about a base station antenna, and the base station antenna. The apparatus includes at least two receiving antenna units that are configured to receive satellite signals sent by a satellite in a satellite positioning system. The receiving antenna units and the base station antenna accord with a preset position relationship. A processing unit is configured to obtain position information of the receiving antenna units according to the satellite signals and to obtain position information of the base station antenna according to the position information of the receiving antenna units and the preset position relationship between the receiving antenna units and the base station antenna.
US08766841B2

A dynamically selectable resistor network is provided in a star configuration for producing a weighted sum of input values, without attenuation from near zero contributions. Each branch of the star connected network comprises sets of impedance components, preferably resistors, that are actively selectable to produce permutated combinations of effective weighting values. The resistors code digital control bits and the outputs of sets of resistors in respective branches that correspond to the least significant control bits provide their outputs to the summing output node independently of the sets of resistors corresponding to control bits of other significance.
US08766835B2

Continuous time sigma delta (ΣΔ) analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry and method in which current mode ΣΔ ADC circuitry is driven directly by current mode mixing circuitry, thereby avoiding a need for a current-to-voltage driver between the input signal mixing circuitry and ΣΔ ADC circuitry.
US08766834B2

The discrete time analog circuit (100) is provided with: a rotate capacitor circuit (150); an amplifier (141) that is connected to the input line or the output line of the rotate capacitor (150), and amplifies the input potential or input charge; a coefficient circuit (140) that is positioned in series with the amplifier (141), and has two history capacitors (143-1, 143-2) positioned parallel to each other; a first active capacitor among the two history capacitors (143-1, 143-2) that is connected to and charges the amplifier (141); and a clock generation circuit (110) that is connected to the input line or the output line without the involvement of the amplifier (141), and that sequentially changes the pairing of the rotate capacitor circuit (150) a second active capacitor, which shares a charge with the rotate capacitor circuit (150).
US08766828B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed such as those that operate to encode data bits transmitted on a plurality of channels according to at least one of multiple Data Bus Inversion (DBI) algorithms. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08766826B2

The invention is directed at a method and apparatus for determining compression state information which is to be used in the compression of data being transmitted between two communicating parties. The method of determining the compression state information for use in interactively compressing data comprises the steps parsing the data to determine a hierarchical data structure of the data; traversing a shared hierarchical node index to determine common compression state information entries between the hierarchical data structure and the hierarchical node index; and selecting at least one of the common compression state information entries for use in compressing the data.
US08766817B2

Exemplary embodiments of this invention encompass a method that includes receiving information packets transmitted from a plurality of vehicles, each information packet including at least a location of a vehicle that transmits the information packet; analyzing the plurality of information packets to infer a presence of a transportation hazard at a particular location and a type of transportation hazard as being one of a static or a dynamic transportation hazard; and transmitting warning information descriptive of the particular location and the type of transportation hazard for reception at least by vehicles likely to encounter the transportation hazard. In another aspect the exemplary embodiments encompass a method that includes manually activating a transducer in a vehicle in response to observing an actual or a potential transportation hazard and, in response to the manual activation, wirelessly transmitting from the vehicle at least one information packet that includes at least a current location of the vehicle when the information packet is transmitted.
US08766813B2

A quick-release angle measuring device is disclosed. The quick-release angle measuring device is applied to a hand tool, and includes a body, an angle sensor, a controller, a monitor and a power supply. The body has a quick-release part arranged on the body and for being detachable connected to the hand tool. The angle sensor is arranged in the body for detecting an angle value of the hand tool. The controller is arranged in the body and is signally connected to the angle sensor for a user to set a factor on the angle value. The monitor is arranged on the body and is signally connected to the controller for displaying the angle value. The power supply is arranged in the body for supplying electric power to the controller, the angle sensor and the monitor.
US08766810B2

A system and method are provided for monitoring and reporting leakage currents caused by a load that is coupled to an AC supply line. A sensor positioned adjacent to an AC supply line senses an amperage difference between currents traveling along the AC supply line. A processor coupled to the sensor compares the amperage difference to a threshold value. A reporting device coupled to the processor generates a report at least when the amperage difference exceeds the threshold value.
US08766806B2

A real time method and dynamic logic-based system for enhancing the operation of a pipeline network is disclosed. The system and method perform monitoring of the operation of a pipeline network, generate alarms in response to differing levels of destabilized pipeline operations, manage the generation of alarms based upon known operating events and operating conditions, diagnose potential source of the detected destabilized events and manage the operation of the pipeline.
US08766803B2

Embodiments of methods of performing a structured collection protocol on a collection device comprise providing a plurality of prior biomarker samples, wherein the prior biomarker samples comprise at least one measured value and plurality of contextualized data components linked to the prior biomarker samples, setting a first criterion, wherein the first criterion classifies prior biomarker samples as similar if prior biomarker samples share at least one identical contextualized data component, grouping biomarker samples that are determined to be similar based on the first criterion, calculating expected values for future biomarker samples which satisfy the first criterion, wherein the calculation is based on at least a subset of the group of similar prior biomarker samples, setting a second criterion, wherein the second criterion is an acceptable variance from the calculated expected values, a threshold, or both, collecting one or more biomarker samples which satisfy the first criterion, and evaluating via the processor the compliance of the collected biomarker samples with the second criterion.
US08766802B2

A base data management system is provided which can grasp specific data recorded in a plate-like or sheet-like object having high property values, such as a variety of cards, paper money, and securities, in real time, and can manage and track circulating paper money or the like. The base data management system includes a base data reader including a reading mechanism that reads specific data or resonance frequency recorded in a base with a magnetic field coupling and a transmitting mechanism that transmits the specific frequency date read by the reading mechanism and reader information. The system also includes a host computer including a data receiving mechanism that receives the specific frequency date and reader information transmitted from the base data reader through a network, a storage device that stores the specific data and reader information received by the data receiving mechanism, and an output mechanism that processes the data stored in the storage device or compares the data with other data and thus outputs the data.
US08766794B2

A handheld field maintenance tool is provided. The tool includes, among other things, a wireless process communication protocol module configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless process communication protocol. The tool also includes a display and an input device. A controller is coupled to the wireless process communication protocol module, the display, and the input device. The controller is configured to generate a map on the display indicating a position of the handheld field maintenance device relative to at least one asset, such as a field device. The controller is further configured to determine a position of the handheld field maintenance device by triangulating using wireless process communication with a number of known, fixed-position wireless field devices.
US08766791B2

A wireless device for facilitating GPS-based asset tracking. The wireless device includes dynamically configurable event profiles which allow the wireless device to be dynamically reconfigured and to perform certain actions based on a dynamically configurable combination of received events. In addition, geofences with inherent aspects are used to trigger certain actions of the wireless device based on classes and attributes that define the inherent aspects.
US08766774B2

A method, system, and a control device are provided for reducing RFID reaction times. A control unit receives a data signal, which comprises a code signal if a passive RFID transponder is located in the carrier field of an RFID reader. The code represents the identification code of the passive RFID transponder. The carrier field is disabled to reset the data signal, and thereafter enabled to receive a first portion of the code signal only. The code of the passive RFID transponder is then validated on the basis of said first portion of the code signal only.
US08766770B2

A garage door/gate opening/closing mechanism is provided that utilizes electromechanical actuation to exert force on a button or buttons of a wall switch in order to actuate a garage door, where the switch actuates a garage door opener. The electromechanical actuator is actuated by means of an electrical signal produced by a radio frequency receiver or by means of a switch.
US08766768B2

A secure keyless entry system integrates into an existing motorized garage door opening system to replace the one button transmitters typically placed in a vehicle. The one button transmitters are replaced with remote modules having alpha numeric key pads. The remote modules accept a string of input and compare the last four to eight entries to a previously set designated PIN. In order to obfuscate the designated PIN from on lookers, a user of the system may first enter a random string of decoy characters before finally entering the designated PIN. The disclosed system may also be used to replace the metal keys typically used to secure entry doors to a dwelling.
US08766760B2

A switchgear unit switches high DC voltages, particularly for interrupting of direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device. The switchgear unit contains two connections which project from a housing and which are electrically conductively coupled by a conductor path, a contact system which is arranged between the first and second connections and an isolating apparatus that can be tripped by a thermal fuse. The thermal fuse contains a melting location which is arranged in the conductor path and which is connected first to the contact system and second via a moving conductor section to the first connection. The isolating apparatus is tripped and the connection between the conductor section and the contact system is broken at the melting location when an arc produced when the contact system is opened has caused the melting temperature of the melting location to be reached or exceeded.
US08766757B2

The invention relates to a device for detachably fastening a current conductor (10) to a current transformer housing (12) comprising a fastening element (16, 32), wherein the fastening element (16, 32) can be guided such that the fastening element (16, 32) at least partially contacts the surface of the current conductor (10) in a fastening state of the current conductor (10) on the current transformer housing (12). The invention is characterized in that the fastening element (16, 32) is implemented such that it performs a translatory displacement in the direction of the current conductor (10) when transitioning from an unfastened state to the fastened state of the current conductor (10) to the current transformer housing (12).
US08766756B2

A transformer assembly includes a vertical bobbin and a shrouding element. The vertical bobbin includes a first winding portion, a second winding portion, and a flange. The flange is disposed between the first winding portion and the second winding portion. The flange includes a flange edge. The shrouding element, which substantially covers the first winding portion or the second winding portion, includes a shrouding edge that is operatively coupled to the flange edge. The flange edge and the shrouding edge have at least one complementary corrugation. In one example, the flange edge includes at least one groove and the shrouding edge includes at least one protrusion that is complementary to the groove. In another example, the shrouding edge includes at least one groove and the flange edge includes at least one protrusion that is complementary to the groove.
US08766755B2

A transformer and a liquid crystal display apparatus having the transformer are provided. The transformer includes a bobbin having at least one first winding section, at least one second winding section, and at least one core insertion groove formed therein. The transformer also includes at least one coil wound around the first winding section and the second winding section with at least one core inserted into the core insertion groove.
US08766746B2

In one embodiment, a circuit, which comprises a resistor and a pMOS or cMOS transistor, has the characteristic of an inductor and produces an inductive impedance that operates over a substantially full range of a direct-current bias.
US08766737B2

A constant voltage circuit which can realize a low consumption current, and a crystal oscillation circuit using the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit is provided with a temperature characteristic regulation element, in order to minimize a difference between a negative slope of a voltage response of a constant voltage to a temperature change and a negative slope of a voltage response of the smallest operation voltage that can oscillate in the crystal oscillation circuit to the temperature change, so that the consumption current of the crystal oscillation circuit is decreased. When the constant current generated by the constant voltage circuit is decreased, the consumption current of the constant voltage circuit is decreased, and the consumption current of the whole oscillation device is decreased.
US08766732B2

There is provided a multi-screw chaotic oscillator circuit with simple configuration, that can use various multi-hysteresis VCCS characteristics and generate a variety of multi-screw attractors. The multi-screw chaotic oscillator circuit comprises: a linear two-port VCCS circuit 1 consisting of a set of linear VCCS circuits G1 and G2; a multi-hysteresis two-port VCCS circuit 2 consisting of a set of multi-hysteresis VCCS circuits MH1 and MH2 having multi-hysteresis characteristic; and capacitors C1 and C2 connected to each end of a circuit configured by parallel-connecting the linear two-port VCCS circuit 1 and the multi-hysteresis two-port VCCS circuit 2.
US08766730B2

A frequency tunable signal source (100) with first (105) and a second (115, 315) oscillators, each of which outputs a signal at a fundamental frequency (f1, f2) and at least one signal at a harmonic frequency (f1′, f2′) and a mixer (120) with first (121) and second (122) input ports and an output port (124), and a control unit (110) which controls switches (S1, S2, S3, S4), by means of which two of said signals (f1, f2, f1′, f2′) are switchably connected to the first input port. The other two signals are switchably to the other input port, with one switch (S1, S2, S3, S4) for each signal (f1, f2, f1′, f2′). There is also comprised a third oscillator (125), with an output signal connected to a third input port (123) of the mixer (120). At least one of the oscillators (105, 115, 315, 125) is a VCO, a Voltage Controlled Oscillator.
US08766720B2

A circuitry (120) adapted to operate in a high-temperature environment of a turbine engine is provided. The circuitry may include a differential amplifier (122) having an input terminal (124) coupled to a sensing element to receive a voltage indicative of a sensed parameter. A hybrid load circuitry (125) may be AC-coupled to the differential amplifier. The hybrid load circuitry may include a resistor-capacitor circuit (134) arranged to provide a path to an AC signal component with respect to the drain terminal of the switch (e.g., 126) of a differential pair of semiconductor switches 126, 128, which receives the voltage indicative of the sensed parameter.
US08766706B2

Many inventions are disclosed. Some aspects are directed to MEMS, and/or methods for use with and/or for fabricating MEMS, that supply, store, and/or trap charge on a mechanical structure disposed in a chamber. Various structures may be disposed in the chamber and employed in supplying, storing and/or trapping charge on the mechanical structure. In some aspects, a breakable link, a thermionic electron source and/or a movable mechanical structure are employed. The breakable link may comprise a fuse. In one embodiment, the movable mechanical structure is driven to resonate. In some aspects, the electrical charge enables a transducer to convert vibrational energy to electrical energy, which may be used to power circuit(s), device(s) and/or other purpose(s). In some aspects, the electrical charge is employed in changing the resonant frequency of a mechanical structure and/or generating an electrostatic force, which may be repulsive.
US08766697B2

An amplifier has a first pull-up path coupled between a voltage supply node and an output node, and a pull-down path coupled between the output node and a ground supply node. A second pull-up path is coupled between the voltage supply node and the output node. The second pull-up path is actuated by a feedback signal and biased by a biasing signal. An inverter circuit is operable to invert the signal at the amplifier output node to generate the feedback signal. A biasing circuit is configured to generate the biasing signal. The biasing circuit is configured to control a relative strength of the pull-down path to the second pull-up path, wherein the pull-down path is stronger than the second pull-up path in a manner that is consistently present over all PVT corners.
US08766692B1

A Schmitt trigger inverter circuit can include a first inverter. The first inverter can include a first pull-up device, a first pull-down device and a second pull-down device. The first inverter can receive an input signal. The Schmitt trigger inverter circuit can include a second inverter coupled in series with the first inverter and including an output that generates an output signal. The Schmitt trigger inverter circuit further can include a switch coupled to the output of the second inverter circuit and that is selectively enabled by the output signal. The switch can couple a predetermined reference voltage to a source terminal of the first pull-down device when in an enabled state. Coupling the predetermined reference voltage to the source terminal of the first pull-down device can alter a threshold voltage of the Schmitt trigger inverter circuit.
US08766688B2

A delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit having improved phase correction performance includes a variable delay unit configured to generate a DLL clock signal by delaying an input clock signal by a varied delay time in response to a delay control signal at timing corresponding to an update cycle signal, a delay model configured to generate a feedback clock signal by delaying the DLL clock signal for a predetermined delay time, a phase detection unit configured to output a result of the detection of the phase of the feedback clock signal based on a reference clock signal as the delay control signal, and an update cycle control unit configured to determine whether a cycle has been shifted or not in response to an external clock signal and the delay control signal and shift a cycle where the update cycle signal is generated based on a result of the determination.
US08766682B2

A method and apparatus for measuring the duration of a transient signal with high precision.
US08766680B2

A voltage translation circuit (116) provides an output analog voltage signal that has a translated voltage of the voltage of an input analog voltage signal over a range of values of the input analog voltage signal. The voltage translation circuit includes an input stage (202) having a circuit node and an input transistor (210) coupled between the circuit node and a power supply terminal, wherein a gate of the input transistor is coupled to receive the input analog voltage signal; a current path circuit (204) in parallel with the input transistor, wherein the current path includes a first transistor coupled between the circuit node and the power supply terminal; and a circuit coupled to provide a variable body bias voltage to a body of the first transistor.
US08766679B1

Disclosed herein is a power on reset (POR) circuit, including: a current mirror circuit adjusting ratio of current flowing in a circuit according to voltage supplied from power; an inverter driven according to output of the current mirror circuit to output a POR signal; a brown out detection (BOD) comparator electrically connected to the current mirror circuit and comparing the voltage supplied from the power with reference voltage to output a corresponding voltage signal according to the comparison result; a BOD controlling switch driven when the output of the BOD comparator is zero voltage (0V) to again operate a POR; and a current controlling switch installed in the current mirror circuit and driven when the output of the BOD comparator is zero voltage (0V) to control and supply current of the POR.
US08766670B2

A sample-and-hold circuit for generating a variable sample delay time of a transformer includes a discharge detection unit, a sample delay time generation unit, and a comparator. The discharge detection unit generates a first voltage according to a first turning-on signal and a first reference current. Length of the first turning-on signal is varied with a discharge time of a present period of the transformer. The sample delay time generation unit generates a second voltage according to the first turning-on signal and a second reference current. The comparator generates a sample signal to a control circuit of the transformer according to a first voltage corresponding to a previous period of the transformer and a second voltage corresponding to the present period of the transformer. The first reference current is K times the second reference current, and 0
US08766665B2

A family of reconfigurable asynchronous logic elements that interact with their nearest neighbors permits reconfigurable implementation of circuits that are asynchronous at the bit level. A reconfigurable asynchronous logic cell comprises a set of one-bit buffers for communication with at least one neighboring cell, each buffer capable of having several states and configured for receiving input state tokens from neighboring cells and for transferring output state tokens to neighboring cells, and a one-bit processor configured to perform a logic operation utilizing received tokens as inputs and to produce an output token reflecting the result of the logic operation, wherein the logic operation and the functional configuration of the buffers are reconfigurably programmable. A reconfigurable logic circuit comprises a plurality of reconfigurable logic cells that compute by locally passing state tokens and are reconfigured by the directed shifting of programming instructions through neighboring logic cells.
US08766661B2

A malfunction detecting device for a solar cell panel includes an AC source that is provided on one of positive and negative sides of a solar cell panel body and can apply AC voltage superimposed on DC voltage to the solar cell panel, a measuring means provided on another of the positive and negative sides of the solar cell panel body to measure voltage or current output from the solar cell panel, and a control unit including a malfunction determination portion that controls the AC source to control input voltage or input current to be input to the solar cell panel and determines malfunction in the solar cell panel by comparing the input voltage or the input current to output voltage or output current measured by the measuring means. The malfunction determination portion includes a panel body malfunction determination portion and a bypass diode malfunction determination portion.
US08766651B2

The capacitive fingerprint sensor according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a fingerprint sensing electrode Cfp for sensing a human fingerprint; a first transistor T1 in which the amount of currents flowing therethrough changes depending on an output voltage of the fingerprint sensing electrode Cfp; a second transistor T2 in which the amount of currents flowing therethrough changes due to a difference between the currents flowing through the first transistor T1; and a third transistor T3 which resets a gate electrode of the first transistor T1 and provides capacitive coupling with the gate electrode of the first transistor T1 via a pulse signal.
US08766649B1

A proximity sensor interface device (PSID) for determining if a proximity sensor is in an acceptable position with respect to a target device is described. The PSID includes a frequency generator, a processing device, a memory associated with the processing device, a display, and an RC circuit. The processing device is programmed to route a signal generated by the frequency generator through the proximity sensor and the RC circuit for a prescribed period of time and the processing device is programmed to measure a discharge time of the RC circuit. The processing device is further programmed to cause the display to provide an indication of whether the relative position of the proximity sensor and the target device are within prescribed tolerances, based on the discharge time.
US08766648B2

A method and system is provided for determining at least one operating characteristic associated with an inductor in a power converter system. The operating characteristic may be current through the inductor. The power converter system may be of the type used in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to convert electric power from a high-voltage traction battery to drive an electric motor and/or a generator in the HEV.
US08766644B2

An apparatus and method for determining a status of a power unit in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a power unit for supplying power to a internal circuit, a resistor located between the power unit and the internal circuit, and a voltage determination unit for determining an amount of a current consumption by the internal circuit by considering a difference between a first voltage between the power unit and the resistor and a second voltage between the resistor and the internal circuit, and for determining status information of the power unit by compensating for a voltage drop of the first voltage in accordance with the amount of the current consumption.
US08766641B2

Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of a rock material with changing well fluids. In general, the methods according to the invention include measuring electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface. Methods and apparatuses for making EIS measurements model double-layer capacitance at a downhole surface in a well, from which the nature and quantification of the wetting of the surface can be inferred.
US08766638B2

In a locate operation to detect a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a locate device, an applied signal is transmitted to the at least one underground facility, and/or a magnetic field emitted from the at least one underground facility is detected. Based on the indication of the location provided by a location tracking system, environmental information is obtained regarding at least one environmental condition of an environment in which the locate device is used, and logged into local memory of the locate device.
US08766636B2

According to one aspect, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner includes a short birdcage (e.g. millipede) distributed-capacitance radio-frequency (RF) coil formed from one or more patterned planar conductive foils. The transverse extent (e.g. diameter) of the coil is at least a factor of 3, for example about a factor of 10, larger than the longitudinal (z-axis) extent of the coil. Flux-return gaps may be provided between the sample measurement volume defined by the coil and RF shields adjacent to the sample measurement volume, to confine the RF magnetic field to the sample measurement volume. Exemplary coils described herein are particularly suited for very high-frequency MRI measurements.
US08766634B2

A device of estimating a dose of ionizing radiation absorbed in an intra bone volume. The device comprises a static magnetic field source adapted to generate a substantially static magnetic field in a probing space having a volume of less than 2 cubic millimeter (mm3), the probing space being placed in front of a distal end of static magnetic field source, a micro resonator mounted in adjacent to the distal end, and at least one transmission line which feeds the resonator so as to generate an microwave magnetic field at the probing space and to transmit a signal returned from said microwave magnetic field and indicative of radiation induced paramagnetic defects in said probing space so as to allow a spectrometer to compute a dose of ionizing radiation absorbed in a portion of a bone placed in the probing space according to an analysis of the signal. The static magnetic field source being sized and shaped to maneuver the probing space to overlap with an intra bone volume of the bone.
US08766618B2

A circuit, use, and method for operating a circuit is provided that includes a regulated first voltage source for providing a supply voltage at an output of the first voltage source for a subcircuit, an adjustable second voltage source for providing an output voltage to supply the subcircuit, and an evaluation circuit, which is connected to an output of the second voltage source and to a control input of the second voltage source and to the output of the first voltage source. Wherein the evaluation circuit is formed to adjust the output voltage of the second voltage source by means of a control signal at the control input of the second voltage source with evaluation of the supply voltage at the output of the first voltage source, and wherein the evaluation circuit and/or the second voltage source have a memory for storing values of the adjustment.
US08766616B2

The present invention provides a comparator with novel output logic. The comparator makes a comparison between an input voltage and a reference voltage. A differential amplifying circuit includes a first input transistor with a control terminal applied with the reference voltage and a second input transistor with a control terminal applied with the input voltage. An output section receives an export signal of the differential amplifying circuit and outputs an output signal that corresponds to the export signal and denotes a result of the comparison. A feedback circuit receives the output signal of the output section, and if the output signal is changed from a first level to a second level, the output signal feeds back to the differential amplifying circuit or the output section while it is restored to the negated level.
US08766614B2

An apparatus for impedance matching of an electrical load to a generator has input connections for connection to the generator and output connections for connection to the load. The apparatus has a converter which connects the input connections to the output connections. An input voltage which is applied between the input connections can be converted into an output voltage. The converter has energy storage means connected to one of the output connections by an active diode, a controllable switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be moved to a first and a second switching state so that energy from the generator is stored in the energy storage means in the first switching state. Energy which is stored can be output to the load in the second switching state. A detector is connected to the input connections for detecting a measurement signal for the impedance matching. The actuation device has an activation signal and can be moved to a first and a second operating state. The energy which is output by the generator is temporarily stored in an input capacitor.
US08766610B2

Provided is a voltage regulator capable of reducing an influence of an offset to obtain an accurate output voltage. The voltage regulator includes: a first stage amplifier for amplifying and outputting a difference between a reference voltage and a divided voltage obtained by dividing a voltage output by an output transistor, to thereby control a gate of the output transistor; and a cascode amplifier circuit, in which the first stage amplifier includes: a first high breakdown voltage NMOS transistor as an input transistor; and an NMOS transistor as a tail current source, and in which the cascode amplifier circuit includes a second high breakdown voltage NMOS transistor as a cascode transistor.
US08766602B1

A battery charging system includes a pre-charge control circuit for electrically coupling a plurality of power supply terminals to a plurality of load terminals. The pre-charge control circuit includes a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of power supply terminals and one of the plurality of power supply using one of a pre-charge current path and a standard charge current path. The pre-charge current path includes at least one pre-charge resistor in series with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor.
US08766599B2

In a battery pack, undesired current consumption is reduced during a shipping period to extend the charge keeping time of the battery pack. The battery pack includes at least one of battery cells, a charge switch, a discharge switch, and a microcomputer for controlling the charge switch and the discharge switch in accordance with a voltage of the battery cells. The battery pack has a shipping mode where the battery pack is shut down during the shipping period.
US08766596B2

A battery management system (BMS) for managing discharging of a plurality of battery cells is disclosed. The battery management system comprises a battery monitoring unit, for monitoring statuses of the plurality of battery cells; and a discharge control unit, for controlling the plurality of battery cells to output a plurality of output powers to a load according to the statuses of the plurality of battery cells.
US08766592B2

An apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect that a first power receiving apparatus is in a predetermined range and a second power receiving apparatus is in the predetermined range, a power supply unit configured to supply power to the first and the second power apparatuses if the first and the second power receiving apparatuses are in the predetermined range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire first information and second information, and a control unit configured to select one of the first and the second power receiving apparatuses based on the first and the second information if the first and the second power receiving apparatuses are in the predetermined range, wherein the control unit controls a selected apparatus to perform a predetermined process.
US08766584B2

A distributed motor drive system includes a power management module and multiple inverter modules integrated with the motors and located on a machine or process remote from the power management module. The power management module distributes DC voltage and command signals to each of the inverters, where the DC voltage is distributed between modules via a DC link cable. The integrated inverters execute switching routines to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage suitable for controlling the motor. Each of the power management module and the inverters includes a portion of the DC bus. The current on the DC link cable is monitored and general bus utilization as well as overload conditions are reported.
US08766583B1

According to an aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes: a spindle motor; and circuitry configured to spin up the spindle motor by increasing a command voltage in small steps while monitoring a current flowing through the spindle motor. According to another aspect of the invention, a method includes: spinning up a spindle motor from a stationary state to a target speed using a voltage mode of operation for the spindle motor, wherein the spinning up includes supplying to the spindle motor a series of multiple discrete voltage levels ranging from a first voltage level to a second voltage level; and maintaining the spindle motor at the target speed.
US08766543B1

An LED with an internal bypass transistor, particularly suited for use in a series wired LED string to keep the string lit in the event of a failure of an LED. In one embodiment, the collector and/or base of the bypass transistor is used as one terminal of the shunt and the emitter is used as the opposite terminal. The preferred embodiment is to use the collector and emitter terminals only with the base terminal open.
US08766538B2

An electrically heated planar cathode for use in miniature x-ray tubes may be spiral design laser cut from a thin tantalum alloy ribbon foil (with grain stabilizing features). Bare ribbon is mounted to an aluminum nitride substrate in a manner that is puts the ribbon in minimal tension before it is machined into the spiral pattern. The spiral pattern can be optimized for electrical, thermal, and emission characteristics.
US08766522B1

Improved field emission cathodes comprise a fiber of highly aligned and densely packed single-wall carbon nanotubes, double-wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, grapheme nanoribbons, carbon nanofibers, and/or carbon planar nanostructures. The fiber cathodes provide superior current carrying capacity without degradation or adverse effects under high field strength testing. The fibers also can be configured as multi-fiber field emission cathodes, and the use of low work function coatings and different tip configurations further improves their performance.
US08766520B2

A ground electrode is provided having a ground electrode body, the ground electrode body having an anchored end and a non-anchored end opposite the anchored end. The ground electrode includes a plateau extending from a surface of the ground electrode body adjacent the non-anchored end. In illustrative embodiments, the plateau is formed by removing a portion of the ground electrode body near the non-anchored end. The plateau is configured to be exposed around its periphery. A noble metal tip is fixably attached to the plateau.
US08766513B2

The piezoelectric device (100) stores a piezoelectric vibrating piece (10) which vibrates whenever an electrical voltage is applied. The piezoelectric device comprises: a package lid (11) having a first peripheral surface (M1) which surrounds a plane surface in a predetermined width; and a package base (12) comprising a second peripheral surface (M2) bonded to the first peripheral surface of the package lid and a recess portion recessed from the second peripheral surface. The first peripheral surface of the package lid and the second peripheral surface of the package base are rough surfaces, respective metal films (AC1, AC2) are formed on each rough surface, and the package lid and the package base are bonded using a sealing material (LG) formed between the metal films.
US08766504B2

An electric motor has a rotor, a stator and brushes. The rotor has a shaft, a rotor core fixed to the shaft and having a plurality of teeth, a commutator fixed to the shaft adjacent the rotor core and having a plurality of segments, and rotor winding units wound about the teeth and connected to the commutator segments. Each of the rotor winding units is connected to a pair of adjacent commutator segments. At least one of the rotor winding units has at least two coils connected in series. Each coil has at least two subcoils directly connected in series and separated from each other by at least one tooth. An initial subcoil and a final subcoil of each coil are respectively connected to a pair of segments.
US08766502B2

A motor is disclosed, the motor including a stator core formed with a cylindrical space at an inner surface and formed at an inner circumferential surface with a plurality of teeth protruding toward a center, a cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted at the space and formed with a plurality of pockets for inserting a permanent magnet, a rotation shaft coupled to the center of the rotor and receiving a rotation force generated by interaction between the stator core and the rotor, a nut member connecting the rotor to the rotation shaft by press-fitting the rotor at a periphery to an axial direction of the rotation shaft and press-fitting the rotation shaft at an inner circumferential surface to the axial direction of the rotation shaft, and a key unit inhibiting a slip between the rotor and the nut member.
US08766498B2

An electric generator incorporated into a hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric drive motor and actuated by the engine, comprises a rotor mounted to one end portion of a crankshaft of the engine such that the rotor is rotatable integrally with the crankshaft; a cylindrical accommodating member surrounding an outer periphery of the rotor; and an air outlet provided on a peripheral wall portion of the accommodating member such that the air outlet opens in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the rotor and is tilted in a forward direction of a rotational direction of the rotor and in a radially outward direction.
US08766497B2

A motor-generator which is a rotating electrical machine is provided with a coil end cover and a plurality of connecting wires. The coil end cover forms a cooling oil passage around a coil end portion and a cooling oil passage around a coil end portion, and a cooling oil communicating passage that communicates the cooling oil passage with the cooling oil passage on the inside of the stator core. The plurality of connecting wires are provided in the cooling oil passage. The direction in which the cooling oil flows in the cooling oil passage is the same as the direction in which the connecting wires extend at an angle from the radial outside to the radial inside of the stator core. The flowrate of cooling oil in the cooling oil passage is set larger than the flowrate of cooling oil in the cooling oil passage.
US08766491B2

When load control is activated by a local or remote mechanism to control a load, the method and system use a usage profile of the load and one or more of (1) interval start times, (2) ON/OFF or OFF/ON cycling and (3) predefined periods during which load must not be allowed to run (e.g., dead zones) to determine when a particular piece of equipment is allowed to shed or run thereby reducing the probability of occurrence of cyclical and non-cyclical aggregate peaking of usage wherein cyclical peaking is manifested as an artifact of the local load control rules during a load control event.
US08766490B2

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring operation of a circuit having a DC power supply, a load, and a switch element connecting the DC power supply to the load. The system includes a capacitive element coupling a first input node of a sensor element to a first interconnection node of the circuit between a first voltage supply terminal of the DC power supply and the load. The system also includes a grounding structure coupling a second input node of the sensor element to a ground plane isolated from the DC power supply. In the system, the grounding structure is positioned with respect to a second interconnection node of the circuit, between a second voltage supply terminal of the DC power supply and the load, so as to define a stray capacitance for carrying a transient signal resulting from the opening or closing of the switch element, which can be detected through the sensor element for monitoring the current switch state of the switch element.
US08766475B2

In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method a power deliver system is presented. The power delivery system includes at least two power supplies with a bridge connecting an output of each of the at least two power supplies. The bridge may be made of busbars, each of which including an integral attachment point. Each of the attachment points may correspond to a lug which has been specifically keyed to the shape of the attachment point. The lugs may be attached to conductor cables that provide power from the power supplies to components in an information handling system. In some embodiments, each end of a conductor cable may include lugs of the same shape, to ensure that the correct voltage is supplied to the components of the information handling system.
US08766468B1

A rotor for a permanent magnet electrical machine includes a ferromagnetic core structure having cavities which divide the ferromagnetic core structure into pole regions (103), a yoke region (104), and bridges (105, 106) between them. The rotor includes permanent magnets (107, 108) located in the cavities and arranged to produce magnetic fluxes penetrating the pole regions so as to form magnetic poles of the rotor. The cavities have portions which extend towards the quadrature-axis (Q) and are free from the permanent magnets. Thus, non-ferromagnetic regions for reducing leakage fluxes of the permanent magnets are being formed. Furthermore, the portions of the cavities have a shape curving towards the geometrical rotation axis of the rotor. As the portions of the cavities have the shape curving towards the rotation axis, the cavities can be made longer and the routes of the leakage.
US08766457B2

A bonding structure of a semiconductor package includes: a first conductive member configured to transmit an electrical signal; and a bonding pad configured to be electrically coupled to a surface of the first conductive member and comprising a plurality of sub bonding pads.
US08766452B2

A semiconductor device having a conductive pattern includes a plurality of conductive lines extending in parallel, each having a first region extending in a first direction and a second region coupled to the first region and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of contact pads, each coupled to a respective conductive line of the second regions, wherein the conductive lines are grouped and arranged in a plurality of groups, the first region of a first group is longer than the first region of a second group, and the second region of the first group and the second region of the second group are spaced apart from each other.
US08766444B2

An integrated circuit as described herein includes an upper interconnect level including a continuous upper interconnect area, the continuous upper interconnect area including a plurality of upper contact openings. The integrated circuit further includes a lower interconnect level including a continuous lower interconnect area, the continuous lower interconnect area including a plurality of lower contact openings. First contacts extend through the lower contact openings to the upper interconnect area and second contact openings extend through the upper contact openings to the lower interconnect area.
US08766428B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming external interconnects having bases of a first thickness and tips of a second thickness extending inwardly directly toward each other; connecting a first circuit device between the tips; attaching a second circuit device to the first circuit device with a combined thickness of the first circuit device and the second circuit device less than the first thickness; and forming an encapsulation of the first thickness between the bases and over the tips.
US08766424B2

A PoP (package-on-package) package includes a bottom package with a substrate encapsulated in an encapsulant with a die coupled to the top of the substrate. At least a portion of the die is exposed above the encapsulant on the bottom package substrate. A top package includes a substrate with encapsulant on both the frontside and the backside of the substrate. The backside of the top package substrate is coupled to the topside of the bottom package substrate with at least part of the die being located in a recess in the encapsulant on the backside of the top package substrate.
US08766416B2

A semiconductor package includes a substrate having opposite first and second surfaces and a ground layer therein. Further, the second surface has at least a recessed portion for exposing portions of the ground layer. The semiconductor package further includes a semiconductor chip disposed on the first surface of the substrate; an encapsulant formed on the first surface of the substrate for encapsulating the semiconductor chip; and a metal layer covering the encapsulant and the substrate and extending to the recessed portion for electrically connecting the ground layer. As such, the space for circuit layout is increased and the circuit layout flexibility is improved.
US08766411B2

A filler for filling a gap includes a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1. SiaNbOcHd.  [Chemical Formula 1] In Chemical Formula 1, a, b, c, and d represent relative amounts of Si, N, 0, and H, respectively, in the compound, 1.96
US08766408B2

A packaged semiconductor device is manufactured by a simplified manufacturing process, and is reduced in cost, in thickness and in size. A device component and a pad electrode connected with the device component are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A supporter is bonded to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate through an adhesive layer. Then, there is formed a protection layer that has an opening at a location corresponding to the pad electrode and covers a side surface and a back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive terminal is formed on the pad electrode at the location corresponding to the opening formed in the protection layer. No wiring layer or conductive terminal is formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A conductive terminal is formed on a periphery of the supporter outside of and next to the side surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08766400B2

An electronic device and fabrication method thereof are provided. The electronic device contains a glass substrate, a patterned semiconductor substrate, having at least one opening, disposed on the glass substrate and at least one passive component having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer is disposed between the patterned semiconductor substrate and the glass substrate.
US08766398B2

A discrete semiconductor device has a substrate with a first conductivity type of semiconductor material. A first semiconductor layer is formed over the substrate. The first semiconductor layer having the first conductivity type of semiconductor material. A second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a second conductivity type of semiconductor material. A trench is formed through the second semiconductor layer and extends into the second semiconductor layer. The trench has a rounded or polygonal shape and vertical sidewalls. The trench is lined with an insulating layer and filled with an insulating material. A boundary between the first and second semiconductor layers forms a p-n junction. The trench surrounds the p-n junction to terminate the electric field of a voltage imposed on the second semiconductor layer. The discrete semiconductor device can also be a transistor, thyristor, triac, or transient voltage suppressor.
US08766388B2

A polymerizable composition contains (A) a polymerization initiator that is an acetophenone-based compound or an acylphosphine oxide-based compound, (B) a polymerizable compound, (C) at least either a tungsten compound or a metal boride, and (D) an alkali-soluble binder.
US08766380B2

A method of forming a MEMS device by encapsulating a MEMS element with a sacrificial layer portion deposited over a substrate arrangement, the portion defining a cavity for the MEMS element, forming at least one strip of a further sacrificial material extending outwardly from the portion, forming a cover layer portion over the sacrificial layer portion, the cover layer portion terminating on the at least one strip, removing the sacrificial layer portion and the at least one strip, the removal of the at least one strip defining at least one vent channel extending laterally underneath the cover layer portion and sealing the at least one vent channel. A device including such a packaged micro electro-mechanical structure.
US08766377B2

A method of forming a back gate transistor device includes forming an open isolation trench in a substrate; forming sidewall spacers in the open isolation trench; and using the open isolation trench to perform a doping operation so as to define a doped well region below a bottom surface of the isolation trench that serves as a back gate conductor, wherein the sidewall spacers prevent contamination of a channel region of the back gate transistor device by dopants.
US08766359B2

An integrated circuit containing an extended drain MOS transistor with deep semiconductor (SC) RESURF trenches in the drift region, in which each deep SC RESURF trench has a semiconductor RESURF layer at a sidewall of the trench contacting the drift region. The semiconductor RESURF layer has an opposite conductivity type from the drift region. The deep SC RESURF trenches have depth:width ratios of at least 5:1, and do not extend through a bottom surface of the drift region. A process of forming an integrated circuit with deep SC RESURF trenches in the drift region by etching undersized trenches and counterdoping the sidewall region to form the semiconductor RESURF layer. A process of forming an integrated circuit with deep SC RESURF trenches in the drift region by etching trenches and growing an epitaxial layer on the sidewall region to form the semiconductor RESURF layer.
US08766356B2

A semiconductor device capable of reducing a thickness, an electronic product employing the same, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor substrate having first and second active regions. A first transistor in the first active region includes a first gate pattern and first impurity regions. A second transistor the second active region includes a second gate pattern and second impurity regions. A first conductive pattern is on the first transistor, wherein at least a part of the first conductive pattern is disposed at a same distance from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate as at least a part of the second gate pattern. The first conductive pattern may be formed on the first transistor while the second transistor is formed.
US08766355B2

A semiconductor device includes a device isolation pattern in which a polysilicon layer pattern doped with oxygen, carbon or nitrogen is interposed between an inner wall of a trench and a nitride liner. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a trench, a polysilicon layer pattern on a surface of the trench, a nitride layer pattern on the polysilicon layer pattern, and an insulation layer pattern on the nitride layer pattern and filling the trench. The polysilicon layer pattern may be doped with oxygen, carbon and/or nitrogen. Related manufacturing methods are also disclosed.
US08766354B2

A semiconductor device including a plurality of buried word lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of buried bit lines extending in a second direction. Upper surfaces of the plurality of buried word lines and the plurality of buried bit lines are lower than an upper surface of a substrate. The distance between two active regions that constitute a pair of first active regions from among a plurality of first active regions included in a first group of active regions is less than the distance between two adjacent active regions having the plurality of buried bit lines therebetween. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first trenches in a substrate, forming a plurality of first conductive patterns in the plurality of first trenches in such a manner that a pair of first conductive patterns is disposed in each of the plurality of first trenches, forming a plurality of first buried patterns in the plurality of first trenches to cover the plurality of first conductive patterns, forming a plurality of second trenches by etching the substrate between the plurality of first trenches, and forming a plurality of second buried patterns in the plurality of second trenches.
US08766349B2

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a memory array and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having a stacked array structure (referred to as a STAR structure: a STacked ARray structure) applicable to not only a switch device but also a memory device, a NAND flash memory array using the same as a memory device and a fabrication method thereof.
US08766342B2

Methods and an apparatus are described for an integrated circuit within which an electroless Cu plated layer having an oxygen content is formed on the top of a seed layer comprising Cu and Mn. The integrated circuit is then exposed to a sufficient high temperature to cause the self-formation of a MnSiOx barrier layer.
US08766337B2

A first thin film diode (100A) has a first semiconductor layer (10A) and a first light blocking layer (12A) disposed on the substrate side of the first semiconductor layer. A second thin film diode (100B) has a second semiconductor layer (10B) and a second light blocking layer (12B) disposed on the substrate side of the second semiconductor layer. An insulating film (14) is formed between the first semiconductor layer (10A) and the first light blocking layer (12A) and between the second semiconductor layer (10B) and the second light blocking layer (12B). A thickness D1 of a portion of the insulating film (14) positioned between the first semiconductor layer (10A) and the first light blocking layer (12A) is different from a thickness D2 of a portion of the insulating film (14) positioned between the second semiconductor layer (10B) and the second light blocking layer (12B). The intensity of light in a first wavelength region incident on the first semiconductor layer (10A) is higher than the intensity of light in the first wavelength region incident on the second semiconductor layer (10B). The intensity of light in a second wavelength region including a wavelength longer than the maximum wavelength of the first wavelength region incident on the second semiconductor layer (10B) is higher than the intensity of light in the second wavelength region incident on the first semiconductor layer (10A).
US08766323B2

An organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display apparatus including a lower substrate having power lines in a non-display region that is outside a display region whereon an image is realized; and a functional layer formed between the power lines and an encapsulation substrate.
US08766317B2

Provided is a semiconductor device in which on-resistance is largely reduced based on a new principle of operation. In the semiconductor device, if an embedded electrode is at negative potential, a depletion layer is formed from a trench to a neighboring trench so that a channel is turned off. If the embedded electrode is at a positive potential, the depletion layer is not formed in every region between the neighboring trenches so that the channel is turned on.
US08766314B2

An object is to provide a light-emitting device having a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device. A light-emitting device includes a lower support 110, a base insulating film 112 over the lower support 110 which has a through-hole 130, a light-emitting element 127 over the base insulating film 112, and an upper support 122 over the light-emitting element 127. An electrode 131 is provided in the through-hole 130, and the external connection terminal 132 electrically connected to the electrode 131 is provided below the base insulating film 112. The external connection terminal 132 is electrically connected to the external connection portion 133 and functions as a terminal that inputs a signal or a power supply into the light-emitting device. This light-emitting device has a structure in which an external connection portion can easily be connected.
US08766303B2

A light-emitting diode (LED) with a mirror protection layer includes sequentially stacked an N-type electrode, an N-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, a metal mirror layer, a protection layer, a buffer layer, a binding layer, a permanent substrate, and a P-type electrode. The protection layer is made of metal oxide, and has a hollow frame for covering or supporting edges of the metal mirror layer.
US08766297B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a stacked structural body, first and second electrodes, a high resistance layer and a transparent conductive layer. The stacked structural body includes first and second semiconductor layers and a light emitting layer. The first semiconductor layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is disposed between the second electrode and the first semiconductor layer. The second electrode has reflectivity with respect to luminescent light. The high resistance layer is in contact with the second semiconductor layer between the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode and includes a portion overlapping with the first electrode. The transparent conductive layer is in contact with the second semiconductor layer between the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode. The transparent conductive layer has a resistance lower than a resistance of the high resistance layer.
US08766296B2

A gallium nitride (GaN) based light emitting diode (LED), wherein light is extracted through a nitrogen face (N-face) of the LED and a surface of the N-face is roughened into one or more hexagonal shaped cones. The roughened surface reduces light reflections occurring repeatedly inside the LED, and thus extracts more light out of the LED. The surface of the N-face is roughened by an anisotropic etching, which may comprise a dry etching or a photo-enhanced chemical (PEC) etching.
US08766295B2

A semiconductor device includes a first light emitting chip, the first light emitting chip having a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a first active layer disposed therebetween, a second light emitting chip disposed on the first light emitting chip, the second light emitting chip having a third semiconductor layer, a fourth semiconductor layer, and a second active layer disposed therebetween, and a conductive layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer having different conductivity types.
US08766286B2

An organic opto-electric device has a layer stack with a base electrode, an organic layer assembly, a cover electrode and a contact layer. The organic layer assembly is arranged between the base electrode and the cover electrode and the cover electrode is arranged between the organic layer assembly and the contact layer. The cover electrode and the base electrode are structured to form several laterally adjacent optically active areas and the base electrode, the organic layer assembly, the cover electrode and the contact layer are interconnected by vias such that at least two optically active areas are connected in series so that a current flow through the at least two optically active areas passes in a direction between the base electrode and a cover electrode. The current flow between the at least two optically active areas passes through the contact layer, wherein the contact layer contacts the base electrode above one of the vias laterally in the interior of the two optically active areas.
US08766283B2

The invention relates to a light-emitting arrangement, having:—at least one light-emitting diode chip (1),—a multi-layer board (17) having a base (5) of a thermally well conducting material, in particular of metal, and—an electrical insulating and thermally conducting connection layer (2) between the emission surface of the light-diode chip (1) and the board (17).
US08766274B2

Disclosed are methods and materials useful in the preparation of semiconductor devices. In particular embodiments, disclosed are methods for engineering polycrystalline aluminum nitride substrates that are thermally matched to further materials that can be combined therewith. For example, the polycrystalline aluminum nitride substrates can be engineered to have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is closely matched to the CTE of a semiconductor material and/or to a material that can be used as a growth substrate for a semiconductor material. The invention also encompasses devices incorporating such thermally engineered substrates and semiconductor materials grown using such thermally engineered substrates. The thermally engineered substrates are advantageous for overcoming problems caused by damage arising from CTE mismatch between component layers in semiconductor preparation methods and materials.
US08766266B2

A semiconductor substrate includes: a thin-film transistor including an organic semiconductor layer; and a light absorption-transmission layer provided in a pathway that leads external light to the organic semiconductor layer. The light absorption-transmission layer absorbs light of a wavelength range that includes at least a part of a light absorption wavelength range of the organic semiconductor layer, and allows light of a remaining wavelength range to pass therethrough.
US08766265B2

An OLED device includes: a TFT including an active layer, gate, source and drain electrodes, a first insulating layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer between the source and drain electrodes, a pixel electrode on the first and second insulating layers, connected to one of the source and drain electrodes, a capacitor including a first electrode on the same layer as the active layer, a second electrode on the same layer as the gate electrode, and a third electrode formed of the same material as the pixel electrode, a third insulating layer between the second insulating layer and the pixel electrode and between the second and third electrodes, a fourth insulating layer covering the source, drain and third electrodes, exposing a portion of the pixel electrode, an organic light-emitting layer on the pixel electrode, and a counter electrode on the organic light-emitting layer.
US08766253B2

To provide a semiconductor device including a transistor formed using a highly reliable oxide semiconductor. To provide a semiconductor device which can be manufactured with high productivity and high yield by reducing the number of photolithography steps. The semiconductor device includes a first wiring, a second wiring, and a third wiring whose potential is lower than those of the first wiring and the second wiring between the first wiring and the second wiring. In the semiconductor device, the first wiring is electrically connected to the third wiring through a first transistor in which a gate electrode layer is electrically connected to a source electrode layer, the second wiring is electrically connected to the third wiring through a second transistor in which the gate electrode layer is electrically connected to the source electrode layer, and a continuous oxide semiconductor film used for a semiconductor region of the first transistor and the second transistor is provided above or below the first wiring, the second wiring, and the third wiring.
US08766249B2

Provided are a novel nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound and an organic electronic device using the compound. This nitrogen-containing aromatic compound is represented by the general formula (1). Further, the present invention relates to organic electronic devices such as a light-emitting device, a thin-film transistor, and a photovoltaic device each using the nitrogen-containing aromatic compound. (L represents an m+n-valent aromatic hydrocarbon group or aromatic heterocyclic group, or a group arising from a triarylamine or a diaryl sulfone; X represents N-A, O, S, or Se; A represents an alkyl group or the like; R represent hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aromatic group, or the like; and m+n is an integer of 2 to 4.)
US08766247B2

An organic light emitting device includes a substrate divided into and defined by first to third pixels, a first electrode disposed on the substrate and a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer disposed in the first pixel and in the second pixel, respectively, between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first triplet exciton confinement layer, a third light emitting layer and a second triplet exciton confinement layer disposed over the first to third pixels in this order, on the first light emitting layer and the second light emitting layer, and a first common layer disposed between the first light emitting layer and the second light emitting layer, and the first electrode, and a second common layer disposed between the second triplet exciton confinement layer and the second electrode.
US08766240B2

A permeation barrier film structure for organic electronic devices includes one or more bilayers having a hybrid permeation barrier composition. Each of the one or more bilayers includes a first region having a first composition corresponding to a first CF4—O2 Plasma Reactive Ion Etch Rate and a second region having a second composition corresponding to a second CF4—O2 Plasma Reactive Ion Etch Rate, wherein the second Etch Rate is greater than the first Etch Rate by a factor greater than 1.2 and the hybrid permeation barrier film is a homogeneous mixture of a polymeric material and a non-polymeric material, wherein the mixture is created from a single precursor material.
US08766238B2

The present invention relates to light-emitting devices and in particular organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). In particular, the invention relates to emitter materials in which charged metal complexes are bonded to a polymer by electrostatic interactions.
US08766235B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming BJTs. A first type doped region is formed within semiconductor material. First and second trenches are formed within the semiconductor material to pattern an array of pedestals, and the trenches are filled with electrically insulative material. An upper portion of the first type doped region is counter-doped to form a first stack having a second type doped region over a first type doped region, and an upper portion of the first stack is then counter-doped to form a second stack having a second type doped region between a pair of first type doped regions. Some embodiments include a BJT array. A base implant region is between a pair of emitter/collector implant regions. Electrically insulative material is adjacent the base implant region, and contains at least about 7×1016 atoms/cm3 of base implant region dopant.
US08766234B1

Selector devices that can be suitable for memory device applications can have low leakage currents at low voltages to reduce sneak current paths for non selected devices, and high leakage currents at high voltages to minimize voltage drops during device switching. In some embodiments, the selector device can include a first electrode, a tri-layer dielectric layer, and a second electrode. The tri-layer dielectric layer can include a high leakage dielectric layer sandwiched between two lower leakage dielectric layers. The low leakage layers can function to restrict the current flow across the selector device at low voltages. The high leakage dielectric layer can function to enhance the current flow across the selector device at high voltages.
US08766232B2

According to a method of fabricating the semiconductor memory device, a contact plug can be protected while mold openings are formed. A semiconductor memory device may include a mold dielectric layer on an entire surface of a substrate, the substrate including a first region and a second region. A contact plug may be provided in a contact hole formed through the mold dielectric layer in the first region. A variable resistor may be provided in a mold opening formed through the mold dielectric layer in the second region. An upper surface of the contact plug may be at a level equal to or lower than an upper surface of the mold dielectric layer.
US08766231B2

On example of the present invention is a nanoscale electronic device comprising a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and a device layer. The device layer comprises a first dielectric material, between the first and second conductive electrodes, that includes an effective device layer, a first barrier layer near a first interface between the first conductive electrode and the device layer, and a second barrier layer near a second interface between the second conductive electrode and the device layer. A second example of the present invention is an integrated circuit that incorporates nanoscale electronic devices of the first example.
US08766224B2

An electrically actuated switch comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and an active region disposed therebetween. The active region comprises at least one primary active region comprising at least one material that can be doped or undoped to change its electrical conductivity, and a secondary active region comprising at least one material for providing a source/sink of ionic species that act as dopants for the primary active region(s). Methods of operating the switch are also provided.
US08766223B2

A packaging machine and a device for monitoring a roll with film material wound thereon is disclosed. By means of a sensor arrangement, an end of the film material on the roll may be detected. The sensor arrangement includes at least one optoelectric sensor arranged stationary relative to a front side of the roll. The optoelectric sensor is designed such that a portion of an outer circumference of the rotating roll may be detected.
US08766220B2

A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus includes: an irradiation section configured to irradiate an irradiated body with a charged particle beam; a multi-leaf collimator configured to set an irradiation range of the charged particle beam which is irradiated from the irradiation section; an imaging section that is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to an irradiation axis of the charged particle beam which is irradiated from the irradiation section, between the irradiation section and the multi-leaf collimator, and directly images an opening portion of the multi-leaf collimator; and a drive section configured to move the imaging section between an imaging position corresponding to an irradiation area which includes the irradiation axis of the charged particle beam and a retreated position away from the irradiation area.
US08766219B2

A method of operating a particle beam microscopy. A particle beam is scanned across a scanning region of a surface of the object. Particles are detected by a detector system for a plurality of impingement locations of the primary beam within the scanning region. A detector system generates detector signals which represent for each of the impingement locations an intensity of the detected particles. Material data of the interaction regions are calculated depending on the detector signals and depending on topography data, which represent a topography of the object surface in the scanning region.
US08766215B2

A charged particle beam drawing apparatus includes: a charged particle optical system; a substrate stage; an interferometer configured to measure a position of the stage in the direction of the optical axis of the charged particle optical system; a measuring device configured to measure a characteristic of the charged particle beam; and a controller configured to correct the measurement, obtained by the interferometer, using correction information. The controller is configured to cause first measurement as measurement by the interferometer and second measurement as measurement by the measuring device to be performed in parallel, and to obtain the correction information based on the first measurement and the second measurement obtained with respect to each of the plurality of positions.
US08766211B2

There is described a fluid treatment system in which fluid to be treated is impinged under pressure on a radiation emitting surface. The fluid treatment system includes at least one radiation source having a radiation emitting surface and at least one nozzle element having a fluid discharge opening spaced from the radiation emitting surface. The fluid discharge opening is configured to impinge fluid to be treated on to at least a portion of the radiation emitting surface. The fluid treatment system is well suited to treating low transmittance fluid.
US08766210B2

Charged particle system are disclosed and include a first voltage source, a second voltage source electrically isolated from the first voltage source, a charged particle source electrically connected to the first voltage source, and an extractor electrically connected to the second voltage source. Methods relating to the charged particle systems are also disclosed.
US08766203B2

A solid state imaging device 1 includes a photodetecting section 10, a signal readout section 20, a controlling section 30, dummy photodetecting sections 11 and 12 including dummy photodiodes, discharging arrangement for discharging junction capacitance portions of the dummy photodiodes, and a scintillator layer 50 provided so as to cover the photodetecting section 10. The dummy photodetecting section 11 is disposed so as to neighbor the first row (the upper side of the photodetecting section 10) of the photodetecting section 10 and has a length equivalent to the length of the photodetecting section 10 in the left-right direction. The dummy photodetecting section 12 is disposed so as to neighbor the M-th column of the photodetecting section 10 (the lower side of the photodetecting section 10) and has a length equivalent to the length of the photodetecting section 10 in the left-right direction.
US08766190B2

Disclosed are a pixel, a pixel array, an image sensor including the same, and a method for operating the image sensor. Charges are eliminated from a first photoelectric conversion region of a photoelectric conversion section, and accumulated into the first photoelectric conversion region. Information about quantity of the charges of the first photoelectric conversion region is output, and charges are removed from a second photoelectric conversion region of the photoelectric conversion section. Accumulation of charges into the second photoelectric conversion region is started, and then information about quantity of the charges accumulated in the second photoelectric conversion region is output.Lights having wavelength bands different from each other are independently detected according to disclosed invention.
US08766187B2

A pyroelectric sensor array is attachable on a circuit board. The pyroelectric sensor array comprises a pyroelectric board and a plurality of pyroelectric elements formed on the pyroelectric board. The pyroelectric board has a connection surface configured to be placed on the circuit board. The pyroelectric elements contains a peripheral pyroelectric element arranged at a peripheral portion of the pyroelectric board in a predetermined arranging direction and a central pyroelectric element arranged at a central portion of the pyroelectric board. Each of the pyroelectric elements has two adjacent connection electrodes formed on the connection surface. An electrostatic capacity between the two connection electrodes of the peripheral pyroelectric element is larger than an electrostatic capacity between the two connection electrodes of the central pyroelectric element.
US08766185B2

The charged particle beam device has an unlimitedly rotatable sample stage and an electric field control electrode for correcting electric field distortion at a sample peripheral part. A voltage is applied to a sample on the unlimitedly rotatable sample stage through a retarding electrode that is in contact with a holder receiver at a rotation center of a rotary stage. An equipotential plane on the electric field control electrode is varied by applying a voltage to the electric field control electrode, and following this the equipotential plane at a sample edge is corrected, which enables the sample to be observed as far as its edge.
US08766184B2

With a scanning electron microscope (SEM) adopting a commonly available exhaust system such as a turbo-molecular pump, an ion pump, or a rotary pump, and so forth, there is realized an apparatus capable of safely executing observation, or adsorption of a target substance that is high in rarity. Further, there is realized a safe SEM low in the risk of an electrical discharge by providing the apparatus with a probe, a means for replacing an atmosphere in a specimen chamber, with a predetermined gas, and a means for forming an image by detection of an ion current, and detection of an absorption current. Further, there is provided a means for controlling the polarity of a voltage applied to the probe. Still further, there is provided a control means for controlling a value of the voltage applied to the probe according to a degree of vacuum.
US08766181B2

An optical system includes a beam splitter disposed along an optical axis and a set of mirrors optically coupled to the beam splitter. The set of mirrors are oriented perpendicular to each other. The optical system also includes a turning mirror optically coupled to a second mirror of the set of mirrors and a detector optically coupled to the turning mirror.
US08766177B2

A coupled nanomanipulation and nanospray mass spectrometry (NMS) system for single cell, single organelle, and ultra-trace molecular analysis is disclosed herein. The system primarily comprises a bio-workstation coupled to a NMS. The bio-workstation primarily comprises of a nanomanipulator stage with a plurality of nano-positioners attached to a cabinet with a piezo voltage source and a pressure injector. The present invention further describes a fingerprint lift method that when coupled with the system disclosed herein can be used for retrieval and analysis of trace amounts of drug and explosive residues. The system described herein has been used in the areas of trace and document analysis within the forensic field, trace fiber analysis, and electrostatic lifts for illicit drugs, as well as document and painting analysis.
US08766168B2

A sensor of the type for liquid and/or gas analysis, which is connected to a measuring and/or evaluating system or, respectively, to a higher-ranking control system and has a sensor housing. The circuit for the collecting, processing and transmitting measured values to the measuring and/or evaluating system or to the control system (19) are provided in the sensor housing (2). This circuit has analog sensor electronics (3), an analog-digital converter (14) for converting the detected analog measured values into digital measured values, a processing unit (15) and communication device (17) for processing and transmitting the digital measured values to the measuring and/or evaluating system or to the control system (19) according to a standard communication protocol of process technology.
US08766166B2

The present invention relates to a switch with multiple trigger function, which comprises: a touch switch having a button thereon; a first sensor having a sensing zone; and a microcontroller coupled to the touch switch and the first sensor; when the button is pressed by an object, the touch switch is conducted, and the microcontroller executes actions corresponding to the touch switch, thereby driving a controlled device; or when the object enters the sensing zone, the first sensor senses the signal change, and the microcontroller enables the touch switch to be conducted according to the signal change, or generates a signal the same as the signal for conducting the touch switch for executing corresponding actions, thereby driving a controlled device.
US08766164B2

An embodiment of a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode includes a body of semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, a first surface and a second surface; a trench extending through the body from the first surface and surrounding an active region; a lateral-isolation region within the trench, formed by a conductive region and an insulating region of dielectric material, the insulating region surrounding the conductive region; an anode region having a second conductivity type, extending within the active region and facing the first surface. The active region forms a cathode region extending between the anode region and the second surface, and defines a quenching resistor. The photodiode has a contact region of conductive material, overlying the first surface and in contact with the conductive region for connection thereof to a circuit biasing the conductive region, thereby a depletion region is formed in the active region around the insulating region.
US08766158B2

A production method of a solid-state imaging device in which microlenses are arranged adjacent to each other on a substrate, includes: a first process of forming first microlenses on a surface of the substrate leaving space therebetween for providing second microlenses; and a second process of applying an overcoating material onto the surface of the substrate on which the first microlenses are formed, drying the overcoating material, exposing the overcoating material to light using a gray scale mask, and developing the exposed overcoating material, so as to form second microlenses in the space between the first microlenses adjacent to each other.
US08766156B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate provided with an effective pixel region including a light receiving section that photoelectrically converts incident light; an interconnection layer that is provided at a plane side opposite to the light receiving plane of the semiconductor substrate; a first groove portion that is provided between adjacent light receiving sections and is formed at a predetermined depth from the light receiving plane side of the semiconductor substrate; and an insulating material that is embedded in at least a part of the first groove portion.
US08766144B2

According to another aspect, the subject application involves an oven and a method of controlling an oven for cooking a food item. The oven includes a cooking cavity, a user interface comprising an input device to be actuated with a single actuation event by a cook to select a predetermined cooking mode for cooking the food item, a heating element operable to produce heat required to cook the food item within the cooking cavity, and a control unit. The method includes receiving a cooking signal in response to actuation of the input device with the single actuation event by the cook, and establishing a cooking parameter for the predetermined cooking mode based on the cooking signal. The cooking parameter can be specific to the food item to be cooked according to the predetermined cooking mode of the oven. The method also includes initiating the predetermined cooking mode associated with the input device, and detecting that cooking of the food item according to the predetermined cooking mode is complete.
US08766135B2

A glass substrate laser cutting device according to the invention includes: a working table that has a plurality of vacuum absorbing grooves; a laser cutter; a pressure sensor that measures a pressure sensor when suctioning the glass substrate in a vacuum state; a calculation processing unit that compares the vacuum pressure measured by the pressure sensor with a predetermined threshold pressure and determines whether the glass substrate is broken; a laser cutter that includes a leaser head moving along the cutting direction of the glass substrate and emitting a laser beam; and an optical sensor that is attached to the laser head so as to move together and is disposed at a point in front of the laser beam emitted to the outside so as to detect the breakage of the glass substrate.
US08766131B2

A high-voltage switch includes a contact arrangement having two arcing contacts, one of which is supported displaceably against the action of a pretensioned spring. When the contact arrangement is closed, the free ends of the two arcing contacts are supported on one another. When the contact arrangement is opened, the two arcing contacts separate and during this process an arcing zone, accommodating compressed arc gas, is produced which is limited axially by free ends of the two arcing contacts and radially by an insulating nozzle toward the outside. To prevent the displaceably supported arcing contact from returning against the action of the pretensioned spring when a large short-circuit current is interrupted, the switch includes a piston/cylinder system functioning as a restoring device, which communicates with the arcing zone and which, with increasing pressure of the compressed arc gas produced in the arcing zone, generates a restoring force supporting the repelling force of the pretensioned spring.
US08766125B2

A D/A integrated pressure key for a keyboard is shown. A digital signal output first when a pressure is applied on the single key, and then an analog signal output while applying a bigger pressure over the same key. The magnitude of the analog signal output is positively related to the magnitude of the pressure applied on the integrated pressure key.
US08766121B2

A rotary on/off control switch (100, 700, 900) provides improved torque with single click operation. Rotary on/off control switch (100) is formed of a casing (106), a drive member (108), and a carrier member (110) having frictional elements (112) coupled thereto. A lever (116) and drive member (108) provide rotation of the carrier within the casing. In response to rotation of the drive member (108), carrier member (110) and lever (116), each frictional element (112) travels against the casing generating torque for single click ON operation. Rotation past a predetermined angle causes the carrier member (110) to remain stationary for variable function control of the rotary on/off control switch (100). Reverse rotation of the drive member (108), carrier member (110) and lever (116), generates torque for single click OFF operation.
US08766118B2

An actuator that includes a shelf having a pivot cone, a first member, a second member, a trigger pin and a trigger lever latch. The first member includes a weight, a first shaft extending upwardly from the weight and through an opening in the pivot cone, and a first plate affixed to the first shaft. The first plate is supported by the pivot cone. The second member includes a second plate resting on the first plate and a second shaft extending upwardly from the second plate. The trigger lever latch includes a first portion connected to the second shaft and a second portion extending upwardly at an angle away from the first portion. The trigger pin has an engagement surface. The trigger pin is movable between an operational state and a tripped state. The second end of the trigger lever latch is engaged with the engagement surface.
US08766092B2

An energy collection system is provided. The system can include an energy collection device and an energy concentration device disposed proximate at least a portion of the energy collection device. The energy concentration device includes a non-periodic, sub-wavelength, dielectric grating.
US08766088B2

A photovoltaic device can include a doped contact layer adjacent to a semiconductor absorber layer, where the doped contact layer includes a metal base material and a dopant.
US08766085B2

A photoelectric conversion device is provided in which a first photoelectric conversion module having a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements formed on one surface of a first translucent insulated substrate and a second photoelectric conversion module having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements formed on one surface of a second translucent insulated substrate are bonded together with the first photoelectric conversion elements and the second photoelectric conversion elements placed on an inner side. The photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion element pairs formed by electrically connecting, in series, the first photoelectric conversion elements and the second photoelectric conversion elements arranged in positions opposed to each other. All the photoelectric conversion element pairs are electrically connected in series.
US08766084B2

A thermoelectric generation apparatus 1 including a high-temperature pipe 10through which a high-temperature fluid passes; a low-temperature pipe 20 disposed horizontally adjacent to the high-temperature pipe 10 and through which a low-temperature fluid having a temperature lower than that of the high-temperature fluid passes; a thermoelectric module 32 interposed between the high-temperature pipe 10 and the low-temperature pipe 20 and generating power using a temperature difference between the high-temperature pipe 10 and the low-temperature pipe 20; a fluid chamber 28 connected to an upper portion and a lower portion of the low-temperature pipe 20, parallel to the low-temperature pipe 20; and a fluid replenisher 110 capable of replenishing the fluid chamber 28 with the low-temperature fluid in a liquid state.
US08766083B2

A thermoelectric element includes at least one thermopair and a pn-junction. The thermopair has a first material with a positive Seebeck coefficient and a second material with a negative Seebeck coefficient. The first material is selectively contacted by way of a conductor with the p-side of the pn-junction, and the second material is selectively contacted by way of a conductor with the n-side of the pn-junction.
US08766080B2

Methods, systems, and media for performing visualized quantitative vibrato analysis are provided. In some embodiments, a method for analyzing musical vibrato in an audio file is provided, the method comprising: receiving, using a hardware processor, a target note from a user; receiving, using the hardware processor, a time-domain signal representing a piece of music comprising a plurality of notes, wherein the plurality of notes include the target note and the target note is played with a vibrato effect; converting, using the hardware processor, the time-domain signal to a frequency-domain signal; determining, using the hardware processor, a plurality of changes in frequency and intensity of the vibrato effect over time based on the frequency-domain signal; determining, using the hardware processor, a target frequency corresponding to the target note; and displaying, on a display, data about the changes in frequency and intensity of the vibrato effect over time and data about the target frequency.
US08766072B2

The reed for a saxophone according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that one to six concave grooves are formed from a file mark 150 to a heel portion 120 in a longitudinal direction of the reed body 101 in a straight line, thus generating various tones with the aid of one to six concave grooves. In addition, an embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to generate deep and abundant tones with the aid of the increased vibrations of the reed, so the tones of a tenor saxophone can be expressed with an alto saxophone, which leads to a wide range of saxophone reed applications.
US08766069B2

A device for facilitating the stringing of a guitar is provided. More specifically, a device is provided that includes a head portion with at least one member for contacting and maintaining a first end of a guitar string around a cylindrical axle of a guitar bridge while the other end of the string is being interconnected to the tuning pegs of the instrument. Thus, the tool facilitates the stringing of a guitar by, for example, allowing the use of both hands to interconnect a second end of the guitar string to the tuning peg.
US08766060B1

A novel maize variety designated X08C963 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 X08C963 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08C963 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08C963, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08C963. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08C963.
US08766059B1

A novel maize variety designated PH18F6 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18F6 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18F6 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18F6 or a locus conversion of PH18F6 with another maize variety.
US08766054B2

The present invention provides sweet bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants with high levels of resistance to Phytophthora combined with desirable agronomic traits. The present invention also provides methods of making such plants and methods of using such plants to produce additional Phytophthora-resistant sweet bell pepper plants.
US08766052B1

A soybean cultivar designated S120112 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S120112, to the plants of soybean cultivar S120112, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S120112, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S120112. 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 S120112. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120112, 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 S120112 with another soybean cultivar.
US08766051B2

A soybean cultivar designated UA Kirksey is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar UA Kirksey, to the plants of soybean cultivar UA Kirksey, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar UA Kirksey, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar UA Kirksey. 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 UA Kirksey. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar UA Kirksey, 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 UA Kirksey with another soybean cultivar.
US08766044B2

A novel soybean variety, designated XB25F12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB25F12, cells from soybean variety XB25F12, plants of soybean XB25F12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB25F12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB25F12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB25F12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB25F12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB25F12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB25F12 are further provided.
US08766040B2

New Brassica Ogura fertility restorer lines with a shortened Raphanus fragment are provided. The new lines lack the OPC2 marker and are capable of fully restoring fertility in Ogura cytoplasmic male sterile (cms) plants. The improved lines were developed using a new breeding method. The new breeding method can be used to shorten an exotic insertion comprising a gene of interest in any plant.
US08766038B2

The present invention relates to methods for stimulating root growth and/or enhancing the formation of lateral or adventitious roots and/or altering root geotropism comprising expression of a plant cytokinin oxidase or comprising expression of another protein that reduces the level of active cytokinins in plants or plant parts. The invention also relates to novel plant cytokinin oxidase proteins, nucleic acid sequences encoding cytokinin oxidase proteins as well as to vectors, host cells, transgenic cells and plants comprising said sequences. The invention also relates to the use of said sequences for improving root-related characteristics including increasing yield and/or enhancing early vigor and/or modifying root/shoot ratio and/or improving resistance to lodging and/or increasing drought tolerance and/or promoting in vitro propagation of explants and/or modifying cell fate and/or plant development and/or plant morphology and/or plant biochemistry and/or plant physiology. The invention also relates to the use of said sequences in the above-mentioned methods. The invention also relates to methods for identifying and obtaining proteins and compounds interacting with cytokinin oxidase proteins. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds as a plant growth regulator or herbicide.
US08766036B1

The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 1669417. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 1669417, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 1669417 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 1669417.
US08766031B2

An absorbent article, preferably a disposable absorbent article such as a diaper, is disclosed that provides an improved immobilization of absorbent polymer material when the article is fully or partially urine loaded. This absorbent core is useful for providing an absorbent article of increased wearing comfort. Specifically disclosed is an absorbent core useful for an absorbent article comprising a substrate layer and absorbent material, the absorbent material comprising an absorbent polymer material, the absorbent material optionally comprising absorbent fibrous material, the absorbent fibrous material not representing more than 20% of the weight of absorbent polymer material, wherein the absorbent material is immobilized when wet such that the absorbent core achieves a wet immobilization of more than 50%, preferably of more than 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% according to the Wet Immobilization Test described herein.
US08766024B2

It has been discovered that the residence time of oils/fats in metal apparatus, particularly in the upstream of a hydrotreating unit, for example, a heat exchanger and/or a storage/feed tank, can impact significantly on corrosiveness of oils/fats in combination with and without conventional hydrocarbons. In addition, it is also found that the presence of hydrogen in the metal apparatus can also inhibit the corrosion rate of oils/fats.
US08766006B2

The present invention relates to the use of a nitroaniline derivative of Formula I for the production of nitric oxide and for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disease wherein the administration of nitric oxide is beneficial. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for the production of NO irradiating a nitroaniline derivative of Formula I, a kit comprising a nitroaniline derivative of Formula I and a carrier and to a system comprising a source of radiations and a container associated to a nitroaniline derivative of Formula I. In Formula I, R and RI are each independently hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group; RII is hydrogen or an alkyl group.
US08766005B2

The invention relates to a process for producing pharmaceutically acceptable salts of fingolimod (I), comprising the step of reacting N-[1,1-bis hydroxymethyl-3-(4-octyl phenyl)-propyl]-acylamide (II) with an acidic compound. Furthermore, the invention provides different pharmaceutically acceptable salts of fingolimod and a polymorphic form of fingolimod hydrochloride.
US08766004B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing aryl aldimines. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of preparing aryl aldimines that uses environmentally friendly solvent systems.
US08766000B2

The present invention relates to a method for continuously preparing a betaine aqueous solution, including the reaction of an amine with an ω-halocarboxylic acid, in the presence of water and a base. Said method is characterized in that it is carried out in a device consisting of at least two consecutive reactors (R1) and (R2), the reactor (R2) being a tubular reactor.
US08765999B2

Disclosed is a process for the production and purification of glycolic acid or glycolic acid derivatives by the carbonylation of formaldehyde in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst and a carboxylic acid. This invention discloses hydrocarboxylations and corresponding homogeneous acid catalyst and glycolic acid separations. The homogeneous acid catalyst is readily separated from the hydrocarboxylation reaction effluent and recycled and the carboxylic acid is readily removed from the glycolic acid and the carboxylic acid is recycled.
US08765992B2

The invention relates to methods for producing chalcone (1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one) derivatives that have multiple substitutions on a phenyl ring. Intermediate chalcone derivatives are modified by Phase Transfer Catalysis (PTC) for introducing a substituted alkyl group that is provided by a sulfonic acid derivative on a phenyl ring already containing substituent groups on one or two carbon atoms adjacent to the carbon atom where a substituent group is being introduced. The methods of the invention allow producing efficiently, by either S-alkylation or O-alkylation, chalcones derivatives that are characterized for their biological activities that are intermediate compounds for producing molecules having such activities, or that can be used for generating libraries of compounds to be screened by means of in vitro and/or in vivo assays and establishing structure-activity relationships.
US08765981B2

A process for producing an olefin oxide which comprises reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper oxide and a tellurium oxide.
US08765974B2

Disclosed is a method for producing a tetrahydropyran compound represented by general formula (5) shown in the scheme. Accordingly, a tetrahydropyran derivative is obtained in high yield and with high selectivity without using a highly toxic reagent, and an industrially useful method for producing a tetrahydropyran derivative and an intermediate thereof can be provided. In formulae (1) to (5), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, or an aromatic group which may have a substituent, and R1 and R2may be combined to form an alkylene group, thereby forming a ring; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, and R3 and R4 may be combined to form an alkylene group, thereby forming a ring.
US08765973B2

The invention is directed to compounds according to formula (I): where R1 is L1C(O)OT or L1C(O)OL2C(O)OT; R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, or C2-C10 alkynyl, or R1; n is an integer from 0 to 5; each R3 is independently halogen or R2; R4 and R5 are independently H, halogen, CN or CF3; L1 and L2 are each independently a bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkylene, C2-C10 alkenylene, or C2-C10 alkynylene; and T is H, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, or C2-C10 alkynyl, nitrophenol, or cyclopropyl. The invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and to methods for providing anesthesia in mammals by administering such a pharmaceutical composition.
US08765963B2

The invention relates to fatty acid niacin conjugates; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate; and methods for treating or preventing an metabolic disease comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate.
US08765957B2

The invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of Formula 1, comprising coupling a carboxylic acid of Formula 2 with an aniline of Formula 3 in the presence of a coupling agent.
US08765953B2

The present invention relates generally to alkyne containing pharmaceutical agents, and in particular, to phenylethynyl-thiophene based metalloprotease inhibitor compounds. More particularly, the present invention provides a new class of MMP inhibiting compounds that exhibit increased potency, metabolic stability and/or reduced toxicity in relation to currently known MMP inhibitors for the treatment of pain and other diseases such as cancer. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods for treating pain in a patient comprising administering to the patient a pain-reducing effective amount of a present compound.
US08765947B2

A preparation method of rosuvastatin calcium (Formula 1), which can be used for the production of medicament lowering the levels of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in vivo, is provided. Such preparation method is suitable for industrial production. Furthermore, the intermediate crystallines used in the preparation method are provided.
US08765946B2

A method of preparing a compound of formula (I), A method for treating cancer or inhibiting growth of cancer cells including administering to a patient mammal in need thereof a pharmaceutical preparation including the compound. A method of treating or preventing a physiological disorder caused by abnormal protein tyrosine kinase activity in a mammal including administering to a mammal a pharmaceutical preparation including the compound.
US08765944B2

The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08765940B2

Substituted bicyclic heteroaryls and compositions containing them, for the treatment of general inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, inflammatory eye disorders, inflammatory or unstable bladder disorders, psoriasis, skin complaints with inflammatory components, chronic inflammatory conditions, including but not restricted to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), myestenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, multiples sclerosis, Sjoegren's syndrome and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, allergic conditions including all forms of hypersensitivity, The present invention also enables methods for treating cancers that are mediated, dependent on or associated with p110 activity, including but not restricted to leukemias, such as Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML) Myelo-dysplastic syndrome (MDS) myelo-proliferative diseases (MPD) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) Non Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) B-cell lymphoma and solid tumors, such as breast cancer.
US08765938B2

The object is to produce a polysaccharide and/or a monosaccharide efficiently by hydrolyzing a different polysaccharide efficiently. The hydrolysis of a polysaccharide is an important means for producing a monosaccharide that can be used as a starting material for the production of ethanol, the solubilization of a water-insoluble polysaccharide, and the production of a useful water-soluble low-polymeric saccharide or the like. For achieving the object, a polysaccharide to be hydrolyzed is reacted with water in the presence of a carbonaceous material having sulfonic acid group therein to cause the hydrolysis of the polysaccharide to be hydrolyzed, thereby producing a other polysaccharide and/or a monosaccharide.
US08765926B2

The present invention pertains to a supramolecular structure based on i-motif tetramers of Cm—X—Cn oligonucleotides, wherein m and n are integers comprised between 2 and 9, and X is a linker such as A, T, G, a modified deoxynucleotide or a diol spacer. These supramolecular structures can be dissociated, when necessary, by a mere pH change. The present invention also relates to methods for obtaining such a supramolecular structure.
US08765925B2

A method for preparation of Timosaponin BII, which uses Chinese traditional medicine Rhizoma Anemarrhenae or fresh rhizoma or fibrous root of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. as raw material, and comprises isolation of Timosaponin BII by one or more processes selected from solvent extraction, resin adsorption, polyamide chromatography, reversed phase column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, etc, combining with conventional drying method such as reduced pressure drying, freeze drying, spray drying, and so on. Timosaponin BII obtained by the present method is of over 90% purity, and the method is simple, practicable and suitable for industrial production.
US08765923B2

Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
US08765922B2

A method and associated device for enrichment of Neél-magnetic particles from a dispersion of Brown-magnetic particles and Neél-magnetic particles. The device and method use ferromagnetic separation particles having a mean diameter of 100 to 250 μm located in a alternating magnetic field. The ferromagnetic separation particles have a magnetically and chemically inert coating.
US08765920B2

A new and versatile class of cyclic diazodicarboxamides that reacts efficiently and selectively with phenols and the phenolic side chain of tyrosine through an Ene-like reaction is reported. This mild aqueous tyrosine ligation reaction works over a broad pH range and expands the repertoire of aqueous chemistries available for small molecule, peptide, and protein modification. The tyrosine ligation reactions are shown to be compatible with the labeling of native enzymes and antibodies in buffered aqueous solution. This reaction provides a novel synthetic approach to bispecific antibodies. This reaction will find broad utility in peptide and protein chemistry and in the chemistry of phenol-containing compounds.
US08765917B2

Novel anti-cancer agents, including, but not limited to, antibodies and immunoconjugates, that bind to CD37 are provided. Methods of using the agents, antibodies, or immunoconjugates, such as methods of inhibiting tumor growth are further provided.
US08765915B2

The present invention relates to the fields of Factor VII (FVII) and Factor VIIa (FVIIa) albumin linked polypeptides. More specifically, the invention relates to cDNA sequences coding for human Factor VII and Factor VIIa and derivatives genetically fused to a cDNA coding for human serum albumin which may be linked by oligonucleotides which code for intervening peptidic linkers such encoded derivatives exhibiting improved stability and extended functional plasma half-life, recombinant expression vectors containing such cDNA sequences, host cells transformed with such recombinant expression vectors, recombinant polypeptides and derivatives which do have biological activities of the unmodified wild type protein but having improved stability and prolonged shelf-life and processes for the manufacture of such recombinant proteins and their derivatives. The invention also covers a transfer vector for use in human gene therapy, which comprises such modified DNA sequences.
US08765914B2

Purified genes encoding a cytokine referred to as interleukin-B30 (IL-B30) from a mammal, and reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using the reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.
US08765913B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. In particular the invention provides the means and methods for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and specifically targeting cancer stem cells. The present invention provides a soluble FZD receptor comprising an extracellular domain of a human FZD receptor that inhibits growth of tumor cells. The present invention still further provides a soluble receptor comprising a Fri domain of a human FZD receptor that binds a ligand of a human FZD receptor and said soluble receptor is capable of inhibiting tumor growth. The present invention still further provides a method of treating cancer comprising administering a soluble FZD receptor comprising for example, either an extracellular domain of a human FZD receptor or a Fri domain of a human FZD receptor, in an amount effective to inhibit tumor growth.
US08765900B2

The present disclosure is directed to an aliphatic isocyanate-based moisture-curable resin. The disclosed resin may include an aliphatic isocyanate functional material and an cycloaliphatic isocyanate functional material. The resin may be used to formulate a coating composition that may exhibit no substantial sag when applied at a wet film thickness of at least 6 mils, and no substantial blistering when cured to a dry film thickness of at least 6 mils.
US08765897B2

The present invention relates to a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer, preferably in the form of porous particles, and to the preparation and use thereof. The polymer according to the invention is produced by polymerization from chain-forming hydrophilic vinyl ethers and crosslinking, preferably heterocyclic divinyl ethers.
US08765889B2

The invention relates to a method for producing hybrid-particles containing polymer and SiO2-particles, wherein a) in a first polymerization step in aqueous medium a water-insoluble phase containing one or more monomeric and colloidal SiO2-particles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 150 nm are polymerized, and b) in a second polymerization step in aqueous medium one or more monomers are polymerized in the presence of the polymer obtained in the first polymerization step.
US08765878B2

Provided is a resin composition including a compound in which a vinyl group in a side chain of a phosphazene compound is bonded to an α carbon in an aliphatic polyester resin.
US08765876B2

Fluoroelastomer compositions comprising fluoroelastomers having copolymerized units of a nitrile-containing cure site monomer are cured with certain hydrazide curatives. The hydrazide is of the general formula R1(C(O))nNHNHR2, wherein n is 1 or 2; R1 is NH2, NHNH2, NHR3, NR32, NHNHC(O)NH2, NHNHC(O)NHNH2, NHNHR2, or NHC(O)NHNH2; R2 is H, alkyl, aryl, heterocycle, CO2R3, C(O)R3, CH2R4, or C(O)R4; R3 is alkyl, aryl, heterocycle, or CH2R4; and R4 is a fluoroalkyl group.
US08765875B2

Fluoroelastomer compositions comprising fluoroelastomers having copolymerized units of a nitrile-containing cure site monomer are cured with certain hydrazide curatives. The hydrazide is of the general formula R1C(O)NHNHR2, wherein R1 is alkyl, aryl, benzyl, heterocycle, fluoroalkyl, or H; R2 is H, alkyl, aryl, heterocycle, CO2R3, C(O)H, or CH2R4; R3 is alkyl, CH2R4, aryl, benzyl, or heterocycle; and R4 is a fluoroalkyl group.
US08765868B2

A resin composition includes: (A) a polymer having a structural unit shown by the formula (I), and an acidic functional group or a group derived therefrom at both of the terminals; wherein X1 is a di- to octa-valent organic group, Y1 is a di- to octa-valent organic group, R1 is a hydrogen atom or an organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, when plural R1s or R2s exist, the plural R1s or R2s may be the same or different, p and q are independently an integer of 0 to 4, l and m are independently an integer of 0 to 2, and n is an integer of 2 or more indicating the number of structural units; (B) a solvent; and (C) a compound shown by formula (II) wherein R3 is a monovalent organic group.
US08765861B2

A masterbatch pellet is provided for obtaining a polyamide resin composition excellent in mechanical strength and heat aging resistance. The masterbatch pellet is obtained by melt-kneading a raw material component containing a thermoplastic resin (A) and a metal oxide (B), wherein a content of the metal oxide (B) is 0.5% by mass or more and a fraction of the metal oxide (B) after the melt kneading is present as an aggregated particle of 5 μm or more in a major axis length. A proportion of the aggregated particle of 5 μm or more in a major axis length in a whole metal oxide after the melt kneading is preferably 30% by mass or less.
US08765856B2

A lead-free, non-toxic composite material including a thermosetting polymer and at least one of a heavy particulate filler, a light particulate filler or a combination thereof. The composite material may be utilized in manufacturing articles used in radiation shielding applications.
US08765851B2

A hot melt adhesive composition that includes a first copolymer that includes the reaction product of a functionalized polyethylene, a propylene-alpha-olefin polymer that includes at least 50 mole % propylene and has a viscosity of no greater than 10,000 centipoise at 190° C., a ratio of z average molecular weight (Mz) to number average molecular weight (Mn) (Mz/Mn) of greater than 20, and a ratio of Mz to weight average molecular weight (Mw) (Mz/Mw) of greater than 3.0, and a free radical initiator.
US08765847B2

Methods are provided for upgrading the quality of an asphalt. The methods include mixing an asphalt feed with a cracking resistance additive that improves the low temperature properties of the asphalt while leaving the high temperature properties unchanged or minimally changed. The cracking resistance additive corresponds to a compound that is a liquid at both the low temperature performance grade for the asphalt and at mixing and/or storage temperature for the asphalt. Examples of compounds that, in an appropriate molecular weight range, are liquids across this broad temperature range include polyalphaolefins, alkylated naphthalenes, and organic esters.
US08765845B2

Compositions comprising a hydraulic binder such as cement or gypsum and a hydroxypropyl guar derivative that comprises unsubstituted linear or branched C6-C8 alkyl chains possess excellent water retention characteristics.
US08765844B2

A manufacturing method of rubber composition for tire tread or the other, which is comprised of adding 30-110 mass parts of silica powders to 100 mass parts of diene rubber component and adding silane coupling agent by 3-15 mass % of the silica powders, comprising: preparing hetero-modified SBR having hetero atom functional group; a first kneader-mixing step, in which 60-85 mass parts of the diene rubber component including no less than 20 mass % of the hetero-modified SBR is mixed in a kneader device with substantially all of the reinforcing fillers; taking out of obtained mixture to give a master batch; and second kneader-mixing step, in which the master batch is mixed substantially solely with remaining mass parts of the diene component.
US08765841B2

Disclosed is a composition, useful for a coating material, comprising coal ash and latex polymer and optionally a hydraulic binder, a superplasticizer, a rheology modifier, a filler, an aggregate, a foaming agent, a de-foaming agent, an accelerant and/or a retardant. The composition possesses favorable physicochemical properties and a low carbon footprint.
US08765836B2

A dental appliance comprising a hard, shaped body having at least one portion comprising a polymerized blend of: From 0% to about 50% of an uncrosslinked polymer capable of dissolving in component; From about 0% to 50% of a monofunctional polymerizable monomer; From about 0% to 40% of a highly crosslinked polymer in the form of ground particles having average diameters up to about 500 microns; From about 0% to 50% of a crosslinked polymer in the form of discrete particles having average diameters up to about 500 microns and being easily swellable by said monomer; and From about 5% to about 35% of a di- or polyfunctional crosslinking agent.
US08765832B2

Provided is a method for providing a composition comprising at least one propylene-based polymer; at least one of multifunctional acrylates, multifunctional methacrylates, functionalized polybutadiene resins, functionalized cyanurate, and allyl isocyanurate; at least one of hindered phenols, phosphites, and hindered amines; and at least one photoinitiator for UV curing. The propylene-based polymer can include propylene derived units and one or more dienes, and have a triad tacticity of from 50% to 99% and a heat of fusion of less than 80 J/g. The composition can be extruded and crosslinked. The crosslinked composition is particularly useful for making films and fibers.
US08765820B2

Tranylcypromine derivatives useful as therapeutic agents, particularly for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases and conditions associated with the activity of histone demethylases LSD1 and LSD2, such as the diseases characterized by deregulation of gene transcription, cell differentiation and proliferation, e.g. tumors, viral infections, are herein described. These compounds belong to the structural formula (I) wherein A and R3 are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to the preparation of these compounds, as well as to compositions containing them and to therapeutic use thereof.
US08765816B2

Compounds that are central nervous system drug candidates for the treatment of cognitive decline and, more particularly, Alzheimer's disease are provided. Methods of treating, inhibiting, and/or abatement of cognitive decline and/or Alzheimer's disease with a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the invention are also provided. Also provided are methods of preparing the compounds/compositions of the invention.
US08765813B2

The present disclosure relates to novel methods for using treprostinil or its derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the treatment and/or prevention of ischemic lesions, such as digital ulcers, in subjects with scleroderma (including systemic sclerosis), Buerger's disease, Raynaud's disease, Raynaud's phenomenon and/or other conditions that cause such lesions. The disclosure also relates to kits for treatment and/or prevention of ischemic lesions, which include an effective amount of treprostinil or its derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08765810B2

The present invention is directed to compounds that are allosteric inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor I, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions thereof in the treatment of TNF-α mediated conditions.
US08765808B2

The NSAID, sulindac and/or its metabolites and derivatives, in combination with hydrogen peroxide or another oxidizing agent, such as arsenic trioxide that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly enhances the killing of cancer cells. This effect occurs at concentrations of each compound that individually have little or no activity directed against cancer cells. A skin cream has been developed and used to treat skin cancer and precancerous skin growths that effectively removes the lesions with no effect on surrounding normal skin.
US08765807B2

The present invention relates to the formulations of ester derivatives of capsaicin and ester derivatives of myristoleic acid. These derivatives are capable of reverting to the active parent compound following enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis. These derivatives have a higher lipophilicity, lipid solubility and less irritation to the skin than the parent compound, and hence are better able to be incorporated into certain pharmaceutical formulations, including cream and ointment pharmaceutical formulations. The pharmaceutical compositions are useful for pain management in mammals in vivo and have been contemplated to be used in the treatment of various pains in humans.
US08765805B2

Novel ligand compounds having the structural formula (I): in which: Ar is a radical selected from among the radicals of formulae (a)-(c) below: are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suited for administration in human or veterinary medicine, or, alternatively into cosmetic compositions.
US08765795B2

A preservative which comprises a) one or more isothiazolones and b) one or more glycerol monoalkyl ethers, and the use of the preservative for microbicidal finishing of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
US08765779B2

This application relates to tricyclic compounds of Formula I: including all stereoisomers, mixtures of stereoisomers, and salts thereof. This application also relates to compositions comprising compounds of Formula I and uses therefore.
US08765774B2

The present invention relates to the 3-arylquinazolin-4-one compounds of the formula I and the salts thereof, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2; X is O, S or N—R4; Y1 is N or CH; Y2 is N or C—R5; R1 is C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-haloalkyl, C2-C10-alkenyl, C2-C10-haloalkenyl, C2-C10-alkynyl, C2-C10-haloalkynyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl, C5-C12-cycloalkenyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl-C1-C4-alkyl, C5-C12-cycloalkenyl-C1-C4-alkyl, where the cycloalkyl radical and the cycloalkenyl radical in the last four mentioned radicals are unsubstituted, partially or fully halogenated and/or carry 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 C1-C4-alkyl radicals; R2 is hydrogen, halogen, CN, C(Z)NH2, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-haloalkyl, wherein Z is O, S or NR6; and the variables k, R, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined in the claims. The invention also relates to the use of novel compounds of formula I for combating invertebrate pests and to a method for controlling invertebrate pests. The invention also relates to a plant propagation material and to an agricultural composition comprising a 3-arylquinazolin-4-one compound of formula I.
US08765772B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 is C1-6alkylamino, C1-6alkoxy, or C3-7cycloalkyloxy; m is an integer having a value of 3 to 6; n is an integer having a value of 0 to 4; and salts thereof are inducers of human interferon. Compounds which induce human interferon may be useful in the treatment of various disorders, for example the treatment of allergic diseases and other inflammatory conditions for example allergic rhinitis and asthma, the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer, and may also be useful as vaccine adjuvants.
US08765765B2

The present invention relates to metabolites of(thio)-carbamoyl cyclohexane derivatives, particularly, metabolites of trans-4-{2-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethyl}-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-cyclohexylamine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and to their use in the treatment and/or prevention of a conditions which requires modulation of dopamine receptors.
US08765757B2

The present invention relates to 3-Heterocyclic Substituted Indole Derivatives, compositions comprising at least one 3-Heterocyclic Substituted Indole Derivative, and methods of using the 3-Heterocyclic Substituted Indole Derivatives for treating or preventing a viral infection or a virus-related disorder in a patient.
US08765753B2

A process is described for the preparation of s-triazine derivatives of the formula in which R is a C1-C12-alkyl radical, by reacting a cyanuric acid halide with a p-aminobenzoic acid ester, which comprises a C6-C12-alkyl radical as radical of the ester alcohol, in a molar ratio of 1:3 to 1:5 in a xylene isomer mixture as solvent. 10 The process is characterized in that the solvent is used in amounts of from 0.6 to 2.1 mol/l.
US08765750B2

The present invention provides a piperazine compound represented by Formula (I) or a salt thereof, wherein X represents CH or an N atom; R1 represents C1-6 alkyl; R2 represents C1-6 alkyl that may have one or more substituents, C2-6 alkenyl that may have one or more substituents, —(C═O)—N(R3)(R4), or —(C═O)—OR5, R3 and R4 are the same or different, and each represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl that may have one or more substituents; or R3 and R4, taken together with a nitrogen atom to which R3 and R4 are attached, may form a saturated heterocyclic group; and R5 represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl that may have one or more substituents or aralkyl.
US08765747B2

The present application relates to therapeutic organic compounds of formula (I), wherein Q, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of a therapeutic organic compound; and methods for treating and preventing disease such as cancer comprising administering and effective amount of a therapeutic organic compound to a subject in need thereof.
US08765737B1

Disclosed are methods and compositions for purifying the non-addictive alkaloid noribogaine.
US08765732B2

The present invention relates to aryl- or heteroaryl-substituted benzene compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods of treating cancer by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of such compounds for research or other non-therapeutic purposes.
US08765710B2

Embodiments of the invention are to compounds, methods, and compositions for use in the treatment of viral infections. More specifically embodiments of the invention are 2′,4′-substituted nucleoside compounds useful for the treatment of viral infections, such as HIV, HCV, and HBV infections.
US08765708B2

The present invention relates to novel compositions and therapeutic methods for the treatment of cancer, in particular malignant glioma. The compositions include antisense oligonucleotides or RNAs or vectors encoding them which reduce expression of downregulated in renal cell carcinoma (DRR) in tumor cells, and inhibit malignant glioma cell invasion.
US08765705B2

Oligonucleotides inhibiting cellular migration, and the use of at least one inhibitor of protein expression, which inhibits the expression of TSP1 protein, or a protein, which controls the expression of TSP1 or mediates the activity of TSP1, or one inhibitor of protein activity, this inhibitor inhibiting the activity of the TSP1 protein, in particular the activity responsible for the stimulation of cell migration, or one protein which controls the expression or mediates the activity of TSP1 for the manufacture of a drug for the prevention or the treatment of primary tumors or invasive or metastatic tumors.
US08765704B1

The present invention provides double-stranded RNA molecules that mediate RNA interference in target cells, preferably hepatic cells. The invention also provides double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules that are modified to be resistant to nuclease degradation, which inactivates a virus, and more specifically, hepatitis C virus (HCV). The invention also provides a method of using these modified RNA molecules to inactivate virus in mammalian cells and a method of making modified small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) using human Dicer. The invention provides modified RNA molecules that are modified to include a dsRNA or siRNA wherein one or more of the pyrimidines in the RNA molecule are modified to include 2′-Fluorine. The invention also provides dsRNA or siRNA in which all pyrimidines are modified to include a 2′-Fluorine. The invention provides that the 2′-Fluorine dsRNA or siRNA molecule is further modified to include a two base deoxynucleotide “TT” sequence at the 3′ end of the molecule.
US08765699B2

The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide, which down-regulates the expression of a human p53 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from alopecia or acute renal failure or other diseases comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The alopecia may be induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the patient may be suffering from cancer, in particular breast cancer.
US08765698B2

Products and methods are provided for the restoring the endogenous expression of theta-defensins, such as retrocyclin-1, in mamallian cells. The present invention also includes products and methods for inhibiting sexually transmitted virus entry, e.g., HIV-1 virus entry, into a mammalian cell via, for example, administering to a subject an amount of a read-through mediating agent sufficient to induce exogenous expression of an amount of retrocyclin nonapeptides in the mammalian cell.
US08765694B2

The present invention is directed to methods for treating obesity, reducing excessive body weight, treating an obesity-related condition, treating unwanted localized fat deposits, and treating areas of cellulite. The method comprises the steps of first identifying a subject in need thereof, and administering to the subject an effective amount of rhamnolipids. A pharmaceutical composition comprising rhamnolipids can be applied by any accepted mode of administration including oral, intranasal, subcutaneous, percutaneous, intravenous, or intracutaneous administration.
US08765692B2

Modified glycolipid compounds are provided. Also disclosed are methods for activating an NKT cell, methods of stimulating an immune response in a subject, and methods suitable for labeling NKT cells.
US08765690B2

The co-administration of glufosfamide and a glucose lowering drug other than insulin is efficacious in cancer treatment.
US08765676B2

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) modulating substituted cyclopentylene compounds represented in formula I (wherein X is CH or N) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are useful for treating diseases.
US08765675B2

The present invention relates to a novel use of calcitonin in osteoarthritis, and to methods of treating and/or preventing osteoarthritis in mammals, particularly humans.
US08765667B2

Novel compounds that are potent inhibitors of hepatitis C virus protease are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of these inhibitors, methods of preparing the inhibitors and methods of using the inhibitors to treat hepatitis C and related disorders also are provided.
US08765665B2

A Factor VIII composition formulated without albumin, comprising the following formulation excipients in addition to Factor VIII: 4% to 10% of a bulking agent selected from the group consisting of mannitol, glycine and alanine; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; 100 mM to 300 mM NaCl; and a buffering agent for maintaining a pH of approximately between 6 and 8. Alternatively, the formulation can comprise 2% to 6% hydroxyethyl starch; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; 100 mM to 300 mM NaCl; and a buffering agent for maintaining a pH of approximately between 6 and 8. In a further embodiment, the formulation can comprise: 300 mM to 500 mM NaCl; 1% to 4% of a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, and arginine; 1 mM to 5 mM calcium salt; and a buffering agent.
US08765658B2

A method for preparing an emulsion cleaning composition that is resistant to separation upon exposure to depressed and elevated temperatures and which exhibits a persistent peroxide content comprises preparing an organic portion and an oxidant portion and then combining the organic portion and the oxidant portion under mixing to make the emulsion. The organic portion comprises an organic solvent, and emulsifier and a cleaner surfactant. The oxidant portion comprises an oxidizing compound activator and a peroxide generator. The emulsion cleaning composition is useful for removing petroleum distillate residue from metal surfaces such as refinery surfaces.
US08765652B2

The present invention relates to reagents for use in deactivating nucleic acids and methods of making and using the same.
US08765650B2

A composition of an oil-soluble ionic detergent that does not contribute metal ions to the composition, and which comprises a quaternary non-metallic pnictogen cation and an organic anion having at least one hydrocarbyl group of sufficient length to impart oil solubility to the detergent, the detergent having a total base number (TBN) to total acid number (TAN) ratio of at least 2:1 imparts ash-free basicity to a lubricant composition.
US08765641B2

An antibody microarray screen including a substrate, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that are purified immunoglobins, wherein the antibodies are spotted on predetermined positions on the substrate, and fluids unprocessed for immunoglobulin isolation (e.g., anti-sera, ascites fluids, or hybridoma culture media), wherein the unprocessed fluids are spotted on the predetermined positions on the substrate. Production of drug-metabolizing enzyme antibody microarrays containing closely related cytochromes P450 is disclosed. Methods of manufacturing an antibody microarray, an internal control molecule for use in an antibody microarray, a method of determining optimal spotting concentrations of IgG and a method to increase a detectable signal with microarray analysis are disclosed.
US08765636B2

The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising a known carboxamide, a known azole and additionally a second known azole or alternatively a known strobilurin, which combinations are highly suitable for controlling unwanted phytopathogenic fungi.
US08765628B2

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to the processing of hydrocarbon-containing feedstreams in the presence of an active catalyst component comprising a surface, and a metal oxide film coated on the surface of the active catalyst component. The catalysts and processes of the present invention can improve overall hydrogenation, product conversion, as well as improved resistance to catalytic deactivation due to sulfur and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstreams.
US08765620B2

A fused and cast refractory product containing, in weight percentages on the basis of the oxides and for a total of 100%: ZrO2: remainder up to 100% Hf2O: <5% SiO2: 2% to 10% 0.9%
US08765618B2

A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 μm is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.
US08765611B2

A process for etching semiconductors, such as II-VI or III-V semiconductors is provided. The method includes sputter etching the semiconductor through an etching mask using a nonreactive gas, removing the semiconductor and cleaning the chamber with a reactive gas. The etching mask includes a photoresist. Using this method, light-emitting diodes with light extracting elements or nano/micro-structures etched into the semiconductor material can be fabricated.
US08765610B2

According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of second core films, the second core film having a first array portion, and a second array portion which is arranged so as to be spaced at a larger second space than the first space in the first direction from the first array portion, the second space being positioned above the loop portion. The method includes processing the second film to be processed below the first array portion into a second line and space pattern which includes a second line pattern extending in the second direction, and removing the second film to be processed below the second space and the loop portion of the first film to be processed, by an etching using the second spacer film as a mask.
US08765609B2

A process for fabricating a tapered field plate dielectric for high-voltage semiconductor devices is disclosed. The process may include depositing a thin layer of oxide, depositing a polysilicon hard mask, depositing a resist layer and etching a trench area, performing deep silicon trench etch, and stripping the resist layer. The process may further include repeated steps of depositing a layer of oxide and anisotropic etching of the oxide to form a tapered wall within the trench. The process may further include depositing poly and performing further processing to form the semiconductor device.
US08765603B2

Buffer layer and method of forming the buffer layer, the method including forming a high-k dielectric layer, forming a titanium nitride layer over the high-k dielectric layer, forming a silicon layer on the titanium nitride layer, annealing the silicon layer into the titanium nitride layer to form an annealed silicon layer and forming an n-metal over the high-k dielectric layer.
US08765602B2

A method of forming a metal interconnect structure includes forming a copper line within an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer; directly doping a top surface of the copper line with a copper alloy material; and forming a dielectric layer over the ILD layer and the copper alloy material; wherein the copper alloy material serves an adhesion interface layer between the copper line and the dielectric layer.
US08765597B2

A line trough and a via cavity are formed within a dielectric layer comprising a fluorosilicate glass (FSG) layer. A fluorine depleted adhesion layer is formed within the line trough and the via cavity either by a plasma treatment that removes fluorine from exposed surfaces of the FSG layer, or by deposition of a substantially fluorine-free dielectric layer. Metal is deposited within the line trough and the via cavity to form a metal line and a metal via. The fluorine depleted adhesion layer provides enhanced adhesion to the metal line compared with prior art structures in which a metal line directly contacts a FSG layer. The enhanced adhesion of metal with an underlying dielectric layer provides higher resistance to delamination for a semiconductor package employing lead-free C4 balls on a metal interconnect structure.
US08765592B2

A method for contacting MOS devices. First openings in a photosensitive material are formed over a substrate having a top dielectric in a first die area and a second opening over a gate stack in a second die area having the top dielectric, a hard mask, and a gate electrode. The top dielectric layer is etched to form a semiconductor contact while etching at least a portion the hard mask layer thickness over a gate contact area exposed by the second opening. An inter-layer dielectric (ILD) is deposited. A photosensitive material is patterned to generate a third opening in the photosensitive material over the semiconductor contact and a fourth opening inside the gate contact area. The ILD is etched through to reopen the semiconductor contact while etching through the ILD and residual hard mask if present to provide a gate contact to the gate electrode.
US08765590B2

A method comprises: forming a semiconductor device on a base substrate, the semiconductor device having a core metal positioned proximate a source and a drain in the base substrate, a work function metal on a portion of the core metal, and a dielectric layer on a portion of the work function metal; forming a metal gate in electrical communication with one of the source and the drain; and implanting an insulator film on the core metal of the semiconductor device. The insulator film on the core metal forms an insulative barrier across the metal gate and between the core metal of the semiconductor device and the source or the drain.
US08765577B2

A method of forming a strained semiconductor material that in one embodiment includes forming a cleave layer in a host semiconductor substrate, and contacting a strain inducing material layer on a surface of a transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate. A handle substrate is then contacted to an exposed surface of the stress inducing material layer. The transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate may then be separated from the host semiconductor substrate along the cleave layer. A dielectric layer is formed directly on the transfer portion of the host semiconductor substrate. The handle substrate and the stress inducing material are then removed, wherein the transferred portion of the host semiconductor substrate provides a strained semiconductor layer that is in direct contact with a dielectric layer.
US08765576B2

A method of manufacturing a laminated substrate is provided. The method includes: forming an oxide film on at least a surface of a first substrate having a hardness of equal to or more than 150 GPa in Young's modulus, and then smoothing the oxide film; implanting hydrogen ions or rare gas ions, or mixed gas ions thereof from a surface of a second substrate to form an ion-implanted layer inside the substrate, laminating the first substrate and the second substrate through at least the oxide film, and then detaching the second substrate in the ion-implanted layer to form a laminated substrate; heat-treating the laminated substrate and diffusing outwardly the oxide film.
US08765572B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, in which an interference effect between word lines is substantially reduced or eliminated, includes forming a plurality of gate patterns on a substrate; forming a first insulating layer between the gate patterns, the first insulating layer filling a region between the gate patterns; etching the first insulating layer to remove a portion of the first insulating layer to a predetermined depth; and forming a second insulating layer on the gate patterns and the first insulating layer. A low-dielectric-constant material is formed between the gate patterns.
US08765561B2

A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a dummy gate on the substrate; forming a contact etch stop layer on the dummy gate and the substrate; performing a planarizing process to partially remove the contact etch stop layer; partially removing the dummy gate; and performing a thermal treatment on the contact etch stop layer.
US08765558B2

A CMOS structure and a method for fabricating the CMOS structure include within a semiconductor substrate a first gate located over a first active region of a first polarity and a second gate located over a second active region of a second polarity different than the first polarity. The first active region and the second active region are separated by an isolation region. The first gate and the second gate are co-linear, with facing endwalls that terminate over the isolation region. The facing endwalls do not have a spacer located or formed adjacent or adjoining thereto, although sidewalls of the first gate and the second gate do. The CMOS structure may be fabricated using a sequential replacement gate method.
US08765556B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure disposed on a portion of the substrate, and strained structures disposed at either side of the portion of the substrate and formed of a semiconductor material different from the semiconductor substrate. The portion of the substrate is T shaped having a horizontal region and a vertical region that extends from the horizontal region in a direction away from a surface of the substrate.
US08765551B2

According to an example embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor layer pattern on a substrate, a plurality of gate patterns and a plurality of interlayer insulating layer patterns that are alternately stacked along a side wall of the semiconductor layer pattern, and a storage structure between the plurality of gate patterns and the semiconductor layer pattern. The semiconductor layer pattern extends in a vertical direction from the substrate. The gate patterns are recessed in a direction from a side wall of the interlayer insulating layer patterns opposing the side wall of the semiconductor layer pattern. A recessed surface of the gate patterns may be formed to be vertical to a surface of the substrate.
US08765548B2

Semiconductor devices, capacitors, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a capacitor includes forming a first material over a workpiece, and patterning the first material, forming a first capacitor plate in a first region of the workpiece and forming a first element in a second region of the workpiece. A second material is formed over the workpiece and over the patterned first material. The second material is patterned, forming a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor plate in the first region of the workpiece over the first capacitor plate and forming a second element in a third region of the workpiece.
US08765541B1

A method to design an IC is disclosed to provide a uniform deposition of strain-inducing composites is disclosed. The method to design the IC comprises, determining a total strain-inducing deposition area on an IC design. Then, the total strain inducing deposition area is compared with a predefined size. A dummy diffusion area is modified to increase the total strain-inducing deposition area, when the total strain-inducing deposition area is below the predefined size. Finally, the strain-inducing deposition area is optimized. A method to manufacture the IC and the IC is also disclosed.
US08765539B2

A semiconductor structure is provided, which includes multiple sections arranged along a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the semiconductor structure comprises a middle section and two terminal sections located at opposite ends of the middle section. A semiconductor core having a first dopant concentration preferably extends along the longitudinal axis through the middle section and the two terminal sections. A semiconductor shell having a second, higher dopant concentration preferably encircles a portion of the semiconductor core at the two terminal sections, but not at the middle section, of the semiconductor structure. It is particularly preferred that the semiconductor structure is a nanostructure having a cross-sectional dimension of not more than 100 nm.
US08765538B2

Provided are three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of forming the same. The device includes a substrate, conductive patterns stacked on the substrate, and an active pattern penetrating the conductive patterns to be connected to the substrate. The active pattern may include a first doped region provided in an upper portion of the active pattern, and a diffusion-resistant doped region overlapped with at least a portion of the first doped region. The diffusion-resistant doped region may be a region doped with carbon.
US08765537B2

A high-k metal gate electrode is formed with reduced gate voids. An embodiment includes forming a replaceable gate electrode, for example of amorphous silicon, having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being larger than the bottom surface, removing the replaceable gate electrode, forming a cavity having a top opening larger than a bottom opening, and filling the cavity with metal. The larger top surface may be formed by etching the bottom portion of the amorphous silicon at greater temperature than the top portion, or by doping the top and bottom portions of the amorphous silicon differently such that the bottom has a greater lateral etch rate than the top.
US08765535B2

In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the invention, a bonding layer is formed over a substrate, an insulating film and a storage capacitor portion lower electrode are formed over the bonding layer, a single crystal silicon layer is formed over the insulating film, a storage capacitor portion insulating film is formed over the storage capacitor portion lower electrode, a wiring is formed over the storage capacitor portion insulating film, a channel forming region and a low concentration impurity region are formed over the single crystal silicon layer, and a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are formed over the single crystal silicon layer. The storage capacitor portion insulating film is formed by depositing a YSZ film with a single crystal silicon layer used as a base film, whereby the permittivity increases and thus the leakage current from the storage capacitor portion is suppressed.
US08765532B2

A method for forming a field effect device includes forming a gate portion on a silicon-on-insulator layer (SOI), forming first spacer members on the SOI layer adjacent to the gate portion, depositing a layer of spacer material on the SOI layer, the first spacer members, and the gate portion, removing portions of the layer of spacer material to form second spacer members on the SOI layer adjacent to the first spacer members, forming a source region and a drain region on the SOI layer by implanting ions in the SOI layer, and etching to remove the second spacer members.
US08765531B2

A method for manufacturing a metal pad structure of a die is provided, the method including: forming a metal pad between encapsulation material of the die, wherein the metal pad and the encapsulation material are separated from each other by a gap; and forming additional material in the gap to narrow at least a part of the gap.
US08765525B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated packaging system includes: providing a substrate; mounting an integrated circuit on the substrate; mounting an interposer substrate having an interposer pad on the integrated circuit; covering an encapsulant over the integrated circuit and the interposer substrate; forming a hole through the encapsulant aligned over the interposer pad; and placing a conductive connector on and in direct contact with the interposer pad.
US08765522B2

One embodiment is a method for manufacturing a stacked oxide material, including the steps of forming a first oxide component over a base component, causing crystal growth which proceeds from a surface toward an inside of the first oxide component by first heat treatment to form a first oxide crystal component at least partly in contact with the base component, forming a second oxide component over the first oxide crystal component; and causing crystal growth by second heat treatment using the first oxide crystal component as a seed to form a second oxide crystal component.
US08765520B2

A photovoltaic electrode is made by the following steps: (a) depositing on a substrate a dispersion comprising powdered semiconductor particles in a dispersion medium; (b) removing the majority of the dispersion medium to leave the powdered semiconductor particles in a deposition layer on the substrate; (c) creating a plasma using microwave energy excitation; (d) exposing the deposition layer to said microwave-excited plasma for a sufficient time to sinter the nanoparticles thereby adhering them to the substrate; and (e) absorbing a dye into said sintered deposition layer. The electrode thus obtained exhibits improved performance relative to conventional sintered electrodes.
US08765514B1

A center region of conductive material/s may be disposed or “sandwiched” between transition regions of relatively lower conductivity materials to provide substantially low defect density interfaces for the sandwiched material. The center region and surrounding transition regions may in turn be disposed or sandwiched between dielectric insulative material to form a sandwiched and transitioned device structure. The center region of such a sandwiched structure may be implemented, for example, as a device layer such as conductive microbolometer layer for a microbolometer detector structure.
US08765510B2

A photonic device comprises a substrate and a dielectric material including two or more openings that expose a portion of the substrate, the two or more openings each having an aspect ratio of at least 1. A bottom diode material comprising a compound semiconductor material that is lattice mismatched to the substrate occupies the two or more openings and is coalesced above the two or more openings to form the bottom diode region. The device further includes a top diode material and an active diode region between the top and bottom diode materials.
US08765502B2

A method of forming an integrated photonic semiconductor structure having a photodetector device and a CMOS device may include depositing a dielectric stack over the photodetector device such that the dielectric stack encapsulates the photodetector. An opening is etched into the dielectric stack down to an upper surface of a region of an active area of the photodetector. A first metal layer is deposited directly onto the upper surface of the region of the active area via the opening such that the first metal layer may cover the region of the active area. Within the same mask level, a plurality of contacts including a second metal layer are located on the first metal layer and on the CMOS device. The first metal layer isolates the active area from the occurrence of metal intermixing between the second metal layer and the active area of the photodetector.
US08765497B2

A method includes placing a plurality of bottom units onto a jig, wherein the plurality of bottom units is not sawed apart and forms an integrated component. Each of the plurality of bottom units includes a package substrate and a die bonded to the package substrate. A plurality of upper component stacks is placed onto the plurality of bottom units, wherein solder balls are located between the plurality of upper component and the plurality of bottom units. A reflow is performed to join the plurality of upper component stacks with respective ones of the plurality of bottom units through the solder balls.
US08765496B2

Methods and systems for measuring a characteristic of a substrate or preparing a substrate for analysis are provided. One method for measuring a characteristic of a substrate includes removing a portion of a feature on the substrate using an electron beam to expose a cross-sectional profile of a remaining portion of the feature. The feature may be a photoresist feature. The method also includes measuring a characteristic of the cross-sectional profile. A method for preparing a substrate for analysis includes removing a portion of a material on the substrate proximate to a defect using chemical etching in combination with an electron beam. The defect may be a subsurface defect or a partially subsurface defect. Another method for preparing a substrate for analysis includes removing a portion of a material on a substrate proximate to a defect using chemical etching in combination with an electron beam and a light beam.
US08765495B1

A method of forming a pattern of doped region includes the following steps. At first, a device layout pattern including a gate layout pattern and a doped region layout pattern is provided to a computer system. Subsequently, the device layout pattern is split into a plurality of sub regions, and the sub regions have different pattern densities of the gate layout pattern. Then, at least an optical proximity correction (OPC) calculation is respectively performed on the doped region layout pattern in each of the sub regions to respectively form a corrected sub doped region layout pattern in each of the sub regions. Afterwards, the corrected sub doped region layout patterns are combined to form a corrected doped region layout pattern, and the corrected doped region layout pattern is outputted onto a mask through the computer system.
US08765492B2

This method of manufacturing a silicon wafer has a step of preparing a wafer, in which a surface of the silicon wafer is surface-treated, a step of setting stress, in which the stress S (MPa) subjected on the wafer is set, a step of inspecting, in which a defect on a surface of the wafer is inspected, and a step of determining, in which the wafer is evaluated if the wafer satisfies a criterion. In this method, it is possible to manufacture a wafer with cracking resistance even if it is subjected to a millisecond annealing by the FLA annealing treatment.
US08765490B2

The present disclosure describes a semiconductor MRAM device and a manufacturing method. The device reduces magnetic field induction “interference” (disturbance) phenomenon between adjacent magnetic tunnel junctions when data is written and read. This semiconductor MRAM device comprises a magnetic tunnel junction unit and a magnetic shielding material layer covering the sidewalls of the magnetic tunnel junction unit. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises: forming a magnetic tunnel junction unit, depositing an isolation dielectric layer to cover the top and the sidewall of the magnetic tunnel junction unit, and depositing a magnetic shielding material layer on the isolation dielectric layer.
US08765487B2

A method is taught for the accurate determination of the premature rupture of membranes (PROM), defined as spontaneous rupture of membranes before the onset of uterine contractions. More specifically, a lateral flow assay strip tests for at least two antigens to greatly limit or eliminate the possibility of false negatives. A built in timer in the cassette holding the lateral flow assay further increases the accuracy of the test. A collection buffer vial with self-contained shipping and dropper caps and built in stand is also taught.
US08765482B2

A test strip with a sample chamber is secured to a meter. The sample chamber in the portion of the test strip that extends out of the meter is illuminated by transmitting light from a light source inside the meter internally through the test strip towards the sample chamber. By way of analogy, the test strip acts in a fashion similar to a fiber optic cable or optical wave guide by transmitting the light from the meter to the remotely located sample chamber that extends outside the meter. The user is then able to easily see the sample chamber of the test strip in dark conditions so that the user is able to readily align the sample chamber with the drop of fluid on the skin as well as view the sample chamber in order to ensure proper filling. The light also illuminates a test strip slot into which the test strip is inserted.
US08765479B1

The present disclosure provides methods to predict the risk of CHD and/or clinical manifestations of CHD in a subject. In one embodiment, the method involves measuring the levels or concentration of apo A1, a subclass of HDL, HDL3, or a combination of the foregoing. The methods of the present disclosure are particularly useful when the subject has reached target levels of one or more lipoproteins, such as, but not limited to, LDL or HDL or subclass of the foregoing.
US08765477B2

A method for measuring the real hot-spot temperature in an electric apparatus containing an oil, such as an electric power transformer. The electric apparatus is operated under predetermined and modifiable operating conditions. This method comprises the use of one or several chemical compounds or tracers present and soluble in the oil. Each tracer may transform, at a given temperature, in order to form a residue, such as a soluble gas. From the presence of the residue in the oil, the operator will be able to determine under which predetermined operating condition the hot-spot has been reached and to deduce the hot-spot for a given condition. Among different used compounds, there are diazoic compounds, carbonyl metals, colorants, pigments, liquid crystals and albumins. The method also allows to check the quality of the apparatus on the market and to estimate its life span.
US08765474B2

An automatic analyzer which assures uniformity in mixing effects regardless of sample quantity and test item and thus produces analysis results with high repeatability. The automatic analyzer includes a device for adding a conditioning liquid into a reaction chamber so that the quantity of liquid in the reaction chamber becomes a predetermined quantity prior to being mixed. The conditioning liquid may be a diluent or physiological saline as used for dilution of a sample or any other special liquid that adjusts the properties such as viscosity, surface tension, etc. of liquid to be mixed.
US08765472B2

The present invention relates to methods and devices to obtain multicellular arrangements in stable, stationary and reproducible spatial configuration, and optionally with controlled internal cell organization, methods for preparing such devices, methods for studying the cells' shapes, the cells' architectures, the cells' mechanical equilibrium, the cell-cell interaction, the cell movement and migration, the cell differentiation, the global internal cells' organizations, the cells' polarities and division, and/or any function of cells, methods for screening compounds of interest which enhance or inhibit specific cell functions.
US08765469B2

A method for preparing lymphocytes characterized in that the method comprises the step of carrying out expansion in the presence of (a) fibronectin, a fragment thereof or a mixture thereof, (b) a CD3 ligand, and (c) a CD28 ligand.
US08765462B2

Compositions and methods for delivering immune modulatory molecules to result in a therapeutic effect are disclosed. The compositions and methods use stably integrating lentiviral delivery systems. The methods are useful for therapeutically and prophylactically treating cancer such as leukemia.
US08765460B2

A photobioreactor system for mass production of microorganisms is disclosed. Water with microorganisms suspended therein is sprayed through a nozzle to create droplets. These droplets have a high surface area to volume ratio enabling efficient light transfer and gas diffusion. The water may also be passed through channels between two transparent plates, wherein superior mixing is achieved along with a high surface to volume ratio. The water is preferably circulated through a dark holding tank Active and passive flashing lights of different wavelengths are used to promote growth of the microorganisms when the water is sprayed and/or passing through the transparent plates.
US08765459B2

The invention provides systems and methods for manipulating biological systems, for example to elicit a more desired biological response from a biological sample, such as a tissue, organ, and/or a cell. In one aspect, the invention operates by efficiently searching through a large parametric space of stimuli and system parameters to manipulate, control, and optimize the response of biological samples sustained in the system. In one aspect, the systems and methods of the invention use at least one optimization algorithm to modify the actuator's control inputs for stimulation, responsive to the sensor's output of response signals. The invention can be used, e.g., to optimize any biological system, e.g., bioreactors for proteins, and the like, small molecules, polysaccharides, lipids, and the like. Another use of the apparatus and methods includes is for the discovery of key parameters in complex biological systems.
US08765458B2

The invention provides coated sensors for detecting the presence of analytes. The sensor comprises one or more fluorescent sources, such as one or more quantum dots or one or more fluorescent dyes, a polymeric matrix, a surface coating, and one or more analyte sensing components. The surface coating may be a conformal polymeric film, permeable to the analyte, which may be deposited via a solventless process such as initiated chemical vapor deposition or photoinitiated chemical vapor deposition. The surface coating may increase the biocompatibility of the sensor, reduce nonspecific protein adsorption, and/or sequester functional sensor components within the sensor. The invention also provides methods for detecting the presence of an analyte with coated sensors of the invention.
US08765448B2

Methods and means are provided for the exact exchange in eukaryotic cells, such as plant cells, of a target DNA sequence for a DNA sequence of interest through homologous recombination, whereby the selectable or screenable marker used during the homologous recombination phase for temporal selection of the gene replacement events can subsequently be removed without leaving a foot-print employing a method for the removal of a selected DNA flanked by two nucleotide sequences in direct repeats.
US08765437B2

This invention provides compositions of active highly phosphorylated human N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS), and pharmaceutical compositions and formulations thereof, methods of producing and purifying GALNS, and its use in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, or treatment of diseases and conditions, including particularly lysosomal storage diseases that are caused by, or associated with, a deficiency in the GALNS enzyme, e.g., Mucopolysaccharidosis IVa (MPS IVa or Morquio A syndrome).
US08765426B2

Zymomonas is unable to synthesize pantothenic acid and requires this essential vitamin in growth medium. Zymomonas strains transformed with an operon for expression of 2-dehydropantoate reductase and aspartate 1-decarboxylase were able to grow in medium lacking pantothenic acid. These strains may be used for ethanol production without pantothenic acid supplementation in seed culture and fermentation media.
US08765422B2

Disclosed are methods and compositions related to ONC-T18, D4-desaturases, D5 elongases, their isolation, characterization, production, identification, and use for fatty acid production, as well as organisms containing these compositions and organisms expressing them.
US08765412B2

The invention relates to a method of preparing heteromultimeric polypeptides such as bispecific antibodies, bispecific immunoadhesins and antibody-immunoadhesin chimeras. The invention also relates to the heteromultimers prepared using the method. Generally, the method provides a multispecific antibody having a common light chain associated with each heteromeric polypeptide having an antibody binding domain. Additionally the method further involves introducing into the multispecific antibody a specific and complementary interaction at the interface of a first polypeptide and the interface of a second polypeptide, so as to promote heteromultimer formation and hinder homomultimer formation; and/or a free thiol-containing residue at the interface of a first polypeptide and a corresponding free thiol-containing residue in the interface of a second polypeptide, such that a non-naturally occurring disulfide bond is formed between the first and second polypeptide. The method allows for the enhanced formation of the desired heteromultimer relative to undesired heteromultimers and homomultimers.
US08765407B2

An L-amino acid is produced by culturing an L-amino acid-producing bacterium which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and which has been modified so that the activity of an iron transporter is increased by enhancing expression of one or more genes of the following genes: tonB gene, fepA gene, and fecA.
US08765395B2

A presence/absence test for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) involves placing a first generation test sample in a solution that will clot in the presence of S. aureus. The solution contains components that will selectively grow S. aureus and also contains clotting factors that will react with S. aureus, if S. aureus is present in the sample, to clot the solution. Examples of specimen samples that can be tested include nasal swabs and lesion swabs, among others. The test can also be modified to detect the presence or absence of methicillin resistant S. Aureus (MRSA).
US08765389B2

The invention relates to the identification of genetic products expressed in association with tumors and to coding nucleic acids for said products. The invention also relates to the therapy and diagnosis of diseases in which the genetic products are aberrantly expressed in association with tumors, proteins, polypeptides and peptides which are expressed in association with tumors and to the coding nucleic acids for said proteins, polypeptides and peptides.
US08765385B2

The disclosure provides, among other aspects, neutralizing antibodies and portions thereof that bind to ActRIIB and uses for same.
US08765372B2

The invention relates to diagnostic methods to predict whether a subject is predisposed for acquiring a disease or to predict the therapy responsiveness of an individual patient. Provided is a method for determining whether a subject is predisposed for developing an autoimmune disease, comprising determining in a sample isolated from said subject the amount of intact genes, or gene products thereof, of the FcγRII/FcγRIII gene cluster, said gene cluster comprising the FCGR2C, FCGR3A, FCGR2A and FCGR3B genes encoding an activating FcγR, and FCGR2B encoding an inhibitory FcγR; and correlating said amount to the amount observed in a healthy population. Also provided is a method to predict the responsiveness of a subject to therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy or a monospecific biological, such as a humanized or human monoclonal antibody or a chimeric molecule, comprising the C-terminal Fc-tail of IgG.
US08765370B2

A method for screening cells with high level expression of a target protein is disclosed. The method includes introducing into a plurality of host cells a DNA construct that encodes both a target protein and an inhibitor to an endogenous selectable marker in the host cells, screening host cells harboring the DNA construct for the expression of the endogenous selectable marker, and isolating cells with reduced expression of the selectable marker. Also disclosed is a DNA construct configured to express both the target protein and the inhibitor inside the host cell.
US08765362B2

According to one embodiment, a patterning method includes exposure-transferring a plurality of first island pattern images and a plurality of second island pattern images onto a resist film, each of the plurality of first island pattern images having a configuration having a contour line or a major axis extending in a third direction, the plurality of first island pattern images having a staggered arrangement, each of the plurality of second island pattern images having a configuration having a contour line or a major axis extending in a fourth direction, the plurality of second island pattern images having a staggered arrangement, the first island pattern images and the second island pattern images being continuous in the first direction by a portion of each of the second island pattern images overlapping one of the first island pattern images.
US08765358B2

A water-soluble resin composition for forming fine patterns comprising water-soluble polymer represented by Chemical Formula 1 as below and the first water-soluble solvent, is coated and heated on a photoresist layer having at least one contact hole to reduce a size of the at least one contact hole. (In Chemical Formula 1, each of R1, R2, R3 and R5 independently represents an alkyl group of C1-30 or an cyclo alkyl group of C3-30 which respectively have one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an ether group, an ester group, a carbonyl group, an acetal, an epoxy group, a nitril group, an amine group, and an aldehyde group; each of R4, R6, R7 and R8 independently represents hydrogen or a methyl group; n represents an integer of 0 to 5; a represents a real number of 0.05 to 0.5; each of b, c and d respectively represents a real number of 0 to 0.7; and a+b+c+d=1).
US08765355B2

A radiation sensitive resin composition includes a first polymer having a group represented by a following formula (1), and a radiation sensitive acid generator. n is an integer of 2 to 4. X represents a single bond or a bivalent organic group. A represents a (n+1) valent linking group. Each Q independently represents a group that includes an alkali-dissociable group.
US08765339B2

The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrophotographic, including digital printing, apparatuses. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member comprising a charge transport layer comprising a novel combination of a tetraaryl polycarbonate copolymer binder and perfluorinated fillers. The present charge transport layer provides reduced wear rate and long service life.
US08765332B2

The invention provides a green curable composition including a colorant in an amount of 47.5% by mass or more with respect to the total solid content of the green curable composition, the colorant containing a halogenated copper phthalocyanine pigment and a barbituric acid derivative yellow pigment at a ratio of from 6/4 to 3/7 (halogenated copper phthalocyanine pigment/barbituric acid derivative yellow pigment); a colored pattern formed from the green curable composition; a color filter including the colored pattern; a solid-state image sensor including the color filter; and a method of producing the color filter.
US08765324B2

The present invention relates a method for manufacturing a fuel cell. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly capable of solving an electrical connection problem caused by uneven tube lengths and improving an output, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The method for manufacturing the membrane electrode assembly of the present invention includes a seed catalyst layer forming process (1), a CNT growing process (2), a CNT entanglement promoting process (3), a catalyst carrying process (4), an ionomer arranging process (5), and a transferring (MEA conversion) process (6). According to the present invention, entanglement of adjacent CNTs can be promoted by the CNT entanglement promoting process (3) and therefore the electrical connection of the CNTs can be ensured. Thus, the output of the cell can be improved.
US08765321B2

A transition metal nitride is obtained by a nitriding treatment of a surface of a base material including a transition metal or an alloy of the transition metal, and the transition metal nitride has a crystal structure of an M4N type and a crystal structure of an ε-M2˜3N type, and is formed over a whole area of the surface of the base material and continuously in a depth direction from the surface.
US08765320B2

A fuel cell assembly (110, 210) has a plurality of fuel cell component elements (112) extending between a pair of end plates (114, 115) to form a stack (116), and plural reactant gas manifolds (120, 220; 122, 222; 124, 224; 126, 226) mounted externally of and surrounding the stack, in mutual, close sealing relationship to prevent leakage of reactant gas in the manifolds to the environment external to the manifolds. The reactant gas manifolds are configured and positioned to maximize sealing contact with smooth surfaces of the stack and the manifolds. One embodiment is configured for an oxidant reactant manifold (120, 124) to overlie the region where the fuel reactant manifold (122, 126) engages the stack. Another embodiment further subdivides an oxidant reactant manifold to include a liquid flow channel (270, 274), which liquid flow channel overlies the region where the fuel reactant manifold (122, 126) engages the stack.
US08765297B2

An Advanced Graphite, with a lower degree of ordered carbon domains and a surface area greater than ten times that of typical battery grade graphites, is used in negative active material (NAM) of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) type Spiral wound 6V/25 Ah lead-acid batteries. A significant and unexpected cycle life was achieved for the Advanced Graphite mix where the battery was able to cycle beyond 145,000 cycles above the failure voltage of 9V in a non-stop, power-assist cycle-life test. Batteries with Advanced Graphite also showed increased charge acceptance power and discharge power compared to control groups.
US08765280B2

A battery pack for use with a battery-driven power tool includes three battery cells in which two out of three are arranged horizontally in parallel to and in alignment with each other in a lower case and the remaining one battery cell is vertically arranged in an upper case. The upper case of the battery pack is inserted, in use, into a battery pack receiving space formed in the grip portion of a power tool. Therefore, the grip portion can be made thin and usability of the power tool is enhanced.
US08765258B2

The present invention provides a cover film for a printed circuit board. The cover film includes an adhesive layer; a core layer made of a polymer; and a composite material layer formed on the core layer, comprising epoxy resin, a black material selected from the group consisting of a black pigment, carbon powder, nano carbon tube and a combination thereof, and an additive selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, boron nitride, barium sulfate and a combination thereof, wherein the core layer is disposed between the adhesive layer and the composite material layer, and the adhesive layer and the composite material layer have the same thickness or have a thickness difference being no more than 15 micro meters. The cover film of the preset invention is capable of shielding circuit patterns and has great folding endurance, and is thus applicable to flexible printed circuit boards.
US08765199B2

The present invention provides processes for producing a brewers wort comprising forming a mash from a grist, and contacting said mash with a pullulanase.
US08765195B2

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and supplements for increasing sex steroids and human growth hormone in a human being.
US08765184B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid pharmaceutical compositions comprising fine particles of at least one active substance, dispersed on and (or) within a divided solid. This method is characterized in that a solution is formed which comprises at least one active substance in a fluid at supercritical pressure, said solution then being expanded in a chamber under temperature and pressure conditions for which a part of said fluid is in the liquid state at the time of the expansion, said fluid thus expanded being brought into contact with a divided solid in said chamber.
US08765181B2

The present invention provides a nano-micellar preparation containing vinca alkaloids antitumor agent for intravenous injection, which cincludes a therapeutically effective amount of vinca alkaloids antitumor agent (vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine and vinorelbine), a phosphatide derivatized with polyethylene glycol, together with pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants. The preparation is prepared by encapsulating the medicament with a nano-micelle to obtain the nano-micellar preparation containing vinca alkaloids antitumor agent for injection. The vinca alkaloids antitumor agent and the phosphatide derivatized with polyethylene glycol form a nano-micelle with a highly uniform particle size. In the micelle, the hydrophobic core of encapsulated medicament is surrounded by polyethylene glycol molecules to form a hydrophilic protective layer, so that the medicament is prevented from contacting with the enzymes and other protein molecules in blood and being recognized and phagocytozed by reticuloendothelial system in body, and the circulation time in vivo of the micelle is prolonged.
US08765172B2

Novel acoustically sensitive drug carrying particles comprising non-lamellar forming lipids are disclosed, as well as uses and methods thereof. The drug carrying particles accumulate in the diseased target tissue and efficiently release their payload upon exposure to acoustic energy.
US08765169B2

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for tissue regeneration, particularly for treating skin lesions such as wounds. In one aspect, the invention provides wound healing composition characterized by the higher expression levels of phenotypic marker genes such as apolipoprotein D, matrix metalloprotease (2), collagen 3a1 and smooth muscle actin than the housekeeping gene ribosomal protein L32. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful especially for assisting the process of wound healing, particularly chronic open lesions that are slow to heal or resistant to healing.
US08765156B2

A topical composition of improved spreadability and aesthetical appeal is provided, which contains inorganic particulates in combination with an alkoxylated diphenylacrylate compound. Preferably, the topical composition is a sunscreen composition that contains inorganic or physical sunscreen agents in combination with an alkoxylated α-cyanodiphenylacrylate compound, which is characterized by improved photo-protection of the skin and is effective in preventing/reducing photo-damage of the skin upon exposure to sunlight or other sources of light in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) ranges.
US08765147B2

The present disclosure relates to endophytic fungi from higher plants such as a Pteromischum sp. plant, and to extracts and compounds from such fungi that have desirable biological activities, such as antifungal and immunosuppressive activities. The present disclosure further relates to compositions comprising such extracts and compounds, as well as methods of making and using the compositions.
US08765132B2

The invention relates to neutralizing antibodies, and antibody fragments thereof, having high potency in neutralizing hCMV, wherein said antibodies and antibody fragments are specific for one, or a combination of two or more, hCMV gene UL products. The invention also relates to immortalized B cells that produce, and to epitopes that bind to, such antibodies and antibody fragments. In addition, the invention relates to the use of the antibodies, antibody fragments, and epitopes in screening methods as well as in the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of disease.
US08765129B2

Monoclonal antibodies are provided that selectively bind human hepcidin-25 and are characterized as having high affinity for human hepcidin-25 and strong human mature hepcidin neutralizing properties. The antibodies of the invention are useful therapeutically for increasing serum iron levels, reticulocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and/or hematocrit in a human and for the treatment and diagnosis of mature hepcidin-promoted disorders such as anemia, in a human subject.
US08765127B2

Uses of BMP-1 isoforms for diagnosing and treating defects and disorders of bone and soft tissues are described. Also described is a newly isolated variant of the BMP-1 isoform BMP-1-3.
US08765120B2

The present invention provides muscle-derived cells, preferably myoblasts and muscle-derived stem cells, genetically engineered to contain and express one or more heterologous genes or functional segments of such genes, for delivery of the encoded gene products at or near sites of musculoskeletal, bone, ligament, meniscus, cartilage or genitourinary disease, injury, defect, or dysfunction. Ex vivo myoblast mediated gene delivery of human inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the resulting production of nitric oxide at and around the site of injury, are particularly provided by the invention as a treatment for lower genitourinary tract dysfunctions. Ex vivo gene transfer for the musculoskeletal system includes genes encoding acidic fibroblast growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-1, transforming growth factor-a, nerve growth factor and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs), cartilage derived morphogenetic protein (CDMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and sonic hedgehog proteins.
US08765110B2

A composition comprising: at least one alkoxysilane having at least one solubilizing functional group and at least one amino substituent; at least one glycosaminoglycan chosen from hyaluronic acid; water; optionally, at least one auxiliary ingredient; and optionally, at least one volatile solvent.
US08765109B2

A cosmetic comprising an amino acid oil gelling agent, a polyamide resin and a monoester, wherein the amino acid oil gelling agent is one or more selected from dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide and dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, and wherein said monoester is one or more selected from a monoester having a C9 to C24 linear chain or branched chain fatty acid moiety and/or a C9 to C24 linear chain or branched chain alcohol moiety, and said monoester is 20-80 mass % of the cosmetic. Cosmetic products, and methods for making and preparing cosmetics.
US08765106B2

Human sebum mimetics and methods for producing human sebum mimetics are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a human sebum mimetic comprises a wax ester derived from interesterification of refined botanical oil comprising palmitoleic acid and refined jojoba oil, a phytosterol, phytosqualene, and/or phytosteryl macadamiate. Method for producing a human sebum mimetic comprises mixing refined macadamia oil and refined jojoba oil, interesterifying the refined macadamia oil and the refined jojoba oil, adding a phytosterol, adding phytosteryl macadamiate, and adding phytosqualene after the interesterifying.
US08765103B2

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic composition comprising an effect pigment based on a glass flake as a substrate with a coating, said coating comprising at least one layer of at least one high refractive material, said material having a refractive index of at least 1.8, and/or a semitransparent metal coating wherein said glass flakes comprising the following composition: 65-75 wt.-% silicon oxide, preferably SiO2 2-9 wt.-% aluminium oxide, preferably Al2O3 0.0-5 wt.-% calcium oxide, preferably CaO 5-12 wt.-% sodium oxide, preferably Na2O 8-15 wt.-% boron oxide, preferably B2O3 0.1-5 wt.-% titanium oxide, preferably TiO2 0.0-5 wt.-% zirconium oxide, preferably ZrO2 based on the weight of said glass flakes. The invention is also directed to the use of the cosmetic composition.
US08765100B2

A pharmaceutical dosage form adapted to supply a medicament to the oral cavity for buccal, sublingual or gingival absorption of the medicament which contains an orally administerable medicament in combination with an effervescent for use in promoting absorption of the medicament in the oral cavity. The use of additional pH adjusting substance in combination with the effervescent for promoting the absorption of drugs is also disclosed.
US08765084B2

Several embodiments of high-efficiency catalytic converters and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a catalytic converter for treating a flow of exhaust gas comprising a reaction chamber, a heating enclosure enclosing at least a portion of the reaction chamber, and an optional coolant channel encasing the heating enclosure. The reaction chamber can have a first end section through which the exhaust gas flows into the reaction chamber and a second end section from which the exhaust gas exits the reaction chamber. The heating enclosure is configured to contain heated gas along the exterior of the reaction chamber, and the optional coolant channel is configured to contain a flow of coolant around the heating enclosure. The catalytic converter can further include a catalytic element in the reaction chamber.
US08765082B2

Processes for using a combination of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons are provided. A hydrocarbon feedstock, carbon dioxide and oxygen are fed to an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor system containing one or more catalysts that promote dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon feedstock to produce a dehydrogenated hydrocarbon product. The processes of the present invention may be used, for example, to produce styrene monomer by dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene using carbon dioxide and oxygen as oxidants.
US08765080B1

A tester for testing for explosives comprising a body, a lateral flow swab unit operably connected to the body, a explosives detecting reagent contained in the body, and a dispenser operatively connected to the body and the lateral flow swab unit. The dispenser selectively allows the explosives detecting reagent to be delivered to the lateral flow swab unit.
US08765076B2

The present technology provides for a microfluidic substrate configured to carry out PCR on a number of polynucleotide-containing samples in parallel. The substrate can be a single-layer substrate in a microfluidic cartridge. Also provided are a method of making a microfluidic cartridge comprising such a substrate. Still further disclosed are a microfluidic valve suitable for use in isolating a PCR chamber in a microfluidic substrate, and a method of making such a valve.
US08765075B2

In one embodiment, the invention is to a dry reagent composition configured as a solute to be dissolved into whole-blood prior to a whole-blood immunoassay, the dry reagent composition comprising: goat IgG, mouse IgG, dextran, a buffer, proclin, and sodium chloride in a support matrix. In another embodiment, the invention is to a dry reagent composition configured as a solute to be dissolved into whole-blood prior to a whole-blood immunoassay, the dry reagent composition comprising dextran and a salt in a support matrix.
US08765071B2

Disclosed is a device for generating a volume of gas from solid and liquid generates. In one particular embodiment, a volume of nitrogen gas is generated by combining the output of Sodium Azide and liquid nitrogen. A vacuum is initially maintained about the liquid nitrogen container by way of a dewar jacket. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the disclosed gas generating device.
US08765068B2

A honeycomb structural body has a honeycomb body and a pair of electrodes. The honeycomb body has a cell formation part and an outer skin part of a cylindrical hollow shape. The electrodes are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the outer skin part so that the electrodes face to each other in a diameter direction of the honeycomb body. Each of the electrodes has a reference electrode part formed at a central part of the electrode and one or more outside electrode parts formed at both ends of the reference electrode part. The reference electrode parts of the electrode face to each other. The outside electrode parts of the electrodes face to each other. An electrical resistivity of the reference electrode part is smaller than an electrical resistivity of each of the outside electrode parts in each of the electrodes.
US08765065B2

The present invention relates to a process using ultrasonic cutting for the preparation of an oral delivery device comprising a core which includes a pharmaceutically active agent covered by an outer coating which includes one or more openings communicating from the exterior of the device toward the core.
US08765063B1

An air freshener cartridge with mounting that includes a housing with a mounting clip configured to releasably engage with an extant air vent cover to removably secure the air freshener cartridge with mounting thereto, the air cartridge with mounting oriented in a position normal the direction of airflow issuing through said vent.
US08765055B2

Bubble traps for removing bubbles from a stream of liquid and flexible containers comprising such bubble traps are disclosed. The bubble trap includes a containment chamber fluidly coupled to an outlet conduit. At least one grate is disposed between the containment chamber and the outlet conduit. The at least one grate includes a plurality of grate inlets formed in a grate wall and fluidly coupled to the outlet conduit with a plurality of grate conduits such that the containment chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet conduit. The grate traps bubbles entrained in the stream of liquid flowing from the containment chamber to the outlet conduit in the containment chamber when the bubbles are greater than or equal to a diameter of the grate inlets.
US08765049B2

A method of making ceramic articles includes compounding ceramic precursor batch components that include hydrous clay. The hydrous clay includes particle components having a platy geometry. The crystallite size of the platy hydrous clay particle components is greater than a predetermined amount. Controlling such crystallite size can result in reduced shrinkage of green ware during the clay dehydroxylation stage of firing.
US08765044B2

A method of making a masonry block employing a mold assembly having a plurality liner plates each having a major surface that together form a mold cavity having an open top and an open bottom, wherein at least one liner plate is moveable between a retracted position and a desired extended position within the mold cavity. The method includes providing a negative of a desired texture on the major surface of the moveable liner plate, moving the moveable liner plate to a retracted position, closing the bottom of the mold cavity by positioning a pallet below the mold assembly, filling the mold cavity with dry cast concrete via the open top, vibrating the mold assembly and dry cast concrete therein, and moving the moveable liner plate to a desired extended position during the vibrating.
US08765038B2

A method of feeding a composite molten resin capable of easily forming a multi-kind-multi-layer preform. An apparatus for feeding the composite molten resin has a nozzle portion which includes an outer discharge port in which an outermost annular flow path through which a main layer-forming molten resin flows, meets an outer annular flow path through which a sub-layer-forming molten resin flows inside of the outermost annular flow path; and an inner discharge port in which a shell layer-forming molten resin annularly flowing inside of the outer conflux path, meets the core layer-forming molten resin flowing inside the shell layer; the outer discharge port and the inner discharge port being arranged in this order from the downstream toward the upstream in a direction in which the molten resins flow; wherein provision is made of a shaft-like opening/closing valve for opening and closing the inner discharge port, and a gear pump for intermittently discharging the sub-layer-forming molten resin.
US08765035B2

A process for manufacturing a self-extinguishing cable including at least one transmissive element and at least one flame-retardant coating in a position radially external to the at least one transmissive element, wherein the at least one coating includes an expanded flame-retardant polymeric material having (a) at least one expandable polymer; (b) at least one expanding agent; (c) at least one flame-retardant inorganic filler, in an amount of 100 parts by weight of 250 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the at least one expandable polymer. The process includes the following steps: (i) feeding the flame-retardant polymeric material to an extruding apparatus, therein melting and mixing it; (ii) passing the flame-retardant polymeric material obtained in step (i) through at least one static mixer; and (iii) depositing by extrusion the flame-retardant polymeric material obtained in step (ii) onto the at least one transmissive element conveyed to the extruding apparatus.
US08765028B2

Provided are a composition for an oxide semiconductor, a method of preparing the composition, methods of forming an oxide semiconductor thin film and an electronic device using the composition. The composition for an oxide semiconductor includes a tin compound, a zinc compound, and a low electronegativity metal compound containing a metal with an electronegativity lower than zinc.
US08765027B2

A polymer composition comprises at least one substantially non-conductive polymer binder and at least first and second electrically conductive fillers. The first electrically conductive filler is comprised of particles having avoid-bearing structure; and the second electrically conductive filler is comprised of particles which are acicular in shape.
US08765026B2

A tablet for vapor deposition characterized in that on a fracture surface of an indium oxide sintered body, the percentage of crystal grains having a grain diameter corresponding to a highest peak is 20% or less. The tablet is produced by: mixing indium oxide powder and cerium oxide powder, and subjecting the mixture to a heat treatment at 1300° C. to 1550° C. to calcine; mixing an uncalcined indium oxide powder and/or an uncalcined cerium oxide powder with the obtained calcined powder such that the ratio of the calcined powder is 50% to 80% by mass, followed by granulation; and molding the obtained granulated powder, thereby forming a molded body, and then sintering the molded body at a temperature which is 1100° C. to 1350° C., and which is lower than the temperature of the heat treatment on the calcined powder in the first step by 20° C. or more.
US08765025B2

A metal nanoparticle composition includes an organic-stabilized metal nanoparticle and a solvent in which the solvent selected has the following Hansen solubility parameters: a dispersion parameter of about 16 MPa0.5 or more, and a sum of a polarity parameter and a hydrogen bonding parameter of about 8.0 MPa0.5 or less. The metal nanoparticle composition is suitable for printing conductive lines that are uniform, smooth and narrow on various substrate surfaces. The metal nanoparticle composition is able to form printed conductive features having a coffee ring effect ratio of about 1.2 to about 0.8, a surface roughness of about 15 or less and a line width of about 200 microns or less.
US08765023B2

The present invention relates to a composition for preparing a separator for an electrochemical device, a method preparing a separator for an electrochemical device, and an electrochemical device having a separator prepared therefrom, more particularly, a composition for preparing a separator for an electrochemical device, comprising a polyolefin, a first diluent, and a second diluent, wherein an interaction energy between the first diluent and the second diluent is in the range of 2 to 3.5 cal/cm3, a method preparing a separator for an electrochemical device using the composition, and an electrochemical device having a separator prepared therefrom. In accordance with the present invention, the pore size of a polyolefin separator can be suitably controlled into a size desired by a user, and the high-temperature stability and mechanical property of the separator can be remarkably improved, thereby enhancing the life time and stability of an electrochemical device having the same.
US08765017B2

Gasification systems and associated processes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a gasification process includes simultaneously supplying a carbonaceous material and steam to a gasifier, the gasifier containing a liquid volume containing at least about 10% by weight of iron oxide (FexOy where x and y are positive integers). The gasification process also includes performing a gasification reaction between the carbonaceous material and steam in the liquid volume, facilitating the gasification reaction with the iron oxide in the liquid volume, and producing a gas from the gasification reaction, the gas containing carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
US08765007B2

A method of evaluating a positive electrode active material has a density ratio-determining step of determining a ratio of an apparent density Da of the positive electrode active material to a theoretical density Db of the positive electrode active material. For example, when the positive electrode active material contains no closed space in the positive electrode active material, such as closed pores of the positive electrode active material, the ratio (Da/Db) of the apparent density Da of the positive electrode active material to the theoretical density Db of the positive electrode active material will be a value close to 1; however, the more the closed space such as the closed pores exists in the positive electrode active material, the smaller the ratio (Da/Db). Thus, the ratio (Da/Db) can serve as an indicator for measuring the degree of density of the positive electrode active material.
US08765001B2

Monocrystalline semiconductor substrates are textured with alkaline solutions to form pyramid structures on their surfaces to reduce incident light reflectance and improve light absorption of the wafers. The alkaline baths include hydantoin compounds and derivatives thereof in combination with alkoxylated glycols to inhibit the formation of flat areas between pyramid structures to improve the light absorption.
US08764972B2

Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. The one or more catalyst may include an uncalcined catalyst. One or more other properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.
US08764968B2

A technique for nanodevice is provided. A reservoir is filled with an ionic fluid. A membrane separates the reservoir, and the membrane includes electrode layers separated by insulating layers in which the electrode layers have an organic coating. A nanopore is formed through the membrane, and the organic coating on the electrode layers forms transient bonds to a base of a molecule in the nanopore. When a first voltage is applied to the electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels through the transient bonds formed to the base to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base.
US08764967B2

A method and system for regenerating used cooking oil in which the used cooking oil is introduced into a cooking oil regenerator, which includes an electrochemical device having a high temperature proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. A voltage is applied between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode using an external electricity source, producing regenerated cooking oil.
US08764966B2

Both the reaction of hydride-forming compositions with hydrogen to form hydrides, and the decomposition of such hydrides to release hydrogen may be promoted electrochemically. These reactions may be conducted reversibly, and if performed in a suitable cell, the cell will serve as a hydrogen storage and release device.
US08764964B2

A system for forming metal hydroxide from a metal carbonate utilizes a water electrolysis cell having an acid-producing anode and a hydroxyl-producing cathode immersed in a water solution of sufficient ionic content to allow an electric current to pass between the hydroxyl-producing cathode and the acid-producing anode. A metal carbonate is placed in close proximity to the acid-producing anode. A direct current electrical voltage is provided across the acid-producing anode and the hydroxyl-producing cathode sufficient to generate acid at the acid-producing anode and hydroxyl ions at the hydroxyl-producing cathode. The acid dissolves at least part of the metal carbonate into metal and carbonate ions allowing the metal ions to travel toward the hydroxyl-producing cathode and to combine with the hydroxyl ions to form the metal hydroxide. The carbonate ions travel toward the acid-producing anode and form carbonic acid and/or water and carbon dioxide.
US08764961B2

A method and apparatus for selectively controlling deposition rate of conductive material during an electroplating process. Dopants are predominantly incorporated into a conductive seed layer on field regions of a substrate prior to filling openings in the field regions by electroplating. A substrate is positioned in one or more processing chambers, and barrier and conductive seed layers formed. A dopant precursor is provided to the chamber and ionized, with or without voltage bias. The dopant predominantly incorporates into the conductive seed layer on the field regions. Electrical conductivity of the conductive seed layer on the field regions is reduced relative to that of the conductive seed layer in the openings, resulting in low initial deposition rate of metal on the field regions during electroplating, and little or no void formation in the metal deposited in the openings.
US08764958B2

A bi-state-switch low-voltage fabrication technique is able to be used to construct microfluidic systems leveraging well-established low-voltage semiconductor fabrication technologies to achieve high-voltage droplet actuation applications with lower costs, smaller device sizes, and also less time. Also, the electrode cells are able to be made using the well-established low-voltage CMOS fabrication technologies, which can be used to make large-scale integrated microelectronics and microfluidics.
US08764932B2

A mounting system for fixation of two objects includes a single-component aerobic adhesive and a metered amount of moisture added to the adhesive prior to using the adhesive to fixate the objects. The adhesive with the moisture is hardenable while the objects are glued together.
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