US08773604B2
A horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display is disclosed. The horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display includes a gate line on a substrate, a data line crossing the gate line with a gate insulating layer interposed between the gate line and the data line, the gate line and the data line defining a pixel area, a thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the gate line and the data line, a pixel electrode that is connected to the TFT to receive a data signal, a common electrode pattern on which a common voltage is supplied, and a pixel common electrode that is electrically connected to the common electrode pattern to form a horizontal electric field together with the pixel electrode. The pixel common electrode contacts the common electrode pattern in a non-display area of an upper portion at one side of the pixel area.
US08773599B2
A near-to-eye optical system includes an optically transmissive substrate having a see-through display region and a repeating pattern of diffraction elements. The repeating pattern of diffraction elements is disposed across the see-through display region of the optically transmissive substrate and organized into a reflective diffraction grating that bends and focuses computer generated image (“CGI”) light impingent upon the reflective diffraction grating. The see-through display region is at least partially transmissive to external ambient light impingent upon an exterior side of the optically transmissive substrate and at least partially reflective to the CGI light impingent upon an interior side of the optically transmissive substrate opposite the exterior side.
US08773598B2
The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
US08773597B2
Disclosed is an ink, which has a viscosity and a volumetric shrinkage, controlled to 20˜80 cP and 10˜30%, respectively, by controlling an amount of each of: (a) a first monomer having a viscosity of 7˜1,600 cP and having one or two polymerizable functional groups; and (b) a second monomer having a viscosity of 30˜20,000 cP and having at least three polymerizable functional groups, in the presence of 0˜20 wt % of a solvent, and which can form a convex portion due to its surface tension controlled to 20˜40 mN/m, so as to compensate for its volumetric shrinkage, wherein the viscosity and the surface tension are measured at 25° C. A substrate, which is patterned or information-recorded with the ink, and a display device having the substrate are also disclosed.
US08773592B2
A display apparatus is configured to control a clock generator so that a phase of a clock can maximize an integrated evaluation value that is an integrated value of a differential absolute value between adjacent pixels in an image display unit over one frame of a plurality of digital video signals corresponding to a plurality of clocks having different phases generated by the clock generator when a value made by dividing a maximum value of the integrated evaluation value by a minimum value of the integrated evaluation value is larger than a threshold, and to control the clock generator so that the phase of the clock can correspond to an intermediate position in a phase range in which the position becomes constant relative to the phase of the clock when the value made by dividing the maximum value by the minimum value is equal to or smaller than the threshold.
US08773587B2
At least a method and a system are described for providing frame rate upconversion by way of using “short side” or bidirectional interpolation in generating interpolated frames. In a representative embodiment, the method may comprise receiving a first frame of video corresponding to a first frame time and a second frame of the video corresponding to a second frame time, computing a first absolute difference between the first frame time and an interpolated frame time wherein the interpolated frame time temporally is located between the first frame time and the second frame time. The method further comprises using a first motion vector field and the first frame to compute a third frame at the interpolated frame time. The method further comprises outputting the third frame as the interpolated frame at the interpolated frame time if the first absolute difference is less than or equal to a first threshold value.
US08773582B2
Systems and methods using the same to achieve a camera having precise timing of a camera shutter, which can be used also for a controllable aperture, are disclosed. The aperture can be controlled continuously and can therefore be used for video cameras. The shutter system is controlled by a feedback loop. The shutter blades are moved by at least one linear motor, a position sensor senses the actual position and speed of the blades. The movement of the blades can be stopped any time to get an aperture desired. For capturing an image in a first step a global reset is opening (activating) every pixel of the image sensor after the shutter is opened. In order to achieve a short active light exposure time (below 1 ms), after the global reset, the mechanical shutter invented closes rapidly after a defined active light exposure time. An active light exposure time is the time span between the image sensor is activated and the mechanical shutter is closed. In order to achieve a precise timing the shutter of the present invention uses electronic control and a feedback loop to control the actual position of the shutter.
US08773580B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array unit that includes photoelectric conversion elements and in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in rows and columns that output, as pixel signals, electrical signals obtained by photoelectric conversion performed by amplifier elements to which pixel power supply voltage is supplied and that drive signal lines, a pixel power supply unit that generates the pixel power supply voltage from power supply voltage, the pixel power supply voltage being lower than the power supply voltage, and that supplies the pixel power supply voltage to the amplifier elements in the plurality of pixels, and a pixel signal read unit that reads pixel signals from the plurality of pixels.
US08773573B1
A camera system includes an image sensor, an aperture, and an adjustable lens. The adjustable lens is disposed in an optical path of the image sensor to focus image light received through the aperture onto a pixel array of the image sensor. The adjustable lens includes first and second lens members and blackout regions. The first lens member includes a first corrugated surface and a first flat surface opposite the first corrugated surface. The first corrugated surface includes a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections. The second lens member includes a second corrugated surface and a second flat surface opposite the second corrugated surface. The second flat surface faces the first flat surface. The blackout regions are disposed between the first and second corrugated surfaces and positioned to block the image light passing through either the ridge or the groove sections of the first lens member.
US08773572B2
An exemplary imaging module includes a substrate, an image sensor, a lens barrel, a lens, and a holder. The image sensor is fixed on the substrate, the lens barrel is connected to the substrate to enclose the image sensor, the lens is received in the lens barrel, and the holder is connected to the lens barrel and partially receives the lens barrel therein. The lens barrel includes an elastic protruding portion protruding from the inner surface thereof. The inner surface of the protruding portion elastically abuts a side surface of the lens.
US08773569B2
An image capturing apparatus has either one of a first display mode for continuously displaying a captured image on an image display unit and a second display mode for not displaying the captured image on the image display unit and displays an image according to the detection result on the image display unit when the second display mode is set.
US08773568B2
A method and apparatus for imaging are provided. An imaging device photographs a subject and outputs an image signal. Each of a plurality of view finders displays an image based on the image signal.
US08773566B2
Provided is a photographing condition setting apparatus including: a display unit; an image capturing unit which generates image data by capturing a photographing object; a photographing situation determination unit which determines based on the image data generated by the image capturing unit which type of the photographing object is photographed in a photographing situation; and a display controller which displays on the display unit one or a plurality of photographing condition icons indicating the photographing condition settable to the determined photographing situation if the photographing situation is determined by the photographing situation determination unit.
US08773563B2
A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode.
US08773562B1
A vertically stacked image sensor having a photodiode chip and a transistor array chip. The photodiode chip includes at least one photodiode and a transfer gate extends vertically from a top surface of the photodiode chip. The image sensor further includes a transistor array chip stacked on top of the photodiode chip. The transistor array chip includes the control circuitry and storage nodes. The image sensor further includes a logic chip vertically stacked on the transistor array chip. The transfer gate communicates data from the at least one photodiode to the transistor array chip and the logic chip selectively activates the vertical transfer gate, the reset gate, the source follower gate, and the row select gate.
US08773558B2
A member for light path to a photoelectric conversion portion includes a middle portion, and a peripheral portion having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the middle portion, and within some plane in parallel with the light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion portion, and within other plane closer to the light receiving surface than the some plane in parallel with the light receiving surface, the peripheral portion is continuous with the middle portion and surrounds the middle portion, and also the refractive index of the peripheral portion is higher than the refractive index of an insulator film, and the thickness of the peripheral portion within the other plane is smaller than the thickness of the peripheral portion within the some plane.
US08773557B2
Provided is a solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines. The pixel signal reading unit sets a bias voltage for a load element which is connected to the pixel signal read line and in which current dependent on a bias voltage flows in the load element, to a voltage causing a current value to be higher than current upon a reference bias voltage when there is no difference between added charge amounts, when addition of pixel signals of the respective pixels in the shared pixel is driven.
US08773548B2
An image selection device includes: an image acquiring unit which acquires a plurality of shot images acquired by continuously shooting a subject; an area segmentation unit which segments an image area of the shot image into a motion area indicating different positions by a specified amount or more between two shot images and a non-motion area other than the motion area based on the two consecutive shot images in time series in the plurality of shot images; and a selection unit which selects at least one shot image from the plurality of shot images based on an amount of blur of an image in the non-motion area.
US08773543B2
An apparatus and method are described in which image information is received from an image sensor relating to one image frame, one or more sub-images are produced from the received image information according to given cropping data; and the produced one or more sub-images are forwarded through an output.
US08773540B2
A method for calibrating a camera and a display monitor is provided. The method includes identifying a parameter for optimization, assigning to a test color a target color relevant to the parameter, repeatedly performing, two or more times, a set of steps, determining a direction and timing of color divergence for the target color from obtained images, and adjusting the parameter based on the direction and rate of color divergence for the target color. The set of steps includes instructing the display monitor to display the test color on a portion of the display monitor, obtaining an image captured by the camera while the display is executing the instruction, and reassigning, to the test color, a color obtained from a portion of the image in which the portion of the display monitor was captured. The obtained image includes the portion of the display monitor.
US08773532B2
A camera emulation server enables integration of real and logical digital video streams within a video surveillance system. The camera emulation server produces a logical digital video stream emulating a real video surveillance camera, in which the logical digital video stream includes data other than original video surveillance data. The camera emulation server provides the logical digital video stream to a video management server via a packet-switched network for integration with a real digital video stream that includes video surveillance data captured by a remote physical video surveillance camera. The video management server routes the logical digital video stream and the real digital video stream to a video receiving device for simultaneous display in respective window panes configured in a tiled format on at least one display device of the video receiving device.
US08773526B2
A machine vision inspection system (MVIS) and a related light stripe edge feature location method are disclosed. The MVIS comprises a control system, a light stripe projection system, an imaging system, and a user interface. In a region of interest including the edge feature, the light stripe projection system focuses a light stripe transverse to the edge direction and across the edge feature, such that the light stripe has a changing stripe intensity profile along the light stripe. The imaging system acquires an image of the light stripe and the control system analyzes the image to determine the location of the edge feature based on a changing light intensity profile along the stripe. The method may be implemented in an edge detection video tool. The method may be advantageous for inspecting highly textured, beveled, chamfered, rounded or damaged edges, for example.
US08773525B2
An apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support structure, a telescoping mast held by a coupling and born by the support structure, an imaging system held by an extendable portion of the telescoping mast and an offsetting mechanism. The apparatus may also include an articulating radial arm with pivots for locating the telescoping mast. The support structure of the apparatus may also include an adaptor section for fitting to a receiver of a hitch of a vehicle. A method for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above is also disclosed. The method of inspection includes the steps of locating an access point on a working surface, positioning an apparatus for conducting remote subsurface inspections from above, manipulating the telescoping mast above the access point, lowering it and reviewing images from the imaging system.
US08773523B2
A remote control based on user's gesture includes an infrared emission unit, a storage unit, a gesture sensing unit, a processing unit and a code chip. The gesture sensing unit is configured to capture images and identify hand gestures in the images and output the gesture signals corresponding to the hand gestures to the processing unit; The storage unit stores a first relationship table of gesture signals and associated function instructions. The storage unit also stores a second relationship table of the function instructions and associated infrared remote control codes. The processing unit parses the gesture signal into the corresponding function instruction according to the first relationship table, and then outputs the function instruction to the encode chip, the encode chip chooses an infrared remote control code according to the function instruction and the second relationship table and drives the infrared emission unit to emit infrared rays carrying the infrared remote control code to the device.
US08773522B2
A band-limiting filter of the invention exhibits a trimodal filter characteristic, and includes, for example, band-limiting transmittance filter characteristic portions Rb, Gb, and Bb for wavelength regions of red, green, and blue, respectively. More specifically, the band-limiting transmittance filter characteristic portions Rb, Gb, and Bb, for example, have bandpass characteristics in which the respective center wavelengths are 630 nm (full width at half maximum λ1=30 to 90 nm), 540 nm (full width at half maximum λ2=20 to 60 nm), and 440 nm (full width at half maximum λ3=50 to 80 nm). This makes it possible to obtain an image of a predetermined color tone by restraining an influence of spectral sensitivity characteristic of an image pickup device when the band-limiting filter is applied to a synchronous type endoscope for performing color image pickup to perform observation under normal illumination light.
US08773517B2
To provide an image display device of an excellent display quality with which the brightness is not deteriorated in reflective displays, and to provide a portable terminal using the same. Provided is a display device which includes: a plurality of arranged display elements each including at least a pixel for displaying a first-viewpoint image and a pixel for displaying a second-viewpoint image, each of the pixels having a transmissive display area for transmitting light and a reflective display area for reflecting external light; and an optical device for distributing light emitted from each of the pixels to different directions from each other, wherein the reflective display areas of each of the display elements are arranged asymmetrically with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to an image distributing direction.
US08773512B1
A portable remote control device enables user interaction with an appliance by detecting user gestures made in a hover zone, and converting the gestures to commands that are wirelessly transmitted to the appliance. The remote control device includes at least two cameras whose intersecting FOVs define a three-dimensional hover zone within which user interactions are imaged. Separately and collectively image data is analyzed to identify a relatively few user landmarks. Substantially unambiguous correspondence is established between the same landmark on each acquired image, and a three-dimensional reconstruction is made in a common coordinate system. Preferably cameras are modeled to have characteristics of pinhole cameras, enabling rectified epipolar geometric analysis to facilitate more rapid disambiguation among potential landmark points. As a result processing overhead and latency times are substantially reduced. Landmark identification and position information is convertible into commands that alter the appliance behavior as intended by the user's gesture.
US08773509B2
An imaging method includes: calculating an amount of parallax between a reference optical system and an adjustment target optical system; setting coordinates of an imaging condition evaluation region corresponding to the first viewpoint image outputted by the reference optical system; calculating coordinates of an imaging condition evaluation region corresponding to the second viewpoint image outputted by the adjustment target optical system, based on the set coordinates of the imaging condition evaluation region corresponding to the first viewpoint image, and on the calculated amount of parallax; and adjusting imaging conditions of the reference optical system and the adjustment target optical system, based on image data in the imaging condition evaluation region corresponding to the first viewpoint image, at the set coordinates, and on image data in the imaging condition evaluation region corresponding to the second viewpoint image, at the calculated coordinates, and outputting the viewpoint images in the adjusted imaging conditions.
US08773495B2
An integrated videoconferencing system has a credenza that houses three displays at predefined angles with respect to one another. A table positions in from the credenza for seating participants across from the credenza's displays. The table has three seating sections that are angled at another predefined angle with respect to one another. Three cameras are positioned in the top of the credenza, and each has a view angle directed perpendicularly at one of the seating sections. The table can also have a portion that interconnects with the credenza. In use, the integrated system allows the participants to conduct a telepresence videoconference in which the near-end participants can interact with the far-end participants as if they were all seated at the same conference table in the room together.
US08773493B2
A mobile communication terminal having a multiparty video call function and a method for converting a mode of a multiparty video call are disclosed. The terminal includes an input unit that receives a command for selecting one of phone call modes and a controller that displays a menu for selecting a phone call mode on the display, when a request for a video call or video chatting with the third terminal is wirelessly transmitted or received while the mobile communication terminal is performing video call communication or video chatting, and maintains an established call mode or converts the established call mode to a different phone call mode according to a phone call mode selected through the input unit to perform multiparty video call communication.
US08773491B2
A method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing audio mixing are provided. The method for implementing audio mixing includes: receiving an audio signal sent by each sending conference site, where the audio signals include an audio channel-based audio signal and an audio object-based audio signal; selecting an audio signal for each receiving conference site from the received audio signals; processing the selected audio signals according to types of receiving conference sites, where the receiving conference sites include an audio channel-based receiving conference site and an audio object-based receiving conference site; and sending the processed audio signal to each receiving conference site respectively according to the type of the receiving conference site. The present invention is applicable to a multipoint conference where audio mixing is performed on an audio channel-based audio signal and an audio object-based audio signal.
US08773487B2
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a plurality of optical scanning devices, first temperature detectors for detecting the temperatures of the optical scanning devices, a second temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the apparatus main body, a first condition judger, a second condition judger and a temperature adjuster. The temperature adjuster performs a total motor drive process for driving the motors of all the optical scanning devices if a predetermined first condition is satisfied and a predetermined second condition is satisfied. On the other hand, the temperature adjuster drives the motor of the one optical scanning device and does not drive the motors of all the optical scanning devices excluding the one optical scanning device if the first condition is satisfied, but the second condition is not satisfied.
US08773485B2
A system for the quick coupling of reels to a rotating shaft especially suitable for the unwinding or winding in reels of a consumable of thermal transfer printing or direct thermal printing machines, including a rotating shaft provided with a plurality of housings each of which is suitable for the firm but removable coupling of a rod, a single rod being able to be selectively coupled in any one of the mentioned housings; and a set of reels of a different width, provided with respective tubular bodies for the winding of the consumable provided with at least one respective slot suitable for the bayonet mount thereof with the shaft through the rod coupled in said shaft. The arrangement of the housings and of the slots are such that it is possible to couple any of the reels in such a way that said reels are centered with respect to a same plane transverse to the shaft.
US08773482B2
In an exposure apparatus employing an over filled optical system, the light quantity distribution on a scanning plane is kept nearly constant for a plurality of scanning light quantities. It selects the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body from a plurality of levels, and sets the light quantity selected. According to the light quantity, it selects one of a plurality of correction current profiles, and supplies a light source with a current passing through the correction based on the correction current profile selected. Since the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body is corrected by the correction current, the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive body becomes nearly constant in the scanning direction.
US08773477B2
Edge lit displays are lit via a set (or individual) lighting elements. Each element projects light onto, for example, a zone which is then utilized directed as a backlight toward an LCD panel. An amount of light incident on any area (e.g., pixel) of the LCD panel (or SLM/series of SLMs) is calculated based on a sum of contributions from each zone. A similar process may be utilized for other lighting configurations. An amount of modulation performed by the LCD panel is then calculated based at least in part on lighting from the zones which may include brightness and varying levels of color content.
US08773472B2
To provide an information display device for displaying at least one item of display target information in respective screen element, receiving, while catalog display takes place, an instruction operation which is made utilizing display target information shown in the screen elements displayed as a catalog, and executing a process based on the instruction operation.
US08773469B2
A video multiviewer system may include a plurality of video scalers operating in parallel for generating initially scaled video streams by performing video scaling in at least one dimension on a plurality of video input streams. The video multiviewer system may also include at least one video cross-point switcher coupled downstream from the video scalers, and a processing unit coupled downstream from the video cross-point switcher for generating additionally scaled video streams by performing additional video scaling on the initially scaled video stream. The video scalers and the processing unit may communicate through the video cross-point switcher using a serial digital interface.
US08773466B2
There is provided an image processing apparatus including: an input image acquisition unit for obtaining an input image generated by taking an image of a real space; an image recognition unit for recognizing, when a first user-input representing a start of manipulation is detected, a manipulator used for manipulating a virtual object, wherein the manipulator appears in the input image; a calculation unit for calculating, according to a result of the recognition of the manipulator provided by the image recognition unit, a position on a screen of a display device at which the virtual object is to be displayed; a display control unit for displaying the virtual object at the position of the screen of the display device calculated by the calculation unit; and a communication unit for transmitting, when the first user-input is detected, a first notification signal for notifying the start of manipulation to another apparatus displaying the same virtual object.
US08773459B2
A graphics processing unit (GPU) efficiently performs 3-dimensional (3-D) clipping using processing units used for other graphics functions. The GPU includes first and second hardware units and at least one buffer. The first hardware unit performs 3-D clipping of primitives using a first processing unit used for a first graphics function, e.g., an ALU used for triangle setup, depth gradient setup, etc. The first hardware unit may perform 3-D clipping by (a) computing clip codes for each vertex of each primitive, (b) determining whether to pass, discard or clip each primitive based on the clip codes for all vertices of the primitive, and (c) clipping each primitive to be clipped against clipping planes. The second hardware unit computes attribute component values for new vertices resulting from the 3-D clipping, e.g., using an ALU used for attribute gradient setup, attribute interpolation, etc. The buffer(s) store intermediate results of the 3-D clipping.
US08773449B2
A circuit arrangement, program product and circuit arrangement render stereoscopic images in a multithreaded rendering software pipeline using first and second rendering channels respectively configured to render left and right views for the stereoscopic image. Separate transformations are applied to received vertex data to generate transformed vertex data for use by each of the first and second rendering channels in rendering the left and right views for the stereoscopic image.
US08773445B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of generating a first rendered image associated with a first application, independently generating a second rendered image associated with a second application, applying a first set of blending weights to the first rendered image to establish a first weighted image, applying a second set of blending weights to the second rendered image to establish a second weighted image, and blending the first weighted image and the second weighted image before scanning out a blended result to a first display device.
US08773437B1
A system gathers information on important and influential people and builds a social graph. The social graph can be processed to determine the influence of a node in the graph or a subsection of the graph. For the influence in a subsection of the graph, only nodes with a specific type of relationship or concept is included in the influence calculation. For example, for the concept art, only relationship that have to do with art are included in the influence calculation (e.g., museum, artists, musician). In an implementation, the edge-weight of edges of the system change according to time.
US08773436B1
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for pixel charts with data dependent display spaces. One embodiment is a method for software execution. The method includes building a pixel bar chart having plural bars with different heights and different widths; and simultaneously displaying the plural bars of the pixel bar chart.
US08773430B2
A method identifies the presence of a three-dimensional (3D) image format in received image through the use of feature matching and correspondence. The received image is sampled using a candidate 3D format to generate two sub-images from the received image. Initially, these sub-images are compared to determine whether these sub-images are similar with respect to structure. If the sub-images are not similar, a new 3D format is selected and the method is repeated. If the sub-images are similar, features are detected in the two sub-images and a correspondence is formed between features that match in the two sub-images. Positional differences are computed between corresponding features. The amount and uniformity of the positional differences are then used to determine whether the format is 2D or 3D and, if 3D, which of the 3D formats was used for the received image.
US08773429B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting parallax for a 3D object appearing on a display. One such method includes selecting a target 3D object, calculating an adjusted parallax position, calculating a z-axis offset based at least in part on the adjusted parallax position, adjusting a first z-axis position of the target 3D object by the z-axis offset, and rendering the target 3D object on the display at the adjusted first z-axis position. The adjusted parallax position is based at least in part on a maximum user reach, a comfortable viewing distance, and a distance between a user and the display. The z-axis offset is set to a difference between the adjusted parallax position and a parallax for a 3D object which is farthest from the user.
US08773427B2
A method and apparatus for multiview image generation using depth map information is described. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises converting a input image and an input depth map into a projected image and a projected depth map using values from physical pixel locations that map to projected pixel locations, wherein the projected image and the projected depth map are associated with a particular view of the input image, inpainting the projected image and the projected depth map and producing an output image in a direction of the particular view using the inpainted projected image and the inpainted projected depth map.
US08773426B1
Systems and methods for removing hidden faces in a 3D model, such as a building model are provided. A method for removing hidden faces in a 3D building model may include identifying a 3D building model having hidden surfaces inside the building model. The method may further include adding closing surfaces to the hidden surfaces to form closed hidden surfaces. The method may further include combining the closed hidden surfaces into a single polygon. The method may then include removing the closed hidden surfaces. A system for removing hidden faces in a 3D building model may include a surface identifier, a surface adder, a surface combiner and a surface remover. The removal of unnecessary internal surfaces and artifacts may increase the efficiency of the 3D building model.
US08773415B2
A display device with an image pickup function includes: a plurality of pixel signal lines each supplied with a pixel signal; a plurality of display pixels each performing a display operation based on the pixel signal; and a plurality of image pickup elements each including a photo-detector and a capacitor, the photo-detector generating a current of a magnitude corresponding to a photo-detection amount, the capacitor performing a discharging operation which follows a charging operation with the current from the photo-detector to output a charged voltage for a read operation. In the display device, a voltage level of the pixel signal line during the discharging operation is equal to a voltage level of the pixel signal line during the reading operation.
US08773411B2
The invention relates to an electronic apparatus comprising a collapsible electronic display (20) having an active region (21) conceived to be extendable and comprising a substantially deformable area (24a, 24b) and a substantially non-deformable area in use; and electronic components for enabling electrical connectivity for the electronic display, wherein the electronic components are arranged on the substantially non-deformable area (23a, 23b, 23c) outside the active region (21).
US08773409B2
A skew adjusting apparatus includes: latching circuits that latch other signals in synchronism with transition timing of the signal level of a reference signal among signals transmitted with a plurality of communication cables; delay elements that are provided on the plurality of communication cables, and delay the signals transmitted with the plurality of communication cables, respectively; and a controller that controls the delay elements based on the outputs of the latching circuits to adjust skews between the signals.
US08773406B2
An organic electroluminescent display that can prevent decreases in an average luminance of an organic electroluminescent element thereof includes: a data line to supply a data signal; a scan line to supply a scan signal; a first switching element having a control electrode electrically coupled to the scan line, to transfer the data signal from the data line; a first driving transistor having a control electrode electrically coupled to the first switching element, to control a driving current of a first voltage line; a first capacitive element having a first electrode electrically coupled to the first voltage line and having a second electrode electrically coupled to a control electrode of the first driving transistor; an organic electroluminescent element, electrically coupled to the first driving transistor and a third voltage line, to display an image in response to a current supplied from the first driving transistor; and a second voltage line to supply a reverse bias voltage of a second voltage line to the organic electroluminescent element.
US08773405B1
A device comprising a body comprising an elongated housing with at least a first conductive tip formed at a distal end and at least one sense electrode on the body; a capacitance sense circuit disposed within the housing and configured to sense a capacitance of the sense electrode to generate a proximity result in response to contact with a human body; and a signal generator circuit disposed within the housing and configured to activate a position signal in response to the proximity result, the position signal being driven at the tip of the device.
US08773402B2
A stylus for a portable electronic device includes a main body, a nib, and a lens member. A through hole runs through two ends of the main body. The nib and the lens member are rotatably connected to the main body.
US08773394B2
An operation detection unit of a vehicular operating device is configured to detect a pressing force in a pressing direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including an operation direction of a slide operation by the finger of an operator on an operating surface. A control device does not execute recognition of a gesture pattern based on the slide operation if the pressing force detected by the operation detection unit is smaller than a first threshold value A, and recognizes a gesture pattern based on the slide operation after the pressing force has reached the first threshold value A or more. The control device controls a vehicle equipment in accordance with the recognized gesture pattern.
US08773390B1
A system may include a touch surface comprising a plurality of capacitance sensors; and processing circuits operable in a finger touch mode that detects finger touches as user input values, and biometric identification mode that detects a shape value of at least a portion of a user hand, and compares the shape value to stored biometric identification values.
US08773386B2
A method and apparatus perform a first scan of an input device and determine that a first signal profile received through the first scan is outside a range of a reference signal profile. The method and apparatus perform a second scan of the input device responsive to the first signal profile being outside the range of the reference signal profile and use a second signal profile received through the second scan to detect a presence of an input object at least proximate to the input device.
US08773385B2
A touch panel includes an upper substrate, upper conductive layers on an upper surface of the upper substrate, a lower substrate having an upper surface facing a lower surface of the upper substrate, lower conductive layers provided on the upper surface of the lower substrate, and an adhesive layer bonding the lower surface of the upper substrate to the upper surface of the lower substrate. The adhesive layer is curable with ultraviolet ray. This touch panel prevents adhesive from being attached and having a pressing mark, thus being operated easily.
US08773382B2
A following coordinate which follows an input coordinate late is calculated. Then, an inference moving amount is calculated on the basis of a moving amount of an input coordinate, and an inference moving direction is calculated on the basis of a moving direction of the following coordinate. An inference movement vector is set on the basis of the inference moving amount and inference moving direction calculated thus. The following coordinate has low correlation with an actual moving amount of a finger of an operator, and the moving direction of the input coordinate has low correlation with an actual moving direction of the finger of the operator due to fluctuation of the input coordinate. Thus, the inference movement vector which is set as described above more accurately reflects the actual moving amount and moving direction of the finger of the operator.
US08773381B2
A system and associated method for contextualizing a page turn in an electronic book pursuant to a snap gesture made by a user on a touch screen of a tablet device, as performed by an e-reader program running in the tablet device. The snap gesture is quantified with data elements including linger time and direction of the snap gesture. The quantified snap gesture is utilized in identifying a target page number to display on the touch screen responsive to at least one predefined data element of the quantified snap gesture such that the user is enabled to turn multiple pages of the electronic book by the snap gesture as turning multiple pages of a paper book.
US08773377B2
In embodiments of multi-pass touch contact tracking, touch input sensor data is recognized as a series of components of a contact on a touch-screen display. The components can be determined to correlate to the contact based on multi-pass nearest-neighbor contact mapping that includes forward nearest-neighbor contact mapping of the components and reverse nearest-neighbor contact mapping of the components. The components can then be associated to represent a tracking of the contact. Subsequent components of the contact can also be determined and associated with the previous components of the contact to further represent the tracking of the contact.
US08773372B2
An optical plate structure for a touch panel includes an optical plate, at least a light source, and at least an optical camera. A light-emitting surface of the optical plate includes a plurality of micro-structure. The light source is disposed beside a vertical side of the optical plate and emits a first light entering the optical plate. The optical plate guides the first light and emits a second light from the light-emitting surface. The optical camera is disposed beside the optical plate or in a corner of the optical plate and above the light-emitting surface, for detecting a third light incident on the light camera. The second light is reflected by an object touching the optical plate to become the third light. The optical plate structure for a touch panel may be utilized in a touch display panel or a touch liquid crystal display panel.
US08773369B2
A sensor apparatus for detecting contact or proximity of an object includes a calculation section for separating a plurality of points of the contact or the proximity that are generated simultaneously, and calculating individual sets of positional coordinates, and the calculation section includes an analysis section for determining, based on a spatial distribution of signal intensity obtained through detection, a condition for separating the spatial distribution of the signal intensity into a plurality of regions.
US08773356B2
Systems and methods for providing tactile sensations are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of outputting a display signal configured to display a graphical object on a touch-sensitive input device; receiving a sensor signal from the touch-sensitive input device, the sensor signal indicating an object contacting the touch-sensitive input device; determining an interaction between the object contacting the touch-sensitive input device and the graphical object; and generating an actuator signal based at least in part on the interaction.
US08773350B2
A sensor circuit which is capable of measuring illuminance without causing unevenness in results detected with spectral characteristics and a variation in sensitivity regardless of whether or not light receiving elements are evenly irradiated with light includes a plurality of light receiving elements, the light receiving elements each being set to a single spectral characteristic selected from spectral characteristics that are different from each other, and the single spectral characteristic set in each of the light receiving elements being sequentially switched among the spectral characteristics that are different from each other so that the light receiving elements are set to different spectral characteristics during measurement of the illuminance.
US08773349B2
A backlight driving circuit that provides backlight to a display panel of a display apparatus includes a power supply unit configured to supply power, a converter configured to convert and output a voltage of the supplied power, a light-emitting module supplied with the outputted voltage from the converter and providing the backlight, a switch connected to an output terminal of the light-emitting module and controlling an operation of the light-emitting module, a feedback resistor connected to an output terminal of the switch and sensing a voltage of a current flowing in the light-emitting module, a short-circuit sensing resistor connected between a ground of the power supply unit and a ground of the feedback resistor, and a short-circuit sensor configured to sense a voltage value of a current applied to the feedback resistor or the short-circuit sensing resistor according to whether the switch is switched on or off.
US08773335B2
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes: a pixel array unit and a driving unit which drives the pixel array unit. The pixel array unit includes rows of first scanning lines and second scanning lines, columns of signals, pixels in a matrix state arranged at portions where the scanning lines and the signal lines cross each other and power supply lines and ground lines supplying power to respective pixels. The driving unit includes a first scanner performing line-sequential scanning to pixels by each row by supplying a first control signal to each first scanning line sequentially, a second scanner supplying a second control signal to each second scanning line sequentially so as to correspond to the line-sequential scanning and a signal selector supplying a video signal to rows of signal lines so as to correspond to the line-sequential scanning.
US08773319B1
A conformal lens-reflector antenna system in which a radio frequency (RF) reflector is disposed in a depression in a raised portion of a dielectrical RF lens. The RF reflector can be shaped to reflect RF signals between an RF feed path to the lens and a body of the lens that extends generally laterally away from the raised portion. RF signals having a frequency within a resonant frequency range of the lens can be directed along the RF feed path to the reflector, which can reflect the RF signals into the body of the lens from which the RF signals can radiate. Similarly, RF signals in the resonant frequency range of the lens in space near the lens can resonate in the lens, and the reflector can reflect those signals down the RF feed path.
US08773318B2
The present invention relates to a system of multi-beam antennas comprising a network of N radiating elements, N being an even whole number, the elements of the network being connected two by two via transmission lines. The system comprises in addition M radiating sources, M being a whole number greater than or equal to 1, the radiating source(s) each being positioned at a distance Li from the center of the network such that the distance Li is strictly less than the distance of fields called far fields and i varies from 1 to M. This system can be used notably in MIMO devices.
US08773317B2
An antenna apparatus includes a slit provided on an antenna element between first and second feed ports; and a series resonant circuit provided at a location along the slit, with a distance from an opening of the slit. When the antenna apparatus operates at a first isolation frequency identical to a resonance frequency of the series resonant circuit, the series resonant circuit is short-circuited, and only a section of the slit from its opening to the series resonant circuit resonates, thus providing isolation between the feed ports at the first isolation frequency. When the antenna apparatus operates at a second isolation frequency lower than the first isolation frequency, the series resonant circuit is open, and the entire slit resonates, thus providing isolation between the feed ports at the second isolation frequency.
US08773311B2
A resonator antenna includes a first conductor pattern as a first conductor, a second conductor pattern as a second conductor, a plurality of first openings, a plurality of interconnects, and a power feed line. The first conductor pattern has, for example, a sheet shape. The second conductor pattern has, for example, a sheet shape, and at least a portion thereof (which, however, may be nearly the entirety thereof) faces the first conductor pattern. A plurality of first openings is provided in the first conductor pattern. The interconnect is provided in each of a plurality of first openings, and one end thereof is connected to the first conductor pattern. The power feed line is connected to the first conductor pattern. Unit cells including the first opening and the interconnect are repeatedly, for example, periodically disposed.
US08773302B2
A level gauge for detecting process variables related to a distance to a surface of a content in a tank, comprising a first and second functionally independent circuitry arrangements comprising transceiver circuitry and processing circuitry. The gauge further comprises a transmission line probe connected to the circuitry arrangements, the transmission line probe extending into the content in the tank and being adapted allow propagation of first and second transmission modes, and a feeding arrangement connected to couple electromagnetic signals into the probe in first and second propagation modes.
US08773297B2
A system and method is disclosed for a digital to analog converter which includes an interpolation filter to up-sample a digital signal, a noise shaping modulator to suppress in-band quantization errors due to digital pulse width modulation and truncation errors, and a hybrid finite impulse response filter/digital to analog converter coupled to a reconstruction filter which outputs the analog signal. The hybrid finite impulse response filter/digital to analog converter uses N-taps implemented digitally and N-tap weights implemented in analog using switched capacitors.
US08773285B2
A parking pilot method and a device thereof are disclosed. Image detectors capture surrounding images of a vehicle. A speed detector detects speed of the vehicle. A distance detector obtains distance between the vehicle and a barrier. A processor obtains relative coordinates of the vehicle and parking lot and the angle and width of the parking lot with the images, speed and distances. Thereby, the processor creates a preset parking pilot frame and works out a relative position of the preset parking pilot frame and the parking lot. Then, the processor designates the preset parking pilot frame and the parking lot on a display. According to the information on the display, the driver moves the vehicle to an initial position and makes the preset parking pilot frame coincide with the parking lot. Then, the processor instructs the driver to manually park the vehicle, or automatically parks the vehicle.
US08773284B2
A stepped intensity electric road flare having a housing supporting a circuit. The circuit comprises an led light source, a power controller and a power supply. The power controller energizes the led light source with the power supply such that the led light source emits a varying light having at least one perceived fixed intensity within a range of emitted intensities. The road flare of the present invention provides a perceived steady light having a perceived fixed intensity during a portion or time zone of its waveform thereby communicating its exact location. In addition because its intensity changes during other portions or time zones of its waveform it also demands attention. The present invention is therefore an attention getting safety device communicating its exact location. The present invention both alerts drivers to a hazard and guides them past the hazard. In addition the emitted light of the present invention is of a reddish color and concentrated by an optic into a powerful light beam. An incendiary road flare also emits a powerful light having a reddish color and, at portions of its burn cycle, perceived as a steady light. An incendiary road flare also varies its intensity during its burn cycle. Therefore the electric road flare of the present invention emits light having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the light emitted by an incendiary road flare. The present invention therefore both alerts and guides drivers with an effectiveness similar to that of the incendiary road flare. As a result of the similar light emitting characteristics oncoming drivers give the present invention the respect, attention and reaction afforded the incendiary road flare enhancing its ability to guide drivers safely past hazardous zones.
US08773281B2
A system which alerts vehicle drivers to avoid intersection vehicle collision, the system comprises of a plurality of vehicles containing a vehicle mount or portable collision avoidance device, equipped with a GPS receiver for providing vehicle location, vehicle travel direction, vehicle speed, vehicle distance from an intersection location to the vehicle collision avoidance device processor, and an RF transceiver for receiving plurality of intersection location traffic signal lights condition information from a broadcasting station, which includes at least one traffic light condition signal at acquisition time. The processor compares the received vehicle GPS location information, with vehicle travel direction, vehicle distance from the intersection, vehicle speed and received broadcasted signal light condition information, and accordingly generates a first warning alarm signal to warn the driver of not being in compliance with the traffic light condition, if the driver becomes none responsive, the collision avoidance device transmits a secondary warring alarm signal(s) to other vehicle drivers indicating the presence of an intersection vehicle collision condition.
US08773279B2
A visually and remotely readable apparatus is provided which comprises a plurality of sensing units, a control unit and a flexible printed cable (FPC) to connect two units for exchanging information therebetween. A preferable structure of the sensing unit includes a fixed part secured to the body of the apparatus and two oppositely positioned rotatable parts, where two rotatable parts mounted on a common shaft with the fixed part arranged therebetween forming two angular position sensors. Each sensor is based on the capacitive coupling between two working surfaces of the rotatable part and the respective working surfaces of the fixed part with the electrodes are secured thereto. Two working surfaces of one part are confronted with two respective working surfaces of another part forming two working surface pair. Each sensor has two working surface pairs, one working surface pair is sensing pair for sensing angular position; another is coupling pair for coupling sensing signals. A plurality of transmitting electrodes are secured to the working surface of the sensing pair of the fixed part; a receiving electrode is secured to the working surface of the sensing pair of the rotatable part; an output electrodes is secured to the working surface of the coupling pair of the fixed part; a coupling electrode connected to the receiving electrode is secured to the working surface of the coupling pair of the rotatable part. To each of the plurality of the transmitting electrodes is applied a respective one of polyphase squarewave voltages. The capacitive coupling between the electrodes of the sensing pair is dependent on the relative positions of two rotatable part, and the output signal voltages on the output electrode which coupled from the coupling electrode represents the angular position of the rotatable part. In the first embodiment provided for the sensors, the shape of working surfaces is in a conical frustum; the second embodiment, the shape of working surfaces is a cylinder; the third embodiment, the shape of working surfaces is a disc; the fourth embodiment, with a cylinder-shaped working surface and a disk-shaped working surface, is a combination of the second and the third embodiments provided as an example of the application of the embodiments. A circuit of the control unit is provided for processing data, generating control signals for the sensors. By using radio frequency identification (RFID) technique to exchange information with the reader station outside of the apparatus and power the system are also disclosed in the invention.
US08773270B2
A system is disclosed for monitoring and controlling a refrigerated medical storage unit. The system may include a control station. The control station may receive temperature information from the refrigerated medical storage unit and may cause at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored. The control station may determine whether the temperature is outside a predefined range and may causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range. The control station may receive user authentication information from a user, and upon verification of the user authentication information, send unlock instructions to the refrigerated medical storage unit.
US08773255B2
A status sensing and reporting interface is provided. The interface includes one of an interface port or an adapter. Each of the interface port and adapter include: a body; a coupling circuit positioned within the body and configured to sense an electrical signal flowing through the status sensing interface; and an electrical parameter sensing circuit positioned within the body and configured to sense a parameter of the electrical signal flowing through the status sensing interface and a physical condition of the connection between the status sensing interface and a connector to which the status sensing interface is operatively coupled.
US08773247B2
Haptic output devices and related systems and methods are described in the present disclosure. In various implementations, a haptic output device includes a reservoir filled with a liquid. At least one side of the reservoir includes a flexible membrane. The haptic output device also includes a first actuator in physical contact with the reservoir and configured to impart pressure waves to the liquid. The pressure waves interact with the flexible membrane to supply a haptic effect to a user.
US08773245B2
There is provided a physical token for use in a defined venue with a server having communication with the physical token. The physical token may comprise an identification data and a transmitter configured to transmit the identification data. The physical token is configured to transmit the identification data to the server to cause the server to initiate a sensory interaction with a user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may comprise a character in the defined venue interacting with the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may also comprise a display screen in the defined venue displaying information to the user possessing the physical token. The sensory interaction may further comprise an audio speaker in the defined venue announcing information to the user possessing the physical token. The physical token may represent an affinity comprising an experience, entitlement, or characteristic of the user possessing the physical token.
US08773242B2
As an RFID interrogator calculating an adaptive retransmission wait time and a control method thereof, the RFID interrogator includes a collision diagnosis unit that analyzes data on a received signal received during a receive time in correspondence with a transmitted signal from an RF communication unit that can transmit and receive signal to and from one or more tag, verifies whether or not a collision occurs in the received signal, and diagnoses a collision type depending on an analysis result of the data on the received signal; a situational command retransmission portion that determines whether or not the command is retransmitted on the basis of the occurrence of the collision and the collision type received from the collision diagnosis unit; and a random wait time calculation portion that calculates a random wait time for retransmitting the command.
US08773226B2
A relay has a driving device that includes a magnet portion, two electromagnets, a yoke portion fixed to the above elements, and a rocking armature. The magnet portion includes a ferrite permanent magnet polarized in a direction perpendicular to the yoke portion and a bearing surface facing way from the yoke portion. Each electromagnet includes an iron core fixed to the yoke portion and a coil wound thereon. The two iron cores are arranged at opposite sides of the magnet portion. The rocking armature includes two arms connected to each other with an included angle formed therebetween and a convex joint of the two arms. The convex joint abuts against the bearing surface and the rocking armature pivots about the convex joint between a first position and a second position in which the rocking armature contacts a respective one of the iron cores.
US08773224B2
A frequency multiplier includes an input circuit, an output circuit, and a resonance circuit. The input circuit is coupled to an input node and a middle node. The middle node provides a middle signal that has a signal component having the same frequency as an input signal that is provided to the input node. The middle signal further has an even number “n” multiple of the input signal frequency. The output circuit has a predetermined input impedance for the middle node. The resonance circuit includes an inductor that is coupled in series with a capacitor, where the capacitor is in a parallel connection to the middle node. The resonance circuit has a resonance frequency that is equal to a frequency of the input signal, and such resonance circuit also has an output impedance that matches with the predetermined input impedance of the output circuit.
US08773222B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified filter assembly. The object is achieved by a dielectric rod (120, 610, 620) for a filter chassis (110). The dielectric rod (120, 610, 620) extends between a first end (121) and a second end (122). The dielectric rod (120, 610, 620) comprises a conductive element (150) placed at the first (end 121). The conductive element (150) is adapted to be in conductive contact with a first contact means (141) of the filter chassis (110). The dielectric rod further comprises a second fastening element (160) placed at the second end (122). The second fastening element (160) is adapted to be attached and detached to a first fastening element (131) comprised in the filter chassis (110), such that the dielectric rod (120, 610, 620) is replaceable in the filter chassis (110).
US08773209B2
A voltage controlled oscillator module including a VCO unit and a gain adjustment unit is provided. The VCO unit is configured to generate a frequency signal based on a control voltage. The gain adjustment unit is coupled to the VCO unit and configured to receive a first adjustment voltage, a second adjustment voltage, and a reference voltage and accordingly adjusts the control voltage to adjust a frequency value of the frequency signal. The gain adjustment unit includes an adjustment circuit unit and a reference circuit unit. A first voltage-frequency curve of the frequency value of the frequency signal and a voltage value of the first adjustment voltage changes in response to a structure characteristic of the adjustment circuit unit. Furthermore, a frequency generating system and a method for adjusting a signal frequency of the VCO module are provided.
US08773208B1
A digital ring oscillator outputting a toggled clock signal. The clock signal is generated by a plurality of electronic cells that are arranged in series. At least one of the plurality of electronic cells receives a feedback of the clock signal. Control signals are received at an input for the plurality of electronic cells. Each electronic cell includes a first logic gate, a second logic gate, and an inverted logic gate coupled between the first logic gate and the second logic gate. For each electronic cell, a respective control signal controls whether an output signal received from the first logic gate of a preceding electronic cell is transferred through the first logic gate to the first logic gate in a succeeding electronic cell, or is inverted and transferred through the second logic gate to the second logic gate in a preceding electronic cell, based on the control signal.
US08773207B2
An object is to provide a PLL having a wide operating range. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device or a wireless tag which has a wide operating range in a communication distance or temperature by incorporating such a PLL. The semiconductor device or the wireless tag includes a first divider circuit; a second divider circuit; a phase comparator circuit to which an output of the first divider circuit and an output of the second divider circuit are provided; a loop filter to which an output of the phase comparator circuit is supplied and in which a time constant is switched in accordance with an inputted signal; and a voltage controlled oscillator circuit to which an output of the loop filter is supplied and which supplies an output to the second divider circuit.
US08773202B2
A class AB operational amplifier includes an input stage, an output stage and a level shifter stage to control the quiescent current of the output stage and to transfer the signal from the input stage to the output stage, and a control circuit of the level shifter stage. The control circuit includes a transistor differential pair having a differential input terminals and the differential voltage at the differential terminals of the differential pair controls the level shifter stage.
US08773200B2
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of a voltage supply are disclosed. One voltage supply apparatus includes a voltage supply, a plurality of power amplifier (PA) decoupling circuits, and a plurality of power amplifiers. Each PA decoupling circuit is connected to the voltage supply and provides a filtered voltage supply to a corresponding one of the plurality power amplifiers. Each PA decoupling circuit configured to suppress noise of the provided filtered voltage supply below a threshold at one or more selected frequencies, wherein the suppression is provided by the PA decoupling circuit operating in conjunction with at least one other of the plurality of PA decoupling circuits.
US08773198B2
An auto-zero amplifier is disclosed, having an amplifying circuit, a switch, and a difference signal generating circuit. The amplifying circuit receives a first input signal for generating a first output signal, and receives a second input signal for generating a second output signal. The switch is coupled between the amplifying circuit and a capacitor. The switch is conducted for charging or discharging the capacitor to a voltage with the first output signal, and the switch is not conducted for keeping the capacitor at the voltage. The difference signal generating circuit is coupled with the amplifying circuit and the capacitor for generating a difference signal of the first output signal and the second output signal, a multiple of the difference signal, a part of the difference signal, and/or a digital output value for the difference signal.
US08773197B2
The present application describes an apparatus and method for reducing distortion in a class-D amplifier. The power output section of the amplifier is driven by an adjusted PWM signal, rather than by a PWM signal created directly from the input analog signal. A reference output, designed to closely track the input analog signal, is compared to the amplifier output. The resulting difference is an error signal which is inverted and summed with a second analog signal corresponding to the directly created PWM signal and changes the timing of the voltage transitions of the second analog signal. The changed voltage transitions are used to create the adjusted PWM signal. The inversion of the error signal causes negative feedback which results in the adjustment of the PWM signal being in a direction which reduces the error signal and thus the distortion of the amplifier.
US08773182B1
A stochastic beating time-to-digital converter (TDC) can include triggered ring oscillator (TRO) and a stochastic TDC (sTDC). The TRO, when triggered by a reference signal edge, can generate a periodic TRO signal with a TRO period that is a selected ratio of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) period. The TRO period can be greater than or less than the VCO period by the specified ratio. The sTDC with an event triggered memory can include an sTDC component with a plurality of groups of latches. Each group of latches can be configured to sample and store a VCO state at an edge of a TRO signal. The sTDC component can trigger a capture of a select number of VCO states of the group of latches when one latch in the group of latches transitions to a different digital state referred to as a transition edge.
US08773167B2
Implementing logic with memristors may include circuitry with at least three memristors and a bias resistor in a logic cell. One of the at least three memristors is an output memristor within the logic cell and the other memristors of the at least three memristors are input memristors. Each of the at least three memristors and the bias resistor are electrically connected to voltage sources wherein each voltage applied to each of the at least three memristors and the bias resistor and resistance states of the at least three memristors determine a resistance state of the output memristor.
US08773150B2
A metal plate (14) is buried in a gasket (12) of a case (10) for accommodating an electric device such as an inverter. The metal plate (14) is connected to a control board (400) in the case (10), and the voltage of the metal plate (14) is determined. A reference voltage is applied to the metal plate (14), and the case (10) is grounded. When the metal plate (14) is brought into contact with the case (10) or disconnected due to a crash, the voltage of the metal plate (14) is thereby changed, and the control board (400) detects a crash, based on the change in the voltage.
US08773144B2
To detect whether energy accumulated in an inductive load section has been discharged. Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a power supply section that generates a power supply voltage to be supplied to the device under test; an inductive load section that is provided in a path between the power supply section and the device under test; a housing section that houses a substrate that includes at least the inductive load section; and a lock maintaining section that keeps an opening/closing section, which allows an operator to access the substrate within the housing section, in a locked state when a voltage at a predetermined position on the substrate is greater than a set voltage.
US08773143B2
A method for identifying cable faults at the terminals of a broadband lambda probe comprising a Nernst cell and a pump cell in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine. The broadband lambda probe has a reference electrode terminal RE, an internal pump electrode terminal IPE and an external pump electrode terminal APE. A pump current is applied to the broadband lambda probe and a pulsed reference pump current is applied to the broadband lambda probe. Cable faults are identified by the evaluation of potential swings in current.
US08773142B2
An electronic component includes an oscillator element, a driving circuit outputting a driving signal to the oscillator element, a clock frequency generator outputting a clock signal to the driving circuit, a clock frequency controller controlling a frequency of the clock signal, a consumption-current detection unit detecting a consumption current of the driving circuit, and a fault detection unit electrically connected to the consumption-current detection unit and the clock frequency controller. When the clock frequency controller changes the frequency of the clock signal, the detected consumption current changes, and allows the consumption-current detection unit to detect the change of the consumption current. The fault detection unit detects a fault based on the change of the frequency of the clock signal and the change of the consumption current. This electronic component can have a fault detection function and a small size.
US08773136B2
The charge state of a battery powering a starter of a motor vehicle is evaluated to determine whether the battery voltage is sufficiently high to re-start an internal combustion engine during a stop/start operating mode. The engine is operated to drive a generator so that the generator output voltage is at a level below a setpoint value for a time period. At the end of the time period, the battery voltage is measured and if it exceeds a threshold voltage the battery charge state is determined to be sufficient to re-start the engine. The threshold voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage. If the measured battery voltage is below the threshold voltage value, indicating that the battery will not have sufficient charge to re-start the motor, automatic shut-off of the engine when the vehicle stops is suppressed.
US08773128B2
A method and an apparatus for enhancing signals in magnetic resonance imaging are provided. The method includes the following steps. Applying one or more than one RF pulse, which carries at least two frequency components, and a slice/slab selection gradient to a subject, so that at least two slices/slabs of the subject respectively corresponding to the at least two frequency components are excited simultaneously. Applying a plurality of spatial encoding gradients and one or more than one separation gradients for separating the at least two slices/slabs. Receiving a plurality of responsive RF signals excited from the subject. The responsive RF signals are restored according to a signal restoration function.
US08773126B2
The present invention provides a method for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance that employs a compound in which a plurality of nuclei is labeled with isotopes as a probe agent, highly selectively and highly sensitively obtains a nuclear magnetic resonance signal of the above described probe agent, and can attach a spatial positional information to the above described nuclear magnetic resonance signal, and an apparatus therefore.
US08773121B2
A magnetic input apparatus and method for a computer device are disclosed. A grid pattern of magnetic sensors can include a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is selectively coupled to a Hall voltage sensor. A source of magnetic field can be placed in proximity to the grid pattern and one or more Hall voltage measurements for one or more of the regions can be collected with the Hall voltage sensor. The measurements can be analyzed to determine a position of the source of the magnetic field with respect to the grid pattern. Input can be provided to the computer program based on the determined position of the source of the magnetic field.
US08773115B2
An electromagnetic field sensor assembly for blade tip clearance measurement in a gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes a ceramic sensor body, a multi-layered wire coil wound about a distal end portion of the sensor body for producing an electromagnetic field, a ceramic well enclosing the sensor body and the coil, and a metallic housing surrounding the well and having an open distal end.
US08773113B2
Cyclic motion of a ferromagnetic part in an environment made noisy by at least one electric source with an A.C. component is measured using at least one first magnetometer sensitive to the moving part and a sensor of an image of current in the electric source. An estimate is calculated of noise linked to the electric source on a signal measured by the first magnetometer and then subtracted from the measured signal.
US08773110B2
Aspects of the disclosure provide method and apparatus for detecting attributes of an input power supply. The method includes receiving a first signal generated based on a second signal that is predictive. The first signal includes a portion that substantially corresponds to the second signal. Further, the method includes detecting attributes of the portion of the first signal that substantially corresponds to the second signal, and determining attributes of the second signal based on the attributes of the portion of the first signal that substantially corresponds to the second signal.
US08773106B2
A method and a system are provided to determine fill sufficiency of an electrochemical biosensor test cell by determining capacitance of the electrochemical test cell. In particular, the system samples an output signal from the chamber at a second sampling-time interval different than a first sampling-time interval such that a magnitude of each sampled output signal is measured at each succession of the second sampling-time interval instead of at the first time interval. The system determines a phase angle between an output signal and the oscillating input signal from the chamber based on the sampled output signal of the sampling step. The system calculates a capacitance of the chamber from the phase angle. A method is also provided to perform similar functionalities of the system.
US08773101B2
A solid-state power regulator (SSPR) regulates power delivered to a frequency tolerant load from a wild-source generator. The SSPR includes a solid-state switching device and a controller. The solid-state switching device is turned On to deliver power from the wild-source generator to the frequency-tolerant load and Off to prevent the delivery of power to the frequency-tolerant load. The controller monitors the power delivered to the frequency-tolerant load and selectively modulates the solid-state switching device to regulate the power delivered.
US08773099B2
According to one aspect of the teachings herein, a DC-to-DC converter operates according to an advantageous constant on-time topology that reduces output voltage ripple during light load conditions. The converter produces an output voltage by driving high-side and low-side switches in an inductor-based switching circuit, and regulates the output voltage by varying the on-time of a low-side switch, while holding the on-time of the high-side switch constant. Advantageously, the converter shortens the on-time of the high-side switch during light load conditions, which reduces the output voltage ripple. Thus, the converter may be understood as using a first, constant on-time for the high-side switch during “normal” operations and a second, shorter on-time for the high-side switch during light load conditions.
US08773096B2
A voltage regulator includes an amplifier to generate a difference voltage responsive to a comparison of a reference voltage and a feedback voltage. An output driver is coupled to the amplifier and drives a regulated output voltage responsive to the difference voltage. An impedance circuit is coupled between the output driver and a low power source and establishes the feedback voltage responsive to a current through the impedance circuit. A variation detector is operably coupled between the regulated output voltage and the difference voltage and is configured to modify the difference voltage. In some embodiments, the difference voltage is modified responsive to a rapid change of the regulated output voltage capacitively coupled to the variation detector. In other embodiments, the difference voltage is modified responsive to a rapid change of the feedback voltage capacitively coupled to the variation detector.
US08773091B2
A method for generating an output voltage from an input voltage with a switched mode power supply at a switching frequency is provided. At the switching frequency, a transistor within a switching circuit is deactivated so as to enter into a dead time interval, where the switching circuit includes a switching node. A negative inductor current is used during the dead time interval so as to slew the switching node, where switching frequency and the input voltage are sufficiently large so as to overcome a loss incurred by using the negative inductor current.
US08773088B2
A novel method to operate and control single inductor multiple output switching power converter is presented. The method includes the means for generating one or more synthetic ripple signals and operating the converter at constant switching frequency allowing high frequency operation, maintaining stability in all conditions with minimum cross regulation between the outputs independently on the levels of load present at the outputs. The method further includes means for setting the maximum frequency of multiplexing the energy stored in the inductor between the various outputs reaching the desired compromise between the value of the output capacitors, the switching frequency of the output power devices and the acceptable output voltage ripple.Two different topologies are proposed that can be used for single inductor multiple output buck power converters and for boost power converter allowing the extension to buck-boost configurations as well.
US08773086B1
In one embodiment the present invention includes a circuit comprising a voltage adjust circuit and an input terminal of an electronic system. The voltage adjust circuit is coupled to receive an input voltage. The input terminal of the electronic system is coupled to receive a supply voltage from an output terminal of the voltage adjust circuit. The voltage adjust circuit makes an adjustment to the supply voltage based on a minimum voltage requirement of the electronic system. Accordingly, the leakage current supplied to the electronic system reduces, thereby saving power.
US08773084B2
A DC-to-DC, buck-boost voltage converter includes a duty cycle controller configured to generate control signals for a buck driver configured to drive first and second buck switching transistors at a buck duty cycle and to generate control signals for a boost driver configured to drive first and second boost switching transistors at a boost duty cycle. The duty cycle controller includes at least a duty cycle timer and an offset timer where the duty cycle controller applies the duty cycle timer and the offset timer to control transitions between the buck, the buck-boost and the boost operation modes of the voltage converter.
US08773082B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a DC/DC power conversion apparatus that can reduce the average power consumption over a wide range of DC voltage ratios. A control circuit (120) changes a switching frequency f at which IGBTs S1 to S4 perform ON/OFF operation, in accordance with a voltage ratio k (k=V2/V1) for DC voltage conversion, based on the following expressions, such that a magnitude ΔI of a current ripple flowing in a reactor Lc is a predetermined constant value irrespective of the voltage ratio k. If 1≦k<2: f=(V1/(2×L×ΔI))×(k−1)×(2−k)/k If k>2: f=(V1/(2×L×ΔI))×(k−2)/k
US08773081B2
In a controller, a voltage controller operates, in an initial excitation mode, to turn selectively on and off a switch to supply an excitation current as an initial excitation current to the field winding, and operates, in a power generation mode, to selectively increase and reduce the excitation current to be supplied to the field winding to regulate an output voltage of the power generator to a target value. A mode-shift determiner determines, while the voltage controller operates in the initial excitation mode, whether to shift an operation mode of the voltage controller from the initial excitation mode to the power generation mode based on: a measured rotation number of a rotor, a threshold rotation number of the rotor, and a preset time period, the time period being equal to or longer than an expected maximum value of cycle of pulsations of rotation of the engine.
US08773072B2
A reversible storage system for electric energy, including charging or discharging surfaces as a positive collector terminal and a charging or discharging area as a negative collector terminal and a flow electrode with a pumpable dispersion with particles storing electric energy and at least one supply line and at least one drain line for the pumpable dispersion. The pumpable dispersion includes particles storing electric energy in a capacitive and/or chemical fashion, having an average grain size distribution: 1 nM to 500 μm. For chemically storing particles, the negative and the positive collector terminals have a planar shape with a single exterior closed border and with their planar sides each contacting an ion-selective diaphragm or spacers, and the pumpable dispersion is arranged on a side facing away from the planar side of the respective collector, contacting the ion-selective diaphragm or spacers, and the dispersion at least partially penetrates the respective collector.
US08773071B2
A method for cell voltage balancing is disclosed. A plurality of cells is coupled to a plurality of cell interface circuits, and the cell interface circuits are driven with a balancing transformer such that a balancing current flows between the cell interface circuits. Control gates of the cell interface circuits are driven with a gate drive transformer such that two adjacent circuits of the cell interface circuits are activated with opposite phase.
US08773066B2
A flexible management system and method for efficiently operating energy storage devices to extend the lifetime and decrease costs includes (a) determining an active energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (b) determining an inactive energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (c) operating the energy storage device in a usage mode during the active energy consumption period; and (d) operating the energy storage device in a storage mode during the inactive energy consumption period.
US08773056B2
A control system for a switched reluctance (SR) machine is provided. The control system may include a converter circuit that is operatively coupled to the SR machine, and a controller in communication with the converter circuit. The controller may be configured to execute two or more processes in parallel, wherein the processes include generating a torque command based on one or more of bus voltage, machine current, rotor speed and rotor position, determining a first set of current control parameters based on the torque command and the rotor speed, determining a second set of current control parameters based on one or more of the torque command, the rotor speed and the rotor position, selecting one of the first and second sets of current control parameters based on the rotor speed, and operating the gates according to the selected set of current control parameters.
US08773049B2
A method of assembling an electric drive system includes providing a power conversion assembly and coupling an electric power source and a motor to the power conversion assembly. The method also includes coupling a computing device that includes a processor and a memory device operatively coupled to the processor to the power conversion assembly. The method further includes configuring the computing device to record at least one measurement related to a speed of the motor. The method also includes configuring the computing device to calculate a power output limit of the power conversion assembly and limit the power output of the power conversion assembly by limiting torque induced by the motor as a function of the speed of the motor.
US08773039B2
A method and a device for controlling a discharge Lamp, and a discharge lamp system are disclosed herein. The method includes the operations of: when the lamp current changes, determining a percentage of change of the lamp current according to a synchronous signal and obtaining a second lamp current after a discharge lamp current changes according to the percentage of change of the lamp current and a first lamp current; obtaining a modulating signal according to a current difference between the first lamp current and the second lamp current; and generating a pulse voltage signal according to the modulating signal. The pulse voltage signal transits from a first voltage to a second voltage during the time period when the lamp current is transited from a first lamp current to a second lamp current during a transition time.
US08773031B2
Various embodiments of a dimmable power supply are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a dimmable power supply including an input current path, a switch in the input current path, an energy storage device connected to the input current path, a load output connected to the energy storage device, and a timer-based variable pulse generator connected to a control input of the switch. The timer-based variable pulse generator is adapted to generate a stream of pulses having a variable on-time and off-time. The dimmable power supply is adapted to vary the on-time and off-time to control a current at the load output.
US08773029B2
A device that enables “smart” dimmers comprising electronic circuits beyond those found in traditional rotary dimmers to be installed in existing houses with no need for any new electrical wires. In addition, for smart dimmers comprising PLC (power line communication) modems, the device overcomes the large attenuation imposed on power-line communication (PLC) transmissions, introduced by a lamp in series with the smart dimmer, and eliminates the large noise and ringing otherwise introduced by the switching device, inside dimmers. As opposed to prior art, that compromises either the amount of current for the electronic circuits, or the PLC attenuation or both, this disclosure overcomes both.
US08773027B2
A current-shunting AC LED driving circuit has a rectification unit, an LED unit, a voltage-controlled transistor, a shunt resistor, a current detection unit and a steady current control unit. The LED unit and the rectification unit constitute a power loop and acquire a pulsed DC power through the rectification unit. The voltage-controlled transistor and the current detection unit are serially connected to the power loop. The steady current control unit acquires an average loop current through the current detection unit to control the voltage-controlled transistor so that the LED unit can stably emit light. The shunt resistor is parallelly connected to the voltage-controlled transistor to constitute a current-shunting path to shunt the loop current flowing through the voltage-controlled transistor so as to reduce the power withstood by the voltage-controlled transistor.
US08773026B2
A light tube for illumination by a power supply circuit includes a bulb portion and at least one end cap disposed on the bulb portion. A plurality of light emitting diodes is disposed inside the bulb portion for illuminating in response to electrical current to be received from the power supply circuit. The light emitting diodes are arranged in spaced-apart groupings.
US08773023B2
An improved LED traffic signal is provided. The LED traffic signal suitably includes a housing with an opening, a printed circuit board coupled to the housing, and a power supply system coupled to the printed circuit board. The power supply system includes a power supply module that receives an AC input voltage from an AC input line and transforms the AC input voltage into a DC voltage with a regulated current to power the LED load, and a synchronized power pulse circuit connected to the power supply that generates a synchronized power pulse representing a power consumption substantially equivalent to that of a halogen or incandescent traffic signal.
US08773017B2
The present invention provides a glass-sealed LED lamp which includes a mounting substrate, an LED chip mounted on the mounting substrate, a glass sealing body, and a glass bonding portion bonding the LED chip to a portion of a lower surface side of the glass sealing body. A clearance between a lower surface of the glass sealing body and an upper surface of the mounting substrate side, which causes total reflection at an interface between the glass sealing body and the clearance, is formed outward of the portion of the lower surface side of the glass sealing body.
US08773006B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device includes a package body having a cavity defined by a sidewall and a bottom surface, a light emitting device disposed in the cavity, a radiator inserted into the package body and disposed below the light emitting device, and a second electrode pattern disposed around the radiator and electrically connected to the light emitting device via wire bonding. The second electrode pattern includes a first region to which a wire is bonded, and a second region connected to the first region, and a width of the first region differs from a width of the second region.
US08773003B2
A thermoelectric generator including a sheet of a deformable material containing closed cavities, each of which contains a drop of a vaporizable liquid, and a mechanism for transforming into electricity the power resulting from the deformation of the sheet linked to the evaporation/condensation of the liquid.
US08773000B2
An acoustic wave device includes a supporting substrate made of lithium tantalate, an element substrate made of lithium tantalate, and having a lower surface bonded to and arranged on an upper surface of the supporting substrate, and a comb-like electrode formed on an upper surface of the element substrate and exciting an acoustic wave. A propagation direction of the acoustic wave in the element substrate is an X-axis of the acoustic wave. A normal direction of the upper surface of the supporting substrate is an X-axis or a Y-axis of the supporting substrate. The propagation direction of the acoustic wave is not parallel to a Z-axis of the supporting substrate.
US08772999B2
An electromechanical resonating structure, including: first level major elements coupled to each other to form a second or higher level hierarchy; and first level sub-micron size minor elements with a characteristic frequency and coupled to each of the first level major elements to form a second level hierarchy in which a signal is effectively amplified by vibrating each of the plurality of major elements in at least one mode determined by the geometry and dimensions of the first level sub-micron minor elements.
US08772997B2
Electric submersible well pumping systems operable in well temperatures of above about 180° C. (356° F.) utilize high temperature electrical insulation. The electrical insulation includes E-base polyimide films or perfluoropolymer TE films on various components. The insulation films are employed around magnet wires that are threaded through slots in the stator. Slot insulation of E-base polyimide or perfluoropolymer TE film surrounds the magnet wires in the stator slots. Sheets of E-base polyimide or perfluoropolymer TE film extend around and between phase loops of the magnet wire at the lower end of the stator. The motor contains a PAO oil having additives to dissipate acid generated by epoxy used in the motor.
US08772992B2
An airfoil-magnetic hybrid bearing, which is a combination of a magnetic bearing and airfoil bearing includes a housing, an airfoil bearing, a magnetic bearing, coils, and a coupling segment. The housing is around a rotating shaft of a rotation device. The airfoil bearing is positioned between the housing and the rotating shaft to form dynamic pressure to levitate the rotating shaft during rotation of the rotating shaft. The magnetic bearing includes cores positioned radially between inner surface of the housing and outer surface of the airfoil bearing. The cores are projected to the center of the rotating shaft. The coils wound to the cores to levitate the rotating shaft using a magnetic attractive force generated by a current application thereto. The coupling segment is configured to couple the airfoil bearing to the magnetic bearing directly.
US08772988B2
An electric machine includes a stator stack of laminations, pierced with a cylindrical passage for housing a rotatable rotor therein. The stator includes a magnetic circuit of laminations stacked between first and second terminal faces crossed by the passage and by a series of slots housing conductors, which are folded over to form coils. An electrically insulating reinforcing wedge piece is interposed between an internal wall of a first tubular end and a corresponding portion of a block of resin surrounding a region of winding heads of the conductors, which follow a looped path in the block of resin. A wedging unit wedges the insulating reinforcing piece in position to prevent the insulating reinforcing piece from protruding axially internally on the internal wall with respect to the region so as to leave a determined annular sector of the internal wall in direct adhering contact with the block of resin.
US08772987B2
A method is provided for making a synthetic jet ejector. The method comprises (a) providing first and second voice coil bodies (131) having first and second sets of channels defined therein, respectively; (b) inserting first and second sets of electrically conductive terminals (139) into the first and second sets of channels, respectively; (c) wrapping first and second coils of wire (151) around said first and second voice coil bodies, respectively, such that the first coil is in electrical contact with the first set of terminals and such that the second coil is in electrical contact with the second set of terminals; (d) forming a voice coil subassembly by attaching first and second ends of a flexible, electrically conductive connector (161) to said first and second voice coil bodies, respectively, wherein the first end of the connector is attached such that it is in electrical contact with the first set of terminals, and wherein the second end of the connector is attached such that it is in electrical contact with the second set of terminals; and (e) incorporating the voice coil subassembly into a synthetic jet ejector (103) having first and second voice coils such that said first coil forms a portion of said first voice coil, and such that said second coil forms a portion of said second voice coil.
US08772982B2
An apparatus is provided and includes two or more sensor assemblies, each including a sensing unit at a front face thereof, and each being communicatively interconnected and power sharing, a cover plate, mounted adjacent to the front face of the sensor assemblies to entirely cover the sensing units, through which user commands are transmittable, and a wall box, onto which the sensor assemblies and the cover plate are mountable, including a housing in which a space is defined for housing of one or more devices, each device being controllable by the sensor assemblies in accordance with the user commands, and each device being disposed to fit within the space and to be in signal communication with at least one of the sensor assemblies.
US08772967B1
A multiple-output DC-DC converter has a first and a second DC-DC sub-converter, each DC-DC subconverter may be a buck, boost, or buck-boost converter having a primary energy-storage inductor. Each DC-DC subconverter drives a separate output of the multiple-output converter and typically has a separate feedback control circuit for controlling output voltage and/or current. The converter has a common timing circuit to maintain a phase offset between the first and DC-DC subconverters. The primary energy storage inductors of the first and second DC-DC converter are magnetically coupled to raise an effective ripple frequency of the converter and simplify output filtering.
US08772966B1
A power supply source selection circuit is provided with a comparator and a switch. The comparator has an input to accept a first reference voltage directly proportional to a bandgap reference voltage. For example, the bandgap voltage may be derived from a battery voltage. The comparator has an input to accept a second reference voltage directly proportional to a first supply voltage (e.g., a line voltage), and an output to supply a switch signal in response to comparing the second reference voltage to the first reference voltage. The switch has an input to accept the first supply voltage, an input to accept a second supply voltage, and input to accept the switch signal. The switch has an output to supply a third supply voltage to a regulator. The third voltage has a voltage potential less than or equal to a maximum voltage value. The switch selects between the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage in response to the switch signal.
US08772963B2
The invention relates to uninterruptible power supply devices which make it possible to supply emergency power to a load, which is to be supplied, in the event of mains failure. The invention is based on the object of providing a device for supplying uninterruptible power, which device can be operated in a more energy-saving manner and in which the emergency power can be controlled in a rapid and safe manner. To this end, the uninterruptible power supply device has a power transistor which can be rapidly switched and can be used to connect a standby power source to the output connections during emergency power operation. The output current can also be dynamically limited by driving the power transistor, which can be rapidly switched, in a corresponding manner. In addition, the input and output of the UPS device are decoupled using a field effect transistor that acts as a power transistor.
US08772950B2
Methods and apparatus for flip chip substrates with guard rings. An embodiment comprises a substrate core with a die attach region for attaching an integrated circuit die; at least one dielectric layer overlying a die side surface of the substrate core; and at least one guard ring formed adjacent a corner of the substrate core, the at least one guard ring comprising: a first trace overlying the dielectric layer having rectangular portions extending in two directions from the corner of the substrate core and in parallel to the edges of the substrate core; a second trace underlying the dielectric layer; and at least one via extending through the dielectric layer and coupling the first and second traces; wherein the first trace, the at least one via, and the second trace form a vertical via stack. Methods for forming the flip chip substrates with the guard rings are disclosed.
US08772945B2
A system and method are disclosed for providing a through silicon via (TSV) with a barrier pad deposited below the top surface of the TSV, the top surface having reduced topographic variations. A bottom TSV pad is deposited into a via and then polished so the top surface is below the substrate top surface. A barrier pad is then deposited in the via, and a top TSV pad deposited on the barrier pad. The top TSV barrier pad is polished to bring the top surface of the top TSV pad about level with the substrate. The barrier pad may be less than about 1 microns thick, and the top TSV pad may be less than about 6 microns thick. The barrier pad may be a dissimilar metal from the top and bottom TSV pads, and may be selected from a group comprising titanium, tantalum, cobalt, nickel and the like.
US08772943B2
An integrated circuit die has a dielectric layer positioned over all the contact pads on the integrated circuit die. Openings are provided in the dielectric layer over each of the contact pads of the integrated circuit die in order to permit electrical coupling to be made between the integrated circuit and circuit boards outside of the die. For those contact pads located in the central region of the die, the opening in the dielectric layer is in a central region of the contact pad. For those contact pads located in a peripheral region of the die, spaced adjacent the perimeter die, the opening in the dielectric layer is offset from the center of the contact pad and is positioned closer to the central region of the die than the center of the contact pad is to the central region of the die.
US08772942B2
A metallic liner stack including at least a Group VIIIB element layer and a CuMn alloy layer is deposited within a trench in a dielectric layer. Copper is deposited on the metallic liner stack and planarized to form a conductive interconnect structure, which can be a metal line, a metal via, or a combination thereof. The deposited copper and the metallic liner stack are annealed before or after planarization. The Mn atoms are gettered by the Group VIIIB element layer to form a metallic alloy liner including Mn and at least one of Group VIIIB elements. Mn within the metallic alloy liner combines with oxygen during the anneal to form MnO, which acts as a strong barrier to oxygen diffusion, thereby enhancing the reliability of the conductive interconnect structure.
US08772934B2
An aluminum interconnection apparatus comprises a metal structure formed over a substrate, wherein the metal structure is formed of a copper and aluminum alloy, a first alloy layer formed underneath the metal structure and a first barrier layer formed underneath the first alloy layer, wherein the first barrier layer is generated by a reaction between the first alloy layer and an adjacent dielectric layer during a thermal process.
US08772933B2
An interconnect structure and method of fabricating the same is provided. More specifically, the interconnect structure is a defect free capped interconnect structure. The structure includes a conductive material formed in a trench of a planarized dielectric layer which is devoid of cap material. The structure further includes the cap material formed on the conductive material to prevent migration. The method of forming a structure includes selectively depositing a sacrificial material over a dielectric material and providing a metal capping layer over a conductive layer within a trench of the dielectric material. The method further includes removing the sacrificial material with any unwanted deposited or nucleated metal capping layer thereon.
US08772925B2
A bonding structure includes a first member, a second member and a bonding member. The first member has a plate shape and is made of a carbon-base material. The first member serves as a heat diffusion member that transfers heat at least in a thickness direction, which is perpendicular to a plane of the plate shape. The second member is bonded to the first member through the bonding member. The first member has a metal thin film at least on an opposed surface that is opposed to the second member. The bonding member is disposed between the opposed surface of the first member and the second member. The bonding member is provided by a sintered body of metal particle. For example, the bonding structure is employed in a cooling unit including a heat source.
US08772924B2
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include attaching a die to a carrier material, forming dielectric material surrounding the die, forming buildup layers in the dielectric material to form a coreless bumpless buildup package structure, and patterning the carrier material to form microchannel structures on the package structure.
US08772918B2
A semiconductor die package having an enhanced degree of heating radiation from the semiconductor, thereby reducing mechanical and electrical failure from excessive temperatures. A semiconductor die has circuit patterns formed thereon; a bump pad deposited on the semiconductor die and supporting at least one of the bumps electrically connected to the circuit patterns; and a radiating pad formed on an upper surface of the bump pad such that the radiating pad surrounds the bumps. An embedded printed circuit substrate includes a radiating pad formed on the bump pad to surround the bumps; and a core substrate has a through-hole formed in the core substrate, that extends from an upper surface of the core substrate to a lower surface thereof. The semiconductor die is deposited on the upper surface of the core substrate such that the bumps extend through the through-hole.
US08772908B2
An assembly and method of making same are provided. The assembly can include a first component including a dielectric region having an exposed surface, a conductive pad at the surface defined by a conductive element having at least a portion extending in an oscillating or spiral path along the surface, and a an electrically conductive bonding material joined to the conductive pad and bridging an exposed portion of the dielectric surface between adjacent segments. The conductive pad can permit electrical interconnection of the first component with a second component having a terminal joined to the pad through the electrically conductive bonding material. The path of the conductive element may or may not overlap or cross itself.
US08772904B2
A semiconductor structure is located in a recess of a substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a liner, a silicon rich layer and a filling material. The liner is located on the surface of the recess. The silicon rich layer is located on the liner. The filling material is located on the silicon rich layer and fills the recess. Furthermore, a semiconductor process forming said semiconductor structure is also provided.
US08772903B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of floating regions, an insulating layer and a capacitance forming portion. The plurality of floating regions are arranged on a surface of a semiconductor substrate in a row, wherein the plurality of floating regions are provided with insulating regions therebetween. The plurality of floating regions include a first floating region and a second floating region. The second floating region is located farther than the first floating region from an island region of a predetermined potential on the semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer is interposed between each of the plurality of floating regions and a semiconductor material layer of the semiconductor substrate. The capacitance forming portion forms an external capacitance in parallel with the capacitance of the insulating region between the first floating region and the island region of the predetermined potential.
US08772899B2
Methods and apparatus for a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor device are disclosed. A BSI sensor device is formed on a substrate comprising a photosensitive diode. The substrate may be thinned at the backside, then a B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer may be formed on the backside surface of the substrate. Additional layers may be formed on the B doped Epi-Si(Ge) layer, such as a metal shield layer, a dielectric layer, a micro-lens, and a color filter.
US08772897B2
A thin-film transistor includes a semiconductor pattern, a first gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a second gate electrode. The semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate. A first conductive layer has a pattern that includes the first gate electrode which is electrically insulated from the semiconductor pattern. A second conductive layer has a pattern that includes a source electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor pattern, a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode, and a second gate electrode electrically connected to the first gate electrode. The second gate electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor pattern, the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08772896B2
In order to improve reliability by preventing an edge breakdown in a semiconductor photodetector having a mesa structure such as a mesa APD, the semiconductor photodetector includes a mesa structure formed on a first semiconductor layer of the first conduction type formed on a semiconductor substrate, the mesa structure including a light absorbing layer for absorbing light, an electric field buffer layer for dropping an electric field intensity, an avalanche multiplication layer for causing avalanche multiplication to occur, and a second semiconductor layer of the second conduction type, wherein the thickness of the avalanche multiplication layer at the portion in the vicinity of the side face of the mesa structure is made thinner than the thickness at the central portion of the mesa structure.
US08772857B2
A vertical memory device includes a channel, a ground selection line (GSL), word lines and a string selection line (SSL). The channel extends in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of a substrate, and a thickness of the channel is different according to height. The GSL, the word lines and the SSL are sequentially formed on a sidewall of the channel in the first direction and spaced apart from each other.
US08772855B2
Embodiments of a semiconductor device including a resistor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a mold pattern disposed on a semiconductor substrate to define a trench, a resistance pattern including a body region and first and second contact regions, wherein the body region covers the bottom and sidewalls of the trench, the first and second contact regions extend from the extending from the body region over upper surfaces of the mold pattern, respectively; and first and second lines contacting the first and second contact regions, respectively.
US08772850B2
A method of forming a memory cell including forming trenches in a layered semiconductor structure, each trench having an inner sidewall adjacent a section of the layered semiconductor structure between the trenches and an outer sidewall opposite the inner sidewall. The trenches are filled with polysilicon and the patterning layer is formed over the layered semiconductor structure. An opening is then patterned through the patterning layer, the opening exposing the section of the layered semiconductor structure between the trenches and only a vertical portion of the polysilicon along the inner sidewall of each trench. The layered semiconductor structure is then etched. The patterning layer prevents a second vertical portion of the polysilicon along the outer sidewall of each trench from being removed.
US08772849B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor film; a first gate insulating film covering the semiconductor film; a first gate electrode provided over the semiconductor film with the first gate insulating film interposed therebetween; a first conductive film which is provided over the first gate insulating film; an insulating film which is provided over the first gate insulating film, exposes top surfaces of the first gate electrode and the first conductive film, and has a groove portion between the first gate electrode and the first conductive film; an oxide semiconductor film which is provided over the insulating film and is in contact with the first gate electrode, the first conductive film, and the groove portion; a second gate insulating film covering the oxide semiconductor film; and a second gate electrode provided over the oxide semiconductor film and the groove portion with the second gate insulating film interposed therebetween.
US08772839B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions that are each electrically connected to a common node. A gate electrode level region is formed in accordance with a virtual grate defined by virtual lines that extend in only a first parallel direction, such that an equal perpendicular spacing exists between adjacent ones of the virtual lines. Each of a number of conductive features within the gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature having a centerline aligned with a virtual line of the virtual grate. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected, and the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected.
US08772838B2
A semiconductor layout structure includes multiple active blocks which are disposed on a substrate, parallel with one another and extending along a first direction, multiple first shallow trench isolations which are disposed on a substrate, parallel with one another and respectively disposed on the multiple active blocks, and multiple second shallow trench isolations which are disposed on a substrate, cutting through multiple active blocks and extending along a second direction. The first direction has an angle about 1 degree to about 53 degrees to the second direction.
US08772837B2
A configuration of a lateral transistor suited for the hybrid-integration (BiCMOS) of a high-performance lateral transistor (HCBT) and a CMOS transistor, and a method for manufacturing the lateral transistor. A semiconductor device includes a HCBT 100 and a CMOS transistor 200 hybrid-integrated. The HCBT 100 has an open region 21 opened by etching a device isolating oxide film 6 surrounding an n-hill layer 11. An emitter electrode 31A and a collector electrode 31B are formed in the open region 21 and are composed of a polysilicon film having such a thickness as to expose the n-hill layer 11 exposed by etching the device isolating oxide film, and an ultrathin oxide film 24 covering at least a part of the n-hill layer 11. The ultrathin oxide film 24 functions as a protective film for protecting the n-hill layer 11 from being etched when the polysilicon film is etched.
US08772830B2
A high-quality GaAs-type crystal thin film using an inexpensive Si wafer with good thermal release characteristics is achieved. Provided is a semiconductor wafer comprising an Si wafer; an inhibiting layer that is formed on the wafer and that inhibits crystal growth, the inhibiting layer including a covering region that covers a portion of the wafer and an open region that does not cover a portion of the wafer within the covering region; a Ge layer that is crystal-grown in the open region; a buffer layer that is crystal-grown on the Ge layer and is a group 3-5 compound semiconductor layer containing P; and a functional layer that is crystal-grown on the buffer layer. The Ge layer may be formed then annealing with a temperature and duration that enables movement of crystal defects.
US08772826B2
It is an object to provide a photoelectric conversion device with high photoelectric conversion efficiency. The photoelectric conversion device includes an electrode layer, and a light absorbing layer located on the electrode layer. The light absorbing layer is comprised of a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers containing a chalcopyrite-based compound semiconductor. The semiconductor layers contain oxygen. A molar concentration of the oxygen in surfaces and their vicinities of the semiconductor layers where the semiconductor layers are stacked on each other is higher than average molar concentrations of the oxygen in the semiconductor layers.
US08772817B2
A submount for an electronic device includes a substrate formed of a bulk material including first and second major surfaces on opposite sides of the substrate, a surface insulating layer on the first major surface of the substrate, and a die attach pad on the surface insulating layer. The die attach pad may be electrically insulated from the substrate by the surface insulating layer. The submount further includes a heatsink contact pad on the second major surface of the substrate, and a thermal conduction member extending from the second major surface of the conductive semiconductor substrate through the substrate toward the first major surface of the substrate. The thermal conduction member has a higher thermal conductivity than a thermal conductivity of the bulk material of the substrate.
US08772811B2
A light emitting diode and a light emitting diode (LED) manufacturing method are disclosed. The LED comprises a substrate; a first n-type GaN layer; a second n-type GaN layer; an active layer; and a p-type GaN layer formed on the substrate in sequence; the second n-type GaN layers has a bottom surface interfacing with the first n-type GaN layer, a rim of the bottom surface has a roughened exposed portion, and Ga—N bonds on the bottom surface has an N-face polarity.
US08772803B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device is provided that may include an electrode layer, a light-emitting structure including a compound semiconductor layer on the electrode layer, and an electrode on the light-emitting structure, wherein the electrode includes an ohmic contact layer that contacts the compound semiconductor layer, a first barrier layer on the ohmic contact layer, a conductive layer including copper on the first barrier layer, a second barrier layer on the conductive layer, and a bonding layer on the second barrier layer.
US08772802B2
A light emitting device includes a carrier, a light emitting element disposed and electrically connected to the carrier, and a transparent plate disposed on the carrier and including a flat-portion and a lens-portion. The lens-portion covers the light emitting element and has a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The light emitting element is suitable for emitting a light beam. A first partial beam of the light beam passes through the light incident surface and leaves from the light emitting surface. A second partial beam of the light beam passes through the light incident surface and is transmitted to the first side surface or the second side surface, and the first side surface or the second side surface reflects at least a part of the second partial beam of the light beam to be passed through the light emitting surface.
US08772798B2
An LED device comprises an LED chip or LED chip array for emitting light of a color spectrum, the LED chip or array being mounted on a component having a component surface. At least one color is applied to the component surface where the color is selected to reflect light to color tune the light emitted from the LED device to obtain a desired CRI.
US08772797B2
A display device includes: a substrate; a plurality of light-emission elements arranged, on the substrate, in a first direction and a second direction intersecting each other, each of the light-emission elements having a first electrode layer, an organic layer including a luminous layer, and a second electrode layer which are laminated in that order; and a separation section disposed, on the substrate, between the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction, the separation section having two or more pairs of steps. The first electrode layers in the light-emission elements are separated from each other, and the organic layers as well as the second electrode layers in the light-emission elements adjacent to each other in the first direction are separated from each other by the steps included in the separation section.
US08772795B2
To provide a light-emitting device including the plurality of light-emitting elements having a structure in which a light-emitting area is large and defects in patterning of light-emitting elements are suppressed. To provide a lighting device including the light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes a first wiring provided over a substrate having an insulating surface, an insulating film provided over the first wiring, a second wiring provided over the insulating film, and a light-emitting element unit including a plurality of light-emitting elements provided over the first wiring with the insulating film provided therebetween. The plurality of light-emitting elements each include a first electrode layer having a light-blocking property, a layer containing an organic compound in contact with the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer having a light-transmitting property in contact with the layer containing an organic compound. The layers containing an organic compound are separated by a separation layer.
US08772794B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device package and a lighting system in which the light emitting device package includes a first cavity in a first region of the body, a second cavity in a second region of the body, first and second lead frames spaced apart from each other in the first cavity, a third lead frame spaced apart from the second lead frame in the second cavity, a first light emitting device on the first and second lead frames in the first cavity, a second light emitting device on the second and third lead frames in the second cavity, and a molding member in the first and second cavities.
US08772789B2
A light-emitting device includes a drive transistor that controls a current to be supplied to a light-emitting element from a power supply line, an electrical continuity portion that electrically connects the drive transistor with the light-emitting element, an initializing transistor that is turned ON to diode-connect the drive transistor, and a connecting portion that electrically connects the drive transistor with the initializing transistor. The power supply line including a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The connecting portion being positioned in an area between the first and second power supply lines in plan view.
US08772786B2
A semiconductor structure having mesa structure comprising: a lower semiconductor layer; an upper semiconductor layer having a higher band gap than, and in direct contact with, the lower semiconductor layer to form a two-dimension electron gas (2DEG) region between the upper semiconductor layer. The 2DEG region has outer edges terminating at sidewalls of the mesa. An additional electron donor layer has a band gap higher than the band gap of the lower layer disposed on sidewall portions of the mesa structure and on the region of the 2DEG region terminating at sidewalls of the mesa. An ohmic contact material is disposed on the electron donor layer. In effect, a sideway HEMT is formed with the electron donor layer, the 2DEG region and the ohmic contact material increasing the concentration of electrons (i.e., lowering ohmic contact résistance) all along the contact between the lower semiconductor layer and the electron donor layer.
US08772782B2
A fin structure including a vertical alternating stack of a first isoelectric point material layer having a first isoelectric point and a second isoelectric material layer having a second isoelectric point less than the first isoelectric point is formed. The first and second isoelectric point material layers become oppositely charged in a solution with a pH between the first and second isoelectric points. Negative electrical charges are imparted onto carbon nanotubes by an anionic surfactant to the solution. The electrostatic attraction causes the carbon nanotubes to be selectively attached to the surfaces of the first isoelectric point material layer. Carbon nanotubes are attached to the first isoelectric point material layer in self-alignment along horizontal lengthwise directions of the fin structure. A transistor can be formed, which employs a plurality of vertically aligned horizontal carbon nanotubes as the channel.
US08772779B2
A display substrate includes a driving element, a switching element, a gate line, a data line, a driving voltage line and an electroluminescent element. The driving element includes a driving control electrode formed from a first conductive layer, and a driving input electrode and a driving output electrode formed from a second conductive layer. The switching element includes a switching control electrode formed from the second conductive layer, and a switching input electrode and a switching output electrode formed from a third conductive layer. The gate and data lines are formed from the second and third conductive layers, respectively. The driving voltage line is formed from the third conductive layer. Thus, misalignment between upper and lower patterns may be prevented to improve the reliability of a manufacturing process and increase an aperture ratio, thereby enhancing display quality.
US08772778B2
A high reliability semiconductor display device is provided. A semiconductor layer in the semiconductor display device has a channel forming region, an LDD region, a source region, and a drain region, and the LDD region overlaps a first gate electrode, sandwiching a gate insulating film.
US08772769B2
To provide a miniaturized transistor having favorable electric characteristics. An oxide semiconductor layer is formed to cover a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer, and then regions of the oxide semiconductor layer which overlap with the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer are removed by polishing. Precise processing can be performed accurately because an etching step using a resist mask is not performed in the step of removing the regions of the oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer. Further, a sidewall layer having conductivity is provided on a side surface of a gate electrode layer in a channel length direction; thus, the sidewall layer having conductivity overlaps with the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer with a gate insulating layer provided therebetween, and a transistor substantially including an Lov region is provided.
US08772767B2
There is provided an organic light-emitting diode luminaire. The luminaire includes a patterned first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer therebetween. The light-emitting layer includes a first plurality of pixels having an emission color that is blue; a second plurality of pixels having an emission color that is green, the second plurality of pixels being laterally spaced from the first plurality of pixels; and a third plurality of pixels having an emission color that is red-orange, the third plurality of pixels being laterally spaced from the first and second pluralities of pixels. The additive mixing of all the emitted colors results in an overall emission of white light.
US08772754B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment includes: stacking a first wiring layer; stacking a memory cell layer on the first wiring layer; and stacking a stopper film on the memory cell layer. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor storage device also includes: etching the stopper film, the memory cell layer, and the first wiring layer; polishing an interlayer insulating film to the stopper film after burying the stopper film, the memory cell layer, and the first wiring layer with the interlayer insulating film; performing a nitridation process to the stopper film and the interlayer insulating film to form an adjustment film and a block film on surfaces of the stopper film and the interlayer insulating film, respectively; and forming a second wiring layer on the adjustment film, the second wiring layer being electrically connected to the adjustment film.
US08772752B2
An object is to prevent light leakage caused due to misregistration even when the width of a black matrix layer is not expanded to a designed value or larger. One embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a single-gate thin film transistor in which a first semiconductor layer is sandwiched between a bottom-gate electrode and a first black matrix layer. The first semiconductor layer and the first black matrix layer overlap with each other.
US08772748B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive line, a second conductive line, a cell unit, a silicon nitride film and a double-sidewall film. The first conductive line extends in a first direction. The second conductive line extends in a second direction crossing the first direction. The cell unit includes a phase-change film and a rectifier element connected in series with each other between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The silicon nitride film is formed on a side surface of the phase-change film. The double-sidewall film includes a silicon oxide film and the silicon nitride film formed on a side surface of the rectifier element.
US08772742B2
A radiation therapy system for irradiating a target volume with a particle beam is provided. The radiation therapy system includes a radiation source that is operable to output an adjustable irradiation field that includes a particle beam that is scanned point by point over the target volume. A 3D imaging device may obtain a 3D radiation treatment data set in a radiation treatment phase. An adaptation unit adapts the irradiation field to a change in position and/or shape of the target volume in the radiation treatment phase. The adaptation unit compares the 3D radiation treatment data set with a 3D planning image data set furnished and obtains a transformation that describes the change in position and/or shape of the target volume. The adaptation unit transforms an irradiation field based on the transformation.
US08772740B2
A method of imaging a printing plate and curing the printing plate made of or having photo-curable material that includes an ablatable mask. In one embodiment, the method comprises imaging the ablatable mask with a first portion of imaging data to produce a partially imaged uncured plate. Imaging data includes the first portion and a second portion of imaging data. The method includes curing the partially imaged uncured plate using UV with a first set of parameters to produce a partially cured plate with a partially ablated mask thereon, the curing arranged for producing flat tops, imaging the partially ablated mask on the partially cured plate with the second portion of imaging data to produce a totally imaged partially cured plate, and curing the totally imaged partially cured plate with a second set of one or more curing parameters to produce a totally cured plate to produce round tops.
US08772733B2
The objective is to obtain a charged particle accelerator where the amount of pattern data for operating an acceleration cavity and electromagnets based on time clocks is reduced and the pattern data communication time is shortened. An accelerator control apparatus provided in a charged particle accelerator of the present invention is characterized by including a clock generation unit that generates an acceleration cavity clock and an electromagnet clock that is synchronized with the acceleration cavity clock and has a frequency lower than that of the acceleration cavity clock; a high-frequency control unit that controls an acceleration cavity, based on an acceleration cavity pattern stored in a first pattern memory and the acceleration cavity clock; and a deflection electromagnet control unit that controls a deflection electromagnet, based on a deflection electromagnet pattern stored in a second pattern memory and the electromagnet clock.
US08772731B2
A method for synchronizing sample stage motion with a time delay integration (TDI) charge-couple device (CCD) in a semiconductor inspection tool, including: measuring a lateral position of a stage holding a sample being inspected; measuring a vertical position of the stage; determining a corrected lateral position of an imaged pixel of the sample based on the measured lateral and vertical positions; and synchronizing charge transfer of the TDI CCD with the corrected lateral position of the imaged pixel.
US08772724B2
Methods and systems may include a system including a first passive motion sensor having a lateral field of view with a first edge and a second passive motion sensor having a lateral field of view with a second edge that is substantially parallel to the first edge. The first and second edges can define a virtual beam. The system may also include logic to receive signals from the first and second passive motion sensors and determine a gait velocity and level of activity based on the signals from the first and second passive motion sensors.
US08772722B2
Disclosed is a temperature sensor using a work-function-difference-based radiant-ray detecting element that outputs, as a detecting signal of radiant rays, a work function difference between gate electrodes of first and second field-effect transistors sensing the radiant rays. The temperature sensor includes at least a pair of a first work-function-difference-based radiant-ray detecting element having a positive output temperature coefficient; and a second work-function-difference-based radiant-ray detecting element having a negative output temperature coefficient of which an absolute value is equal to an absolute value of the output temperature coefficient of the first work-function-difference-based radiant-ray detecting element.
US08772719B2
A coordinate measuring device includes a carrier that can be rotated automatically about two axes and that can be directed toward a measuring aid. The following are arranged on the carrier so as to be able to move together: an optical distance measuring device for measuring the distance to the measuring aid; an infrared light source for emitting an infrared target beam, which is visible as an infrared target point when reflected on the measuring aid; a fine target detection unit for determining a fine position of the infrared target point on a first position detection sensor, wherein the fine target detection unit and the distance measuring device have a common exit lens system; a second light source, the light of which is visible as a second target point when reflected on the measuring aid; a rough target detection unit for determining a rough position of the second target point on a second position detection sensor.
US08772714B2
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) includes an electron beam source (2), an illumination lens (4), a first objective lens (6), a second objective lens (8), a selected area aperture (16), a projector lens (10), a detector (12), and a control portion (22). A first plane (17) is located between the second objective lens (8) and the projector lens (10). The control portion (22) performs first sets of processing for controlling the illumination lens (4) such that an electron beam (L) hits the sample (S), controlling the second objective lens (8) such that a diffraction pattern of the sample (S) is imaged onto the first plane (17), and controlling the projector lens (10) such that a TEM image of the sample (S) formed by the second objective lens (8) is focused onto a second plane where the light-sensitive portion (13) of the detector (12) is disposed.
US08772704B2
Methods and systems for a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The CMOS chip may comprise a laser, a microlens, a turning mirror, and an optical bench, and may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, focus the optical signal utilizing the microlens, and reflect the optical signal at an angle defined by the turning mirror. The reflected optical signal may be transmitted into the photonically enabled CMOS chip, which may comprise a non-reciprocal polarization rotator, comprising a latching faraday rotator. The CMOS chip may comprise a reciprocal polarization rotator, which may comprise a half-wave plate comprising birefringent materials operably coupled to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in the optical bench and may reflect the optical signal to transmit through a lid operably coupled to the optical bench.
US08772692B2
An optical transmission device capable of being coupled to an optical fiber includes a light source configured to emit a first light toward the optical fiber; a lens configured to converge the first light to an end of the optical fiber; a light reflector configured to reflect a first reflected light as a second reflected light, a part of the first light being reflected as the first reflected light by the lens or the optical fiber; a first light receiver configured to receive the second reflected light; a detector configured to detect a failure based on a difference value between a first value corresponding to an amount of the second reflected light and a reference value being indicative of an amount of the second reflected light, the second reflected light being detected when the first light is normally emitted and is normally transmitted to and through the optical fiber.
US08772684B2
Operability of a heating cooker having a heating unit in a top plate is improved. After power-on, a light emission control unit causes the operation unit light-emitting element of an operable operation inhibition releasing key to be lit so that only the key is displayed and the other keys are less visible. Thus, the heating cooker is changed into a lock state. When the operation inhibition releasing key is operated in the lock state, at least one electrostatic touch key other than the operation inhibition releasing key is made operable and the operation unit light-emitting element is lit. Alternatively, in the above structure, the operation unit light-emitting element of the operable operation unit is lit in a first light-emission color, and the operation unit light-emitting elements of the inoperable operation units are lit in a second light-emission color different from the first light-emission color. Thus effective operation can be guided.
US08772679B2
Methods and system for controlling a heater conductor in a heating element including a sensor conductor separated from the heater conductor by an NTC layer. The heating element is coupled to a control circuit and the flow of electricity from a direct current source through the circuit is controlled such that a change of the resistance of the NTC layer is indicative of the temperature of the heater conductor. This resistance is detected based on a time or amplitude analysis and based thereon, a heating mode of the heater conductor is controlled. In a variation, the circuit is operated in a two-period measurement mode wherein the energy transferred through the NTC layer in one period is equal and opposite to the energy transferred through the NTC layer in the other period.
US08772673B2
A welding gun, including a contact tip assembly, a diffuser cap, a tip holder, and a shielding gas diffuser, where the shielding gas diffuser includes a casing and an axial tube extending within the casing, and where the casing and the tip holder are connected via a connection system that includes threads with reduced peaks.
US08772671B2
Methods and systems for precisely removing selected layers of materials from a multi-layer work piece using laser ablation are disclosed. Precise removal of one or more selected layers of materials of a work piece may be performed by irradiating at least one location on a multi-layer work piece with a laser beam, ablating material at the at least one location, detecting one or more characteristics of the material ablated at the at least one location and analyzing the one or more characteristics to identify a change in at least one of the one or more characteristics that indicates a change in the type of material being ablated. Related systems are also described.
US08772664B2
A method is specified for sorting flat mail items, which allows sorting according to delivery order to be carried out swiftly and reliably. With the method a first sorting pass is carried out in a first segment with at least N storage modules of a sorting device and a second sorting pass is then carried out in a second segment with at least N storage modules of the sorting device. The overflow items, which are assigned to a storage module that has been closed because it is full, are deposited into one of the other storage modules in the first sorting pass and are included in the sorting process of the second sorting pass.
US08772663B2
A click mechanism for an electric part comprises a spring 50 made of a plate material and disposed on a rotatable plate 40 that rotates integrally with a rotationally-manipulated shaft of an electric part, a click piece 60 disposed on the outer perimeter of the rotatable plate 40 so as to retractably protrude from the outer perimeter, and projections and depressions 25 formed on the inner perimeter of a housing 22 for the rotatable plate 40 to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the inner perimeter. The click piece 60 is cylindrical and biased by the spring 50 to be in resilient contact with the projections and depressions 25 at the perimeter thereof. The click mechanism can produce a fine and clear click feel, has high durability, and can be reduced in size.
US08772658B2
An electrically conductive structure of a micro switch capable of letting users know about the reciprocal movement of a switch button, comprising a base, having an electrode module installed in a containing groove formed at the top of the base; an axis cylinder slidably installed in the containing groove; a conical sleeve made of a soft high temperature resisting material and disposed between the axis cylinder and the electrode module; a metal conductive bump formed at the top of the conical sleeve and driven by the axis cylinder to compress and release the conical sleeve to connect and disconnect the electrode module, and the axis cylinder moves reciprocally to produce a hand-pressing feeling, and the containing groove has as sheathe made of a soft high temperature resisting material to block external liquid from entering into the containing groove to improve the service life of the switch.
US08772652B2
A keypad assembly includes an operation member deformed according to user's manipulation to operate key switches, a binding member disposed on a top surface of the operation member, binding pieces extending and bent from the binding member to enclose sides of the operation member on an edge of the binding member, and a manipulation member disposed on a top surface of the binding member, the manipulation member including at least one key tops, in which the binding members are bound onto inner side walls of a housing of the portable terminal.
US08772646B2
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes preparing a metal sheet having metal members and connectors joining the metal members, forming a structure having core substrates which are connected through the connectors and which have insulation structure portions covering the metal members, respectively, cutting the connectors in the structure such that an independent core substrate having a recessed portion is formed and a respective one of the connectors is removed from the independent core substrate, and covering the recess portion of the independent core substrate with a resin. The covering of the recess portion includes either forming an interlayer insulation layer on a surface of the independent core substrate or forming interlayer insulation layers on opposing surfaces of the independent core substrate.
US08772643B2
A plurality of openings are formed in a resin insulation layer on a top surface side of a wiring laminate portion, and a plurality of openings are formed in a resin insulation layer on a bottom surface side thereof. A plurality of connection terminals are disposed to correspond to the openings. Peripheral portions of terminal outer surfaces of the connection terminals are covered by the resin insulation layer on the top surface side, and peripheral portions of terminal outer surfaces of the connection terminals are covered by the resin insulation layer on the bottom surface side. Each of the second-main-surface-side connection terminals has a concave portion at the center of the terminal outer surface, and the deepest portion of the concave portion is located on the interior side in relation to the peripheral portion of the terminal outer surface.
US08772635B2
A waterproof casing for an electronic device has a body, a cover module and multiple fixers. The body has two connecting assemblies respectively mounted on two side surfaces of the body and each connecting assembly has two wings and a trough defined between the wings and the corresponding side surface of the body. The cover module has a first cover and a second cover respectively mounted on two ends of the body. The fixers are respectively inserted into a corresponding one of the first cover or the second cove and are steadily mounted with the body. The types of the cover module can be changed to fit with an electronic device installed in the body. Therefore, the combination between the body and the cover module is variable, and the waterproof casing has good applicability.
US08772627B2
To provide a photoelectric conversion device whose characteristics are sufficiently improved. The photoelectric conversion device includes: a first electrode; a unit cell having a semiconductor layer exhibiting a first conductivity type, a semiconductor layer having an effect of photoelectric conversion, and a semiconductor layer exhibiting a second conductivity type; and a second electrode. In the semiconductor layer having an effect of photoelectric conversion, crystal grains each grain diameter of which is smaller than a thickness of the semiconductor layer having an effect of photoelectric conversion are aligned in the thickness direction of the semiconductor layer having an effect of photoelectric conversion from the semiconductor layer exhibiting the first conductivity type to the semiconductor layer exhibiting the second conductivity type.
US08772616B1
A stringed instrument having a series of note references laser etched into a fingerboard. Each note reference is located respective to a position along a length of a respective string to generated the respective note. The note references are laser etched into the fingerboard using a laser wood removal system. The laser system is programmed to generate a series of recessions within the fingerboard in accordance with a programmed directive. The programming defines the location of each note reference adjacent to a respective fret and under the respective string. The programming accounts for the neck dimensions, fret locations (based upon the scale), string spacing, etc. The laser system can accommodate a neck (removed from the stringed instrument) or the entire instrument. The recessions can be left as formed or filled with a note reference filler to increase a contrast between the note reference and the fingerboard.
US08772615B2
A combined manual and motorized adjustment drive for adjusting the string tension of a stringed instrument having a tuning peg, a drive motor, a force-transmitting member for transmitting a drive force to the tuning peg and a manually operable adjustment element which couples with the force-transmitting member for manual adjustability of the rotary position of the tuning peg wherein said adjustment drive is improved in that in allows a compact design in addition to reliable self-retention and good adjustability of the manual drive. The force-transmitting member is an at least three-stage reduction gear having a first gear stage on which the drive motor acts with an output shaft and a last gear stage which acts on the tuning peg in order to rotate the latter, and the adjustment element acts on a gear stage of the reduction gear between the first and the last gear stages to introduce the force.
US08772610B1
A wheat variety designated W010684M1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W010684M1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W010684M1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W010684M1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W010684M1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W010684M1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US08772609B1
A novel maize variety designated X08C986 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 X08C986 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08C986 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08C986, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08C986. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08C986.
US08772604B2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 10R011B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 10R011B2R2. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 10R011B2R2 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 10R011B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08772599B1
A soybean cultivar designated 01373542 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 01373542, to the plants of soybean cultivar 01373542, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 01373542, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 01373542. 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 01373542. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 01373542, 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 01373542 with another soybean cultivar.
US08772598B1
A soybean cultivar designated 29124801 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 29124801, to the plants of soybean cultivar 29124801, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 29124801, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 29124801. 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 29124801. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 29124801, 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 29124801 with another soybean cultivar.
US08772594B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026823. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026823. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026823 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026823 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08772591B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026332. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026332. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026332 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026332 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08772587B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026175. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026175. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026175 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026175 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08772584B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D6235241. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D6235241. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D6235241 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D6235241 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08772582B2
The invention provides methods for producing seeds in watermelon. In one embodiment methods are provided comprising grafting of a seed parent onto a stress tolerant rootstock, pollinating the seed parent with pollen from a pollen donor, and cultivating the seed parent until seed is formed. In specific embodiments, triploid seeds produced by a method of the invention are rendered conspicuously distinguishable from tetraploid seeds, and thus readily selected manually or by an automated machine. Methods for increasing seed yield and/or quality are also provided.
US08772575B2
Novel gene sequences from microalgae are disclosed, as well as novel gene sequences useful in the manufacture of triglyceride oils. Also disclosed are sequences and vectors that allow microalgae to be cultivated on sugar cane and sugar beets as a feedstock. In some embodiments, the vectors are useful for the purpose of performing targeted modifications to the nuclear genome of heterotrophic microalgae.
US08772572B2
Methods and materials for conferring pest resistance to plants are provided. Plants are transformed with a silencing construct homologous to a gene of a plant pest that is essential for the survival, development, or pathogenicity of the pest. This results in the plant producing RNAi to the selected gene, which, when ingested by the pest results in silencing of the gene and a subsequent reduction of the pest's ability to harm the plant. In other embodiments, the pest's reduced ability to harm the plant is passed on to pest progeny. Methods and materials for depathogenesis of pests is also provided.
US08772569B2
An absorbent article may have an edge fold having substantially uniform gathers. The edge fold may form a finished edge cuff. The finished edge cuff may be formed around and/or along a portion of a longitudinal edge. The edge fold may be formed by folding and seaming existing material (i.e., without the addition of a discrete part). The edge fold may be extensible, or elastic. The edge fold may completely encircle the portion of the longitudinal edge that defines the leg opening of a diaper. A method and an apparatus for forming an edge fold are also provided.
US08772565B1
A radioactive waste acid is recycled. The waste acid is a fluoboric waste acid. The waste acid contains a lot of oxides and radioactive nuclei. The waste fluoboric acid is processed to obtain a purified fluoboric acid. The amount of radioactive nuclei is greatly reduced. Thus, the present invention has a simple procedure with low cost and reduced power consumption.
US08772564B2
This invention relates to a method wherein a high-purity paraxylene can be produced efficiently by using a catalyst having a molecular sieving action (or shape selectivity) and being excellent in the catalytic activity without isomerization and adsorption-separation steps. More particularly, it relates to a method of producing a high-purity paraxylene, characterized in that MFI type zeolite having a primary particle size of not more than 100 μm, a structure defining agent and silica material having an average particle size of not less than 10 nm but less than 1.0 μm are used as a starting material, and a synthetic zeolite catalyst produced by subjecting the MFI type zeolite to a coating treatment with an aqueous solution obtained by mixing so as to satisfy X×Y<0.05 (wherein X is a concentration of the silica material (mol %) and Y is a concentration of the structure defining agent (mol %)) is used in the alkylation or disproportionation of at least one of benzene and toluene as a starting material.
US08772560B2
The invention relates to a modified zeolite catalyst, useful for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock such as FCC gasoline that contain high content of olefin, aromatic and n-paraffin into isoparaffins. The invention further relates to the use of such a catalyst, for example but not limited to, in a process for the conversion of paraffins, olefins and aromatics in a mixed feedstock into the product having high amount of branched paraffins with decreased aromatics and olefins, a useful gasoline blend, with negligible production of lighter gases.
US08772543B2
Antiproliferative compounds having a structure represented by formula (II), where n, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as defined herein, can be used to treat tumors, optionally when conjugated to a ligand such as an antibody:
US08772539B2
An appropriate catalyst is found for synthesis of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof using as a raw material compound a hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof that can easily be synthesized from a polysaccharide such as biomass-derived cellulose, and an efficient method for synthesizing the unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or the derivative thereof is provided. This method is a method for synthesizing an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof, wherein an apatite compound is used as a catalyst to synthesize the unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or the derivative thereof from a biomass-derived hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof by a dehydration reaction.
US08772535B2
Process for preparing isocyanates by phosgenation of amines, wherein phosgene and amine are brought into contact in at least 2 mixing chambers connected in parallel.
US08772528B2
Provided is a method for selectively demethylating a 2-methoxy group. Specifically provided is a production method of a compound represented by formula (7) below through the following reactions.
US08772527B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for batchwise or continuous isomerization of cis-2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitriles in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane as catalyst.
US08772526B2
The present invention concerns a method for the synthesis of glycerol dithiocarbamates or bis-dithiocarbamates (GDTCs) in which a reaction medium comprising (1) a carbonate selected from diethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate and ethylene or propylene carbonate associated with a glycerol type polyol in the presence of a basic catalyst or (2) a cyclic carbonate comprising five ring members, in a solvent medium, is supplemented with a primary or secondary amine in the presence of carbon disulphide, and the GDTC formed is recovered. In particular, a glycerol type polyol is brought into the presence of diethyl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst, then a primary or secondary amine is added to the reaction medium in the presence of carbon disulphide, and the GDTC formed is recovered. The invention can be used for one-step synthesis of glycerol dithiocarbamates directly from glycerol as the starting material and solvent. This method involves glycerol, diethyl carbonate, carbon disulphide (CS2) and a primary or secondary amine to produce glycerol dithiocarbamates; the glycerol/NaOH phase can be recycled 6 times without a noticeable drop in yield; the ethyl acetate is also recycled after each extraction.
US08772523B2
The invention generally relates to chain shuttling agents (CSAs), a process of preparing the CSAs, a composition comprising a CSA and a catalyst, a process of preparing the composition, a processes of preparing polyolefins, end functional polyolefins, and telechelic polyolefins with the composition, and the polyolefins, end functional polyolefins, and telechelic polyolefins prepared by the processes.
US08772488B2
The present application discloses crystals of 2-acetoxy-5-(α-cyclopropylcarbonyl-2-fluorobenzyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine hydrobromate, crystal compositions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use. The crystals of prasugrel hydrobromate of the present application possess excellent stability and solubility.
US08772487B2
The present disclosure is directed to fluorogenic schiff base-forming dyes capable of detecting analytes containing aldehyde and ketone groups. The dyes contain nucleophilic hydrazinyl appendages and are capable of binding and detecting analytes in situ.
US08772483B2
Solid forms of (S)-2-amino-3-(4-(2-amino-6-((R)-1-(4-chloro-2-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)phenyl)propanoic acid and salts thereof are disclosed. Pharmaceutical dosage forms and methods of their use are also disclosed.
US08772481B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the prophylaxis and treatments of protein kinase mediated diseases, including inflammation and related conditions.
US08772471B2
The present invention provides a method of delivering RNA interference molecules to a cell or a cell in a subject, which comprises contacting the cell with a protein-double stranded RNA complex, the complex comprising the double stranded RNA segment containing a double stranded RNA of interest and a protein, the protein comprising (1) a targeting moiety, which will specifically bind to a site on a target cell, and (2) a binding moiety linked thereto, which will bind to the double stranded RNA, wherein the double stranded RNA segment is delivered to a cell and effects RNA interference of the target RNA in the cell.
US08772468B2
The present invention provides a method and a diagnostic kit for diagnosing the presence of Parkinson's disease in a human subject. The method includes the steps of: (1) extracting RNA molecules from a blood sample of the human subject to define a test sample; (2) measuring the amount of each RNA molecule having Sequence ID Nos. 1-14 in the test sample; (3) comparing the amount of each of the RNA molecules having Sequence ID Nos. 1-14 to the amount of RNA molecules having Sequence ID Nos. 1-14 present in a control sample to determine how many of the RNA molecules of Sequence ID Nos. 1-14 are present in a significant amount in the test sample greater or less than in the control sample to define a number of biomarkers; and (4) diagnosing the presence of Parkinson's disease in the human subject if the number of biomarkers is equal to or greater than five.
US08772463B2
Disclosed are a novel fluorescent glucose analogue, a method for the synthesis thereof and the use thereof. The novel fluorescent glucose analogue is labeled with fluorescent dye by O-1-glycosylation and via various linkers. The fluorescent glucose analogue can be applied to molecular bioimaging and a method for screening curative or preventive drugs for glucose metabolism-related diseases.
US08772461B2
The present invention provides a method for concentrating a protein, in particular a method for concentrating a plasma product, in particular IgG, using glycine in a (two-stage ultrafiltration/diafiltration approach.
US08772459B2
In one embodiment, a minibody monomer that binds PSMA is provided. The minibody monomer is encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, an scFv sequence that can bind PSMA, an artificial hinge sequence, and a human IgG CH3 sequence. In another embodiment, a CysDB monomer that binds PSMA is provided. The CysDB monomer may be encoded by a nucleotide sequence comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus, an scFv sequence that can bind PSMA and a cysteine tail. In other embodiments, methods for diagnosing or treating a cancer associated with PSMA expression in a subject are provided.
US08772458B2
The present invention relates to a batch crystallization method for crystallizing an anti-hTNFalpha antibody which allows the production of said antibody on an industrial scale; antibody crystals as obtained according to said method; compositions containing said crystals as well as methods of use of said crystals and compositions.
US08772455B2
The present disclosure relates to a combination of biological markers for identification of prognosis of cancer. The present disclosure further relates to a method of identifying the said markers, a method of predicting prognosis and a method of planning personalized treatment for cancer. The present disclosure further relates to a kit/test comprising the antibodies against/other methods of detecting said markers for the said prediction.
US08772454B2
The isolation and characterization of two protein isoforms collected green fluorescent copepods is described herein. The new Pontella mimocerami GFP-like isoforms pmimGFP1 and pmimGFP2 of the present invention are quick to mature and rapidly produce a fluorescent signal. The two isoforms are very similar in molar extinction coefficients (ME) with 105,000 M−1 cm−1 for pmimGFP1 and 103,000 M−1cm−1 for pmimGFP2, respectively. The relative brightness of these two new copepod GFP-like proteins is the highest measured for any isolated GFP-like protein.
US08772451B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for detecting cells or tissue comprising a peptide antigen presented in the context of an MHC or HLA complex. The invention has a wide range of applications including providing a highly sensitive method for detecting cancer cells.
US08772441B2
A resin composition for an optical material that has excellent balance of refractive index of resin, Abbe number, heat resistance, specific gravity, and resin strength, a resin obtained by curing the resin composition, and an optical material are provided.A polymerizable composition comprising the following is used: An alicyclic isocyanate compound represented by the formula (1) and/or the formula (2): (In the formula (1), n represents integer of 0 to 3) and (a) at least one compound of the polythiol compound having at least two thiol groups in one molecule and/or the polythiol compound having at least two thiol groups and at least one (poly)sulfide bond other than the thiol group in one molecule, and (b) at least one compound of the polyhydroxy compound having at least two hydroxy groups in one molecule and/or the (poly)hydroxy(poly)mercapto compound having at least one hydroxy group and at least one thiol group.
US08772440B2
A process for the preparation of lactic acid includes: a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium lactate; b) adding to the aqueous medium a monovalent base to form an aqueous medium comprising a water soluble monovalent lactate salt and a solid magnesium base; c) separating the magnesium base from the aqueous medium; d) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent lactate salt in the aqueous medium, e) subjecting the aqueous medium to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising lactic acid and monovalent lactate salt, the electrodialysis being carried out to a partial conversion of 40 to 98 mole %; f) separating the second solution into lactic acid and a solution comprising the monovalent lactate salt by vapour-liquid separation; g) recycling the solution of step f) comprising the monovalent lactate salt to step d).
US08772438B2
A process for making a polyamide polymer, said process comprising heating, in one or more ionic liquid(s), one or more polyamide precursor(s) selected from: (i) one or more free dicarboxylic acid(s) or ester(s) thereof, with one or more diamine(s); or (ii) one or more salt(s) of a dicarboxylic acid with a diamine; or (iii) one or more lactam(s); or (iv) mixtures of any of the foregoing precursors (i) to (iii).
US08772434B2
Disclosed is a block polyisocyanate obtained by blocking at least a part of isocyanate groups of a polyisocyanate, which is derived from an aliphatic diisocyanate and a polyol and satisfies all of the conditions (1)-(5) shown below, with a pyrazole compound. (1) Average number of isocyanate groups: 3.0-20 (2) Diisocyanate monomer trimer concentration: 10-50% by mass (3) Isocyanate group concentration: 5-22% by mass (4) Polyol content concentration: 5-40% by mass (5) Diisocyanate monomer concentration: 3% by mass or less.
US08772432B2
The invention relates to an aqueous composition based on tris-silylated amino-functional silicon compounds, which is substantially free of organic solvents and which substantially does not release any alcohol even during the cross-linking process, and to method for the production thereof, and to the use thereof, for example for the hydrophobization of metal, glass or mineral surfaces, such as concrete and bricks, as adhesion promoter or for rock consolidation, among other things.
US08772430B2
A silicone resin is obtained by allowing a cage octasilsesquioxane having a group represented by formula (1) below, to react with an alkenyl group-containing polysiloxane containing an alkenyl group having a molarity smaller than the molarity of the hydrosilyl group of the cage octasilsesquioxane in the presence of a hydrosilylation catalyst: (where R1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R2 represents hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and the molar ratio of monovalent hydrocarbon group: hydrogen in R2 in the cage octasilsesquioxane as a whole is, as an average value, in a range of 6.5:1.5 to 5.5:2.5).
US08772426B2
Copolymers of ethylene and α-olefins having (a) a density (D) in the range 0.900-0.940 g/cm3, (b) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) in the range of 0.01-50 g/10 min, (c) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) and Dow Rheology Index (DRI) satisfying the equation [DRI/MI2]>2.65, and (d) a Dart Drop Impact (DDI) in g of a blown film having a thickness of 25 μm produced from the copolymer satisfying the equation DDI≧1900×{1−Exp [−750(D−0.908)2]}×{Exp [(0.919−D)/0.0045]}. The copolymers may be prepared using metallocene catalysis and are preferably prepared in multistage processes carried out in loop reactors in the slurry phase. The copolymers exhibit long chain branching as defined by Dow Rheology Index (DRI) and exhibit unexpected improvements in mechanical properties, in particular dart drop impact, when extruded into blown films.
US08772422B2
A polymer composite composition wherein at least one of the constituents is a silicone ionomer and the other constituent is polymer.
US08772420B2
A fluorinated polyester blend is prepared by melt blending a fluorovinyl ether functionalized polyester with a non-fluorinated polyester. The fluoroether functionalized polyester can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. The blend is useful for preparing fibers, yarns, fabrics, garments, carpets, and other shaped articles. The shaped articles exhibit durable soil, oil, and water repellency.
US08772416B2
Disclosed herein are ester-terminated polyimide gellant compounds end-caped with isosorbide and UV curable ink compositions containing them.
US08772409B2
Compositions comprising the reaction product of: (a) a polyalkenamer; and (b) an organic modifier that includes at least one carbon to carbon unsaturated bond and at least one functional group selected from carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, epoxy, (meth)acrylate, vinyl, ester, isocyanate, carbonyl, urethane, anhydride, or a metal salt thereof. Also disclosed are golf balls that include (i) a core, (ii) at least one intermediate layer, and (iii) at least one cover layer, wherein at least one of the core, intermediate layer or cover layer includes the polyalkenamer/functionalized organic modifier composition as a majority ingredient.
US08772400B2
The present invention provides a polyvinyl alcohol-based film for optical uses, which is excellent in stretching property and is used for producing a polarizing film excellent in polarization performance throughout the visible light wavelength range, particularly in the vicinity of the wavelength of 460 nm. The invention relates to a polyvinyl alcohol-based film for optical uses comprising a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin is composed of only a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (A) containing a 1,2-glycol bond at a side chain and the amount of the 1,2-glycol bond at a side chain is from 0.01 to 6% by mol, or a polyvinyl alcohol-based film for optical uses comprising a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (A) containing a 1,2-glycol bond at a side chain and a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (B) other than the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (A) and satisfies the following expression (1): 0.01≦A×G/(A+B)≦6 (1) wherein A represents a content ratio (weight ratio) of the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (A) based on a total amount of the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (A) and the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (B), B represents a content ratio (weight ratio) of the polyvinyl alcohol-based resin (B) based on the above total amount, and G represents an amount (% by mol) of the 1,2-glycol bond at a side chain.
US08772385B2
In a polycarbonate resin composition containing a polycarbonate resin and a polycarbosilane compound, the use of the polycarbosilane compound modifies the surface properties of the polycarbonate resin composition without adversely affecting the intrinsic characteristics of the polycarbonate resin, such as transparency, heat resistance, and mechanical properties, e.g., impact resistance. A polycarbonate resin composition containing 100 parts by mass of a polycarbonate resin, 0.001 to 1 part by mass of a metal salt compound, and 0.005 to 5 parts by mass of a polycarbosilane compound has significantly improved flame resistance and high transparency and causes markedly reduced outgassing and mold fouling, without losing impact resistance and heat resistance.
US08772378B2
The present invention relates to improvements in prevention of discoloration of thermoplastic starch materials and their blends with other thermoplastic materials.
US08772365B2
The present invention provides a resin composition capable of providing foams (non-crosslinked and crosslinked foams) which have low specific gravity and low compression set (CS) and are excellent in tensile strength properties, tear strength properties and vibration-damping properties at room temperature to high temperatures, and a foam of the resin composition. The resin composition for foams of the present invention comprises 5 to 95 parts by weight of an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer (A) and 5 to 95 parts by weight of a hydrogenated copolymer (B) obtained by hydrogenating a copolymer comprising a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound, and is characterized in that the hydrogenated copolymer (B) does not have a glass transition point of not higher than −10° C. when measured at a frequency of 1 Hz in accordance with JIS-K7198.
US08772355B2
The present invention is directed to a crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymer particle, wherein the crosslinked polymer particle comprises a copolymer of poly(alklyene glycol-graft-acrylate) that is crosslinked by at least one hydrolysable monomer or crosslinking agent. The present invention is also directed to a polymer particle comprising a crosslinked polymer particle that is a product of starting materials comprising (a) a hydrophilic monomer, (b) a hydrophobic monomer, and (c) a hydrolysable crosslinking agent (the crosslinking agent may be absent in the case of non-crosslinked particles). The present invention is still further directed to a polymer particle comprising a crosslinked copolymer, where the crosslinked copolymer includes structures represented by Formulas (I), (II), and (III), as defined in the specification. Other embodiments of the present invention also include methods of manufacturing polymer particles.
US08772351B1
Methods of treating gastrointestinal spasms are provided. For example, methods of treating gastrointestinal spasms are provided, such methods not requiring the use of systemic drugs that have shown to (i) provide slow relief, (ii) cause adverse side effects, (iii) limit activities, (iv) worsen existing gastrointestinal conditions, (v) be unrecommended in several gastrointestinal conditions that include gastrointestinal spasms, or (vi) be unrecommended in the absence of diarrhea.
US08772339B2
The use of ethyl gallate methyl gallate or 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate for treatment of septic shock Said compounds may also prophylactically treat septic shock via administration to a subject before the development of a fall in blood pressure.
US08772337B2
The present invention provides an ophthalmic solution without an antimicrobial preservative. The solution includes as an active substance at least one prostaglandin and as a solubilizing agent, a surfactant, where the solubilizing agent is polyoxyl-15-hydroxystearate.
US08772333B2
The disclosure provides a fumagillol type compound and their use in treating medical disorders, such as obesity. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using, e.g. in the treatment of obesity are provided.
US08772332B2
The invention provides a compound of formula (I): or a salt thereof, wherein R1-R4 have any of the values described in the specification, as well as compositions comprising a compound of formula (I). The compounds are useful as antibacterial agents.
US08772326B2
The present invention provides compositions and formulations of compounds having formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein p, R1, R2 and B are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of injuries, conditions or diseases in which HGF/SF or the activities thereof, or agonists or antagonists thereof have a therapeutically useful role. In addition, methods are provided for treating such diseases or diseases starting at a time after the onset of the injury, condition or disease.
US08772324B2
The present invention is directed to a wound composition comprising an effective amount of phenytoin and an effective amount of vitamin C. The present invention is further directed to a method of treating a wound in a patient comprising administering an effective amount of phenytoin and an effective amount of vitamin C to the wound.
US08772321B2
Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating cancer utilizing compounds characterized by the following structure: and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.
US08772317B2
The invention provides a rebamipide-containing aqueous pharmaceutical suspension which can be prepared by a simple process and keep the dispersed fine-particle state of rebamipide stable without having the fine particle agglutinated. The rebamipide-containing aqueous pharmaceutical suspension of the invention is prepared by mixing polyvinyl alcohol and additionally a sodium salt compound with rebamipide.
US08772315B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising (R)-2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4′-{2-[(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)amino]ethyl}acetanilide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (3R)-quinuclidin-3-yl (1S)-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-2-carboxylate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as active ingredients, in particular for improving various symptoms accompanying overactive bladder, such as urinary urgency, pollakiuria and/or urinary incontinence.
US08772311B2
Harmine derivatives, intermediates used in their preparations, preparation processes and use thereof
This invention relates to compounds of general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the specification; intermediates used in their preparation, preparation processes and use thereof. The present invention produces new harmine derivatives with enhanced antitumor activity and lower nervous system toxicity by structurally modification of the parent structure of β-carboline of harmines at position 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9. The compounds of the present invention can be prepared easily with high yield. They can be used in manufacture of a variety of antitumor medicines and medicines used in treatment of tumor diseases in combination of light or radiation therapy.
US08772291B2
This invention relates to multicyclic compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and methods of their use in, for example, the treatment of cognitive disorders.
US08772282B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I: wherein A is selected from the group consisting of; R1 is H or F; R2 is H, —CH2OH, C1-C3 alkyl, R3 is H, F, or CN; R4 is H, F; or CN; and R5 is H, —CH3, or —OCH3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08772266B2
The present invention relates to pyrazole carboxamides derivatives of formula (1) wherein Y represents CR5 or N, T represents S or O, X1 and X2 represent a chlorine or a fluorine atom, and Z1 represents a substituted or non-substituted cyclopropyl; Their process of preparation, their use as fungicide, and/or anti-mycotoxin active agents, and/or insecticide, and/or nematicide, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US08772260B2
This invention provides compounds which comprise modified oligonucleotides capable of inhibitory expression of connective tissue factor and composition containing same as well as methods of treating hyperprolific disorders and fibrotic diseases, and of reducing scarring resulting from wound healing using such compounds.
US08772259B2
Provided are an aptamer having an inhibitory activity on FGF2; a complex containing an aptamer having a binding activity or an inhibitory activity on FGF2, and a functional substance (e.g., affinity substance, labeling substance, enzyme, drug delivery vehicle, or drug and the like); a medicament, diagnostic reagent or label containing an aptamer having a binding activity or an inhibitory activity on FGF2, or a complex containing said aptamer and a functional substance; and the like.
US08772256B2
The present invention features immunogenic compositions comprising codon modified genes that encode viral proteins and/or glycoproteins or fragments. The immunogenic compositions of the invention are useful in various methods of treatment, such as preventing or treating viral infection. Also provided in the present invention are kits and instructions for use.
US08772251B2
The invention concerns the use of glucomoringin and of its des-thio-glucoside having the following formulae (I, II): for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of myeloma.
US08772240B2
Methods of preparing alpha-1-antiproteinase inhibitor and controlling the amount of des-lys alpha-1-antiproteinase inhibitor in the preparation, and compositions comprising the same, as well as methods of treatment using the same are provided.
US08772238B2
The invention provides methods for treatment of tissue factor (TF) mediated or associated diseases or processes, such as cancer, by administering at least an active fragment of an Ixolaris polypeptide to a subject. The invention further includes identification of a subject in need of such treatment, and monitoring a subject for amelioration of at least one sign or symptom of the disease. The invention also features kits.
US08772237B2
Peptide compounds and methods for upregulating expression of a gene encoding an antioxidative enzyme, such as superoxide dismutase or catalase, to counteract harmful oxidative effects of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals are described. The peptide compounds may be used to treat or prevent diseases and conditions characterized by undesirable elevation of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals, to upregulate AP-1 gene expression, and to treat pain. The peptide compounds may be used as components of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.
US08772227B2
To develop glucosamine (GlcN) pro-drugs with properties superior to the presently available GlcN products, we have synthesized derivatives with improved pharmaceutical properties. The synthesized derivatives include peptide-GlcN ester and amide conjugates where the peptide portion consists of one or more amino acids. One such compound is (5-amino-3,4,6-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)methyl 2-(2-aminoacetamido)-3-methylbutanoate or glycine-valine-COO-GlcN (GV-GlcN).7.
US08772225B2
The present invention relates to the diagnosis of neurological disorders, more specifically to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. A biomarker panel is provided which can be used to detect if a subject has multiple sclerosis. Also described are methods of identification of such biomarkers.
US08772224B2
The invention relates to a perfuming solution comprising a volatile alcohol, a perfume and a mixture for stabilizing said perfume consisting of at least one UV filter selected from the derivatives of cinnamate, at least one UV filter selected from the derivatives of dibenzoylmethane, and at least one non-volatile oil that is soluble in said alcohol and is a solvent for said filters, the stabilizing mixture being in sufficient amount to protect the perfuming solution from degradation by UV radiation.
US08772223B2
A solid washing agent that is hard even in a high-temperature, high-humidity atmosphere or in a similar environment and that can prevent melting away and stickiness is provided.A composition for a solid washing agent containing an N-long chain acyl acidic amino acid salt as a component of an ingredient wherein the salt for the N-long chain acyl acidic amino acid salt is composed of an alkali metal salt and an ethanolamine salt, the molar ratio of the alkali metal salt to the ethanolamine salt is 10:90 to 75:25, the degree of neutralization is 1.5 to 2.0 eq, and an alkyl-modified silicone represented by formula (I) below is blended as an ingredient, and a solid washing agent formed from the composition.
US08772222B2
Antibacterial cleaning agent having principally natural active ingredients includes water, soap-nut-derived saponins, polysorbate 20, glycerin, a mixture of essential oils of lemongrass, tea tree, geranium, lavender, and oregano, and extract of grapefruit seed; methods of laundering, cleaning, and bathing using the cleaning agent.
US08772218B2
A cleaning composition that can discharge the color of blood, menstrual fluids, or other organic stains is provided. In particular, the present invention achieves a balance between control of unwanted liquid spreading by lateral wicking on a stained textile fabric to lessen the size of wet spots and maintaining the cleaning efficacy of the composition by means of specific kinds of thickening agents. The composition includes an oxidizing agent such as peroxides, a cell-lysing agent, a chelating agent, an antioxidant, a thickener, and other optional ingredients that are selectively employed to achieve an aqueous based composition that exhibits good shelf stability and stain removal properties. The thickening agent may include a cellulosic or clay material, starch, gum, fatty acid, fatty alcohol, hydrophilic colloidal particles, polyoxyethylene glycol or polyoxyethylene glycol derivatives including fatty acid esters and ethers, or a combination thereof.
US08772215B2
The present invention relates to high alkaline-solvent cleaners, cleaning systems and methods for removing polymerized zero trans fat soils. The high alkaline-solvent cleaner of the present invention generally includes one or more soil wetting and cleaning solvent(s) and one or more alkaline wetting and saponifying agent(s) that wets and saponifies the soil. In various embodiments, the cleaners may include, at least one cleaning agent comprising a surfactant or surfactant system and/or a at least one chelating/sequestering/threshold agent. In some embodiments, the cleaners may include one or more components to modify the composition form and/or the application method. All components described above can also be optimized optionally, to provide emulsification of a composition (both as a usable product or a concentrate that can be diluted to form a usable product). The use of the high alkaline-solvent cleaner of the present invention has demonstrated enhanced cleaning characteristics especially at ambient temperatures and showing increased cleaning with increased temperatures in comparison to other conventional cleaning techniques.
US08772214B2
A composition and method for removing residues such as, without limitation, post etched and/or post ashed photoresist, plasma etching, ashing, and mixtures thereof from a substrate is described herein. In one aspect, there is provided a method for removing residues from a substrate comprising: contacting the substrate with a composition comprising: water; a quaternary ammonium hydroxide compound; a fluoride containing compound; and optionally a corrosion inhibitor wherein the composition is free of an added organic solvent and wherein the composition has a pH greater than 9.
US08772209B2
Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a salt of a sulfurized alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic composition having a reduced content of unsulfurized alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound and its unsulfurized metal salt. The process involves the steps of: (a) providing a composition comprising (i) a salt of a sulfurized alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound; (ii) an unsulfurized alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound and (iii) an unsulfurized metal salt of the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound; wherein the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound is derived from alkylation of a hydroxyaromatic compound with one or more olefins comprising C9 to C18 oligomers of monomers selected from propylene, butylene or mixtures thereof; (b) protonating the unsulfurized metal salt of the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound with an effective amount of an acidic compound capable of protonating the unsulfurized metal salt of the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound; and (c) removing the unsulfurized alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound and the protonated unsulfurized metal salt of the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound from the composition.
US08772201B2
An oxide superconducting conductor of the invention is configured to include an oxide superconducting layer including a substrate and an oxide superconductor formed on the substrate. The oxide superconductor being expressed by a composition formula of RE1Ba2Cu3Oy where RE represents a rare earth element and an expression of 6.5
US08772194B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing a large-sized titanium-silicalite molecular sieve, and a method for preparing cyclohexanone oxime using the large-sized titanium-silicalite molecular sieve. The method for preparing a large-sized titanium-silicalite molecular sieve includes preparing a mixture of a titanium source, a silicon source and a template agent; heating the mixture to form a gel mixture; mixing a colloidal silica with the gel mixture; heating the gel mixture mixed with the colloidal silica in a water bath; and calcining the gel mixture mixed with the colloidal silica. In the present invention, the average particle size of the large-sized titanium-silicalitem molecular sieve is more than 10 um, and the particle size distribution is centralized, so as to avoid the formation of titanium-oxygen-titanium bonding. The method for preparing cyclohexanone oxime using the large-sized titanium-silicalite molecular sieve results in high conversion rate, high selectivity and easy recovery.
US08772176B2
In a forming method of an adhesive layer including the steps of selectively coating, on a surface to be bonded, an adhesive composition containing a thermosetting composition and an organic solvent using a noncontact coating device; and removing the organic solvent from the adhesive composition coated on the surface to be bonded and in a forming method of an adhesive layer characterized in the thermosetting composition has a hardening property so as to exhibit two kinds of reaction temperatures, the adhesive composition comprising an epoxy resin and an epoxy curing agent which are reacted through a first hardening reaction exhibiting a first DSC peak within a temperature range of 100 to 160° C. and a second hardening reaction relating to a self-polymerization of the epoxy resin and exhibiting a second DSC peak within a temperature range of 140 to 200° C.
US08772164B2
According to one embodiment, a method for forming an interconnection pattern includes forming an insulating pattern, forming a self-assembled film, and forming a conductive layer. The insulating pattern has a side surface on a major surface of a matrix. The self-assembled film has an affinity with a material of the insulating pattern on the side surface of the insulating pattern. The forming the conductive layer includes depositing a conductive material on a side surface of the self-assembled film.
US08772163B2
A semiconductor processing method that can generate a hole with different diameters, comprising: providing first material and second material different from the first material; and utilizing a etching process to etch the first material and the second material to form a hole through the first material and the second material; wherein the etching process has different etching rates for the first material and the second material such that the hole have different diameters. A semiconductor structure corresponding to the above-mentioned method is also disclosed.
US08772157B2
The present invention provides a method of forming Cu interconnects. The method comprises depositing an etch stop layer and an insulating layer subsequently; forming vias and trenches in the insulating layer; depositing a diffusion barrier layer and a copper seed layer using PVD; applying electroplating process to form the copper interconnects; depositing a layer of filling materials and reflowing the filling materials to eliminate the uneven surface topography of the copper interconnection layer; and applying annealing and CMP to planarize the top surface of the copper interconnects, and rinsing. According to the method of forming Cu interconnects, the uneven surface topography after electroplating can be reduced, and the surface topography after CMP can be planarized.
US08772154B2
Embodiments of a method for fabricating integrated circuits are provided, as are embodiments of an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of depositing an interlayer dielectric (“ILD”) layer over a semiconductor device, depositing a barrier polish stop layer over the ILD layer, and patterning at least the barrier polish stop layer and the ILD layer to create a plurality of etch features therein. Copper is plated over the barrier polish stop layer and into the plurality of etch features to produce a copper overburden overlying the barrier polish stop layer and a plurality of conductive interconnect features in the ILD layer and barrier polish stop layer. The integrated circuit is polished to remove the copper overburden and expose the barrier polish stop layer.
US08772153B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a line-and-space structure, a first film and a second film. The line-and-space structure includes line patterns arranged on the substrate parallel to one another at a predetermined distance. The first film is formed on side surfaces and bottom surfaces of the line patterns by an insulating film material. The second film is formed on the line-and-space structure across a space between the line patterns by a material showing low wettability to the first film. Space between the line patterns includes an air gap in which at least a bottom surface of the first film is totally exposed.
US08772152B2
A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate having a first and second opposed surfaces. A microelectronic element overlies the first surface and first electrically conductive elements can be exposed at at least one of the first surface or second surfaces. Some of the first conductive elements are electrically connected to the microelectronic element. Wire bonds have bases joined to the conductive elements and end surfaces remote from the substrate and the bases, each wire bond defining an edge surface extending between the base and the end surface. An encapsulation layer can extend from the first surface and fill spaces between the wire bonds, such that the wire bonds can be separated by the encapsulation layer. Unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by at least portions of the end surfaces of the wire bonds that are uncovered by the encapsulation layer.
US08772144B2
A vertical conduction nitride-based Schottky diode is formed using an insulating substrate which was lifted off after the diode device is encapsulated on the front side with a wafer level molding compound. The wafer level molding compound provides structural support on the front side of the diode device to allow the insulating substrate to be lifted off so that a conductive layer can be formed on the backside of the diode device as the cathode electrode. A vertical conduction nitride-based Schottky diode is thus realized. In another embodiment, a protection circuit for a vertical GaN Schottky diode employs a silicon-based vertical PN junction diode connected in parallel to the GaN Schottky diode to divert reverse bias avalanche current.
US08772140B2
A unipolar semiconductor component having a drift layer is produced by forming the drift layer with a continuously decreasing concentration of a charge carrier doping along the growth direction of the drift layer by way of epitaxial precipitation of the material of the drift layer, which comprises at least one wide band gap material. By using silicon carbide for the drift layer formed by the epitaxial precipitation, a subsequent change of the continuously decreasing concentration of the charge carrier doping due to a diffusion of the dopant atoms in downstream processes is suppressed. The production method can be used in particular to implement a unipolar semiconductor component comprising a drift layer, which component has an advantageous ratio of a comparatively high reverse bias voltage with relatively low forward losses, in a simple and/or cost-effective manner. The unipolar semiconductor component can be an active or passive semiconductor component.
US08772127B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device comprises: providing a silicon substrate having a gate stack structure formed thereon and having {100} crystal indices; forming an interlayer dielectric layer coving a top surface of the silicon substrate; forming a first trench in the interlayer dielectric layer and/or in the gate stack structure, the first trench having an extension direction being along <110> crystal direction and perpendicular to that of the gate stack structure; and filling the first trench with a first dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer is a tensile stress dielectric layer. The present invention introduces a tensile stress in the transverse direction of a channel region by using a simple process, which improves the response speed and performance of semiconductor devices.
US08772118B2
A process of integrated circuit manufacturing includes providing (32, 33) a spacer on a gate stack to provide a horizontal offset over the channel region for otherwise-direct application (34) of a PLDD implant dose in semiconductor, additionally depositing (35) a seal substance to provide a screen thickness vertically while thereby augmenting the spacer on the gate stack to provide an increased offset horizontally from the gate stack and form a horizontal screen free of etch, and subsequently providing (36) an NLDD implant dose for NLDD formation. Various integrated circuit structures, devices, and other processes of manufacture, and processes of testing are also disclosed.
US08772115B2
A semiconductor device including a selectively nitrided gate insulating layer may be fabricated by a method that includes forming a first gate insulating layer on a substrate having a first region and a second region, performing a nitridation process on the first gate insulating layer, removing the first gate insulating layer from at least a portion of the first region to expose at least a portion of the substrate, forming a second gate insulating layer on at least the exposed portion of the first region of the substrate, thermally treating the first and second gate insulating layers in an oxygen atmosphere, forming a high-k dielectric on the first and second gate insulating layers, and forming a metal gate electrode on the high-k dielectric.
US08772107B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory transistor included in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes an island-shaped semiconductor having a source region, a channel region, and a drain region formed in this order from the substrate side, a hollow pillar-shaped floating gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the channel region in such a manner that a tunnel insulating film is interposed between the floating gate and the channel region, and a hollow pillar-shaped control gate arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the floating gate in such a manner that an inter-polysilicon insulating film is interposed between the control gate and the floating gate. The inter-polysilicon insulating film is arranged so as to be interposed between the floating gate and the upper, lower, and inner side surfaces of the control gate.
US08772101B2
One method includes forming first sidewall spacers adjacent opposite sides of a sacrificial gate structure and a gate cap layer, removing the gate cap layer and a portion of the first sidewall spacers to define reduced-height first sidewall spacers, forming second sidewall spacers, removing the sacrificial gate structure to thereby define a gate cavity, whereby a portion of the gate cavity is laterally defined by the second sidewall spacers, and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate cavity, wherein at least a first portion of the replacement gate structure is positioned between the second sidewall spacers. A device includes a gate structure positioned above the substrate between first and second spaced-apart portions of a layer of insulating material and a plurality of first sidewall spacers, each of which are positioned between the gate structure and on one of the first and second portions of the layer of insulating material.
US08772094B2
A highly reliable semiconductor device that includes a transistor including an oxide semiconductor is provided. In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device that includes a bottom-gate transistor including an oxide semiconductor, an insulating film which is in contact with an oxide semiconductor film is subjected to dehydration or dehydrogenation treatment by heat treatment and oxygen doping treatment in this order. The insulating film which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor film refers to a gate insulating film provided under the oxide semiconductor film and an insulating film which is provided over the oxide semiconductor film and functions as a protective insulating film. The gate insulating film and/or the insulating film are/is subjected to dehydration or dehydrogenation treatment by heat treatment and oxygen doping treatment in this order.
US08772091B2
Apparatus and methods for electronic circuit protection under high stress operating conditions are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate having a first p-well, a second p-well adjacent the first p-well, and an n-type region separating the first and second p-wells. An n-type active area is over the first p-well and a p-type active area is over the second p-well. The n-type and p-type active areas are electrically connected to a cathode and anode of a high reverse blocking voltage (HRBV) device, respectively. The n-type active area, the first p-well and the n-type region operate as an NPN bipolar transistor and the second p-well, the n-type region, and the first p-well operate as a PNP bipolar transistor. The NPN bipolar transistor defines a relatively low forward trigger voltage of the HRBV device and the PNP bipolar transistor defines a relatively high reverse breakdown voltage of the HRBV device.
US08772077B2
The present invention concerns a method of forming a chalcogenide thin film for a phase-change memory. In the method of forming a chalcogenide thin film according to the present invention, a substrate with a pattern formed is loaded into a reactor, and a source gas is supplied onto the substrate. Here, the source gas includes at least one source gas selected from germanium (Ge) source gas, gallium (Ga) source gas, indium (In) source gas, selenium (Se) source gas, antimony (Sb) source gas, tellurium (Te) source gas, tin (Sn) source gas, silver (Ag) source gas, and sulfur (S) source gas. A first purge gas is supplied onto the substrate in order to purge the source gas supplied onto the substrate, a reaction gas for reducing the source gas is then supplied onto the substrate, and a second purge gas is supplied onto the substrate in order to purge the reaction gas supplied onto the substrate. At least one operation, namely changing the supply time of the first purge gas and/or adjusting the internal pressure of the reactor is performed in such a way as to ensure that the deposition rate at an inner portion of the pattern is greater than the deposition rate at an upper portion of the pattern. According to the present invention, it is possible to form a chalcogenide thin film having an excellent gap-fill property by changing the purge time of the source gas or adjusting the internal pressure of the reactor in such a way as to ensure that the film forming rate at the inner portion of the pattern is greater than the film forming rate at the upper portion of the pattern.
US08772076B2
The present invention provides for new ohmic contact materials and diffusion barriers for Group IBIIIAVIA based solar cell structures, which eliminate two way diffusion while preserving the efficient ohmic contacts between the substrate and the absorber layers.
US08772075B2
A display region and a light sensing region are defined in each pixel region of the OLED touch panel of the present invention. The readout thin film transistor of the light sensing region is formed by the same processes with the drive thin film transistor of the display region. The top and bottom electrodes of the optical sensor are formed by the same processes with the top and bottom electrodes of the OLED. Accordingly, the present invention can just add a step of forming the patterned sensing dielectric layer to the processes of forming an OLED panel to integrate the optical sensor into the pixel region of the OLED panel. Thus, an OLED touch panel is formed.
US08772071B2
A method for manufacturing thin film solar cells, includes forming a light permeable first electrode layer in the back light surface of a glass substrate, and formed in the first electrode layer a plurality of first openings for exposing a part of the back light surface therefrom; forming a photoelectric conversion layer on the first electrode layer and the exposed back light surface, and forming a plurality of second openings in the photoelectric conversion layer for exposing a part of the first electrode layer therefrom; and forming a glistening second electrode layer having a plurality of third openings formed therein, wherein the second electrode layer comprises a conductive colloid comprised of non-diffractive fillings and polymeric base material.
US08772068B2
A method of forming contacts on a surface emitter of a silicon solar cell is provided. In the method an n-type diffusion of a surface is performed to form a doped emitter surface layer that has a sheet resistance of 10-40 Ω/□. The emitter surface layer is then etched back to increase the sheet resistance of the emitter surface layer. Finally the surface is selectively plated.A method of fabrication of a silicon solar cell includes performing a front surface emitter diffusion of n-type dopant and then performing a dielectric deposition on the front surface by PECVD. The dielectric deposition comprises: a. growth of a thin silicon oxide; b. PECVD deposition of silicon nitride to achieve a silicon nitride. The silicon is then annealed to drive hydrogen from the silicon nitride layer into the silicon to passivate the silicon.
US08772058B2
A method of making redistributed electronic devices that includes providing a wafer having a plurality of electronic devices, each electronic device having a pattern of contact areas forming die pads. The method also includes forming redistribution layers on a temporary substrate having a pattern of contact areas forming wafer bonding pads matching the die pads and a pattern of contact areas forming redistributed pads different than the wafer bonding pads, the wafer bonding pads are coupled to the redistributed pads through a plurality of stacked conductive and insulating layers. The die pads are coupled to the wafer bonding pads, and the temporary substrate is removed. The wafer and redistribution layers are then divided into a plurality of redistributed electronic devices.
US08772038B2
A method of differentiating among the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ in the breast, benign fibroadenoma of the breast, and non-cancerous breast tissue in a subject is disclosed. The method involves measuring the concentration of at least one protein biomarker selected from a group of forty-nine differentially expressed proteins in the saliva of persons with DCIS, or benign fibroadenoma, or in persons who are cancer-free. The resulting test data is compared to a reference panel. From the comparison the presence in the subject of either ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, or benign fibroadenoma of the breast is determined.
US08772037B2
In an analysis system having an analysis apparatus using a reagent container having a memory to store reagent information concerning the reagent in the reagent container and a remote computer, the following steps are executed: reading out the reagent information from the memory of the reagent container; judging, based on the read reagent information, whether or not the reagent in the reagent container is usable; when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, writing data representing the reagent is unusable into the memory of the reagent container; and when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, registering the data representing the reagent is unusable, into a reagent database managed by the remote computer in association with identification information to identify the reagent container. Thus, it is possible to automatically identify the reagent, which should not be used, and to manage the reagent not so as to use it for the analysis. In addition, it is possible to use the data for the enhancement of the business efficiency such as the automatic order of the reagent, the stock management in the manufacturer and the like.
US08772034B2
A control solution packet for calibrating a bodily fluid sampling device includes a container, a control solution pressurized within the container, and a membrane for covering and sealing the container. The control solution can be pressurized before or during calibration so as to ensure the appropriate amount of control solution is delivered to the bodily fluid sampling device. The control solution is manufactured to have a viscosity that controls delivery of the control solution to the device. The membrane is permeable by a piercing device of the bodily fluid sampling device and seals around the piercing device during calibration. In another aspect, the container is in the form of a capsule or dosing attachment that contains the control solution along with a sponge-like material.
US08772033B2
The present invention provides methods of multiplying plant embryogenic tissue in a bioreactor.
US08772028B2
Human progenitor T cells that are able to successfully engraft a murine thymus and differentiate into mature human T and NK cells are described The human progenitor T cells have the phenotype CD34+CD7+CD1a−CD5− or CD34+CD7+CD1a−CD5+ and are derived from human hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells b\ coculture with cells expressing a Notch receptor ligand (OP9-DL1 or OP9-DL4) Such cells are useful in a variety of applications including immune reconstitution, the treatment of immunodeficiencies and as carriers for genes used in gene therapy.
US08772025B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for inactivating a FUT8 gene, using fusion proteins comprising a zinc finger protein and a cleavage domain or cleavage half-domain. Polynucleotides encoding said fusion proteins are also provided, as are cells comprising said polynucleotides and fusion proteins.
US08772024B2
Compositions and methods for modulating plant development and for increasing yield in a plant are provided. The compositions include a ZM-ZFP1 sequence. Compositions of the disclosure comprise amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2 as well as variants and fragments thereof. Nucleotide sequences encoding the ZM-ZFP1 molecule are provided in DNA constructs for expression in a plant of interest are provided for modulating the level of a ZM-ZFP1 sequence in a plant or a plant part are provided. The methods comprise introducing into a plant or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide comprising a ZM-ZFP1 sequence of the disclosure. The level of the ZM-ZFP1 polypeptide can be increased or decreased. Such method can be used to increase the yield in plants; in one embodiment, the method is used to increase grain yield in cereals.
US08772022B2
Hepatitis C reporter viruses containing Core through NS2 of prototype isolates of all major HCV genotypes and the remaining genes of isolate JFH1, by insertion of reporter genes in domain III of HCV NS5A were developed. A deletion upstream of the inserted reporter gene sequence conferred favorable growth kinetics in Huh7.5 cells to these viruses. These reporter viruses can be used for high throughput analysis of drug and vaccine candidates as well as patient samples. JFH1-based intergenotypic recombinants with genotype specific homotypic 5′UTR, or heterotypic 5′UTR (either of genotype 1a (strain H77) or of genotype 3a (strain S52)) were also developed. The present inventors additionally developed J6/JFH1 recombinants with the 5′UTR of genotypes 1-6. These recombinants with different 5′UTRs are a useful to study the function of the 5′UTR in a genotype specific manner.
US08772021B2
Provided are an expression vector for an animal cell including a promoter, a cloning site or a polynucleotide encoding foreign product, and a transcription terminator, all of which are operably connected each other within the expression vector, in which at least one copy of human β-globin MAR sequence is attached to the 31 terminal of the transcription terminator, and a method of expressing a foreign gene using the expression vector.
US08772006B2
The invention features a novel isolated Family B DNA polymerase, a Thermococcus polymerase JDF-3, and mutant recombinant forms thereof. Mutant polymerases of the invention are deficient in 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity and/or exhibit reduced discrimination against non-conventional nucleotides relative to the wild-type form of the polymerase.
US08771995B2
Heparin is synthesized from a polysaccharide comprised of a 1-4 glycosidically linked alternating polymer of uronic acid and glucosamine residues, wherein the uronic acid is selected from iduronic and glucuronic acid, wherein the glucosamine is partially N-sulfated; by a series of selective reactions catalyzed by recombinant enzymes.
US08771988B2
The current invention reports a method for the recombinant production of a secreted heterologous immunoglobulin in a CHO cell comprising the following steps: i) providing a CHO cell, which is adapted to growth in suspension culture, adapted to growth in serum-free medium, mycoplasma free, and virus free, ii) providing a vector comprising a prokaryotic origin of replication, a first nucleic acid conferring resistance to a prokaryotic selection agent, a second nucleic acid encoding the heavy chain of said heterologous immunoglobulin, a third nucleic acid encoding the light chain of said heterologous immunoglobulin, a fourth nucleic acid conferring resistance to a eukaryotic selection agent, iii) transfecting said CHO cell, wherein said transfecting comprises a) transfecting said CHO cell with said vector comprising a fourth nucleic acid conferring resistance to a first eukaryotic selection agent, b) selecting a CHO cell by growth in cultivation medium containing said first eukaryotic selection agent, c) transfecting said selected CHO cell with said vector comprising a fourth nucleic acid conferring resistance to a second eukaryotic selection agent different to said first eukaryotic selection agent, d) selecting a CHO cell by selected growth in cultivation medium containing said first and said second eukaryotic selection agent, iv) cultivating said transfected CHO cell in a medium in the presence of said first and second eukaryotic selection agent, under conditions suitable for the expression of said second, and third nucleic acid, and v) recovering said secreted heterologous immunoglobulin from the cultivation medium.
US08771968B2
The invention relates to the identification of a biomarker whose abundance in biological sample is changed in subjects with osteoarthritis and/or other ageing-related diseases. The biomarker has applications in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis and/or other ageing-related diseases, in determining the prognosis for an individual diagnosed with osteoarthritis and/or other ageing-related diseases, and in monitoring the efficacy of treatment for osteoarthritis and/or other ageing-related diseases.
US08771963B2
In order to identify the molecules involved in esophageal carcinogenesis and those to be useful for diagnostic markers as well as targets for new drugs and immunotherapy, a cDNA microarray representing 32,256 genes was constructed to analyze the expression profiles of 19 esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas (ESCCS) purified by laser-capture microdissection. A detailed genome-wide database for sets of genes that are significantly up- or down-regulated in esophageal cancer is disclosed herein. These genes find use in the development of therapeutic drugs or immunotherapy as well as tumor markers. Additionally, genes associated with lymph-node metastasis and post-surgery recurrence are disclosed herein. Among the candidate molecular target genes, ECT2, CDC45L and DKK1 are further characterized. Treatment of ESCC cells with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of ECT2 or CDC45L suppressed growth of the cancer cells. Thus, the data herein provide valuable information for identifying diagnostic systems and therapeutic target molecules for esophageal cancer.
US08771954B2
There is a need for improved methods for determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with conditions, including autoimmune disease and cancer. Provided herein are methods for using DNA sequencing to identify personalized biomarkers in patients with autoimmune disease and other conditions. Identified biomarkers can be used to determine the disease state for a subject with an autoimmune disease or other condition.
US08771950B2
Compositions and methods for making a plurality of probes for analyzing a plurality of nucleic acid samples are provided. Compositions and methods for analyzing a plurality of nucleic acid samples to obtain sequence information in each nucleic acid sample are also provided.
US08771946B2
The present invention relates to methods of detecting novel mutations in a PKD1 and/or PKD2 gene that have been determined to be associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in order to detect or predict the occurrence of ADPKD in an individual.
US08771939B2
The present invention relates to a method for methylation analysis. It comprises the providing of a double stranded nucleic acid; its conversion, whereby unmethylated bases become distinguishable in their base-pairing behavior from methylated bases, and the analysis of both of the converted nucleic acid strands.
US08771934B2
The present invention provides a new and improved sperm stimulating additive comprising a certain amount of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). Addition of PPi in the media for human/animal in vitro fertilization (IVF) improves fertilization rate; addition of PPi in the semen extender for farm animal artificial insemination (AI) may improve pregnancy rates; furthermore, mammalian oocytes matured in vitro in a medium including PPi attain improved fertilization and developmental potential, while embryos cultured in medium supplemented with PPi have improved development to blastocyst.
US08771925B2
A processing solution is used to provide flexographic relief printing plates. This solution includes diisopropylbenzene, and one or more organic co-solvents, at least one of which is an aliphatic dibasic acid ester. The processing solution may also include one or more alcohols as co-solvents.
US08771924B2
A polymerizable composition contains a binder polymer containing a functional group having a dipole moment of 3.8 debye or more and being represented by the formula (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) as defined herein, a radical polymerizable compound and a radical polymerization initiator.
US08771921B2
A negative resist composition including an alkali-soluble resin component (A), an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and a cross-linking component (C), the alkali-soluble resin component (A) including a polymeric compound (F) having a structural unit (f1) containing a base dissociable group and a structural unit (f2) containing a cross-linking group-containing group.
US08771911B2
A magenta toner for electrophotography, including: toner particles containing, a polyester resin, a coloring agent containing a solid solution of C.I. Pigment Violet 19 and C.I. Pigment Red 122, a release agent, and inorganic particles; and an external additive, wherein an average particle diameter of the inorganic particle is 0.75 times or more the average particle diameter of the coloring agent.
US08771903B2
The invention relates to a method for producing holographic films, in which a photopolymer formulation is provided which comprises as constituents matrix polymers, writing monomers, a photoinitiatior system, optionally a non-photopolymerizable component and optionally catalysts, radical stabilizers, solvents, additives and other auxiliaries and/or additives. The photopolymer formulation is applied in a planar manner and in the form of a film on a support film and the photopolymer formulation is dried on the support film at a temperature 60
US08771900B2
A hydrophobic composite bipolar plate for a fuel cell including a substrate having a composite material including carbon and a surface layer on the substrate. The surface layer includes silicon and oxygen, and a hydrocarbon moiety attached to at least one of the silicon or oxygen.
US08771897B2
Disclosed herein is an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell. The electrolyte membrane includes a blend of polymers with different degrees of sulfonation. The electrolyte membrane can exhibit excellent effects such as improved long-term cell performance and good long-term dimensional stability while at the same time solving the problems of conventional hydrocarbon electrolyte membranes. Further disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane.
US08771896B2
A fuel cell comprises at least two current collectors, an electrically insulating separator element and solid electrolyte. Each current collector comprises at least one transverse passage passing through it from a first surface to a second surface and the separator element comprising opposite first and second faces is arranged between the current collectors. A plurality of transverse channels pass through the separator element from the first face to the second face and the ionically conducting solid electrolyte occupies the volume bounded by the channels of the separator element and by the passages of the current collectors. The separator element is formed by a thermoplastic polymer material and hard particles are arranged in the transverse channels.
US08771891B2
A diagnostic system for determining whether a rotor shaft of a compressor is unbalanced. The compressor includes a displacement sensor that measures the displacement of the rotor shaft as it is rotating. The sensor dynamic frequency signal is sent to a bandpass filter that filters out an eigen-frequency frequency that is a function of shaft elasticity and rotor dynamics. The filtered frequency signal is then rectified by a rectifier to make the filtered frequency signal positive. The rectified signal is then passed through a low pass filter that converts the rectified signal to a DC signal. The DC signal is then sent to a controller that determines if the amplitude of the signal is above a predetermined threshold, which indicates a problem with the balance of the compressor.
US08771879B2
A lithium-sulfur battery is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including an anode containing lithium and a cathode comprising elemental sulfur. The cathode may include at least one solvent selected to at least partially dissolve the elemental sulfur and Li2Sx. A substantially non-porous lithium-ion-conductive membrane is provided between the anode and the cathode to keep sulfur or other reactive species from migrating therebetween. In certain embodiments, the lithium-sulfur battery may include a separator between the anode and the non-porous lithium-ion-conductive membrane. This separator may prevent the lithium in the anode from reacting with the non-porous lithium-ion-conductive membrane. In certain embodiments, the separator is a porous separator infiltrated with a lithium-ion-conductive electrolyte.
US08771873B2
A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode (1), a negative electrode (2) having a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a surface of the negative electrode current collector and composed of a binder and negative electrode active material particles containing silicon and/or a silicon alloy, and a separator (3) interposed between the electrodes. The electrode assembly is impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte. The binder contains a polyimide resin represented by the following chemical formula (1): where R contains at least a benzene ring, and n is within the range of from 10 to 100,000, and the negative electrode active material particles have an average particle size of 5 μm or greater.
US08771869B2
A secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the terminal, wherein the terminal includes a collecting plate connected to the electrode assembly; a collecting terminal connected to the collecting plate and protruding out of the case; a terminal plate outside of the case, the terminal plate including a terminal through hole at one side thereof and a reinforcement member recess at another side thereof, the collecting terminal passing through the terminal through hole, and a female screw thread being provided to the reinforcement member recess; and a reinforcement member in the reinforcement member recess.
US08771859B2
A separator for batteries according to the present invention includes a multilayer porous film having a resin porous film containing a thermoplastic resin as a main component and a heat resistant porous layer containing heat resistant particles as a main component, and the heat resistant porous layer has a thickness of 1 to 15 μm, and the 180° peel strength between the resin porous film and the heat resistant porous layer is 0.6 N/cm or more.
US08771858B2
A cooling device for a battery module and a battery device comprising said cooling device for a battery module are provided that includes a cooling element having at least one through hole extending from a first side of the cooling element facing the battery module to an opposite second side of the cooling element, at least one spring element disposed on the second side of the cooling element, in order to exert a contact force on the second side of the cooling element in a tensioned condition, and at least one clamping device coupled to the spring element and extending through the through hole, wherein a contact region of the clamping device extends beyond the second side of the cooling element when the spring element is in a relaxed condition.
US08771854B2
Provided is a secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap assembly, and an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The cap assembly includes a cap plate disposed over an upper opening of the case. The electrode terminal protrudes outwardly from a terminal hole of the cap plate. The electrode terminal includes a collecting terminal extending through the terminal hole of the cap plate, a terminal plate coupled with the collecting terminal, and a coupling terminal coupled with the terminal plate. The cap plate includes a short-circuit hole therein. The short-circuit hole is at a position corresponding to a position of the coupling terminal. A short-circuit member covers the short-circuit hole.
US08771848B2
A bit patterned magnetic recording medium, comprises a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; a plurality of spaced apart magnetic elements on the surface, each of the elements constituting a discrete magnetic domain or bit; and a layer of a ferromagnetic material for regulating magnetic exchange coupling between said magnetic elements. The layer has a saturation magnetization Ms ranging from about 1 to about 2,000 emu/cm3, preferably below about 400 emu/cm3, more preferably below about 200 emu/cm3, and may overlie, underlie, or at least partially fill spaces between adjacent magnetic elements.
US08771842B2
The present invention provides a benzo[b]chrysene compound represented by general formula [1] below and an organic light-emitting element including the compound. In the general formula [1], Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, and R1 to R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups, and substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon groups.
US08771828B2
A sealing film which includes a resin layer having a flow within the range of 150 to 1800 μm at 80° C., or having a resin layer with a viscosity within the range of 10000 to 100000 Pa·s in a B-stage state at 50 to 100° C. in thermosetting viscoelasticity measurement, and containing: (A) both (a1) a high-molecular-weight component including crosslinking functional groups and having a weight-average molecular weight of 100,000 or more and a Tg within the range of −50 to 50° C., and (a2) a thermosetting component including an epoxy resin as a main component, (B) a filler having an average particle size within the range of 1 to 30 μm, and (C) a colorant, as well as a manufacturing method thereof and a semiconductor device using the same.
US08771825B2
A sheet of photo paper comprises a substrate, a top coat deposited on the image receiving side of the substrate, a polyethylene coating deposited on the top coat, and an image receiving coating deposited on the polyethylene coating. A method of making a sheet of photo paper, comprising layering a pre-coat onto a substrate, layering a top coat onto the pre-coat, layering a polyethylene coating onto the top coat, and layering an image receiving coating onto the polyethylene coating.
US08771818B2
To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography that has made itself kept from increasing in electrical resistance with time even in a low temperature and low humidity environment and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding to its surface. To also provide a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, that can stably form high-grade electrophotographic images over a long period of time in a variety of environments. The conductive member for electrophotography has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer, and the electrically conducting layer contains a resin having in the molecule at least one structure selected from structures represented by the formula (1), formula (2) and formula (3) each defined in the specification. The process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus each make use of the same.
US08771815B2
Provided are processes for making, and processes for using triglycerides as plasticizers. The process for making the triglyceride plasticizer includes: (i) recovering at least one linear C4 to C10 aldehyde, one branched C4 to C10 aldehyde, or a combination thereof from a hydroformylation product; (ii) oxidizing the linear, branched or combination thereof C4 to C10 aldehyde to form a linear, branched or combination thereof C4 to C10 acid; (iii) esterifying the linear, branched or combination thereof C4 to C10 acid with a polyol to yield a linear alkyl triglyceride, a branched alkyl triglyceride, or a combination thereof, and reaction byproducts; (iv) purifying the linear, branched or combination thereof alkyl triglyceride to form a plasticizer stream, a reaction byproduct stream, and an unreacted input stream, wherein the total carbon number of the triester groups ranges from 20 to 25 for greater than or equal to 45 wt % of the plasticizer; and (v) recycling from the purifying step back to the esterifying step the unreacted input stream and the reaction byproduct stream.
US08771813B2
A container for semi-solid compositions comprising a tube portion having a first paper that defines first, second, and third plies forming an open end and a closed end, the tube portion comprising a lumen containing a semi-solid composition. The tube portion comprises a continuous coating that is a permeation barrier to the semi-solid composition, which is disposed between the first and second plies and the second and third plies. The container also includes a restrictor portion sized and dimensioned to couple with the open end of the tube portion and an end closure member sized and dimensioned to mate with the restrictor portion. The tube portion, restrictor portion, and end closure are made of one or more biodegradable materials.
US08771803B2
The present invention relates to a method for applying a colored or colorless micropattern to a support, in which a) a die form (40) is prepared whose surface exhibits an arrangement of elevations (42) and depressions (44) in the form of the desired micropattern, b) the depressions (44) in the die form are filled with a curable colored or colorless lacquer (26), c) the support (20, 30) is pretreated for a good anchoring of the colored or colorless lacquer (26), d) the surface of the die form (40) is brought into contact with the support (20, 30), e) the lacquer (26) that is in contact with the support (20, 30) in the depressions in the die form (40) is cured and, in the process, joined with the support (20, 30), and f) the surface of the die form (40) is removed from the support (20, 30) again such that the cured lacquer (26) that is joined with the support (20, 30) is pulled out of the depressions (44) in the die form (40).
US08771802B1
An object fabricating apparatus is comprised of at least one charged powder cloud generating system, at least one electrode proximate to the powder cloud generating system and comprising at least one shaped slot, and a voltage supply in communication with each electrode to electrostatically modulate the flow of charged powder to a conductive substrate electrically biased to provide an electrostatic attraction of the charged powder to the substrate. An object fabricating method is also disclosed that uses the object fabricating apparatus.
US08771798B2
An anti-fouling composition which comprises a cured or cross-linked polymer free of perfluoropolyether moieties and a fluid fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer. Preferably, the fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer comprises a repeating unit of the general formula: —{[CFR—(CFR)m—(O)n]p—[CFR—O]q}— wherein n is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 0 to 4, R independently is H, F, Cl, Br, or CF3, and the ratio q/p is 0-10, and the fluorine-free polymer is an organosiloxane-containing polymer comprising a repeating unit of the general structure —[SiR1R2—O]—, wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a vinyl group.
US08771795B2
A treatment solution for insulation coating for grain-oriented electrical steel sheets contains at least one selected from phosphates of Mg, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn, Al, and Mn; colloidal silica in a proportion of 0.5 to 10 mol in terms of SiO2 and a water-soluble vanadium compound in a proportion of 0.1 to 2.0 mol in terms of V, relative to PO4:1 mol in the phosphates.
US08771793B2
Systems, apparatuses, techniques and processes for applying a wet film to a substrate using a slot die are provided. In one form, the air pressure around at least a portion of the discharge end of the slot die is adjustable by the application of a vacuum force in order to control the width and thickness of the wet film being applied to the substrate. In one aspect of this form, the wet film is a narrow, continuous stripe of reagent material applied to a moving web of the substrate from which a plurality of test elements will be obtained. However, different forms and applications are also envisioned.
US08771791B2
Atomic layer deposition is performed by reciprocating a susceptor in two directions, subjecting a substrate on the susceptor to two different sequences of processes. By subjecting the susceptor to different sequences of processes, the substrate undergoes different processes that otherwise would have required an additional set of injectors or reactors. The reduced number of injectors or reactors enables a more compact deposition device, and reduces the cost associated with the deposition device.
US08771788B2
A conductive polymer film having an antistatic function and an electromagnetic wave shielding function, and also having excellent optical properties such as transparency even if the film is arranged in the interior of LCD. The conductive polymer film comprises a polymer film and a conductive polymer adhered to the surface thereof, wherein the conductive polymer comprises polythiophene or polythiophene derivatives, the polymer film comprises an acetyl cellulose material or a norbornene material, a layer of the conductive polymer has a thickness of 3 μm or less, and the conductive polymer film has a visible light transmission of 78% or more and a surface resistivity of 103-1012 Ω/square.
US08771779B2
A method of reversing the formation of an oxidized off-flavor in milk that includes providing milk, and heating the milk to a temperature between approximately 70° C. and approximately 90° C. for a period of between approximately 25 seconds and approximately 60 seconds.
US08771777B2
A hard wheat pasta containing bran which has a total fiber content between 30 and 36% and a protein content between 15 and 19%. The pasta preferably has a bran content between 5 and 30% and is produced by a process including the steps of: subjecting hard wheat caryopses to sequential abrasion to substantially remove the bran coating and obtaining a bran fraction (D) which originates from the removal of the aleurone, nucellar and testa layers; adding the bran fraction (D) to a hard wheat semolina substantially free of bran to obtain a mixture containing 5 to 30% of the bran fraction (D); and producing the pasta from said mixture. The disclosure furthermore refers to a hard wheat semolina composition having a fiber content between 30 and 36% and a protein content between 15 and 19% and to a process for its production.
US08771774B2
An automatically controllable commercial system for brewing a consistently high quality cold brewed beverage from a supply of purified water, optionally sweetening the brewed beverage, and dispensing the cold brewed beverage is provided. The system of the present invention includes automatically controllable integrated components for purifying the water supplied to brew the beverage and for maintaining the system in a sanitary condition that can be serviced on site or from a remote location. The present invention further provides an automated, commercial scale method for brewing tea from real tea leaves and naturally sweetening the tea to produce cold sweet tea with the high quality taste of homemade sweet tea.
US08771773B2
The present disclosure relates to a device for the high-pressure treatment of products, particularly of packaged foodstuffs. The device comprises a high-pressure chamber and a discharge valve for discharging high-pressure medium out of the high-pressure chamber. The invention is characterized in that a controllable actuator is provided for adjusting the rate of the pressure decrease in the high-pressure chamber at least over a predetermined pressure range. The disclosure also relates to a method for the high-pressure treatment of products, wherein pressure decrease takes place in a first phase and in a second phase, and the mean pressure decrease rate in the first phase is higher than in the second phase.
US08771768B2
A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium and an outlet for the beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, the cartridge incorporating within a beverage flow path between the inlet and the outlet an eductor for entraining air into the beverage, the eductor comprising an aperture for producing a low pressure jet of the beverage.
US08771765B1
A composition and method for treating hair loss including glyceride of ricinus oil, eucalyptol, and mint oil. The treatment method includes the use of this composition periodically (three times per week) for a predetermined period of time (typically one month). The composition cleans the follicular area, reducing the concentration of DHT (dihydro-testosterone), thereby stimulating the growth of hair.
US08771762B2
A device for treating pests and method for using the same. The device comprises an effective amount of endod. The device can be placed in a body of water wherein the endod treats the pests. Additionally the device can be placed in a pipe whereby a combination of the endod and the mechanical force of the water removes the pests in the pipe.
US08771752B2
A composition for preventing and treating fatty liver is disclosed. The composition includes a lactoferrin and a trivalent chromium compound. The trivalent chromium compound of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of chromium (III) chloride hexahydrate, chromium (III) chloride, chromium (III) acetate, chromium (III) sulfate, chromium picolinate, chromium nicotinate, chromium GTF, chromium yeast extract, other inorganic salts of trivalent chromium, other organic salts of trivalent chromium, and combinations thereof. The composition of the present invention can provide a beneficial effect in preventing and treating fatty liver by effectively reducing multiple risk factors of fatty liver disease.
US08771750B2
A process for delivering and/or removing metal from a biological system by loading a titanate sorbent with a biometal either before introduction into the system for delivery to a site within the system or after introduction into the system for delivery to a site where there is an excess accumulation of metal and thereafter the sorbent is loaded at the site with the excess metal and is removed from the system.
US08771747B2
Microparticles with adsorbent surfaces, methods of making such microparticles, and uses thereof, are disclosed. The microparticles comprise a polymer, such as a poly(α-hydroxy acid), a polyhydroxy butyric acid, a polycaprolactone, a polyorthoester, a polyanhydride, and the like, and are formed using cationic, anionic, or nonionic detergents. The surface of the microparticles efficiently adsorb biologically active macromolecules, such as DNA, polypeptides, antigens, and adjuvants. Also provided are compositions of an oil droplet emulsion having a metabolizable oil and an emulsifying agent. Immunogenic compositions having an immunostimulating amount of an antigenic substance, and an immunostimulating amount of an adjuvant composition are also provided. Methods of stimulating an immune response, methods of immunizing a host animal against a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection, and methods of increasing a Th1 immune response in a host animal by administering to the animal an immunogenic composition of the microparticles, and/or microemulsions of the invention, are also provided.
US08771745B2
Biocompatible, bioerodible implants and microspheres include latanoprost and a biodegradable polymer effective, when placed intraocular (such as into the subtenon space) to treat glaucoma.
US08771723B2
The present invention concerns the reduction of gastro-intestinal methanogenesis in ruminants with the aid of agents that compete for the hydrogen atoms required by methanogens during normal fermentation of ingested feed. The invention in one aspect resides in the findings that both nitrate reductive pathways as well as sulphate reductive pathways outcompete gastro-intestinal methanogenesis in ruminants and, that the methanogenesis reducing effects of nitrate and sulphate are completely additive. At the same time the combined administration of nitrate and sulphate was found to be fully effective to avoid or mitigate the potential problems of nitrite intoxication normally encountered when using nitrate alone, which effect is further enhanced, where necessary, by the addition of a nitrite reducing probiotic micoroorganism. Hence, products are provided comprising high amounts of a combination of a nitrate compound and a sulphate compound and optionally a nitrite reducing probiotic microorganism, as well as methods of reducing gastro-intestinal methanogenesis in ruminants using such compositions.
US08771721B2
The present invention relates in general to implantable flexible bone composites, and method for preparing the same. The flexible bone composite includes at least one polymeric layer and at least one calcium-containing layer. The polymeric layer can be a polymeric layer including a synthetic polymer. The calcium-containing layer can include a calcium compound such as β-Ca3(PO4)2. The flexible bone composites of the invention are useful as bone void fillers and have improved handling characteristics.
US08771719B2
A method of producing a bone-polymer composite. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of bone particles, combining the bone particles with a polymer precursor, and polymerizing the polymer precursor.
US08771716B2
A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular propionic acid derivatives such as ibuprofen, along with a second active ingredient having a shorter therapeutically effective plasma concentration duration, such as phenylephrine, and methods of administering the same are provided. This method provides improved therapeutic effect, in particular pain relief along with decongestant relief, over extended time periods.
US08771712B2
The present invention provides a topical composition comprising (a) at least one delivery agent compound and (b) a acyclovir compound. Methods of treatment, and methods of preparing the topical composition are also provided.
US08771711B2
The present invention provides a sprayable gel-type skin/mucosa-adhesive preparation comprising a gel formulation which contains an active pharmaceutical ingredient in a gel base material comprising a skin/mucosa-adhesive agent and an administration system comprising the preparation.
US08771709B2
The invention provides a method for therapeutic treatment of a patient having active tuberculosis (TB), the method comprising: administering to the patient a recombinant adenovirus vector that comprises nucleic acid encoding the Ag85A, Ag85B and TB10.4 antigens of Mycobactium tuberculosis (Mtb). Advantageously, the method can be used to shorten conventional drug therapy for treating active TB.
US08771707B2
An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from amino acids 506-582 of SV2A, wherein position 573 is N and is glycosylated, or amino acids 449-525 of SV2B, wherein position 516 is N and is glycosylated. The present invention also provides an antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide, an isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide; a method for reducing BoNT/E toxicity in an animal; a method for identifying an agent that blocks or inhibits binding between BoNT/E and an SV2A or SV2B protein; a method for monitoring synaptic vesicle endo- or exocytosis, a method for specifically delivering a chemical entity to a cell which has a specific receptor to a BoNT toxin. Also provided are a chimeric toxin for targeting a proteolytic domain of a toxin to a cell, the chimeric toxin comprising a catalytic or proteolytic domain of the BoNT toxin, and a ligand or a fragment thereof for a non-BoNT receptor on the cell; a method for targeting a proteolytic domain of a BoNT toxin to a cell, an isolated non-neuronal cell comprising a BoNT toxin receptor; and a method for screening for an inhibitor of a BoNT toxin.
US08771703B2
The present invention provides a recombinant soluble trimeric hemagglutinin (rHA) protein comprising a hemagglutinin ectodomain and an oligomerization domain. The rHA is produced as a soluble homotrimer, and may further comprises a signal peptide and/or an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal. The invention is also directed to nucleic acids encoding the rHA of the invention, as well as vectors and chimeric constructs comprising the nucleic acid. Methods of producing the rHA are also provided. The rHA described herein may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.
US08771701B2
The present invention relates to a method of eliciting a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to an antigen in an animal, the method comprising pulsing mannose receptor-bearing antigen presenting cells in vitro or ex vivo with a conjugate comprising an antigen and a carbohydrate polymer comprising mannose, wherein said carbohydrate polymer is a fully oxidized carbohydrate polymer comprising free aldehydes; and administering the pulsed antigen presenting cells to an animal.
US08771700B2
Described are compositions and methods useful for modulating the immune system of a subject. Also included are diagnostic methods for monitoring an immunologic condition. In particular the invention relates to antagonists of interferon proteins and associated methods of use as well as methods to develop neutralizing antibodies against IFN antagonists to treat viral infections.
US08771697B2
This invention provides fully human monoclonal antibodies that recognize IL-17F, the IL-17F homodimer, IL-17A, the IL-17A homodimer, and/or the heterodimeric IL-17A/IL-17F protein complex. The invention further provides methods of using such monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic, diagnostic, and prophylactic.
US08771685B2
The present invention concerns antibodies to Bv8 and the uses of same.
US08771683B2
This invention provides a new class of enhanced apyrases (EN-apyrases) with superior pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacochemical properties and which can be purified using simplified procedures. The invention further provides constructs for transforming a cell to produce these EN-apyrases. The EN-apyrase construct comprises sequences encoding a signal sequence, a linker, and a soluble apyrase. Also provided are preparations of apyrases and methods for producing apyrase in culture cells and purification thereof.
US08771674B2
The invention discloses a composition comprising at least one N-acetyl-lactosamine, at least one sialylated oligosaccharide and at least one fucosylated oligosaccharide, for use in the prevention and/or treatment of skin conditions and skin diseases. Preferably said composition is a starter infant formula. Said skin disease is in particular atopic dermatitis.
US08771672B2
The present invention regards a biological material comprising: a) a liquid carrier comprising a viscous solution containing at least one natural and/or semisynthetic polysaccharide, and having a Dynamic viscosity measured at 20° C. and at shear rate of D=350 s−1, comprised between 100 and 250 c Poise and/or a Kinematic viscosity comprised between 99 and 248 cSt (measured at the same conditions); b) a culture of mesenchymal stem cells, and/or c) a platelet-rich hemo-derivative. This type of material in form of viscous liquid is particularly suitable for the therapy of osteoarthrosis, ligament damage, in particular tendon and cartilage damage) and may be administered intra-articularly, intradermally or directly applied in situ without altering the properties of the mesenchymal stem cells and/or platelets contained therein.
US08771666B2
The present invention provides a method of treating Th2-associated diseases and disorders by modulating the expression or secretion of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 using interferon lambda (IFN-λ). For Th2-associated diseases and disorders, cells of a patient having a Th2-associated disease or disorder are treated ex vivo, with IFN-λ and returned to the patient. The present invention also provides a method of ex vivo treatment, in conjunction with co-administration of IFN-λ.
US08771662B2
Provided herein are water-soluble prodrugs, compositions comprising such prodrugs, and related methods of making and administering the same. The prodrugs of the invention comprise a water-soluble polymer having three or more arms, at least three of which are typically covalently attached to an active agent, e.g., a small molecule. The conjugates of the invention provide an optimal balance of polymer size and structure for achieving improved drug loading, since the conjugates of the invention possess three or more active agents releasably attached to a multi-armed water-soluble polymer. The prodrugs of the invention are therapeutically effective, and exhibit improved properties in-vivo when compared to unmodified parent drug.
US08771660B2
A method of screening a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby selecting a test substance having a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function; and a method of evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby evaluating the damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance.
US08771653B2
The invention relates to an additive comprising at least 95 wt. % of a mixture consisting of at least one organic filter filtering UVA, at least one organic filter filtering UVB, and from 1 to 50 wt. % of at least one non-volatile oil that is a solvent for said filters. This composition is particularly useful as an agent for protecting the organoleptic properties of a transparent cosmetic composition, against UV radiation.
US08771645B2
The invention relates to the use of a cell death marker labelled with a wavelength-optimised label for identifying cell death in the eye. Suitable cell death markers are the Annexins and fragments and derivatives thereof. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cell death marker labelled with a wavelength-optimised label and a method for monitoring cell death in the eye using a cell death marker labelled with a wavelength-optimised label.
US08771642B2
Nanoparticles, which are luminescent and/or electroactive and/or suitable for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging and/or PET (positron emission tomography) applications, comprise a micelle, which has a hydrophilic shell and an hydrophobic central portion, and a polysilicate core; the micelle comprises a plurality of molecules of a functionalized surfactant having the following structure: M1-Hydro1-Lipo-Hydro2-M2 wherein Lipo indicates a hydrophobic chain; Hydro1 ed Hydro2 indicate, each, a respective hydrophilic chain; M1 ed M2 represent respective recognition functionalities.
US08771629B2
Included are a nano-carbon material production unit for producing a nano-carbon material using a fluidized catalyst formed by granulating a carrier supporting an active component, an acid treatment unit for dissolving and separating a catalyst by an acid solution by feeding a catalyst-containing nano-carbon material into the acid solution, and a pH adjustment unit, which is an anti-agglomeration treatment unit, provided on a downstream side of the acid treatment unit, for performing an anti-agglomeration treatment to prevent agglomeration among nano-carbons due to repulsion caused by dissociation among oxygen-containing functional groups added to the nano-carbon material.
US08771611B2
Devices and methods use an integrated microfluidic system that has the capability of realizing a wide range of accurate dilutions in a logarithmic way through semi-direct dilution of samples inside a chip. The device for dose response analysis is able to contain a first fluid source on a microfluidic chip, wherein the first fluid source comprises a drug, a second fluid source on the microfluidic chip, a mixing area on the microfluidic chip fluidically coupling with the first and the second fluidic source, and a detection area coupling with the mixing area for drug information detection using a detection system.
US08771590B2
The invention refers to the non-ferrous metallurgy, i.e. to the creation of the modern titanium alloys, having the high genericity. Titanium-base alloy contains aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium, iron, zirconium, oxygen and nitrogen. Herewith the components of the alloy have the following ratio by weight %; aluminun—4.0-6.0; vanadium—4.5-6.0; molybdenum—4.5-6.0; chromium—2.0-3.6; iron—0.2-0.5; zirconium—0.1-less than 0.7; oxygen—0.2 max; nitrogen—0.05 max; titanium—balance. Technical result—creation of the titanium alloy with the required strength and plastic properties. The alloy may be used to produce the wide range of the products including the large-size forgings and die-forgings as well as semiproducts of small section, such as bars and plates up to 75 mm thick.
US08771582B2
The present invention is a bioactive, nanofibrous material construct which is manufactured using a unique electrospinning perfusion methodology. One embodiment provides a nanofibrous biocomposite material formed as a discrete textile fabric from a prepared liquid admixture of (i) a non-biodegradable durable synthetic polymer; (ii) a biologically active agent; and (iii) a liquid organic carrier. These biologically-active agents are chemical compounds which retain their recognized biological activity both before and after becoming non-permanently bound to the formed textile material; and will become subsequently released in-situ as discrete freely mobile agents from the fabric upon uptake of water from the ambient environment.
US08771580B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of plastic molded skins which are built up by consecutively melting multiple plastics onto each other. The surface of the forming tool is partially covered with a covering or mask during the melting of a first plastic powder and the first plastic powder is applied to the forming tool by a powder spray method. Thereafter, the covering or mask is removed from the surface of the forming tool and the second plastic powder is applied to the surface of the forming tool and to the first plastic powder by rotation sintering.
US08771575B2
A method for making parts with variable thickness corners and parts with variable thickness corners are disclosed. The method includes laying up multiple plies to form a tailored blank, associating the blank with a convex and concave die, and applying pressure and heat so that material from at least one of the plies migrates towards a voided corner area formed between the dies.
US08771572B2
Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master, bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein, creating a replica of the bonded replica structure and electroforming a metallic layer onto the bonded replica structure replica to create a single, one piece, metallic shim which can be used to create a weld-less embosser drum.
US08771567B2
A process for producing fiber preforms for composite material components makes it possible to directly produce complex geometries in a flexible and low-cost manner by applying a plurality of dry fiber rovings independently of one another even in spatially uneven contours. It is no longer necessary to use cut fabric strips since fiber preforms are produced straight from the dry fiber rovings. This obviates the need to carry out production, transport and order picking processes. It is not necessary to cut fiber strips to size, and therefore a saving may be made on material. In addition, it is possible to increase the mechanical characteristic values in the composite material because it is not necessary to sew fiber webs. The described process can also readily be scaled since the number of dry fiber rovings arranged next to one another make it possible to vary the area which can be covered.
US08771560B2
In a process for manufacturing doped semiconductor single crystal comprises solidifying in a crucible, the amount of dopant is added into the semiconductor melt after the beginning of the crystal growth onto the seed crystal, or after at least partial solidification of the semiconductor single crystal in a conical or tapered portion of the crucible. Dopant may be partially added in advance into the crucible, with the remainder added into the semiconductor melt as described. Type III-V semiconductor single crystals or wafers having a diameter of at least about 100 mm, can be prepared having an electrical conductivity of at least about 250 Siemens/cm, and/or an electric resistivity of at most about 4×10−3 Ωcm, and/or a significantly improved ratio of hall mobility to charge carrier concentration.
US08771558B2
A method of manufacturing an anti-counterfeit ink is provided. A tungsten oxide nanowire is provided. A hydrophilic treatment is performed to the tungsten oxide nanowire to form a tungsten oxide nanowire with hydrophilicity. The tungsten oxide nanowire with hydrophilicity and an ink are mixed to form an anti-counterfeit ink.
US08771551B2
A method of protecting wood. According to the method, an aqueous dispersion of alkyl ketene dimer is applied onto the surface of the wood. By means of this treatment, the surface becomes hydrophobic and the contact angle of water in the form of drops on the treated wooden surface exceeds 100°. Such drop-shaped water does not penetrate into the treated surface, nor into for instance a crosscut end of sawn timber. Instead, the water disappears from the surfaces by evaporation.
US08771542B2
Disclosed herein is a heat transfer fluid, comprising a hydroxylated carboxylic acid of formula (OH)x(R1)(COOH)y, wherein x is 2 to 10, y is 3 to 10, and R1 is a C2-50 aliphatic group, a C6-50 aromatic group, or a combination thereof; and wherein the hydroxylated carboxylic acid comprises the hydroxylated carboxylic acid, an ester thereof, a salt thereof, an anhydride thereof, or a combination thereof. A heat transfer system comprises an aluminum component, a magnesium component, or an aluminum component and a magnesium component; and the foregoing heat transfer fluid.
US08771540B2
The present disclosure provides a concentrate for use in chemical mechanical polishing slurries, and a method of diluting that concentrate to a point of use slurry. The concentrate comprises abrasive, complexing agent, and corrosion inhibitor, and the concentrate is diluted with water and oxidizer. These components are present in amounts such that the concentrate can be diluted at very high dilution ratios, without affecting the polishing performance.
US08771494B2
Systems and methods for the synthesis of lubricant-containing microcapsules are disclosed. Embodiments of composite nickel and copper coatings containing capsules with liquid lubricating oil cores are also disclosed. In certain embodiments, microcapsules can be incorporated into a metal plating solution to perform composite electrodeposition to obtain self lubricant metallic coatings. In some embodiments, much lower friction coefficient (˜0.8) and far better wear resistance was obtained with the copper/microcapsules composite.
US08771493B2
A liquid dielectrophoretic device comprises: a first container unit defining a first micro containing space including an electrode pair for generating a dielectrophoretic force; a second container unit defining a second micro containing space and including an electrode pair for generating a dielectrophoretic force; and a fluid channel unit defining a micro-channel between the first and second micro containing spaces and including an electrode pair having a middle region layer that has first and second enlarged sections and a middle section disposed between the first and second enlarged sections. The first and second enlarged sections are enlarged gradually from the middle section to the first and second micro containing spaces. A method for controllably transporting a liquid using the liquid dielectrophoretic device is also disclosed.
US08771492B2
The present invention relates to a method and device for the electrochemical treatment of at least one component, which has a treatment chamber and at least one feed unit for an electrolyte to the treatment chamber, and at least one way for setting the pH value of the electrolyte being provided before the treatment chamber.
US08771488B2
A gas sensor (100) includes an oxygen pump cell (135) and an oxygen-concentration detection cell (150) laminated together with a spacer (145) interposed therebetween. The spacer (145) has a gas detection chamber (145c) which faces electrodes (137, 152) of the cells (135, 150). The oxygen-concentration detection cell (150) produces an output voltage corresponding to the concentration of oxygen in the gas detection chamber (145c). The oxygen pump cell (135) pumps oxygen into and out of the measurement chamber (145c) such that the output voltage of the oxygen-concentration detection cell (150) becomes equal to a predetermined target voltage. A leakage portion mainly formed of zirconia is disposed between which electrically connects the oxygen-concentration detection cell (150) and the oxygen pump cell (135).
US08771484B2
The present invention discloses a device for detecting blood cells and a microscopic hole sensor assembly thereof. The device includes a microscopic hole sensor assembly positioned between a front pool and a back pool. The microscopic hole sensor assembly further includes a microscopic hole plate with a microscopic hole positioned thereon for communicating the front pool and the back pool. The end surface of the inlet is a flow-guiding surface gradually narrowing from the front pool to the back pool. The end surface of the outlet is a downstream surface gradually distending and extending towards the back pool. A straight effective orifice area is formed connecting the ends of the flow-guiding surface and the downstream surface.
US08771479B2
Provided is a distillation column assembly combining two distillation columns used in a distillation process. The distillation column assembly is characterized in that a dividing wall column (DWC) that has one inflow point, three outflow points and an internal dividing wall and a typical distillation column that has two inflow points and two outflow points are sequentially connected to each other, and in that streams of the two outflow points of the DWC are introduced into the two inflow points of the typical distillation column. The distillation column assembly improves an existing process apparatus based on two distillation columns, so that it can be easily installed, has a high energy-saving effect, and can be applied to the case where a separation pressure difference and a utility temperature difference are great.
US08771478B2
A modular distillation apparatus including at least one heat exchanger that preheats contaminated liquids: a heater that heats the contaminated liquid from the heat exchanger; an evaporator condenser adapted o boil the contaminated liquid coming out of the heater to produce water vapor and contaminant concentrate, and condenser the water vapor into distilled water; a vacuum chamber capable of operating at below atmospheric pressure, the vacuum chamber housing the evaporator condenser and including at least one partition to separate the distilled water from the contaminate concentrate; a vapor compressor operably associated with the vacuum chamber to receive water vapor from the evaporator condenser in the vacuum chamber and pump the water vapor at pressure back through the evaporator condenser, wherein the heat exchanger recovers sensible heat from outgoing condensed distilled water and contaminant concentrate recycled from the vacuum chamber.
US08771473B2
A doctor blade for a fiber web machine (10) includes a blade section (11) and a fastening detent section (12). In the cross-sectional plane, the blade section (11) is asymmetric while the fastening detent section (12) is substantially symmetric so that the doctor blade (10) can be installed in two opposite positions for providing two different functions. The invention also relates to a doctor arrangement in a fiber web machine.
US08771470B2
A method of preparing a treated article comprises the step of providing a slurry comprising fibers. The method further comprises the step of combining the slurry and a first fluorinated composition to form a mixture. In addition, the method comprises the step of forming at least one sheet from the mixture. Finally, the method comprises the step of applying a second fluorinated composition on at least one surface of the at least one sheet to prepare the treated article.
US08771457B2
A fill pack assembly and method for assembling a fill pack from individual sheets utilizes integrally bonded sheet pairs. Each sheet pair is a pair of two individual adjacent fill sheets which have been bonded together via any suitable bonding method. A plurality of the thus formed sheet pairs can then be attached together to form an entire fill pack or portion of a fill pack. Such fill packs are useful in heat exchange devices such as industrial cooling towers.
US08771453B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel comprises the steps of:(Step A1) manufacturing a polarizing film including a laminate composed of a first base film and a polarizing thin layer, the step including: applying a vinyl alcohol-based polymer on a surface of the first base film to form a vinyl alcohol-based polymer thin layer; and wet dyeing the vinyl alcohol-based polymer thin layer after stretching the thin layer together with the first base film to obtain a polarizing thin layer, and(Step B1) adhering the polarizing film without an adhesion layer during storage and transportation at least to one surface of a liquid crystal cell through an adhesion layer in a liquid crystal panel manufacturing process.
US08771449B2
The present invention aims to provide a method for making disposable diapers so improved that no displacement of the absorbent core from the middle between a pair of the leg elastic members. The method comprises the step P1 of bonding under tension elastic members to webs continuously fed in a machine direction MD to form front and rear sheet members the step P2 of bonding an absorbent panel provided along opposite long sides of a rectangle with a pair of elastic members for a crotch region and including an absorbent core bonded thereto so as to be symmetric about an imaginary center line bisecting a distance between a pair of the elastic members for the crotch region to the front and rear sheet members at regular intervals and the step P3 of cutting the front and rear sheet members.
US08771439B2
The invention is directed to a method for producing a titanium aluminide intermetallic alloy composition having an improved wear resistance, the method comprising heating a titanium aluminide intermetallic alloy material in an oxygen-containing environment at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce a top oxide layer and underlying oxygen-diffused layer, followed by removal of the top oxide layer such that the oxygen-diffused layer is exposed. The invention is also directed to the resulting oxygen-diffused titanium aluminide intermetallic alloy, as well as mechanical components or devices containing the improved alloy composition.
US08771438B2
Disclosed is a plasma nitriding surface treatment method for a gray cast iron part. In the plasma nitriding surface treatment method, a nitride layer is formed on a surface of the gray cast iron part by a selective ion nitriding treatment. The plasma nitriding surface treatment method is carried out such that the surface of the gray cast iron part is prevented from being deformed, and a reduction of the frictional coefficient of the part is prevented.
US08771435B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to pool cleaning devices adapted to simultaneously couple to a telescopic pole and a nozzle of a hose at separate openings, respectively. In one embodiment, the pool cleaning device comprises a primary component having a tubular configuration and terminating in an angled configuration therewith. A secondary component is in fluid communication with a medial portion of the primary component and angled at between 15° and 30° relative to the primary component. The secondary component is coupled to a ball valve for restricting or allowing the flow of water through the device. When a telescopic pole and a hose are simultaneously coupled to the separate openings on the primary component and the secondary component, respectively, the device may be use to create high pressure flow to clean submerged surfaces or water surface debris with little effort exerted by the user.
US08771434B2
An artificial turf remover and infill separator comprising an artificial turf removing station, an infill separating station and an artificial turf collection station. The infill separating station comprises rotatable spinning devices comprises corners, wherein each corner comprises chain links. The artificial turf remover and infill separator is utilized by positioning a strip of artificial turf on an angular ramp, conveying the artificial turf over a first pair of rotatable rollers, conveying the artificial turf between a second pair of rotatable rollers, separating infill from the artificial turf via fin-shaped picks, square-shaped rotatable diggers and the rotatable spinning devices, wherein the chain links jostle the infill material from the artificial turf onto a first and second infill collection conveyor belt. The artificial turf is then conveyed over a first and second base roller, between a rear pair of counter-rotating rollers and then wound around a final artificial turf collection roller.
US08771423B2
Embodiments of a cover ring for use in a plasma processing chamber are provided. In one embodiment, a cover ring for use in a plasma processing chamber includes a ring-shaped body fabricated from a yttrium (Y) containing material. The body includes a bottom surface having an inner locating ring and an outer locating ring. The inner locating ring extends further from the body than the outer locating ring. The body includes an inner diameter wall having a main wall and a secondary wall separated by a substantially horizontal land. The body also includes a top surface having an outer sloped top surface meeting an inner sloped surface at an apex. The inner sloped surface defines an angle with a line perpendicular to a centerline of the body less than about 70 degrees.
US08771421B2
An apparatus is provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on discrete photovoltaic (PV) module substrates conveyed in a continuous non-stop manner through said apparatus. The apparatus includes a vapor deposition head configured for receipt and sublimation of a source material, and for distributing the sublimated source material onto an upper surface of substrates conveyed through a deposition area. A roll seal configuration is provided at each of an entry slot and an exit slot for the substrates conveyed through the apparatus. The roll seal configuration further includes a cylinder rotatably supported at a defined gap height above a conveyance plane of the substrates such that the cylinder is not in continuous rolling contact with the substrates within the window of finished active semiconductor material. The cylinder is floatable in a vertical direction relative to the conveyance plane of the substrates such that the cylinder rolls up and over surface variations in the substrates that exceed the gap height as the substrates are conveyed under the cylinder.
US08771415B2
By determining a control direction of a pulling-up velocity without using a position or a width of an OSF region as an index, a subsequent pulling-up velocity profile is fed back and adjusted. A silicon single crystal ingot that does not include a COP and a dislocation cluster is grown by a CZ method, a silicon wafer is sliced from the silicon single crystal ingot, reactive ion etching is performed on the silicon wafer in an as-grown state, and a grown-in defect including silicon oxide is exposed as a protrusion on an etching surface. A growing condition in subsequent growing is fed back and adjusted on the basis of an exposed protrusion generation region. As a result, feedback with respect to a nearest batch can be performed without performing heat treatment to expose a defect.
US08771405B2
A gas filter comprises a housing (30) having a gas inlet (55), a gas outlet (65) and at least one chamber (70) therebetween containing carbon nanotubes (110). The chamber (70) has a port (90) and is configured for simultaneous gas ingress to and gas egress from the carbon nanotubes (110) through the port (90).
US08771402B2
A vapor particle separator including a temperature controlled chamber for desorbing vapors from the particulates of an exhaust gas and a separation chamber including a micro porous membrane. The micro porous membrane provides an interface between at least one particle passageway and at least one vapor passageway through the separation chamber. The particle passageway extends from an entrance to the separation chamber to a particle exit from the separation chamber. The vapor passageway extends from the micro-porous membrane to a vapor exit from the separation chamber that is separate from the particle exit from the separation chamber.
US08771395B2
An air filter cartridge has filter media and a gasket arrangement with a perimeter gasket member against the downstream flow face and a side gasket member adjacent to at least a partial extension of a first side panel. The side gasket member includes no portion against second, third, and fourth side panels of the air filter cartridge. The air filter cartridge can be used in a dust collector having a tubesheet and a frame arrangement extending from the tubesheet. The perimeter gasket member seals against the frame arrangement and the side gasket member seals against the tubesheet.
US08771391B2
Methods of forming a polycrystalline compact using at least one metal salt as a sintering aid. Such methods may include forming a mixture of the at least one metal salt and a plurality of grains of hard material and sintering the mixture to form a hard polycrystalline material. During sintering, the metal salt may melt or react with another compound to form a liquid that acts as a lubricant to promote rearrangement and packing of the grains of hard material. The metal salt may, thus, enable formation of hard polycrystalline material having increased density, abrasion resistance, or strength. The metal salt may also act as a getter to remove impurities (e.g., catalyst material) during sintering. The methods may also be employed to faun cutting elements and earth-boring tools.
US08771390B2
A vitrified superabrasive product includes a superabrasive component and a vitrified bond component in which the superabrasive component is dispersed, wherein the vitrified bond component defines pores occupying greater than about 50% of the total volume of the vitrified superabrasive product. The vitrified superabrasive product can be in the form of a grinding tool, such as a grinding wheel. A superabrasive mixture includes a glass powder, a superabrasive grit, a binder and a silicon carbide. The mixture can be in the form of a green body, which is fired under an atmosphere and pressure, and at a temperature sufficient to form a porous vitrified superabrasive product.
US08771388B2
A method for producing high levels of methane based on a combination of steam hydrogasification and a shift reactor is provided. Hydrogen produced by the shift reactor can be recycled back into the steam hydrogasifier.
US08771373B2
An epilatory composition of the adhesive type comprises: a. from 50 to 90 percent by weight of a rosinous material or hydrocarbon resin; b. from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight of water, and c. an emulsifier and/or surfactant. The composition is particularly suitable for heating, prior to application to the skin, in a domestic microwave oven.
US08771371B2
A prosthetic device comprises a connecting portion for connecting to a person using vacuum; and a control structure for controlling an amount of vacuum used to connect the connecting portion to the person, wherein the control structure includes: a vacuum pump (502) in fluid communication with the connecting portion for controlling an amount of vacuum used to connect the connecting portion to the person, a vacuum sensing mechanism (506) configured to provide signals indicating the amount of vacuum in the connecting portion, a movement sensing mechanism (509) configured to provide signals indicating at least one of acceleration of the prosthetic device, orientation of the prosthetic device, force experienced by the prosthetic device, and a direction of force experienced by the prosthetic device, and a controller configured to receive signals from the vacuum sensing mechanism (506) and the movement sensing mechanism (509), and to control the vacuum pump (502).
US08771366B2
An acetabular hip implant includes an acetabular shell component, a first insert secured to the acetabular shell component, a second insert secured to the first insert, and a femoral head configured to be secured to the second insert. The first insert is permitted to rotate relative to the acetabular shell about a first axis, the second insert is permitted to rotate relative to the first insert about a second axis, and the femoral head is permitted to rotate relative to the second insert about a third axis.
US08771364B2
A knee joint prosthesis can include a tibial component that can have a tibial tray. The tibial tray can include a platform-like tray that defines a superior surface and an inferior surface. The platform-like tray can have a tray perimeter and a raised wall formed on the inferior surface. The raised wall can be offset inboard relative to the tray perimeter. Porous material can be disposed on the inferior surface of the platform-like tray at a location generally between the raised wall and the tray perimeter.
US08771358B2
A push-in interbody orthopedic implant having an expandable height for at least in part insertion at least in part between two adjacent bone masses.
US08771345B2
A prosthesis including a distal fixation member that defines two or more engagement arms that are configured to apply a first axial force to tissue of the subject on a downstream side of the native valve complex. The prosthesis also includes a proximal fixation member configured to apply a second axial force to tissue of the subject on an upstream side of the native valve complex such that application of the first and second axial forces couples the prosthesis to the native valve complex. The proximal fixation member and the distal fixation member are fabricated as one integrated structure. The engagement arms and the proximal fixation member are configured to capture leaflets of the native valve complex therebetween without folding over of leaflets of the native valve complex, upon implantation of the prosthesis.
US08771344B2
A device for percutaneously repairing a heart valve of a patient including a self-expanding, stented prosthetic heart valve and a delivery system. The delivery system includes delivery sheath slidably receiving an inner shaft forming a coupling structure. A capsule of the delivery sheath includes a distal segment and a proximal segment. An outer diameter of the distal segment is greater than that of the proximal segment. An area moment of inertia of the distal segment can be greater than an area moment of inertia of the proximal segment. Regardless, an axial length of the distal segment is less than the axial length of the prosthesis. In a loaded state, the prosthesis engages the coupling structure and is compressively retained within the capsule. The capsule is unlikely to kink when traversing the patient's vasculature, such as when tracking around the aortic arch, promoting recapturing of the prosthesis.
US08771336B2
An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a graft having a tubular body comprising proximal and distal ends, and a valve replacement disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the graft. At least one stent is coupled to the graft and has a contracted delivery state and an expanded state for maintaining patency within a portion of the graft. At least one fenestration is disposed in a sidewall of the graft at a location distal to the valve replacement. In one embodiment, the at least one fenestration is pivotable in any direction away from an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.
US08771335B2
Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical device may include an elongate tubular member, an endosurgery stent disposed on the outer surface of the tubular member, a push tube slidably disposed along the outer surface of the tubular member, and a push member slidably disposed in a lumen formed in the tubular member. The push member may be coupled to the push tube.
US08771325B2
An orthopedic fastener rated to be received into a corresponding bone specimen. The corresponding bone specimen has an overall outer thickness from near cortex to far cortex. Preferably, but optionally, the corresponding bone specimen also has a predetermined bone hole preparation which includes a pilot hole through the near cortex and into the far cortex. The fastener itself comprises a plurality of cutting flutes on one end. The cutting flutes transition into a tapered male threaded portion. The tapered male threaded portion provides a plurality of self-tapping threads. The self-tapping threads taper from a minimum thread crest diameter Dmin proximal to the cutting flutes to a maximum thread crest diameter Dmax distal from the cutting flutes. The cutting flutes are further rated to ream the pilot hole, when provided, to a diameter of about Dmin.
US08771324B2
A fastener, for example a bone screw, is sized to pass into an aperture of an implant, for example a bone plate, the fastener having an anchor portion engageable with body tissue, and a head portion formed by an assembly of an insert and an anchor extension. The implant has an aperture with a reduced entry dimension. The insert and anchor extension cooperate to form a reduced dimension passable into the aperture, and an expanded dimension not passable out of the aperture. The size of the assembly is configurable by bending resilient tabs of the anchor extension or the implant, using ramped surfaces, or an expanding diameter of a threadable insert.
US08771318B2
A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.
US08771304B1
A device for minimally invasive tendon sheath release is presented. The device enables a surgeon to cut (“open”) a pulley that is obstructing a nodule and keeping a tendon from sliding smoothly. The device is generally comprised of a sheath having a guide probe and a dorsal outrigger guide between which a cutting blade is positioned. The device is inserted through a small incision and the guide probe is used to find the edge of the pulley. Once found, the probe is guided to an end of the pulley. After proper position is assured, a cutting blade is deployed The entire device is then pushed or pulled using the device handle along the pulley until the pulley is completely released or where resistance is no longer felt.
US08771298B2
A dysfunctional sphincter muscle may be treated by shortening the muscle to plicate it and restore its functionality. Plicating the sphincter muscle as described effectively shortens the muscle and permits the muscle to perform its function of closing off the body passage or opening with which it is associated without conventional surgery to expose the sphincter muscle and shorten it. Thus, treatment for incontinence can be achieved by shortening the associated sphincter muscle without surgery that exposes the muscle itself and requires the surgeon to manually grab hold of the muscle and shorten it.
US08771293B2
Medical systems, devices and methods are provided for engaging tissue, e.g. for clipping tissue, closing a perforation or performing hemostasis. Generally, the medical system including a housing, first and second jaws rotatable relative to the housing, a driver, and an elongate drive wire. The elongate drive wire may be disconnected from the driver, first and second jaws, and the housing, which are left in vivo engaged with the tissue.
US08771292B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.
US08771286B2
A gripping device for a catheter assembly is disclosed providing enhanced gripping power for the operator of the catheter assembly. The gripping device is situated at the proximal portion of the catheter assembly and the proximal terminus of an external catheter sheath is attached near or to the body of the gripping device.
US08771281B2
A replacement device for resurfacing a joint surface of a femur and a method of making and installing such a device is provided. The custom replacement device is designed to substantially fit the trochlear groove surface, of an individual femur. Thereby creating a “customized” replacement device for that individual femur and maintaining the original kinematics of the joint. The replacement device may be defined by four boundary points, and a first and a second surface. The first of four points is 3 to 5 mm from the point of attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament to the femur. The second point is near the bottom edge of the end of the natural articulatar cartilage. The third point is at the top ridge of the right condyle and the fourth point at the top ridge of the left condyle of the femur. The top surface is designed so as to maintain centrally directed tracking of the patella perpendicular to the plane established by the distal end of the femoral condyles and aligned with the center of the femoral head.
US08771280B2
The present disclosure provides a femoral cut guide for preparing a distal femur to receive a prosthetic femoral component of a knee implant. The prosthetic femoral component includes a central box. The femoral cut guide replicates the size and shape of the prosthetic femoral component, such that the femoral cut guide may serve as a trial or provisional component used to reduce and test the prepared knee joint before implanting the final prosthetic femoral component. The femoral cut guide includes a detachable box cut guide for preparing the distal femur to receive the central box of the prosthetic femoral component.
US08771267B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.
US08771257B2
A cannulated drug delivery sheath having an annular wall and having a channel located within and extending partially through the annular wall. The annular wall defines a first lateral recess and a second lateral recess that are configured to respectively seat first and second cassettes containing therapeutic agents. The first and second lateral recesses have at least one first inlet port and at least one second inlet port, respectively. Also within the annular wall of the sheath is a first and second manifold. The first manifold is in fluid communication with the channel at one end and in fluid communication with the at least one first inlet port at another end. Similarly, the second manifold is in fluid communication with the channel at one end and in fluid communication with the at least one second inlet port at another end.
US08771256B2
The invention concerns a device for ocular application of an active principle (1) comprising a main electrode (2) including an insulating layer, an adhesive layer designed to bind the insulating layer to a conductive layer, characterized in that the main electrode comprises a zone (21, 22) designed to be urged into contact with an eyelid.
US08771223B2
Cannula anchor assemblies are disclosed which consist of a threaded cannula and a cannula anchor. The cannula anchor system allows for secure anchoring into the body wall, and proper cannula height adjustment prior to and during surgery. Sutures through the body wall may be secured to the cannula anchor either directly through the cannula anchor, or around suture posts attached therein. The cannula anchor also prevents excessive plunge of a trocar into the patient. The cannula anchor is generally configured with internal threads that mate with a threaded cannula.
US08771222B2
An infusion system, which may be a closed loop infusion system or “semi-closed-loop” system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate that fluid is infused into the body of a user. The closed loop infusion system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that are displayed or sounded or otherwise provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user. The sensor produces a sensor signal, which is representative of the condition of the user. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused as a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.
US08771213B2
Orthopaedic foot support (1) to support long-term bedridden patients, characterized in that the foot support includes a preformed support of two parts, i.e. a top piece (2) that consists of a stiff cushion (3) with an erect wall (4) and transverse supports (5,6,7) connected to it for the lateral support of the lower legs (16), and a bottom piece that consists of a base (8) on which the lower legs can rest and whereby the base (8) has a pair of cambers (10) to support the lower legs (16), and whereby the base (8) can be exchanged by a base with different cambers (10) suitable for another leg dimension, and whereby the top piece (2) can be removed to gain access to the legs of the patient who remains lying on the base (8), without having to move this base (8) or the legs (16).
US08771209B2
A medical bandaging product including a sealable enclosure and a resin-impregnated substrate including a knitted fabric layer having upper and lower surfaces with interconnected knitted fabric yarns knitted such that at least one yarn extends across a gap from the upper surface to the lower surface along a width of the substrate in a back-and-forth pattern forming a single, integrated three-dimensional structure, wherein the at least one yarn extends between non-adjacent needle positions in a back-and-forth pattern in successive courses to provide a continuous pattern on both the upper and lower major surfaces of the substrate, wherein needle bed gap spacing is between 7.1 mm and 8 mm and a total thickness of the substrate is between 4.75 mm and 4.90 mm.
US08771206B2
An interactive virtual care system may include a user sensory module to acquire multi-modal user data related to user movement. A data analysis module may compare the multi-modal user data to predetermined historical user data and/or statistical norm data for users to identify an anomaly in the user movement.
US08771197B2
Methods for detecting parameters in cardiac output related waveforms are described. The methods include methods for detecting individual heart beat cycles in a cardiac output related waveform, methods for detecting an error in an assigned starting point for an individual heart beat cycle in a cardiac output related waveform, methods for detecting a dichrotic notch for an individual heart beat cycle in a cardiac output related waveform, and methods for detecting an error in an assigned dichrotic notch for an individual heart beat cycle in a cardiac output related waveform. The identification of these parameters is important for a clinician as these parameters form the basis for the calculation of many other cardiac output related parameters.
US08771193B2
Provided is a canal type mini-apparatus insertable in an ear for diagnosing a disease. The canal type mini-apparatus includes a canal body and a protrusion body. The canal body is insertable in an ear and includes a bio-data detection unit at an end thereof. The bio-data detection unit is configured to detect biological data from an inside of the ear for diagnosing a disease. The protrusion body is disposed at the other end of the canal body and including a data transceiving unit. The data transceiving unit is configured to control the bio-data detection unit and transmit/receive a signal to/from an analyzing device. When the canal type mini-apparatus is inserted in the ear, at least a portion of the protrusion body protrudes outward from the ear.
US08771190B2
Blood flow information is used to reduce noise manifest in blood vessel ultrasound B-mode images. A blood flow signal is obtained by a flow detector. After wall filtering, only the flow signal power in the blood vessel lumen remains, while signal power from stationary tissue region is suppressed. The flow signal component is used to calculate a flow component parameter that is used to generate a gain control signal α that reduces noise in a B-mode image.
US08771185B2
A method for securely affixing a sensor to a patient is provided. The method includes attaching the sensor to the patient's index finger with a sensor signal cable routed along the patient's hand, and configuring an identification band to encircle the signal cable and the patient's wrist using a secure affixing arrangement. The identification band is configured to evidence tampering when removed. The secure affixing arrangement may take various forms, including tying loops and securing the cable and/or sensor to the patient using tape, plastics, and so forth.
US08771183B2
Method and system for providing data monitoring and management including RF communication link over which a transmitter and a receiver is configured to communicate, the transmitter configured to periodically transmit a data packet associated with a detected analyte level received from an analyte sensor, and the receiver configured to identify the transmitter as the correct transmitter for which it is configured to receive the data packets, and to continue to receive the data packets from the transmitter once the transmitter identification has been verified, is provided.
US08771180B2
A single port entry surgical instrument has an elongated structure with lumens through which surgical tools and an image capturing device may be inserted and controllably extended out of its distal end for performing a medical procedure, a tubular-shaped balloon disposed around the elongated structure, and an expandable retractor disposed around the balloon so that when the balloon is inflated, the retractor expands and locks in an expanded configuration to retract extraneous tissue. The port entry may be secured using the expandable retractor or sealed using another inflatable balloon disposed around the proximal end of the elongated structure and centered in the port entry.
US08771179B2
A surgical retention port particularly useful as an arthroscopic port for shoulder surgery is provided. The surgical retention port has an inner cannula defining a throughbore, a plurality of rotatable fingers coupled to the inner cannula, and an outer cannula extending around the inner cannula. Rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula causes the rotation of the fingers from a first position where the fingers assume a collapsed configuration to a second position where the fingers assume an extended or open configuration.
US08771176B2
The application relates to an ingestible capsule and method for in vivo imaging and/or treatment of one or more diseased areas of interest within the gastrointestinal tract of an animal or human being. The capsule comprises an image sensor; a lens system for focusing images onto the image sensor; at least one light source for illumination of the tissue area of interest, the at least one light source optionally being capable of providing optical therapeutic treatment to the diseased areas; a variable lens system located in front of the at least one light source, wherein the variable lens system comprises beam steering means and focusing means for directing and focusing the light beams from the at least one light source onto the diseased tissue areas, —a control unit in communication with the image sensor, the at least one light source, and variable lens system, a power source for powering the image sensor, the at least one light source and the control unit; and a non-digestible, transparent outer protective shell configured to pass through the gastrointestinal tract, housing within the image sensor, the lens system, the at least one light source, the variable lens system, the control unit and the power source.
US08771170B2
The current invention describes methods of transesophageal access to the neck and thorax to perform surgical interventions on structures outside the esophagus in both the cervical and the thoracic cavity. It describes a liner device made of a complete or partial tubular structure, or a flat plate, the liner having means to facilitate creation of a side opening, which may include a valve. The liner with its side opening form a port structure inside the esophageal lumen. The port structure allows elongated surgical devices to pass through a perforation across the full thickness of the esophageal wall to outside location, in a controlled way. The elongated surgical devices can be diagnostic scopes, therapeutic scopes, manual elongated surgical devices, robotic arms or the like. After being deployed outside the esophagus, the surgical devices can access structures outside the esophagus, in the neck and thorax in 360 degrees of freedom around the esophageal circumference. These structures can be bony, cartilaginous, spinal, vascular, soft tissue, deep tissues, lymph nodal, cardiac, pulmonary, tracheal, nervous, muscular or diaphragmatic, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the neck, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the anterior chest wall, skin and subcutaneous tissues of the skin of the back, and skin and layers of the breast.
US08771169B2
A surgical device includes a jaw portion and a shaft portion that is pivotably coupled to the jaw portion. The shaft portion defines an interior space having first and second openings on respective radially-opposite sides of the shaft portion. A camera assembly is coupled to the shaft portion and is moveable between a first position, in which the camera assembly is positioned within the interior space of the shaft portion, and, for example, second and third positions, in which the camera assembly extends through a respective one of the first and second radially-opposite openings of the shaft portion. In this manner, the camera assembly may be positionable on, and may provide imaging data of, either side of the surgical device, irrespective of which lateral side the jaw portion is articulated relative to the shaft portion.
US08771168B2
Described are methods of treating urinary incontinence using a urinary sling and a tissue path that passes through the obturator foramen, along with related surgical implants, devices, systems, and kits.
US08771167B2
A middle ear transducer arrangement is described for engaging a round window membrane of a patient cochlea. A mechanical transducer is surgically implantable into a fixed position in the round window niche of the patient cochlea adjacent to the round window membrane. A drive face on the outer surface of the transducer has a diameter less than half the diameter of the round window membrane. The fixed position of the transducer engages the drive face against a side section of the round window membrane without engaging the center point to generate an acoustic stimulation signal for perception as sound.
US08771166B2
An improved implantable auditory stimulation system includes two or more implanted microphones for transcutaneous detection of acoustic signals. Each of the implanted microphones provides an output signal. The microphone output signals may be combinatively utilized by an implanted processor to generate a signal for driving an implanted auditory stimulation device. The implanted microphones may be located at offset subcutaneous locations and/or may be provided with different design sensitivities, wherein combinative processing of the microphone output signals may yield an improved drive signal. In one embodiment, the microphone signal may be processed for beamforming and/or directionality purposes.
US08771164B2
A ventricular assist device (VAD) having static seal structure for a pump housing which includes a support structure, a first sealing element, and a second sealing element. The support structure circumscribes a pump chamber and includes a first sealing surface, an opposing second sealing surface, and a fluid transfer end interposed between the sealing surfaces. The support structure provides a fluid flow path running through the fluid transfer end and into the pump chamber via an inlet bore and from the pump chamber back through the fluid transfer end via an outlet bore. The first sealing element is disposed on the first sealing surface, and the second sealing element is disposed on the second sealing surface. The sealing elements are configured for forming sealing interfaces in the pump housing, establishing a static seal that isolates the pump chamber from an environment external to the fluid pump housing.
US08771150B2
An exercise device to provide exercise for a user may include a base panel to provide resistance in a fluid, a finger handle to connect to the base panel and to provide support for the hand of the user and a wrist restraint device to connect to the base panel and to restrain the wrist of the user. The finger handle may be substantially an inverted U-shaped.
US08771149B2
An orthodontic compliance monitor includes a sensor that senses when an orthodontic appliance is properly positioned and a processor that processes an output of the sensor and generates compliance data. A memory device stores compliance data and the processor generates the compliance data based on a compliance protocol. System and methods for orthodontic compliance are also disclosed.
US08771148B2
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining when an athlete is in possession of a ball by analyzing image data are provided. A camera is worn by an athlete and is turned on when the athlete is in proximity of a ball. The camera is used to generate an image of a ball. The size of the ball is determined and compared to a threshold. The athlete is considered to be in possession of the ball when the size of the image exceeds the threshold.
US08771146B2
A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle may include generating a first synchronization force between a shift gear of a target gear and an output shaft to shift gears from a current gear to a lower gear set as the target gear in response to deceleration of the vehicle, so as to form a first synchronization, removing the first synchronization force between the shift gear and the output shaft after the generating of the first synchronization force, and generating a second synchronization force between the shift gear of the target gear and the output shaft after the removing of the first synchronization force, so as to form a second synchronization.
US08771141B2
A coast stop vehicle includes a variator which continuously changes a speed ratio by changing a winding diameter of a belt mounted on pulleys, a sub-transmission mechanism connected in series with the variator and shifting discrete gear positions by changing engaged states of a plurality of frictional engagement elements, and a coast stop unit which stops the rotation of the drive power source and releases the engaged frictional engagement element when the coast stop condition holds during travel. The coast stop unit includes a coast stop prohibiting unit which prohibits the coast stop regardless of the coast stop condition when it is predicted at the time of determining whether or not the coast stop condition holds that a belt tightening force of the pulley falls below an engaging force of the frictional engagement element in the engaged state by the execution of the coast stop.
US08771140B2
An electronic traction optimization system includes a control unit adapted to produce a corner speed estimate signal for each wheel of a machine, produce an ideal target speed signal for each wheel having a value at least partially responsive to the corner speed estimate signals, produces a practical target speed signal for each wheel, generates an actual target speed signal having a value responsive to a comparison of the ideal target speed signal and the practical target speed signal for each wheel. The control unit compares each actual target speed signal to an associated wheel speed signal to obtain a wheel speed error signal for each wheel and converts each wheel speed error signal to a clutch control signal, wherein each differential clutch actuator is responsive to an associated clutch control signal.
US08771137B2
A method to operate a clutch device in an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and at least one electric machine includes, in response to a failure condition detected within a flow control device configured to facilitate flow of hydraulic fluid for operating the clutch device, selectively preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid from entering the flow control device and feeding the clutch device. Synchronization of the clutch device is initiated when the clutch device is intended for activation, and only if the clutch device is synchronized, the flow of hydraulic fluid is selectively permitted to enter the flow control device to activate the clutch device.
US08771136B2
A powertrain for a vehicle includes an engine and a transmission having an input member, an output member, and a neutral state in which torque is not transmitted from the input member to the output member. A first motor/generator is coupled to the engine. A second motor/generator is coupled with vehicle wheels directly or indirectly through the transmission. The first motor/generator acts as a generator when powered by the engine to provide electric power to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator acts as a motor when receiving electric power from a battery or from the first motor/generator. A shift selector is moved by a vehicle operator to establish an electric propulsion mode in which the transmission is in the neutral state and the second motor/generator functions as a motor.
US08771132B2
A brake hub (36) and a second gear shaft (22) are rotatably supported by a bearing (42) and a bearing (43), the bearing (42) interposed between a projection (11D-1) of a support member (11D) disposed on the inner side of a recess (36a) of the brake hub and the inner peripheral surface of the recess, the bearing (43) interposed between a support member (11E) surrounding a top end portion of the brake hub and the top end portion of the brake hub. The transfer further comprises a disc pressing pin (50) inserted through a hole (11D-4) in the support member, a pressing plate (51) disposed on the outer side of the support member, and plate pressing means. The plate pressing means presses the pressing plate, the pressing plate presses the disc pressing pin, and the disc pressing pin presses a press brake disc (35C).
US08771127B2
Technologies relating to differential output control are disclosed. A differential output control apparatus may be coupled between a rotating device output and a controlled rotating output. The differential output control apparatus may comprise an adjustable mechanical link coupling two linked differential inputs, and configured to adjust a relative rotation speed or relative torque of the linked differential inputs. The differential output control apparatus may receive the rotating device output and adjust the adjustable mechanical link to control the rotation speed and/or torque of the controlled rotating output.
US08771124B2
A planetary gear system includes a sun gear rotatable about an axis. Planetary gears are circumferentially arranged about and intermesh with the sun gear and peripherally with a ring gear. Each of the planetary gears is supported by a journal bearing arranged in a bore in a carrier wall. A carrier supports the journal bearings and is configured to rotate about the axis and carry the planetary gears. The carrier wall supports the journal bearings and has spaced apart lateral surfaces. A scupper is arranged between the lateral surfaces and provides an inlet in one of the lateral surfaces, in this example facing the sun gear. The inlet has a first circumferential dimension, and a passage fluidly interconnects the scupper to one of the journal bearings via the bore. The passage has a second circumferential dimension less than the first circumferential dimension.
US08771118B2
A chain tensioner device having a first slide surface of a main arm pivotably supported at an upper end thereof, and a second slide surface of a sub-arm pivotably supported at a lower end thereof. The first and second slide surfaces slidably abut against each other. When the main arm is biased toward a timing chain via the sub-arm by a biasing force of a plunger of a tensioner lifter, a stroke of the main arm is increased with respect to a stroke of the plunger.
US08771117B2
In a power transmission utilizing a bushingless roller chain, the inner links of the chain have chain guide-contacting backs that have a convex arcuate shape, and the outer links are shaped so that they do not contact the chain guides. The rollers are wider than the sprocket teeth that they engage, and widthwise gaps between the ends of the rollers and the outer link plates allow the inner link plates to move in the widthwise direction. The gap between the inner surfaces of the rollers and the outer surfaces of the connecting pins of the chain is larger than the gap between the inner surfaces of the holes in the inner link plates and the outer surfaces of the connecting pins that extend through them.
US08771110B2
A valve for a ball includes a casing and a core. The core is arranged at least partially inside the casing. The core comprises a first sealing area with a plurality of sections which have alternating concave and convex curvatures.
US08771106B1
A device for training and rehabilitation includes a ball with a plurality of holes placed at predetermined locations. Each hole is adapted to receive and retain a receptor apparatus. The receptor apparatus contains a key receptor. A tether apparatus has a key fitting piece adapted for insertion into the key receptor. The key fitting piece is used to selectively lock the tether apparatus within the receptor apparatus. The tether apparatus includes a loop. A rope attaches to the loop, and the free end of the rope is frayed.
US08771096B2
A golf putter with a multi-component neck providing a novel offset and shaft-attachment design is described and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. The multi-component neck includes a lower neck component and a coupling member. The coupling member is joined to a shaft. The coupling member connects the lower neck component and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The length of the lower neck component and/or the design of the coupling member determine the distance from the club head center of gravity and the intersection of the projected longitudinal axis of the shaft with the head.
US08771093B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for sliding apparatus comprising a slide portion having a first surface, a second surface, a proximal end and a distal end. In certain embodiments, at least one of the first surface or the second surface is configured to be placed over one or more stairs of a staircase, such that at least a portion of the first surface or the second surface is in direct contact with at least a portion of the one or more stairs of the staircase. The sliding apparatus also includes an anchor member coupled to the proximal end of the slide portion. The anchor member is configured to move from a contracted position to an extended position such that when the anchor member is in the extended position the anchor member is secured between a first vertical surface of the staircase and a second vertical surface of the staircase.
US08771086B2
A fixed type constant velocity universal joint comprises a ball and a lubricating grease sealed therein. A surface roughness of the ball is set to Ra 0.15 μm or less and a surface roughness of a counterpart surface on which the ball rolls is set to be higher than the surface roughness of the ball. An additive composition of the lubricating grease comprises a base oil, a diurea compound, molybdenum dithiocarbamate, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, melamine cyanurate, molybdenum disulfide, and calcium salt of alkylaromatic sulfonic acid.
US08771078B2
Various card devices and methods involving card devices are described. Other embodiments are also described.
US08771075B2
Disclosed is a method for providing an online game, comprising the steps of: maintaining an event database recording an aggressive point generation function corresponding to each predetermined event; receiving a particular event from a player character; identifying an aggressive point generation function corresponding to the particular event by referring to the event database; generating aggressive point information according to receipt of the particular event, on the basis of the identified aggressive point generation function; recording the generated aggressive point information in a predetermined monster information database in association with the player character; and determining a target for attack of a monster on the basis of the aggressive point information recorded in the monster information database, and a system thereof.
US08771071B2
A system and method relating to, in one aspect, detecting the position or orientation of a device, in the physical domain, during a processor-implemented game, and displaying the game substantially simultaneously with displaying a graphic representing the position or orientation of the device.
US08771043B2
A rotary dresser is provided with a roll having an outer circumferential surface which includes an arc portion or inclined portion differing in diameter in dependence on the axial position thereof, and a plurality of diamond abrasive grains embedded on the outer circumferential surface of the roll. The number of the diamond abrasive grains in the circumferential direction is fixed even at any axial position on the outer circumferential surface of the roll.
US08771038B2
A polishing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a substrate, a stage-rotating mechanism configured to rotate the stage, and a polishing head configured to polish a periphery of the substrate held by the stage. The polishing apparatus also includes a controller configured to control operations of the stage, the stage-rotating mechanism, and the polishing head, an image-capturing device configured to capture an image of the periphery of the substrate through at least one terminal imaging element arranged so as to face the periphery of the substrate, an image processor configured to process the image captured by the image-capturing device, and a liquid ejector configured to eject a light-transmissive liquid toward the periphery of the substrate to fill a space between the periphery of the substrate and the terminal imaging element with the liquid.
US08771029B2
The configuration of polychromatic sources of white light, which are composed of at least two groups of colored emitters, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is disclosed. Based on a novel approach of the assessment of quality of white light using, for example, 1269 test color samples from the enhanced Munsell palette, the spectral compositions of light, such as white light, composed of two to five (or more) narrow-band emissions with the highest number of colors relevant to human vision rendered almost indistinguishably from a reference source, such as a blackbody radiator, are introduced. An embodiment of the current invention can be used, in particular, for configuring polychromatic sources of white light with the ultimate quality capable of rendering of all colors of the real world.
US08771026B2
A conductive assembly having a conductive terminal, a conductive ribbon, and a clamp structure is disclosed. The clamp structure includes a base plate and a pair of jaws. The jaws extend respectively from two transverse sides of the base plate and form a V-shape opening being opposite to the base plate. An aperture is formed longitudinally in the center of the base plate, wherein the transverse width of the aperture is wider than the opening. The clamp structure stably and firmly holding the conductive terminal and the conductive ribbon.
US08771023B2
A lead frame assembly for an electrical connector is provided. The lead frame assembly includes a first lead, a second lead adjacent the first lead and a dielectric material. The leads have a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end. The leads are received within the dielectric material with the intermediate portions being substantially surrounded by the dielectric material. The dielectric material includes at least a first channel in the dielectric material arranged in-between the first and second leads. The first channel is defined by at least three sides and has a length extending in a direction substantially parallel to the intermediate portions of the first and second leads.
US08771020B2
A connector assembly includes a connector plug and a connector socket. The connector plug includes a first and a second plug signal transmitting pieces. A plurality of parallel first plug signal transmitting pins is laid on the first plug signal transmitting piece. A plurality of parallel second plug signal transmitting pins is laid on the second plug signal transmitting piece. The connector socket includes a lower portion which includes a first receiving slot and a second receiving slot. A plurality of first socket signal transmitting lines is placed in the first receiving slot. A plurality of second socket signal transmitting lines is placed in the second receiving slot. The connector plug inserts in the connector socket to connect the first plug signal transmitting pins to the first socket signal transmitting pins, and simultaneously connect the second plug signal transmitting pins to the second socket signal transmitting pins.
US08771005B2
An electrical cord can include a cord segment with a receptacle. The receptacle can have a surface and apertures that accept a plug to form an electrical connection between the plug and wires of the electrical cord. A wear ring can be on the receptacle. The wear ring can be at least as large as the receptacle in a transverse cross-section. The wear ring can inhibit or prevent at least a portion of the surface from contacting a ground surface when the receptacle is on the ground surface or is dragged along the ground surface.
US08770995B2
A card connector comprises a housing, an auxiliary urging member and a card guide mechanism. The housing is provided with connection terminals connected to a card housed therein. The auxiliary urging member is capable of urging the card in a direction opposite to an insertion direction of the card. The card guide mechanism is provided with an urging member capable of urging the card in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the card. The urging member and the auxiliary urging member are also configured to cooperate with each other to move the card.
US08770987B2
A connecting terminal structure includes a plurality of connecting terminals, each including a connecting part to be in contact with an object to be connected at an end of the connecting terminal and a plate-like fixing part at another end of the connecting terminal, a first face of the plate-like fixing part being configured to be electrically connectable; and electronic components, each including at least two electrode terminals, wherein the two electrode terminals of the electronic components are mounted on faces opposite to the first faces of the fixing parts of the connecting terminals.
