US08824439B2
This invention discloses a combinatorial mobile hotspot device, a network service provision method thereof, a network access device and a wireless service power supply device. The network access device has a mobile internet access ability to provide an external host machine connecting to a wide area network through the network access device when the network access device is selectively and electrically coupled to the external host machine. A mobile hotspot device is formed while the network access device is electrically coupled to the wireless service power supply device. The wireless service power supply device supplies the power to the network access device. Further, by a wireless local network transceiver, a plurality of electronic devices in the hotspot covering region are able to connect to wide area network through the wireless access point service provided by the network access device.
US08824438B2
A networked mobile router system comprises a plurality of mobile routers; and a main server operable to track and monitor the plurality of mobile routers. Each mobile router is initially configured to communicate with the main server and is operable to establish first communication with the main server to register with the main server to upload configuration information from each the mobile router to the main server. The main server is operable in response to each mobile router registering with the main server to assign each mobile router with a predetermined group. Each mobile router is operable to establish a second communication with the main server. The main server is operable in response to each mobile router second communication to reassign each mobile router to communicate with at least one group server assigned to communicate with the predetermined group.
US08824435B2
A method and apparatus of scanning channels of a white space zone in a wireless local area network is provided. A response frame includes a white space map including information about whether each white space channel in the white space zone is occupied by an incumbent user. Channels of the white space zone are scanned based on the white space map.
US08824426B2
A method for transmitting Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) information, a method for determining PDCCH search space and devices thereof are disclosed in the present embodiments. The method for determining PDCCH search space includes the following step: Node B (NB) determines the different search spaces corresponding to different PDCCHs according to Carrier Indicator (CI) information. By applying the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the CI information is introduced in the search space determining process, so that different search spaces can be allocated to the cross-carrier PDCCHs of one User Equipment (UE) and the NB and UE are able to exactly determine the search spaces of PDCCHs in each downlink carrier, therefore reducing the blocking probability during PDCCH scheduling process and improving the reliability of PDCCH transmission.
US08824422B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising dynamically reserving free channel time blocks for directional transmissions in a wireless personal area network (WPAN) by a transceiver communicating with a Coordinator and the Coordinator allocating a part or a whole of unreserved channel time blocks for a directional link during a handshake with the transceiver.
US08824415B2
A node of a wireless network includes processor circuitry that is configured to obtain an identification of a cell on which a user equipment shall transmit a random access preamble and to encode the identification of the cell on which the user equipment shall transmit the random access preamble into at least one unused bit position of a physical downlink control channel random access order. A transmitter is responsive to the processor circuitry and is configured to transmit the physical downlink control channel random access order including the identification of the cell that was encoded into the at least one unused bit position of the physical downlink control channel random access order. Related user equipment, systems and methods are also described.
US08824413B2
A method is provided for direct communications between members of at least one communication group of wireless entities, in which two communication groups are provided. A first group that has at least two wireless entities of an identical type, and a second group that has at least one wireless entity. A time slot is allocated in a frame belonging to a frame-based protocol for use by members of the first group to exchange direct communications between each other. The same time slot is used by at least one wireless entity of the second group to exchange non-direct communications in accordance with the frame-based protocol, or direct communication with one or more wireless entities of second group. Within the time slot, frequency resources within the same frequency channel are allocated to each of the two communication groups.
US08824408B2
A method of handling random access procedure associated to cell deactivation for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises activating a secondary cell configured by a network of the wireless communication system, performing a random access procedure for the activated secondary cell, and when the secondary cell is deactivated during the random access procedure, continuously performing the random access procedure.
US08824389B2
A communication method and apparatus using multiple carriers are provided. A primary carrier is configured, and multi-carrier control information for monitoring a control channel of a secondary carrier is transmitted through the primary carrier. A user equipment monitors a control channel of the secondary carrier on the basis of the multi-carrier control information.
US08824387B2
An apparatus for wireless communication may allocate resources for multicarrier wireless communication. The apparatus may be enabled for cross-carrier signaling and semi-persistent scheduling on at least one carrier. Semi-persistent scheduling may be enabled by deriving a resource, such as a PHICH resource, for uplink HARQ operation using at least part of a demodulation reference signal field. The resource may be chose to reduce PHICH collision and may be based on a starting physical block of uplink data transmission. Cross-carrier signaling may be enabled by an information field, such as a carrier indicator field in the PDCCH, not enabled when cross-carrier signaling is not enabled.
US08824381B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reliably requesting uplink resources in a wireless communications environment. In particular, mechanisms are provided for reliable uplink resource requests at instants when uplink resources are not retained. A mobile device transmits an uplink resource request on a feedback information channel conventionally utilized for channel quality indicators. The mobile device utilizes specific codewords reserved for uplink requests. In addition, a power spectral density of the feedback information channel is boosted to lower an error rate of the channel when reserved codewords are transmitted.
US08824380B2
Techniques are described for automatically determining quasi-static per-link channel assignments for each radio in multiple-hop mesh networks having nodes with two or more radios and where only a small number of channels is available for use in the network. The method optimally assigns the channels to the radios of all of the nodes in the network so as to achieve the lowest interference among links and the highest possible bandwidth.
US08824373B2
An apparatus for transmitting an uplink signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which an uplink signal can be efficiently transmitted in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes receiving a downlink control information (DCI) used for PUSCH (physical uplink shared channel) scheduling, the DCI including an information for resource block allocation, an information for a channel status information request and a plurality of MCS (modulation and coding scheme) informations for a plurality of transport blocks and if a condition is met, transmitting a channel status information only on the PUSCH without a transport block for UL-SCH (uplink shared channel). Moreover, the condition includes a case that: only one transport block is enabled, the MCS information for the enabled transport block indicates an MCS index 29, the information for the channel status information request indicates 1, and the number of allocated resource blocks is equal to or smaller than 4.
US08824372B2
Providing access to online services is contemplated. The online services authorized for access may be limited or controlled according to a location of an access point used to facilitate access to the online services. This location based authorization may be useful in providing access to online services that have location dependent restraints.
US08824361B2
A multi-frequency band receiver includes first and second receive paths, a combiner, a code multiplex baseband stage and an amplifier controller. The first and second receive paths receive and process first and second code multiplex signals, respectively. The first or the second receive path includes an amplifier having a variable gain factor. The combiner superposes the first and second processed code multiplex signals. The code multiplex baseband stage processes the superposed code multiplex signal to obtain and use first and second baseband receive signals. The first and second baseband receive signals represent data of the first and second code multiplex signals, respectively. In addition, the amplifier controller controls the gain factor of the amplifier having a variable gain factor so that the first or the second baseband receive signal includes a minimum reception quality which can be variably predetermined and is dependent on the operating state.
US08824343B2
The present disclosure provides a method and system for implementing synchronization among micro-base stations, including: a micro-base station intercepts a wireless reference signal of an air interface, and selects a synchronization reference object according to an intercepted wireless reference signal; and the micro-base station implements synchronization processing through detecting the wireless reference signal of the selected synchronization reference object, and adjusts its own synchronization information. The method for implementing synchronization among micro-base stations disclosed in the present disclosure is implemented on the basis of the wireless air interface signals of the micro-base stations, requires no additional synchronization hardware devices (such as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiving apparatus, etc.) and has low cost. By the solution disclosed in the present disclosure, the mutual interference caused by asynchronization between a Time Division Duplex (TDD) micro-base station and other base stations is eliminated flexibly.
US08824341B2
In a computer-implemented method of joining a user to a conference call event an interface associated with a time management software application is displayed. The interface displays information relating to the conference call event including a date for a conference call which is subject of the conference call event and a start time of the conference call. While displaying the interface, a menu offering one or more options is displayed; these one or more options include an option to join the conference call. When an indication of a selection of the option to join the conference call is received, information associated with the conference call is located; this information includes a telephone number for a conference call bridge. A connection with the conference call bridge using the telephone number is initiated.
US08824335B2
Communication ability between nodes in a cluster-based computer system is tracked to inform applications executing on the nodes of the existence and quality of the endpoint-to-endpoint communications available between the nodes. Communications between a node and other nodes are tracked, and a database records the communication ability between the node and the other nodes for each link between the nodes. The tracking and recording are repeated at the other nodes. A registration by an application executing at a particular one of the nodes to receive notifications of changes in the communication ability with another node over a particular link (or in general) will cause notification of the application when the link status changes.
US08824332B2
A method for selecting a clock source in Synchronization Digital Hierarchy (SDH) network and a clock module are provided in the present invention. The method includes: generating a clock information message based on the clock quality information in SDH network, and the clock module of every network node in said SDH network independently selects a clock source by using said clock information message. The method and clock module for selecting a clock source in SDH provided in the present invention enable automatic switch and recovery for a clock source, and effectively solve the problem of clock looping, and adequately maintain the compatibility with the existing system without increasing the cost of the system.
US08824330B2
A system and method for synchronized and coordinated beam switching and scheduling in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for controller operation includes determining a beam cycle pattern, sharing the beam cycle pattern with neighboring controllers, receiving beam information from a communications device, generating scheduling information from the beam cycle pattern and beam cycle patterns from other controllers, receiving a transmission intended for the communications device, and causing the transmission to be transmitted to the communications device. The beam cycle pattern includes a list of beam patterns transmitted by the controller, and the transmission is transmitted using the scheduling information and the received beam information.
US08824319B2
In a vehicle-side transmitting apparatus that applies a multi-link system employing a logical plurality of communication lines and includes a transmitting unit that transmits transmission data that should be transmitted to a receiving apparatus of a communication partner, the transmitting unit monitors changes in transmission rates of communication lines A to C, calculates, based on rated transmission rates, information concerning changes in the communication lines A to C, and a transmission time until data that should be transmitted to a ground-side receiving apparatus is completed to be transmitted to the ground-side receiving apparatus, fluctuating transmission rates of the communication lines A to C, and determines, based on the calculated transmission rates, allocation amounts to the communication lines of data that should be transmitted this time.
US08824312B2
A system for testing Ethernet paths or links without adversely impacting non-test traffic. The system includes a test traffic generator that includes a scheduler that determines when a new test packet is generated. The test traffic generator includes a packet creator that builds a test packet and a transmitter for transmitting the test packet via the Ethernet path or link. The packet creator sends the test packet to the transmitter. The traffic generator includes a transmit credit block coupled to the transmitter or to the scheduler. The transmit credit block stores an amount of credits representing a number of bytes that are available to transmit and decrements the amount each time a non-test packet is communicated via the Ethernet path or link.
US08824311B2
A system, method, and software are provided for measuring co-channel interference comprising interlink interference in a wireless backhaul network with particular application for management of resource allocation for Non Line of Sight (NLOS) wireless backhaul in MicroCell and PicoCell networks. Given the difficulty of predicting the interlink interference between multiple links, DownLink and UpLink co-channel interference are characterized for each backhaul radio link between each Hub and each Remote Backhaul Module Unit periodically during active service. Beneficially, the co-channel interference metrics are used as the basis for intelligently and adaptively managing network resources to substantially reduce cumulative interference and increase the aggregate data capacity of the network e.g. by grouping of interfering and/or non-interfering links, and managing resource block allocations accordingly, i.e. assigning common resource blocks preferentially to weakly interfering links or groups of links and allocating a different resource block or orthogonal channels to each strongly interfering link or groups of links.
US08824307B2
A wireless communication system transmits in a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) by having a Radio Network Controller (RNC) assign portions of data to a first serving cell and a second serving cell for transmitting to a user equipment. The first serving cell transmits data on a first downlink carrier to the user equipment. The second serving cell, which is independent from the first serving cell, transmits data on a second downlink carrier to the user equipment. In an optional aspect, the RNC receives a measurement report from the user equipment on a first uplink carrier via at least one of the first serving cell and the second serving cell.
US08824303B2
A method and apparatus relate to coexistence of multiple RF subsystems on a communication device. An apparatus may include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) subsystems configured to receive or transmit communication signals; and an interface for communication between a first RF subsystem of the plurality of RF subsystems and at least a second RF subsystem of the plurality of subsystems. The first RF subsystem can be configured to generate a timing offset for a coexistence signal, the timing offset being indicative of a difference between a time of generation of a signal and the time of an event associated with the signal. The timing offset can comprise a fixed offset generated based on at least one of a reference time from a periodic interrupt or direct access of a timer; and an offset adjustment based on a distance between the apparatus and a base station associated with the first RF subsystem.
US08824299B1
In an embodiment, a method configures a network to route data on a first network service that connects a user's network with a service provider network. In the method, an instruction to route data from the network addressed to a hostname on the first network service is received. According to the hostname, a first IP address that addresses a server identified by the hostname is determined. A second IP address is also determined as the second IP address of the specific network service. Finally, a message is sent to the user's network that specifically instructs the user's network to route data addressed to the first IP address to the second IP address. The message causes configuration of a router on the user's network to route data on the first network service. System and computer program product embodiments are also disclosed.
US08824291B2
According to one embodiment, a packet distribution apparatus distributes packets each containing a digital content via a communication network. The packet distribution apparatus includes a generator, a packet transmitter, a detector and a swapper. The generator generates the packets for each session with a bit rate corresponding to a content to be distributed. The packet transmitter transmits the generated packets to the communication network. The detector detects a collision of transmission timings of the packets in the sessions. The swapper exchanges, upon detecting a collision of the transmission timings, a transmission order of packets associated with the collision of the transmission timings based on the bit rates.
US08824289B2
A wireless device includes a data structure that relates peak channel capacity to the quality of the wireless communication link. The wireless communication link quality forms an index to indicate the expected peak channel capacity for that particular quality value of the wireless communication link. The wireless device uses the data storage structure to determine an expected data transfer throughput based on the quality of the wireless communication link. A transfer rate lower than expected may indicate congestion in the core network or the RAN. In this case, the network may slow the data delivery from the data source or temporarily suspend delivery. Conversely, low data throughput may be the result of a poor quality wireless communication link. If the data structure indicates that the data throughput corresponds to the expected throughput for the quality value of the wireless communication link, the system need not take any steps to reduce congestion.
US08824288B2
Techniques are disclosed that involve communicating in bursty noise environments. For instance, a source device may send a probing packet to a destination device. This probing packet is for determining whether the communications medium (e.g., one or more frequency channels) is currently exhibiting a busy or jammed (e.g., due to bursty noise) condition. More particularly, based on whether an acknowledgment of the probing packet is received, the source device determines whether the channel is jammed (or busy) or clear. For example, an unacknowledged probing packet indicates that the channel is jammed or busy, while an acknowledged probing packet indicates that the channel is clear. If the channel is determined to be clear, then the source device may transmit one or more data packets to the destination device. Such data packet transmissions may be in accordance with a non rate-adaptive technique.
US08824278B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for avoiding an interference in a local area wireless communication system. The method includes (a) transmitting, by an interference device detecting a frequency interference, a channel update request signal to a channel manager, (b) broadcasting, by the channel manager, channel update information including new channel information in response to the channel update request and changing a channel, (c) rebroadcasting, by at least one device having received the broadcasted channel update information, the received channel update information and changing a channel after waiting for a maximum polling delay time of a child sleep device, and (d) transmitting, by the at least one device having changed the channel, a channel change confirmation packet to the channel manager.
US08824271B2
The present invention relates to an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing receiver, and more particular to an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing receiver including an FFT/IFFT operating core and a scheduler. In order to simultaneously share the FFT/IFFT operating core, the scheduler manages input/output timings of FFT/IFFT operations and control signals. The FFT/IFFT operating core supports decimation-in-time (DIT) and decimation-in-frequency (DIF) FFT/IFFT operations at the same time.
US08824270B2
In an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) communication network, a node transmits an echo profile probe to other nodes in the network. The echo profile probe is a message that allows characterization of the unique echo profile through the communication channel between each node pair. The echo profile is used to calculate the cyclic prefix length needed for optimum communication from one node to the other.
US08824267B2
A transmission method and apparatus that combines the benefits of DFT precoding and transmit diversity coding for PUCCH transmission. In one aspect, the invention provides an improved transmit diversity coding method and apparatus for DFTS-OFDM PUCCH with minimal impact on multiplexing capacity. In one embodiment, the improved transmit diversity method and apparatus has the feature of employing frequency-domain separation for the payload signals.
US08824261B1
A system for peer-to-peer vibration mitigation in a distributing computing system includes a secondary communication interface over which chassis management electronics (e.g., a chassis-level controller) and/or system storage nodes may initiate communications to in order to affect system changes that may decrease vibration-related performance degradation in the system.
US08824257B2
In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method.
US08824255B2
A multi-output power supply device (1) comprises a first power supply (10) for outputting a first output voltage (VDCO1); a second power supply (30) for outputting a second output voltage (VDCO3); and a reset circuit (40) for detecting an abnormality of the first output voltage (VDCO1) and for outputting a first reset signal (XRESET) to forcibly stop the output operation of the second power supply (30).
US08824251B2
In a library apparatus, it is not considered that eliminated is an operation for reversing a direction of a double-sided readable/writable recording medium. In the library apparatus having a function of transporting and loading a recording medium from a recording medium storage unit to a recording and reproducing unit through a recording medium transportation unit, a direction in which an unrecorded recording medium is first loaded in the recording and reproducing unit is afterward treated as a front surface, and a direction opposite to the above direction is treated as a rear surface.
US08824247B2
Magnetic write heads for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) are disclosed that include a laser diode having a light emitting edge or surface mounted on a slider, an optical waveguide, and a printed bonding agent disposed in an air gap between the laser diode and the slider. The printed bonding agent can be applied by ink jet printing or aerosol jet printing. Also included is a method that includes attaching a laser diode to a slider of a magnetic write head and depositing a bonding agent into the air gap using a focused stream of bonding agent. A light-emitting edge or surface of the laser diode is adjacent to an optical waveguide. The light-emitting edge or surface of the laser diode and the optical input of the waveguide define an aligned direction and an air gap extends from the light-emitting edge or surface of the laser diode in a direction perpendicular to the aligned direction. The bonding agent can be applied by ink jet printing or aerosol jet printing.
US08824242B2
Systems, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatus are disclosed to calculate distance from audio sources. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving, at the reference audio collecting device, a first radio frequency (RF) signal from the portable audio collecting device, in response to receiving the RF signal, storing ambient audio to a memory as reference data samples, each of the reference data samples associated with an indication of a respective time of acquisition, and receiving a second RF signal containing portable data samples of the ambient audio, each of the portable data samples associated with an indication of a respective time of acquisition. The example method also includes computing a correlation value between a set of the portable data samples and a plurality of the reference data samples, selecting a set of samples having a highest correlation value, subtracting the indication of times of the pair of samples to form a difference value, and calculating a distance between the portable audio device and the reference audio collecting device based on the difference value.
US08824239B2
An inventive method provides for control of a seismic survey spread while conducting a seismic survey, the spread having a vessel, a plurality of spread control elements, a plurality of navigation nodes, and a plurality of sources and receivers. The method includes the step of collecting input data, including navigation data for the navigation nodes, operating states from sensors associated with the spread control elements, environmental data for the survey, and survey design data. The positions of the sources and receivers are estimated using the navigation data, the operating states, and the environmental data. Optimum tracks for the sources and receivers are determined using the position estimates and a portion of the input data that includes at least the survey design data. Drive commands are calculated for at least two of the spread control elements using the determined optimum tracks. The inventive method is complemented by an inventive system.
US08824221B2
A hybrid memory device is provided. The hybrid memory device includes a DRAM, a non-volatile memory and a control circuit. The control circuit selects one of output data of the DRAM and output data of the non-volatile memory according to a mode selecting signal and output the selected data. The control circuit outputs data requested to be output from the DRAM when the data requested to be output is in the DRAM, and may output the data requested to be output from the non-volatile memory when the data requested to be output is in the non-volatile memory. Accordingly, the hybrid memory device has a high speed in a read and write operation, and has low power consumption.
US08824217B2
The described devices, systems and methods include an electro-static discharge clamp with a latch to prevent false triggering of an electro-static discharge protection circuit in response to fluctuations in a power supply rail.
US08824216B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a data output signal transmitter configured to receive a data signal and a data mask signal and transmit a data output signal through a global data line, the data output signal being outputted by determining whether the data signal is masked or not; and a write driver configured to receive the data output signal through the global data line and input the received data output signal to a local data line corresponding to the data output signal.
US08824208B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a floating gate with pyramidal-shaped silicon nanocrystals as electron storage elements. Electrons tunnel from the pyramidal-shaped silicon nanocrystals through a gate oxide layer to a control gate of the non-volatile memory device. The pyramidal shape of each silicon nanocrystal concentrates an electrical field at its peak to facilitate electron tunneling. This allows an erase process to occur at a lower tunneling voltage and shorter tunneling time than that of prior art devices.
US08824203B2
A method for multiple step programming programs data to an even page of memory cells. The even page of memory cells is read into a page buffer and the uncertain data is removed. An odd page of memory cells is programmed and the data from the even page data from the page buffer is reprogrammed to the even page of memory cells without the uncertain data.
US08824189B2
A semiconductor device is provided with a lower-layer circuit including a transistor formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a memory cell array formed in an interconnection layer above the semiconductor substrate. Respective memory cells of the memory cell array are provided with a variable resistor element formed in the interconnection layer serving as a memory element. The memory cell array includes a first region directly underneath the memory cells, the first region being a region where a via for electrical coupling with the memory cell is not formed. The lower-layer circuit is disposed in such a way as to overlap at least a part of the first region.
US08824181B2
A switch mode power supply (SMPS) is capable of reducing standby power consumption, and includes a power factor capacitor (PFC) bulk capacitor which supplies power in a standby mode to constant loads by repeatedly charging and discharging a voltage, a PFC controller which controls the voltage to be charged in the PFC bulk capacitor, a first resistor and a second resistor which divide the voltage of the PFC bulk capacitor and output a reference voltage, and a control unit which controls the charging and discharging of the voltage of the PFC bulk capacitor in accordance with the reference voltage.
US08824176B2
The resonant converting circuit comprises a resonant circuit, a current detecting circuit and the resonant controller. The resonant controller controls a power conversion of the resonant circuit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage and the resonant controller comprises an over current judgment unit and an over current protection unit. The over current judgment unit determines whether the resonant current is higher than an over current value according to a current detecting signal generated by the current detecting circuit. The over current protection unit generates a protection signal in response to a determined result of the over current judgment unit and an indication signal indicative of an operating state of the resonant controller. The resonant controller executes a corresponding protecting process in response to the protection signal.
US08824174B2
A new current loop control system method is proposed for a single-phase grid-tie power conditioning system that can be used under a standalone or a grid-tie mode. This type of inverter utilizes an inductor-capacitor-inductor (LCL) filter as the interface in between inverter and the utility grid. The first set of inductor-capacitor (LC) can be used in the standalone mode, and the complete LCL can be used for the grid-tie mode. A new admittance compensation technique is proposed for the controller design to avoid low stability margin while maintaining sufficient gain at the fundamental frequency. The proposed current loop controller system and admittance compensation technique have been simulated and tested. Simulation results indicate that without the admittance path compensation, the current loop controller output duty cycle is largely offset by an undesired admittance path. At the initial simulation cycle, the power flow may be erratically fed back to the inverter causing catastrophic failure. With admittance path compensation, the output power shows a steady-state offset that matches the design value. Experimental results show that the inverter is capable of both a standalone and a grid-tie connection mode using the LCL filter configuration.
US08824171B2
The present invention relates to a hold-up time expansion circuit and a converter including the same. The hold-up time expansion circuit controls switching frequency of at least one switch according to the input voltage of the converter. The converter is dependent on the switching frequency that is controlled by the hold-up time expansion circuit, and controls the duty of at least one switch according to the feedback signal of the output voltage.
US08824169B2
A multiple inverter with neutral line inductor and an active power filter system are disclosed. In the disclosure, the multiple inverter comprises at least two inverter units connected in parallel, the midpoint of the direct current bus in each inverter unit is connected to the neutral line N through the respective neutral line inductor. The multiple inverter can suppress the ripple produced by the neutral line current without increasing the direct current bus capacitor.
US08824168B2
A full bridge phase shifted power supply with synchronous rectification and current doubler and method for dynamically adjusting delay parameters thereof mainly have multiple delay parameter combinations respectively varying with multiple loads and embedded in a controller of the power supply. The delay parameter combinations serve to determine driving waveforms of two rectification switches of a synchronous rectification and current doubler circuit of the power supply. When the load of the power supply varies, the controller dynamically performs a corresponding delay parameter combination so as to vary the driving waveforms of the rectification switches of the synchronous rectification and current doubler circuit and enhance the operating efficiency of the power supply.
US08824165B2
An electronic package structure including at least one first electronic element, a second electronic element and a lead frame is provided. The second electronic element includes a body having a cavity. The first electronic element is disposed in the cavity. The lead frame has a plurality of leads. Each of the leads has a first end and a second end. The first end of at least one of the leads extends to the cavity to electrically connect the first electronic element.
US08824162B2
Electronic devices may have housings in which components are mounted. Some of the components may be sensitive to moisture. Other components may be insensitive to moisture and may form openings in a device housing that allow moisture to escape from within the housing. Components may be mounted on substrates such as printed circuit board substrates. Moisture repelling layers and moisture attracting layers may be patterned to form channels and other structures that guide moisture away from sensitive components towards insensitive components. Moisture repelling and attracting layers may also be used to limit the lateral spread of a conformal coating layer when coating components.
US08824161B2
A hybrid integrated circuit in a wafer level package for an implantable medical device includes one or more passive component windings formed, at least in part, along one or more routing layers of the package. The windings may be primary and secondary windings of a transformer, wherein all or part of a magnetic core thereof is embedded in a component layer of the wafer level package. If the core includes a part bonded to a surface of the package, that part of the core may be E-shaped with legs extending into the routing layers, and, in some cases, through the routing layers. Routing layers may be formed on both sides of the component layer to accommodate the transformer windings, in some instances.
US08824151B2
A mounting system for a control module in a vehicle comprises a housing with a flange formed with an opening adapted to receive a fastener for securing the housing to the vehicle. A crack initiator causes a crack to occur in the flange or the housing and thus reduces bending of the housing during a side impact collision causing lateral forces. Preferably, an attachment bolt extends through the opening into the vehicle and the flange forms a C-shape around the opening to allow lateral forces during the side impact collision to force the attachment bolt to slide out of the opening. Preferably, electronic components in the module include an event data recorder for recording data about the vehicle collision and relaying the data after the collision, a communications system for calling for assistance and a controller for cutting off the vehicle fuel supply.
US08824147B2
This invention relates to a fluid-cooled electronic equipment item, an avionic rack to receive such an equipment item and an aircraft equipped with such racks.The electronic equipment items are connected to the avionic rack on the one hand electrically (C3-C4) and on the other hand fluidically (36′-37, 45′-44) to a system of pipes (30a, 30b) on at least one cold source for a cooling fluid (30). A heat-dissipating electronic board (35) is equipped with a dissipated-heat collector plate (61-65), in which fluid circulation channels are implemented, connected via quick-disconnect fluidic couplings (42, 39) to quick-disconnect fluidic couplings of the system of pipes. These devices allow the equipment to be removed from or inserted into the rack (32-EE) or the electronic board (35) to be removed from or inserted into the electrical equipment (33-35).
US08824138B2
A baffle guides airflow into two heat areas in a heat dissipation system. Each of the two heat areas includes a plurality of slots. The baffle includes a main body, an interval portion, and a clasp. The interval portion is located on the main body. The clasp is located on the main body opposite to the interval portion. The clasp includes a resilient clip and a stand portion vertically located on the resilient clip. The stand portion is engaged with at least one of the slots. The interval portion extends between two of the plurality of slots.
US08824130B2
A chip card holder includes a base, a first retaining board attached to the base, a second retaining board attached to the base spaced apart from the first retaining board, and a receptacle is defined between the first retaining board and the second retaining board. The first retaining board has a first electrical connector. The second retaining board has a second electrical connector. A drawer is movably received in the receptacle. When the drawer received in the receptacle, the chip cards are retained between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.
US08824114B2
A circuit comprises a first conductor, a second conductor, and a first detect and disconnect circuit. The first conductor is coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal. The second conductor is positioned a first predetermined distance from the first conductor. The first detect and disconnect circuit has a first terminal coupled to the second conductor and a second terminal coupled to a second power supply voltage terminal. The first detect and disconnect circuit detects a first electrical property change between the second conductor and the first conductor. In response to detecting the change in the first electrical property, the second conductor is disconnected from the second power supply voltage terminal. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the circuit is also provided.
US08824111B2
A circuit for protecting a node (201) in an electronic device (200) from an electrostatic discharge comprising: a voltage rail (206) arranged to provide an predetermined voltage when the device is powered; a first switching device (202) connected between said node (201) and ground (204); a second switching device (203) coupled to said node (201) and arranged to control the conductance of the first switching device (202) between said node (201) and ground (204); wherein, the second switching device (203) is configured to, irrespective of whether the device is powered or not powered, (a) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) low when the potential difference between the node (201) and the voltage rail (206) is within an operating range, and (b) hold the conductance of the first switching device (202) high in response to an overvoltage at the node (201) so as to allow current to flow from the node (201) to ground (204).
US08824110B2
A power plug, including: a shell, the shell having two sides, a reset button and a test button protruding from the first side, and a live wire pin and a neutral wire pin protruding from the second side; a circuit board; a stationary contact; a movable contact; a tripping device; a cross arm; and a push block. The stationary contact is connected with the live wire pin and the neutral wire pin; the movable contact can be connected to or disconnected from the stationary contact. The tripping device includes a sliding pedestal and a sliding part and controls the connection between the movable contact and the stationary contact. An elastic member is disposed on the push block. An ejector spring is disposed on one end of the movable armature. A reset spring is disposed between the sliding part and the sliding pedestal.
US08824098B1
A disk clamp for clamping an information storage disk to a rotating spindle in a disk drive includes a deflection portion that is annular and conical in shape, and which has a material thickness, an outer extent, and an inner extent. In certain embodiments, the inner extent is offset from the outer extent by a particular height measured parallel to an axis of rotation of the disk clamp. The disk clamp may further include a disk contact portion that is disposed radially outboard from the deflection portion, and which may include a curvature radially outboard of the outer extent that departs from a projection of the deflection portion, and a surface for contacting the information storage disk.
US08824096B1
A rotating portion of a motor includes a hub body portion and a shaft arranged to extend in an axial direction. The hub body portion includes a through hole and a recessed portion. The recessed portion extends radially outward from an outside surface of the shaft, has an annular shape and is recessed axially downward. The recessed portion includes first, second, and third ridge portions. The first ridge portion is an axially upper edge of an inside surface defining the through hole, the second ridge portion is arranged radially outward of the first ridge portion, and the third ridge portion is arranged radially outward of the second ridge portion, and is located axially above both the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion. An adhesive is arranged to cover the outside surface of the shaft and reach a portion of the second ridge portion.
US08824087B2
A method and system for estimating a zero gain start (ZGS) bias in a read channel is disclosed. The method may include: receiving preamble samples within a fixed-length window selected for ZGS calculation; calculating an energy associated with a 2T frequency in the preamble samples; calculating an energy associated with non-2T frequencies in the preamble samples; and calculating the ZGS bias based on the energy associated with the 2T frequency in the preamble samples and the energy associated with non-2T frequencies in the preamble samples.
US08824079B2
A servo control field on a recordable medium includes a bit patterned media (BPM) pattern including a plurality of dots arranged in a down-track orientation and in a cross-track orientation, wherein the dots comprise a plurality of dot composites. Each of the dot composites includes a plurality of dots. A first spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of dots in a dot composite in the down-track direction on the recordable medium is less than a second spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of dot composites in the down-track direction. A readback signal generated in response to the BPM patterned may be filtered to attenuate harmonic frequencies in the readback signal.
US08824077B2
Write enhancement circuitry on the head carrier of a magnetic recording disk drive provides additional write current overshoot beyond that provided by the write driver circuitry. The write enhancement circuitry is formed on the head carrier as ladder network blocks. A first ladder network block is a first capacitor C1 located in parallel with the write coil. The second ladder network block includes a second capacitor C2 having substantially the same inductance L2. The compensation circuitry is referred to as a ladder network because additional ladder blocks, like the second block but with different values of capacitance and inductance, may be located on the head carrier.
US08824074B1
Methods, systems and computer program products for performing hybrid defect detection are disclosed. In some implementations, an apparatus includes a signal module to process data signals corresponding to data on a storage medium to generate signal samples. The apparatus includes a first defect detector to identify a first portion of the signal samples, determine a number of the signal samples in the first portion that are associated with abnormal signal characteristics, and generate a first output based on the number of the signal samples in the first portion that are associated with abnormal signal characteristics. The apparatus includes a second defect detector to identify a second portion of the signal samples different from the first portion, and generate a second output based on a correlation between data bits and signal samples in the second portion.
US08824069B2
The lens barrel includes a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a drive unit. The first lens unit includes a first lens element and a first lens support frame supporting the first lens element. The second lens unit includes a second lens element and a second lens support frame supporting the second lens element. The second lens unit is supported by the first lens unit to be movable in the optical axis direction of the first lens element with respect to the first lens unit. The drive unit is arranged to be used to drive the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit, and is fixed to the first lens unit. When viewed in the optical axis direction, the drive unit is fixed to the first lens unit so that a first profile line formed by the first lens unit and the drive unit is substantially circular.
US08824064B2
A zoom lens includes a fixing barrel, a cam barrel, a guide barrel, a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The cam barrel is rotatably received in the fixing barrel. The guiding barrel is movably received in the fixing barrel and partially receives the cam barrel. The guiding barrel is moveable along an optical axis of the zoom lens following the motion of the cam barrel. The first lens group is rotatably received in the guiding barrel. The second lens group is rotatably received in the cam barrel. The first and second lens groups move along the optical axis following the rotation of the cam barrel. The third lens group is aligned with the first and second lens groups, and driven by a driver to be movably received in the fixing barrel and moveable along the optical axis of the zoom lens.
US08824063B2
An optical device includes a first and second lens group, an operation member, a first and second lens group position detection unit, a storage unit, a control unit. The control unit controls the movement of the second lens group based on positional information of the first lens group detected by the first lens group position detection unit and the positional relationship information stored in the storage unit, and determines whether a control state of the second lens group is abnormal based on control positional information during the control of the movement of the second lens group and the signal corresponding to the position of the second lens group detected by the second lens group position detection unit.
US08824053B2
Two aperture members are disposed on each side of a lens array. In one aperture member, decreasingly tapered through holes having a cross sectional area that gradually decreases in a light incident direction and increasingly tapered through holes having a cross sectional area that gradually increases in the light incident direction are alternatively arranged. The other aperture member that is oppositely disposed with respect to the lens array has the same configuration. The center axes of the decreasingly tapered through holes and the center axes of the increasingly tapered through holes are coincident with each other. This enables to achieve an image forming optical element that has a large amount of light and less irregularity of the amount of light.
US08824040B1
An illuminated electrophoretic device comprising of an electrophoretic display having a set of microcapsules suspended within a insulating liquid. The insulating liquid can be sandwiched between a first surface and a second surface, where each microcapsule encapsulates a set of charged particles. The first surface can be transparent, permitting light to be transmitted. A light source can be configured to transmit visible light through the first surface and/or the second surface. The transmitted light can illuminate the microcapsules and/or the insulating liquid.
US08824034B2
A method and a device for operating a laser in an optical component are provided, wherein the laser is a local oscillator of the optical component; and wherein a linewidth of the laser is broadened. Furthermore, an optical communication system is suggested comprising said optical component.
US08824031B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for transmitting an object from a scanned document are disclosed. For example, the method receives a scanned document, automatically segments one or more objects from the scanned document, presents the scanned document to the user, wherein the scanned document is modified to visually identify the one or more objects that are automatically segmented, receives a selection of an object of the one or more objects that are automatically segmented and transmits the object that is selected.
US08824029B2
A color calibration method and an image processing device using the same are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first image of a calibration card having color blocks, each of which corresponds to a standard value; obtaining first sensing values according to the first image, wherein each of the first sensing values corresponds to one of the standard values; generating a calibration table according to the first sensing values and the standard values; determining if a recursive condition is satisfied. The method also includes: obtaining a second image of the calibration card if the recursive condition is not satisfied; obtaining second sensing values according to the second image; adjusting the second sensing values according to the calibration table to generate third sensing values; updating the calibration table according to the third sensing values and the standard values until the recursive condition is satisfied. Accordingly, the calibration table is generated automatically.
US08824026B2
An image reading apparatus having light emitting unit for irradiating light onto a original, reflected light detector light reflected by the original after the original is irradiated by the light emitting unit, outside light detector disposed in an area outside the area in which light reflected by the original enters the reflected light detector and reflected light correcting unit for correcting detection result data detected the reflected light detector based on outside light detected by the outside light detector. An image reading head having light emitting unit, which irradiates, a original with light, and a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a row having a length longer than a length of the light emitting unit.
US08824019B2
An image processing apparatus may include a generation unit, a calculation unit, and a storing unit. The generation unit generates, from job data, image data independent of a model of the image processing apparatus. The calculation unit calculates charging information about contents included in the image data and charging information about additional information added to the image data. The storing unit stores the charging information about the contents and the charging information about the additional information for each charging destination stored in a storage unit.
US08824018B2
In a case where a line noise suppression mode in which a line noise image is suppressed is enabled by a mode setting section 81, (A) a spatial filter process section 108 executes a spatial filter process with respect to a text pixel which have determined to be included in a text region by a segmentation process section 105, in which spatial filter process an edge enhancement degree of an image is smaller than that obtained when the line noise suppression mode is disabled, and (B) an output tone correction section 109 executes, with respect to the text pixel subjected to the spatial filter process, a tone correction process in which a contrast enhancement degree of an image is higher than that obtained when the line noise suppression mode is disabled.
US08824015B2
An image processing apparatus includes a halftone processing unit configured to apply halftone processing based on a dither matrix to image data, a correction unit configured, with respect to the processed image data, to shift a pixel of the image data in a sub-scanning direction at a correction position in a main scanning direction which is determined based on correction information for correcting a distortion due to a curve of a scanning line for forming an image according to the image data, and a resolution conversion unit configured to apply resolution conversion processing for lowering a resolution of image data to the corrected image data, wherein the dither matrix results in that the image data to which the resolution conversion processing has been applied includes matched portions of halftone dot patterns appearing in regions preceding and following the correction position in the main scanning direction.
US08824014B1
A method of operating a printer includes reducing a first plurality of coverage parameters in a first continuous tone (contone) pixel by a predetermined amount if a combination of at least two of the coverage parameters is below a predetermined threshold and reducing a second plurality of coverage parameters in a second pixel by a smaller amount if the combination of coverage parameters in the second pixel is greater than the predetermined threshold. The method further includes generating half-tone image data from the first and second pixels and forming printed marks corresponding to the first and second pixels on an image receiving surface.
US08824010B2
To realize effective load distribution and improve the performance in image formation processing, an image processing apparatus includes a first image processing unit configured to perform image processing on a drawing area, a second image processing unit configured to be differentiated from the first image processing unit, a load analysis unit configured to analyze a composition processing load of an object in the drawing area, a rotational angle analysis unit configured to analyze a rotational angle of the object in the drawing area, and a load distribution determination unit configured to determine whether to distribute a part of image formation processing to be applied on the drawing area from the first image processing unit to the second image processing unit based on the analyzed composition processing load of the object and the analyzed rotational angle of the object.
US08824008B2
An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. An image forming unit forms an image by using plural predetermined colors. An index forming unit causes the image forming unit to form three or more consecutive image correcting indexes of one type by using an identical color, the image correcting indexes being used for correcting misregistration of an image to be formed. The image correcting indexes are sequentially transferred to an image carrier. A detector includes a light source emitting light to the image correcting indexes and a light receiver receiving light reflected by the image carrier and the image correcting indexes to generate a detection signal. A position specifying unit specifies a position of an image correcting index located at the center of three consecutive image correcting indexes by using the detection signal. A misregistration correcting unit corrects misregistration of an image to be formed by using the specified position.
US08823998B2
An identification (ID) code printing method for a glass substrate is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: loading a glass substrate onto a front end of a platform; aligning the glass substrate at the front end of the platform; printing an ID code on the glass substrate for three times in a process of moving the glass substrate from the front end of the platform to a back end of the platform, then from the back end of the platform to the front end of the platform and finally again from the front end of the platform to the back end of the platform. An ID code printing apparatus for a glass substrate is further disclosed. Thereby, an additional cycle of ID code printing operations can be carried out in the present disclosure as compared to the prior art, which can increase the number of times of ID code printing under the conventional tact time conditions and improve the utilization factor of the production line.
US08823996B2
Image forming devices, hard imaging methods, and methods of determining a transfer function are described. According to one embodiment, an image forming device includes an image engine configured to provide a marking agent upon media, processing circuitry configured to control the image engine to form a test image upon the media having a specified coverage of the marking agent and to access measurement data indicative of a measured coverage of the marking agent of the test image, storage circuitry configured to store data comprising associations of a plurality of specified coverage values of the marking agent and a plurality of resultant coverage amounts of the marking agent formed upon the media by the image engine corresponding to respective ones of the specified coverage values, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to access image data of an image to be formed to identify one of the specified coverage values of the marking agent to be formed upon the media to form the image, to modify the one specified coverage value using the stored data and the measurement data to provide an imaging coverage value, and to control the image engine using the imaging coverage value to form the hard image.
US08823994B2
An image reading device includes a light source, an image sensor, a transport unit, and a control unit. While, during reading of a target to be read by the image sensor, the control unit causes the transport unit to accelerate the read rate of the image sensor to a reference read rate or to decelerate the read rate thereof from the reference read rate, the control unit causes the light source to light up, within the read time, with timing brought close to a read section from a lighting start point to a lighting end point in the case of reading one line in the reference read time.
US08823993B2
Disclosed are a method, computer program product, and system for print job distribution. An amount of available consumable resources for each of a plurality of printers is determined. An estimated usage of the consumable resources for the plurality of printers for one or more printer jobs in a printer queue is determined. A maintenance schedule related to the maintenance of the consumable resources for each of the plurality of printers is accessed. A print distribution plan for each print job in the printer queue is determined, based at least in part on the amount of available consumable resources for each of the plurality of printers, the estimated usage of consumable resources for the plurality of printers for each printer job in a printer queue, and the maintenance schedule related to the maintenance of the consumable resources for each of the plurality of printers.
US08823980B2
An image forming apparatus which configures a printing system includes an application server which has a function of editing and storing document data, and provides the document data in response to a request; the image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including a printing function; a data generation apparatus which generates, from the document data, print data printable by the image forming apparatus; and a storage apparatus which stores data having undergone processing by the image forming apparatus, the apparatuses being communicable with each other via a network, comprising: recording unit configured to record, as difference data, a setting difference upon setting change of print data; and transmission unit configured to execute processing for the print data, and transmitting a completion notification of the processing together with the difference data.
US08823973B2
An image forming apparatus, to which an accessory device is connectable, includes a control unit configured to control the image forming apparatus to start a preparation operation in which an image forming unit can form an image in response to a power supply, and a storage unit configured to store a connecting state between the image forming apparatus and the accessory device. The control unit determines, in response to the start of the power supply, whether the accessory device has been connected to the image forming apparatus before the power supply is stopped, with reference to information stored in the storage unit. Then, the control unit controls the image forming apparatus to start the preparation operation without waiting for the receiving of the information about the accessory device therefrom if the accessory device has not been connected to the image forming apparatus.
US08823967B2
A power-supply control device includes a power-supply control section, a first detection section that detects whether or not a body capable of movement is moving, a second detection section that detects whether or not the body capable of movement exists, and an instruction section. The power-supply control section receives supply of power from a mains power source section, and selectively sets a power supply mode, in which power is supplied to a processing section, and a power saving mode, in which supply of power to the processing section is stopped. The first and second detection sections and the instruction section are caused to operate at least in the power saving mode. The instruction section provides, for the power-supply control section, an instruction for switching between the power supply mode and the power saving mode.
US08823965B2
A printer driver causes a computer to function as: an image formation data generator configured to generate image formation data which includes image data and other data; and an image formation data updater configured to update the image formation data. The image formation data updater is configured to update the image formation data by: judging whether or not a description to secure compatibility of a version of the image formation data exists in the image formation data; if the description exists, adding to the other data an enabling instruction to enable a compatibility securement function to secure the compatibility of the version of the image formation data; and if no description exists, adding to the other data a disabling instruction to disable the compatibility securement function.
US08823960B2
A management apparatus comprises: a holding unit that holds configuration data defined for respective models of a plurality of image forming apparatuses or respective image forming apparatuses; a determination unit that determines whether a value defined in configuration data of a first image forming apparatus exceeds a range settable for a function of a second image forming apparatus; and a generation unit that, when the determination unit determines that the value defined in the acquired configuration data of the first image forming apparatus exceeds the settable range, newly generates configuration data to implement an operation to be executed based on the value defined in the configuration data of the first image forming apparatus by combining at least one other function executable by the second image forming apparatus.
US08823954B2
A low coherence enhanced backscattering tomography (LEBT) method is disclosed for depth-selective sensing of the superficial layer of tissue. 3D images of the microarchitecture and molecular conformation of the superficial layer of tissue are obtained. The method combines the high resolution advantage of low coherence light and the high sensitivity advantage of light scattering to tissue structure and composition. Intact tissue can be examined without the need of excision or processing. The method can be applied in in situ measurements. According to the method, 3D images of the nuclear morphology and cellular structure for the superficial layer of the tissue are generated; this is particularly useful in detecting cancer and precancer at the earliest stage of carcinogenesis.
US08823949B2
A measurement apparatus includes a pedestal, a supporting tray, a first movable base, a first measuring assembly, a second movable base, a second measuring assembly, a third movable base, a third measuring assembly, and a console. The supporting tray is rotationally fixed in the pedestal and can be rotated to position a workpiece at different angles to ensure that images of all portions and surfaces needing to be measured can be captured.
US08823946B1
A fiber optic gyroscope including a non-coherent light source for producing a first beam of light, an optical circulator in the path of said first beam for providing polarized second and third beams, respectively, with polarization orthogonal to each other, and a time division multiplexer in the path of the second and third beams. A first planar optical fiber loop is coupled to the time division multiplexer and has a first end and a second end coupled to the second and third beams respectively during a first time period. A second planar optical fiber loop is coupled to the time division multiplexer and has a first end and a second end coupled to the second and third beams respectively during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.
US08823945B2
The invention relates to a measuring device for determining a vegetation index value (REIP) of plants. The measuring device comprises a plurality of light emitting elements, each of which emits substantially monochromatic light at a predetermined wavelength, a light receiving element which receives light from the light emitting elements reflected by the plants and generates a signal indicating the respective intensity of the received light, and a control means which successively activates the light emitting elements in a cyclical sequence, determines the respective intensity of the reflected light based on the output signal of the light receiving element, and calculates the vegetation index value based on the determined intensities of the overall measurement cycle. According to the invention, a light frequency converter is provided as the light receiving element.
US08823944B2
To reduce the effect of directly reflected light on a contact-surface side of a contact member, a biological information detector includes a light-emitting part, a light-receiving part, a reflecting part, a protecting part for protecting the light-emitting part, and a substrate. The protecting member is formed from a material that is transparent with respect to a wavelength of the light emitted by the light-emitting part and has a contact member provided with a contact surface in contact with the detection site. Light emitted from the light-emitting part is inhibited from reflecting once on a contact-surface side of the contact member of the protecting part and being incident on a light-receiving region of the light-receiving part.
US08823938B2
A system, apparatus, and method is provided to remotely measure atmospheric species using a long path differential absorption technique. In one embodiment, a source and a detector are collocated and at the far end of the absorption path a retro-reflector is mounted on a vehicle. The source generates an outgoing laser beam that is transmitted to the retro-reflector and reflected towards the detector as an incoming laser beam, and the detector receives the incoming laser beam that was reflected by the retro-reflector.
US08823936B2
The invention provides a structure for critical dimension and overlay measurement including a measuring unit, a first measurement pattern for measuring overlay and a second measurement pattern for measuring linewidth, line density and/or line semi-density. The first target pattern includes an outer bar structure disposed on a first layer and an inner bar structure disposed on a second layer; the outer bar structure and/or the inner bar structure has a same shared pattern structure with the second target pattern. The pattern structure includes four bars with the same shape positioned orthogonally and closely to each other, and at least two orthogonally positioned bars include N equally spaced rectangular lines of the same width, wherein, N is an odd number; the N rectangular lines include one central rectangular line and N−1 auxiliary rectangular lines.
US08823922B2
An overlay measurement apparatus has a polarized light source for illuminating a sample with a polarized light beam and an optical system to capture light that is scattered by the sample. The optical system includes a polarizer for transmitting an orthogonal polarization component that is orthogonal to a polarization direction of the polarized light beam. A detector measures intensity of the orthogonal polarization component. A processing unit is connected to the detector, and is arranged to process the orthogonal polarization component for overlay metrology measurement using asymmetry data derived from the orthogonal polarization component.
US08823921B2
A programmable illuminator for a photolithography system includes a light source, a first optical system having a light uniformizing element, a programmable micro-mirror device, and a second optical system that forms an illumination field that illuminates a reticle. The programmable micro-mirror device can be configured to perform shutter and edge-exposure-blocking functions that have previously required relatively large mechanical devices. Methods of improving illumination field uniformity using the programmable illuminator are also disclosed.
US08823901B2
The present invention relates a prism sheet, and a back light unit and a liquid crystal display device therewith, in which total thickness of a back light unit is reduced while taking place of the lamp mura is prevented, for improving a picture quality. The prism sheet includes a plurality of first prism mountains formed on a supporting film at regular intervals, a resin layer filled between the first prism mountains, and a plurality of second prism mountains formed on the resin layer and the first prism mountains with at intervals greater than the intervals of the first prism mountains.
US08823889B2
A stereo display includes a display panel, a first polarizer modulator disposed above the display panel, and a second polarizer modulator disposed above the first polarizer modulator. The second polarizer modulator includes a first lens set, a second lens set opposite to the first lens set, a polarization material, and a birefringent material. An angle between an extending direction of the first lens set and an extending direction of the second lens set is not 0 or 180 degrees. The polarization material is between the first lens set and the second lens set. The birefringent material is disposed in at least one of the first lens set and the second lens set.
US08823879B2
A method carried out on a television receiver device involves at a television receiver/tuner device, carrying out a channel scan to identify available television channels that can be received by the television receiver device; while the channel scan is being carried out: reading a feature highlight video file from a memory; and displaying the feature highlight video file on a television display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08823872B2
An image pickup module includes a cover member, an image pickup device chip including photodiodes, a fixing member which is arranged around the image pickup device chip and which connects the cover member and the image pickup device chip together, a rewiring substrate arranged on the side opposite to the cover member of the image pickup device chip, connection members for connecting the image pickup device chip with the rewiring substrate, and a space surrounded by the cover member, the image pickup device chip, and the fixing member. The image pickup device chip includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes through-hole electrodes penetrating the substrate. When an area corresponding to the fixing member in the orthogonal projection of the image pickup module with respect to the cover module is defined as a fixed area, the through-hole electrodes and the connection members are arranged in the fixed area.
US08823867B2
A camera of the present invention comprises a contrast detection section for detecting a contrast value, an assist light section for irradiating a subject by emitting light at a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount that is dimmer than the first luminance amount, and a control section for moving the photographing lens and detecting a focus position of the photographing lens based on contrast values detected by the contrast detection section, wherein the control section causes the assist light section to emit assist light in a first luminance amount or a second luminance amount, and detects a focus position of the photographing lens based on one of a first contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the first luminance amount, or a second contrast value detected in a state where the assist light section emits light in the second luminance amount.
US08823860B2
An apparatus for auto-focusing detection, a camera applying the same, and a method for calculating a distance to a subject are disclosed. The camera calculates a focusing control state based on synthetic image data output as an image passing through a pupil split unit provided with a filter arranged at one or more of the at least two holes as taken by an image pickup unit.
US08823859B2
A manufacturing method for an optical unit includes: a step of bonding plural lens wafers, on which optical components are formed, and forming a lens unit wafer including plural lens units; a step of bonding a bending optical element wafer including plural bending optical elements to a first surface of the lens unit wafer such that the plural bending optical elements are respectively opposed to the plural lens units and forming an optical unit wafer; and a step of separating and individualizing the optical unit wafer for each of the lens units and the bending optical elements and manufacturing plural optical units.
US08823853B2
An image sensor includes a charge accumulation region of a first conductivity type, an isolating semiconductor region formed from an impurity semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a channel stop region formed from an impurity semiconductor region of the second conductivity type which is located on the isolating semiconductor region, and an insulator arranged on the channel stop region. The insulator includes a first insulating portion arranged above the isolating semiconductor region via the channel stop region, a second insulating portion arranged adjacent to an outside of the first insulating portion, wherein thickness of the second insulating potion decreases with an increase in distance from the first insulating portion, and a third insulating portion formed on the first insulating portion, wherein the third insulating portion has upper and side faces connecting the upper face to an upper face of the second insulating portion.
US08823846B2
Providing for pausing data readout from an optical sensor array is described herein. By way of example, an interruption period can be introduced into a readout cycle of the optical sensor array to suspend readout of data. During the interruption period, other operations related to the optical sensor array can be performed, including operations that are typically detrimental to image quality. Moreover, these operations can be performed while mitigating or avoiding negative impact on the image quality. Thus, greater flexibility is provided for global shutter operations, for instance, potentially improving frame rates and fine control of image exposure, while preserving image quality.
US08823830B2
A method for digital image eye artifact detection and correction include identifying one or more candidate red-eye defect regions in an acquired image. For one or more candidate red-eye regions, a seed pixels and/or a region of pixels having a high intensity value in the vicinity of the candidate red-eye region is identified. The shape, roundness or other eye-related characteristic of a combined hybrid region including the candidate red-eye region and the region of high intensity pixels is analyzed. Based on the analysis of the eye-related characteristic of the combined hybrid region, it is determined whether to apply flash artifact correction, including red eye correction of the candidate red-eye region and/or correction of the region of high intensity pixels.
US08823829B2
Image capture by using an imaging assembly having spectral sensitivities which are tunable in accordance with a capture parameter. First and second capture parameters are applied respectively to first and second regions of a scene, and a preview image is captured and displayed, together with a user interface which permits a user to adjust a transition of the capture parameter at a boundary between the first and second regions. Further preview images may be captured and displayed until the user is satisfied with the appearance of the preview image at the boundary of the first and second regions. A final image is captured using the first and second capture parameters together with any adjustment to the transition of the capture parameters at the boundary between the first and second regions.
US08823814B2
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, an imaging device that captures an image imaged via the optical system to generate image data, a detecting unit that detects a shake of the imaging apparatus in a rotating direction, a cutting-out unit that cuts out data in a predetermined cutting-out region in a region of the image data generated by the imaging device, and a recording unit that records the cut image data in a recording medium. The cutting-out unit determines a rotating center position according to a predetermined condition (for example, the focal length of the optical system or move amount of the imaging apparatus), rotates the cutting-out region around the rotating center position to reduce an effect of the shake in the rotating direction detected by the detecting unit on the image imaged on the imaging device, and cuts out the image data from the rotated cutting-out region.
US08823810B2
A night vision device and method for filtering a series of image frames that depict a moving subject, which thereby improves the signal-to-noise ratio of each image frame, is provided. A composite image is formed for each image frame by combining pixel values in a current image frame with pixel values in composite images corresponding to image frames acquired before the current image frame. Additionally, pixels values in image frames acquired subsequent to the acquisition of the current image frame are included when forming the composite image. A bi-directional recursive filter is used to weight the contributions from the previous composite images and subsequent image frames with a decay constant. Motion of the imaging system is optionally compensated for by establishing a moving reference frame and shifting the image frames to account for this motion; thus, registering the image frames before filtering the current image frame.
US08823801B2
A digital X-ray capture device that uses an image array camera to capture a digital image of a standard X-ray film. The X ray-film is placed on a tray within a housing. An array of LED lights located under the tray illuminate the film. In the preferred embodiment the illuminated image of the X-ray bounces off a forty-five degree angle mirror and enters the image array camera. The digital image can then be downloaded to a standard computer. Custom software allows the user to manipulate the image as needed. The entire capture process takes only two seconds. A patients information can be added to the boarder of the captured image. The captured image can be sent via email to any other computer.
US08823799B2
The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.
US08823798B2
What is disclosed is a system and method for processing an image to obscure information which can be used for identification purposes. In one embodiment, an image is received as part of a traffic enforcement activity. A motor vehicle in the image has a visibly discernible license plate. The vehicle's license plate is first isolated in the image. Content in the image which can be used for identification purposes is thereafter identified. The identified content is compared to the license plate. Any content in the image which is different than the license plate is obscured by, for instance, pixelating the content in the image, introducing a distortion into the image at a location of the content, replacing content with other content, or by blurring the content of the image. The modified image containing the obscured content is then provided to an image output device for rendering. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08823795B1
Communication systems configured to monitor an entryway to a building can include a security system configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote computing device. The security system can include a doorbell that comprises a camera, a speaker, and a microphone.
US08823794B2
Methods and systems may include high speed camera to capture a video of a display output, a robotic arm to interact with a device, a processor, and a computer readable storage medium having a set of instructions. If executed by the processor, the instructions cause the system to identify one or more user experience characteristics based on the captured video, and generate a report based on the one or more user experience characteristics. The report may include a perceptional model score that is generated based on the user experience characteristics as well as other parameters. The user experience characteristics could include response time, frame rate and run time characteristics.
US08823789B2
An imaging apparatus includes first and second imaging units, a reading unit that reads pixel information from pixels set as a reading target in each of the first and second imaging units, a control unit that sets the pixels as the reading target in each of the first and second imaging units in a manner such that the pixel information is alternately read from the first and second imaging units by the reading unit, and controls timing of exposure processes in the first and second imaging units and timing of reading processes of the pixel information for the first and second imaging units by the reading unit, to be correlated with one another, a transmission unit that transmits the pixel information read from each of the first and second imaging units in a same transmission path, and an image processing unit that generates an image based on the pixel information.
US08823788B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a first and second optical systems that focus and emit incident light, a transparent wavelength, and a focal length of them being different from each other; an imaging unit that includes a first region on which the light emitted from the first optical system is incident and a second region on which the light emitted from the second optical system is incident, can output, as pixel information, an electric signal after photoelectric conversion from pixels arbitrarily set as read targets; a setting unit that can arbitrarily set the read targets in at least one of the first region and the second region; a reading unit that reads the pixel information from the read targets; a control unit that changes the read targets according to an acquisition target image; and an image processing unit that generates the acquisition target image.
US08823781B2
A stereoscopic image display apparatus capable of generating a cursor that moves according to user operation to allow stereoscopic view with a stereoscopic image including a set of images with parallax and capable of combining and displaying the cursor on the stereoscopic image acquires a parallax amount of the stereoscopic image at a location where the cursor is combined and displayed on the stereoscopic image and calculates a moving speed of the cursor. The stereoscopic image display apparatus determines whether the cursor is moving based on the calculated moving speed and generates the cursor including a certain predetermined value as the parallax amount of the cursor if it is determined that the cursor is moving. The stereoscopic image display apparatus generates the cursor by setting the parallax amount of the cursor to the parallax amount of the acquired stereoscopic image if it is determined that the cursor is not moving.
US08823779B2
A technique for reducing the time required before a tracking process is performed again in calculating the position and orientation of an image capturing apparatus or an object. Images captured by the apparatus are acquired, the acquired images are stored in order per frame, straight lines detected in the captured images and straight lines in a three-dimensional space model are matched, the position and orientation of the apparatus are initialized by obtaining correspondences having the highest consistency, a captured image to be processed is selected from the captured images, the change in position and orientation of the apparatus is measured using the change in position and orientation of a target object in the selected image based on the initialized position and orientation of the apparatus, and if the measured change in position and orientation is not within a predetermined threshold, initialization is performed using the selected image.
US08823777B2
Systems and methods may provide for determining a one-dimensional (1D) disparity between a plurality of rectified images, and extracting depth information from the plurality of rectified images based at least in part on the 1D disparity. In one example, the 1D disparity is in the horizontal direction and the images are rectified with respect to one another in the vertical direction.
US08823776B2
A method that includes capturing depth information associated with a first field of view of a depth camera. The depth information is represented by a first plurality of depth pixels. The method also includes capturing color information associated with a second field of view of a video camera that substantially overlaps with the first field of view of the depth camera. The color information is represented by a second plurality of color pixels. The method further includes enhancing color information represented by at least one color pixel of the second plurality of color pixels to generate an enhanced image. The enhanced image adjusts an exposure characteristic of the color information captured by the video camera. The at least one color pixel is enhanced based on depth information represented by at least one corresponding depth pixel of the first plurality of depth pixels.
US08823768B2
A conference system includes a first conference device and a second conference device installed at a first site, and is connected with an external conference device installed at a site different from the first site. The second conference device selects one from a group consisting of a video image taken by and received from the first conference device and a video image taken by the second conference device to transmit the selected video image to the external conference device. The second conference device selects a video image taken by the second conference device when the second conference device detects an event occurred at the second conference device.
US08823767B2
Methods, apparatuses, system and a computer program product provide improved delivery of short messages. The method includes the steps of receiving a message to be delivered to user equipment, negotiating a timer value with a short message service routing element, forwarding the short message to the short message service routing element together with the negotiated timer value and starting a timer according to the negotiated timer value.
US08823764B2
An optical writer includes a housing, a light source, a deflector, and a plurality of optical elements. The housing includes a plurality of surfaces, one of which includes a substantially flat portion having an opening formed therein and a curved portion curved in the shape of an arc of a circle in cross-section. The light source is enclosed within the housing and projects light through the opening and onto a target. The deflector is enclosed within the housing and deflects the light projected from the light source in a main scanning direction. The plurality of optical elements is enclosed within the housing and directs the light deflected by the deflector onto the target.
US08823763B2
Provided is printing apparatus which includes: a light-emitting device array and a photoconductor, wherein the light-emitting device array includes the light-emitting devices of the number greater than the number of pixels of a single line of the print image, data of the single line of the print image are allocated to a portion of the light-emitting devices in the light-emitting device array, and in a period in which exposure of the photoconductor is halted, the light-emitting devices to which the data of the single line of the print image are allocated are shifted in position in the light-emitting device array.
US08823761B2
An optical scanning device includes a light source that emits a laser beam, a deflector that deflects the emitted laser beam, a scanning lens that causes the deflected laser beam to scan a surface of a photosensitive body at a uniform velocity, a reflector having a reflective surface that reflects the deflected laser beam toward the photosensitive body among the laser beams that have passed through the scanning lens, and a synchronization sensor that receives the laser beam from the reflector and outputs a detection signal. The reflector is set so that a scanning speed in a main scanning direction of the laser beam on a light-receiving surface of the synchronization sensor becomes greater than a value obtained by dividing a scanning distance of the laser beam in the main scanning direction on the light-receiving surface of the synchronization sensor by a response delay time of the synchronization sensor.
US08823756B2
A first printhead that prints on one side of the paper, a second printhead that prints on the other side of the paper, and a cutter are disposed to the paper conveyance path with a specific gap therebetween approaching the paper exit for the paper, and a conveyance unit that conveys the paper through the conveyance path in a device that prints duplex receipts. Based on reception of a transaction end statement, the printer prints part of the transaction information by the first printhead; prints the remaining part of the transaction information by the second printhead; prints store information, the length of which fits between the cutter and the first printhead, by the first printhead after printing the transaction information; and then cuts the paper by the cutter at a position between the area where the transaction information was printed and the area where the store information was printed.
US08823750B2
Various embodiments enable repetitive gestures, such as multiple serial gestures, to be implemented efficiently so as to enhance the user experience. Other embodiments provide various approaches to zoom operations that consider a particular element's contextual surroundings in making a zoom decision that is designed to enhance the user experience and provide efficiently-zoomed content given a device's or rendering container's form factor.
US08823748B2
Technology is generally described for disabling an automatic rotation function of mobile computing devices. The technology can detect a tilt angle of a display of the computing device in relation to a surface; and if the tilt angle is less than a specified threshold tilt angle, disable a rotation function.
US08823740B1
A display system includes an image generator configured to generate a virtual image and a first beam splitter coupled to the image generator. The virtual image and a real-world view are viewable through the first beam splitter from a viewing location. The display system also includes a second beam splitter coupled to the first beam splitter and a camera coupled to the second beam splitter. The camera is configured to image an eye of a user located at the viewing location. Further, a controller is coupled to the image generator and the camera. The controller is configured to process the image of the eye of the user, to determine a location in at least one of the real-world view and the virtual image where the eye of the user is focused, and to control an operation of the display system in response to the determined location.
US08823734B1
An interactive digital map of a geographic area is provided via a viewport that defines a visible portion of the digital map. The digital map includes a representation of a structure. The viewport is panned relative to the digital map in response to receiving a user request. An indication that indoor map data is available for the structure is displayed in response to determining that the viewport is panning, and the indication is removed in response to determining that the viewport has stopped panning.
US08823733B2
A touch-based computer graphics user interface enhances a stylus pen with virtual suction to create a virtual vacuum or suction tool. The virtual tool may simulate a physical world suction tool and/or provide capabilities not available in the real world. The virtual suction tool allows the user to feel as if he or she has transcended the boundary between the virtual world and the real world by physically holding in his or her hand an object that is able to interact with and virtually attract and contain items (e.g., objects with characteristics and behaviors) removed from or expellable into the virtual world. The resulting highly intuitive user interface provides fun and exciting video game play and has other applications as well.
US08823731B1
According to one aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for converting data encoded in a graphics signal to at least one output signal. The apparatus includes an input, a plurality of outputs, signal processing circuitry and a controller. The input is adapted to receive the graphics signal where the graphics signal includes a plurality of frames generated at least in part from original data. The signal processing circuitry is adapted to locate, in the graphics signal, data corresponding to the original data, convert the data corresponding to the original data to output data and communicate the output data to the plurality of outputs. The controller is adapted to monitor a capacity of the signal processing circuitry and generate a signal that results in at least one disposable frame being added to the plurality of frames. The signal processing circuitry is adapted to discard the at least one disposable frame.
US08823730B2
An image display device includes a creation unit configured to calculate histogram data before correction that indicates a luminance distribution from an input image data; a clip processing unit configured to set a value of the number of pixels of a tone to an upper threshold when the tone among tones of luminance values in the histogram data; an addition unit configured to add a value of the number of pixels based on a difference between the upper threshold and a value of the number of pixels for each tone that is set to the upper threshold in the histogram data before correction to a value of the number of pixels of at least a part of tones that are present between a first luminance value and a second luminance value and to output obtained corrected histogram data; and a correction unit configured to correct the input image data.
US08823721B2
Techniques are described that can used to synchronize the start of frames from multiple sources so that when a display is to output a frame to a next source, boundaries of current and next source are aligned. Techniques are useful to avoid visual distortions when changing from a first video source to a second video source.
US08823719B2
A graphics processing method, which is applied to a plurality of buffers at least including a first buffer served as an on-screen buffer and a second buffer served as an on-drawing buffer, includes the steps of: sending a drawing command related to the second buffer to a drawing engine; when the drawing command related to the second buffer are received, drawing graphic data stored in the second buffer; sending an asynchronous flush command related to the second buffer to the drawing engine in order to confirm whether the drawing command related to the second buffer is completed; flushing the second buffer; and after the second buffer is flushed, sending a first notice signal to notify a display engine that the second buffer is capable of being flipped.
US08823714B1
The invention provides a system for controlling flame to produce a music-reactive fire display. This system comprises a digital signal analyzer, electronically-controlled burner elements that allow variable control of fuel flow rate, an automatic ignition system, flame detection, and a means of communication between the signal analyzer and the burner elements.
US08823712B1
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for application of bevel curves to splines.
US08823710B2
This disclosure describes a user interface and techniques for an interactive graphical representation of large scale data on a display. The disclosure describes how large scale data may be viewed using multiple linked charts. In one implementation, a user interface comprises an overview chart. The user may use chart controller(s) to designate one or more portions of the overview chart viewable in subsequent charts. The user may navigate between the overview chart and the subsequent charts using the chart controller(s).
US08823707B2
A capability for guided navigation in an interactive virtual three-dimensional environment is provided. Such a capability may enhance user experience by providing the feeling of free-form navigation to a user. It may be necessary to constrain the user to certain areas of good visual quality, and subtly guide the user towards viewpoints with better rendering results without disrupting the metaphor of freeform navigation. Additionally, such a capability may enable users to “drive” down a street, follow curving roads, and turn around intersections within the interactive virtual three-dimensional environment. Further, this capability may be applicable to image-based rendering techniques in addition to any three-dimensional graphics system that incorporates navigation based on road networks and/or paths.
US08823705B2
An image generating apparatus generates a computer graphics image by rendering a polygon, and includes a coordinate data loading unit which loads coordinate data in vertex data of a vertex of the polygon, a coordinate transformation unit which transforms a coordinate of the loaded coordinate data into a coordinate in a different coordinate system, and a polygon removal determining unit which determines whether the polygon is to be rendered or not, using transformed coordinate data obtained through the transformation. A vertex removal determining unit determines the vertex to be valid, a form data loading unit loads the form data corresponding to only the vertex that is determined to be valid, and a polygon rendering unit renders the polygon using the loaded form data and the transformed coordinate data.
US08823694B2
Provided is a display apparatus having: a voltage application control section to apply a voltage onto electrochemical display elements of an ED type for each frame period; a frame control section 84 to control the number of frequencies at which the period of the frame has elapsed after the start of the erasure or writing of an image by the voltage application unit with a frame number; an assigning section 82 to assign starting frame numbers at which the individual electrochemical display elements start the erasure or writing before the erasure or writing is performed; and a voltage application control unit 83 to control the voltage application unit so that the voltages may be applied to the individual electrochemical display elements on the basis of the stating frame numbers and the frame number.
US08823681B2
A method of outputting an input position of a touch panel is provided which can output an input position intended by an operator even if two or more different input positions are detected. When an input operation on a position different from a first input position is detected in a scan cycle after output of the first input position, the input position where the new input operation is detected is output as a second input position. Even if input operations on two or more different positions are simultaneously detected, only one input position is output.
US08823680B2
A capacitive touch pad includes a sensor layer for sensing a touch of an object and a dummy trace below the sensor layer. The dummy trace is sensed to obtain a sensed value while the dummy trace is shielded by the sensor layer from interference of the object such that the sensed value reflects only environmental variation. Therefore, environmental variation can be identified depending on the sensed value, and the sensor layer can be calibrated properly.
US08823677B2
A touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed in this invention. The touch panel is with a central induction region and a peripheral region, and at least includes an upper electrode portion having an upper substrate located in the central induction region and the peripheral region, a first signal induction layer located in the central induction region and the peripheral region, and a first circuit layer located in the peripheral region only. The first signal induction layer covers the upper substrate in the central induction region. The first circuit layer is sandwiched between the upper substrate and the first signal induction layer, and electrically connected the first signal induction layer.
US08823675B2
A device includes a substrate, a top touch panel, and an electrode supported by the substrate including a conductive compressible material extending from the substrate to the top touch panel. Another electrode is supported by the substrate and arranged to form an electric field coupling with the electrode including the compressible material. A touch sensitive region is transferred from the substrate to the top touch panel by the compressible material.
US08823673B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, sensor circuits, and a detection circuit. Each sensor circuit senses at least two external signals different from each other and outputs a sensing signal. The detection circuit receives the sensing signal to detect a position to which the external signals are applied. Each sensor circuit includes sensors commonly connected to an output terminal, a scan line which receives a scan signal, a capacitor disposed between the scan line and the output terminal, charged with a first voltage in response to the scan signal, and charged with a second voltage greater than the first voltage in response to the current signal after the scan line is floated, a switching device which outputs the sensing signal in response to the second voltage, and a readout line which applies the sensing signal output from the switching device to the detection circuit.
US08823657B2
Touch sensing can be accomplished using master/slave touch controllers that transmit drive signals to a touch surface and process sense signals including superpositions resulting from master/slave drive signals. The master/slave can drive and sense different sets of lines, respectively, of the touch surface. A communication link between master/slave can be established by transmitting a clock signal between master/slave, transmitting a command including sequence information to the slave, and initiating a communication sequence from the clock signal and sequence information. The slave can receive/transmit communications from/to the master during first/second portions of the communication sequence, respectively. Touch sensing operations can be synchronized between master/slave by transmitting a command including phase alignment information from master to slave, and generating slave clock signals based on the clock signal and the phase alignment information, such that sense signal processing by master clock signals are in-phase with sense signal processing by slave clock signals.
US08823654B2
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, while a first function is being executed in a mobile terminal, if a second function different from the first function is executed, a first function icon having execution progress status information of the first function at a timing point of stopping the execution of the first function can be generated. If the first function is re-executed by selecting the first function icon later, it is advantageous in that the first function can be executed in a manner of being continuous with an execution progress status at the execution stop timing point.
US08823650B2
In a method for adjusting display parameters of a monitor of a computing device, the computing device electronically or wirelessly connects to a mouse that includes a primary button, a secondary button, a scroll wheel, a function button and a microcontroller. The microcontroller detects whether the function button is pressed, clicking of the primary button or the secondary button, motions of the scroll wheel, and motions of the mouse. An adjustment mode of the monitor is predefined. The monitor is controlled into the adjustment mode by pressing the function button. The display parameters can be adjusted with the primary button, the secondary button or the scroll wheel when the monitor is in the adjustment mode.
US08823644B2
An inner-sensor based pointing device is presented. The pointing device includes a central housing having an aperture and a sleeve disposed surrounding a portion of the central housing, the sleeves rotatable about the portion of the central housing and slidable along a generally horizontal axis about the portion of the central housing. The pointing device further includes a sensor disposed in the central housing and aligned with the aperture, the sleeve positioned surrounding the sensor, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the central housing and wherein the sensor is capable of detecting axial movement of the sleeve relative to the central housing. Additionally, the pointing device has a circuit in communication with the sensor, the circuit disposed within the central housing, the circuit capable of transmitting data to a computer regarding the movement of the sleeve.
US08823635B2
A system for setting a background image of a display module includes a housing. The housing defines a receiving space, a first hole and a second hole. The first hole and the second hole are communicated with the receiving space. The system further includes the display module received in the first hole, a transparent cover received in the second hole, a thermo-sensitive ink layer coated on the transparent cover, a camera positioned beneath the transparent cover, and a controller received in the receiving space. The camera is configured for capturing an image of the thermo-sensitive ink layer. The controller is configured for taking the image captured by the camera as the background image of the display module.
US08823629B2
A method of driving a display device includes analyzing input data of the display device to confirm whether there is a predetermined image pattern in an image corresponding to the input data, where a common voltage is distorted to an extent that a clock signal for a gate driver of the display device is distorted when the display device displays the image including the predetermined image pattern, and changing a slew rate of an output buffer of a data driver of the display device based on a result of the analyzing the input data.
US08823627B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display controller device and method which provides for a full and/or partial display with good display quality and/or low power consumption based on the scanning period for an active scan line being dependent upon a number of reference clock pulses. Some embodiments of the present invention include one or more of the following features: keeping the frequency substantially constant for different numbers of active scan lines, allowing change of the frequency due to characteristics of the LCD, displaying gradation with near linear effective voltage characteristics, displaying graduation data with lower power, or displaying a partial or full screen in a mobile device, for example, a cell phone.
US08823620B2
A semiconductor device having a normal function means is provided, in which the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased even when a digital circuit using transistors having one conductivity is employed. By turning OFF a diode-connected transistor 101, the gate terminal of a first transistor 102 is brought into a floating state. At this time, the first transistor 102 is ON and its gate-source voltage is stored in a capacitor. Then, when a potential at the source terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased, a potential at the gate terminal of the first transistor 102 is increased as well by bootstrap effect. As a result, the amplitude of an output signal is prevented from being decreased.
US08823617B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a feature amount generator configured to generate a feature amount based on the number of pixel pairs that satisfy a correspondence relationship between a gradation value of a target pixel and a gradation value of a surrounding pixel around the target pixel for a image represented by an input image signal, a processor configured to provide processing so as to set a correction value that reduces a dynamic range of a gradation value of the input image signal when the feature amount is larger than a first threshold, and so as not to set the correction value when the feature amount is equal to or smaller than the first threshold, and a liquid crystal driver configured to drive a liquid crystal display element based on the input image signal that has been corrected by the correction value.
US08823616B2
A liquid crystal display device includes; gate lines disposed on a display region, data lines disposed on the display region, wherein the data lines intersect with, and are insulated from, the gate lines, a gate driver which drives the gate lines, a plurality of data drivers which generate a data voltage from an input power source voltage and supply the data voltage to the data lines, and a power source voltage supplying unit which supplies different power source voltages to each of the data drivers according to a distance of each data driver from the gate driver.
US08823608B2
A display device includes: a pixel array unit with pixel circuits disposed in matrix form, the pixel circuit including a driving transistor, an electro-optic element, a storage capacitor, and a sampling transistor, with the electro-optic element emitting light by generating a driving current based on information stored in the storage capacitor at the driving transistor to be applied to the electro-optic element; and a control unit, of which the output stage includes a buffer transistor, to output a pulse signal for driving the pixel array unit from the buffer transistor; wherein the pixel array unit and the control unit are formed with long laser beam irradiation to be scanned in the vertical direction or horizontal direction; and wherein with the control unit, the size of the buffer transistor is equal to or greater than the pixel pitch in the scanning direction of the laser beam.
US08823605B2
An incandescent light source display includes a container and a number of incandescent light sources. The incandescent light sources are located in the container. Each of the incandescent light sources includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an incandescent element. The second electrode is spaced from the first electrode. The incandescent element is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. The incandescent element includes a carbon nanotube structure.
US08823603B1
A method of controlling a head mounted display (HMD) according to one embodiment of the present specification includes the steps of outputting visual information via a display unit, outputting auditory information via an audio output unit, detecting a control input touching a first region or a second region of a temple of the HMD, if the control input is detected in the first region, setting the visual information as control target information, if the control input is detected in the second region, setting the auditory information as the control target information, and controlling an output of the set control target information according to an attribute of moving of the control input, which moves in the first region and the second region while maintaining a contact with the temple of the HMD.
US08823599B2
The Loop-Slot Antenna design provides a large range of tunable frequencies for transceiving while maintaining a small profile perfect for mounting on vehicles or other objects where a large antenna is impractical or infeasible. As compared with known vertical polarization antennas that have considerable height, for instance quarter-wave and half-wave vertical stubs of h=λ/4 or h=λ/2, the antenna of this invention has height of h=λ/100.
US08823593B2
There is provided an antenna characteristic measuring system which includes a measuring point scanner to scan a measuring point, an antenna gain measuring device which measures an antenna gain of a measured antenna at a plurality of the measuring points, determines a reference point among the plurality of the measuring points, and obtains antenna gain difference values between the antenna gain at the reference point and each of the antenna gain at the plurality of the measuring points other than the reference point, and an antenna characteristic measuring device which measures a reference antenna characteristic of the measured antenna at the reference point and obtains an antenna characteristic of the measured antenna at each of the plurality of the measuring points other than the reference point by correcting the reference antenna characteristic with each of the difference values.
US08823589B2
The present invention is an integrated wireless system with multiple functionalities including robust (indoor/outdoor) position location, mobile receiver tracking and adaptive broadband communication. The present invention may be an adaptive position location system for local and indoor applications with improved accuracy, flexibility and security. The self-calibration technique of the present invention may cause, the position location system to be easily deployed. A master station may communicate with and control two or more slave stations and one or more user devices and thereby determine the position of a user device and track that user device, utilizing location reference sets, in accordance with the location of the master station and communication between the slave stations and the master station. The locationing operation of the present invention may be initiated by the user device.
US08823586B2
A combined GNSS and FM receiver receives FM signals comprising satellite navigation data from an AGNSS server. Associated navigation information such as a position fix is determined based on the received satellite navigation data. The received satellite navigation data are GNSS assistance data or LTO data. The AGNSS server generates the satellite navigation data by acquiring GNSS data from a satellite reference network. The acquired GNSS data comprise, for example, GPS data, GLONASS data and/or GALILEO data. The generated satellite navigation data are broadcasted as FM signals through RDS and/or RBDS to the combined GNSS and FM receiver. The combined GNSS and FM receiver receives updated satellite navigation data in subsequent FM signals, periodically or aperiodically, and updates associated navigation information, accordingly. The combined GNSS and FM receiver decodes the received FM radio signals for the updated satellite navigation data generated at the AGNSS server before being transmitted.
US08823580B2
In a method for frequency matching in an FMCW radar sensor, a plurality of frequencies, which are derived on various modulation ramps, and which respectively are shown by the radar sensor in a d-v space as geometrical locations, represent possible combinations of a distance d and a speed v of the respective object. In order to identify the objects located on the various modulation ramps, coincidences between the geometrical locations which belong to frequencies derived on various modulation ramps are searched for. The search for coincidences is initially restricted in a first step to a subspace of the d-v space, and in a subsequent step, the search is extended to other regions of the d-v space, while suppressing the frequencies that are associated with the objects found in the first step.
US08823572B2
A sampling circuit, such as the sampling circuit of a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC), provides anti-aliasing filtering of a sampled input signal. The circuit samples the input signal using multiple capacitors, wherein each capacitor samples the input signal at a distinct time during a sampling time interval. The circuit combines the samples stored on different capacitors during a conversion time interval, and generates a digital output signal using the combined samples. In one example, a first bit of the output signal is generated using a sample stored on a first capacitor, and second bit of the output signal is generated using a sample stored on a second capacitor. In another example, the circuitry performs finite or infinite impulse response (FIR or IIR) filtering of the input signal, where a filter characteristic is determined by the relative sizes of the capacitors used for sampling.
US08823567B2
Two T filters, one of which includes two resistive elements and one capacitive element and the other of which includes two capacitive elements and one resistive element, are inserted in a negative-feedback section of an operational amplifier, and a resistive element and a capacitive element are connected between each of intermediate nodes and a signal input terminal. A resistive element and a capacitive element which are connected to each other in parallel are connected between the signal input terminal and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. With this configuration, overall admittances where elements connected to the corresponding intermediate nodes are in parallel connection are equal to each other.
US08823557B1
Aspects of the invention are provided for decoding a selected span of data within a compressed code stream. A selection of data within the compressed code stream from an arbitrary position is presented for decompression. The arbitrary position is the starting point in the compressed code stream for decompression, and a phrase within the compressed code stream containing the starting point is identified. From the arbitrary starting point, a back pointer may provide direction to the literal. The literal is extracted as a decoding of the compressed data associated with the starting point.
US08823550B2
In a method for warning a driver of a vehicle about a collision with an object in the course a parking operation, the distance of the vehicle to at least one object in the environment of the vehicle is detected, and if a specified minimum distance is undershot, the driver is warned to stop the vehicle or the vehicle is stopped automatically. The specified minimum distance is varied as a function of the type of parking space and the executed parking maneuver.
US08823546B2
Disclosed herein is an automatic meter reading system for an underground distribution line using wired/wireless communication. The system includes at least one Data Concentration Unit (DCU), at least one Wireless Gathering Unit (WGU), and at least one wireless communication modem. The DCU is installed in a ground transformer, and sends meter reading data to an underground high-voltage distribution line (DL) using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) power line communication repeating method. The WGU is installed on a ground rising pipe or at a multi-consumer lead-in wire, and sets up a higher wireless mesh network and a lower wireless mesh network. The wireless communication modem sets up the lower wireless mesh network along with the WGU and the wireless communication modems, gathers the meter reading data, stores the gathered meter reading data, and transfers the stored meter reading data to the DCU through the WGU.
US08823533B2
A gas analyzer includes: a gas measuring portion which performs a measurement on a gas; a case which houses the gas measuring portion; a liquid separator which includes a reservoir for storing a liquid component separated from the gas; a holder portion which holds the liquid separator; and a rotation mechanism which mounts the holder portion to the case.
US08823531B1
A system for sensing and indicating orientation of electrical equipment has an orientation sensor and control logic. The control logic is configured to compare predefined data with a sensed orientation of the electrical equipment in order to determine whether the sensed orientation of the equipment is within an acceptable range such that sufficient cooling by a cooling system is likely to occur. If the sensed orientation of the equipment is not within the acceptable range, the control logic transmits a notification signal so that corrective action can occur. As an example, the notification signal may be used to notify a user of the improper orientation. In another example, the notification signal automatically triggers an action that compensates for the improper orientation.
US08823529B2
A patient monitoring system having a motion detection unit with a sensor and a control unit having control circuitry and at least one light. Wiring extends between the two units and couples a motion sensor with the control circuitry. A door sensor is coupled with the control circuitry. The light is illuminated to provide a silent alarm when motion is detected and the door is closed. Also disclosed is a method of installation that includes attaching a motion detector unit and the control unit to wall surfaces on opposite sides of the door and extending wiring through the doorway to operably couple the two units. The motion sensor may be installed to define a detection zone having a lower boundary which is at least about 18 inches above a patient support surface.
US08823513B2
Systems and methods of tracking an animal including a first device worn by an animal to acquire global positioning system (GPS) data corresponding to a location of the animal, and a second device carried by a user to receive the GPS data from the first device and to acquire GPS data corresponding to a location of the second device. The second device can include a compass element to provide a compass reading corresponding to an orientation of the second device, and a controller to calculate location and direction information of the first device relative to the second device, and a display unit to display a graphical representation indicating the location and direction of the first device relative to the second device.
US08823509B2
The present disclosure relates to an infrastructure monitoring system and method that comprises multiple communications devices. An exemplary infrastructure monitoring system includes: an operations center; and a plurality of communications devices communicatively coupled to the operations center; wherein, at least one communications device of said plurality of communications devices is coupled to a component of the infrastructure; and wherein at least two communications devices are monitoring devices, the first monitoring device monitoring a first aspect of the infrastructure and the second monitoring device monitoring a second aspect of the infrastructure.
US08823508B2
A security system is configured to display a representation of an area on a display unit, receive input from a plurality of different types of sensors that are positioned within the area, display a plurality of icons on the display unit, wherein the plurality of icons represents the locations of the plurality sensors in the area, and display in a panel on the display unit output from the plurality of sensors.
US08823505B2
A tire air pressure detecting device includes an air pressure detecting unit, a transmitting unit, a running state detecting unit, an air pressure change rate detecting section and a frequency adjustment section. The frequency adjustment section is configured to adjust a transmitting frequency at which the detected value of the tire air pressure detected by the air pressure detecting unit is externally transmitted by the transmitting unit according to the running state detected by the running state detecting unit and the air pressure change rate detected by the air pressure change rate detecting section. The frequency adjustment section is further configured to variably set a threshold value for switching the transmitting frequency from low frequency to high frequency according to the running state and the air pressure change rate.
US08823504B2
A vehicle control system includes a forward vehicle sensor transmitting a forward vehicle message based on a distance to a forward vehicle. An adaptive cruise controller receives the forward vehicle message and receives at least one additional message indicating a respective status of the vehicle, the adaptive cruise controller sets a braking pressure for an adaptive cruise controller braking event above a default braking pressure if the adaptive cruise controller determines, based on the at least one of the additional messages, that the vehicle will maintain stability during the adaptive cruise controller braking event.
US08823495B2
A sight spot guiding system and an implementing method thereof are provided. The method includes: a mobile terminal equipped with an RFID chip, after arriving at the sight spot, receiving a radio broadcast signal transmitted by an RFID reader set at the sight spot, and transmitting a radio response signal which carriers the ID of the present RFID chip; the RFID reader reading the radio response signal and then reporting the IDs of the RFID chip and the reader to an administration center, which, after receiving the IDs of the RFID and the reader, sends sight spot description information corresponding to the ID of the reader to the mobile terminal corresponding to the ID of the RFID chip, according to corresponding relationships between IDs of RFID readers and sight spot description information and between IDs of RFID chips and mobile terminals.
US08823492B2
A method on a computing device for defining a buffer zone around a buried asset at an above-surface location is provided that solves the above-described problems. The method includes receiving and storing buried asset data points, wherein each buried asset data point comprises a geographical coordinate and a precision data value corresponding to the geographical coordinate, for a buried asset, wherein the buried asset data points correspond to signals that were detected and read from the buried asset at the above-surface location. The method further includes generating a first data structure that represents a two dimensional area comprising a buffer zone at the above-surface location, wherein the first data structure is generated by defining an area around each geographical coordinate, wherein a size of each area is based on the precision data values of the buried asset data points.
US08823486B2
An antitheft system of a charger for an electric vehicle that prevents theft of a charger during charging a battery of the electric vehicle is disclosed.More specifically, a first signal generating portion is provided at the charger, receives a decoupling will of the charger, and generates a decoupling signal. A second signal generating portion generates a position signal, so that anyone who is allowed to handle the electric vehicle possesses the second signal generating portion. A control portion generates an operating signal when both the decoupling signal of the first signal generating portion and the position signal of the second signal generating portion are received by the control portion. Once received, an actuator decouples the charger from the connector once the operating signal from the control portion is received.
US08823481B2
A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
US08823472B2
An electromagnetic contactor has a contact device having a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact; and an electromagnet unit including an exciting coil driving a movable plunger connected through a connecting shaft. The contact device is configured such that L-shaped portions have a contact portion formed in the pair of fixed contacts fixed maintaining a predetermined interval, and two ends of the movable contact are disposed to be capable of contacting to and separating from the contact portions of the L-shaped portion on a side opposite to that of the electromagnet unit. The electromagnet unit includes a magnetic yoke enclosing a plunger drive portion, a movable plunger having a leading end protruding through an aperture formed in the magnetic yoke and urged by a return spring, and a ring-form permanent magnet magnetized in a movable direction of the movable plunger and fixed to enclose a peripheral flange portion.
US08823471B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a rectangular waveguide and backshort adapted for using/studying millimeter and/or submillimeter waves. Exemplary sliding shorts can exhibit relatively low loss, relatively smooth phase variation with frequency and movement, and/or relatively good repeatability. Certain exemplary embodiments can resist transmission of power by reflecting substantially all power from an incident signal.
US08823468B2
A multilayer filter includes a laminate including a plurality of dielectric layers stacked on each other. Inner layer electrodes and outer terminals are provided in the laminate. First and second balanced-side capacitors connected in series between first and second balanced terminals are defined by the inner layer electrodes. An inner-layer plate electrode not connected to any outer terminals is provided on the first dielectric layer. A first plate electrode connected to the first balanced terminal and a second plate electrode connected to the second balanced terminal are provided on the second dielectric layer in opposing relation to the inner-layer plate electrode. The inner-layer plate electrode and the first plate electrode and the first dielectric layer constitute the first balanced-side capacitor, and the inner-layer plate electrode and the second plate electrode and the first dielectric layer constitute the second balanced-side capacitor.
US08823466B2
A wide-band balun device includes a first metallization deposited over a substrate and oriented in a first coil. The first coil extends horizontally across the substrate while maintaining a substantially flat vertical profile. A second metallization is deposited over the substrate and oriented in a second coil. The second coil is magnetically coupled to the first coil and a portion of the second coil oriented interiorly of the first coil. A third metallization is deposited over the substrate and oriented in a third coil. The third coil is magnetically coupled to the first and second coils. A first portion of the third coil is oriented interiorly of the second coil. The third coil has a balanced port connected to the third coil between second and third portions of the third coil.
US08823463B2
The invention relates to an oscillator circuit, comprising a clipping element for generating a clipped signal, and a first amplification stage for amplifying and filtering the clipped signal to obtain a filtered signal, wherein the clipping element is configured to generate the clipped signal upon the basis of the filtered signal.
US08823453B2
A system and method for adjusting a common mode output voltage in an instrumentation amplifier is provided. In one aspect, the common mode output voltage is increased or decreased with respect to the common mode input voltage to enable high amplification of the signal input to the instrumentation amplifier. Moreover, the common mode output voltage can be driven to (or approximately to) a target voltage value such as, but not limited to, half the supply, even if the common mode input voltage is close to supply or ground rail voltage. Thus, a high amplification of the differential input voltage can be obtained and utilized for various applications requiring rail to rail input.
US08823442B1
A circuit is provided and includes current sources, switches, a control module, and capacitances. The current sources adjust current flowing through a load. Each of the switches activates a respective one of the current sources. Kick-back voltages are generated at inputs of the current sources in response to the current sources being turned ON. A control module generates control signals to change states of the switches to alternate a direction in which the current flows through the load. A first capacitance is connected between a first pair of the current sources and a second pair of the current sources. A second capacitance is connected between the first pair of the current sources and a reference terminal. A third capacitance connected between the second pair of the current sources and the reference terminal. The first capacitance, the second capacitance, and the third capacitance reduce magnitudes of the kick-back voltages.
US08823424B1
A floating gate driver uses a single-end level shifter to translate a set signal and a reset signal induced by a rising edge and a falling edge of a switch signal to a common output terminal to generate an output voltage for a bistable circuit to generate a level shifted switch signal. Under control of a well transient detect signal asserted by detecting noise in the output voltage, a masking circuit between the single-end level shifter and the bistable circuit masks noise in the output voltage. This configuration has lower area penalty and better noise immunity.
US08823416B2
A phase detector for a phase-locked loop includes a phase detector that is configured to become unstable, oscillate and drift rapidly in frequency in a predictable manner when a reference frequency signal is not available. When applied, for example, to a power converter connected to a power distribution grid, the predictable oscillatory and rapid frequency drift behavior when the phase detector is unstable allows very rapid and reliable detection of disconnection from the grid, referred to as islanding.
US08823415B2
A logic gate including a first resistive non-volatile memory device and a second resistive non-volatile memory device is provided. When top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to an output terminal of the logic gate, bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to a first input terminal and a second input terminal of the logic gate. When the bottom electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are coupled to the output terminal of the logic gate, the top electrodes of the first and the second resistive non-volatile memory devices are respectively coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the logic gate.
US08823414B2
A multiple signal format output driver is configurable to provide a current-mode logic (CML) output signal in response to a CML value of one or more first values of the control signal. The output driver is configurable to provide a low-power, low-voltage positive emitter-coupled logic (low-power LVPECL) output signal in response to a low-power LVPECL value of the one or more first values of the control signal. The output driver is configurable to provide a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) output signal in response to an LVDS value of the one or more first values of the control signal. The output driver may be configurable to provide a LVPECL output signal in response to a second value of the control signal. The output driver may be configurable to provide a high-speed current steering logic (HCSL) output in response to a third value of the control signal.
US08823411B2
A fault diagnostic circuit (100) and associated method of operation are described for testing an FET device (114) for a gate-drain short failure (113) by floating the FET gate during a predetermined test period and then comparing (118) the FET output voltage (115) at the source to a predetermined threshold voltage (VTHRESHOLD) which may be selected as a percentage of the power supply voltage (VPOWER) for the FET device to determine if the FET output voltage is greater than the threshold voltage, in which case a device fault is signaled (119).
US08823407B2
A test assembly (12) for testing a device (10) having a heat spreader (20), a package substrate (18) having a substrate ground (18G), and a grounding conductive segment (44A), includes (i) an input conductive segment (38) that is electrically connected to the heat spreader (20), (ii) a test board (28) having a board ground (30), and (iii) a control system (34) that is electrically coupled to the input conductive segment (38) and the board ground (30). During testing, the device (10) is positioned so that the substrate ground (18G) is electrically connected to the board ground (30). Additionally, the control system (34) directs a test current to one of the input conductive segment (38) and the board ground (30) to test the effectiveness of the grounding conductive segment (44A) including a first electrical interface (45A).
US08823406B2
Systems and methods for simultaneous optical testing of a plurality of devices under test. These systems and methods may include the use of an optical probe assembly that includes a power supply structure that is configured to provide an electric current to a plurality of devices under test (DUTs) and an optical collection structure that is configured to simultaneously collect electromagnetic radiation that may be produced by the plurality of DUTs and to provide the collected electromagnetic radiation to one or more optical detection devices. The systems and methods also may include the use of the optical probe assembly in an optical probe system to evaluate one or more performance parameters of each of the plurality of DUTs.
US08823401B2
A particulate matter sensor includes a first pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween and a second pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween. A method for determining an amount of soot on the particulate matter sensor includes determining the electrical resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the electrical resistance between the second pair of electrodes. The amount of soot deposited on the particulate matter sensor is determined based on the electrical resistance values. The time rate of change of resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the time rate of change of resistance between the second pair of electrodes are determined. The first and second rates of change are compared to each other and to threshold values, and the determination of soot amount may be modified depending on the results of these comparisons.
US08823400B2
A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, Relect. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and using the resistance between the electrodes to determine detecting whether contamination is present on the surface of the sensor. Heat may be maintained on the sensor to attempt to burn off a detected contaminant, and a subsequent resistance reading may be used to determine if the contaminant was successfully burned off.
US08823398B2
Capacitive transducer systems are disclosed that reduce nonlinearities due to feedthrough capacitances or residual electrostatic forces. The systems can include a core with a first input coupled to a first variable capacitor, a second input coupled to a second variable capacitor, and a core output coupled to a common node; an amplifier with input switchably coupled to common node and an output; a feedback path switchably coupling amplifier output to common node; and a main clock with first and second phases, that controls switches coupling system components. When clock is in first phase, first core input is coupled to reference voltage, second core input is coupled to negative reference voltage, and common node is coupled to amplifier output. When clock is in second phase, core inputs are grounded, and common node is coupled to amplifier input. The system can have single amplifier. Neutralization capacitor can cancel feedthrough and parasitic capacitances.
US08823378B2
A system for inductively communicating signals in a magnetic resonance imaging system is presented. The system in one embodiment includes a first array of primary coils disposed on a patient cradle of the imaging system, and configured to acquire data from a patient positioned on the patient cradle. Additionally, the system includes a second array of secondary coils disposed under the patient cradle, wherein a number of secondary coils is less than or equal to the number of primary coils, wherein the first array of primary coils is configured to inductively communicate the acquired data to the second array of secondary coils.
US08823361B2
An electrical current sensor device includes a first printed circuit board assembly, a second printed circuit board assembly positioned opposite to the first printed circuit board assembly, and a holder holding the first and second printed circuit board assemblies and providing a passage to allow an electrical conductor to pass through. The first printed circuit board assembly includes a first sensing circuit having a first element pair that includes two magnetoresistive elements with a first pinning direction, the second printed circuit board assembly comprises a second sensing circuit with a second element pair that includes having two magnetoresistive elements with a second pinning direction that is opposite to the first pinning direction, and the first and second pinning directions are perpendicular to a current direction of a current passing through the electrical conductor, the first sensing circuit electrically connects with the second sensing circuit to form a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
US08823346B2
A controller and controlling method is disclosed for a boost converter. The controller includes a first node for receiving an output sense signal indicative of an output DC voltage, a second node for receiving a boost current sense signal indicative of current through an inductor of the boost converter, a first combiner which provides an error signal based on a difference between the output sense signal and a reference signal, an integrator which integrates the error signal and which provides a compensation signal indicative thereof, and a pulse controller which provides a pulse control signal for controlling the power switch to operate the boost converter in DCM. The pulse controller develops pulse control signal based on comparing the compensation signal with a ramp signal and further adjusts the pulse control signal over a cycle of a rectified AC input voltage based on the boost current sense signal.
US08823339B2
The present invention relates to a switch control circuit, a switch control method, and a converter using the same.An input voltage rectified from an AC input in a converter is transmitted to an inductor, and output power is generated from an inductor current by the input voltage. The converter includes a power switch connected to the inductor to control the inductor current and a sense resistor having a first end connected to a ground and a second end connected to the AC input. At a time point that a sense voltage generated in the sense voltage reaches the peak point and then decreased to an on-reference voltage, the power switch is turned on. The on-reference voltage is a sense voltage at a resonance start time point between a parasite capacitor of the power switch and the inductor.
US08823335B2
A switching power supply is provided to supply an AC input voltage. The supply includes a control circuit configured to detect a voltage of the AC power source in a voltage waveform, and switch elements in a synchronous rectification switching mode in synchronization with polarities of the voltage waveform when the AC input voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage value. The control unit also operates the switching without synchronization with the polarities when the AC input voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage value.
US08823333B2
Solenoid coils not interlinked by magnet flux of a rotor, increase inductance of a control coil system for controlling generated voltage using little current flow to a switch so no increase in windings of a power coil is needed. A generator with rotor having magnets and stator outside the rotor, have winding coil of the stator connected in series to solenoid coil. A power terminal is between the power and control sides of the solenoid coil and a switch controls flow of current from the power coil to the solenoid coil. By controlling ON/OFF condition of the switch disposed on the DC terminal of a rectifier connected to the solenoid coil in series, the generated voltage is controlled to a voltage set in advance, in response to a detection signal from a sensor detecting the voltage.
US08823329B2
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to devices for discharging batteries. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a battery discharge device including a positive battery contact for forming an electrical contact with a positive battery terminal of a battery, a negative battery contact for forming an electrical contact with a negative battery terminal of the battery, and a battery discharge indicator including a resistive heating material in electrical communication with the positive battery contact and with the negative battery contact, and also including a reversible thermochromic indicator in thermal communication with the resistive heating material.
US08823314B2
A system and method are provided for reducing the energy consumed by a pump jack electric motor by reducing the supply voltage to the motor when the motor would be generating energy in open loop mode. By substantially eliminating the energy generation mode, the braking action of the utility grid in limiting the acceleration of the motor and system that would otherwise occur is substantially removed. The motor and system will speed up, allowing the natural kinetic energy of the cyclic motion to perform part of the pumping action. A closed loop controller in electrical connection with the motor computes the necessary information from the observed phase angle between the voltage and current supplied to the motor. By reducing the supply voltage to the motor, the observed phase angle may be reduced to a target phase angle value. By allowing some current flow, primarily of a reactive nature, an observable feedback parameter may be used in the closed loop control system as an indication of the load condition, to which the closed loop motor controller may react, supplying power when needed, such as in the energy consumption mode. The electric motor may be effectively turned off, but without completely cutting the power to the motor. During both the energy consumption mode and the period that open loop energy generation would be occurring, the closed loop motor controller may reduce the observed phase angle to a target phase angle by reducing the supply voltage. Any further reduction in the observed phase angle below the target phase angle may be interpreted as an increase in motor load, to which the motor controller may respond by increasing the supply voltage to the motor until the target phase angle is once again reached.
US08823311B2
In an embodiment, a method of controlling a step motor system includes operating the step motor system in a normal mode. In the normal mode, the step motor is advanced upon receipt of a step pulse. If a failure event is detected, the step motor is operated in a failure mode. In the failure mode, a failure counter is incremented upon receipt of the step pulse, and the step motor is not advanced.
US08823309B2
Disclosed is a smaller and lighter stage device which can be applied to a device such as a length measurement SEM for inspecting and/or evaluating a semiconductor, and in which the effect of a magnetic field on an electron beam can be reduced. Linear motors 110, 111, 112, 113 are disposed on four sides of a base 104 to be distanced from an electron beam projection position (the center of the stage device), respectively. The base 104 has dimensions substantially equivalent to minimum dimensions determined by the size of a top table 101 and a movable stroke. Linear motor stators 110, 112 are configured to have a “C-shaped” structure whose opening faces outside of the stage device, respectively. Further, a movable table is coupled to the top table via linear guides 107, 109 composed of a nonmagnetic material or roller mechanisms composed of a nonmagnetic material.
US08823305B2
In an electric power steering system, a back electromotive force constant is calculated on the basis of a steering angular velocity and an estimated induced voltage. Then, a rotation angular velocity of a motor is calculated as an estimated rotation angular velocity on the basis of a motor current, a motor voltage, the back electromotive force constant and a motor resistance.
US08823304B2
The invention relates to a method for providing a trigger signal in response to the commutation of a mechanically commutated electric motor (1). The method comprising the steps of providing a mechanically commutated electric motor (1), providing a power supply for said mechanically commutated electric motor via electrical supply leads (10, 11) from power supply circuitry, providing a filter (15) connected to said electrical supply leads (10, 11), detecting with said filter (15) a voltage spike occurring at commutation, outputting from said filter (15) said trigger signal.
US08823301B2
A device and method to determine the stopping rotor position of a washing machine motor includes an inverter, a permanent magnet synchronous motor, and an electronic motor controller. The controller determines the stopped rotor position of the motor by measuring induced currents in the stator field coils of the motor. While the motor is de-energized and slowly rotating, the controller directs the inverter to connect all of the stator field coils of the motor together. The stator field coils may be connected to a common D.C. rail, output from an A.C.-D.C. converter of the washing machine. In an embodiment, the controller determines the rotor position based on the polarities of current induced in the stator field coils. In another embodiment, the controller determines the rotor position based on the phase angle and angular frequency of the three phase currents, transformed into a stationary reference frame.
US08823300B2
An electric motor control device includes a control section adapted to control supply of a drive current to an electric motor, and a rotational speed detection section adapted to detect a rotational speed of the electric motor, the drive current includes a d-axis current and a q-axis current, and the control section calculates a q-axis current command value based on a torque command value to the electric motor, calculates a d-axis current command value using a difference between the rotational speed of the electric motor and a previously determined base rotational speed of the electric motor, and the q-axis current command value, and performs vector control on the electric motor using the d-axis current command value and the q-axis current command value.
US08823299B2
Disclosed is a power supply module for a hall sensorless BLDC motor, including: a high-voltage/large-current power device t applied with high voltage/large current and including a plurality of power devices driving the hall sensorless brushless direct current (BLDC) motor; a motor driving circuit sensing and controlling a positional signal or a velocity signal of the hall sensorless BLDC motor and generating a PWM control signal for controlling the hall sensorless BLDC motor; and a power device driving circuit driving the high-voltage/large-current power device according to the PWM control signal of the motor driving circuit, wherein the high-voltage/large-current power device, the power device driving circuit, and the motor driving circuit are CMOS-integrated on the same substrate.
US08823296B2
The invention relates to a combined method and device for powering and charging, wherein said device comprises an AC motor (6), a converter (2), storage means (5), and switching means (4) either for enabling the powering of the motor (6) or for enabling the charging of the storage means (5) by the converter (2). The switching means (4) is integrated in the converter (2) and includes at least one H-shaped bridge structure (3) for each phase of the motor (6).
US08823292B2
An electric compressor, wherein an inverter device, which controls the operation of an electric motor by commands from an external control unit, is provided with a drive IC which computes drive signals of the electric motor based on the same, a switching circuit which converts the drive signals to rotation control signals of the electric motor, and an output signal control IC which cuts off input of the drive signals to the switching circuit at the time of an abnormality and wherein, furthermore, the drive IC is provided with a comparator which compares drive signals which are input to the switching circuit and computed values of the drive signals at a control unit inside the drive IC and, when the drive signals and the computed values do not match, the comparator makes the output signal control IC cut off input of the drive signals to the switching circuit.
US08823282B2
A light source apparatus according to the present invention includes: a plurality of light emitting substrates arranged in matrix form, each having at least one light source; an intermediate substrate provided between respective rows of the plurality of light emitting substrates; and a driving unit that outputs a drive signal for driving the light sources, wherein a first supply wiring for supplying the drive signal to the light source provided on each of the plurality of light emitting substrates is printed on each of the light emitting substrates, and a first connection wiring for electrically connecting the first supply wirings printed on two light emitting substrates sandwiching the intermediate substrate is printed on the intermediate substrate.
US08823280B2
An LED driving circuit comprises a converting circuit, a current regulator, a converting controller and a low dimming protection blocking circuit, is disclosed. The converting circuit is adapted to perform a power conversion to provide a driving voltage for lighting an LED module. The current regulator is coupled to the LED module for regulating a current flowing through the LED module. The current regulator conducts and stops conducting the current flowing through the LED module according to a dimming signal, and executes a protection process when the LED module operates abnormal. The converting controller controls the power conversion of the converting circuit according to a voltage level of at least one connection node of the current regulator and the LED module. The low dimming protection blocking circuit stops the protection process of the current regulator when the driving voltage is lower than a predetermined value.
US08823276B2
A light unit includes: an integrated power (“IP”) board which receives power supply and converts the power supply into a high voltage and a supply voltage; a lamp; and a terminal board (“T board”) which receives the high voltage from the IP board to turn on the lamp, receives the supply voltage from the IP board to transfer the supply voltage to the IP board, in which the IP board transfers the high voltage to the T board after the IP board receives the supply voltage from the T board.
US08823275B2
A light-emitting-element lighting circuit for dimming a light emitting element having a diode characteristic by a PWM dimming signal is provided. The lighting circuit includes a dimming signal conversion unit configured to generate the PWM dimming signal having a duty ratio corresponding to an emission level specified by an input dimming signal. The lighting circuit further includes a minimum current generating circuit configured to flow a minimum current during an OFF period of the PWM dimming signal generated by the dimming signal conversion unit such that a voltage greater than a threshold voltage designed to allow the light emitting element to emit a light is applied to the light emitting element, and the light emitting element emits a light of a brightness equal to or less than a lowest emission level specified by the dimming signal.
US08823274B2
An LED lighting device may include a first constant current source, a switched mode power supply, a plurality of LEDs between the switched mode power supply and the first constant current source, and powered by the switched mode power supply, and a voltage divider between the switched mode power supply and the plurality of LEDs. In various embodiments, the voltage divider may include a plurality of switches. Each switch may be configured to transition between open and closed based on a lighting state of an LED of the plurality of LEDs to vary a divided feedback voltage provided to the switched mode power supply. In various embodiments, the switched mode power supply may be configured to supply different output voltages based on the divided feedback voltage.
US08823273B2
The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch.
US08823272B2
An emergency lighting module for providing emergency power to a solid state luminaire is provided. The emergency lighting module includes a control circuit configured to detect a line voltage, a first input configured to receive an input voltage from the solid state luminaire, and a bidirectional booster/charger circuit coupled to the microcontroller and configured to charge a battery using the input voltage. The bidirectional booster/charger circuit is further configured to provide an output voltage. The emergency lighting module is configured to provide the output voltage to the solid state luminaire in response to a reduction of the line voltage.
US08823265B2
An illumination apparatus (12) for use with a vehicle (10) includes a lighting system (14) and a controller (16). The lighting system (14) includes at least three light engines (18). The controller (16) is configured to simultaneously illuminate at least two of the light engines (18) while simultaneously not illuminating at least one of the light engines (18) upon activation of the illumination apparatus. The controller (16) is further configured to alternate which of the light engines (18) are not illuminated and which two of the light engines (18) are simultaneously illuminated such that at least two light engines (18) are simultaneously illuminated during the entire illumination sequence. As such, at least two light engines (18) are illuminated upon activation of the illumination apparatus (12).
US08823260B1
Electrode configurations for an AC or DC gas discharge plasma display panel (PDP) device having one or more substrates and a multiplicity of pixels or sub-pixels that are defined by a hollow plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas. Plasma-shell includes plasma-disc, plasma-dome, and plasma-sphere. The invention is described with reference to a plasma-disc. The plasma-disc has at least two opposing flat sides such as a flat top and flat bottom. Two or more addressing electrodes are in electrical contact with each plasma-disc. At least one electrode is in electrical contact with a side of the plasma-disc that is not flat.
US08823256B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes: a first substrate; a reflective metal layer; a first electrode; an organic compound layer; and a second electrode, which are disposed in this sequence. The first substrate is provided by at least one of a metal film, a metal plate, a polymer film, a polymer plate, a polymer film with a damp-proof film, and a polymer plate with a damp-proof film. A smoothening layer is formed partially between the reflective metal layer and the first electrode. The reflective metal layer and the first electrode are electrically conductive to each other at a region where the smoothening layer is not formed.
US08823250B2
Incandescent lighting structure. The structure includes a thermal emitter that can, but does not have to, include a first photonic crystal on its surface to tailor thermal emission coupled to, in a high-view-factor geometry, a second photonic filter selected to reflect infrared radiation back to the emitter while passing visible light. This structure is highly efficient as compared to standard incandescent light bulbs.
US08823243B2
The present invention relates to volume and/or shape memory systems for which the volume and/or shape can be adjusted by controlling one or more variables such as applied voltage and temperature. In one embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a temperature mechanism. In another embodiment, the volume and/or shape memory systems of the present invention are controlled and/or adjusted by way of a voltage mechanism. In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a device that contains, in part, a smart volume and/or shape memory material that exhibits high energy densities, and can provide large displacements over broad temperature and/or voltage ranges.
US08823235B2
An axial gap-type permanent magnetic rotating machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation, a rotor yoke of disc shape radially extending from the shaft, and a plurality of permanent magnet segments circumferentially arranged on a surface of the rotor yoke such that each permanent magnet segment may have a magnetization direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and a stator having a plurality of circumferentially arranged coils and disposed to define an axial gap with the rotor. In the rotor, each permanent magnet segment is an assembly of two or more divided permanent magnet pieces, and the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece.
US08823222B2
A motor assembly, especially for home appliances such as a cleaner, has an electric motor and a cooling system. The motor may be a fractional horsepower universal motor with a stator and a rotor. The cooling system has a cooling pipe thermally coupled to an element of the stator, such as a core of the stator and providing a flow path for a liquid to cool the motor.
US08823219B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to device for selectively forming an open loop antenna or a closed loop antenna. A device may include a wireless power receiver and a receive antenna operably coupled to the wireless power receiver and having a portion for selectively forming an open loop antenna or a closed loop antenna.
US08823216B2
In a signal transmission device, first open-ended resonators include a first first-open-ended resonator and a second first-open-ended resonator, in which open ends of the first first-open-ended resonator face a central portion of the second first-open-ended resonator, and a central portion of the first first-open-ended resonator faces open ends of the second first-open-ended resonator. When second open-ended resonators are employed, the second open-ended resonators include a first second-open-ended resonator and a second second-open-ended resonator, in which open ends of the first second-open-ended resonator face a central portion of the second second-open-ended resonator, and a central portion of the first second-open-ended resonator faces open ends of the second second-open-ended resonator. The first and the second open-ended resonators in closest proximity to each other in the first resonator are arranged such that the respective open ends thereof face each other and the respective central portions thereof face each other.
US08823205B2
An intelligent power distribution system distributes power on a vehicle. The system includes at least a first power source and a second power source for supplying electrical power, and at least a first power block and a second power block, each connected to receive power from the first power source and the second power source. Each power block includes at least one load and a power selector having a first input for receiving power from the first power source and a second power source and an output for supplying power from either the first power source or the second power source to the at least one load. The power selector selects either the first power source or the second power source for provision to the at least one load based on characteristics of the at least one load.
US08823204B2
An electric load system and method for a vehicle includes an electric load, electric devices, an electrically driven element operating in an operating state, an electric load detector to measure an electric load generated by the electric devices, and an electric control unit communicating with the electric load detector and the electrically driven element to determine an electric load of the electric load system. The method includes estimating an electric load of the electrically driven element based on an operating state of the electrically driven element via the electric control unit and adding the electric load from the electrically driven element to an electric load measured by the electric load detector.
US08823197B2
Heated air rises in a long, diagonal chimney up the side of a mountain. The airflow in the chimney turns wind turbines. Air entering the chimney's feeder tubes is heated in stages, where each stage has its own solar concentration and thermal insulation needs. Water, water vapor and air can be preheated as they are shipped to a chimney's lower end. Both low heat for preheating and high heat can be stored for night electricity generation and for continuing the chimney's electric production during cloudy periods. Water vapor rising a considerable elevation in a diagonal chimney will condense, giving up latent heat to the chimney air as it produces distilled water or mountaintop snow. Artificial thunderstorm cells downwind from the chimney are discouraged through a reduction in negative ions in the outgoing air and through thorough mixing of chimney air with the atmosphere at the chimney's top.
US08823195B2
A hydro electric energy generation structure is disclosed. The structure comprises: a gravity wall forming a closed outer perimeter extending above an upper water level of an existing hydraulic reservoir, and extending below the reservoir floor; at least one water inlet hydraulically connecting a first penstock to a first turbine generator below the water inlet. The structure further comprises: at least one lower water storage reservoir within the perimeter of the gravity wall receiving water from the first turbine generator; at least one pump receiving water from the lower water storage reservoir and pumping it through a pump delivery conduit to at least one upper water storage reservoir above the gravity wall; at least one second penstock delivering water from the upper water storage reservoir to a second turbine generator below; and a tailrace for returning the water into the existing reservoir.
US08823189B2
A power recovery system using the Rankine power cycle incorporating a two-phase liquid-vapor expander with an electric generator which further consists of a heat sink, a heat source, a working fluid to transport heat and pressure energy, a feed pump and a two-phase liquid-vapor expander for the working fluid mounted together with an electric generator on one rotating shaft, a first heat exchanger to transport heat from the working fluid to the heat sink, a second heat exchanger to transport heat from the heat source to the working fluid.
US08823187B2
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip, a first insulating layer formed to cover the semiconductor chip, a wiring structure formed on the first insulating layer. The wiring structure has an alternately layered configuration including wiring layers electrically connected to the semiconductor chip and interlayer insulating layers each located between one of the wiring layers and another. The interlayer insulating layers include an outermost interlayer insulating layer located farthest from a surface of the first insulating layer. A groove formed in the outermost interlayer insulating layer passes through the outermost interlayer insulating layer in a thickness direction.
US08823186B2
A fiber-containing resin substrate for collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of a substrate having the semiconductor devices mounted thereon or a semiconductor devices forming surface of a wafer having semiconductor devices formed thereon, includes: a resin-impregnated fiber base material obtained by impregnating a fiber base material with a thermosetting resin and semi-curing or curing the thermosetting resin; and an uncured resin layer containing an uncured thermosetting resin and formed on one side of the resin-impregnated fiber base material. There can be a fiber-containing resin substrate that enables suppressing warp of a wafer and delamination of semiconductor devices even though a large-diameter wafer or a large-diameter substrate made of a metal and the like is sealed, enables collectively sealing a semiconductor devices mounting surface of the substrate or a semiconductor devices forming surface of the wafer, and has excellent heat resistance or moisture resistance after sealing.
US08823185B2
Provided is a semiconductor package including: a semiconductor chip mounted on a die pad; at least one lead connected electrically to the semiconductor chip; and a flexible film substrate including a metal wiring, which electrically connects the semiconductor chip and the at least one lead, wherein the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the film substrate through a first connection member which contacts the semiconductor chip and the metal wiring; and the film substrate is electrically connected to the at least one lead through a second connection member which contacts the metal wiring and the at least one lead.
US08823179B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device package, which includes a chip having a first surface and an opposite second surface and a trench extending into a body of the chip along a direction from the second surface to the first surface, wherein a bottom portion of the trench includes at least two contact holes.
US08823178B2
An approach for providing SRAM bit cells with double patterned metal layer structures is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing, via a first patterning process, a word line structure, a ground line structure, a power line structure, or a combination thereof; and providing, via a second patterning process, a bit line structure proximate the word line structure, the ground line structure, the power line structure, or a combination thereof. Embodiments include: providing a first landing pad as the word line structure, and a second landing pad as the ground line structure; and providing the first landing pad to have a first tip edge and a first side edge, and the second landing pad to have a second tip edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge faces the second side edge.
US08823173B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second wirings formed in a first wiring layer and extending parallel to an X direction, third and fourth wirings formed in a third wiring layer and extending parallel to a Y direction; fifth and sixth wirings formed in a second wiring layer positioned between the first and second wiring layers, a first contact conductor that connects the first wiring to the third wiring; and a second contact conductor that connects the second wiring to the fourth wiring. The first and second contact conductors are arranged in the X direction. Because the first and second contact conductors that connect wiring layers that are two or more layers apart are arranged in one direction, a prohibited area that is formed in the second wiring layer can be made narrower.
US08823171B2
Provided are a semiconductor package, a semiconductor device provided with the same, and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor package may include a package substrate including a central region and a peripheral region, a first semiconductor chip provided on the package substrate, a first connection pattern provided on the central region of the package substrate to connect the package substrate electrically to the first semiconductor chip, at least one second semiconductor chip provided on the peripheral region of the package substrate and between the package substrate and the first semiconductor chip, and a second connection pattern provided on the peripheral region of the package substrate to connect the first semiconductor chip electrically to the second semiconductor chip.
US08823162B2
An integrated circuit die stack including a first integrated circuit die mounted upon a substrate, the first die including pass-through vias (‘PTVs’) composed of conductive pathways through the first die with no connection to any circuitry on the first die; and a second integrated circuit die, identical to the first die, shifted in position with respect to the first die and mounted upon the first die, with the PTVs in the first die connecting signal lines from the substrate through the first die to through silicon vias (‘TSVs’) in the second die composed of conductive pathways through the second die connected to electronic circuitry on the second die; with the TSVs and PTVs disposed upon each identical die so that the positions of the TSVs and PTVs on each identical die are translationally compatible with respect to the TSVs and PTVs on the other identical die.
US08823156B2
A semiconductor device package with an interposer, which serves as an intermediate or bridge circuit of various electrical pathways in the package to electrically connect any two or more electrical contacts, such as any two or more electrical contacts of a substrate and a chip. In particular, the interposer provides electrical pathways for simplifying a circuit layout of the substrate, reducing the number of layers of the substrate, thereby reducing package height and manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the tolerance of the circuit layout can be increased or maintained, while controlling signal interference between adjacent traces and accommodating high density circuit designs. Moreover, the package is suitable for a PoP process, where a profile of top solder balls on the substrate and a package body can be varied according to particular applications, so as to expose at least a portion of each of the top solder balls and electrically connect the package to another device through the exposed, top solder balls.
US08823155B2
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip including a first surface, a second surface and a first terminal arranged on the first surface, a second semiconductor chip including a first surface, a second surface and a second terminal arranged on the first surface of the second semiconductor chip, a support substrate including a first surface bonded to the second surfaces of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, and an isolation groove formed on the first surface of the support substrate. The isolation includes a pair of side surfaces continuously extending from opposing side surfaces of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, respectively, and the isolation groove is formed into the support substrate to extend from the first surface of the support substrate. The isolation groove has a depth less than a thickness of the support substrate.
US08823148B2
A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate; a first-conductivity-type first semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and having an impurity concentration lower than that of the semiconductor substrate; a second-conductivity-type second semiconductor layer epitaxially formed on the first semiconductor layer; a second-conductivity-type third semiconductor layer epitaxially formed on the second semiconductor layer, and having an impurity concentration higher than that of the second semiconductor layer; a recess formed in the third semiconductor layer, at least a corner portion of a side face and a bottom surface of the recess being located in the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode in contact with the third semiconductor layer; a second electrode connected to the first electrode and in contact with the second semiconductor layer at the bottom surface of the recess; and a third electrode in contact with a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08823144B2
An interface substrate is disclosed which includes an interposer having through-semiconductor vias. An upper and a lower organic substrate are further built around the interposer. The disclosed interface substrate enables the continued use of low cost and widely deployed organic substrates for semiconductor packages while providing several advantages. The separation of the organic substrate into upper and lower substrates enables the cost effective matching of fabrication equipment. By providing an opening in one of the organic substrates, one or more semiconductor dies may be attached to exposed interconnect pads coupled to through-semiconductor vias of the interposer, enabling the use of flip chips with high-density microbump arrays and the accommodation of dies with varied bump pitches. By providing the opening specifically in the upper organic substrate, a package-on-package structure with optimized height may also be provided.
US08823131B2
Semiconductor devices including a trench isolation layer are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a trench therein, a liner insulation layer that covers a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench and includes micro trenches located at bottom inner corners of the liner insulation layer, a first isolating insulation layer filling the micro trenches and a lower region of the trench that are surrounded by the liner insulation layer, and a second isolating insulation layer filling the trench on the first isolating insulation layer. The liner insulation layer on sidewalls of an upper region of the trench having a thickness that gradually increases toward a bottom surface of the trench, and the liner insulation layer on sidewalls of the lower region of the trench having a thickness that is uniform. Related methods are also provided.
US08823128B2
A semiconductor structure is proposed. A third well is formed between a first well and a second well. A first doped region and a second doped region are formed in a surface of the third well. A third doped region is formed between the first doped region and the second doped region. A fourth doped region is formed in a surface of the first well. A fifth doped region is formed in a surface of the second well. A first base region and a second base region are respectively formed in surfaces of the first well and the second well. A first Schottky barrier is overlaid on a part of the first base region and the first doped region. A second Schottky barrier is overlaid on a part of the second base region and the second doped region.
US08823123B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided a solid-state image sensor including a photoelectric conversion layer, and a multilayer interference filter. The multilayer interference filter is arranged to conduct light of a particular color, of incident light, selectively to the photoelectric conversion layer. The multilayer interference filter has a laminate structure in which a first layer having a first refraction index and a second layer having a second refraction index are repeatedly laminated, and a third layer which is in contact with a lower surface of the laminate structure and has a third refraction index. A lowermost layer of the laminate structure is the second layer. The third refraction index is not equal to the first refraction index and is higher than the second refraction index.
US08823118B2
A STT-RAM MTJ is disclosed with a composite tunnel barrier comprised of a CoMgO layer that contacts a pinned layer and a MgO layer which contacts a free layer. A CoMg layer with a Co content between 20 and 40 atomic % is deposited on the pinned layer and is then oxidized to produce Co nanoconstrictions within a MgO insulator matrix. The nanoconstrictions control electromigration of Co into an adjoining MgO layer. The free layer may comprise a nanocurrent channel (NCC) layer such as FeSiO or a moment dilution layer such as Ta between two ferromagnetic layers. Furthermore, a second CoMgO layer or a CoMgO/MgO composite may serve as a perpendicular Hk enhancing layer formed between the free layer and a cap layer. One or both of the pinned layer and free layer may exhibit in-plane anisotropy or perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.
US08823116B2
A hybrid integrated component includes: at least one ASIC element having integrated circuit elements and a back-end stack; an MEMS element having a micromechanical structure, which extends over the entire thickness of the MEMS substrate; and a cap wafer. The hybrid integrated component is provided with an additional micromechanical function. The MEMS element is mounted on the ASIC element, so that a gap exists between the micromechanical structure and the back-end stack of the ASIC element. The cap wafer is mounted above the micromechanical structure of the MEMS element. A pressure-sensitive diaphragm structure having at least one deflectable electrode of a capacitor system is implemented in the back-end stack of the ASIC element, which diaphragm structure spans a pressure connection in the rear side of the ASIC element.
US08823115B2
A microphone unit converts voice into an electric signal based on the vibration of a diaphragm contained in an MEMS chip. The microphone unit includes a substrate on which the diaphragm is mounted (the MEMS chip is mounted); a cover member, having sound holes, that is disposed above the substrate so that the diaphragm is contained within the inner space formed between the cover member and the substrate; and a holding member that holds only the substrate or both of the substrate and the cover member.
US08823114B2
Provided is a technique for packaging a sensor structure having a contact sensing surface and a signal processing LSI that processes a sensor signal. The sensor structure has the contact sensing surface and sensor electrodes. The signal processing integrated circuit is embedded in a semiconductor substrate. The sensor structure and the semiconductor substrate are bonded by a bonding layer, forming a sensor device as a single chip. The sensor electrodes and the integrated circuit are sealed inside the sensor device, and the sensor electrodes and external terminals of the integrated circuit are led out to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate through a side surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08823112B2
A metal gate electrode and a poly-silicon resistance element are mixedly mounted in the same semiconductor substrate. The metal gate electrode is formed on a first gate insulating film and includes a first gate metal film and a first gate silicon film. The poly-silicon resistance element includes a silicon film pattern formed on a laminated pattern which includes a first laminate insulating film, a first laminate metal film, and a second laminate insulating film. The first laminate insulating film and the first gate insulating film are formed from a common insulating film; the first laminate metal film and the first gate metal film are formed from a common metal film, and the silicon firm pattern and the first gate silicon film are formed from a common silicon film. In a planar view, a footprint of the silicon film pattern is included within the second laminate insulating film.
US08823108B2
A method of manufacturing a memory device includes an nMOS region and a pMOS region in a substrate. A first gate is defined within the nMOS region, and a second gate is defined in the pMOS region. Disposable spacers are simultaneously defined about the first and second gates. The nMOS and pMOS regions are selectively masked, one at a time, and LDD and Halo implants performed using the same masks as the source/drain implants for each region, by etching back spacers between source/drain implant and LDD/Halo implants. All transistor doping steps, including enhancement, gate and well doping, can be performed using a single mask for each of the NMOS and pMOS regions. Channel length can also be tailored by trimming spacers in one of the regions prior to source/drain doping.
US08823107B2
A gate of a transistor in an integrated circuit is protected against the production of an interconnection terminal for a source/drain region. The transistor includes a substrate, at least one active zone formed in the substrate, at least one insulating zone formed in the substrate and a gate, the gate being formed above an active zone. A dielectric layer is formed on the transistor, the dielectric layer covering the gate. The dielectric layer is then etched while leaving it remaining at least on the gate so that the gate is electrically insulated from other elements formed above the dielectric layer. This etching is preferably carried out using a mask which was used for fabricating the gate and a mask which was used for fabricating the insulating zone.
US08823106B2
The present invention mainly provides an ESD protective element which can be built in high voltage semiconductor integrated circuit devices without increasing the chip area. An ESD protective element according to one embodiment has a construction comprising a semiconductor layer, a first region of a first conduction type formed in the semiconductor layer, a first region of a second conduction type formed in the semiconductor layer away from the first region of the first conduction type, a second region of the second conduction type formed in the first region of the second conduction type and has a higher impurity concentration than it, and a second region of the first conduction type formed in the second region of the second conduction type and has a high impurity concentration. The first and second regions of the second conduction type are in an electrically floating state.
US08823105B2
There is provided an electronic device including at least a first electrode, a second electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode, and an active layer disposed over the second electrode from above the first electrode and formed of an organic semiconductor material. A charge injection layer is formed between the first electrode and the active layer and between the second electrode and the active layer, and the charge injection layer is formed of an organic material having an increased electric conductivity when the charge injection layer is oxidized.
US08823100B2
In one method of forming a semiconductor device, a first electrode is formed electrically coupled with a semiconductor material. After the first electrode is formed, an insulator is formed over the semiconductor material adjoining the first electrode and extending a selected distance from the first electrode. After the insulator is formed, a second electrode is formed electrically coupled with the semiconductor material adjoining the insulator.
US08823095B2
It is the purpose of the invention to provide a MOS transistor (20) which guarantees a voltage as high as possible, has a required area as small as possible and which enables the integration into integrated smart power circuits. It results there from as an object of the invention to form the edge structure of the transistors such that it certainly fulfils the requirements on high breakthrough voltages, a good isolation to the surrounding region and requires a minimum of surface on the silicon disc anyway. This is achieved with an elongated MOS power transistor having drain (30) and source (28) for high rated voltages above 100V, wherein the transistor comprises an isolating trench (22) in the edge area for preventing an early electrical breakthrough below the rated voltage. The trench is lined with an isolating material (70, 72), wherein the isolating trench terminates the circuit component.
US08823093B2
In one embodiment, a high voltage field-effect transistor (HVFET) includes a field oxide layer that covers a first well region, the field oxide layer having a first thickness and extending in a second lateral direction from a drain region to near a second well region. A gate oxide covers a channel region and has a second dimension in a first lateral direction. A gate extends in the second lateral direction from the source region to over a portion of the field oxide layer, the gate being insulated from the channel region by the gate oxide, the gate extending in the first lateral dimension over an inactive area of the HVFET beyond the second dimension of the gate oxide, the gate being insulated from the first and second well regions over the inactive area by the field oxide layer.
US08823086B2
A semiconductor device having a buried gate is provided. The semiconductor device is formed in a structure in which a plurality of contacts having small step differences are stacked without forming a metal contact applying an operation voltage to the buried gate in a single contact and a contact pad is formed between the contacts so that failure due to misalignment can be prevented without a separate additional process for forming the contacts.
US08823083B2
A semiconductor device includes a vertical semiconductor element having a super junction structure constructed of a first conductivity-type drift layer disposed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and second conductivity-type regions having a stripe shape defining a longitudinal direction in one direction and being arranged at a predetermined column pitch in the drift layer. When a surplus concentration obtained by dividing a difference between an electrical charge of the second conductivity-type region and an electrical charge of a first conductivity-type region by the column pitch is i, a depth of the super junction structure is z, a surplus concentration gradient as a change of the surplus concentration i per unit depth dz is di/dz, and a central withstand voltage in which a margin is added to a desired withstand voltage is Vmax, the super junction structure is configured such that the surplus concentration gradient di/dz satisfies a relation of 0 > ⅆ i ⅆ z > - ( 7.97 × 10 11 V max ) 2 · 1 10000 .
US08823077B2
A semiconductor device according to example embodiments may include a channel including a nanowire and a charge storage layer including nanoparticles. A twin gate structure including a first gate and a second gate may be formed on the charge storage layer. The semiconductor device may be a memory device or a diode.
US08823072B2
A floating gate type nonvolatile memory device comprises a semiconductor layer, wordlines crossing over the semiconductor layer, and a memory element disposed between the wordlines and facing the semiconductor layer.
US08823067B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a sensor substrate that has a plurality of pixels configured to receive incident light, the plurality of pixels being arranged on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate; a transparent substrate that has a lower surface facing an upper surface of the sensor substrate and is configured to transmit the incident light therethrough; and a diffraction grating that is provided at any position between an upper surface of the transparent substrate and the upper surface of the sensor substrate and is configured to transmit the incident light therethrough, in which the diffraction grating is formed so as to diffract reflected diffraction light caused by that the incident light is incident on a pixel area in which the plurality of pixels are arranged on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and is diffracted.
US08823063B2
An SOI substrate having an SOI layer that can be used in practical applications even when a substrate with low upper temperature limit, such as a glass substrate, is used, is provided. A semiconductor device using such an SOI substrate, is provided. In bonding a single-crystal semiconductor layer to a substrate having an insulating surface or an insulating substrate, a silicon oxide film formed using organic silane as a material on one or both surfaces that are to form a bond is used. According to the present invention, a substrate with an upper temperature limit of 700° C. or lower, such as a glass substrate, can be used, and an SOI layer that is strongly bonded to the substrate can be obtained. In other words, a single-crystal semiconductor layer can be formed over a large-area substrate that is longer than one meter on each side.
US08823061B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer; a two-dimensional carrier gas layer; a source electrode; a drain electrode; a gate electrode; and an auxiliary electrode located above the two-dimensional carrier gas layer between the gate electrode and the drain electrode. Channel resistance of the two-dimensional carrier gas layer between the gate electrode and the auxiliary electrode is set higher than channel resistance of the two-dimensional carrier gas layer between the gate electrode and the source electrode.
US08823060B1
FinFETs in which a swelled material within the fin, typically an oxide of the fin semiconductor, causes strain that significantly increases charge carrier mobility within the FinFET channel. The concept can be applied to either p-type or n-type FinFETs. For p-type FinFETs the swelled material is positioned underneath the source and drain regions. For n-type FinFETs the swelled material is positioned underneath the channel region. The swelled material can be used with or without strain-inducing epitaxy on the source and drain areas and can provide greater strain than is achievable by strain-inducing epitaxy alone.
US08823053B2
The semiconductor device includes a plurality of first flat plates containing a material that absorbs an electromagnetic wave at a high frequency. Any of the first flat plates is disposed above the first connecting wire, and any other of the first flat plates is disposed above the second connecting wire.
US08823049B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) device is provided. The LED device has a lower LED layer and an upper LED layer with a light-emitting layer interposed therebetween. A current blocking layer is formed in the upper LED layer such that current passing between an electrode contacting the upper LED layer flows around the current blocking layer. When the current blocking layer is positioned between the electrode and the light-emitting layer, the light emitted by the light-emitting layer is not blocked by the electrode and the light efficiency is increased. The current blocking layer may be formed by converting a portion of the upper LED layer into a resistive region. In an embodiment, ions such as magnesium, carbon, or silicon are implanted into the upper LED layer to form the current blocking layer.
US08823047B2
Provided is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive type clad layer having a composition ratio of aluminum increased at a predetermined rate, an active layer on the first conductive type clad layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer.
US08823041B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a light emitting diode package including a light emitting diode chip, a lead frame having a chip area on which the light emitting diode chip is arranged, and a package body supporting the lead frame. The lead frame includes a first terminal group arranged at a first side of the chip area and a second terminal group arranged at a second side of the chip area. The first terminal group and the second terminal group each include a first terminal connected to the chip area and a second terminal separated from the chip area, and the width of the first terminal is different than the width of the second terminal outside the package body.
US08823025B1
III-N material grown on a silicon substrate includes a single crystal buffer positioned on a silicon substrate. The buffer is substantially crystal lattice matched to the surface of the silicon substrate and includes aluminum oxynitride adjacent the substrate and aluminum nitride adjacent the upper surface. A first layer of III-N material is positioned on the upper surface of the buffer. An inter-layer of aluminum nitride (AlN) is positioned on the first III-N layer and an additional layer of III-N material is positioned on the inter-layer. The inter-layer of aluminum nitride and the additional layer of III-N material are repeated n-times to reduce or engineer strain in a final III-N layer.
US08823023B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing technique of a semiconductor device and a display device using a peeling process, in which a transfer process can be conducted with a good state in which a shape and property of an element before peeling are kept. Further, the present invention provides a manufacturing technique of more highly reliable semiconductor devices and display devices with high yield without complicating the apparatus and the process for manufacturing. According to the present invention, an organic compound layer including a photocatalyst substance is formed over a first substrate having a light-transmitting property, an element layer is formed over the organic compound layer including a photocatalyst substance, the organic compound layer including a photocatalyst substance is irradiated with light which has passed through the first substrate, and the element layer is peeled from the first substrate.
US08823022B2
A light emitting device includes a serially-connected LED array of a plurality of LED cells epitaxially formed on a substrate. The LED array includes a first LED cell, and a second LED cell adjacent to each other, and a serially-connected LED sub-array including at least three LED cells intervening the first and the second LED cells. Each LED cell includes a first semiconductor layer formed on the substrate; a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; and an active layer formed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; wherein the distance between the first semiconductor layer of the first LED cell and that of the second LED cell is larger than 30 μm, and one of the first semiconductor layers and/or one of the second semiconductor layers of the LED cells includes a round corner with a radius of curvature not less than 15 μm.
US08823017B2
An electrode layer lies on a silicon carbide substrate in contact therewith and has Ni atoms and Si atoms. The number of Ni atoms is not less than 67% of the total number of Ni atoms and Si atoms. A side of the electrode layer at least in contact with the silicon carbide substrate contains a compound of Si and Ni. On a surface side of the electrode layer, C atom concentration is lower than Ni atom concentration. Thus, improvement in electrical conductivity of the electrode layer and suppression of precipitation of C atoms at the surface of the electrode layer can both be achieved.
US08823013B2
A Schottky contact is disposed atop the surface of the semiconductor. A first Schottky contact metal layer is disposed atop a first portion of the semiconductor surface. A second Schottky contact metal is disposed atop a second portion of the surface layer and joins the first Schottky contact metal layer. A first. Schottky contact metal layer has a lower work function than the second Schottky contact metal layer.
US08823005B2
A thin-film transistor (TFT) and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. The TFT may include a gate electrode disposed on an insulating substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the insulating substrate and the gate electrode, an active layer pattern disposed on the insulating layer to overlap the gate electrode, a source electrode disposed on the insulating layer and at least part of which overlaps the active layer pattern, and a drain electrode which is separated from the source electrode and at least part of which overlaps the active layer pattern. A first ohmic contact layer pattern may be disposed between the active layer pattern and the source electrode and between the active layer pattern and the drain electrode. The first ohmic contact layer may have higher nitrogen content on its surface than in other portions of the first ohmic contact layer.
US08822994B2
A method that includes forming a first level of active circuitry on a substrate, forming a first probe pad electrically connected to the first level of active circuitry where the first probe pad having a first surface, contacting the first probe pad with a probe tip that displaces a portion of the first probe pad above the first surface, and performing a chemical mechanical polish on the first probe pad to planarize the portion of the first probe pad above the first surface. The method also includes forming a second level of active circuitry overlying the first probe pad, forming a second probe pad electrically connected to the second level of active circuitry, contacting the second probe pad with a probe tip that displaces a portion of the probe pad, and chemically mechanically polishing the second probe pad to remove the portion displaced.
US08822993B2
An Integrated Circuit (IC) and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes: a substrate; a first metal layer disposed on the substrate and including a sensor structure configured to indicate a crack in a portion of the integrated circuit; and a second metal layer disposed proximate the first metal layer, the second metal layer including a wire component disposed proximate the sensor structure.
US08822988B2
In at least some embodiments, a thin-film transistor (TFT) includes a gate electrode and a gate dielectric covering the gate dielectric. The TFT also includes a source electrode and a drain electrode adjacent the gate dielectric. The TFT also includes a bi-layer channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode, the bi-layer channel having a zinc indium oxide (ZIO) layer positioned adjacent the gate dielectric and a zinc tin oxide (ZTO) layer that covers the ZIO layer.
US08822978B2
An electronic structure comprising: (a) a first metal layer; (b) a second metal layer; (c) and at least one insulator layer located between the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein at least one of the metal layers comprises an amorphous multi-component metallic film. In certain embodiments, the construct is a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) diode.
US08822966B2
A nonvolatile memory device has a memory cell including a resistance change layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The resistance change layer switches between high and low resistance states due to the transfer of metal ions from the first electrode in response to voltages applied between the electrodes. The first electrode is formed on a first side of the resistance change layer, and provides metal ions. The second electrode is formed on a second side of the resistance change layer. A memory cell region is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode with the resistance change layer. The memory device also includes a high permittivity layer with a higher dielectric constant than the resistance change layer.
US08822965B2
A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus includes: a scanning electromagnet that scans a charged particle beam; and a degrader that is provided on a downstream side of the scanning electromagnet in a scanning direction of the charged particle beam and adjusts a range of the charged particle beam by reducing energy of the charged particle beam. The degrader is configured to be closer to an upstream side in the scanning direction of the charged particle beam, outward in the scanning direction.
US08822962B2
An ultraviolet irradiator including a housing having an ultraviolet irradiation port through which the target is irradiated with the ultraviolet light, an ultraviolet lamp that emits ultraviolet light, a water-cooling jacket in which the ultraviolet lamp is mounted, a reflection plate that reflects light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp, the ultraviolet lamp, the water-cooling jacket and the reflection plate being mounted in the housing, and ultraviolet light emitted directly from the ultraviolet lamp and reflection light reflected from the reflection plate being irradiated to the outside of the housing, a heat withdrawing mechanism that withdraws heat of the reflection plate and discharges the heat to the outside of the housing; and a heat transfer member that transfers ambient heat in the housing to the heat withdrawing mechanism so that the heat withdrawing mechanism withdraws the ambient heat.
US08822960B2
The charged particle beam drawing apparatus of the present invention is a charged particle beam drawing apparatus that renders a pattern on a substrate using a charged particle beam and includes a detector that detects charge amount depending on the irradiation of the charged particle beam; first and second deflectors that are arranged along the direction of the irradiation of the charged particle beam and are capable of deflecting the charged particle beam; and a controller that controls the first and second deflectors, wherein the controller transmits a signal, which is used for switching the irradiation/nonirradiation of the charged particle beam to the detector, to the first and second deflectors at a predetermined timing, and adjusts the operation timing of the first and second deflectors based on the output of the detector depending on the signal.
US08822957B2
A method and system for forming and using a fiducial on a sample to locate an area of interest on the sample, the method comprising forming a fiducial by depositing a block of material on a sample proximal to an area of interest on the sample, the block of material extending from the surface of the sample to a detectable extent above the surface of the sample; and milling, using a charged particle beam, a predetermined pattern into at least two exposed faces of the block of material; subsequent to forming the fiducial, detecting the location of the area of interest by detecting the location of the fiducial; and subsequent to detecting the location of the area of interest, imaging or milling the area of interest with a charged particle beam.
US08822933B2
A timing circuit that includes a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) configured to receive a parallel rate clock signal and a system clock start signal from an imaging system and generate a first output, a second SERDES configured to receive a stop signal that is based on an output from the medical imaging system and generate a second output, and a timestamp calculator configured to utilize the first and second outputs to generate a timestamp. A medical imaging system and a method of operating a timing circuit are also described.
US08822931B2
When constructing a nuclear detector module in a gantry, a plurality of overlapping light guide modules (10) are mounted to the gantry in a spaced-apart fashion, and a plurality of underlapping light guide modules (12) are mounted in between each pair of overlapping light guide modules (10). Each of the underlapping modules and the overlapping modules includes a scintillation crystal array (16) on an interior surface thereof, and a plurality of PMTs on an exterior surface thereof. Overlapping modules (10) have overlapping structures (22) that interface with underlapping structures (18) on the underlapping modules (12) and thereby eliminate a seam directly beneath PMTs that overlap the crystal arrays of both an overlapping module and an underlapping module. Optical grease is used to form a resilient grease coupling and reduce light scatter between the underlapping and overlapping modules.
US08822930B2
In a flat image detector and method for the generation of medical digital images, the flat image detector is in particular suitable for a medical X-ray device and equipped with at least one active matrix (MX, MX2) made up of pixel-readout units, wherein the light generated in the scintillator (SZ) can be read out on both sides in the direction of the incoming X-ray radiation (R) in front of and behind the scintillator, with the aid of such an active matrix in each case arranged on each side of the scintillator.
US08822922B1
In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a portable inspection system is disclosed to wirelessly capture inspection data, such as for example an infrared image, sound information, and/or electrical measurement information. The inspection data may be securely recorded (e.g., with an encryption algorithm) along with associated information, which may include for example date, time, system settings, operator identification, and location.
US08822921B2
A method and apparatus is provided for preparing samples for observation in a charged particle beam system in a manner that reduces or prevents artifacts. Material is deposited onto the sample using charged particle beam deposition just before or during the final milling, which results in an artifact-free surface. Embodiments are useful for preparing cross sections for SEM observation of samples having layers of materials of different hardnesses. Embodiments are useful for preparation of thin TEM samples.
US08822920B2
In recent years, in association with the miniaturization and high integration of semiconductor manufacturing processes, there have been arising many cases where observation target portions are densely located. In such a case, if observation is performed using a conventional pre-charge technology, scanning with an electron beam in pre-charging are repeatedly executed, therefore the charge potential on the surface of a specimen exceeds the dielectric breakdown voltage. As a result, dielectric breakdown arises in areas where scanning with an electron beam are repeatedly executed. An object of the present invention is to provide a defect observation method that can reduce the risk of dielectric breakdown, and a charged particle beam apparatus that utilizes the method. In the present invention, when a specimen is observed with the use of a technology relevant to pre-charging, after executing a piece of control processing, plural images are photographed. In addition, by grouping observation target portions, which plural pre-charge scanning areas overlap, into a group where charge control is executed all together on all the observation target portions, and by executing charge control processing on each group, the risk of dielectric breakdown is reduced.
US08822910B2
A system and tuning method to collaboratively calibrate high voltage DAC values and Photomultiplier Tube DAC values of photomultiplier tubes of a gamma camera so that the detector produces a valid energy spectrum over the entire detector surface. A method for tuning a gamma camera having a plurality of photosensors, exposes the photosensors to scintillation photons corresponding to nuclear radiation of known energy; measures an energy output corresponding to each specific photosensor; calculates an average enemy output of all photosensors in the camera; collaboratively adjusts a DAC value corresponding to a voltage applied to a specific photosensor and a DACHV value corresponding to a high voltage applied to the camera based on the calculated average energy, energy output of each photosensor, and a target energy value corresponding to said known energy; and repeats the calibration until convergence is achieved between the average energy, energy output, and target energy.
US08822908B2
The present disclosure relates to a technique for, in an image scanner and an image forming apparatus equipped with the image scanner, detecting that dew condensation occurs on a transparent member for placing a document thereon.
US08822899B2
There is provided an image sensor, including an input control unit configured to control signal paths between a plurality of pixels and a plurality of sampling units and supplying outputs from the plurality of pixels in row units to the plurality of sampling units during a normal operation, while supplying the outputs from the plurality of pixels by color, to the plurality of sampling units during a binning operation; and an output control unit configured to control signal paths between the plurality of sampling units and an amplification unit and sequentially supplying outputs from the plurality of sampling units to the amplification unit during the normal operation while simultaneously supplying the outputs from the plurality of sampling units to the amplification unit during the binning operation.
US08822894B2
A light-field pixel for detecting a wavefront, the light-field pixel comprises an aperture layer, a light detector layer, and a processor. The aperture layer has a non-conventional aperture and a non-conventional aperture. The non-conventional aperture has a higher gradient of transmission at normal incidence than the conventional aperture. The light detector is configured to measure a first intensity of light through the non-conventional aperture and a second intensity of light through the conventional aperture. The processor is configured to detect the wavefront based on the first intensity normalized by the second intensity.
US08822893B2
Thermoplastic pellitized materials are melted in gravity flow through coaxially oriented perforated cylindrical metal susceptors. The susceptors are equally energized by the interception of a common magnetic field formed by a high frequency powered inductor coil.
US08822891B2
A sheet heater that includes a sheet article composed of a conductive resin composition containing a conductive material and a resin, and a pair of metal plate electrodes, each of the electrodes being bonded to each of the ends of the sheet article, wherein when elements of the sheet article are detected at a portion 1 μm depth from a surface of the metal plate electrode, a peak area ratio of silicon (Si) to metal ion (M) is 1/100 to 1, the metal ion M being most abundant of all metal ions detected at the portion, the peaks being obtained by measuring an X ray generated at the portion by applying an X ray to the portion with the scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer.
US08822886B2
A compact portable heating device adapted to heat multiple food products simultaneously is provided. The heating device includes at least one heating element positioned opposite at least one other heating element to form a slot between heating surfaces of the elements for receiving food product. One heating element is mounted to move linearly along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the heating surfaces. Preferably, a first set of movable heating elements are meshed with a second set of heating elements to form an alternating arrangement. One or more heat generators, e.g. steam generators, are positioned to provide heat while minimizing the size of the device.
US08822882B2
A process and system scribe sapphire substrates, by performing the steps of mounting a sapphire substrate, carrying an array of integrated device die, on a stage such as a movable X-Y stage including a vacuum chuck; and directing UV pulses of laser energy directed at a surface of the sapphire substrate using a solid state laser and locating edges of the substrate. The cutting is stopped based on the edge location, to prevent impacting background elements. The pulses of laser energy have a wavelength below about 560 nanometers, and preferably between about 150 in 560 nanometers. In addition, energy density, spot size, and pulse duration are established at levels sufficient to induce ablation of sapphire.
US08822873B2
A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure forming die including a liquid groove forming step for forming linear processing liquid grooves whose width is smaller than that of the slit, in positions for forming the slits that form the partition walls of the honeycomb structure by subjecting the kneaded clay to extrusion in one side end face as a kneaded clay forming face of a plate-shaped die substrate. An introduction hole forming step for forming introduction holes for introducing the kneaded clay is performed before or after the liquid groove forming step. Slits communicating with the introduction holes are formed by performing comb-like electro-discharge machining by a comb-like electrode where plate-shaped protrusion electrodes, each corresponding to the width of the slit, are disposed in positions including the processing liquid grooves.
US08822871B2
Two contact detection jigs are spaced apart and attached on a table on which a workpiece to be machined by a wire electric discharge machine is placed, and first, under a state serving as a reference, a distance between these two contact detection jigs (a reference distance) is measured by bringing the wire electrode into contact with these contact detection jigs. Subsequently, in a state of actual use, the wire electrode is brought into contact with these contact detection jigs in the same manner, so that a distance between these two contact detection jigs (an actual distance) is measured. Then, based on the difference between the reference distance and the actual distance, the amount of compensation is obtained to compensate an instruction for moving the wire electrode with respect to the table.
US08822857B2
The invention relates to a handle for doors or panels, especially on vehicles. An actuation element (10) is provided, such as a button or switch, which is integrated in the handle (50) and comprises an at least regionally elastic sealing element (30) and at least one dimensionally stable housing element (20). According to the invention, a button plate (21) having at least one sealing projection (22) is provided, wherein the sealing projection (22) can be operatively connected to the elastic sealing element (13) such that the sealing projection (22) penetrates into the material of the sealing element (30) at least regionally. Thus, the inside (13) of the actuation element (10) is sealed with respect to the outside (14).
US08822852B2
A rotary switch with multi-level is disclosed. The rotary switch includes a rotary base that drives the first conductive sheet to rotate with the second conductive sheet when the rotary shaft is rotated, and the second conductive sheet leaves one of the conductive contact elements; the position end of the second conductive sheet is pressed by one positioning surface during the rotation, and the second spring stores energy; the second spring then releases the energy to the fourth end of the second conductive sheet, and the position end of the second conductive sheet slides on one positioning surface until the position end of the second conductive sheets is positioned solidly between two positioning surfaces; so that, the material cost in production can be lower down, and life time of the rotary switch can be increased.
US08822850B2
A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.
US08822833B2
A method of making a touch sensor assembly comprises: forming conductive trace elements on a transparent substrate; forming an insulator layer on the transparent substrate such that the insulator layer covers a portion of the conductive trace elements; and forming a plurality of conductive bridging lines such that each of the conductive bridging lines bridges two corresponding ones of the conductive trace elements. Each of the conductive bridging lines includes a plurality of conductor layers stacked one above the other and differing from one another in reflectivity. One of the conductor layers is formed by reacting a reactive gas with a metallic material, and has a reflectivity less than that of the metallic material.
US08822829B2
A patterned conductive element includes a substrate having a surface, an adhesive layer located on the surface, and a patterned carbon nanotube layer located on the adhesive layer. Part of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is embedded in the adhesive layer, and the other part of the patterned carbon nanotube layer is exposed from the adhesive layer.
US08822828B2
A multi-layer printed circuit board includes a core structure including resin layers and conductor circuits sandwiched by the resin layers, the core structure having first and second surfaces, a first conductor layer including conductor circuits on the first surface of the core structure, and a second conductor layer including conductor circuits on the second surface of the core structure. The core structure includes first and via holes, and the first and second via holes include a metal filling up to the respective top of openings in the resin layers, respectively, sandwich one or more conductor circuits in the core structure and are positioned vertically to form a through hole electrically connecting respective ones of the conductor circuits of the first and second conductor layers, and the first and second via holes are deviated from each other in a vertical direction.
US08822822B2
Methods and systems for preventing corona discharge include an insulation system for a coil conductor in which a grounded conductive or semi-conductive layer is molded over a primary insulation layer, molded on the coil conductor, which limits the occurrence of voltage drop to the primary insulating layer.
US08822820B2
A housing of an electronic device includes a lower cover, a back panel secured to the lower cover, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the back panel to the lower cover. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing portion defining a latching hole, an inserting portion, a restricting portion, and an engaging portion defining a slot. The fixing portion and the inserting portion position on the back panel. The restricting portion and the engaging portion protrude from the lower cover. The inserting portion is capable of inserting into the slot, and the restricting portion is capable of locking in the latching hole, for cooperatively fixing the back panel to the lower cover.
US08822818B2
Disclosed is a 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine derived tridentate ligand represented by formula (I): wherein definitions of Y1, Y2, and R are the same as those defined in the specification. Also disclosed are a metal complex containing the aforesaid tridentate ligand and a dye-sensitized solar cell containing the metal complex.
US08822809B2
Disclosed are a solar cell apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same. The solar cell apparatus includes a substrate; a back electrode layer on the substrate; a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer; a front electrode layer on the light absorbing layer; and a connection wire extending from the front electrode layer and connected to the back electrode layer through the light absorbing layer, wherein the connection wire directly makes contact with an inner side of a recess formed in the back electrode layer.
US08822789B2
An inbred corn line, designated BB86, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line BB86, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line BB86 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing inbred corn line BB86 with itself or another corn line. The invention also relates to products produced from the seeds, plants, or parts thereof, of inbred corn line BB86 and/or of the hybrids produced using the inbred as a parent. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line BB86.
US08822782B1
A novel maize variety designated X13C764 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 X13C764 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13C764 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13C764, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13C764. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13C764.
US08822776B1
A soybean cultivar designated S120107 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S120107, to the plants of soybean cultivar S120107, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S120107, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S120107. 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 S120107. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120107, 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 S120107 with another soybean cultivar.
US08822775B1
A novel soybean variety, designated 95Y21 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety 95Y21, cells from soybean variety 95Y21, plants of soybean 95Y21, and plant parts of soybean variety 95Y21. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety 95Y21 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety 95Y21, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety 95Y21, and methods of characterizing soybean variety 95Y21. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety 95Y21 are further provided.
US08822770B2
A soybean cultivar designated S110129 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110129, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110129, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110129, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110129. 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 S110129. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110129, 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 S110129 with another soybean cultivar.
US08822766B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026366. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026366. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026366 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026366 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08822762B2
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.
US08822759B2
The present invention relates to transcriptional control sequences derived from GL9 genes, wherein the transcriptional control sequences direct specific or preferential expression of an operably connected nucleotide sequence of interest in one or more parts of a plant seed.
US08822757B2
Plant metabolism and alkaloid levels can be regulated by transcription factors that regulate the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a transcription factor that negatively regulates alkaloid biosynthesis, such as nicotine biosynthesis.
US08822754B2
This invention relates to the field of biotechnology or genetic engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to the field of gene expression. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel inducible gene expression system and methods of modulating gene expression in a host cell for applications such as gene therapy, large scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based high throughput screening assays, functional genomics and regulation of traits in transgenic plants and animals.
US08822753B2
An absorbent article that enables the presence of moisture, for example, derived from urination to be easily recognized. The absorbent article includes an outer sheet provided on a side that faces a wearer's skin, i.e., on its side facing a liquid-absorbent structure with moisture visualizing elements. The moisture visualizing elements are formed by coating the outer sheet with hot melt composition comprising pH indicator mixed with pressure-sensitive adhesive ingredient. Two or more stripes of the hot melt composition forming the moisture visualizing elements extend in a longitudinal direction at least across a crotch region. Between the moisture visualizing elements and the liquid-absorbent structure, there is provided a barrier sheet or barrier sheets extending in a transverse direction so as to intersect the moisture visualizing elements comprising two or more stripes of the hot melt composition.
US08822750B2
A method is described for the treatment of ferrous nuclear waste, produced in operations of pickling of contaminated metallic surfaces, which makes it possible to minimize the volumes of liquid phases to be treated and to recycle the by-products thereof to the process.
US08822747B2
The xylene isomerization process unit and the transalkylation process units are combined in the present invention. A fractionation column can be shared by the two units, reducing the capital cost of the complex. In some embodiments, a split shell fractionation column and a split separator can be used.
US08822746B2
The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, such as the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound, namely an ordered cobalt-aluminum or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support and at least one specific ordered cobalt-aluminum and/or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound supported thereon, as well as to the use of specific ordered intermetallic cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds as catalysts. The ordered cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds proved to be highly selective and long-term stable catalysts, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in a large excess of ethylene.
US08822735B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing polyglyceryl ether derivatives in which the polyglyceryl ether derivatives are produced from an alcohol (except for glycidol and glycerol) and glycidol in the presence of an aluminosilicate which is ion-exchanged with at least one cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium ions, alkali metal ions and alkali earth metal ions. In the process of the present invention, a removal step of the catalyst can be simplified, and the polyglyceryl ether derivatives can be produced in an economical and efficient manner.
US08822732B2
This invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), (II), or (III) as shown in the specification, which contain a 1,5-diphenylpenta-1,4-dien-3-one backbone. These compounds can be used to treat cancer, inflammatory disease, or autoimmune disease.
US08822731B2
The present invention is directed towards a new class of semi-conducting nonacene derivatives. These compounds are all soluble species and they all possess superior resistance to oxidation as compared to their counterparts that lack the substitution patterns disclosed herein.
US08822730B2
Provided herein are methods of isolating a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronic acid. The method comprises contacting a mixture of water, a water-miscible organic solvent, and a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronic acid with a salt to form a water-miscible organic solvent layer and a water layer. The 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronic acid is partitioned into the water-miscible organic solvent layer, which is separated from the water layer. Additional methods are disclosed, as is a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronic acid produced by one of the methods, wherein the 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronic acid is obtained at a yield of greater than approximately 90%.
US08822721B2
The invention concerns a method for separating a racemic compound-forming chiral substance by a cyclic crystallization process which is conducted in at least one first crystallization unit (10) and in at least one second crystallization unit (18), wherein in a first process cycle an enantiomer is crystallized in the first crystallization unit (10) and a racemic compound is crystallized in the second crystallization unit (18), wherein in a second process cycle the enantiomer is crystallized in the second crystallization unit (18) and the racemic compound is crystallized in the first crystallization unit (10), wherein during each process cycle in at least one process sub-step (B→C, F→G) a mother liquor (12) being contained in the first crystallization unit (10) is mutually exchanged with a mother liquor (20) being contained in the second crystallization unit (18). An auto-seeding process sub-step is applied at the beginning of a process cycle.
US08822720B2
The present disclosure describes operationally simple methods for the low temperature, catalytic activation of carboxylic acids for organic reactions, in particular for direct amidation reactions with amines. The methods involve the use of orthosubstituted arylboromc acids of the formula (I), wherein the groups R1 to R5 are as defined herein. In preferred embodiments R1 is halogen. The arylboromc acids catalyze nucleophilic 1,2-addition reactions, conjugate 1,4-addition reactions, and cycloaddition reactions, including Diels-Alder reactions involving α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids.
US08822716B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing 7-halo-2-oxoheptylate, an intermediate of cilastatin. The main steps are as follows: A. Addition reaction, in which 6-halo-hexanal is reacted with a cyanide to obtain 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptonitrile; B. Hydrolysis reaction, in which 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptonitrile is converted to 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptylic acid; C. Esterification reaction, in which 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptylic acid is converted to 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptylate; and D. Oxidation reaction, in which 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptylate is converted to 7-halo-2-oxoheptylate. 7-halo-α-hydroxyl-heptylic acid or ester thereof, which is a new intermediate for synthesizing 7-halo-2-oxoheptylate or cilastatin, and a method for synthesizing cilastatin are also disclosed. The methods of the invention are suitable for commercial production because of their simple process and mild reaction condition.
US08822711B2
A process is provided for preparing C8-C22 acyl glycinate acid or salt thereof via reacting and heating reacting a mixture of glycine or salt thereof with a fatty acid ester in a medium selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol and combinations thereof, and wherein the mixture has a pKa ranging from 9.5 to 13.
US08822710B2
The invention relates to an integrated process for preparing an epoxide from an oxygenate, wherein the production of a lower olefin from the oxygenate and the subsequent epoxidation of the lower olefin is combined and wherein isobutene, a by-product of the lower olefin production, is converted into a hydroperoxide that is used for the conversion of the lower olefin into the corresponding epoxide.
US08822709B2
The invention relates to an integrated process for preparing an epoxide from an oxygenate, wherein the oxygenate is converted into a lower olefin and the lower olefin is subsequently epoxidised, and wherein isobutane obtained after hydrogenation and subsequent normal/iso separation of C4 hydrocarbons obtained as by-product of the oxygenate conversion, is converted into a hydroperoxide that is used for the conversion of the lower olefin into the corresponding epoxide.
US08822695B2
The present invention provides dye compounds optimally excited at about 400 nm and have a Stokes shift of at least about 80 nm. These dyes find use in detection of analyte in a sample and the preparation of dye-conjugates.
US08822693B2
Heteroarylpiperidine and -piperazine derivatives of the formula (I) in which the symbols are each as defined in the description, and agrochemically active salts thereof, and use thereof for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi, and also processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I).
US08822688B2
[Problem]To provide a compound useful as medicine having PDE4B inhibitory activity, in particular, as an active ingredient of a composition for treating or preventing schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, depression and the like.[Measures for Solution]The present inventors examined compounds having PDE4B inhibitory activity and found that a tricyclic or tetracyclic imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative or salts thereof had a superior PDE4B inhibitory activity, thereby completing the present invention. The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative can be used as an agent for treating or preventing schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, depression and the like.
US08822684B1
The presently-disclosed subject matter relates to compounds of the formula: and methods for use thereof. The presently-disclosed subject matter relates methods of selectively differentiating a stem cell, and methods of screening for compounds useful for enhancing terminal differentiation of committed cardiac progenitor cells.
US08822683B2
Compounds of formulae I, II or III, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful as CDK inhibitors.
US08822672B2
An apparatus and a method for obtaining a (poly)nucleotide sequence of interest include steps of cultivating hosts cells to produce a nucleotide sequence of interest and harvesting these cells, introducing these cells in a passageway and disintegrating them in a continuous process. In the continuous process, performing in the passageway a precipitation of contaminants by a mixing of the disintegrated cells with a solution containing one or more salt(s) and obtaining a mixture and allowing a precipitate to separate from the solution of this mixture, preferably to float and/or to sediment from the solution of this mixture for 1-48 hours and pumping out a soluble material from this solution, while excluding recovering the precipitate.
US08822666B2
The present invention relates to novel hybrid promoters comprising a caulimovirus promoter operably linked to one or more of an EF1α, Act8, Act2 or Act11 promoter. The present invention also relates to novel DNA constructs comprising at least one expression cassette which comprises the hybrid promoter thereof. The present invention further relates to transgenic plants/seeds comprising such DNA constructs.
US08822663B2
Provided are compositions and methods for delivering biological moieties such as modified nucleic acids into cells to modulate protein expression. Such compositions and methods include the use of modified messenger RNAs, and are useful to treat or prevent diseases, disorders or conditions, or to improve a subject's heath or wellbeing.
US08822660B2
Methods and products for the repair of genetically defective DNA in the region of a mutated exon, for the specific destruction of tumor cells, and for the identification of naturally trans-spliced RNA. The methods inter alia are based on the utilization of cellular RNA splicing components.
US08822659B2
Process for the synthesis of unprotected pentasaccharides from a protected pentasaccharide precursor
Procedure for the synthesis of deprotected pentasaccharides from a protected precursor pentasaccharide through a reaction procedure having five stages whereamong is included an N-sulphation of amino groups and a hydrogenolysis of benzyl groups. Through this procedure a drastic reduction is achieved in the total synthesis time in comparison with the process traditionally employed, together with increased reproducibility thereof, permitting the standardization thereof.
US08822656B2
The present invention provides compositions and pharmaceutical formulations of Factor H derived from plasma. Also provided are methods for the manufacture of the Factor H compositions and formulations, as well as methods for the treatment of diseases associated with Factor H dysfunction.
US08822655B2
Herein is reported a tangential flow filtration method with a pre-filtration solute concentration adjustment in order to ensure a defined concentration of the components of the solution after tangential flow filtration.
US08822650B2
Disclosed are a recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an E. coli-derived signal sequence and a nucleotide sequence encoding an immunoglobulin constant region, and a transformant transformed with the expression vector. Also, disclosed is a method of mass-producing an immunoglobulin constant region by culturing the transformant and expressing the immunoglobulin constant region in a water-soluble form.
US08822649B2
The disclosure relates to a protein composed of a first polypeptide or polypeptide domain having a first specific binding activity for Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expressed on a T-cell cell surface and a second specific binding activity for Glucose Transporter 2 (GLUT2) or an extracellular ectodomain thereof expressed on a pancreatic β-cell surface, wherein binding of the first polypeptide or polypeptide domain to CTLA-4 induces a CTLA-4 specific agonist response in the T-cell, and binding of the second polypeptide or polypeptide domain to GLUT2 or an ectodomain thereof does not inhibit GLUT2 glucose transporter function, wherein said agonist response in the T-cell induces a response that reduces immunoreactivity against pancreatic β-cells.
US08822644B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of cancer therapy and prophylaxis. More particularly, the present invention provides growth factor antagonists which inhibit the growth of cancers including tumors and pre-cancerous tissue. Even more particularly, the present invention is directed to antagonists of vascular endothelial growth factor-B and their use to inhibit the growth of cancer including tumor tissue and pre-cancerous tissue.
US08822641B2
The present invention relates to bacteriophage tail proteins and the derivatives and fragments thereof that are capable of binding endotoxins in the absence of bivalent positive ions, especially Ca2+ or Mg2+. Further, the present invention relates to methods for depleting endotoxins from solutions and samples using the bacteriophage tail proteins according to the present invention and to a detection method for endotoxins.
US08822631B2
A process for the production of a polymer containing monomer units of butane-1,4-diamine and 1,10-decanedioic acid (PA-410) having a viscosity number (VN) of at least 105 ml/gram includes making a solution of a salt of butane-1,4-diamine and 1,10-decanedioic acid in water, concentrating the solution of the salt at a temperature of between 100 and 180° C. and a pressure of between 1.0 and 3.0 bar to a water content of between 4 and 8 wt %, producing a prepolymer from the salt containing monomer units of butane-1,4-diamine and 1,10-decanedioic acid at a temperature of between 185 and 205° C., and thereafter subjecting the prepolymer to post condensation.
US08822629B2
The present invention relates to a method of prepairing a heat-resistant polyamide by carrying out condensation polymerization with a monomer mixture including a diester compound and a diamine compound. The present invention provides an economical method of prepairing a heat-resistant polyamide in that a monomer, a raw material, is simply and chiefly prepared, and the polymerizing reaction time is short because it does not need solvent separately.
US08822616B1
A block copolymer formulation is provided including a block copolymer blend including a first poly(acrylate)-b-poly(silyl acrylate) block copolymer; and, a second poly(acrylate)-b-poly(silyl acrylate) block copolymer. Also provided are substrates treated with the block copolymer formulation.
US08822612B2
The present invention relates to the field of ethylene polymerization with a supported late transition metal catalyst system.
US08822611B2
Rotomoulded articles and methods of forming the same are described herein. The rotomoulded articles generally have a permeability of less than 1 g/day. The rotomoulded articles generally include polyethylene obtained by injecting into a reactor a catalyst system including a metallocene catalyst component of specific formula and an activating agent; injecting into the reactor ethylene monomer at a concentration of at least 6.5 wt %; injecting an amount of hydrogen such that a ratio of hydrogen to ethylene (H2/C2) in the feed is less than 85 g/106 g; maintaining the reactor under polymerisation conditions at a temperature of less than 90° C.; and retrieving polyethylene exhibiting a melt index (MI2) of at least 3.
US08822610B2
A procedure for improved temperature control in controlled radical polymerization processes is disclosed. The procedure is directed at controlling the concentration of the persistent radical in ATRP and NMP polymerizations procedures and the concentration of radicals in a RAFT polymerization process by feeding a reducing agent or radical precursor continuously or intermittently to the reaction medium through one of more ports.
US08822608B1
A system and method for producing polyolefin, including a polyolefin reactor system having: a first reactor to produce a first reactor discharge stream having a first polyolefin and a first diluent; and a second reactor to receive at least a portion of the first reactor discharge stream and to produce a second reactor discharge stream having a second polyolefin and a second diluent, wherein the second diluent is different than the first diluent.
US08822603B2
The present disclosure provides a resinous material for covering electric wire having all required properties meeting or exceeding a certain standard, produced using a cyclic olefin-derived resin, and electric wires manufactured using the resinous material for covering electric wire, and flame-retardant cables. The resinous material including (A) an olefin-derived resin, (B) an elastomer resin, (C) a cyclic olefin-derived resin having a glass transition point of from 120° C. to 170° C., and (D) a flame retardant, the resinous material having: a content of the component (D) of from 60 parts by mass to 150 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the total contents of the components (A), (B) and (C); a tensile elongation of no less than 250%; and a heat deformation of no greater than 40%.
US08822602B2
Heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) comprising: (a) a polypropylene matrix comprising: (a1) a first propylene homopolymer fraction (PPH1) with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of >200 to 500 g/10 min, (a2-1) a second propylene homopolymer fraction (PPH2) with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of >30 to ≦200 g/10 min or, (a2-2) a second propylene homopolymer fraction (PPH2) with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of >5 to ≦30 g/10 min and, (a3-1) a third propylene homopolymer fraction (PPH3) with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 0.03 to ≦5 g/10 min, if the second propylene homopolymer fraction is fraction (a2-1) or, (a3-2) a third propylene homopolymer fraction (PPH3) with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of >30 to ≦200 g/10 min, if the second propylene homopolymer fraction is fraction (a2-2), wherein the polypropylene matrix has a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 30 to 500 g/10 min and a xylene cold soluble fraction determined at 23° C. according to ISO 6427 in the range of 0.5 to <2.0 wt %, (b) an elastomeric propylene copolymer dispersed in said matrix, wherein (i) said heterophasic propylene copolymer has a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 25 to 200 g/10 min and, (ii) as the amorphous phase (AM) of the cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity measured according to ISO 1628-1 (at 135° C. in tetraline) of ≧2.0 dl/g, and a process for its preparation.
US08822600B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a terminal acrylic-modified polybutadiene or terminal acrylic-modified hydrogenated polybutadiene that does not become white and turbid, without using an organotin compound. The production method of the present invention comprises reacting an acrylate or methacrylate represented by formula (I), a diisocyanate compound represented by formula (II), and a polybutadiene or hydrogenated polybutadiene having a hydroxyl group at a polymer terminal, represented by formula (III), in the presence of at least one selected from an organobismuth compound and a tetraalkoxyzirconium compound.
US08822582B2
The invention relates to absorptive, crosslinked polymeric composition that are based on partly neutralized, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying acid groups wherein the absorptive crosslinked polymer may be coated with a polymeric coating, and have improved properties, in particular in respect of their capacity for transportation of liquids in the swollen state, and which have a high capacity and a high gel bed permeability.
US08822578B2
The present disclosure is directed to a single phase acetylated castor component (SP-ACC). An acetylated castor component is purified to produce the SP-ACC which contains a reduced amount of, or no, insoluble component(s) therein. The SP-ACC enhances the performance and properties of plasticizers of which it is a component.
US08822568B2
A binder composition for self-curing mold formation, comprising at least one condensate (A) selected from furfuryl alcohol condensate and furfuryl alcohol/formaldehyde condensate, and an acid-curable resin (B), wherein about the condensate(s) (A), the presence ratio by mole of its/their furan rings (a) to the total of its/their methylol groups (b), methylene groups (c) and oxymethylene groups (d), a:(b+c+d), is from 1:1.00 to 1:1.08, and the content by percentage of the at least one condensate (A) is from 0.3 to 8.0% by weight.
US08822564B2
A dental restorative composition is provided that includes a polymerizable resin, a substantially translucent structural filler, a nanofiller having a mean particle size less than 100 nm, and at least one rheology-modifying additive. In one embodiment, the structural filler has a refractive index substantially similar to that of the polymerizable resin, a coarse particle fraction, and a fine particle fraction having a mean particle size greater than 0.1 μm and smaller than the mean particle size of the coarse particle fraction. The relative ratio of the coarse particle fraction to the fine particle fraction is in the range from about 12:1 to about 2:1 by volume, the particle size distribution of each fraction is essentially monomodal, and the D(90) of the fine particle fraction is less than or equal to the D(10) of the coarse particle fraction.
US08822551B2
Disclosed herein is a hyaluronic acid epoxide derivative film comprises a polymer containing a hydroxyl (—OH) terminal group. The film is prepared by allowing an epoxy crosslinker to react with a mixture of hyaluronic acid and a polymer containing a hydroxyl (—OH) terminal group and has improved physical strength, in vivo stability, flexibility, adhesiveness to biological tissue, and biocompatibility.
US08822545B1
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.
US08822544B2
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.
US08822536B2
A process for increasing lean body mass in a mammalian subject is provided that includes administering to the subject a purified quantity of maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, or a combination thereof. The administration can be orally and benefits from ingestion of an amino acid source such as dietary protein, oligopeptides, or amino acids. Administration within 2 hours of muscle-degrading exercise or on a daily basis for a period of time increases lean body mass.
US08822534B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula I′; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R5, B1, X and n are defined herein. The invention also relates a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US08822532B2
Certain bis[thio-hydrazide amide]-related compounds are found to be surprisingly effective at treating with leukemia, e.g., acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods of treating a subject with AML including administering bis[thio-hydrazide amide]-related compounds described herein, are disclosed.
US08822530B2
The present invention relates to novel sulfur derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of chemokine receptors.
US08822521B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, including all geometric and stereoisomers, N-oxides, and salts thereof, wherein W is O or S; V is a direct bond or NR3; Q is or CR6aR6b, O, NR7, C═N—O—R7 or C(═O); Y is —C(R5)═N—O—(CR8aR8b)p—X—(CR9aR9b)q—SiR10aR10bR10c; or a phenyl ring substituted as defined in the disclosure; or Z; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6a, R7, R8a, R8b, R9b, R10a, R10b, R10c, Z, p and q are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 and methods for controlling plant disease caused by a fungal pathogen comprising applying an effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention.
US08822517B2
Arylsulphonamide derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds may be useful for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of the central nervous system.
US08822512B2
The disclosure features crystalline tripeptide keto epoxide compounds, methods of their preparation, and related pharmaceutical compositions.
US08822511B2
The present invention is directed to 1,2,5-oxadiazole derivatives, and compositions of the same, which are inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and are useful in the treatment of cancer and other disorders, and to the processes and intermediates for making such 1,2,5-oxadiazole derivatives.
US08822508B2
The present invention relates to 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine imidazothiadiazole derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08822504B2
The invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R is C1-4 alkyl useful in the treatment of diseases and conditions for which antagonism of NK1 receptor is beneficial.
US08822502B2
A compound of formula (I): wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, A1′, A2′, A3′, A4′, A5′, A6′, G1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a and R5b are as defined in claim 1; or a salt or N-oxide thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for preparing compounds of formula (I) or compounds of formula (I′), to insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal and molluscicidal compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) or compounds of formula (I′), and to methods of using compounds of formula (I) or compounds of formula (I′) to combat and control insect, acarine, nematode and mollusc pests.
US08822497B2
New compounds, compositions and methods of inhibition of kinase activity associated with tumorigenesis in a human or animal subject are provided. In certain embodiments, the compounds and compositions are effective to inhibit the activity of at least one serine/threonine kinase or receptor tyrosine kinase. The new compounds and compositions may be used either alone or in combination with at least one additional agent for the treatment of a serine/threonine kinase- or receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated disorder, such as cancer.
US08822494B2
The present invention provides, in part, compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and N-oxides of the foregoing; processes for the preparation of; intermediates used in the preparation of; and compositions containing such compounds, salts or N-oxides, and their uses for treating D1-mediated (or D1-associated) disorders including, e.g., schizophrenia (e.g., its cognitive and negative symptoms), cognitive impairment (e.g., cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia, AD, PD, or pharmacotherapy therapy), ADHD, impulsivity, compulsive gambling, overeating, autism spectrum disorder, MCI, age-related cognitive decline, dementia, RLS, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, anxiety, depression, MDD, TRD, and bipolar disorder.
US08822493B2
The present invention relates to SNS-595 and methods of treating cancer using the same.
US08822490B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein X−, R1, and R2 are as defined herein, and compositions thereof.
US08822484B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and their isomers, steroisomers, conformers, tautomers, polymorphs, hydrates and solvates. The present invention also encompasses pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of said compounds and process for preparing novel compounds. The invention further relates to the use of the above-mentioned compounds for the preparation of medicament for use as pharmaceuticals.
US08822482B2
The invention relates to 4-[(3-ethynylphenyl)amino]-6,7-benzo-12-crown-quinazoline hydrochloride, its new crystalline forms, its therapeutic usage for treatment of diseases mediated by EGFR kinase and its combinatory therapeutic usage together with other therapeutic agents. The invention also provides synthetic methods for preparation of 4-[(3-ethynylphenyl)amino]-6,7-benzo-12-crown-quinazoline hydrochloride, its new crystalline forms, and the relevant synthetic intermediates for synthesis of 4-[(3-ethynylphenyl)amino]-6,7-benzo-12-crown-quinazoline hydrochloride.
US08822478B2
Indazole compounds for treating various diseases and pathologies are disclosed. More particularly, the present invention concerns the use of an indazole compound or analogs thereof, in the treatment of disorders characterized by the activation of Wnt pathway signaling (e.g., cancer, abnormal cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, Alzheimer's disease and osteoarthritis), the modulation of cellular events mediated by Wnt pathway signaling, as well as genetic diseases due to mutations in Wnt signaling components. Also provided are methods for treating Wnt-related disease states.
US08822471B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I, wherein the groups R1, LP, LQ, Ar, m and n are as defined in the application, which have valuable pharmacological properties, and in particular bind to the GPR119 receptor and modulate its activity.
US08822470B2
Disclosed are compounds of the following formula: in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and X, are defined in the specification. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and articles of manufacture, which contain the compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds to treat diseases, disorders, and conditions related to PARP activity.
US08822467B2
The present invention provides biaryl oxyacetic acid compounds which may be useful for treating inflammatory disorders, including disorders affecting the respiratory system and skin. The compounds provided include those of the general formula I:
US08822459B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I-0): wherein symbols in formula have the same meanings as described in the present specification, a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof or a solvate thereof or a prodrug thereof, and medical use thereof. The compound of the present invention has an antagonistic activity against CXCR4 and is therefore useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for CXCR4-mediated diseases, for example, inflammatory and immune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, retinopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, transplanted organ rejection, etc.), allergic diseases, infections (for example, human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, etc.), psychoneurotic diseases, cerebral diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, and cancerous diseases (for example, cancer, cancer metastasis, etc.), or an agent for regeneration therapy.
US08822451B2
4-amido-pyrimidine compounds, derivatives and compositions thereof, and synthetic methods described herein are useful for modulating ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using such modulators.
US08822440B2
This document involves methods and materials related to inhibiting cyclin D polypeptide activity. For example, this document provides methods and materials that can be used to (1) identify mammals or cells in need of cyclin D polypeptide inhibition and (2) administer an agent capable of inhibiting cyclin D polypeptide activity.
US08822437B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide a new substance having a cerebral nerve cell neogenesis effect. Another objective is to provide a cerebral nerve cell neogenesis agent that is effective in treating and/or preventing neurological disorders utilizing the substance. With the present invention, a cerebral nerve cell neogenesis agent containing a plasmalogen as an active ingredient is provided. In particular, a preferable cerebral nerve cell neogenesis agent contains, as an active ingredient, a biological tissue (preferably, an avian tissue) extracted plasmalogen mainly including an ethanolamine plasmalogen and a choline plasmalogen.
US08822424B2
Compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, Q3, R8 and R9 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed.
US08822423B2
We have disclosed affinity peptides toward infliximab. More specifically we have disclosed an affinity biomatrix where the affinity peptide is covalently attached to a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer. The affinity biomatrix is useful in preparing controlled release devices for infliximab.
US08822419B2
An aspect of the invention provides a method of selectively necrosing cells, comprising: providing a plurality cells, including at least one cancer cell and at least one non-cancerous cell; and administering to the cells a compound, including an HDM-2 targeting component and a cytotoxic component attached to the HDM-2 targeting component, wherein said compound comprises a membrane-active form.
US08822414B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I), their tautomeric forms, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their preparation, use of these compounds in medicine and the intermediates involved in their preparation. The present invention is directed towards compounds which can be used to treat diseases such as Hyperlipidemia and also have a beneficial effect on cholesterol.
US08822408B2
The pharmaceutical composition includes at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an active ingredient including an artificially synthesized peptide includes: (A) an amino acid sequence constituting a cell-penetrating peptide and (B) an amino acid sequence constituting the signal peptide in amyloid precursor protein (APP) or an N-terminal partial amino acid sequence or C-terminal partial amino acid sequence from the amino acid sequence constituting that signal peptide.
US08822405B2
The present invention relates generally to uses of TSLP in the treatment of cancer.
US08822401B2
A water-soluble surfactant composition is provided comprising (A) a glycidyl ether-capped acetylenic diol ethoxylate and (B) a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether having an HLB of 8-18. When compounded in inks and paper coatings, the surfactant composition exerts improved foam controlling, dispersing, wetting and penetrating capabilities, is water soluble, and complies with high-speed printing and application conditions.
US08822399B2
A laundry stain and soil pretreatment sheet including a water soluble or water dispersible carrier layer, preferably polyvinyl alcohol, a removable separator layer, and a layer of cleaning agent composition therebetween. The separator layer is removed, the composition layer is adhered to a stain on clothing, and the clothing is laundered. The carrier layer dissolves or disperses during the laundering. The separator layer can be water soluble or water dispersible. Depressions can be provided in the carrier layer to hold the layer of cleaning agent composition. Without the separator layer, a sheet of the carrier layer can be folded over to hold the cleaning agent composition.
US08822392B1
A lubricating oil comprising a major amount of a base oil and a minor amount of an additive package, and the additive package comprises at least one friction modifier selected from compounds of the formulae II, III and IV, and carboxylate salts thereof: wherein R is a linear or branched, saturated, unsaturated, or partially saturated hydrocarbyl having about 8 to about 28 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1; and the carboxylate salts have a cation that is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, group IIB metal, or ammonium cation. Methods of using the engine oil to improve thin film and/or boundary layer friction in an engine are also provided.
US08822386B2
Nanomaterial compositions are useful for applications in drilling and completion fluids as enhancers of electrical and thermal conductivity, emulsion stabilizers, wellbore strength improvers, drag reduction agents, wettability changers, corrosion coating compositions and the like. These nanomaterials may be dispersed in the liquid phase in low volumetric fraction, particularly as compared to corresponding agents of larger size. Nanofluids (fluids containing nano-sized particles) may be used to drill at least part of the wellbore. Nanofluids for drilling and completion applications may be designed including nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes. These fluids containing nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, meet the required rheological and filtration properties for application in challenging HPHT drilling and completions operations.
US08822371B2
A process for producing geometric shaped catalyst bodies K whose active material is a multielement oxide of stoichiometry [Bi1WbOx]a[Mo12Z1cZ2dFeeZ3fZ4gZ5nOy]1, in which a finely divided oxide Bi1WbOx with the particle size d50A1 and, formed from element sources, a finely divided intimate mixture of stoichiometry Mo12Z1cZ2dFeeZ3fZ4gZ5h with the particle size d50A2 are mixed in a ratio of a:1, this mixture is used to form shaped bodies and these are treated thermally, where (d50A1)0.7·(d90A1)1.5·(a)−1≧820.
US08822349B1
A method of making a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer using a high density plasma oxidation process. The dielectric layer is on a storage layer and the thickness of the storage layer is reduced during the high density plasma oxidation process.
US08822346B1
A reaction block having a plurality of reaction chambers defined therein is provided. A bottom surface of each of the reaction chambers is configured to provide a seal for a corresponding reaction region on the substrate and around a periphery of the substrate. The reaction block includes a plurality of inlet channels and provides a gap between a top surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the reaction block. The gap accepts a fluid from the inlet channels, wherein the reaction block includes a plurality of vacuum channels having access to the bottom surface of the reaction block to remove the fluid from the gap. A method of selectively etching a substrate for combinatorial processing is also provided.
US08822341B2
A first gas for plasma etch and a second gas for plasma deposition are introduced onto a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate including a mask pattern. A flow rate of the first and second gases is periodically changed within a range of flow rates during a process cycle, such that a plasma etch process and a plasma deposition process are performed together to form an opening in the semiconductor substrate.
US08822339B2
The present invention relates to a CMP slurry composition comprising an abrasive particle; a dispersant; an ionic polymer additive; and a non-ionic polymer additive including a polyolefin-polyethylene glycol copolymer including at least two polyethylene glycol repeat unit as a backbone and at least a polyethylene glycol repeating unit as a side chain, and a polishing method with using the slurry composition. The CMP slurry composition shows a low polishing rate to a single-crystalline silicon layer or a polysilicon layer and a high polishing rate to a silicon oxide layer, resulting in having an excellent polishing selectivity.
US08822331B2
An anchored conductive damascene buried in a multi-density dielectric layer and method for forming the same, the anchored conductive damascene including a dielectric layer with an opening extending through a thickness of the dielectric layer; wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one relatively higher density portion and a relatively lower density portion, the relatively lower density portion forming a contiguous major portion of the dielectric layer; and, wherein the opening in the relatively lower density portion has a lateral dimension relatively larger compared to the relatively higher density portion to form anchoring steps.
US08822329B2
One or more embodiments relate to a method for making a semiconductor structure, the method including: forming a first conductive interconnect at least partially through the substrate; and forming a second conductive interconnect over the substrate, wherein the first conductive interconnect and the second conductive interconnect are formed at least partially simultaneously.
US08822327B2
A chip contact pad and a method of making a chip contact pad are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention includes forming a plurality of contact pads over a workpiece, each contact pad having lower sidewalls and upper sidewalls and reducing a lower width of each contact pad so that an upper width of each contact pad is larger than the lower width. The method further includes forming a photoresist over the plurality of contact pads and removing portions of the photoresist thereby forming sidewall spacers along the lower sidewalls.
US08822312B2
A method of forming a doped semiconductor layer on a substrate is provided. A foundation layer having a crystal structure compatible with a thermodynamically favored crystal structure of the doped semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate and annealed, or surface annealed, to substantially crystallize the surface of the foundation layer. The doped semiconductor layer is formed on the foundation layer. Each layer may be formed by vapor deposition processes such as CVD. The foundation layer may be germanium and the doped semiconductor layer may be phosphorus doped germanium.
US08822292B2
The present disclosure provides a method for forming and controlling a molecular level SiO2 interface layer, mainly comprising: cleansing before growing the SiO2 interface layer, growing the molecular level ultra-thin SiO2 interface layer; and controlling reaction between high-K gate dielectric and the SiO2 interface layer to further reduce the SiO2 interface layer. The present disclosure can strictly prevent invasion of oxygen during process integration. The present disclosure can obtain a good-quality high-K dielectric film having a small EOT. The manufacturing process is simple and easy to integrate. It is also compatible with planar CMOS process, and can satisfy requirement of high-performance nanometer level CMOS metal gate/high-K device of 45 nm node and below.
US08822288B2
A method of fabricating a memory device includes providing multiple coatings of nanodots on a tunnel dielectric layer to form a floating gate layer having a high nanodot density. The memory device may have a nanodot-containing floating gate layer with a density greater than 4×1012 dots/cm2. Further methods include forming an oxidation barrier layer, such as a silicon nitride shell, over a surface of the nanodots, and depositing a dielectric material over the nanodots to form a floating gate layer.
US08822287B2
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices include forming an integrated structure and a first stopping layer pattern in a first region. A first insulating interlayer and a second stopping layer are formed. A second preliminary insulating interlayer is formed by partially etching the second stopping layer and the first insulating interlayer in the first region. A first polishing is performed to remove a protruding portion. A second polishing is performed to expose the first and second stopping layer patterns.
US08822286B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a flash memory cell in a semiconductor die includes forming a control gate stack overlying a floating gate stack in a memory region of a substrate, where the floating gate stack includes a floating gate overlying a portion of a dielectric one layer. The floating gate includes a portion of a metal one layer and the dielectric o one layer includes a first high-k dielectric material. The control gate stack can include a control gate including a portion of a metal two layer, where the metal one layer can include a different metal than the metal two layer.
US08822280B2
A first transistor includes a first impurity layer of a first conduction type formed in a first region of a semiconductor substrate, a first epitaxial semiconductor layer formed above the first impurity layer, a first gate insulating film formed above the first epitaxial semiconductor layer, a first gate electrode formed above the first gate insulating film, and first source/drain regions of a second conduction type formed in the first epitaxial semiconductor layer and in the semiconductor substrate in the first region. A second transistor includes a second impurity layer of the first conduction type formed in a second region of the semiconductor substrate, a second epitaxial semiconductor layer formed above the second impurity layer and being thinner than the first epitaxial semiconductor layer, a second gate insulating film formed above the second epitaxial semiconductor layer, a second gate electrode formed above the second gate insulating film, and second source/drain regions of the second conduction type formed in the second epitaxial semiconductor layer and in the semiconductor substrate in the second region.
US08822272B2
To provide a semiconductor device capable of being easily subjected to a physical test without deteriorating characteristics. According to a measuring method of a semiconductor device in which an element layer provided with a test element including a terminal portion is sealed with first and second films having flexibility, the first film formed over the terminal portion is removed to form a contact hole reaching the terminal portion; the contact hole is filled with a resin containing a conductive material; heating is carried out after arranging a wiring substrate having flexibility over the resin with which filling has been performed so that the terminal portion and the wiring substrate having flexibility are electrically connected via the resin containing a conductive material; and a measurement is performed.
US08822271B2
There are proposed a method and apparatus for manufacturing a chip package in which bonding wires are coupled with contact pads in which an overhang holder holds and fixes portions of a surface adjacent to portions where the contact pads are located.
US08822270B2
A wafer of passive components is diced to leave a flat passive chip. The flat passive chip has bond pads for passive components on a same side of the flat passive chip. The flat passive chip is stacked onto an active chip. The passive components are wirebonded together to connect the passive components in series or parallel, resulting in the flat passive chip having an overall passive characteristic equal to a target characteristic.
US08822259B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to solar cell devices and methods for manufacturing such solar cell devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming a solar cell device includes depositing a conversion layer over a first surface of a substrate, depositing a first transparent conductive oxide layer over a second surface of the substrate that is opposite the first surface, depositing a first p-doped silicon layer over the first transparent conductive oxide layer, depositing a first intrinsic silicon layer over the first p-doped silicon layer, and depositing a first n-doped silicon layer over the first intrinsic silicon layer. The method further includes depositing a second transparent conductive oxide layer over the first n-doped silicon layer, and depositing an electrically conductive contact layer over the second transparent conductive oxide layer.
US08822252B2
A method of fabricating electrical connections in an integrated MEMS device is disclosed. The method comprises forming a MEMS wafer. Forming a MEMS wafer includes forming one cavity in a first semiconductor layer, bonding the first semiconductor layer to a second semiconductor layer with a dielectric layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and etching at least one via through the second semiconductor layer and the dielectric layer and depositing a conductive material on the second semiconductor layer and filling the at least one via. Forming a MEMS wafer also includes patterning and etching the conductive material to form one standoff and depositing a germanium layer on the conductive material, patterning and etching the germanium layer, and patterning and etching the second semiconductor layer to define one MEMS structure. The method also includes bonding the MEMS wafer to a base substrate.
US08822241B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: (a) preparing a processing target including a wafer (21) and a protective member (24) formed on the wafer (21); (b) measuring a thickness of the protective member (24) at a plurality of points; and (c) setting a desired value of a total thickness of the wafer (21) and the protective member (24) based on measurement results at the plurality of points to grind the wafer (21) in accordance with the desired value.
US08822240B2
A temperature detecting apparatus is provided which is capable of suppressing disconnection of a thermocouple wire or positional deviation of a thermocouple junction portion caused by change over time. The temperature detecting apparatus includes: an insulation rod installed to extend in a vertical direction and including a through-hole in vertical direction; a thermocouple wire inserted in the through-hole of the insulation rod, the thermocouple wire including a thermocouple junction portion at an upper end thereof and an angled portion at a lower end of the insulation rod; and a buffer area installed below the insulation rod and configured to suppress a restriction of a horizontal portion of the angled portion upon heat expansion, wherein an upper portion of the thermocouple wire or a middle portion in the vertical direction are supported by the insulation rod.
US08822233B2
New chemiluminescent compounds, stable in aqueous buffers, for use in biological assaying include acridane-based compounds and 1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new acridane-based compounds are water-soluble acridanes, enhancer coupled acridanes, bis and tris-acridanes as well as acridane-1,2-dioxetanes. Among the new 1,2-dioxetanes are electron deficient group-containing dioxetanes and tethered bis-1,2-dioxetanes. The 1,2-dioxetanes are useful as substrates for various enzymes. The acridanes can be admixed with an oxidizing agent. an aqueous buffer and, optionally, a stabilizer to form a substrate or reagent formulation useful for assaying, inter alia, HRP.
US08822223B2
This invention provides methods to prepare and use immunostimulatory cells for enhancing an immune response. The invention provides a method for preparing mature dendritic cells (DCs), comprising the sequential steps of: (a) signaling isolated immature dendritic cells (iDCs) with a first signal comprising an interferon gamma receptor (IFN-γR) agonist and/or a tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor (TNF-αR) agonist to produce signaled dendritic cells; and (b) signaling said signaled dendritic cells with a second transient signal comprising an effective amount of a CD40 agonist to produce CCR7+ mature dendritic cells. Also provided by this invention are enriched populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods of the invention. Such dendritic cells have enhanced immunostimulatory properties and increased IL-12 secretion and/or decreased IL-10 secretion. CD40 signaling can be initiated by one or more of polypeptide translated from an exogenous polynucleotide encoding CD40L (e.g., mRNA or DNA), an agonistic antibody to CD40 receptor or by CD40 ligand polypeptide. The enriched populations can be further modified by the administration of an immunogen to the DC. The DC will take up and process the immunogen on its cell surface.
US08822220B2
Disclosed herein are media, kits, systems and methods for achieving micropropagation of bamboo on a commercially-relevant scale.
US08822219B2
A method of treating a biological tissue for biological prostheses includes steps of fixation of the biological tissue via a fixing solution including glutaraldehyde and detoxification of the fixed biological tissue via treatment with a detoxifying solution. The detoxification step includes one or both of eliminating phospholipids via treatment with an elimination solution and a treatment with a detoxifying solution. The elimination solution includes 1,2-octanediol and ethanol. The detoxifying solution includes taurine or homocysteic acid.
US08822213B2
A composition for delivering an agent to a cell, comprising a bispecific affinity reagent and a pH-responsive, membrane destabilizing polymer. The bispecific affinity reagent may include a first affinity reagent covalently linked to a second affinity reagent, wherein the first affinity reagent binds to a molecule on the surface of a cell, and the second affinity reagent binds to an intracellular target.
US08822204B2
A culture apparatus for microscopic viewing enables effective microscopic viewing at high magnification of samples such as cells suspended in a culture solution while the samples are maintained at a uniform temperature. The apparatus is used to microscopically view a sample placed on a microscope stage, and is provided with a housing unit that houses the vessel containing a culture solution and the sample; a lid that closes the aperture on the upper surface side of the housing unit; a transparent sheet top heater provided in the portion of the lid that corresponds to the viewing area; and a temperature detecting means where a thin wire detection unit penetrates into the interiors of the housing unit and a well plate to directly measure the temperature of the culture solution. Based on the temperature information, a controller controls the temperature of the transparent sheet top heater using a feedback method.
US08822202B2
A unitary apparatus for isolating cells from adipose tissue including a lipid separation processor with a dispersing head equipped with a plurality of ports and a digestion chamber for dissociation of the constituent cells disposed in adipose tissue. The lipid separating apparatus is useful for the separation of lipids and adipocytes from a mixed cell population. A cell seeding chamber may be attached to the cell isolation apparatus. The components of the apparatus may be packaged in modular kit form.
US08822200B2
Provided is an open diatom cultivation method where continuous production of one or more selected diatom species achieve dominancy in the production system and that dominancy is maintained. The algae culture solution containing diatoms is first introduced to an open microalgae culture system. Then, carbon dioxide and nutrient salts are added to form a culture solution for diatom cultivation. The method enables industrial scale cultivation of diatoms at economically competitive production cost, with a high cultivation density and for a high production volume. The method also enables continuous stable production of selected diatoms and solves the difficult problem of controlling invading algae by always using the most competitive of local diatoms without imposing a selected algae which may be superior in some localities and under some climate conditions.
US08822199B2
Reaction jacket for a photosynthetic reactor, configured to float on an expanse of water and to define a gas/liquid culture medium diphasic flow path between first and second openings of the reaction jacket, the jacket including two sheaths, outer and inner, respectively, at least partially made from a material transparent to light radiation, the inner sheath extending inside the outer sheath such that these sheaths define an inter-sheath space between them in fluid connection with the first opening of the jacket, where the outer sheath has an open proximal end and a closed distal end, and the inner sheath has an open proximal end in fluid connection with the second opening of the jacket and a distal end provided with at least one communication orifice between the inside of the inner sheath and the inter-sheath space.
US08822197B2
Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.
US08822186B2
Disclosed is a method for producing 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalene-2-ol represented by formula (2), wherein microbial conversion is carried out using a compound(s) represented by formula (1a) and/or (1b) as a substrate, the resulting culture product, in which microorganisms obtained by the microbial conversion are contained, and a solvent having an SP value within the range of 7.5 to 9.0 [(cal/cm3)1/2] are mixed together, and subsequently the aqueous phase is removed therefrom.
US08822180B2
There are provided a DNA construct comprising a suppressor tRNA gene of a non-eukaryote containing no internal promoter functioning in a eukaryotic cell, and a eukaryotic or bacteriophage promoter linked at the 5′ end of the tRNA gene, a method for synthesizing a suppressor tRNA by using the DNA construct, and a process for producing protein incorporating a non-natural amino acid by using the same.
US08822177B2
Provided are methods for preparing chemically modified lipids. The lipids are obtained from heterotrophically cultured microalgae and are subjected to an epoxidation reaction. The microalgae include those from the genus Parachlorella, Prototheca, Chlorella, or strains having at least 85% nucleotide sequence identity in 23S rRNA sequences to a Parachlorella, Prototheca, or Chlorella strain that are cultured in a bioreactor substantially in the absence of light.
US08822169B2
There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for treating sepsis, including septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), comprising administering an effective amount of a HMG1 antagonist. There is further disclosed a diagnostic method for monitoring the severity or potential lethality of sepsis or septic shock, comprising measuring the serum concentration of HMG1 in a patient exhibiting or at risk of exhibiting sepsis or septic shock symptoms. Lastly, there is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for effecting weight loss or treating obesity, comprising administering an effective amount of HMG1 or a therapeutically active HMG1 fragment.
US08822165B2
A method for producing cAMP using a chimeric olfactory receptor. The method includes a step of preparing a reaction system comprising a first layer, a lipid bilayer membrane, and a second layer, and a step of supplying a chemical substance which stimulates the chimeric olfactory receptor to the first layer so as to produce the cAMP from ATP. The lipid bilayer membrane includes the chimeric olfactory receptor and adenylate cyclase. The chimeric olfactory receptor penetrates the lipid bilayer membrane. The second layer contains ATP and a G protein. The G protein is placed in the vicinity of one end of the chimeric olfactory receptor. The chimeric olfactory receptor is derived from a mouse olfactory receptor and the N-terminal of the chimeric olfactory receptor is modified with an amino acid sequence.
US08822164B2
A biomarker, method, test kit, and diagnostic system for detecting the presence of lymphoma in a person are disclosed. The lymphoma may be Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The person may be a high-risk subject. In one embodiment, a plasma sample from a person is obtained. The level of at least one protein listed in Table S3 in the plasma sample is measured. The level of at least one protein in the plasma sample is compared with the level in a normal or healthy subject. The lymphoma is diagnosed based upon the level of the at least one protein in the plasma sample in comparison to the normal or healthy level.
US08822159B2
The present invention provides for a mass spectrometry proteomic approach to distinguishing Spitz nevi from Spitzoid malignant melanoma. Histology directed mass spectral profiling allows for targeted analysis of sites of melanocytic lesion within formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded excisional biopsies. The classification system identified 5 peptide peaks, of which two have been identified as originating from vimentin and actin. A sensitivity and specificity for Spitz nevi of 97% and 90%, respectively, were achieved.
US08822153B2
Compositions and methods useful in determining the major morphological types of lung cancer are provided. The methods include detecting expression of at least one gene or biomarker in a sample. The expression of the gene or biomarker is indicative of the lung tumor subtype. The compositions include subsets of genes that are monitored for gene expression. The gene expression is capable of distinguishing between normal lung parenchyma and the major morphological types of lung cancer. The gene expression and somatic mutation data are useful in developing a complete classification of lung cancer that is prognostic and predictive for therapeutic response. The methods are suited for analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues. Methods of the invention include means for monitoring gene or biomarker expression including PCR and antibody-based detection. The biomarkers of the invention are genes and/or proteins that are selectively expressed at a high or low level in certain tumor subtypes. Biomarker expression can be assessed at the protein or nucleic acid level.
US08822152B2
The present invention is in the field of nucleic acid amplification, and in particular in transcription-based amplification, providing improvements thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides primers, and methods for using them, that improve transcription-based amplification reactions, in particular multiplex reactions.
US08822143B2
Particular aspects provide a method of sampling, testing and validating test lots (e.g., single-unit production lots), comprising: assembling a plurality of product portions from each of a plurality of test lots and combining the collected product portions to provide a corresponding set of test lot samples (wherein each test lot sample is attributed to a particular corresponding test lot); enriching the set of test lot samples; removing equal portions of each enriched sample, and combining the removed portions to provide a modular composite sample; and testing of the modular composite sample for the target agent/organism, wherein where such testing is positive, individual test lots may nonetheless yet be validated by further testing of a respective enriched test lot sample and obtaining a negative test result. The methods have broad utility for monitoring all sorts of test lots (e.g., environmental lots, production lots, pharmaceutical lots, etc.) and for efficiently affecting informed, targeted remedial measures.
US08822142B2
An analysis of type, state or other distinguishing features of individual cells from body fluids, smears or tissues includes the steps of depositing the cells, with a minimum possible overlap, on a mass spectrometric sample support, determining the coordinates of the cells, coating the sample support with a layer of small crystals of a matrix substance, positioning the cells, inside a mass spectrometer, according to their known coordinates with a movement device into the position of the laser focus, acquiring mass spectra of the individual cells with ionization of the cell components by matrix assisted laser desorption, and using the mass spectra for an analysis of type, state or other distinguishing features of the cells.
US08822141B1
A method for printing a wafer ID on a wafer, the method comprises identifying a wafer ID on a back side of the wafer. Subsequently, etching a plurality of recesses, consistent in size with chip features of the wafer, into the front side of the wafer, such that the plurality of recesses depicts the wafer ID. The method further comprises filling the recesses with a metal.
US08822140B2
A resist pattern-forming method includes applying a radiation-sensitive resin composition on a substrate to form a resist film. The radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an acid-labile group-containing polymer and a photoacid generator. The resist film is exposed. The resist film is developed using a developer including an organic solvent in an amount of no less than 80% by mass to a total amount of the developer. The radiation-sensitive resin composition has a contrast value γ of from 5.0 to 30.0. The contrast value γ is calculated from a resist dissolution contrast curve obtained by changing only a dose of a light used for exposing the resist film.
US08822136B2
A negative pattern is formed by coating a resist composition onto a substrate, the resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group, an acid generator, an onium salt of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acid, and an organic solvent, prebaking, exposing, baking, and developing in an organic solvent such that the unexposed region of film is dissolved away and the exposed region of film is not dissolved. In image formation via positive/negative reversal by organic solvent development, the resist film is characterized by a high dissolution contrast between the unexposed and exposed regions.
US08822133B2
A method of forming a pattern comprises diffusing an acid, generated by irradiating a portion of a photosensitive layer, into an underlayer comprising an acid sensitive copolymer comprising an acid decomposable group and an attachment group, to form an interpolymer crosslink and/or covalently bonded to the surface of the substrate. Diffusing comprises heating the underlayer and photosensitive layer. The acid sensitive group reacts with the diffused acid to form a polar region at the surface, in the shape of the pattern. The photosensitive layer is removed to forming a self-assembling layer comprising a block copolymer having a block with an affinity for the polar region, and a block having less affinity than the first. The first block forms a domain aligned to the polar region, and the second block forms a domain aligned to the first. Removing either the first or second domain exposes a portion of the underlayer.
US08822128B2
The present invention provides a production method of a resist composition for lithography, comprising, at least: a filtering step for filtering a resist composition for lithography by a filter therethrough, wherein in the filtering step, a colloidal, sol is passed through the filter from upstream thereof to adsorb colloidal particles to the filter, and then the resist composition for lithography is passed through the filter, thereby removing fine particles in the resist composition for lithography therefrom. There can be provided a resist composition for lithography capable of decreasing occurrences of defects such as coating defects and pattern defects.
US08822122B2
The present application discloses an image forming apparatus which uses at least two types of liquid developer to form a plurality of images that are superimposed on a sheet to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the image to the sheet, an image forming mechanism configured to make the transfer mechanism carry the image, and a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The at least two types of liquid developer have different fixing properties from each other. The transfer mechanism includes a carrying surface configured to carry the image from the image forming mechanism. One of the plurality of images between the carrying surface and another of the plurality of images has higher fixing properties than the liquid developer used for forming the other image among the plurality of images.
US08822109B2
A colored curable composition including: (A) a pigment dispersion containing (a-1) a pigment, (a-2) a compound having a pigment skeletal structure and an amino group in its molecule, and (a-3) a dispersion resin; (B) an oxime-based initiator; and (C) a polymerizable compound. A colored curable composition that is useful for forming a colored region of a color filter, which even with a high content of a pigment, is capable of curing with high sensitivity, is excellent in developability and is capable of highly finely forming a thin-layer colored region excellent in hue is also provided. A color filter provided with a high fine thin-layer colored region excellent in color properties formed by the colored curable composition of the invention, and a solid image pickup device provided with the color filter, which is excellent in color properties are further provided.
US08822103B2
A mask blank for manufacturing a transfer mask adapted to be applied with ArF excimer laser exposure light that has a transparent substrate and a light-shielding film formed into a transfer pattern. The light-shielding film has at least two-layers, one a lower layer composed mainly of a first material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen, and the other an upper layer composed mainly of a second material containing a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen. A ratio of a first etching rate of the lower layer to a second etching rate of the upper layer is 1.0 or more and 5.0 or less in etching carried out by supplying a fluorine-containing substance onto a target portion and irradiating charged particles to the target portion. Another ratio satisfies the following formula CN≧−0.00526CMo2−0.640CMo=26.624.
US08822100B2
A sealed assembly is made using sealant including a deformable spacer to control thickness without adversely impacting elasticity and sealing force. Deformable spacers (e.g., elastomer, polyolefin, etc.) are mixed with an elastomeric precursor material and dispensed onto an assembly component, such as a fuel cell bipolar plate, and the remaining component(s) are assembled by pressing against the deformable spacer to ensure a defined seal thickness. The precursor is cured to form a seal that is further compressed to provide an effective sealing force. The deformable spacers control the thickness of a sealed area and allow use of form-in-place sealing processes.
US08822098B2
A fuel distributor assembly for a fuel cell stack that includes an inner shell positioned within an outer shell. The outer shell is curved to define a central longitudinal chamber, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The outer shell also has an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface. The first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge in combination define a longitudinal slot. The first longitudinal edge is bent inwardly towards the longitudinal chamber to form a longitudinal lip. The inner shell includes a plurality of ribs extending outwardly and contacting the inner wall surface of the outer shell. The inner shell, the outer shell, the lip, and the ribs define a plurality of flow channels. The inner shell has a length along which a plurality of apertures are positioned in a partial helical pattern. A method of forming the fuel distributor is also provided.
US08822096B2
An electrical power source for a portable electronic device. The electrical power source includes at least one fuel cell adapted to receive fuel and generate therefrom electrical power for powering at least one component of the portable electronic device, a fuel tank adapted to provide fuel to the fuel cell, and at least one thermoelectric module in thermal contact with at least one of the fuel cell and fuel tank for regulating the temperature of the at least one fuel cell and at least one fuel tank.
US08822081B2
An electrode structure and an electrochemical cell including the electrode structure are provided. The electrode structure includes a porous three-dimensional (3D) outer net including an interconnected plurality of outer metal lines that define a plurality of outer holes between adjacent ones of the outer metal lines. The outer metal lines include a porous 3D inner net, a first layer coating the inner net, and a second layer coating the first layer. The inner net includes an interconnected plurality of inner metal lines that define a plurality of inner holes between adjacent ones of the inner metal lines. The inner metal lines include a first metal. The first layer includes a second metal. The second layer includes a third metal.
US08822078B2
The present invention relates to freestanding carbon nanotube paper comprising purified carbon nanotubes, where the purified carbon nanotubes form the freestanding carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles embedded in and/or present on a surface of the carbon nanotube paper. The invention also relates to a lithium ion battery, capacitor, supercapacitor, battery/capacitor, and fuel cell containing the freestanding carbon nanotube paper as an electrode. Also disclosed is a method of making a freestanding carbon nanotube paper. This method involves providing purified carbon nanotubes, contacting the purified carbon nanotubes with an organic solvent under conditions effective to form a dispersion comprising the purified carbon nanotubes. The dispersion is formed into a carbon nanotube paper and carbon microparticles are incorporated with the purified carbon nanotubes.
US08822073B2
Disclosed is an electrode comprising an organic/inorganic composite introduced onto either surface or both surfaces thereof, the organic/inorganic composite comprising inorganic particle or aggregates thereof having a unique spectrum or color pattern according to a predetermined rule, and a polymer capable of interconnecting and fixing the inorganic particles. Also, disclosed are an electrochemical device comprising the above electrode, and a method for identifying the origin or kind of an electrode itself or an electrochemical device comprising the same by using the above electrode.
US08822065B2
A rechargeable battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode assembly, a case, electrode terminals, a cap plate, and current collecting plates. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode. The case contains the electrode assembly. The electrode terminals are electrically connected to respective electrodes. The current collecting plates have support protrusions inserted into an interior of the electrode assembly, and welding protrusions welded to lateral ends of the electrode assembly.
US08822063B2
A battery, in particular a lead-acid rechargeable battery, having at least one battery cell connecting element, which has a connector, which has at least one side surface, for connection to at least one plate on a lower face of the connector, and a welding lug, which is electrically conductively connected to the connector and has a recess which is bounded by a boundary, wherein, in a section which is adjacent to the side surface of the connector, the boundary has a profile which corresponds to a contour of the side surface of the connector.
US08822062B2
The power-supply device includes: a battery assembly composed of a plurality of batteries each having a positive electrode end and a negative electrode end, said batteries overlapped with each other in a manner that electrodes having the different polarities are adjacent to each other; a plurality of bus bars connecting the batteries in series by connecting the adjacent electrodes having the different polarities in the battery assembly; and a terminal having an electric contact part attached to each bus bar, and a wire connecting part continued to the electric contact part, and attached to an electric wire connected to a voltage measuring device for measuring a voltage of the battery. The electric contact part includes a pair of clipping pieces disposed with a gap from each other, and connected to the bus bar by press-inserting the bus bar into between the clipping pieces.
US08822061B2
Battery module with plurality of batteries having bent terminal portions connected with fixing plate
A battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries, each including a positive terminal and a negative terminal which protrude outside of each unit battery and which have bent terminal portions, and a connection member which electrically connects the unit batteries with each other and which includes a fixing plate fixed to the bent terminal portions of adjacent unit batteries by welding so as to improve productivity and provide high stability.
US08822057B2
A flow cell battery includes at least one anode and at least one cathode, with a separator membrane disposed between each anode and each cathode. Each anode and cathode includes a bipolar plate and a carbon nanotube material positioned proximally at least one side of the bipolar plate.
US08822051B2
A secondary battery comprises a bare cell and a protection circuit module comprising a printed circuit board and a thermistor. The thermistor comprises: a supporting member comprising an elastic material; a temperature sensor formed on the supporting member; a terminal configured to couple to a printed circuit board; and a conductive portion formed on the supporting member, wherein the conductive portion is connected to the terminal and to the temperature sensor.
US08822043B2
The present invention provides organic compounds which are indenobenzo[k]fluoranthene derivatives represented by the following general formula (1): In general formula (1), R1 to R14 are each independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, an aryl group, and a heterocyclic group.
US08822041B2
Anthracene derivatives each having a structure including an anthracene skeleton, a phenanthrene skeleton selected from among various phenanthrene skeletons different in bonding site which is bonded to the 9-position of the anthracene skeleton and a group selected from among various aryl groups and so on which is bonded to the 10-position of the anthracene skeleton. Organic EL devices made by using the derivatives exhibit high light emission efficiency and a long life.
US08822034B2
A film-forming composition according to one embodiment includes a siloxane polymer (A) containing a condensation product (A1) and a condensation product (A2). In the (A), a contained amount of the (A1) is 75 percent or less by mass in terms of SiO2 with respect to the total of the (A1) and the (A2). The (A) has a weight-average molecular weight (MW) of 80 percent or greater of a molecular weight value M determined by expression (1) if RA1>RA2, expression (2) if RA1
US08822027B2
A mold for plastic forming having excellent seizure resistance controlled by adjusting its surface properties. In addition, a process producing the mold, that includes: roughening a surface of a base material by a shot blast method to adjust its arithmetic averaged roughness Ra: higher than 1 μm but 2 μm or lower; polishing the surface of the base material to adjust its skewness Rsk to 0 or lower while retaining Ra: 0.3 μm or higher; and forming a hard film on the surface of the base material where the surface of the hard film has an arithmetic averaged roughness Ra: 0.3 μm or higher but 2 μm or lower and skewness Rsk: 0 or lower. Adjusting the surface of the mold to have a non-concave-biased configuration, limits the capacity for concaves to accumulate lubricant, such that the lubricant is sufficiently deposited on the surfaces of the convexes.
US08822023B2
A composition having nanoparticles of a refractory-metal carbide or refractory-metal nitride and a carbonaceous matrix. The composition is not in the form of a powder. A composition comprising a metal component and an organic component. The metal component is nanoparticles or particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of decomposing into refractory metal nanoparticles. The organic component is an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight or a thermoset made from the organic compound. A method of combining particles of a refractory metal or a refractory-metal compound capable of reacting or decomposing into refractory-metal nanoparticles with an organic compound having a char yield of at least 60% by weight to form a precursor mixture.
US08822019B2
A coated article includes a substrate, a first layer deposited on the substrate, a second layer deposited on the first layer and a third layer deposited on the second layer. The first layer substantially consists of one material selected from the group consisting of Al layer, Al alloy layer, Zn layer or Zn alloy layer. The first layer is white. The second layer substantially includes metal M′, O and N, wherein M′ is Al or Zn. The third layer is an aluminum oxide layer or a silicon oxide layer. The third layer has an anti-fingerprint property.
US08822014B2
The present invention discloses a glue-free anti-slip polyvinyl chloride floor brick which includes a polyvinyl chloride anti-slip layer having a bottom surface formed with a flexible thermal-pressed pattern by thermal pressing. The thermal-pressed pattern includes a plurality of continuously and repetitively connected, closed and non-equilateral hexagonal protruded ribs, which are characterized with a required flexibility by utilizing a special ingredient amount of the anti-slip layer and provided with an anti-slip coefficient of 1.5 by incorporating with non-equilateral hexagonal anti-slip patterns with special sizes and shapes, thereby enhancing the slip resistance of the floor brick to overcome the bottlenecks in plastic floor brick industries.
US08822009B2
A support member such as a belt or sleeve includes a topographical pattern on its sheet contact side. A plurality of land areas, corresponding depressions, through voids, and/or groove areas are formed on the top surface of the support member to produce the topographical pattern. The land areas, corresponding depressions, through voids, and/or groove areas may be formed by graving, cutting, etching, embossing, mechanical perforation or a combination thereof. The improved belt or sleeve imparts desired physical characteristics, such as bulk, appearance, texture, absorbency, strength, and hand to a nonwoven product produced thereon.
US08822007B2
The invention relates to a decorative element, to a dashboard of a motor vehicle, and to a method for manufacturing said decorative element, wherein the decorative element includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the decorative element being made of a first non-transparent material, wherein said first material has a decoration layer, and the second portion of the decorative element being made of a second transparent material, the first portion and the second portion of the decorative member being unitary.
US08822002B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a fluorine-containing elastomer composition being flexible and having excellent fuel barrier property, heat resistance, chemical resistance and oil resistance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealing material, a molded article and a fuel hose obtained by crosslinking the fluorine-containing elastomer composition. The composition is a fluorine-containing elastomer composition comprising a polyol-crosslinkable fluorine-containing elastomer, a polyol crosslinking agent and a hydrotalcite, wherein an acid acceptor comprising only an oxide or hydroxide of a divalent metal is contained in an amount of not more than 2 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fluorine-containing elastomer.
US08821996B2
The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first dot design printed as an image upon the substrate. The first dot design has as a characteristic the property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence. A second dot design having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from that of the first dot design such that when rendered in close spatial proximity with the first dot design image print, the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark.
US08821995B2
Fibers, tapes, monofilaments including copolymers of ethylene and α-olefins which exhibit improved tensile properties expressed as a balance between tenacity and elongation at break. The copolymers may be prepared by use of metallocene catalyst systems in particular by use of monocyclopenadienyl catalyst systems. The fibers, tapes, monofilaments of the invention are particularly suitable for end-use applications including artificial grass, woven and nonwoven fabrics, cordages, ropes, netting and flexible intermediate bulk containers.
US08821994B2
A multilayer optical retardation compensation film having at least one positive C-plate and at least one negative C-plate is used in an LCD device. The multilayer film may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve, or the multilayer film combined with other layers in the LCD device may have a substantially flat wavelength dispersion curve. Polymer films for the positive C-plate may be identified according to their absorbance maxima at certain wavelength ranges.
US08821989B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing an optical laminated body having a substrate and a polarizing film that contains a lyotropic liquid crystal compound and is formed on the substrate. The method includes a step (A) of applying a coating liquid containing the lyotropic liquid crystal compound and a solvent onto the substrate and forming a coat film with the lyotropic liquid crystal compound orientated in one direction, and a step (B) of applying a magnetic field to the coat film in a direction substantially parallel to an orientation direction of the lyotropic liquid crystal compound.
US08821984B2
A treatment composition for imparting water repellency to articles comprising a blend of one or more fluorochemical esters and one or more polycarbodiimides, a method for treating articles with such composition, and the articles produced thereby. The treatment composition and method are especially well suited for use by consumers on personal articles such as garments.
US08821982B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of a tire sealant (C) with a polymeric base. A highly viscous first sealant component (A) (including a natural rubber component that is undiluted or diluted with at least one additional natural rubber component and mixture ingredients that are free of a solvent and an activator) is mixed with at least one second sealant component (B) (comprising a separately produced medium with low viscosity containing at least one activator), to combine to the tire sealant (C), wherein a cross linking occurs associated with the subsequent application of the tire sealant (C) to the inside of the tire. Appropriate method steps are disclosed.
US08821973B2
Both ends of a circulation pipe of a film formation apparatus are connected to a piping of a BWR plant. A chemical including chromium ions and formic acid is injected into a film formation solution flowing in the circulation pipe heated to a temperature within a range from 60° C. to 100° C. Furthermore, a chemical including iron (II) ions and formic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrazine are injected into the circulation pipe. Due to the injection of these chemicals, a film formation solution of pH 7.0 including iron (II) ions, chromium ions, formic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrazine is generated in the circulation pipe. This film formation solution includes hydrazine of, for example, 1000 ppm. The film formation solution is supplied to the piping, thus, a Fe3—xCrxO4 film (here, 0
US08821971B2
The present invention relates to the use of polyolefins having atactic structural elements in floor coverings, in particular in carpets or artificial lawns.
US08821969B2
A method for making a modified current collector of a lithium ion battery is provided. In the method, the modifier and a metal plate are provided. The modifier is a mixture of a phosphorus source having a phosphate radical, a trivalent aluminum source, and a metallic oxide provided in a liquid phase solvent. The modifier is coated on a surface of the metal plate to form a coating layer. The coated metal plate is heat treated to transform the coating layer into a protective film formed on the surface of the metal plate.
US08821967B2
A method for manufacturing an oxide thin film comprises: providing a coating material composed of a first precursor material, a fuel material and a solvent; coating the coating material on a substrate; and annealing the coated coating material on the substrate to convert the coated coating material into an oxide thin film.
US08821961B2
The present invention relates to a magnesium oxide-based (MgO) inorganic coating intended to electrically insulate semiconductive substrates such as silicon carbide (SiC), and to a method for producing such an insulating coating. The method of the invention comprises the steps of preparing a treatment solution of at least one hydrolysable organomagnesium compound and/or of at least one hydrolysable magnesium salt, capable of forming a homogeneous polymer layer of magnesium oxyhydroxide by hydrolysis/condensation reaction with water; depositing the treatment solution of the hydrolysable organomagnesium compound or of the hydrolysable magnesium salt, onto a surface to form a magnesium oxide-based layer; and densifying the layer formed at a temperature of less than or equal to 1000° C.
US08821944B1
The described invention provides a biodegradable, biocompatible delivery system of flowable sustained release microparticulate composition of a substantially pure crystalline form of a bioactive agent such as, for example, nimodipine, a process of preparing a therapeutic form of a substantially pure crystalline form of the bioactive agent and a method for treating an interruption of a cerebral artery in a subarachnoid space at risk of interruption caused by brain injury in a mammal, which reduces signs or symptoms of at least one delayed complication associated with brain injury.
US08821941B2
Provided are nanoparticles and formulations which are useful for cosmetic, diagnostic and therapeutic applications to mammals such as humans.
US08821940B2
Provided are nanoparticles and formulations which are useful for cosmetic, diagnostic and therapeutic applications to mammals such as humans.
US08821939B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for delivery of a bioactive agent to an individual. Delivery vehicles are provided that include a bioactive agent in disc shaped particles that include one or more lipid binding polypeptides circumscribing the perimeter of a lipid bilayer in which the bioactive agent is localized. Chimeric lipid binding polypeptides are also provided and may be used to add additional functional properties to the delivery particles.
