| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07667693B2 |
Touch sensing apparatus using varying signal delay input to a flip-flop
A touch sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a flip-flop, a sensor, an AC signal and a detector. The AC signal supplies AC signals to the flip-flop. The flip-flop outputs a first type output signal at the output thereof when the sensor is not touched. The sensor receives electricity signals from an object, and causes a delay of the AC signal to be inputted to the first input of the flip-flop, the delay of the AC signal to be inputted to the first input of the flip-flop further causes the flip-flop to output a second type output signal at the output thereof. The detector detects a change from the first type output signal to the second type output signal at the output of the flip-flop and accordingly identifies a touch on the sensor. |
| US07667692B2 |
Human interface system
A human interface configured to optimize a biomechanical effect of a human user's opposing thumb and fingers by including, on one surface, one or more software configurable input elements manipulatable by a user's thumb(s) or a stylus, and, on another surface, one or more software configurable selection elements manipulatable by a user's finger(s). A selection element may be a pressure sensor pad configurable to represent delineated active areas that are mapped to one or more input functions. Shape changing media may be provided to permit a user to tactilely discriminate between delineated active areas. Tactile feedback may be provided to a user through palpable detents, vibratory or force producing units. Inputting data may include mapping each selection element to a shift function, mapping each input element to text functions, and using the selection elements to shift between text functions associated with an input element to input a desired text function. |
| US07667688B2 |
Cursor control device
A cursor control device includes a main body, a circuit board, a base, a touch support stand, a touch sensor and a knock sensor. The circuit board is disposed within the main body. The base is disposed within the main body and above the circuit board, and includes an elongated slot. The touch support stand is mounted on the base and aligned with the elongated slot. The touch sensor is supported on the touch support stand and electrically connected to the circuit board. In response to a touching action on the touch sensor, a screen scrolling signal is generated. The knock sensor is mounted on the circuit board and under the touch support stand. The knock sensor is triggered when the touch support stand is moved to touch the knock sensor. |
| US07667687B2 |
Resistive and hybrid control schemes for haptic feedback interface devices
A method is disclosed that includes outputting haptic feedback based on a movement of an object in a first direction from a first position to a second position. The haptic feedback is discontinued when the object is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction subsequent to the movement in the first direction. The haptic feedback is output again when the object moves past the second position in the first direction. |
| US07667682B2 |
Display
A display having a shift register circuit capable of suppressing increase of power consumption is provided. This display comprises a shift register circuit including a shift register circuit portion including a first circuit portion having a second transistor turned on in response to a first signal and a second circuit portion having a sixth transistor turned on in response to a second signal providing an ON-state period not overlapping with an ON-state period of the second transistor and an input signal switching circuit portion for switching the first and second signals supplied to the second and sixth transistors respectively. |
| US07667676B2 |
Image signal processing device, image signal processing method, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention reduce display irregularity in order to enhance display quality. A liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of pixel electrodes provided at intersections of a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines, a scanning line driving circuit to sequentially select the plurality of scanning lines, and a data line driving circuit to sample an image signal VID supplied to an image signal line that is provided in common to the plurality of data lines and to supply the sampled signal to each data line. A signal correcting circuit has a correction amount specifying circuit to specify a correction amount α of the image signal VID to be supplied to each data line based on the position of the data line with respect to the extending direction of the image signal line; and a correcting circuit to correct the image signal VID based on the correction amount α specified by the correction amount specifying circuit and to supply the corrected image signal VID to the image signal line. |
| US07667672B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and method of driving plasma display panel
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving a plasma display panel are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a first electrode and a second electrode, and an integrated sustain driver. The integrated sustain driver supplies a sustain signal of a positive polarity and a sustain signal of a negative polarity to the first electrode during a sustain period. Two light emissions occur during at least one period of a supply period of the sustain signal of the positive polarity or a supply period of the sustain signal of the negative polarity. |
| US07667667B2 |
Radio wave lens antenna apparatus
In a radio wave lens antenna, a lens cover for covering the surface of the lens is stably fixed to the reflector. The antenna has a semispherical Luneberg lens, a semispherical shell-shaped lens cover for covering the surface of the lens, a radio wave reflector, a ring-shaped plate placed along the outer circumference of the lens, a primary feed placed at the focal point of the lens, and a holding part for the primary feed. A flange provided at the opening edge of the lens cover is clamped by the reflector and the plate to fix the lens cover to the reflector, and more preferably, the lens cover is caused to be in contact with the lens, and the lens is pressed also in the radial direction by the plate via the lens cover. |
| US07667665B1 |
Dual frequency aperture antenna
A dual frequency radar antenna for connection to a first radar transmitter/receiver set which operates in a relatively lower frequency band and to a second radar transmitter/receiver set which operates in a relatively higher frequency band. The dual frequency radar antenna has a spherical dielectric lens having a first array of inputs coupled with the first radar transmitter/receiver set and a second array of inputs coupled with the second radar transmitter/receiver set. The spherical dielectric lens forms relatively higher frequency beams that are relatively tightly spaced about a centerline of the spherical dielectric lens while the spherical dielectric lens also forms relatively lower frequency beams that are relatively farther spaced about a centerline of the spherical dielectric lens than are the relatively higher frequency beams. |
| US07667664B2 |
Embedded antenna
The present invention provides an embedded antenna. It is to form meanders on a radiating element of the embedded antenna for dividing the resonant length of the radiating element into several short resonant length to extend the bandwidth of the radiating element. It is also to form meanders on the radiating element to extend the resonant length. This design can minimize the size of the embedded antenna and achieve the same as performance of a larger size antenna. |
| US07667655B2 |
Electromagnetic interference preventing component and electronic device using the same
An electromagnetic interference preventing component (18) includes a high-permeability magnetic film in high-frequency in which a real number component μ′ of complex relative permeability at a transmission band frequency of an electronic device (10) incorporating the electromagnetic interference preventing component (18) is 10 or more, tan δ (=μ″/μ′) is 0.1 or less, and a ferromagnetic resonance frequency (fr) is 1.5 times or more of the transmission band frequency. The electromagnetic interference preventing component (18) having the high-permeability magnetic film in high-frequency is disposed in the electronic device (10) having an electromagnetic wave transmitting function, as to selectively decrease the electromagnetic field intensity in directions in which the electromagnetic waves radiated by an electromagnetic wave transmitting part such as an antenna (16) are not required. |
| US07667645B2 |
GPS gyro calibration
GPS gyro calibration methods and systems are described. In an embodiment, a ground station can receive antenna position data for a spot beam antenna from a global positioning system (GPS) platform where the antenna position data indicates a boresight direction of the spot beam antenna. GPS-enabled receiver(s) can receive scan signals transmitted via the spot beam antenna of the GPS platform, and the GPS-enabled receivers can determine signal power measurements for each of the scan signals. The ground station can receive the signal power measurements from the GPS-enabled receiver(s) and estimate a pointing error of the spot beam antenna based on the signal power measurements and the antenna position data received from the GPS platform. The ground station can then determine gyro calibration parameters from the estimated pointing error and communicate the gyro calibration parameters to the GPS platform to calibrate for gyro drift errors. |
| US07667644B2 |
GPS receiver RAIM with slaved precision clock
A method and a system for providing a substituted timing signal for a missing satellite ephemeris in execution of a RAIM algorithm includes deriving a plurality of position, velocity, and time solutions from a GPS navigation system. The position, velocity and time solutions are derived from a plurality of satellite ephemerides. An atomic clock provides an atomic clock signal. The atomic clock signal is compared to the derived time solutions to arrive at a correction factor. The atomic clock signal is adjusted according to the correction factor to develop an adjusted atomic clock signal. The adjusted atomic clock signal is substituted for a missing satellite ephemeris to execute the RAIM algorithm. |
| US07667643B2 |
Miniaturized satellite transceiver
Described is a miniaturized satellite transceiver for communicating with a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite and a communications satellite. The miniaturized satellite transceiver includes an integrated GPS receiver configured to receive communications from the GPS satellite, a satellite modem configured to transmit and receive communications from the communications satellite, and an operating system. The miniaturized satellite transceiver is installable in a hand-held device, a mobile satellite transceiver system, or an in-flight transceiver and locator system. |
| US07667640B2 |
Determining a geolocation solution of an emitter on earth using satellite signals
Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining the geolocation of an emitter on earth. A solution is obtained from two TDOA measurements that need not be acquired at the same time. A solution is obtained from a TDOA measurement and an FDOA measurement that need not be acquired at the same time and need not be coming from the same satellite pair. A location of an emitter can be determined from minimizing a cost function of the weighted combination of the six solutions derived from the two TDOA measurements and the two FDOA measurements, where the weight of each solution in the combination is determined based on the intersection angle of the two curves that define the possible locations of the emitter based on the TDOA and/or FDOA measurements. |
| US07667638B1 |
Detection and resolution of closely spaced targets in a monopulse system
Systems and methods are provided for determining first and second azimuth angle values representing two closely spaced targets. Monopulse radar scan data is produced and processed to provide quadrature angle data, merged azimuth angle data, and a maximum magnitude of the quadrature angle. A quadrature angle methodology that derives the first and second azimuth angle values from an integration of the quadrature angle data over an angular region within the monopulse scan is applied if the maximum quadrature angle magnitude exceeds the threshold value. A merged azimuth angle methodology that fits the merged azimuth angle data to a polynomial as a function of a boresight angle of the monopulse radar to derive the first and second azimuth angle values is applied if the maximum quadrature angle magnitude does not exceed the threshold value. The first and second azimuth angle values are then displayed to a user. |
| US07667637B2 |
System and method for radar detection of an object
There is provided a radar system for detection of one or more objects. The radar system comprises a radar wave transmitter for simultaneously transmitting a CW radar signal and a FM-CW or MF radar signal, and a first radar wave receiver for receiving CW and FM-CW or MF radar signals, reflected from one or more objects present in a detection range of the radar system. The system may further comprise a first CW mixer for mixing CW transmission signals and reflected CW signals received by the first receiver, and a first FM-CW or MF mixer for mixing FM-CW or MF transmission signals and corresponding reflected FM-CW or MF signals received by the first receiver. The first CW mixer may be a mixer for mixing CW transmission signals and reflected CW signals received by the first receiver to produce one or more first CW beat signals, each first CW beat signal relating to the velocity of an object, and the first FM-CW or MF mixer may be a first FM-CW mixer for mixing FM-CW transmission signals and reflected FM-CW signals received by the first receiver to produce one or more first FM-CW beat signals relating to the distance to and the velocity of an object. The radar wave transmitter may be adapted for simultaneously transmitting a CW radar signal and a FM-CW radar signal, wherein the FM-CW radar signal is a ramp modulated signal. The radar system may further comprise several radar wave receivers for receiving reflected CW and FM-CW or MF radar signals, which receivers may be arranged along first and/or second receiver directions. The radar system may have means for detecting phase differences between corresponding reflected radar signals received by different radar wave receivers. There is further provided a method of radar detection of one or more objects, where the method comprises simultaneously transmitting a CW radar signal and a FM-CW or MF radar signal, and receiving, via a first radar receiver, reflected CW and FM-CW or MF radar signals reflected from one or more object present in a detection range of the radar system. |
| US07667635B2 |
System and method using airborne radar occultation for measuring atmospheric properties
A method for estimating an atmospheric condition existing between a portion of the Earth's surface and an airborne mobile platform travelling over the portion of the Earth's surface. The method may involve emitting a radar signal beam toward the Earth's surface from the mobile platform and receiving back at least a portion of the radar signal beam reflected from the Earth's surface. The time of flight information of the radar signal beam is analyzed as a function of elevation angle to determine a specific time of flight value associated with a specific elevation angle of the radar signal beam. The specific time of flight value is used to determine a refractivity of the atmosphere through which the radar signal beam and the reflected radar signal has passed. The refractivity is used to determine the atmospheric condition. |
| US07667631B1 |
Mixed signal system-on-a-chip integrated simultaneous multiple sample/hold circuits and embedded analog comparators
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of circuit groups, each circuit group containing a plurality of analog inputs, a buffer, a sample/hold circuit and a comparator. Each buffer has an input to which any of the analog inputs in its group may be programmably connected. The output of each buffer is coupled to the input of the sample/hold circuit in the group. The output of each sample/hold circuit is coupled to one input of a multiplexer. The output of the multiplexer is coupled to the input of an amplifier having programmable gain and programmable offset. The comparator in each group has inputs that may be programmably coupled to at least one analog input in the group or to a reference voltage source. |
| US07667625B2 |
Universal and fault-tolerant multiphase digital PWM controller for high-frequency DC-DC converters
A multiphase hybrid digital pulse width modulator can comprise a counter that is selectable between at least two different numbers of states to indicate a first portion of a switching period. Unclocked logic can indicate a second portion of the switching period. The unclocked logic can include a delay line. |
| US07667624B2 |
Methods and apparatus for clinical data compression
A method for compressing clinical data includes monitoring a clinical parameter of a patient using a digital electronic monitoring device, wherein the clinical parameter is a function of time. A processor is utilized to locate exceptional values of the clinical parameter in accordance with predetermined criteria. The method further includes electronically encoding and communicating diagnostically significant information concerning the exceptional values of the clinical parameters to a clinical database repository (CDR) and information concerning normal values of the clinical parameters to the CDR, wherein the communicated exceptional values of clinical parameters and the communicated normal values of clinical parameters are encoded using different methods. |
| US07667623B2 |
Key input apparatus using magnetic force, operating method thereof, and computer-readable recording medium storing computer programs for performing the method
A method of operating a key input apparatus having one or more pressable keys, and a key input apparatus to perform the method, the method including selectively controlling an electromagnetic force to support at least one of the one or more pressable keys, wherein a height of the at least one pressable key is controlled by selectively supplying electric current to an electromagnet to control the electromagnetic force. |
| US07667621B2 |
Primary flight display (PFD) including weather information and terrain awareness
The present invention provides a method and system for displaying critical navigational data on a primary flight display to a pilot of an aircraft. The method includes providing an image representative of weather information on a primary fight display and superimposing an image representative of a terrain warning indicator over at least part of the image representative of weather information. |
| US07667619B2 |
Parking violation surveillance system
A parking control surveillance system is provided for monitoring vehicles within parking spaces for providing parking enforcement personnel information concerning authorized and unauthorized vehicles within the parking space. The parking control surveillance system includes a parking stop forming a curb or having dimensions substantially the same as traditional cement parking stops located at the rear of a parking space. The parking stop includes a video recorder for recording the identity or for obtaining images of vehicles entering or exiting the designated parking space. The parking stop further includes a transmitter for transmitting images and information such as the time of parking transgression to vehicle enforcement personnel. Preferably, the vehicle identity and time of parking are transmitted to a central office for billing the vehicle owner. |
| US07667616B2 |
Electrical control system
An electrical control system includes one or more master nodes that are adapted to control and monitor the operation of one or more slave nodes. The master nodes and the slave nodes are operably coupled by one or more communication interfaces, such as radio frequency, Internet Protocol, power line, or other conventional communication interfaces. A hand-held radio frequency controller includes a controller that is operably coupled to an radio frequency transceiver. The controller includes an operating system and application programs, including a device engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, and an away engines. The device engine, scenes engine, events engine, system engine and away engine permit a user of the hand-held radio frequency controller to customize the operation of at least some of the aspects of the master and slave nodes. |
| US07667615B2 |
Message image display device, message image display device control method, and information recording medium
To provide a message image display device enabling a user to grasp a content of each message image when a plurality of message images are displayed. A display control unit (76) causes a display unit (82) to display a screen including a plurality of message images. A remaining-time-information storage unit (74) stores remaining time information corresponding to each of the message images. A judging unit (78) judges whether display of at least a part of the message image is limited by one or more other message images. A remaining-time-information updating unit (80) updates the remaining time information according to the judgment result made by the judging unit (78). The display control unit (76) limits display of each of the plurality of message images according to the remaining time information stored corresponding to the message image. |
| US07667613B2 |
Evacuation status module (ESM)
A new device used in institutions such as, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, and other patient-care facilities, and hotels and cruise ships which, when activated, provides a visual indication locally, at or near the room to which it is attached, and remotely at a central control station and/or hand held device, as to whether or not a particular room has been evacuated during an emergency evacuation situation. |
| US07667612B2 |
Method and arrangement for monitoring an object via changes in coupling impedance within a transducer
A method and an arrangement to monitor localization, movement, and properties of an object, such as human body. An excitation signal is connected to a first division of selected conductors of a transducer which includes a distribution of conductors such as a matrix. A first signal including information about coupling impedance between a first and a second selected division of conductors is derived from a coupling of the excitation signal between the first and the second selected divisions of conductors of said transducer. The object is monitored by studying changes of the coupling impedance caused by the object to be monitored during subsequent repeated cycles of the above mentioned steps. |
| US07667611B2 |
High voltage detection system
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting high-voltage levels associated with a work machine. In one embodiment a high-voltage detection system is disclosed and includes a threshold detector configured to determine a voltage level associated with an element, determine whether the voltage level associated with the element is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and provide a threshold indicator if the voltage level associated with the element is greater than the predetermined threshold value. The system also includes a controller coupled to the threshold detector via an isolation device. The controller is configured to detect the threshold indicator and provide one or more warning signals in response to the threshold indicator. |
| US07667604B2 |
Context-aware and real-time item tracking system architecture and scenarios
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for real-time and context-aware tracking of items. Tags bound to items are read and information read from the tags and location information about the tags is provided by at least two enterprises and used to maintain disposition information about the items, which is made visible to enterprises in the supply chain. The disposition information can be mapped to a world model that tracks the items and circumstances affecting the items, for example, geo-spatial events and traffic delays. Visibility of the disposition information can be controlled through authorization. Visible information can include relationships between particular items and business documents such as order and shipping documents. |
| US07667603B2 |
Embedding items with RFID tags for tracking and calibration
RFID tags of very small size are embedded in products or composed of products in a manufacturing process. The system employs different read and write modes to enable auto-tracking of material, some assembly, assembly and component items through various stages of the manufacturing process. As each item passes special predetermined points in the manufacturing process, the embedded tag is activated and placed in track mode. The tag transmits its ID and a track count representing the number of stations passed. The tag's track count is incremented and the updated track count is stored in non-volatile memory in the tag. The tags can be programmed so that once the count exceeds a predetermined count, a status bit is set in the tag's memory indicating that the item has been completely through the manufacturing process. Thus, the system can determine whether an item or product has been completed. After manufacture the same RFID tag can be used for tracking, inventory and item authentication. |
| US07667600B2 |
Methods and apparatus for security device removal detection
A security device, according to various aspects of the present invention, detects removal of the device from a provided surface. The security device includes a body; at least one magnet coupled to the body; and a sensor coupled to the body proximate to at least one of the at least one magnet. The sensor does not move with respect to the at least one magnet. The at least one magnet magnetically couples the body to the surface. Each one magnet provides a magnetic flux. When the body couples to the surface, at least a portion of the magnetic flux conducts away from the sensor. When the body is not coupled to the surface, at least a portion of the magnetic flux from at least one magnet of the at least one magnet conducts through the sensor thereby indicating removal of the body from the surface. |
| US07667597B2 |
Method and apparatus using magnetic flux for container security
A seal device includes a locking member with a magnetically permeable material portion, and structure that can receive the locking member. The structure supports a magnetic field generator and detector at locations spaced from each other and from a region that is occupied by the portion of the locking member when the locking member is received by the structure. The structure defines a main flux path as a loop having a first portion, a second portion and a remainder that are mutually exclusive, and that collectively define the entirety of the flux path. The first and second portions are respectively within the magnetic field generator and the region, and most of the remainder extends through magnetically permeable material of the structure. The detector is located where the magnetic field has different characteristics when the portion of the locking member is respectively present in and absent from the region. |
| US07667596B2 |
Method and system for scoring surveillance system footage
A surveillance system generally includes a data capture module that collects sensor data. A scoring engine module receives the sensor data and computes at least one of an abnormality score and a normalcy score based on the sensor data, at least one dynamically loaded learned data model, and a learned scoring method. A decision making module receives the at least one of the abnormality score and the normalcy score and generates an alert message based on the at least one of the abnormality score and the normalcy score and a learned decision making method to produce progressive behavior and threat detection. |
| US07667594B2 |
Sensor that can be irreversibly changed
A sensor of this comprises a receiving section that receives a signal that is sent from outside, a circuit whose impedance changes irreversibly in accordance with an environmental change, a measurement section that measures the impedance of the circuit in an event that a signal is received by the receiving section, and a sending section that sends data representing a measurement result of the measurement section. |
| US07667593B1 |
Container monitoring device
A monitoring system for cargo containers coming into the United States from foreign countries, to detect any harmful contents, within the close container, which would prove dangerous to the American people. The system includes a unique flexible plastic strip in which are embedded, 1) a global positioning computer chip, 2) a power source, 3) an encrypted strip serial number computer chip, and thousands of nano detection devices. |
| US07667590B1 |
System for locating a plurality of objects
An object locating system includes a primary portable controller including controls and LEDs, a transceiver, a digital signal processor, and a memory. The memory includes programmable software instructions that cause the primary controller to emit search signals that have corresponding unique frequencies. A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer circuit is coupled to the signal processor for comparing a feedback frequency of the search signals. Secondary controllers are removably attached to the objects. Each secondary controller includes a transceiver that has an antenna coupled thereto, a processor, and a memory including software instructions that cause the secondary controller to transmit a location signal upon verifying the identity of the corresponding search signal. The primary and each secondary controller memories are EEPROMs. A transducer is coupled to the processor and emits an audible and visual signal in response to receiving the search signal. |
| US07667574B2 |
Signal-processing systems and methods for RFID-tag signals
Systems and methods for reading a RFID-tag signal in the presence of noise and other propagation and circuit impairments using a RFID-tag reader are disclosed. The method includes receiving with a RFID-tag reader multiple copies of an original RFID-tag signal from a RFID tag. The original RFID-tag signal comprises an original bit sequence representative of information stored in the RFID tag. At least some of the received RFID-tag signal copies differ from one another due to noise or other signal impairments. The received multiple copies are processed on a sample-by-sample basis in the RFID-tag reader using digital signal processing techniques to obtain an improved received digitized RFID tag signal that substantially removes the noise and other impairments. This improved signal is used to recover the original bit sequence and thus the information stored in the RFID tag. |
| US07667566B2 |
Inductor structure
An inductor structure comprising a substrate; a plurality of insulation layers on the substrate; a first spiral electric conductive coil positioned in the insulation layers to form an inductor having a first direction of magnetic field; a second spiral electric conductive coil positioned in the insulation layers to form an inductor having a second direction of magnetic field, in which, the two or more inductors are independently positioned in a same 3-D space and have a good integration. |
| US07667564B2 |
Multicharge ignition coil with primary routed in shield slot
A plastic case surrounds a primary winding of a multicharge ignition system, and has a rib in which the high voltage end is routed back to the low voltage end, so that the low and high voltage ends can be closely juxtaposed with each other while advantageously permitting the primary winding to have one and only one winding layer to reduce resistance and size. The rib of the case extends into the slot of the magnetic shields of the winding. |
| US07667551B2 |
Frequency shift keying modulator having sigma-delta modulated phase rotator
A frequency shift keying modulator having sigma-delta modulated phase rotator is disclosed, which includes a phase-locked loop for generating a voltage-controlled signal; a multi-phase generator for receiving the voltage-controlled signal and generating N phase-shift signals having same frequency according to the voltage-controlled signal, the N phase-shift signals having a same phase shift between the phase-shift signals adjacent to each other; a sigma-delta modulator for receiving transmission data and randomly outputting a modulation bit at a modulation clock according to the transmission data; and a phase rotator for receiving the N phase-shift signals and selectively outputting one of the N phase-shift signals and a frequency-divided signal according to the modulation bit, wherein the frequency of the frequency-divided signal is 1 / ( 1 + n N ) of the frequency of any one of the N phase-shift signals. |
| US07667550B2 |
Differential oscillator device with pulsed power supply, and related driving method
The present invention concerns a differential oscillator device, comprising resonant electronic means, capable to provide on at least two terminals at least one oscillating signal VOUT, which comprises a generator electronic means capable to supply at least one power supply pulsed signal to said resonant electronic means in phase relation with said at least one oscillating signal VOUT. The present invention further concerns a process of supplying pulsed power to such a differential oscillator device. |
| US07667549B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
A low-power-consumption semiconductor device and a driving method thereof where a clock signal generation is controlled. A transmission and reception control circuit to control signal communication with an outside; a ring oscillator control circuit to detect an edge in a receiving signal and control a ring oscillator; a clock generation circuit to generate a clock signal based on the ring oscillator; and a logic circuit to operate based on a clock signal are included. During signal communication between the transmission and reception control circuit and the outside, the ring oscillator operates and a clock signal is output from the clock generation circuit when the ring oscillator control circuit detects an edge in a receiving signal, and the ring oscillator stops and output of the clock signal from the clock generation circuit stops when transmission of a reply signal from the transmission and reception control circuit to the outside is terminated. |
| US07667548B2 |
Oscillation maintenance circuit for half duplex transponder
An oscillation maintenance circuit for a half-duplex transponder that has an LC resonant circuit, a storage capacitor and a rectifier connected to charge the storage capacitor with a rectified oscillation signal, having an end-of-burst detector providing an end-of-burst signal when the amplitude of the oscillation signal has dropped below a predetermined threshold. A clock regenerator provides a clock signal derived from the oscillation signal. Switching means controlled by the clock signal in the presence of the end-of-burst signal connect the storage capacitor with LC resonant circuit through at least one current limiting resistor during part of the period of the clock signal, in such a manner that energy is fed into the LC resonant circuit. |
| US07667547B2 |
Loosely-coupled oscillator
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a loosely-coupled oscillator including a circuit and an electronic device that are not physically connected. The electronic device may include an amplifier for amplifying a signal to produce an output signal and include a wire connected to an input of the amplifier. The wire can be electromagnetically coupled to the circuit that is physically disconnected from the electronic device. The output signal can be produced at an output of the amplifier without transmitting an excitation signal from the electronic device to the circuit and when the wire is electromagnetically coupled to the circuit. |
| US07667540B2 |
Class-AB driver design with improved frequency response
A class-AB driver design with improved frequency response is disclosed. In one embodiment, the class-AB driver includes a push-pull output stage, a trans-linear loop, an input stage, a current biasing and enabling circuit. Further, the trans-linear loop is coupled to a signal input terminal ABIN via node A, and the push-pull output stage is coupled to the trans-linear loop via node B and node C. Further, the trans-linear loop includes a speed balancing resistor RB in a faster signal traveling path (i.e., ABIN to ABOUT via node A and B) to match up the speed with a slower signal traveling path (i.e., ABIN to ABOUT via node A and C). In another embodiment, the MOS transistors are also used instead of the speed balancing resistor RB to balance the signal traveling time of the two signal traveling paths. |
| US07667535B2 |
Amplifier circuit with input terminals thereof connected to sampling capacitors
Sampling capacitors are connected respectively to a pair of differential input terminals of an operational amplifier. The sampling capacitors sample input signals. Source terminals and drain terminals of dummy switches are connected respectively to paths connecting the operational amplifier and the sampling capacitors, so that a common-mode voltage of differential input voltages to the operational amplifier is adjusted by gate-channel capacitances. |
| US07667534B2 |
Control interface and protocol
In one embodiment, a method for a control interface includes: receiving a signal conveying bits of information over a single line; and for each bit of information, comparing the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is low versus the proportion of time that the signal on the single line is high for a respective bit period defined from one operative edge of the signal to the next operative edge of the signal in order to determine a logic value for that bit of information. |
| US07667533B1 |
Self biased low noise high PSRR constant GM for VCO
A system and method for voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) biasing in low voltage circuits including low resistance elements that are especially susceptible to noise. In one embodiment, a poly resistor and triode resistor is used to cancel or offset the effects that temperature variations have on the circuit. The triode resistor is powered by a voltage source that uses a pair of diodes coupled to a constant transconductance (gm) circuit to generate a reduced noise voltage that is independent of the power supply noise. The size of the triode resistor and poly resistors can be varied. |
| US07667529B2 |
Charge pump warm-up current reduction
A charge pump circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator operates at a lower frequency during a warm-up mode, and operates at a higher frequency during a loading mode. The lower frequency operation during the warm-up mode reduces power supply current requirements. |
| US07667528B2 |
Internal voltage generator of semiconductor integrated circuit
The internal voltage generator of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes at least one variable reference voltage generating unit that generates a base reference voltage increased or decreased according to the variation in temperature, at least one level shifting unit that transforms the base reference voltage outputted by the at least one variable reference voltage generating unit into at least one prescribed reference voltage for generating internal voltage and outputs the transformed reference voltage, and at least one internal voltage generating unit that generates an internal voltage by using the at least one reference voltage for generating internal voltage outputted by the at least one level shifting unit. |
| US07667523B2 |
Orthogonal signal output circuit
An orthogonal signal output circuit having an error correction function for correcting an orthogonal error, including: first and second differential circuits; and first to fourth variable resistors, wherein the first variable resistor is connected to a positive output of the first differential circuit and a positive output of the second differential circuit; the second variable resistor is connected to the positive output of the first differential circuit and a negative output of the second differential circuit; the third variable resistor is connected to a negative output of the first differential circuit and the positive output of the second differential circuit; and the fourth variable resistor is connected to the negative output of the first differential circuit and the negative output of the second differential circuit. |
| US07667522B1 |
Low-skew digital lever shifter for I/O
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for low-skew input/output level-shift circuits. One low-skew input/output circuit includes a single-ended-to-differential converter, a level-shift circuit, and a differential-to-single-ended converter. The circuit employs a low-skew single-ended-to-differential converter that provides an output to a level-shift circuit. To reduce skew, the single-ended-to-differential converter includes multiple paths from the input to its inverting and non-inverting outputs. The level-shift circuit translates signal levels between voltages used by the core and voltages used by the input and output circuits of the integrated circuit. An output from the level-shifter is received by the differential-to-single-ended converter. This converter also includes multiple signal paths coupling inverting and non-inverting signal paths. A threshold of an input inverter in the differential-to-single-ended converter is set by appropriately adjusting ratio of the size of its p-channel pull-up and n-channel pull-down transistors to match the rising and falling edges of the signals provided by the level-shift circuit. |
| US07667516B2 |
Clock pulse generating circuit
A clock pulse generating circuit includes a pulse generator, a clock regulator, and a pre-driver. The pulse generator is configured to vary pulse widths of a rising clock signal and a falling clock signal. The clock regulator is configured to regulate output signals of the pulse generator to prevent an overlap and a duty drop of the output signals of the pulse generator. The pre-driver is configured to output data driving signals according to output signals of the clock regulator. |
| US07667513B2 |
Digital duty cycle corrector
A circuit and method of correcting the duty cycle of digital signals is disclosed. The duty cycle of an input digital signal is measured and compared to a desired duty cycle. The leading edge of the input digital signal is passed to an output. The circuit and method adjust the falling edges at the output to achieve the desired duty cycle. The falling edges occur in response to rising edges of a delayed version of the input digital signal. |
| US07667509B2 |
Delay time adjusting method of delaying a phase of an output signal until a phase difference between an input signal and the output signal becomes an integral number of periods other than zero
A delay time adjusting method adjusts a delay time of an input signal so that a phase of the input signal and a phase of an output signal match each other. The delay time adjusting method comprises the step of delaying the phase of the output signal until a phase difference between the phase of the input signal and the phase of the output signal becomes N periods, where N is an integer other than zero. |
| US07667504B2 |
Signal delay element, method and integrated circuit device for frequency adjustment of electronic signals
The invention relates to frequency adjustment of electronic signals. The method comprises the steps of providing an output signal of a frequency generator with a first frequency as input signal for a signal delay element providing an edge of said input signal of said signal delay element; delaying said input signal by adding a delay to each cycle of said input signal until the delayed output signal of the signal delay element is aligned to an edge of said input signal. |
| US07667502B2 |
Low voltage differential signalling driver with pre-emphasis
There is provided a LVDS driver arranged to receive an input signal which switches between two voltage levels. The driver comprises a pre-emphasis block (405) for generating a pre-emphasis signal having a first voltage level for a time period T1 after each switch of the input signal, and a second voltage level at all other times, a differential pair of outputs for generating a differential output voltage across a load resistor (RI); and a driver circuit (401) comprising two parallel branches, each branch being connected to one output and each branch being arranged to receive the pre-emphasis signal. The driver is arranged so that the total current flowing through the driver circuit is constant, and during time period T1, the total current flowing through the driver circuit flows through the load resistor, thereby producing a differential output voltage and at all other times, only some of the total current flowing through the driver circuit flows through the load resistor, thereby reducing the differential output voltage. |
| US07667501B2 |
Correlated double sampling technique
A sampling circuit according to correlated double sampling to generate a difference of two voltages at a sampling node, with the second voltage representing the sum of an input signal and an offset, and the first voltage representing the offset alone. In an embodiment, a first capacitor is charged to the first voltage in a first phase. A second capacitor is then charged to the second voltage in a second phase. In a third phase, the first capacitor is coupled to the input terminal of the amplifier and the second capacitor is coupled between the input and output terminals of the amplifier to cause the amplifier to generate the difference of the first and second voltages. The first capacitor has a capacitance much less than the second capacitor, thereby minimizing the noise power at the output of the amplifier. |
| US07667498B1 |
Relatively low standby power
A circuit includes a first transistor stack that receives an input signal, a voltage reference, a reference potential, a clock signal and an inverted clock signal, and generates an output signal that is an inverse of the input signal. A first inverter receives the output signal from the first transistor stack. A second transistor stack receives the voltage reference, the reference potential, the clock signal and the inverted clock signal, and generates an output signal that is an inverse of an output signal from the first inverter. A pass control circuit includes first and second transistors. The first terminals of the first and second transistors are coupled together and receive the output signal of the second transistor stack, control terminals of the first and second transistors receive the clock signal and the inverted clock signal, respectively, and second terminals of the first and second transistors are coupled together and output the output signal of the second transistor stack. |
| US07667494B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fast unbalanced pipeline architecture
Methods and apparatus are provided for a fast unbalanced pipeline architecture. A disclosed pipeline buffer comprises a plurality of memory registers connected in series, each of the plurality of memory registers, such as flip-flops, having an enable input and a clock input; and a controlling memory register having an output that drives the enable inputs of the plurality of memory registers, whereby a predefined binary value on an input of the controlling memory register shifts values of the plurality of memory registers on a next clock cycle. A plurality of the disclosed pipeline buffets can be configured in a multiple stage configuration. At least one of the plurality of memory registers can comprise a locking memory register that synchronizes the pipeline buffer. The pipeline buffer can optionally include a delay gate to delay a clock signal and an inverter to invert the delayed clock signal. The clock signal can be delayed by the delay gate such that an output of the pipeline buffer is applied to a next stage of a pipeline buffer at a correct time. |
| US07667491B2 |
Low voltage output buffer and method for buffering digital output data
Method and apparatus are provided for buffering a data signal to a low voltage logic device. A circuit for buffering the data signal to the low voltage logic device includes an output buffer (12) having first and second inputs and an output and at least one N-type isolation transistor (13, 19) having a source coupled to one or both of the second input and the output. The first input receives the data signal, the second input receives a supply potential, and the output couples to the low voltage logic device. The isolation transistor has a drain for receiving a first potential and is configured to supply a second potential to the output buffer when the gate receives a bias potential. The second potential based on the first potential. The bias potential is greater than the supply potential. |
| US07667487B2 |
Techniques for providing switchable decoupling capacitors for an integrated circuit
A circuit assembly includes a functional chip and a first capacitor. The functional chip includes a first logic island and a second logic island. The first capacitor is configured to be selectively coupled (e.g., at different times) to a first power supply terminal of the first logic island and a second power supply terminal of the second logic island. |
| US07667483B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling termination impedance
A calibration circuit that can prevent a calibration operation from being delayed by a dummy capacitor when the calibration circuit starts to operate includes a switch unit configured to connect a calibration node to a precharge node in response to an enable signal. The calibration node is connected to an external resistor. The calibration circuit also includes a code generation unit configured to generate a calibration code in response to a voltage of the calibration node and a reference voltage, a calibration resistor unit configured to drive the calibration node in response to the calibration code and turn-off when the code generation unit is disabled, and a precharge unit configured to precharge the precharge node to a predetermined voltage level when the code generation unit is disabled. |
| US07667476B2 |
Measuring module for rapid measurement of electrical, electronic and mechanical components at cryogenic temperatures and measuring device having such a module
Measuring module for the measurement of an object (6), having a measuring chamber (4), with a contact element (5a, 5b), wherein the object to be measured (6) is thermally connected to a first contact surface (9a) of the contact element (5a, 5b), and having a cold head (1b, 2b, 2c) that can be thermally connected to a second contact surface (9b) of the contact element (5a, 5b), wherein the contact element (5a, 5b) consists of material with high thermal conductivity, characterized in that the cryo-refrigerator (1a, 2a) together with the cold head is housed in a refrigerating chamber (3) that is physically separated from the measuring chamber (4) and can be evacuated separately from the latter, and the contact element (5a, 5b) is thermally insulated from the outside wall of the measuring module, is part of a separating wall between the measuring chamber (4) and the refrigerating chamber (3), and makes a local thermal connection between the measuring chamber (4) and the refrigerating chamber (3), and with a contacting mechanism to vary heat flow in the hermetically sealed condition of the measuring module. With such a measuring module, cooling times and heating times of the object to be measured can be greatly reduced. |
| US07667473B1 |
Flip-chip package having thermal expansion posts
A semiconductor package having a substrate and a die includes a plurality of conductive posts attached to the substrate and bonded to an active surface of the die via a plurality of corresponding microbumps. The conductive posts are flexible and extend beyond the top surface of the substrate a sufficient distance to absorb lateral forces exerted upon the microbumps. |
| US07667468B1 |
Capacitive sensor with ratiometric voltage references
A capacitive sensor with ratiometric voltage references includes a voltage source, a charge transfer switch, an integrating capacitor, and a comparator. The voltage source is configured to generate a first voltage reference and a second voltage reference in response to a supply voltage, where the first voltage reference changes proportionally to the second voltage reference in response to a change in the supply voltage. The charge transfer switch is coupled to the integrating capacitor to distribute charge between a sensing capacitor and the integrating capacitor, where the charge is accumulated in response to the first voltage reference. The comparator is coupled to the second voltage reference and the integrating capacitor to compare a voltage on the integrating capacitor against the second voltage reference. |
| US07667466B2 |
Target tester interface
An electronics testing assembly includes a housing, a tester assembly, and an activation assembly. The housing is sized to retain the activation assembly and at least one electronics testing device. The tester enclosure is configured to house a plurality of tester connector interfaces that are mounted to a first connector plate. The activation assembly includes an actuator assembly and a plurality of activation connector interfaces mounted to a second connector plate. The actuator assembly is configured to move the second connector plate between a lowered vertical position and a raised vertical position within the housing while maintaining a fixed orientation of the tester enclosure relative to the housing. In the lowered vertical position the activation connector interfaces are spaced apart from the tester connector interfaces, and in the raised vertical position the activation connector interfaces are engaged with the tester connector interfaces to create an electrical connection. |
| US07667464B2 |
Time segmentation of frequencies in controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) applications
A method for measuring a resistivity of a subsurface formation that includes transmitting continuously a signal at a first fundamental frequency at full power for a first period of time within a single window of time causing electromagnetic energy to propagate in the subsurface formations, transmitting continuously the signal at a second fundamental frequency at full power for a second period of time within the single window of time causing electromagnetic energy to propagate in the subsurface formations, measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy propagated through the subsurface formations at receivers at the first and the second fundamental frequencies, and determining the resistivity of the subsurface formations using the measurements of the variations in electromagnetic energy at the receivers. |
| US07667461B2 |
Sample analyzer and sampling system
A spectroscopic sample analysis apparatus includes an actively controlled, direct contact heat exchanger in serial fluid communication with a spectroscopic analyzer, and a controller communicably coupled to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is disposed downstream of a fluid handler in the form of a stream selection unit (SSU), a solvent/standard recirculation unit (SRU), and/or an auto-sampling unit (ASU). The SSU selectively couples individual stream inputs to an output port. The SRU includes a solvent/standard reservoir, and selectively couples output ports to the heat exchanger, and returns the solvent/standard sample to the reservoirs. The ASU includes a sample reservoir having a sample transfer pathway with a plurality of orifices disposed at spaced locations along a length thereof. The controller selectively actuates the fluid handler, enabling sample to flow therethrough to the heat exchanger, and actuates the heat exchanger to maintain the sample at a predetermined temperature. |
| US07667457B2 |
System and apparatus for detecting gamma rays in a PET/MRI scanner
A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques. |
| US07667455B2 |
Annular magnetic encoder having pole arrangement that specifies rotational angle
An annular magnetic encoder is provided in which a plurality of S magnetic poles and N magnetic poles are alternately arranged in an arrangement pattern. The arrangement pattern comprises: a plurality of index parts provided in a circumferential direction at fixed intervals; a plurality of standard pitch parts provided between the index parts; and a plurality of specific pitch parts provided in all of the standard pitch parts or in the standard pitch parts other than one standard pitch part, where the specific pitch parts are arranged in different positions within each of the standard pitch parts. |
| US07667451B2 |
Method for determining size of optical disc inserted into optical disc drive
A method of determining a size of an optical disc inserted into an optical disc drive is disclosed. The method includes driving a turntable motor of the optical disc drive to rotate the optical disc at a predetermined rotation frequency for reading data stored on the optical disc, measuring a rotation frequency of the turntable motor, applying a kick-pulse voltage to the turntable motor of the optical disc drive for a predetermined period of time, measuring a change in the rotation frequency of the turntable motor after applying the kick-pulse voltage, comparing the change in the rotation frequency of the turntable motor to a threshold value, and determining that the optical disc is an 8 cm disc when the change in the rotation frequency of the turntable motor is above the threshold value. |
| US07667443B2 |
System and method for near zero light-load supply current in switching regulator
Techniques for near zero light-load supply current in switching regulators are described. In one aspect a voltage regulator operating a normal mode is generating an error signal indicating a difference between the output and the regulated voltage. A control signal, at least in part based on the error signal, actively controls the output of the regulator. The control signal is monitored over a period of time. The monitoring activates a signal indicating when the control signal is inactive for the period of time indicating a light-load condition. The voltage regulator is then placed in a standby mode when the signal is active and the error signal indicates the output is substantially at the regulated voltage. Portions of the voltage regulator are then disabled permitting the voltage regulator to operate at the minimum current draw. |
| US07667438B2 |
Energy storage system with ultracapacitor and switched battery
An energy storage system for a vehicle includes an ultracapacitor that is electrically coupled in parallel with a battery through a diode connected in series with the battery. The ultracapacitor delivers the energy required for all high current surges that occur during engine start, acceleration, and regeneration. The battery is used only to assist with longer duration, high energy loads, such as accessory loads when an engine of the vehicle is not running. In other words, the battery conducts only during longer and less-frequent pulses and, therefore, does not have to withstand high-power pulses. |
| US07667433B1 |
Recharging cover system
A recharging cover system for storing, protecting and recharging an electronic device during transport of the electronic device includes a case receives the electronic device to protect the electronic device from being inadvertently damaged. A recharging assembly is positioned in the case. The recharging assembly is electrically coupled to the electronic device to recharge the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned in the case. |
| US07667432B2 |
Method for interconnection of battery packs and battery assembly containing interconnected battery packs
A system and method interconnects battery packs using a flexible bus bar to prevent vibration from breaking or damaging the connections therebetween. |
| US07667431B2 |
Mechanically featureless inductive charging using an alignment marking feature
An inductive charging system including an inductive charger having an inductive charging surface and an alignment feature depicted on a surface of the inductive charger indicating a location of the inductive charging surface. A structural feature may extend substantially perpendicular to the alignment feature and provides a guide for positioning of a portable device to facilitate inductive changing of the portable device by the inductive charging surface. The inductive charger may include a plurality of inductive chargers positioned to facilitate charging of a portable device by two or more of the plurality of the inductive chargers. |
| US07667430B2 |
Power storage apparatus
A power storage apparatus mounted with a plurality of connected power storage modules and capable of charging or discharging an electric power, and in which a housing is partitioned by a partition plate to be divided into a power storage area and a control device area; in the power storage area, an opening is formed, and the power storage modules are contained; in the control device area, an opening is formed, and a switching protective device section to switch and protect the power storage modules is contained; a main circuit wiring from the power storage modules is led out of the control device area via the switching protective device section; the opening of the power storage area is covered with a detachable cover; and the opening of the control device area is covered with a detachable cover independent of the cover of the opening of the power storage area. |
| US07667429B2 |
Battery pack authentication for a mobile device
Various embodiments are described herein for a mobile communication device that authenticates a smart battery prior to use. The mobile device includes a main processor and a device memory. The device memory stores first and second portions of security information used for authentication. The smart battery includes a battery processor and a battery memory. The battery memory stores a third portion of security information used for authentication. The main processor sends an authentication request including the first portion of security information to the battery processor, and the battery processor generates a response based on the first and third portions of security information and sends the generated response to the main processor. The smart battery is authenticated if the generated response matches the second portion of security information. |
| US07667424B2 |
Servo device
A servo device is provided which includes a drive source made of a brushless motor. A DC motor driving integrated circuit produces output signals and controls the output of a three-phase brushless motor driving integrated circuit to drive the brush less motor. A selection switching section detects information regarding the rotational speed of the brushless motor. The selection switching section extracts the counter electromotive voltage of the brushless motor, feeds the voltage back to the DC motor driving integrated circuit and PWM controls a drive signal output from the three-phase brushless motor driving integrated circuit. This allows the brushless motor to be easily applied to the servo device. |
| US07667421B2 |
Torque compensation method and system for DC brushless motor
A torque compensation method and system for a DC brushless motor. When the DC brushless motor coupled with an asymmetric load is rotating, the difference between an instant current and an average current of a shunt resister is an index of adjusting control signals within an absolute rotor position for the purpose of approaching the corresponding instant current to the average current. |
| US07667418B2 |
Control system for bearingless motor-generator
A control system for an electromagnetic rotary drive for bearingless motor-generators comprises a winding configuration comprising a plurality of individual pole pairs through which phase current flows, each phase current producing both a lateral force and a torque. A motor-generator comprises a stator, a rotor supported for movement relative to the stator, and a control system. The motor-generator comprises a winding configuration supported by the stator. The winding configuration comprises at least three pole pairs through which phase current flows resulting in three three-phase systems. Each phase system has a first rotor reference frame axis current that produces a levitating force with no average torque and a second rotor reference frame axis current that produces torque. |
| US07667417B2 |
Apparatus and method compensating recurring false speed errors in DC motor and disk drive adopting same
Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling a motor by compensating for recurring false speed errors generated in a direct current (DC) motor. The apparatus includes a learning control unit adapted to calculate recurring false speed errors related to a mechanical tolerance associated with the motor in each one of a plurality of controlling sections associated with a single rotation of the motor, and generate a corresponding reference speed for each controlling section, and a motor control unit adapted to control the rotational speed of the motor in relation to a speed error defined by a difference between the reference speed for each controlling section and an actual measured speed of the motor for each controlling section. |
| US07667415B2 |
Backlight control device and display apparatus
A PWM generation circuit is set so as to generate a PWM pulse signal having a frequency that is an odd number times a vertical synchronization frequency. A frequency division circuit frequency-divides the PWM pulse signal generated by the PWM generation circuit. An AND gate calculates the logical product of the PWM pulse signal generated by the PWM generation circuit and a frequency-division pulse signal outputted from the frequency division circuit. An OR gate calculates the logical sum of the PWM pulse signal generated by the PWM generation circuit and the frequency-division pulse signal outputted from the frequency division circuit. A selector outputs an output signal of the OR gate as a dimming pulse signal in a case where the set duty ratio is not less than 50%, while outputting an output signal of the AND gate as a dimming pulse signal in a case where the set duty ratio is less than 50%. Consequently, the frequency of the dimming pulse signal is five-second the frequency of a vertical synchronizing signal. |
| US07667413B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp operation method, operation device, light source device, and projection type image display device
Provided is a method for lighting a high pressure discharge lamp capable of increasing the life thereof. The lighting method is as follows. When the time elapse after lighting up the discharge lamp is within a predetermined condition (e.g. 5 minutes or less), constant current control is performed if the lamp voltage is lower than switching voltage (here, a first voltage value V1) and constant power control is performed to maintain the lamp power at a power value W1 if the lamp voltage is equal to or above the switching voltage. After the predetermined condition (5 minutes) is exceeded, the constant power control is performed by lowering the value of the switching voltage from the first voltage value V1 to the second voltage value V2. If the lamp voltage is equal to or above the switching voltage lowered, the lamp power is maintained at power value W1. |
| US07667406B2 |
Electrode for metal halide lamp with ceramic discharge vessel
Metal halide lamp with ceramic discharge vessel (4), the discharge vessel having two ends (6) which are closed off by stoppers, and an electrically conductive leadthrough (9) being passed through this stopper (12), an electrode (15) having a shank (16), which projects into the interior of the discharge vessel, being secured to the leadthrough. The leadthrough is composed of two portions of different diameters, with the outer portion resting on the end face of the stopper. |
| US07667401B2 |
PDP filter and manufacturing method thereof using a fully etched electromagnetic interference film
The present invention relates to a PDP filter and a manufacturing method thereof using a fully etched electromagnetic interference film, and more particularly, to a PDP filter and a manufacturing method thereof in which the separation between an etching portion and a non-etching portion is removed by etching an entire surface of electromagnetic interference film that has been used by selectively etching a predetermined region on a surface to form an effective screen portion (etching portion) separately from a ground portion (non-etching portion), and when an electromagnetic interference film roll having such a structure is cut into a small size in a winding direction of the roller only it can be laminated with other functional films by a roll-to-roll process so as to make it applicable when required by cutting it into a desired size even though the effective size of a PDP is changed. |
| US07667396B2 |
Encapsulation structure of double sided organic light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
An encapsulation structure of double sided organic light emitting device (OLED) comprises a first substrate and a second substrate disposed oppositely; a first organic light emitting device (OLED) disposed on the first substrate; a second OLED disposed on the second substrate; a supporter disposed between the first OLED and the second OLED; and at least a moisture absorption layer disposed at the supporter for absorbing moisture inside the encapsulation structure. |
| US07667392B2 |
Organic light emitting diode and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting diode, and a method of fabricating the same, the organic light emitting diode including a pixel-defining layer disposed on a substrate, the pixel-defining layer having an opening therein and having at least one stepped portion formed adjacent to the opening, and an organic layer disposed in the opening and at least partially covering the at least one stepped portion. |
| US07667390B2 |
Bottom-emission organic electroluminescent display of high resolution and power saving
An organic electroluminescent display comprises a shadow layer, a transparent electrode, a light emitting layer, a reflective electrode and a cap layer formed on a substrate. The transparent electrode is connected to a transistor, located on the shadow layer, and has a larger area than the shadow layer. The cap layer is formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrode, and corresponds to the shadow layer. The light emitting layer is formed on the upper surface of the transparent electrode. And, the reflective electrode is formed on the upper surface of the light emitting layer. |
| US07667387B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and method manufacturing the same
An organic electroluminescent device (OELD) and a method of manufacturing the OELD are provided. The OELD includes a substrate, an anode electrode stacked on the substrate, an organic light emitting layer that is stacked on the anode electrode and has a plurality of protrusions on the organic light emitting layer, and a cathode electrode that covers the protrusions formed on the organic light emitting layer and is formed of a metal. |
| US07667384B2 |
High-powered diode holder and a package thereof
A high-powered diode holder and a package thereof are disclosed. The high-powered diode holder includes a base and a plurality of metal electrodes. The base is made of ceramic. In the interior part of one end of the base, there is a functional area that is indented inwards. In the functional area, there are a plurality of through-hole units and a plurality of conducting areas whose polarities are different. The second end of the base is connected with a heat-conducting base. The metal electrodes are individually connected with the base, and the metal electrodes are electrically connected with the corresponding conducting areas respectively. In the functional area, there are a plurality of LED chips that correspond to the through-hole units respectively. The LED chips and the conducting areas are connected with conducting-wires respectively, and a package resin element covers the functional areas of the base. |
| US07667383B2 |
Light source comprising a common substrate, a first led device and a second led device
At least one stacked organic or polymeric light emitting diode (PLEDs) devices to comprise a light source is disclosed. At least one of the PLEDs includes a patterned cathode which has regions which transmit light. The patterned cathodes enable light emission from the PLEDs to combine together. The light source may be top or bottom emitting or both. |
| US07667380B2 |
Electron emission device using thick-film insulating structure
An electron emission device includes first and second substrates facing each other, cathode electrodes formed on the first substrate, and electron emission regions formed on the cathode electrodes. An insulating layer is formed on the cathode electrodes with opening portions exposing the electron emission regions. Gate electrodes are formed on the insulating layer with opening portions corresponding to the opening portions of the insulating layer. Phosphor layers are formed on the second substrate. At least one anode electrode is formed on a surface of the phosphor layers. The cathode and the gate electrodes are formed by thin filming, and the insulating layer is formed by thick filming. |
| US07667375B2 |
Broad band energy harvesting system and related methods
A broad band energy harvesting system to harvest energy from a structure and associated methods are provided. The system includes a structure carrying a plurality of environmentally produced vibration frequencies extending over a frequency range and an energy harvesting apparatus positioned in vibration receiving communication with the structure to harvest energy from the structure. Each energy harvesting apparatus includes broadly tuned energy harvesting generators having relatively low quality factor and corresponding relatively wide bandwidth. The energy harvesting generators collectively provide energy harvesting over multiple modes to thereby provide energy harvesting over a substantial portion of the frequency range. Each energy harvesting generator can include a cantilevered beam connected to a common backbone comprised of a resilient material configured to transfer energy between adjacent generators to further enhance energy harvesting. |
| US07667373B2 |
Drive unit
A drive unit (1) includes a stage (3), a first ultrasonic actuator (4A) for driving the stage (3) in the X direction, and a second ultrasonic actuator (4B) for driving the stage (3) in the Y direction. In driving the stage (3) in only one of the X and Y directions, one of the first and second ultrasonic actuators (4A, 4B) corresponding to the one of the directions generates a composite vibration of a longitudinal vibration parallel to a contact surface of the stage (3) and a bending vibration orthogonal to the contact surface, while the other ultrasonic actuator generates only a longitudinal vibration parallel to the contact surface of the stage (3). |
| US07667371B2 |
Electronic device and circuit for providing tactile feedback
A circuit (800) for controlling at least one piezoelectric actuator (142) includes a piezoelectric drive circuit (802) that generates unidirectional voltage drive signal, also referred to as Vout, at node (804). The piezoelectric actuator drive circuit (802) includes a boost switcher circuit or charging circuit (806), a buck switcher circuit or pulsed current sink discharge circuit (808) and a control signal generating circuit (810) that receives an input control signal (812) from, for example, a keyboard processor or other suitable processor (604) indicating that the device has requested generation of haptic feedback utilizing the piezoelectric actuator (142). The control signal generating circuit (810) provides at least two pulse-with-modulated control signals, one to control the charging circuit and one to control the discharging circuit to produce the unidirectional voltage drive signal, that in one example is a raised cosine drive signal (904). |
| US07667370B2 |
Generating device for generating a useful stream of a medium, in particular for generating sound
A generating device (1) for generating a useful stream of a medium (2) comprises at least a medium stream source (14) for generating a high-frequency medium stream (15) and at least a medium stream diode (36, 37) for cooperating with the generated medium stream (15), and at least one medium stream sink (40, 41) for cooperating with the medium stream influenced by the medium stream diodes (36, 37), wherein the at least one medium stream sink (40, 41) suppresses high-frequency stream components in the medium stream such that a useful medium stream (2) in a low-frequency range is obtained. |
| US07667365B2 |
Permanent magnet electric rotating machine and electromotive vehicle using permanent magnet electric rotating machine
A magnetic gap is provided between a permanent magnet of a rotor and an auxiliary magnet pole portion which is arranged adjacent to the permanent magnet in a peripheral direction. A gradual change in a magnetic flux density distribution of a surface of the rotor is obtained and a cogging torque and a torque pulsation are restrained. By obtaining a reluctance torque according to the auxiliary magnetic pole, a permanent magnet electric rotating machine in which the cogging torque and the torque pulsation are restrained can be obtained and further an electromotive vehicle having the permanent magnet electric rotating machine can be provided. |
| US07667364B2 |
Brushless motor
A brushless motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes an annular stator core having teeth arranged with a spacing in a circumferential direction of the annular stator core; and coils wound around the teeth respectively. The rotor includes a rotor core and magnetic poles of segment magnets arranged annularly along a circumferential direction of the rotor core. The segment magnets are stacked at a plurality of stages in an axial direction of the rotor core. A length direction of each of the segment magnets is parallel with the axial direction of the rotor core. The following expression is satisfied: (2×β/P)+θ<(360/P) where P is the number of the magnetic poles of the segment magnets at each stage, β (electrical angle) is the effective pole angular aperture on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor core, and θ is the skew angle equivalent to a phase shift angle between the corresponding magnetic poles of the segment magnets at the adjacent stages. |
| US07667353B2 |
Remote electrical device switching control, and status monitoring and reporting system
A capacitor bank status monitoring, control and reporting system for use with a capacitor bank with “wye”-connected capacitors having a common neutral confluence and that can be switched in and out of a multi-phase high-voltage power distribution system. There is a first sensing device that detects the current flowing between the common neutral confluence of the capacitors and a common neutral wire of the distribution system and a second sensing device that detects the voltage of at least one sensed phase of the distribution system. There is an electrical device that controls the switched state of at least one of the capacitors. There is a controller, responsive to the first and second sensing devices, for providing reporting information concerning the status of the capacitor bank and concerning the determined voltage. A wireless communications system transmits the reporting information to a remote location, and receives information from the remote location and provides it to the controller. |
| US07667351B2 |
Method for pulse width modulation synchronization in a parallel UPS system
A method for pulse width modulated pulse synchronization in a parallel UPS system uses the locally measured critical bus voltage to detect a zero crossing and adjust the PWM pulse to coincide with the zero crossing. No communication between the units is required to perform synchronization, and no “master” and “slave” relationship exists to thereby increase the total system reliability. |
| US07667349B2 |
Providing power to a load by controlling a plurality of generating devices
An apparatus for controlling provision of power to a load by a plurality of generating devices in a plurality of phased signals during a first operating condition includes: (a) a sensing unit coupled with the load for presenting an indicator relating to load current; and (b) a control unit coupled with the sensing unit for receiving the indicator and coupled with the plurality of generating devices. The control unit presents a first control signal in response to the indicator indicating a second operating condition. The control unit presents a second control signal in response to the indicator indicating a third operating condition. The generating devices respond to the first control signal to substantially simultaneously provide the power to the load. The generating devices respond to the second control signal to substantially provide no power to the load. |
| US07667345B2 |
Device for an adjusting mechanism, said adjusting mechanism and method
A device for blocking and for releasing an adjusting mechanism having at least two parts which are movable relative to each other is disclosed. The device comprises a blocker configured to be brought at least into a blocking position and a release position relative to the adjusting mechanism. The device further comprises an actuator for changing the position of the blocker between the blocking position and the release position. |
| US07667341B2 |
Power-generating apparatus, such as a generator
A power-generating apparatus includes a frame, an engine supported by the frame, an alternator coupled to the engine and operable to convert mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy, and a battery charger supported by the frame and electrically coupled to the alternator. The battery charger is operable to charge a battery pack with the electrical energy from the alternator. |
| US07667340B2 |
Power from a non-animal organism
A method for drawing electricity from a non-animal organism, the method including coupling a first electrical conductor to the non-animal organism, coupling a second electrical conductor to a ground rod, embedding the ground rod into soil at a predetermined depth as a function of a desired current level, whereby the current available from the non-animal organism is increased by increasing the depth that the ground rod is embedded into the soil, coupling an electrical load between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor, the electrical load being configured to draw electricity from the non-animal organism via the first electrical conductor, and operating the electrical load using electricity drawn from the non-animal organism. |
| US07667338B2 |
Package with solder-filled via holes in molding layers
The present invention discloses an electronic package to contain and protect an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The electronic package further includes a leadframe, a flexible circuit or PCB type of substrate. The leadframe, flexible circuit or PCB type substrate further includes solder contacts, which are aligned with via holes in the molding layers on the top and bottom sides of the package. These via holes are for placing solder paste or solder balls from above and below for electrical access to the IC chip. These solder balls provide access for electrical testing after the package is mounted on a motherboard. They also provide the connection points for stacking multiple packages vertically. |
| US07667335B2 |
Semiconductor package with passivation island for reducing stress on solder bumps
A flip chip style semiconductor package has a substrate with a plurality of active devices formed thereon. A contact pad is formed on the substrate. An under bump metallization (UBM) layer is in electrical contact with the contact pad. A passivation layer is formed over the substrate. In one case, the UBM layer is disposed above the passivation layer. Alternatively, the passivation layer is disposed above the UBM layer. A portion of the passivation layer is removed to create a passivation island. The passivation island is centered with respect to the contact pad with its top surface devoid of the UBM layer. A solder bump is formed over the passivation island in electrical contact with the UBM layer. The passivation island forms a void in the solder bump for stress relief. The UBM layer may include a redistribution layer such that the passivation island is offset from the contact pad. |
| US07667332B2 |
Method for generating pattern, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, semiconductor device, and computer program product
A method for generating a pattern includes reading out an interconnect layout and a hole layout, the interconnect layout prescribing interconnect patterns, the hole layout prescribing hole patterns configured to connect to the interconnect patterns; extracting one of the hole patterns to be connected within the same interconnect layer level to one of the interconnect patterns in a pattern processing area; extracting a first processing area including the extracted hole pattern; calculating a first pattern density of the interconnect patterns included in the first processing area; and generating first additional patterns in the first processing area based on the first pattern density. |
| US07667330B2 |
Semiconductor device for preventing inflow of high current from an input/output pad and a circuit for preventing inflow of high current thereof
A semiconductor device includes an input/output pad, an input line of an internal circuit, and a plurality of metal lines formed on a lower portion of the input/output pad to have a buffer area overlapping with a plane area of the input/output pad, wherein one of an entirety and a portion of the plurality of metal lines included in the buffer area forms protective resistance interconnecting the input/output pad to the input line. |
| US07667326B2 |
Power semiconductor component, power semiconductor device as well as methods for their production
A power semiconductor component (2) has a semiconductor body with a front face (7) and a rear face (9). The front face (7) has a front-face metallization (8), which provides at least one first contact pad (11). A structured metal seed layer (14) is provided as the front-face metallization (8), is arranged directly on the semiconductor body, and has a thickness d, where 1 nm≦d≦0.5 μm. |
| US07667315B2 |
Semiconductor device having a frame portion and an opening portion with mountable semiconductor chips therein
A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate having an opening portion and a frame portion defining a periphery of the opening portion. At least one electric element is provided on the frame portion, and has at least one electrode terminal. A first insulation film is formed on the frame portion so that the electrode terminal is partially exposed at the first insulation film to form a plurality of electrode pads. |
| US07667309B2 |
Space-efficient package for laterally conducting device
Efficient utilization of space in a laterally-conducting semiconductor device package is enhanced by creating at least one supplemental downbond pad portion of the diepad for receiving the downbond wire from the ground contact of the device. The supplemental diepad portion may occupy area at the end or side of the package formerly occupied by non-integral leads. By receiving the substrate downbond wire, the supplemental diepad portion allows a greater area of the main diepad to be occupied by a die having a larger area, thereby enhancing space efficiency of the package. |
| US07667306B1 |
Leadframe-based semiconductor package
A leadframe-based semiconductor package is revealed, primarily comprising a chip, a plurality of leads of a leadframe, a multi-layer tape, and an encapsulant. The multi-layer tape is attached to the chip and includes an adhesive layer disposed on a dielectric core layer. The internal leads of the leads are partially embedded in the adhesive layer in a manner not to directly contact the dielectric core layer. A bonding interface with a U-shaped profile is formed between the adhesive layer and each internal lead to increase the adhesions of the leads so that the internal leads will not be shifted nor delaminated during molding processes. The concentrated stresses exerted on the internal leads disposed at the corners of the packages will be released and reduced. |
| US07667299B2 |
Circuit board and method for mounting chip component
A circuit board includes a substrate including electrode patterns formed thereon, first chip components mounted on the substrate and a second chip component mounted on a side of electrodes of the first chip components opposite from the substrate. The second chip component is bonded at one electrode to an electrode of the first chip component and is also bonded at the other electrode to an electrode of the first chip component. By stacking chip components in plural stages, it is possible to mount chip components with a high density on the substrate, thereby enabling reduction of the size of the circuit board. |
| US07667296B2 |
Nanowire capacitor and methods of making same
A nanowire capacitor and methods of making the same are disclosed. The nanowire capacitor includes a subrate and a semiconductor nanowire that is supported by the substrate. An insulator is formed on a portion of the surface of the nanowire. Additionally, an outer coaxial conductor is formed on a portion insulator and a contact coupled to the nanowire. |
| US07667284B2 |
Method of manufacturing organic electroluminescent device and organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device, which, on a substrate, has a plurality of first electrodes, and a second electrode opposing the plurality of first electrodes. The organic electroluminescent device also including a light-emitting functional layer between the second electrode and one of the first electrodes and a buffering layer that covers the second electrode. The buffering layer having a side end portion with an angle equal to or less than 30°. The organic electroluminescent device further including a gas barrier layer that covers the buffering layer. |
| US07667281B2 |
Method for hard mask CD trim
Broadly speaking, methods and an apparatus are provided for removing an inorganic material from a substrate. More specifically, the methods provide for removing the inorganic material from the substrate through exposure to a high density plasma generated using an inductively coupled etching apparatus. The high density plasma is set and controlled to isotropically contact particular regions of the inorganic material to allow for trimming and control of a critical dimension associated with the inorganic material. |
| US07667279B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which has a circuit-forming region. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of insulating interlayer films, a guard ring, and a first MIM capacitor. The insulating interlayer films, which are stacked one upon another, are provided over the semiconductor substrate. The guard ring is formed in the plurality of insulating interlayer films and surrounds the circuit-forming region. The guard ring is separated from an insulating interlayer film including a topmost interconnect. The MIM capacitor is provided between the guard ring and the insulating interlayer film including the topmost interconnect. |
| US07667276B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit switch matrix
There is provided a small-type semiconductor integrated circuit whose circuit area is small and whose wiring length is short. The semiconductor integrated circuit is constructed in a multi-layer structure and is provided with a first semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor layer transistor formed in the first semiconductor layer, a wiring layer which is deposited on the first semiconductor layer and in which metal wires are formed, a second semiconductor layer deposited on the wiring layer and a second semiconductor layer transistor formed in the second semiconductor layer. It is noted that insulation of a gate insulating film of the first semiconductor layer transistor is almost equal with that of a gate insulating film of the second semiconductor layer transistor and the gate insulating film of the second semiconductor layer transistor is formed by means of radical oxidation or radical nitridation. |
| US07667275B2 |
Using oxynitride spacer to reduce parasitic capacitance in CMOS devices
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device has a substrate 100, a gate structure 108 disposed atop the substrate, and spacers 250, deposited on opposite sides of the gate structure 108 to govern formation of deep source drain regions S, D in the substrate. Spacers 250 are formed of an oxynitride (SiOxNyCz) wherein x and y are non-zero but z may be zero or greater; such oxynitride spacers reduce parasitic capacitance, thus improving device performance. A method of fabricating a portion of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device involves providing a substrate 100, forming a gate structure 108 over the substrate, depositing a first layer 104 atop the substrate on opposite sides of the gate structure to govern formation of deep source drain regions in the substrate, depositing an oxynitride (SiOxNyCz) layer 250 atop the first layer (in which x and y are non-zero but z may be zero or greater), depositing a second layer 112 atop the oxynitride layer, and depositing a nitride layer 114B atop the second layer. |
| US07667271B2 |
Fin field-effect transistors
A fin field-effect transistor (finFET) with improved source/drain regions is provided. In an embodiment, the source/drain regions of the fin are removed while spacers adjacent to the fin remain. An angled implant is used to implant the source/drain regions near a gate electrode, thereby allowing for a more uniform lightly doped drain. The fin may be re-formed by either epitaxial growth or a metallization process. In another embodiment, the spacers adjacent the fin in the source/drain regions are removed and the fin is silicided along the sides and the top of the fin. In yet another embodiment, the fin and the spacers are removed in the source/drain regions. The fins are then re-formed via an epitaxial growth process or a metallization process. Combinations of these embodiments may also be used. |
| US07667268B2 |
Isolated transistor
Various integrated circuit devices, in particular a transistor, are formed inside an isolation structure which includes a floor isolation region and a trench extending from the surface of the substrate to the floor isolation region. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material or may have a conductive material in a central portion with a dielectric layer lining the walls of the trench. Various techniques for terminating the isolation structure by extending the floor isolation region beyond the trench, using a guard ring, and a forming a drift region are described. |
| US07667266B2 |
Semiconductor device including active pattern with channel recess, and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device including an active pattern having a channel recess portion, and a method of fabricating the same, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes an active pattern including first active regions and a second active region interposed between the first active regions. The active pattern protrudes above a surface of a semiconductor substrate and includes a channel recess portion above the second active region and between the first active regions. A device isolation layer surrounds the active pattern and has a groove exposing side walls of the recessed second active region. A distance between opposing side walls of the first active regions exposed by the channel recess portion is greater than a distance between side walls of the groove. A gate pattern is located in the channel recess portion and extends along the groove. |
| US07667262B2 |
Two bit U-shaped memory structure and method of making the same
A memory structure includes: a substrate; a control gate positioned on the substrate; floating gates positioned at two sides of the control gate, wherein the floating gates have a U-shaped bottom embedded in the substrate; a first dielectric layer positioned between the control gate and the substrate; a second dielectric layer positioned between the U-shaped bottom of the floating gates and the substrate; a third dielectric layer positioned between the control gate and the floating gates; a local doping region positioned around the floating gates channel; and a source/drain doping region positioned in the substrate at a side of the floating gates. |
| US07667253B2 |
Non-volatile memory device with conductive sidewall spacer and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device having conductive sidewall spacers and a method for fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device includes: a substrate; a gate insulation layer formed on the substrate; a gate structure formed on the gate insulation layer; a pair of sidewall spacers formed on sidewalls of the gate structure; a pair of conductive sidewall spacers for trapping/detrapping charges formed on the pair of sidewall spacers; a pair of lightly doped drain regions formed in the substrate disposed beneath the sidewalls of the gate structure; and a pair of source/drain regions formed in the substrate disposed beneath edge portions of the pair of conductive sidewall spacers. |
| US07667251B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, production method and drive method thereof, and camera
A solid-state imaging device capable of reducing an eclipse (blocking) of an incident light at a circumferential portion of a light receiving portion and realizing a larger angle of view and high-speed driving. A single-layer transfer electrode configuration of forming first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes by one polysilicon layer is adopted. Two shunt wirings extending in a horizontal direction are formed on the first transfer electrodes connected in a horizontal direction and, for example, four-phase transfer pulses are supplied to first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes on transfer channels through low-resistance shunt wirings extending in the horizontal direction. |
| US07667250B2 |
Vertical gate device for an image sensor and method of forming the same
A CMOS pixel cell having a charge transfer transistor adjacent the photo-conversion device. The transistor has a channel region surrounded by a gate and an upper source/drain region over the channel region. |
| US07667248B2 |
Bulk FinFET device
A finFET structure and a method of fabricating the finFET structure. The method includes: forming a silicon fin on a top surface of a silicon substrate; forming a gate dielectric on opposite sidewalls of the fin; forming a gate electrode over a channel region of the fin, the gate electrode in direct physical contact with the gate dielectric layer on the opposite sidewalls of the fin; forming a first source/drain in the fin on a first side of the channel region and forming a second source/drain in the fin on a second side of the channel region; removing a portion of the substrate from under at least a portion of the first and second source/drains to create a void; and filling the void with a dielectric material. The structure includes a body contact between the silicon body of the finFET and the substrate. |
| US07667246B2 |
Field programmable gate array (FPGA) multi-parallel structure
A method of forming a field programmable gate array (FPGA) structure of a semiconductor device capable of reducing manufacturing cost through simpler processes includes forming a contact parallel connection structure in which contacts connected to a gate electrode and a source/drain by way of a first amorphous silicon pattern are connected in parallel with each other; forming a via parallel connection structure in which vias, connected to neighboring metal interconnections by a second amorphous silicon pattern, are connected in parallel with each other at a position not overlapping the contact parallel connection structure; and forming a connection means for connecting the contact parallel connection structure to the via parallel connection structure. |
| US07667243B2 |
Local ESD protection for low-capicitance applications
A semiconductor device for locally protecting an integrated circuit input/output (I/O) pad (301) against ESD events, when the I/O pad is located between a power pad (303) and a ground potential pad (305a). A first diode (311) and a second diode (312) are connected in series, the anode (311b) of the series connected to the I/O pad and the cathode (312a) connected to the power pad. A third diode (304) has its anode (304b) tied to the ground pad and its cathode (304a) tied to the I/O pad. A string (320) of at least one diode has its anode (321b) connected to the series between the first and second diode (node 313), isolated from the I/O pad, and its cathode (323a) connected to the ground pad. The string (320) may comprise three or more diodes. |
| US07667240B2 |
Radiation-emitting semiconductor chip and method for producing such a semiconductor chip
A radiation-emitting semiconductor chip having an absorbent brightness setting layer between a connection region and a current injection region and/or, as seen from the connection region, outside the current injection region on a front-side radiation coupling-out area of the semiconductor layer sequence. The brightness setting layer absorbs in a targeted manner part of the radiation generated in the semiconductor layer sequence. In another embodiment, a partly insulating brightness setting layer is arranged between the connection region and the active layer. Here, the brightness setting layer includes at least one electrically insulating current blocking region and at least one electrically conductive current passage region via which the connection region is electrically conductively connected to the semiconductor layer sequence such that, during operation of the semiconductor chip, part of the electromagnetic radiation generated in the chip is generated below the connection region and is absorbed by the connection region. |
| US07667238B2 |
Light emitting devices for liquid crystal displays
Light-emitting devices, and related components, processes, systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US07667237B2 |
Light emitting device having light emitting elements
A light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply. |
| US07667232B2 |
Bank structure, method of forming bank structure, device, electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
A bank structure in which a recess corresponding to a pattern formed of a functional liquid is provided includes first recess provided corresponding to a first pattern, and a second recess provided on part of the first recess and corresponding to a second pattern. The second recess has a shape that has a width larger than a width of the first recess and has a circular arc in at least part of an outer circumference of the second recess. |
| US07667231B2 |
Automatic on-die defect isolation
Microcircuits may include polysilicon features that are vulnerable to defects due to undesirable phenomena during manufacturing processes such as, inter alia, over-etching. The same phenomena that may cause defects can be exploited to automatically isolate the affected circuit and thus limit the harm caused by defects or incipient defects. |
| US07667226B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises an active layer having a quantum well structure, the active layer including a well layer and a barrier layer and being sandwiched by a first conductivity type layer and a second conductivity type layer, wherein a first barrier layer is provided on side of the first conductivity type layer in the active layer and a second barrier layer is provided on the side of the second conductivity type layer in the active layer, at least one well layer is sandwiched thereby, and the second barrier layer has a band gap energy lower than that of the first barrier layer in the form of asymmetric barrier layer structure, where the second conductivity type layer preferably includes a carrier confinement layer having a band gap energy higher than that of the first barrier layer, resulting in a reverse structure in each of conductivity type layer in respect to the asymmetric structure of the active layer to provide a waveguide structure having excellent crystallinity and device characteristics in the nitride semiconductor light emitting device operating at a wavelength of 380 nm or shorter. |
| US07667223B2 |
Solid-state optical device
A solid-state optical device includes a solid-state element, a power supplying/retrieving portion on which the solid-state element is mounted, the power supplying/retrieving portion supplying or retrieving electric power to/from the solid-state element, and a glass sealing material that seals the solid-state element. The glass sealing material has a thermal expansion coefficient equivalent to that of the power supplying/retrieving portion. The glass sealing material includes a P2O5—Al2O3—ZnO-based low-melting glass that includes 55 to 62 wt % of P2O5, 5 to 12 wt % of Al2O3 and 20 to 40 wt % of ZnO in weight %. |
| US07667221B2 |
Phase change memory devices and methods for fabricating the same
In a phase change memory, an interlayer insulating layer is disposed on a substrate. A heater plug includes a lower portion disposed in a contact hole penetrating the interlayer insulating layer and an upper portion protruding upward over the top surface of the interlayer insulating layer. A phase change pattern is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer to cover the top surface and the side surface of the protruding portion of the heater plug. An insulating spacer is interposed between the phase change pattern and the side surface of the protruding portion of the heater plug. A capping electrode is disposed on the phase change pattern. |
| US07667216B2 |
Method of achieving CD linearity control for full-chip CPL manufacturing
A method of generating masks for printing a pattern including a plurality of features having varying critical dimensions. The method includes the steps of: (1) obtaining data representing the pattern; (2) defining a plurality of distinct zones based on the critical dimensions of the plurality of features; (3) categorizing each of the features into one of the plurality of distinct zones; and (4) modifying the mask pattern for each feature categorized into a predefined distinct zone of the plurality of distinct zones. |
| US07667215B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding for non-invasive inspection systems
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for providing radiation shielding for non-invasive inspection systems. An embodiment of the apparatus may include a radiation shield having a plurality of slats, where each of the plurality of slats comprises a radiation attenuating material. The radiation shield may further include a support structure configured to hold the slats in a non-planar shape. An embodiment of the method may include gathering a plurality of slats, each slat comprising a radiation attenuating material. The method may further include disposing the slats to form a shielding curtain having a non-planar shape. The method may also include positioning the shielding curtain to cover an opening of a scanner. |
| US07667208B2 |
Technique for confining secondary electrons in plasma-based ion implantation
A technique for confining secondary electrons on a wafer is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus and method for confining secondary electrons in plasma-based ion implantation. The apparatus and method may comprise a magnetic field portion of a magnetic field configuration placed under a target wafer for generating a magnetic field above the target wafer for confining secondary electrons on the target wafer. The apparatus and method may also comprise a magnetic field above the target wafer that is substantially parallel to an upper surface of the target wafer. The apparatus and method may additionally comprise a magnetic field portion comprising at least one of a plurality of coils, one or more current-carrying wires, and a plurality of magnets. |
| US07667205B2 |
Method for determining a particle and sensor device therefor
A method for determining a particle impact on a sensor device comprising M sensing areas, each impact causing a variation of at least one physical magnitude of several sensing portions, said method comprising the steps of: determining an impact center sensing area, where the variation of the at least one physical magnitude is substantially maximal, allocating a result of a sum of the physical magnitude variations of a first set of N sensing areas, said set including the impact center area and other sensing areas neighboring said impact center sensing area, where N is at least 2 and is strict less than M. |
| US07667203B2 |
Gamma vector camera
A gamma vector camera is described for detecting and determining the energy spectrum of a gamma ray source and the direction to the gamma ray source. The gamma vector camera includes a detection system that records a track of a recoil electron produced by a Compton-scattering of an incident gamma ray emitted by the gamma ray source. A processor is configured to determine the energy and the direction of the recoil electron based on the track of the recoil electron recorded by the detection system, and to determine the energy spectrum of the gamma ray source and the direction to the gamma ray source based on the determined energies and directions of a plurality of recoil electrons produced by the Compton-scatterings of a respective plurality of incident gamma rays. |
| US07667201B2 |
Sensitive silicon sensor and test structure for an ultra-sensitive silicon sensor
A thermal radiation sensor is disclosed wherein a semiconductor thermocouple comprised of a pair of silicon diodes is connected in back-to-back relationship, with one of the diodes being located in a detector stage. The other diode is located in a heat bath stage together with a sensed temperature difference amplifier. The detector stage is thermally isolated from the heat bath stage by a low thermal conductivity link that includes electrical wires which connect the back-to-back diodes to the amplifier. |
| US07667200B1 |
Thermal microphotonic sensor and sensor array
A thermal microphotonic sensor is disclosed for detecting infrared radiation using heat generated by the infrared radiation to shift the resonant frequency of an optical resonator (e.g. a ring resonator) to which the heat is coupled. The shift in the resonant frequency can be determined from light in an optical waveguide which is evanescently coupled to the optical resonator. An infrared absorber can be provided on the optical waveguide either as a coating or as a plate to aid in absorption of the infrared radiation. In some cases, a vertical resonant cavity can be formed about the infrared absorber to further increase the absorption of the infrared radiation. The sensor can be formed as a single device, or as an array for imaging the infrared radiation. |
| US07667199B2 |
System and method for ascribing times to events in a medical imaging system
A timing circuit for implementation in a medical imaging system such as a PET scanner, and a method of ascribing times to events in such systems, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the timing circuit includes an n-phase clock having n frequencies of operation, wherein the clock is selectable to provide n-signals that each vary at n frequencies, an n-phase counter including n counter elements coupled to the clock, an n-phase status detection circuit including n status circuits coupled to the n-phase clock, and an n-phase output circuit including n-registers coupled to the n-phase clock and respectively coupled to the n-phase counter and to n-phase status detection circuit, wherein n-registers respectively receive the n-clock signals, the n-count signals, and the n-status signals, respectively, and in response respectively provide n-output signals that collectively form an output signal indicative of a time at which the event detection signal experienced the first status change. |
| US07667197B2 |
Mass analyzing apparatus
The present invention relates to a mass analyzing apparatus, comprising a first metal electrode plate, a second metal electrode plate, an RF power supply, a reactant gas and a mass spectrometry. The second metal electrode plate is grounded. There is a gap between the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate. The RF power supply is electrically connected to the first metal electrode plate. Electric discharge is caused between the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate, so that the reactant gas becomes dissociation plasma. The dissociation plasma reacts with a gas analyte from a sample and then enters the mass spectrometry for a mass analysis. In addition, since the dissociation plasma is generated under low temperature and atmospheric pressure, the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention is applicable for biological samples that need to be analyzed at a low temperature. |
| US07667196B2 |
Sample preparation for mass spectrometric imaging
A method for applying MALDI matrix substances to a surface, especially a histologic thin tissue section, for spatially-resolved mass spectrometric measurements of substance distributions in or on the surface uses vibration to nebulize a solution of the matrix substance without the assistance of a gas and deposits the nebulized droplets, preferably cyclically, on the surface. |
| US07667195B2 |
High performance low cost MALDI MS-MS
The invention comprises apparatus and methods for rapidly and accurately determining mass-to-charge ratios of molecular ions produced by a pulsed ionization source, and for fragmenting all of the molecular ions produced and rapidly and accurately determining the intensities and mass-to-charge ratios of the fragments produced from each molecular ion. |
| US07667193B2 |
Personalised mass spectrometer
A personalized mass spectrometer system is described. By fabricating analyzer components on a module and including with that module an identifier for that module, it is possible to uniquely associate a user or task with one or more modules. The module is removably receivable within a housing and can be replaced with another module if so required. |
| US07667188B2 |
Position measuring device including a scale having an integrated reference marking
A scale and a position-measuring device include the shifting of reference markings in graduation tracks, offset transversely with respect to the measuring direction, by fractions of the interval of the reference markings within a graduation track. It is thus possible to eliminate, or at least to markedly reduce, negative effects of the disturbance of the periodicity of a graduation track by the reference markings. |
| US07667185B2 |
Optoelectronic sensor
This invention concerns an optoelectronic sensor assembly (10) with at least one light emitter (20) and at least one light receiver (30) comprising a spatially resolving receiving element (40), with the receiving element (40) having an inner region (42) comprising at least one photosensitive element (45) for detecting the light beam (25) and an outer region (44) comprising at least one photosensitive element (46, 47, 48, 49) for determining the position of the light beam (25) emitted by the light emitter (20), with the outer region (44) satisfying lower sensitivity and/or bandwidth requirements than the inner region (42). |
| US07667183B2 |
Image sensor with high fill factor pixels and method for forming an image sensor
An image sensor comprising an array of photoelectric conversion elements in a substrate, the photoelectric conversion elements being arranged in rows and columns extending in a first direction and a second direction respectively, a plurality of first junction isolation regions in the substrate that each isolate side portions of neighboring photoelectric conversion elements of a common row, and a plurality of second junction isolation regions in the substrate that each isolate side portions of neighboring photoelectric conversion elements of a common column, and a plurality of dielectric isolation regions in the substrate, that each isolate corner portions of neighboring photoelectric conversion elements. In one embodiment, the photoelectric conversion elements have a first pitch in the first direction and have a second pitch in the second direction and the first pitch is substantially equal for the photoelectric conversion elements of a common row, and the second pitch is substantially equal for the photoelectric conversion elements of a common column. |
| US07667179B2 |
Radiation image detector
A radiation image detector is provided. The radiation image detector is constituted by: a photoconductive layer that generates charges when electromagnetic waves are irradiated thereon; a common electrode to which a predetermined voltage is applied, provided on one side of the photoconductive layer; a plurality of divided electrodes that output signals corresponding to charges which are generated within the photoconductive layer, provided on the other side of the photoconductive layer; and protective layers that cover the edges of the divided electrodes, the edges being the side surfaces and portions of surfaces of the divided electrodes, which are continuous with the side surfaces, that face the photoconductive layer. The interfaces between the protective layers and the photoconductive layer are smooth surfaces across the entireties thereof. |
| US07667175B2 |
Imaging device driver and auto focus unit
An imaging device driver that drives an imaging device, comprising a detector and a controller, is provided. The imaging device has a light-receiving surface. A plurality of pixels are arranged on the light-receiving surface. Each individual pixel generates a pixel signal according to the intensity of light received by the pixel. The imaging device is capable of mixing a plurality of the pixel signals. The detector detects the brightness of a partial or entire optical image of an object captured by the imaging device. The controller determines the number of the pixel signals to mix according to the brightness of the partial or entire optical image. |
| US07667166B2 |
Heat-generating element of a heating device
A heat-generating element of a heating device for heating air includes at least one PTC element and, lying on opposing side surfaces of the PTC element, electric strip conductors. A heat-generating element that is improved with a view to safety from electric flashovers and leakage currents is created with the invention under consideration by providing an insulating gap between the PTC element and the positioning frame material that circumferentially surrounds the frame opening. Also disclosed is a heating device for heating air with multiple heat-generating elements, each heat-generating element comprising at least one PTC element and, lying on opposing side surfaces of the PTC element, electric strip conductors and multiple heat-emitting elements that are arranged in parallel layers and that are held in position in a frame on opposing sides of the heat-generating element with a spring bias. Due to the use of a heat-generating element, the heating device is protected from electric flashovers and leakage currents with a higher degree of certainty. |
| US07667162B2 |
Semiconductor thermal process control utilizing position oriented temperature generated thermal mask
During fabrication, a rotating semiconductor substrate is radiated in accordance with a thermal recipe. Temperature measurements of the semiconductor substrate are obtained along with the position of the semiconductor substrate at the time of each temperature measurement. It is then determined for the position of the semiconductor substrate whether at least one particular temperature measurement of the temperature measurements should be filtered. If so, at least one filtered temperature measurement is obtained. The radiation of the semiconductor substrate is subsequently controlled based on the temperature measurements, the at least one filtered temperature measurement, and the thermal recipe. |
| US07667159B2 |
Resolving thermoelectric potentials during laser trimming of resistors
Thermoelectric effects that occur during laser trimming of resistors (20) are resolved by taking voltage measurements. The voltage attributed to laser heating on a resistor (20) during a low-power simulated trim (10) is used to determine a relatively thermal-neutral location (18) on the resistor (20). A trimming-to-value operation can then be performed on all like resistors (20). Voltage measurements can also be taken before and after every pulse in a trimming operation to establish thermal deviation information that can be used to offset the desired trim value against which resistor measurement values are compared. Spatially distant or nonadjacent resistors (20) in a row or column can also be trimmed sequentially to minimize heating effects that might otherwise distort resistance values on adjacent or nearby resistors (20). |
| US07667158B2 |
Workpiece structure modification
A method of modifying the structure of workpiece (1) is provided. The method comprises a first step of causing relative movement between a power beam and the workpiece (1) so that a region (3) of the workpiece (1) is melted and the melted material displaced to form a projection (2) at a first location in the region (3) and a hole (4) at a different location in the region. The melted material is then allowed to at least partially solidify after which the first step is repeated one or more times, with the region corresponding to each repeat intersecting the region (3) of the first step. |
| US07667153B2 |
Double-pole change-over switch
A change-over switch for the switching of two electric circuits is disclosed, including a housing, a tappet, two contacts of a first electric circuit, two contacts of a second electric circuit, and a switching contact which comprises in an initial state a first shape in which said first electric circuit is closed and said second electric circuit is opened, and which by actuating said tappet may be transferred into a second shape in which said first electric circuit is opened and said second electric circuit is closed. |
| US07667152B2 |
Luminous micro-switch
A luminous micro-switch mainly includes a case which holds a depressing member and at least a first pin and a second pin inside that are spaced from each other. There is a bridging member interposed between the two pins and the depressing member to form electric connection with the first pin in regular conditions and output a signal when the bridging member is connected to the second pin due to depressing of the depressing member. The depressing member has a depressing end which has a holding trough to hold a lighting element which has two conductive terminals to receive electric power to generate light. By holding the lighting element in the holding trough the size of the micro-switch can be made smaller to be used on smaller electronic devices to overcome the bulky problem of conventional micro-switches caused by disposing the lighting element beneath the depressing member. |
| US07667151B2 |
Arrangement including rigid housing and display
Described is a device including a housing and a display arrangement. The housing is integrally formed (i.e., a single-piece housing) and has a predefined substantially transparent area. The housing has also at least one opening. The display arrangement is situated inside of the housing and is inserted into the housing through the opening and aligned with the predefined area. |
| US07667150B2 |
Moveable arm for a circuit breaker and method for making the same
A movable arm assembly for a circuit breaker includes a unitary structure having two blade portions being connected by a bend location. The bend location forms a gapless surface region. A contact is connected to the unitary structure wherein the gapless surface region and a contact surface of the contact are connected to form a joint therebetween. A method for forming a movable arm assembly includes forming a blank from a conductive sheet, the blank including a unitary structure having two blade portions, bending the blade portion at a bend location to form a gapless surface region at the bend location and joining a contact to the unitary structure on the gapless surface region at the bend location to form a movable arm assembly. |
| US07667149B2 |
Safety switch
A safety switch is provided which is increased in durability and which offers a high degree of freedom of mounting the safety switch to place.A switch body has a rectangular solid shape. An actuator entrance hole is formed at one of the opposite corner portions of the switch body whereas a cable lead-out port is formed at the other corner portion, whereby the safety switch is increased in the degree of mounting freedom. Thus is offered a wider choice of place to mount the safety switch. The switch body is formed with only one actuator entrance hole so that the safety switch is prevented from suffering failure caused by foreign substances invading through an actuator entrance hole left unused. In addition, a driving cam may be formed with an engaging portion and a cam curve portion in spaced relation so that the driving cam is configured to be free from an area having poor strength. Thus, the driving cam is increased in strength. This leads to the increased durability of the safety switch. |
| US07667144B2 |
Circuit board and method of fabricating the same
A circuit board including a dielectric layer, a circuit layer, at least one conductive joint column, and a solder mask layer is provided. The circuit layer having at least one pad is in contact with the dielectric layer. The conductive joint column is disposed on the pad. The solder mask layer is disposed on the dielectric layer and covers the circuit layer. The solder mask layer is in contact with the conductive joint column, and the conductive joint column penetrates the solder mask layer. A height of the conductive joint column is larger than a thickness of the solder mask layer. The enhanced reliability of bonding between another component and the conductive joint column will be provided. Further, a method of fabricating a circuit board is also provided. |
| US07667142B2 |
Lightweight circuit board with conductive constraining cores
Prepregs, laminates, printed wiring board structures and processes for constructing materials and printed wiring boards that enable the construction of printed wiring boards with improved thermal properties. In one embodiment, the prepregs include substrates impregnated with electrically and thermally conductive resins. In other embodiments, the prepregs have substrate materials that include carbon. In other embodiments, the prepregs include substrates impregnated with thermally conductive resins. In other embodiments, the printed wiring board structures include electrically and thermally conductive laminates that can act as ground and/or power planes. |
| US07667141B2 |
Flexible printed circuit layout and method thereof
The present invention discloses a flexible printed circuit (FPC) layout and a method thereof. The flexible printed circuit (FPC) layout method comprises steps of: providing a circuit board body; disposing at least an electroplating point on the circuit board body; disposing a plurality of solder pads on the circuit board body, the plurality of solder pads comprising at least a first solder pad and at least a second solder pad being connected respectively to the electroplating point through an internal wire, the first solder pad being further connected to an electroplating zone on the circuit board body through an external wire; performing an electroplating process from the electroplating zone through the external wire so that the external wire, the first solder pad connected to the external wire, the electroplating point connected through the internal wire to the first solder pad, and the second solder pad connected through the internal wire to the electroplating point are electroplated and electrically connected; and providing at least a via hole at the electroplating point on the circuit board body to form an open circuit between the first solder pad and the second solder pad. By using the disclosed method, the flexible printed circuit layout of the present invention can be formed. |
| US07667138B2 |
Electronic apparatus with flexible flat cable for high-speed signal transmission
According to one embodiment, a flexible flat cable includes a plurality of ground lines and a plurality of signal lines. Each of the ground lines is connected to an electromagnetic shield layer by two connection line members. An arrangement of the ground lines and signal lines that are positioned in a region on one side of a center line of the flexible flat cable and an arrangement of the ground lines and signal lines on a region on the other side are symmetric with respect to the center line. In each of two connectors to which end portions of the flexible flat cable are coupled, terminals corresponding to the ground lines are grounded, a terminal corresponding to a signal line interposed between two ground lines is assigned a high-speed signal, and a terminal corresponding to another signal line is assigned a ground potential. |
| US07667137B1 |
Bracket for mounting an electrical outlet box
A bracket for mounting an electrical outlet box on studs. A longitudinal strip is provided with a first end and a second end. The strip has a first double 90° bend offset which is located a first predetermined distance from the first end. A second double 90° bend is offset a second predetermined distance from the second end of the strip. A bendable planar sheet extends from the longitudinal strip and has a main body and a protrusion formed at its distal end. |
| US07667135B2 |
Network cabinet
A network cabinet is provided comprising a support frame and a threshold associated with the support frame. A door comprising first and second lateral sides is mounted to the support frame through a hinge pin. The hinge pin is moveable between retracted and extended positions and is positioned closer to the first lateral side of the door than the second lateral side. A bearing surface is also associated with the support frame and is aligned with the hinge pin such that the door is elevated relative to the threshold with the hinge pin in the extended position and in contact with the bearing surface. |
| US07667128B2 |
Transducer for converting between mechanical vibration and electrical signal
A transducer for converting mechanical vibrations to an electrical signal and/or for converting an electrical signal to mechanical vibration. Damping liquid damps the relative vibration of transducer components. The damping liquid can be selected to optimize the sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction. Also, a transducer with components that rotate relative to each other. For example, a permanent magnet component may simultaneous vibrate rotationally and linearly with respect to an electric signal carrying coil. The characteristics of the rotational vibration may be adjusted to optimize sound quality of acoustic vibrations at the point of transduction. |
| US07667127B2 |
Electronic musical apparatus having automatic performance feature and computer-readable medium storing a computer program therefor
In an automatic performance system, song and style data DAi and DCj (i:1 through n, j:1 through m) contains tempo and meter data TPa, TMa; TPc, TMc, respectively, so that the style data DCj whose tempo and meter data matches with those of the song data DAi is reproduced concurrently with the song data DAi. On the basis of user's settings, furthermore, style setting data SS (DBi) indicating style data DCk (k:1 through m) to be concurrently reproduced and tone color setting data VS (DBi) for setting a manual tone color are stored in association with the song data DAi. Based on the style setting data SS, the style data DCk associated with the song data DAi is reproduced concurrently with the song data DAi, or a manual performance is conducted, during the reproduction of the song data DAi, on the basis of tone color data derived from the tone color setting data VS. As described above, settings of a style and tone color for manual performance suitable for a song is achieved. |
| US07667125B2 |
Music transcription
Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information. |
| US07667124B2 |
Graphical user interface and methods of use thereof in a multimedia player
In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for providing user supplied configuration data are described. In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface are provided. A first order, or home, interface provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface. |
| US07667123B2 |
System and method for musical playlist selection in a portable audio device
A portable audio playing device implements a jukebox manager function to permit the simple generation of musical playlists and the alteration or editing of existing playlists. Data, such as MPEG-3 data or other conventional audio format data, may be readily downloaded into the system for storage in a solid state memory or in a spinning media device. The audio tracks are associated with one or more metatags that are used to describe the content of each track. The metatags and associated audio tracks are stored in a data structure that may be implemented as a database or other convenient data structure that readily permits searching by user-specified search terms. The user generates a new playlist by selecting one or more metatags corresponding to the desired musical tracks. The system queries the data structure using the user-specified metatags and automatically generates a playlist containing one or more audio tracks whose metatags correspond to the user-specified metatags. Alternatively, the system may perform the same query and simply generate a results list that will allow the user to manually specify which of the audio tracks identified by the search process will be added to the newly created playlist. The system also permits the simple editing of existing playlists. New audio tracks may be added in the manner described above using metatags for searching or maybe manually added from the list of stored audio tracks. The system readily supports different audio formats and different playlist types. |
| US07667122B2 |
Motion data generation device, motion data generation method, and recording medium for recording a motion data generation program
To generate motion data of a motion in synchronization with a melody of music. As an embodiment of the present invention, when motion pattern data corresponding to a predetermined motion pattern is stored, music data is analyzed to detect a beat of music based on the music data, and the music data is divided into a plurality of bar intervals based on the detected beat, the motion pattern data is allocated to the bar intervals of the music data being divided to generate motion data. In this manner, when the motion data is reproduced together with the music data, the motion pattern can be switched in synchronization with switching of first bar intervals and second bar intervals corresponding to a bar when the music based on music data is expressed in a musical score. |
| US07667120B2 |
Training method using specific audio patterns and techniques
A method is disclosed that utilizes specific techniques, based upon empirical study, to significantly increase the ability of a trainee to remain focused on the training materials and subject matter and actually learn and retain the training subject matter. More specifically, the present invention utilizes audio and/or visual (e.g., a personal computer) elements, with a strict set of rules which must be followed regarding sentence length, narrators, and underlying music within the dialog to create a specific rhythmic “feel” to the training. As a result of using such techniques, significantly improved results over prior art training methods can be obtained. |
| US07667117B2 |
Musical instrument piston valve
A musical instrument piston valve receivable in a valve casing. The valve includes a valve stem, a valve barrel connected to the valve stem, and a valve guide slidably disposed with respect to the valve barrel. A spring is disposed in the valve barrel extending between the valve stem and the valve guide. A piston extends from the valve barrel and includes one or more ports. There are also various ways of adjusting the angular orientation of the piston in the valve casing. It is preferred that the piston and the valve barrel are monolithic in construction and the piston valve includes an adjustable valve guide. |
| US07667116B2 |
Key actuating system
A key actuating system (1) of a keyboard musical instrument is provided which helps quickly push the keys by reducing reaction force with respect to force of pushing the keys during manual operation, and which supports a person having less strength to play the keyboard musical instrument. The key actuating system for a keyboard musical instrument generates a sound when a key (3) is pushed including: a pressure detection sensor (11) detecting a pushing pressure on the key; a status detection sensor (13) detecting a movement status of the key: an actuator (15) actuating the key in a pushing direction of the key; and a control portion (19), when the pressure detection sensor detects the pushing pressure and the status detection sensor detects motion of the key, controls operations of the actuator in order to maintain the detected pressure by the pressure detection sensor at a pressure threshold which is in a range larger than 0 and smaller than a pushing pressure on the key which is necessary for making a sound. |
| US07667111B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV485971
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV485971. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV485971, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV485971 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV485971 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV485971. |
| US07667106B2 |
Tobacco cultivar ‘AOB 175’
The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 175, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 175, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 175, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 175, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 175 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 175, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 175 plants, cultivar AOB 175 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 175. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided. |
| US07667104B2 |
Tobacco cultivar AOB 171
The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 171, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 171, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 171, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 171, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 171 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 171, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 171 plants, cultivar AOB 171 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 171. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided. |
| US07667103B2 |
Cotton variety FM 991B2R
A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 991B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 991B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 99IB2R and to plants of FM 991B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 991B2R. |
| US07667098B2 |
Expression cassettes for root-preferential expression in plants
The present invention relates to expression cassettes comprising transcription regulating sequences with root-preferential or root-specific expression profiles in plants obtainable from Arabidopsis thaliana genes At1g66280, At1g74500, At1g49570, At1g70710, At5g66690, At3g29630, At5g48070, or At4g17800. The expression cassettes according to the present invention may be employed for expression of a protein, or expression of an antisense RNA, sense or double-stranded RNA. Preferably, expression of the nucleic acid sequence confers to the plant an agronomically valuable trait. Vectors comprising such expression cassette, and transgenic host cell or non-human organism comprising the expression cassette or the vector is also enclosed. Also enclosed is a method for identifying and/or isolating a sequence with root-specific or root-preferential transcription regulating activity. |
| US07667093B2 |
Site-specific recombination system to manipulate the plastid genome of higher plants
A site specific recombination system and methods of use thereof are disclosed for manipulating the genome of higher plants. |
| US07667091B2 |
Method of encoding information in nucleic acids of a genetically engineered organism
The present invention provides a method of producing a genetically engineered transgenic organism, by (a) incorporating into the organism a functional DNA sequence that confers a trait on an organism and (b) incorporating into the organism a non-functional DNA sequence, wherein the non-functional DNA sequence encodes an information message using a predefined coding scheme, wherein the information message provides information about the functional DNA sequence, and the predefined coding scheme can be used to map a plurality of information messages into a plurality of non-functional DNA sequences and additionally, the functional and the non-functional DNA sequence are incorporated into the same chromosome of the organism. |
| US07667090B2 |
Transgenic mouse model of B cell malignancy
A transgenic non-human animal, such as a mouse, has a genome that include a nucleic acid construct having at least one transcriptional regulatory sequence capable of directing expression in B cells of the animal, wherein the transcriptional regulatory sequence is operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a miR155 gene product. A method of testing the therapeutic efficacy of an agent in treating or preventing a lymphoproliferative condition includes assessing the effect(s) of the agent on a transgenic non-human animal. |
| US07667083B2 |
Fluorosulfonyl group-containing compound, method for its production and polymer thereof
A compound containing two fluorosulfonyl groups which are groups convertible to sulfonic acid groups, an intermediate therefor, and methods for their production with high productivity, are provided. Also provided are a fluorosulfonyl group-containing polymer obtained by polymerizing such a compound, and a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer obtained from such a polymer.A method for producing a compound of the following formula (m0), such a compound, a fluorosulfonyl group-containing polymer obtained by polymerizing such a compound, and a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer obtained from such a polymer, provided that RF01 is a single bond or a C1-6 bivalent perfluoro organic group, RF02 is a C1-6 bivalent perfluoro organic group, and n is 0 or 1. |
| US07667076B2 |
Amide forming chemical ligation
An amide is formed by reacting an α-ketoacid or salt thereof in a decarboxylative condensation reaction with an amine or salt thereof comprising a nitrogen covalently bound to an atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. The amide bond is formed between the α-carbon of the ketoacid and the nitrogen of the amine. The α-ketoacid can be formed using a novel sulfur reagent. |
| US07667075B2 |
Sulphonylated diphenylethylenediamines, method for their preparation and use in transfer hydrogenation catalysis
A diamine of formula (I) is described, in which A is hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated C1-C20 alkyl group or an aryl group; B is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, alkaryl or aryl group or an alkylamino group and at least one of X1, X2, Y1, Y2 or Z is a C1-C10 alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl or alkoxy substituting group. The chiral diamine may be used to prepare catalysts suitable for use in transfer hydrogenation reactions. |
| US07667071B2 |
Process for the preparation of gabapentin hydrochloride
A process for preparation of gabapentin hydrochloride by converting 1,5-dicyano-2,4-dioxo-3-azaspiro[5,5]-undecane into 1,5-diaminoformyl-2,4-dioxo-3-azaspiro[5,5]-undecane at a temperature of 65° C. to 85° C. in the presence of a strong acid, and then carrying out Hofmann rearrangement under an alkaline condition. The starting material of the process is readily available. The process is simple, and can reduce the purification procedure of intermediates, reduce production cost, and obtain product with higher purity. |
| US07667070B2 |
Lipophilic compounds and uses thereof
The present invention has for an object a cationic lipophilic compound of the following general formula (I): wherein: a) R1 and R′1 each represent, independently from one another, an alkyl chain, an alkenyl chain or a polyalkenyl chain with from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, with the polyalkenyl chain having from 2 to 4 double links; b) R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl chain having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R3 is a group with the following formula (IIa) —(CH2)n— or following formula (IIb) —C(═NH)—NH—(CH2)n— wherein: n is an integer equal to 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and d) A+ is an organic cation; e) X− is an anion. |
| US07667067B1 |
Cosmetic emulsifiers
A composition, process of preparation, and utility of salts of fatty acid esters of amino-alcohols such as dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) as emulsifiers useful for formulating with lipids and waxes is described. DMAE fatty acid esters were prepared enzymatically in the absence of added solvent, and then salified directly with carboxylic acids to form the salts. The compounds were used to make stable emulsions with a variety of cosmetically acceptable lipids. |
| US07667063B2 |
Method for producing trialkyl gallium
The present invention provides method 1 for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the steps of reacting gallium, magnesium, and an alkyl halide in an ether, and diluting during the reaction the reaction system with an ether; method 2 for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the steps of heating in a vacuum a mixture of magnesium and molten gallium, and reacting the mixture with an alkyl halide in a solvent; and method 3 for producing a trialkyl gallium comprising the step of reacting an alkyl metal with an alkylgallium halide compound represented by the formula Ga2RmX6-m wherein R is a methyl or ethyl group, X is a halogen atom, and m is an integer from 1 to 5. |
| US07667061B2 |
Method of preparing a composition using argentation chromatography
The present invention is directed to a method of preparing compositions enriched in compounds containing carbon chains of varying degrees of unsaturation using argentation chromatography. The present method utilizes an argentized cationic resin or a conditioned argentized alumina to separate compounds containing saturated or mono-unsaturated carbon chains from compounds having polyunsaturated carbon chains present in a starting composition. The invention is particularly useful for preparing a composition enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters from mixtures of fatty acid esters in a starting composition derived from vegetable oils. The present invention is also directed to a method of preparing a conditioned argentized alumina adsorbent having increased selectivity for compounds containing one or more polyunsaturated carbon chains. |
| US07667059B2 |
Process for producing glycerin and fatty alcohol via hydrogenation
The invention relates to a process for producing a fatty alcohol and glycerin by hydrogenation reaction of fats and oils in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out in the coexistence of an organic solvent. |
| US07667055B2 |
Processes for the production of polycyclic fused ring compounds
The present invention provides processes for the production of polycyclic fused ring compounds. The polycyclic fused ring compounds are produced by protecting a polycyclic fused ring polyol with a bridging silicon-based protecting group and attaching a suitable side chain. Polycyclic fused ring compounds and intermediate compounds are also described. |
| US07667050B2 |
Salt suitable for an acid generator and a chemically amplified positive resist composition containing the same
The present invention provides a salt represented by the formula (I): wherein X represents a C3-C30 divalent group containing at least one divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group, and at least one —CH2— in the C3-C30 divalent group may be substituted with —O— or —CO—, Y represents a C3-C30 cyclic hydrocarbon group which may be substituted with at least one group selected from a C1-C6 alkoxy group, a C1-C4 perfluoroalkyl group, a C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl group, a hydroxyl group and a cyano group, and at least one —CH2— in the C3-C30 cyclic hydrocarbon group may be substituted with —O— or —CO—, Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl group, and A+ represents an organic counter ion. |
| US07667049B2 |
Process for producing 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine derivative and production intermediate thereof
An industrially advantageous process for the production of (3R,4S)-3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof that is useful as an intermediate for the production of novel antimicrobial agents 10-(3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidinyl)pyridobenzoxazine carboxylic acid derivatives.Highly stereoselective asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-protected-4-alkoxycarbonyl-3-oxopyrrolidine, followed by ester hydrolysis, followed by amidation with cyclopropylamine gives crude crystals. The crude crystals are purified by recrystallization to give a novel compound (3R,4S)-1-protected-3-cyclopropylcarbamoyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof at high optical purity. The use of these intermediates enables industrial production of high-quality products of (3R,4S)-3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof. The process is highly simple and can produce the desired products at high purity and stable yields. |
| US07667047B2 |
Colorant
A colorant contains a crystal of a compound represented by the following formula (1): the crystal having a crystal form showing main peaks at interplanar spacings d of 3.45±0.5 Å, 3.63±0.5 Å, 4.23±0.5 Å, 6.65±0.5 Å, and 7.84±0.5 Å in powder X-ray diffraction pattern with CuKα radiation. |
| US07667046B2 |
N-sulfonyldicarboximide containing tethering compounds
Compounds having two reactive functional groups are described that can be used as a tethering compound to immobilize an amine-containing material to a substrate. The first reactive functional group can be used to provide attachment to a surface of a substrate. The second reactive functional group is a N-sulfonyldicarboximide group that can be reacted with an amine-containing material, particularly a primary aliphatic amine, to form a connector group between the substrate and the amine-containing material. The invention also provides articles and methods for immobilizing amine-containing materials to a substrate. |
| US07667044B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders
The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase of formula 1 W—KCONH—X—CON—Y—CO—Z (1) wherein K, W, X, Y and Z are specified in the description. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease, Down Syndrome, Parkinson disease and Chorea Huntington. |
| US07667043B2 |
Molecular structures with controllable electron conducting properties
Aromatic and heteroaromatic molecular structures with controllable electron conducting properties are derived from the incorporation of electron active substituents in selective positions. Such compounds can form self-assembled layers on metal or other substrates, and can be used in molecular scaled opto-electronic devices including field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells. |
| US07667042B2 |
Stable polymorphic forms of an anticonvulsant
Stable polymorphic forms III, IV and substantially amorphous form of an anticonvulsant, tiagabine hydrochloride. |
| US07667034B2 |
Chemical synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine with enrichment of (S,S)-isomer
This invention relates to an improved process for the industrial manufacture of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) of formula (I), which consists of stereo-selective methylation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) with the enrichment of active (S,S)-isomer. |
| US07667030B2 |
RNA interference mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating matrix metalloproteinase (e.g., MMP13) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of MMP13 gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of MMP13 genes. |
| US07667029B2 |
RNA interference mediated inhibition of checkpoint kinase-1 (CHK-1) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating checkpoint kinase (e.g., checkpoint kinase-1 or CHK-1) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of checkpoint kinase gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of checkpoint kinase genes. |
| US07667027B2 |
Antisense-oligonucleotides for the treatment of immuno-suppressive effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)
Antisense-oligonucleotides or effective derivatives thereof hybridizing with an area of a gene coding for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) comprising the following nucleic acid sequences identified in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO. 1-56 and 137 or comprising the following nucleic acid sequences identified in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO. 57 to 136 each of the nucleic acids having a DNA- or RNA-type structure. |
| US07667024B2 |
Oligonucleotides labeled with a plurality of fluorophores
An embodiment of the invention discloses new methods for designing labeled nucleic acid probes and primers by labeling oligonucleotides with a plurality of spectrally identical or similar dyes and optionally with one or more quencher dyes. Oligonucleotides labeled in accordance with some embodiments of the invention exhibit a detectable increase in signal, for example, fluorescent signal when the labeling dyes are separated from one another. Methods for separating the dye include cleaving the labeled oligonucleotides include using enzymes that have 5′-exonuclease activity. In one embodiment nucleic acid primers of the present invention may fluoresce upon hybridization to a target sequence and incorporation into the amplification product. Nucleic acid probes and primers of the present invention have wide applications ranging from general detection of a target nucleic acid sequence to clinical diagnostics. Major advantages of the oligonucleotides including nucleic acid probes and primers of many embodiments of the present invention are their synthetic simplicity, spectral versatility and superior fluorescent signal. |
| US07667023B2 |
Promoter and vectors for plant transformation and methods of using same
The invention is directed to a promoter, designated MuB, sequences which hybridize to same and functional fragments thereof. The regulatory element of the invention provide improved expression in plants of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Expression vectors with the regulatory element is the subject of the invention, which may further include an operably linked nucleotide sequence. The invention is further directed to transformed plant tissue including the nucleotide sequence and to transformed plants and seeds thereof. The regulatory element is useful for driving gene or antisense expression or the like for the purpose of imparting agronomically useful traits such as, but not limited to, increase in yield, disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance and salt tolerance in plants. |
| US07667014B2 |
Method of detecting the expression of PPN/MG61 and the use of it
The present invention is directed to methods for comparatively detecting the level of human Porcupine (PPN)/MG61, a family member of membrane-bound O-acyltransferases, which is the human homologue of the Drosophila polarity gene Porcupine (Porc), and use thereof. |
| US07667012B2 |
Chemoselective ligation
The present invention features a chemoselective ligation reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the invention involves condensation of a specifically engineered phosphine, which can provide for formation of an amide bond between the two reactive partners resulting in a final product comprising a phosphine moiety, or which can be engineered to comprise a cleavable linker so that a substituent of the phosphine is transferred to the azide, releasing an oxidized phosphine byproduct and producing a native amide bond in the final product. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provides for its application in vivo (e.g. on the cell surface or intracellularly) and in vitro (e.g., synthesis of peptides and other polymers, production of modified (e.g., labeled) amino acids). |
| US07667010B2 |
Open channel solid phase extraction systems and methods
The invention provides, inter alia, methods of extracting an analyte from a solution comprising the steps of: passing a solution containing an analyte through an extraction channel having a solid phase extraction surface, whereby analyte adsorbs to the extraction surface of said extraction channel; purging bulk liquid from said extraction channel; and eluting the analyte by passing a desorption solvent through the channel. The invention further provides reagents, columns and instrumentation related to this and other methods. |
| US07667009B2 |
Method for purifying modified major mite allergen
A method for purifying a modified major mite allergen obtained by the genetic recombination technique and a purified modified major mite allergen obtained by said method for purification are provided. A method for purifying a modified major mite allergen obtained by the genetic recombination technique, which comprises the purification steps: (1) Washing and recovering inclusion bodies containing a modified major mite allergen obtained by the genetic recombination technique with MF membrane; (2) Dissolving said inclusion bodies followed by refolding; (3) Concentrating a solution containing the modified major mite allergen with simultaneous removal of low molecular weight components with ultrafiltration membrane; (4) Recovering the modified major mite allergen in non-adsorbed fractions with an anion exchanger; (5) Recovering the modified major mite allergen in adsorbed fractions with a hydrophobic gel; and (6) Recovering the modified major mite allergen in adsorbed fractions with an anion exchanger, and a modified major mite allergen with high purity obtained by said method for purification. |
| US07667006B2 |
Anti-HIV antibody
The present invention aims at providing a high affinity anti-HIV antibody. According to the present invention, there are provided an antibody or a fragment thereof that binds to the gp12 glycoprotein of HIV and has a dissociation constant (KD) value of 1.0×10−9 (M) or less; a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or fragment thereof; and a method of producing an anti-HIV antibody or a fragment thereof, comprising immunizing a GANP transgenic non-human mammal or a progeny thereof with a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 as an antigen and collecting the antibody from the resultant mammal or progeny. |
| US07667004B2 |
Humanized antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor
Methods are provided for designing and selecting antibodies against human antigens with high affinity and specificity in silico and in vitro. In some particular embodiments, methods are provided for designing and selecting humanized or fully human antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with high affinity and specificity. In another aspect of the invention, monoclonal antibodies against VEGF are provided. In particular, humanized or human anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies are provided with ability to bind to human VEGF with high affinity, inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro and inhibit VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo. These antibodies and their derivative can be used in a wide variety of applications such as diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases such as cancer, AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases derived from pathological angiogenesis. |
| US07667003B2 |
Antibody directed to human mist (mast cell immunoreceptor signal transducer)
The present invention describes a newly discovered full-length polynucleotide encoding an SH2 domain-containing adapter protein, called human MIST, cloned, isolated and identified from a human spleen cDNA library. Also described are the MIST polypeptide sequence, expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antagonists, antisense molecules, and antibodies related to the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide of the present invention. Novel splice variant forms of human MIST are provided. Methods for screening for modulators, particularly inhibitors, of the MIST protein and use of the human MIST polynucleotide and polypeptide for therapeutics and diagnostics are described. |
| US07666994B2 |
Cloning and expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors
An isolated and purified GnRH protein receptor protein including an amino acid sequence selected from the group and an isolated and purified DNA which comprises a nucleotide sequence coding for the GnRH protein receptor protein. Also, a vector comprising the DNA of the GnRH protein receptor protein, a transformant carrying the vector comprising the DNA of the GnRH protein receptor protein, a process for producing a GnRH protein receptor protein or a salt thereof including culturing the transformant carrying the vector comprising the DNA of the GnRH protein receptor protein under sufficient conditions and for appropriate time to express the GnRH protein receptor protein, and a method of screening for a ligand to the GnRH protein receptor protein including contacting the GnRH protein receptor protein or a salt thereof with a sample to be tested. A screening method for a compound capable of inhibiting binding of the GnRH protein receptor protein with a ligand. Also, a kit for screening a compound capable of inhibiting binding of the GnRH protein receptor protein with a ligand including the GnRH protein receptor protein or a salt. |
| US07666991B2 |
Compositions for needleless delivery of antibodies
The present invention relates, in part, to methods and compositions for needleless delivery of antibodies to a subject. The present invention also relates, in part, to methods for needleless delivery of fusion proteins comprising a bioactive molecule and an antibody fragment to subject. In one aspect, the methods and compositions involve administering to the subject a delivery construct comprising a carrier construct non-covalently bound to the antibody or fusion protein to be delivered, wherein the carrier construct comprises a receptor-binding domain, a transcytosis domain, and an antibody-binding domain to which the antibody or the antibody fragment of the fusion protein non-covalently binds. |
| US07666987B2 |
Bioluminescent caspase assay compounds
A sensitive bioluminescent assay to detect proteases including caspases is provided which employs an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a substrate for a caspase or an aminoluciferin or a carboxy-terminal protected derivative thereof covalently linked via a peptide bond to a peptide substrate comprising aspartate that is specifically cleaved by a protease specific for the substrate. |
| US07666985B2 |
HLA-A24-restricted cancer antigen peptides
HLA-A24-restricted peptides derived from WT1 which have an activity to induce CTLs in vivo, polynucleotides encoding said peptides, cancer vaccines using those peptides or polynucleotides in vivo or in vitro, or the like are provided. The cancer vaccines of the present invention may be used to treat many cancer patients. |
| US07666984B2 |
Tumour-associated peptides binding to MHC-molecules
The invention relates to a tumor-associated peptide containing an amino sequence, which is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:79 of the enclosed listing. The peptide has the ability to bind to a molecule of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I. The invention also relates to the use of the peptides for manufacture of a medicament and for treating tumorous diseases. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition, which comprises at least one of the peptides. |
| US07666979B2 |
Methods for preparing multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications and methods of preparing the same
Methods for the preparation of multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications are provided. More specifically, novel methods for preparing multivalent constructs comprising the formula A-B-C-D-E-B′-F for therapeutic and diagnostic applications are provided which use a novel linker D comprising, in various embodiments, a dicarboxylic acid derivative such as, e.g., a glutaric acid bis N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester or a derivative thereof; or a diamine derivative.The remaining components in the multivalent construct A-B-C-D-E-B′-F are defined as follows: A is a first peptide, B is a first branching group, C is an optional first spacer, E is an optional second spacer which may be the same as or different from said first spacer C, B′ is an optional second branching group which may be the same as or different from said first branching group B, and F is a second peptide which may be the same as or different from said first peptide A. |
| US07666973B2 |
Carbonate copolymers
Copolymer compositions are provided which include a cyclic monomer and an aromatic cyclic carbonate. The copolymer may be produced, in embodiments, by a ring-opening polymerization reaction initiated by the aromatic cyclic carbonate. The resulting copolymer may be utilized in producing medical devices, drug delivery devices, and/or coatings for medical devices. |
| US07666971B2 |
Amide/urea-modified liquid diphenylmethane diisocyanates
This invention relates to novel liquid, storage-stable, amide-modified diphenylmethane diisocyanates and to a process for the production of these liquid, storage-stable diphenylmethane diisocyanates. |
| US07666969B2 |
Silicone resin coating for electronic components
One-component, H-siloxane-containing addition-crosslinkable silicone resins, are prepared by charging a reactor with water and a solvent mixture of at least one aromatic solvent and at least one alkyl ester, adding a chlorosilane mixture containing an Si—H functional silane and a silane bearing an unsaturated hydrosilylatable group with stirring, the temperature not being above 50° C., separating an aqueous phase comprising a one-component, H-siloxane-containing addition-crosslinkable silicone resin, and washing the phase comprising the one-component, H-siloxane-containing addition-crosslinkable silicone resin in at least two washing steps to reduce residual HCl content, a final washing carried out using a 0.01%-1.0% strength aqueous solution of a base with a pH between 7.00-8.50, at a temperature of 20-50° C. |
| US07666967B2 |
Ester compound, polymer, resist composition, and patterning process
A polymer comprising recurring units (2) obtained through polymerization of an ester compound of formula (1) is used to form a resist composition. R1 is F or C1-C6 fluoroalkyl, R2 is H or C1-C8 alkyl, R3 is O or C1-C6 alkylene, R4 and R5 each are H or C1-C10 alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and R6 is H or an acid labile group. The resist composition, when processed by ArF lithography, has advantages including improved resolution, transparency, minimal line edge roughness, and etch resistance. The resist composition exhibits better performance when processed by ArF immersion lithography with liquid interposed between a projection lens and a wafer. |
| US07666963B2 |
Hybrid copolymers
Hybrid copolymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The polymers include at least one synthetic monomeric constituent that is chain terminated by a naturally occurring hydroxyl containing moiety. A process for preparing these hybrid copolymers is also provided. |
| US07666961B2 |
Olefin polymerization process
A slurry process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of an α-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported bridged bis-indeno[2,1-b]indolyl zirconium complex. The process uses a highly active catalyst and provides polyethylene characterized by a high level of long-chain branching. |
| US07666959B2 |
Dual site catalyst system comprising a hafnocene component for the production of bimodal polyolefins in a single reactor
The present invention discloses a metallocene catalyst system for producing polyolefins comprising: A. a hafnocene-based catalyst component suitable for producing the high molecular weight fraction of the polyolefin; B. one or more metallocene or post-metallocene components different from the component A and suitable for producing the low molecular weight fraction of the polyolefin; C. an activating agent having a low or no coordinating capability. |
| US07666957B2 |
Polymerization process
A process for the polymerisation of ethylene and optionally at least one C3-20 alpha olefin comonomer in the slurry or solution phase in a reactor having a polymer outlet stream, a procatalyst or catalyst feed stream and a hydrogen feed stream, said polymerisation being effected in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, a diluent and hydrogen, wherein said diluent is recycled from said outlet stream to said hydrogen feed stream, said procatalyst or catalyst feed stream is free of hydrogen, said hydrogen feed stream is free of procatalyst or catalyst and said procatalyst or catalyst feed stream does not comprise recycled diluent. |
| US07666954B2 |
Epoxy resin amine curing agent of N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymer
The present invention provides N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymers including methylamine-terminated poly-(N-methylazetidine) and methylamine-terminated poly-(N-methylazacycloheptane). Amine compositions and amine-epoxy compositions comprising N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymers are also disclosed. |
| US07666949B2 |
Curing compositions for fluoropolymers
A curative composition comprising a cation and an anion of the formula Anq−Qpm+, wherein m, n, p, and q are positive integers, wherein m*p=n*q, wherein Qm+ is an organo onium, and Aq− is an anion, provided that at least one Aq− is selected from the formula: wherein each R independently is H, halo, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or cycloalkyl, and which also may be halogenated, fluorinated, or perfluorinated, wherein two or more of R and R′ groups may together form a ring, wherein each R group independently may contain one or more heteroatom(s), wherein R′ can be the same as R, with the proviso that R′ cannot be halo. Also provided are a fluoropolymer composition including this curative, a method of making a fluoropolymer, and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions. |
| US07666946B2 |
Blends of biopolymers with acrylic copolymers
The invention relates to a blend of one or more biopolymers with one or more acrylic copolymers, for the purpose of improving the properties of the biopolymer(s). The biopolymer composition comprises 85-99.9 weight percent of biopolymer(s) and 0.1 to 15 weight percent of one or more acrylic copolymers. |
| US07666945B2 |
Non-gelled curable compositions containing imide functional compositions
The present invention is directed to a non-gelled, curable composition including at least one compound having a plurality of imide functional groups. The compound in particular contains a reaction product of at least one secondary monoamine and at least one maleimide, and is suitable for use in coatings and castings. |
| US07666942B2 |
Exercise putty having variable hardness and method of making same
A therapeutic exercise putty is provided which comprises a uniform mixture of a first mass of putty and modeling clay. The first mass of putty includes hydroxy-terminated polymethylsiloxane having a viscosity of about 20 to about 50,000 cps. |
| US07666940B2 |
Aqueous compositions containing perfluoropolyether di-carboxylic salts for the oleo-repellent paper treatment
Aqueous dispersions comprising a mixture of: A) from 0.05% by weight to 10% by weight of salts of perfluoropolyether di-carboxylic derivatives having formula: T-O—Rf-T (IA) wherein T=—CF2—COOZ or —CF2CF2—COOZ wherein Z=Na, K, NH4, R1(R2)(R3)N wherein R1=R2=alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, R3=H, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, Rf is a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain having number average molecular weight between 500 and 10,000. B) from 0.01% to 5% by weight of water-dispersible or water-soluble cationic polymers, having a charge density, defined as number of equivalents per weight unit of dry polymer, higher than 1 meq/g of dry polymer. |
| US07666939B2 |
Dispersions of carbon nanotubes in polymer matrices
Dispersions of carbon nanotubes exhibiting long term stability are based on a polymer matrix having moieties therein which are capable of a donor-acceptor complexation with carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are introduced into the polymer matrix and separated therein by standard means. Nanocomposites produced from these dispersions are useful in the fabrication of structures, e.g., lightweight aerospace structures. |
| US07666938B2 |
Nanoparticle silica filled benzoxazine compositions
Curable compositions, such as benzoxazine-based ones, are useful in applications within the aerospace industry, such as for example as a heat curable composition for use as a matrix resin or an adhesive, and form the basis of the present invention. |
| US07666933B2 |
Organosilane masterbatch
An organosilane masterbatch containing (a) 2-20 parts by weight of rubber, (b) 0-60 parts by weight of filler, (c) 5-55 parts by weight of organosilane and (d) 0-10 parts by weight of dispersing agent. A process for preparing the organosilane masterbatch by mixing the rubber, filler, organosilane and dispersing agent in a banbury or kneader, extruding and cutting into pieces. Rubber mixtures containing the organosilane masterbatch can be used in rubber mixtures. |
| US07666929B2 |
Process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of fluropolymer dispersions using anionic surfactant-treated anion exchange resin
A process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of a stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion. The process includes providing a fixed bed of anion exchange resin having anion exchange groups with counter ions. The anion exchange resin is treated to replace at least some the counter ions with counter ions of non-fluorinated anionic surfactant. The stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion is passed through the treated fixed bed of anion exchange resin. |
| US07666928B2 |
Staged addition of non-fluorinated anionic surfactant to reduced fluorosurfactant fluoropolymer dispersion
A process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of a fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion stabilized with nonionic surfactant. The process includes reducing the fluorosurfactant content of the stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to a predetermined level to provide a reduced surfactant dispersion, adding non-fluorinated anionic surfactant to the reduced fluorosurfactant dispersion, and concentrating the reduced fluorosurfactant dispersion. The non-fluorinated anionic surfactant is added in stages wherein a first portion is added to the dispersion prior to concentrating and a second portion of the non-fluorinated anionic surfactant is added to the dispersion after concentrating. |
| US07666927B2 |
Removing fluorosurfactant from aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions using anion exchange polymer with functional groups resistant to degradation to trialkylamines
A process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of a stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising contacting the stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion with an anion exchange resin comprising a polymer and quaternary ammonium functional groups to reduce fluorosurfactant content, the functional groups being resistant to degradation which releases trialkylamines. The anion exchange resin is separated from the dispersion after the fluorosurfactant content has been reduced. |
| US07666926B2 |
Method of making a photocatalytic material
A method of making a photocatalytic material comprising a base substance and photocatalytic particles bonded on the base substance by chemical bonding through a silane compound. The chemical bonding is bonding a reactive group of the silane compound through graft polymerization to a radical produced on a resin surface of the base substance by irradiating radiation ray. The resulting photocatalytic material has the advantage that, even when used over a long time, the photocatalytic particles are less apt to shed and the resin base is less apt to deteriorate. |
| US07666922B2 |
Flame-retardant biodegradable material and manufacturing method of the same, flame-retardant biodegradable polymeric composition, and molded product and disposal method of the same
A flame-retardant biodegradable material comprises a compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R9, R10 and R11 each independently represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group; R6, R7 and R8 each independently represents an alkylene group; and n, p, and q each independently represents an integer of one or more. |
| US07666917B2 |
Modified catalyst and use of this catalyst for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons
Process for conversion of syngas to liquid hydrocarbons using a catalyst composition containing a support and a Fischer-Tropsch metal for the conversion of syngas to liquid hydrocarbons, in which a silylating compound modifier is added to the catalyst composition during catalyst preparation or during a post-treatment stage. |
| US07666916B2 |
Flocculant, manufacturing method therefor, and flocculation method using the flocculant
A flocculant, a manufacturing method therefor, and a flocculation method using the flocculant are provided such that a suspension of tap water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, industrial drainage water or other service water or drainage water can be easily, safely, and quickly treated. A flocculant made from a silicon colloidal solution for gelation through dilution and flocculating suspended matter in conjunction with the gelation. |
| US07666915B2 |
Highly dispersible carbon nanospheres in a polar solvent and methods for making same
The particle sizes of agglomerates of carbon nanospheres are reduced by dispersing the carbon nanospheres in a polar solvent. The carbon nanospheres are multi-walled, hollow, graphitic structures with an average diameter in a range from about 10 nm to about 200 nm, more preferably about 20 nm to about 100 nm. Spectral data shows that prior to being dispersed, the carbon nanospheres are agglomerated into clusters that range in size from 500 nm to 5 microns. The clusters of nanospheres are reduced in size by dispersing the carbon nanospheres in the polar solvent (e.g., water) using a surface modifying agent (e.g., glucose) and ultrasonication. The combination of polar solvent, surface modifying agent, and ultrasonication breaks up and disperses agglomerates of carbon nanospheres. |
| US07666913B2 |
Method of treating or preventing osteoporosis using isotaxiresinol derived from Taxus yunnanensis
The object of the present invention is to provide a drug effective in treating or preventing osteoporosis. The present invention discloses a therapeutic or preventive drug for osteoporosis having a compound shown in the formula (1) (wherein R1 is an alkyloxy group with the carbon number of 1 to 4) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester of said compound in the formula (1) as an effective ingredient. In the compound of the formula (1), a substance in which R1 is CH3O is isotaxiresinol derived from Taxus yunanennsis and showed physiological activities in inhibiting bone resorption and improving bone formation. |
| US07666912B2 |
Compositions and methods for reducing body fat
The present invention relates to compositions, such as bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost, and methods to reduce fat in the body of an individual, for example, by topical administration, injection, and/or implantation of such compositions. |
| US07666910B2 |
Method of stabilizing and potentiating the action of anti-angiogenic substances
A method of stabilizing and potentiating action of molecules of known anti-angiogenic substances such as ANGIOSTATIN® or ENDOSTATIN® by using in coupling conjugation with cis-unsaturated fatty acids (c-UFAs) in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders uses c-UFAs chosen from linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and cis-parinaric acid in predetermined quantities. Preferably, the c-UFAs are in the form of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Uncontrolled or undesirable angiogenic activity promotes cell proliferative disorders and tumor growth, which can be inhibited by the selective use of PUFAs with anti-angiogenic substances used selectively in conjunction with predetermined anti-cancer drugs. For a non-glioma type of cell proliferation disorder, a sodium, potassium or lithium salt of a PUFA is preferred to form an admixture with an anti-angiogenic substance. Anti-angiogenic substances envisaged in this invention include ANGIOSTATIN, ENDOSTATIN, platelet factor-4, TNP-470, thalidomide, interleukin-12 and metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMP). A preferred method of administration of the mixture to treat a tumor is intra-arterial administration into an artery which provides the main blood supply for the tumor. |
| US07666907B2 |
Salts of trimebutine and N-desmethyl trimebutine
Unique salts of trimebutine and N-monodesmethyl trimebutine, and their corresponding stereoisomers, having improved analgesic properties useful in the treatment of visceral pain are provided. The salts of the present invention are particularly useful in the treatment of conditions characterized by abdominal pain, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetic gastroparesis, and dyspepsia. |
| US07666904B2 |
3-aryl-4-hydroxyfuranone compounds and the human and animal health use thereof
The present invention provides a compound of formula I and the use thereof for the inhibition of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and for the therapeutic treatment of bacterial infection or disease in a patient in need thereof. The present invention also provides the use of the formula I compound for the control of ecto- or endoparasites in homeothermic animals. |
| US07666902B2 |
Haloalkyl ester derivatives of coumarin for the treatment of coagulation disorders
The subject invention provides anticoagulant compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R3, n and Ar are as defined herein. The compounds of the subject invention can be used to treat at-risk populations thereby bringing relief of symptoms, improving the quality of life, preventing acute and long-term complications, reducing mortality and treating accompanying disorders. The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and salts of the invention, as well as methods of using the compounds, salts, and compositions of the invention. |
| US07666900B2 |
ABCA1 stabilizer
To provide a pharmaceutically effective prophylactic/preventive agent for low-HDL cholesterolemia, focusing on an HDL-generating mechanism. The ABCA1 stabilizer of the present invention contains a bisphenol-type compound selected form probucol spiroquinone, probucol diphenoquinone, and probucol bisphenol as an effective ingredient. The ABCA1 stabilizer can continuously and stably express ABCA1 by a mechanism quite different from that of conventional processes, and thus is useful as prophylactic/preventive agent for low-HDL cholesterolemia or arteriosclerosis. |
| US07666896B2 |
Process for the preparation of perindopril
A process for preparing perindopril (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which process comprises a substituted benzyl ester of (2S,3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid (I) with N—[(S)-carbethoxybutyl]-(S)-alanine (II) where R represents a halo, C1-4 alkoxy or nitro substituent. |
| US07666890B2 |
Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 1- (2-substituted benzo[d]thiazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5(4H)- one derivatives
Synthesis and herbicidal activity of novel 1-(2-substituted benzo[d]thiazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5(4H)-one derivatives. Using a dose of 300 gai./h, the compounds of the invention possess significant herbicidal activity for Echinochloa crusgalli, Digiatria sanguinalis, Setaria viridis, Brassica juncea, Amaranthus retroflexus and Chenopodium album. |
| US07666889B2 |
Cannabinoid receptor antagonists/inverse agonists useful for treating metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes
The present invention provides novel pyrazoles that are useful as cannabinoid receptor antagonists and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating obesity, diabetes, and/or cardiometabolic disorders. |
| US07666885B2 |
Enzyme inhibitors
Compounds of general formula (I): where A, E, G, X, Y and the bond - - - take various meanings are of use in the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation, for example in the treatment of a disease in which GSK-3 is involved, including Alzheimer's disease or the non-dependent insulin diabetes mellitus, or hyperproliferative disease such as cancer, displasias or metaplasias of tissue, psoriasis, arteriosclerosis or restenosis. |
| US07666882B2 |
Anthranilamide insecticides
This invention provides compounds of Formula I, N-oxides and suitable salts thereof wherein Y and V are each independently N or CR4a; W is N, CH or CR6; and R1 through R6, and n are as defined in the disclosure. This invention also pertains to a composition for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, an N-oxide thereof or an agronomic or nonagronomic suitable salt of the compound and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a solid diluent and a liquid diluent, and optionally further comprising an effective amount of at least one additional biologically active compound or agent. Also disclosed are methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, an N-oxide thereof or an agronomic or nonagronomic suitable salt of the compound or with the composition described herein. |
| US07666876B2 |
Buprenorphine formulations for intranasal delivery
Aqueous formulations suitable for intranasal administration comprise buprenorphine or a physiologically acceptable salt or ester thereof and (a) a pectin having a degree of esterification of less than 50%, (b) chitosan and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer (poloxamer) or (c) chitosan and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Such formulations can induce rapid and prolonged analgesia when delivered intranasally to a patient. The buprenorphine or buprenorphine salt or ester may be delivered to the bloodstream to produce within 30 minutes a therapeutic plasma concentration of buprenorphine, Cther, of 0.2 ng/ml or greater which is maintained for a duration Tmaint of at least 2 hours. |
| US07666873B2 |
N-phenyl-(2R,5S)dimethylpiperazine derivative
The present invention relates to a novel N-phenyl-(2R,5S)dimethylpiperazine derivatives useful as antiandrogenic agent which exhibits a sufficient prostate gland reducing effect as compared with conventional compounds and are excellent in oral activity. The compound of the present application is useful in preventing or treating prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and the like. The present invention also provides a novel intermediate useful in producing the compound of the present invention. |
| US07666867B2 |
Heteroindanes: a new class of potent cannabimimetic ligands
One aspect of the invention is concerned with cannabimimetic heteroindane analogs having affinities and/or selectivities for a cannabinoid receptor. A further aspect of the invention is concerned with pharmaceutical preparations employing the inventive analogs and methods of administering therapeutically effective amounts of the inventive analogs to provide a physiological effect. |
| US07666866B2 |
Antithrombotic diamides
This application relates to a compound of formula (I) (or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound) as defined herein, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and its use as an inhibitor of factor Xa and/or thrombin, as well as a process for its preparation and intermediates therefor. |
| US07666864B2 |
Bicyclic nitroimidazole-substituted phenyl oxazolidinones
The current invention provides a series of bicyclic nitroimidazole-substituted phenyl oxazolidinones in which a bicyclic nitroimidazole pharmacophore is covalently bonded to a phenyl oxazolidinone, their pharmaceutical compositions, and the method of use of the compositions for prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. The bicyclic nitroimidazole-substituted phenyl oxazolidinones possess surprising antibacterial activity against wild-type and resistant strains of pathogens, and are therefore useful for the prevention, control and treatment of a number of human and veterinary bacterial infections caused by these pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
| US07666862B2 |
Mitotic Kinesin Inhibitors
The present invention relates to dihydropyrrole compounds that are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, for treating disorders associated with KSP kinesin activity, and for inhibiting KSP kinesin. The invention is also related to compositions which comprise these compounds, and methods of using them to treat cancer in mammals. |
| US07666861B2 |
Cytoskeletal active compounds, composition and use
The present invention is directed to synthetic cytoskeletal active compounds that are related to natural Latrunculin A or Latrunculin B. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention is additionally directed to a method of preventing or treating diseases or conditions associated with actin polymerization. In one embodiment of the invention, the method treats increased intraocular pressure, such as primary open-angle glaucoma. The method comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a cytoskeletal active compound of Formula I or II, wherein said amount is effective to influence the cytoskeleton, for example by inhibiting actin polymerization. |
| US07666859B2 |
Skin compositions containing hydrocortisone
Skin compositions comprising, hydrocortisone; allantoin; and a water-based vehicle that is essentially free of petroleum jelly, mineral oil and wax; and related method for protecting, healing and/or soothing the skin comprising: applying an effective amount of a cosmetic preparation selected from the group consisting of hand cream, foot cream, body cream, lip cream, lip gloss, lip stick, gel, balm and lotion to the skin surface; wherein said cosmetic preparation includes a skin composition made of hydrocortisone; allantoin; and a water-based vehicle that is essentially free of petroleum jelly, mineral oil and wax; and said effective amount is enough to protect, heal and/or soothe the skin surface. |
| US07666857B2 |
2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-4-{[2-hydroxy-3′-(1h-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-3-yl]-hydrazono}-5-methyl-2,4-dihydropyrazol-3-one choline
An improved thrombopoietin mimetic, the choline salt of 2-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-4-{[2-hydroxy-3′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-3-yl]-hydrazono}-5-methyl-2,4-dihydropyrazol-3-one. |
| US07666856B2 |
Antiviral nucleosides
4-Amino-1-((2R,3S,4S,5R)-5-azido-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-tetrahydro-furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrimidin-2-one (22) and prodrugs thereof are hepatitis C (HCV) polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for inhibiting HCV and treating HCV-mediated diseases, processes for making the compounds and synthetic intermediates employed in the process. |
| US07666851B1 |
Three ring fused analogs of isoguanosine
This invention relates to the field of nucleic acid chemistry, more specifically to the field of compositions and processes that are nucleic acid analogs. More specifically, it relates to purine analogs that contain three rings, where the third ring bridges the exocyclic substituent at position 6 to position 7, using the purine numbering system. Still more specifically it relates to analogs having this structure that are able to form nucleobase pairs having the Watson-Crick geometry with a pyrimidine or pyrimidine analog, where the nucleobase pair is joined by hydrogen bonding patterns that either present a standard hydrogen bonding pattern, or a non-standard hydrogen bonding pattern. Most specifically, it to nucleoside analogs that are analogs of isoguanosine, but where the 5-6 ring system of the purine ring in isoguanosine is fused to another five- or six-membered ring, where the fused ring joins the exocyclic amino group with an atom that is, by analogy, at position 7 of the isoguanine ring system. Compositions having this structure can support a base pair with isocytosine joined by three hydrogen bonds, or a base pair with a diaminodiazanaphalene riboside, or 2′-deoxyriboside, or an analog, joined by four hydrogen bonds. |
| US07666848B2 |
Thiophene glycoside derivatives, processes for the preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds, and the use thereof
Novel thiophene glycoside derivatives of the formula I in which the radicals have the stated meanings, and the physiologically tolerated salts thereof and processes for their preparation are disclosed. The compounds are suitable, for example, as antidiabetics. |
| US07666845B2 |
Compounds having inhibitory activity against sodium-dependent glucose transporter
The invention is directed to compounds of the formula (I) described herein, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment. |
| US07666839B2 |
Methods of treatment using specific binding agents of human angiopoietin-2
Disclosed are peptides that bind to Ang-2. Also disclosed are peptibodies comprising the peptides, methods of making such peptides and peptibodies, and methods of treatment using such peptides and peptibodies. |
| US07666829B2 |
Compositions for elastogenesis and connective tissue treatment
The present invention describes therapeutic compositions comprising one or more minerals, including trivalent iron, divalent manganese and salts thereof, suitable in facilitating synthesis and deposition of connective tissue matrix, particularly rich of elastin and collagen, and mitogenic potential in human dermal fibroblasts. It also describes the phenomenon in which stimulation of elastogenesis by arterial SMC associates with a net decrease in proliferation of these cell types. The present invention also describes methods of treatment of human skin fibroblasts and arterial smooth muscle cells. The therapeutic compositions of the present invention comprise one or more of trivalent iron or divalent manganese or salts thereof and may be combined with an elastic tissue digest. |
| US07666827B2 |
Wet wipe lotions comprising particulate material
The present invention provides a wet wipe made up of a substrate impregnated with a cleaning lotion where the cleaning lotion includes a particulate material. |
| US07666825B2 |
Stable, patterned multi-phased personal care composition
A multi-phase personal care composition is described that comprises a first visually distinct structured phase and a second visually distinct structured phase. The first visually distinct structured phase comprises a cleansing phase that includes about 2% to about 23.5%, by weight of the cleansing phase, of surfactant component. Preferably, the surfactant component comprises at least one branched anionic surfactant. |
| US07666821B2 |
Self-diverting pre-flush acid for sandstone
Embodiments of the Present Invention relate to a reversibly thickenable non-polymeric fluid that has low viscosity in strong acid, gels when the acid concentration is reduced by only a small amount, and is subsequently decomposed by the acid. In particular it relates to an aqueous mixture of zwitterionic surfactants, inorganic acids, and organic acids Most particularly it relates to the use of this fluid as a diverting agent for easily-damaged sandstones, for example prior to matrix acidizing. |
| US07666812B2 |
Method of diffusing a catalyst for electrochemical oxygen reduction
An improved gas diffusion electrode composed of a perovskite-type oxide dispersed in a mixture of carbon black and a hydrophobic binder polymer. An improved catalyst for use in the electrochemical reduction of oxygen comprising a perovskite-type compound having alpha and beta sites, and having a greater molar ratio of cations at the beta site. A particularly good reduction catalyst is a neodymium calcium manganite. An improved method of dispersing the catalysts with carbon in a reaction layer of the electrode improves performance of the electrode and the oxygen reduction process. This is provided by adding carbon black to an aqueous solution of metal salts before it is heated to a gel and then to a char and then calcined. Optionally, a quantity of the desired oxide catalyst can be premixed with a portion the carbon before adding the carbon to an aqueous solution of the metal salts to be heated. The amount of premixed metal oxide is chosen in conjunction with the amount of metal salts to provide the desired molar ratio after heating and calcining of the aqueous solution. |
| US07666810B2 |
Ziegler-natta catalyst for high temperature polymerization
A magnesium titanium olefin polymerization procatalyst is prepared by A) reacting a diorganomagnesium compound with a source of active chlorine, (with the proviso that the amount of chlorine is insufficient to completely convert the diorganomagnesium to magnesium dichloride); then B) removing unreacted diorganomagnesium from the reaction product; then depositing a tetravalent titanium species on the reaction product. This procatalyst is highly active for the solution polymerization of olefins when combined with a cocatalyst. |
| US07666809B2 |
Electrode catalyst for fuel cell, electrode for fuel cell, and fuel cell
Disclosed is an electrode catalyst for fuel cells, achieving enhanced utilization efficiency of the catalyst. Also disclosed are an electrode for fuel cells by use of the catalyst and a fuel cell. The electrode catalyst for fuel cells is featured in that a compound having at least one functional group and at least one proton-accepting group in the molecule is adsorbed onto a metal catalyst, and the functional group being partially or wholly constituted of a sulfur element or a nitrogen element as its constituent atoms. |
| US07666804B2 |
Crystalline resin sandwich films
A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a crystalline resin component that is sandwiched between two non-crystalline resin components to provide a zone that is rich in crystalline thermosetting resin. The crystalline thermosetting resin has a melting point that is above ambient temperature, but below the curing temperature. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature. |
| US07666798B2 |
Method of making a micro-fluidic structure
A microfabricated structure and method of making that includes forming a first layer of material on a substrate, forming patterned sacrificial material having a predetermined shape on the first layer of material, and forming a second layer of material over the first layer and the patterned sacrificial material, which is then removed to form an encapsulated cavity. Ideally, the first and second layers are formed of the same type material. A structural support layer can be added to the second layer. Openings can be formed in the cavity, and the cavities can be layered side by side, vertically stacked with interconnections via the openings, and a combination of both can be used to construct stacked arrays with interconnections throughout. |
| US07666797B2 |
Methods for forming semiconductor constructions, and methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to conductive material
The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl2 to remove the exposed silicon nitride, while not removing at least the majority of the metal nitride from the containers. In subsequent processing, the containers can be incorporated into capacitors. |
| US07666793B2 |
Method of manufacturing amorphous metal oxide film and methods of manufacturing capacitance element having amorphous metal oxide film and semiconductor device
A film deposition process for depositing an amorphous metal oxide film, for example, an amorphous tantalum oxide film and a film treatment process for improving film quality of the amorphous tantalum oxide film in the state in which an amorphous state of the amorphous metal oxide film is being maintained by a high-density plasma radiation treatment based upon ion and radical reactions and which contains at least oxygen at an ion current density higher than 5 mA/cm2 are carried out, whereby a low-temperature treatment in the whole process is made possible. In addition, since the amorphous metal oxide film, which is excellent in film quality, can be deposited, the amorphous metal oxide film can be made high in reliability and can be produced inexpensively. The amorphous tantalum oxide film which is excellent in film quality can be manufactured inexpensively by a low-temperature treatment. Also, when a capacitance element having an amorphous metal oxide film and a semiconductor device are manufactured, the amorphous metal oxide film which is excellent in film quality can be deposited by a low-temperature treatment and highly-reliable capacitance element and semiconductor device can be manufactured. |
| US07666789B2 |
Method of manufacturing a variable resistance structure and method of manufacturing a phase-change memory device using the same
In methods of manufacturing a variable resistance structure and a phase-change memory device, after forming a first insulation layer on a substrate having a contact region, a contact hole exposing the contact region is formed through the first insulation layer. After forming a first conductive layer on the first insulation layer to fill up the contact hole, a first protection layer pattern is formed on the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer is partially etched to form a contact and to form a pad on the contact. A second protection layer is formed on the first protection layer pattern, and then an opening exposing the pad is formed through the second protection layer and the first protection layer pattern. After formation of a first electrode, a phase-change material layer pattern and a second electrode are formed on the first electrode and the second protection layer. |
| US07666784B2 |
Methods of trench and contact formation in memory cells
Methods of contact formation and memory arrays formed using such methods, which methods include providing a substrate having a contacting area; forming a plurality of line-shape structures extending in a first direction; forming a hard mask spacer beside the line-shape structure; forming an insulating material layer above the hard mask spacer; forming a contiguous trench in the insulating material layer extending in a second direction different from the first direction and exposing the contacting area; and forming a conductive line in the trench to contact the contacting area. |
| US07666781B2 |
Interconnect structures with improved electromigration resistance and methods for forming such interconnect structures
Interconnect structures including liner layers that are non-planar with at least the adjacent insulating layer and at least one capping layer on conductive features embedded in the insulating layer. The interconnect structure includes an insulating layer of a dielectric material having a top surface and a bottom surface between the top surface and a substrate. An opening, such as a trench, has sidewalls extending from the top surface of the insulating layer toward the bottom surface and is at least partially filled by a conductive feature. A capping layer is disposed on at least a top surface of the conductive feature. A conductive liner layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the conductive feature along at least the sidewalls of the opening. The conductive liner layer has sidewall portions projecting above the top surface of the insulating layer adjacent to the sidewalls of the opening. |
| US07666780B2 |
Alignment verification for C4NP solder transfer
A method is provided for the making of interconnect solder bumps on a wafer or other electronic device. The method is particularly useful for the well-known C4NP interconnect technology and determines if any off-set resulted between the solder mold array and the wafer capture array during the transfer process. The amount of off-set enables the operator to adjust the transfer tool before solder transfer to compensate for the off-set caused by the transfer process and provides a more cost-effective and efficient solder transfer process. A solder reactive material surrounding the capture pads is used to determine where the solder reacts with the solder reactive material showing the off-set resulting from the transfer process. Copper is a preferred solder reactive material. |
| US07666777B2 |
Electronic structure with components connected by way of solderable connecting elements and method
For the vertical electrical connection of a number of components, an electronic structure with at least two components has solderable connecting elements, which include at least one socket element and a solder ball stacked on the socket element. The socket element has a cylindrical core of an electrically conducting first material with a lateral surface, a bottom surface and a top surface. The core is surrounded with a cladding of an electrically insulating second material in such a way that the lateral surface of the core is covered by the cladding and the top surface and the bottom surface are kept free of the cladding. |
| US07666776B2 |
Methods of forming conductive structures
The invention includes methods of forming pluralities of electrically conductive structures. The methods can include formation of a gradient-containing material across a substrate and in direct physical contact with conductive surfaces of nodes. The gradient-containing material can consist essentially of tantalum nitride at a lowermost portion in contact with the conductive surfaces, consist essentially of tantalum at an uppermost portion, and have a TaN/Ta gradient extending between the lowermost and uppermost portions. Alternatively, the gradient-containing material can have a Co/W gradient extending therethrough. Conductive structures can be formed over the gradient-containing material. The invention also includes constructions comprising electrically conductive lines over a material having a TaN/Ta gradient, or a W/Co gradient, extending therethrough. |
| US07666772B2 |
Heat treatment apparatus and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A heat treatment apparatus which enables a heating process for a short time with high reproducibility in a manufacturing process of a MOS transistor manufactured using a semiconductor substrate, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the heat treatment apparatus are provided. The heat treatment apparatus of the present invention which enables the above heat treatment method is characterized by comprising: a light source; a power supply for turning the light source on and off in a pulse shape; a processing chamber in which the substrate can be irradiated with light from the light source; and a unit for supplying a coolant to the processing chamber and also increasing and decreasing the supply amount. |
| US07666771B2 |
System and method for the manufacture of semiconductor devices by the implantation of carbon clusters
A process is disclosed which incorporates implantation of a carbon cluster into a substrate to improve the characteristics of transistor junctions when the substrates are doped with Boron and Phosphorous in the manufacturing of PMOS transistor structures in integrated circuits. There are two processes which result from this novel approach: (1) diffusion control for USJ formation; and (2) high dose carbon implantation for stress engineering. Diffusion control for USJ formation is demonstrated in conjunction with a boron or shallow boron cluster implant of the source/drain structures in PMOS. More particularly, first, a cluster carbon ion, such as C16Hx+, is implanted into the source/drain region at approximately the same dose as the subsequent boron implant; followed by a shallow boron, boron cluster, phosphorous or phosphorous cluster ion implant to form the source/drain extensions, preferably using a borohydride cluster, such as B18Hx+ or B10Hx+. Upon subsequent annealing and activation, the boron diffusion is reduced, due to the gettering of interstitial defects by the carbon atoms. |
| US07666766B2 |
Film formation apparatus, method for forming film, and method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion device
The present invention relates to a film formation apparatus including a first transfer chamber having a roller for sending a substrate, a film formation chamber having a discharging electrode, a buffer chamber provided between the transfer chamber and the film formation chamber or between the film formation chambers, a slit provided in a portion where the substrate comes in and out in the buffer chamber, and a second transfer chamber having a roller for rewinding the substrate. The slit is provided with at least one touch roller, and the touch roller is in contact with a film formation surface of the substrate. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for forming a film and a method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device that are performed by using such a film formation apparatus. |
| US07666765B2 |
Method for forming a group III nitride material on a silicon substrate
Semiconductor process technology and devices are provided, including a method for forming a high quality group III nitride layer on a silicon substrate and to a device obtainable therefrom. According to the method, a pre-dosing step is applied to a silicon substrate, wherein the substrate is exposed to at least 0.01 μmol/cm2 of one or more organometallic compounds containing Al, in a flow of less than 5 μmol/min. The preferred embodiments are equally related to the semiconductor structure obtained by the method, and to a device comprising said structure. |
| US07666756B2 |
Methods of fabricating isolation structures in epi-less substrate
An structure for electrically isolating a semiconductor device is formed by implanting dopant into a semiconductor substrate that does not include an epitaxial layer. Following the implant the structure is exposed to a very limited thermal budget so that dopant does not diffuse significantly. As a result, the dimensions of the isolation structure are limited and defined, thereby allowing a higher packing density than obtainable using conventional processes which include the growth of an epitaxial layer and diffusion of the dopants. In one group of embodiments, the isolation structure includes a deep layer and a sidewall which together form a cup-shaped structure surrounding an enclosed region in which the isolated semiconductor device may be formed. The sidewalls may be formed by a series of pulsed implants at different energies, thereby creating a stack of overlapping implanted regions. |
| US07666755B2 |
Method of forming device isolation film of semiconductor device
A method of forming a device isolation film of a semiconductor device is provided. The method of forming a device isolation film of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes forming the device isolation film by ion-implanting insulation materials inside of a trench formed on a semiconductor substrate. |
| US07666754B2 |
Method and system for forming an air gap structure
A method for forming an air gap structure on a substrate is described. The method comprises forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, wherein the sacrificial layer comprises a decomposable material that thermally decomposes at a thermal decomposition temperature above approximately 350 degrees C. Thereafter, a cap layer is formed on the sacrificial layer at a substrate temperature less than the thermal decomposition temperature of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is decomposed by performing a first exposure of the substrate to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and heating the substrate to a first temperature less than the thermal decomposition temperature of the sacrificial layer, and the decomposed sacrificial layer is removed through the cap layer. The cap layer is cured to cross-link the cap layer by performing a second exposure of the substrate to UV radiation and heating the substrate to a second temperature greater than the first temperature. |
| US07666751B2 |
Method of forming a high capacitance diode and structure therefor
In one embodiment, high doped semiconductor channels are formed in a semiconductor region of an opposite conductivity type to increase the capacitance of the device. |
| US07666750B2 |
Bipolar device having improved capacitance
The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector by at least about 0.9 microns. The invention also provides a method for forming this device. |
| US07666744B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a trench surrounding plural unit cells
A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of unit cells, each comprising a vertical metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The unit cell includes a first source region formed in a first base region, a second source region formed in the first base region and separated from the first source region, and a second base region formed in the first base region and disposed between the first and second source regions. The semiconductor device further comprises a trench gate formed in a vicinity of each of the plurality of unit cells. The second base region of an unit cell is separated from the second base region of an adjacent unit cell, and the first or second source region of an unit cell is separated from the first or second source region of an adjacent unit cell. |
| US07666743B2 |
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including transistors having recessed channels
Semiconductor devices including an isolation layer on a semiconductor substrate are provided. The isolation layer defines an active region of the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes an upper gate electrode crossing over the active region and extending to the isolation layer and lower active gate electrode. The lower active gate electrode includes a first active gate electrode extending from the upper gate electrode to the active region and a second active gate electrode below the first active gate electrode and having a greater width than a width of the first active gate electrode. The device further includes a lower field gate electrode that extends from the upper gate electrode to the isolation layer and has a bottom surface that is at a lower level than a bottom surface of the active gate electrode such that the sidewalls of the active region are covered below the lower active gate electrode. Related methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are also provided herein. |
| US07666741B2 |
Corner clipping for field effect devices
A method is presented for fabricating a non-planar field effect device. The method includes the production of a Si based material Fin structure that has a top surface substantially in parallel with a {111} crystallographic plane of the Si Fin structure, and the etching of the Si Fin structure with a solution which contains ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). In this manner, due to differing etch rates in ammonium hydroxide of various Si based material crystallographic planes, the corners on the Fin structure become clipped, and angles between the horizontal and vertical planes of the Fin structure increase. A FinFET device with clipped, or rounded, corners is then fabricated to completion. In a typical embodiment the FinFET device is selected to be a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device. |
| US07666737B2 |
Method of forming a metal-insulator-metal capacitor
A method of forming a metal-insulator-metal capacitor has the following steps. A stack dielectric structure is formed by alternately depositing a plurality of second dielectric layers and a plurality of third dielectric layers. A wet etch selectivity of the second dielectric layer relative to said third dielectric layer is of at least 5:1. An opening is formed in the stack dielectric structure, and then a wet etch process is employed to remove relatively-large portions of the second dielectric layers and relatively-small portions of the third dielectric layers to form a plurality of lateral recesses in the second dielectric layers along sidewalls of the opening. A bottom electrode layer is formed to extend along the serrate sidewalls, a capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer. |
| US07666732B2 |
Method of fabricating a metal gate CMOS with at least a single gate metal and dual gate dielectrics
A method of fabricating a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structure including at least one nFET and at least one pFET located on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is provided. In accordance with the present invention, the nFET and the pFET both include at least a single gate metal and the nFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net negative charge and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a gate dielectric stack having no net positive charge. In particularly, the present invention provides a method of fabricating a CMOS structure in which the nFET gate stack is engineered to include a band edge workfunction and the pFET gate stack is engineered to have a ¼ gap workfunction. |
| US07666729B2 |
Method for improving the thermal stability of silicide
An embodiment of the invention is a method of making a transistor by performing an ion implant on a gate electrode layer 110. The method may include forming an interface layer 200 over the semiconductor substrate 20 and performing an anneal to create a silicide 190 on the top surface of the gate electrode 110. |
| US07666728B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A method of manufacture of a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating film and gate electrode made of polycrystalline silicon over a semiconductor substrate; implanting ions into the semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor region as a source or drain; forming a cobalt film and a titanium nitride film over the semiconductor substrate to cover the gate electrode; carrying out annealing to cause a reaction between Co and Si and the semiconductor region to form a CoSi layer; carrying out wet cleaning to remove the titanium nitride film and unreacted cobalt film to leave the CoSi layer over the gate electrode and semiconductor region; carrying out annealing to cause a reaction between the CoSi layer and the gate electrode and semiconductor region to form a CoSi2 layer; carrying out HPM cleaning; and forming over the semiconductor substrate a silicon nitride film by low-pressure CVD to cover the gate electrode. |
| US07666727B2 |
Semiconductor device having a laterally modulated gate workfunction and method of fabrication
A transistor comprising a gate electrode formed on a gate dielectric layer formed on a substrate. A pair of source/drain regions are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the laterally opposite sidewalls of the gate electrode. The gate electrode has a central portion formed on the gate dielectric layer and over the substrate region between the source and drain regions and a pair sidewall portions which overlap a portion of the source/drain regions wherein the central portion has a first work function and said pair of sidewall portions has a second work function, wherein the second work function is different than the first work function. |
| US07666723B2 |
Methods of forming wiring to transistor and related transistor
Methods of wiring to a transistor and a related transistor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes a method of forming wiring to a transistor, the method comprising: forming a transistor on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate using masks that are mirror images of an intended layout, the forming including forming a gate and a source/drain region for each and a channel, the SOI substrate including a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer, a buried insulator layer and a silicon substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the transistor; bonding the dielectric layer to another substrate; removing the silicon substrate from the SOI substrate to the buried insulator layer; forming a contact to each of the source/drain region and the gate from a channel side of the gate; and forming at least one wiring to the contacts on the channel side of the gate. |
| US07666719B2 |
Peeling method
A peeling method is provided which does not cause damage to a layer to be peeled, and the method enables not only peeling of the layer to be peeled having a small area but also peeling of the entire layer to be peeled having a large area at a high yield. Further, there are provided a semiconductor device, which is reduced in weight through adhesion of the layer to be peeled to various base materials, and a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, there are provided a semiconductor device, which is reduced in weight through adhesion of various elements, typically a TFT, to a flexible film, and a manufacturing method thereof. A metal layer or nitride layer is provided on a substrate; an oxide layer is provided contacting with the metal layer or nitride layer; then, a base insulating film and a layer to be peeled containing hydrogen are formed; and heat treatment for diffusing hydrogen is performed thereto at 410° C. or more. As a result, complete peeling can be attained in the oxide layer or at an interface thereof by using physical means. |
| US07666714B2 |
Assembly of thin die coreless package
In one embodiment, a method comprises coupling a coreless substrate panel to a pressure cover plate of a carrier, applying flux to the coreless substrate panel, placing at least one die on the coreless substrate panel, reflowing solder onto the coreless substrate panel, defluxing the coreless substrate panel, underfilling the coreless substrate panel, and attaching at least one heat spreader to the coreless substrate panel. |
| US07666713B2 |
Method for bonding heatsink and semiconductor device with heatsink
A simple method for bonding a heatsink for improving heat-radiating efficiency, comprising the steps of sticking a double-sided adhesive tape to an end portion on an adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; applying an adhesive onto the adhesion surface of at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device; bringing the end portion into contact with a corresponding portion of the other one of the heatsink or the semiconductor device; and turning at least either the heatsink or the semiconductor device with the contacting portion as a rotation center to bond together the adhesion surfaces of the heatsink and the semiconductor device. |
| US07666712B2 |
Design of BEOL patterns to reduce the stresses on structures below chip bondpads
A semiconductor structure comprising a substrate including a first layer comprising a first material having a first modulus of elasticity; a first structure comprising a conductor and formed within the substrate, the first structure having an upper surface; and a stress diverting structure proximate the first structure and within the first layer, the stress diverting structure providing a low mechanical stress region at the upper surface of the first structure when a physical load is applied to the first structure, wherein said low mechanical stress region comprises stress values below the stress values in areas not protected by the stress diverting structure. The stress diverting structure comprises a second material having a second modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity, the second material selectively formed over the upper surface of the first structure for diverting mechanical stress created by the physical load applied to the first structure. |
| US07666711B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming double-sided through vias in saw streets
A semiconductor device is made by creating a gap between semiconductor die on a wafer. An insulating material is deposited in the gap. A first portion of the insulating material is removed from a first side of the semiconductor wafer to form a first notch. The first notch is less than a thickness of the semiconductor die. A conductive material is deposited into the first notch to form a first portion of the conductive via within the gap. A second portion of the insulating material is removed from a second side of the semiconductor wafer to form a second notch. The second notch extends through the insulating material to the first notch. A conductive material is deposited into the second notch to form a second portion of the conductive via within the gap. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through the gap to separate the semiconductor die. |
| US07666709B1 |
Semiconductor device and method of placing semiconductor die on a temporary carrier using fiducial patterns
A semiconductor device has an adhesive layer depositing over a temporary carrier. A plurality of fiduciary patterns is formed over the adhesive layer. A repassivation layer is formed over semiconductor die. The repassivation layer may be a plurality of discrete regions. Alignment slots are formed in the repassivation layer. The fiducial patterns and alignment slots have slanted sidewalls. Leading with the repassivation layer, the semiconductor die is placed onto the carrier so that the alignment slots envelope and lock to the fiducial patterns. Alternatively, a die without the repassivation layer is placed between the fiducial patterns. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die while the die remain locked to the fiducial patterns. The carrier, adhesive layer, and fiducial patterns are removed after depositing the encapsulant. An interconnect structure is formed over the repassivation layer to electrically connect to contact pads on the semiconductor die. |
| US07666707B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing display device
A display device and a method for manufacturing the display device are provided. The display device includes an organic layer on an auxiliary wiring is removed with high precision by one operation and, thereby, the yield and the productivity are improved. A lower electrode is formed by patterning in each pixel on a substrate. An auxiliary wiring including a light absorption layer is formed between individual pixels. An organic layer is formed on the substrate while covering the lower electrodes. Laser irradiation is conducted from the organic layer side, the laser light is converted to heat in the light absorption layer exposed at a portion under the organic layer, and the organic layer portion above the light absorption layer is removed selectively. An upper electrode is formed on the organic layer and is connected to the light absorption layer portion of the auxiliary wiring. |
| US07666705B2 |
Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is an image sensor and method of manufacturing the same. The image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate, a metal interconnection layer, an inorganic layer, lens seed patterns, and microlenses. The semiconductor substrate can include unit pixels. The metal interconnection layer can be disposed on the semiconductor substrate to provide signal and poser connections to the unit pixels. The inorganic layer can be disposed on the metal interconnection layer. The lens seed patterns are selectively disposed on the inorganic layer and are formed of an organic material. The microlenses are formed on the lens seed patterns. |
| US07666702B2 |
Method for fabricating a microstructure
A method for fabricating a microstructure is to form at least one insulation layer including a micro-electro-mechanical structure therein over an upper surface of a silicon substrate. The micro-electro-mechanical structure includes at least one microstructure and a metal sacrificial structure that are independent with each other. In the metal sacrificial structure are formed a plurality of metal layers and a plurality of metal via layers connected to the respective metal layers. A barrier layer is formed over an upper surface of the insulation layer, and an etching stop layer is subsequently formed over a lower surface of the silicon substrate. An etching operation is carried out from the lower surface of the silicon substrate to form a space corresponding to the micro-electro-mechanical structure, and then the metal sacrificial structure is etched, thus achieving a microstructure suspension. |
| US07666701B1 |
Isolated metal plug process for use in fabricating carbon nanotube memory cells
The present invention is directed to structures and methods of fabricating electromechanical memory cells having nanotube crossbar elements. Such memory cells include a substrate having transistor with a contact that electrically contacts with the transistor. A first support layer is formed over the substrate with an opening that defines a lower chamber above the electrical contact. A nanotube crossbar element is arranged to span the lower chamber. A second support layer is formed with an opening that defines a top chamber above the lower chamber, the top chamber including an extension region that extends beyond an edge of the lower chamber to expose a portion of the top surface of the first support layer. A roof layer covers the top of the top chamber and includes an aperture that exposes a portion of the extension region of the top chamber and includes a plug that extends into the aperture in the roof layer to seal the top and bottom chambers. The memory cell further includes an electrode that overlies the crossbar element such that electrical signals can activate the electrode to attract or repel the crossbar element to set a memory state for the transistor. |
| US07666700B2 |
Method for fabrication MEMS-resonator
The present invention is an etching mask used for fabricating of the MEMS resonator including an oscillator which both edges are fixed to a base substance and vibrates to a vibrating direction, and an electrode which is fixed to a base substance by vibration is impossible in parallel for the oscillator, and is placed every one or more at the both sides of the oscillator. The etching mask includes a mask pattern 36 for oscillators which covers an oscillator formation scheduled region 34 on a conductive film 30 formed all over a sacrificial film which covers a region of the principal surface except both edges of the oscillator, and a mask pattern 40 for electrodes which covers an electrode formation scheduled region 38 on a conductive film. The width about a vibrating direction of a mask pattern for oscillators and a mask pattern for electrodes is made the same, and a gap between a mask pattern for oscillators and a mask pattern for electrodes and a gap between adjoining mask patterns for electrodes are made the same. |
| US07666698B2 |
Method for forming and sealing a cavity for an integrated MEMS device
A method is provided for constructing a microelectronic assembly. A semiconductor substrate having a MEMS device formed on a first portion thereof, a semiconductor device formed on a second portion thereof, and a build up layer having a first portion formed over the MEMS device and a second portion formed over the semiconductor device is provided. The first portion of the build up layer over the MEMS device is removed. A release body is formed adjacent to the MEMS device. A structural material is formed over the release body. An opening is formed in the structural material to expose the release body. The release body is removed through the opening to form a cavity between the MEMS device and the structural material. The opening in the structural material is sealed with a sealing material. |
| US07666692B2 |
Semiconductor device, its manufacture method and electronic component unit
A LED chip having first and second electrodes on opposite principal surfaces, is bonded to a substrate through a composite bonding layer. The composite bonding layer is formed when a support substrate including the substrate and a first bonding layer is bonded to a lamination structure including the LED, the first electrode and a second bonding layer. The first or second bonding layer contains at least part of eutectic composition. At least one of the support substrate and the lamination structure includes a diffusion material layer. The composite bonding layer is formed in such a manner that eutectic material contents are mixed with the other to form a first mixture, and that the first mixture is mixed with diffusion material to form a second mixture having a melting point higher than a melting point of the first mixture. |
| US07666691B2 |
Organic semiconductor devices and organic electroluminescent devices produced by using wet process
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an organic semiconductor thin film by a wet process with a composite solution prepared by dissolving at least two organic semiconductor compounds in a mixed organic solvent including at least two organic solvents having different volatility and having different solubilities of the organic compounds at room temperature. Due to the differences in the evaporation speeds of the solvents and the solubilities of the organic compounds, the organic compounds are continuously deposited according to the composition of solvent that sequentially evaporates. Thus, the organic semiconductor thin film having a continuous multi-layer (non-boundary multi-layer) structure can be manufactured where different organic compounds coexist between the organic layers. Especially, the composite solution including at least two organic EL materials are used, and the organic materials are controlled to deposit on the anode in the order of hole injecting—hole transporting—light emitting—electron transporting—electron injecting layers to form an organic EL device. |
| US07666688B2 |
Method of manufacturing a coil inductor
A method of manufacturing a coil inductor and a coil inductor are provided. A plurality of conductive bottom structures are formed to be lying on a first dielectric layer. A plurality pairs of conductive side structures are then formed, wherein each pair of the conductive side structure stand on top surface of a first end and a second end of each conductive bottom structure respectively; a second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer, coating the bottom and side structures; and a plurality of conductive top structures are formed to be lying on the second dielectric layer, wherein each conductive top structure electrically connects each pair of the conductive side structures, wherein the conductive bottom structures, the conductive side structures and the conductive top structures together form a conductive coil structure. |
| US07666684B2 |
Determination of explosives including RDX
The present invention provides sensors and methods for determination of an analyte. The analytes may be determined by monitoring, for example, a change in an optical signal of an emissive material upon exposure to an analyte. In some embodiments, the analyte and the emissive material may interact via a chemical reaction, or other chemical, biochemical or biological interaction (e.g., recognition), to form a new emissive species. In some cases, the present invention may be used for the detection of analytes such as explosives (e.g., RDX, PETN). Methods of the present invention may be advantageous in that the high sensitivity of luminescence (e.g., fluorescence) spectroscopy can allow for the reliable detection of small changes in luminescence intensity. |
| US07666683B1 |
Rapid method of diagnosing a normal pregnancy with high accuracy
The present invention relates to a novel method of determining the existence of a normal pregnancy which has a high likelihood of culminating in a term pregnancy, by measuring hyperglycosylated hCG in a pregnant woman and comparing the concentration of measured hyperglycosylated hCG with a predetermined value. A measurement of hyperglycosylated hCG above the predetermined value, for example, about 13 ng/ml, is evidence of a high likelihood of a normal pregnancy. A measurement below the predetermined value is evidence of an abnormal pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage). Further analysis of the patient in the event that the measurement falls below the predetermined value is made by intravaginal or abdominal ultrasound to determine whether or not the pregnancy is ectopic or will likely result in a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). This point-of-care (POC), over-the-counter (OTC) or professional laboratory application is unexpectedly rapid and highly predictive of pregnancy outcome in women exhibiting symptoms of pregnancy. |
| US07666682B2 |
Marking system
A marking system that allows remote observations of visual and infrared electromagnetic signatures emitted from a distinctive marker panel. A kit employing such panels is particularly suitable for military environments, which, in turn, enhances the survivability of military equipment. The marking system preferably provides a signature in the mid and far infrared and near infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, such that the electromagnetic radiation can be observed by a pilot in an approaching moving object such as a plane, helicopter, or land vehicle that is equipped with a thermal imaging system or light intensifier device, even in adverse environmental conditions. In varying embodiments, the marking system may be used as a landing marker, a bore sight panel, and an identification panel. Utilization of passive infrared material enables use of such marking system when external power is unavailable. |
| US07666681B2 |
Method for agitating the fluid contents of a container
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner, a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents comprising suspensions of solid support material and for presenting the containers for machine access thereto, and a device for holding containers of reagents in a temperature controlled environment and presenting the containers for machine access thereto. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by automatically moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the separated analyte after the analyte separation step and before a final incubation step. |
| US07666678B2 |
Proteins imparting boron-tolerance and genes thereof
The present invention provides genes and proteins having possibilities to generate plants having tolerance against excessive boron, which can confer a boric acid tolerance to organisms. 5 types of genes that can confer a boric acid tolerance to yeast, such as AtPAB2, AtRBP47c′, AtRPS20B, AtMYB13 and AtMYB68, AtRBP45a, AtRBP45b, AtRBP45c, AtRBP45d, AtRBP47a, AtRBP47b, AtRBP47c, AtUBP1a, AtUBP1b and AtUBP1c which were found by expressing several genes of higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana in yeast that is a organism model of eukaryote. Further, a key to the toxicity mechanism of boric acid exists in the specific inhibition of splicing, and a gene related to enhancement of splicing efficiency also confers a boric acid tolerance. |
| US07666677B2 |
Production of stilbenes in plant hairy root cultures
Improved methods for production of stilbenoids including resveratrol, pinosylvin and their respective derivatives are provided, including producing hairy roots from plant cells and eliciting production of the stilbenes. The plant cells in an embodiment are infected by Agrobacterium to produce hairy roots, and contacted with substances which elicit production of the stilbenoid compounds. |
| US07666676B2 |
Modulating cancer cell characteristics
The hedgehog pathway in cerebellar cancer cells was modulated with siRNA specifically targeted to the shh and gli-I genes. Silencing of the two genes in a medullablastoma cell line transfected with the siRNAs caused significant reduction of mRNA specific for the targeted shh and gli-I genes and a loss of protein expression. The disclosed methods and compositions may be useful for treatment of a range of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) by shutting down or modulating the expression of gene products associated with the hedgehog pathway. |
| US07666674B2 |
Use of sterically stabilized cationic liposomes to efficiently deliver CPG oligonucleotides in vivo
Sterically stabilized cationic liposomes (SSCL) encapsulating a K type oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) including a CpG motif are disclosed. These SSCL encapuslating a K type ODN can be used to effectively deliver the ODN to a cell. A novel method is also disclosed for producing the SSCL encapsulating the K type ODN. Administration of the SSCL encapsulating a K type ODN and a chemotherapeutic agent, such as a chimeric molecule comprising a targeting molecule selected from the group consisting of an IL-13, and an anti-IL-13 receptor antibody; and an effector molecule selected from the group consisting of a Pseudomonas exotoxin, a Diphtheria toxin, and a radionuclide, can be used to dramatically reduce the growth of solid tumors. |
| US07666672B2 |
Cell lines
The present invention relates to cells obtainable from cell lines having the ECACC Accession Nos 04091601, 04110301 and 04092302. |
| US07666669B2 |
Polypeptide
The present invention provides 5T4 tumour-associated antigen (TAA) for use in a method of immunotherapy of tumours. The invention also relates to a recombinant poxvirus vector from which at least one immune evasion gene has been deleted, which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a 5T4 TAA and the use thereof in vaccinating against and in treating tumours. |
| US07666666B2 |
Fuel production
An apparatus that includes a first reactor and a return mechanism. The first reactor has an inlet to receive a mixture comprising a first reactant, a second reactant, a reaction product, and an inert solvent that dissolves at least a portion of the first and second reactants, an enzyme to facilitate a reaction between the first and second reactants to generate more reaction product, and an outlet to output the reaction product, including the reaction product received at the inlet and the reaction product generated from the reaction between the first and second reactants. The return mechanism sends at least a portion of the reaction product from the outlet back to the inlet. |
| US07666655B2 |
Escherichia bacteria transformed with the yddG gene to enhance L-amino acid producing activity
The present invention relates to a method for producing L-amino acid, such as L-phenylalanine and L-tryptophan, is provided using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia wherein the L-amino acid productivity of said bacterium is enhanced by enhancing an activity of protein encoded by the yddG gene from Escherichia coli, wherein said protein has an activity to make said bacterium resistant to L-phenylalanine, a phenylalanine analogue, or a tryptophan analogue. The present invention further relates to a method for producing lower alkyl ester of α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine. |
| US07666650B2 |
Amylase
The inventors have identified amylases in fungal strains of Valsaria and found that the amylase can increase the shelf life of baked products. Particularly, the novel amylase in combination with a maltogenic amylase further improves the softness of bread crumb without having detrimental effects on elasticity. |
| US07666644B2 |
Glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase (GAT) genes
Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate. |
| US07666641B2 |
Canine COX-2 proteins and uses thereof
The present invention relates to canine COX-1 and COX-2 proteins; to canine COX-1 and COX-2 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such COX-1 and COX-2 proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit the activity of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such inhibitory compounds, particularly those that specifically inhibit COX-2 activity, as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to treat animals. |
| US07666635B2 |
Process for the preparation of amides
A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process. |
| US07666631B2 |
Adenosylmethionine synthetase from streptomyces sp., gene sequences coding the same and method for mass production of secondary metabolites including antibiotics thereof
Disclosed is an isolated nucleotide sequence encoding an enzyme catalyzing biosynthesis of SAM (SAM-s) and its amino acid sequence. Also, the present invention provides a method for mass production of a useful secondary metabolite including antibiotics using the isolated nucleotide sequence and SAM, where SAM acts as a methyl group donor. |
| US07666626B2 |
Mutants of the P4 protein of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae with reduced enzymatic activity
A P4 variant protein that has reduced enzymatic activity and that induces antibody to wild-type P4 protein and/or has good bactericidal activity against non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) is useful as an active component in an immunogenic composition for humans. Methods of using these proteins, and compositions containing them in combination with additional antigens, are also provided. |
| US07666610B2 |
Expressing transporters on viral envelopes
Methods for measuring transporter activity using budding baculoviruses that do not express endogenous transporters on their envelope have a low background level and can measure the target activity with a high sensitivity. Such methods can be used to measure functional changes due to transporter SNPs over a more extensive range of substrates, and can be applied to tailor-made therapies. |
| US07666608B2 |
Methods for determining drug responsiveness
The invention provides a diagnostics assay for measuring the responsiveness to a drug by comparing the protein levels of a gene that responds to the drug, such as a steroid, to the protein levels of a gene that does not respond to the drug. Methods according to the invention are useful for predicting the ability of a patient (or a tissue, body fluid or cell sample in vitro) to respond to a drug or steroid at any stage of their treatment (i.e., before, during or after), and to monitor the patient (or a tissue, body fluid or cell) over time to assess continued responsiveness to the drug or steroid. |
| US07666604B2 |
Modified soluble T cell receptor
The present invention provides a soluble T cell receptor (sTCR), which comprises (i) all or part of a TCR $g(a) chain, except the transmembrane domain thereof, and (ii) all or part of a TCR $g(b) chain, except the transmembrane domain thereof. (i) and (ii) each comprise a functional variable domain and at least a part of the constant domain of the TCR chain, and are linked by a disulphide bond between constant domain residues which is not present in native TCR, characterized in that the sTCR recognizes a CD1-antigen complex, a bacterial superantigen or a peptide-MHC/superantigen complex. |
| US07666600B2 |
Cross-reactive primers for amplifying the nucleic acids of HIV-1 and HIV-2
Compositions, methods and kits for detecting the nucleic acids of HIV-1, HIV-2, or the combination of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Particularly described are oligonucleotides that are useful as hybridization probes and amplification primers, including cross-reacting hybridization probes and cross-reacting amplification primers, for detecting very low levels of viral nucleic acids. |
| US07666599B2 |
Calpastatin markers for fertility and longevity
Aspects of the present invention provide novel compositions and methods based on novel calpastatin (CAST) genetic markers, such as missense mutations in exon 3 that result in G48D or P52L substitutions (NM_174003.2:c.271G>A and 283C>T), a G/T substitution in intron 3 (AAFC02060381.1:g.2110G>T) and a GAAA repeat in intron 8 (AAFC02060381.1:g.6700[(GAAA)4]+[(GAAA)5]. Particular aspects provide novel markers for fertility (e.g., daughter pregnancy rate, DPR) and longevity (e.g., productive life, PL) in, for example, dairy cattle. Additional aspects provide for novel methods comprising marker-assisted selection to improve fertility and/or longevity in dairy cattle. Therefore, in particular embodiments, a combination of genetic selection based on one or more of the novel CAST markers, and high PTA potentials of milk production traits, provides for improved reproductive traits in association with continued high milk production traits. Further aspects disclose a previously unrecognized XL domain in the human CAST gene, and thus provide for the use of human CAST XL domain mutants/variants as markers for human fertility and longevity. |
| US07666595B2 |
Biomarkers for predicting prostate cancer progression
The present invention relates to the identification and use of gene expression profiles with clinical relevance to prostate cancer. In particular, the invention provides the identity of genes whose expression, at the transcriptional and protein levels, is correlated with prostate cancer progression. Methods and kits are described for using these gene expression profiles in the study and/or diagnosis of prostate cancer diseases, in the prediction of prostate cancer progression, and in the selection and/or monitoring of treatment regimens. The invention also relates to the screening of drugs that target these genes or their protein products, in particular for the development of therapeutics for modulating prostate cancer progression. |
| US07666591B2 |
Single stranded DNA binding proteins from Archaea and uses therefor
The invention provides ssDNA-binding proteins from three species of archaeons, Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanobacter theromoautotrophicum, and Archaeoglobus fulgidus, as well as the ability to identify ssDNA-binding proteins from other archaeons. The proteins help render DNA more accessible to DNA polymerase and are robust reagents for a variety of biotechnical processes, including PCR. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding such proteins, vectors for transfecting host cells, host cells comprising the vectors, and methods of using the proteins. |
| US07666589B2 |
Methylation profile of breast cancer
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer diagnostics, including but not limited to, cancer markers. In particular, the present invention provides methods of identifying methylation patterns in genes associated with specific cancers. |
| US07666585B2 |
Construction of chimera PRRSV, compositions and vaccine preparations
Chimeric replicons of North American Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) containing the 5′ sequence of an avirulent strain of PRRSV and a 3′ sequence of a virulent strain of PRRSV are provided. Further provided is a method of producing attenuated PRRSV from the chimeric replicon. Also provided are compositions containing the replicon or attenuated virus. Vaccines and a method of vaccinating pigs against PRRSV are also provided. |
| US07666583B2 |
Identification of cancer protein biomarkers using proteomic techniques
The claimed invention describes methods to diagnose or aid in the diagnosis of cancer. The claimed methods are based on the identification of biomarkers which are particularly well suited to discriminate between cancer subjects and healthy subjects. These biomarkers were identified using a unique and novel screening method described herein. The biomarkers identified herein can also be used in the prognosis and monitoring of cancer. The invention comprises the use of leptin, prolactin, OPN and IGF-II for diagnosing, prognosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer. |
| US07666580B2 |
System and method for contrast enhanced zone plate array lithography
A lithography system is disclosed that includes an array of focusing elements for directing focused illumination toward a recording medium, and a reversible contrast-enhancement material disposed between the recording medium and the array of focusing elements. |
| US07666579B1 |
Method and apparatus for high density storage of analog data in a durable medium
Analog data such as text and images are stored in microscopic analog format on a disk surface capable of maintaining the information for 1000 years or more whereby simple optical magnification will result in one being able to read the information formed therein. For a disk read by backlighting, as with microfiche, a photosensitive material is overlayed on hard metal surface which in turn is formed on a transparent glass or quartz material. A laser beam is focused on certain desired portions of the photosensitive material and the exposed material and underlying hard metal layer etched off to form pits down to the transparent layer corresponding to the analog information. The resulting disk can then be used to produce archival copies and distribution copies using hot embossing or other disclosed techniques. |
| US07666578B2 |
Efficient pitch multiplication process
Pitch multiplied and non-pitch multiplied features of an integrated circuit, e.g., features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit, are formed by processing a substrate through a mask. The mask is formed by patterning a photoresist layer which simultaneously defines mask elements corresponding to features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit. The pattern is transferred to an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the patterned amorphous carbon layer. A layer of protective material is deposited and then patterned to expose mask elements in the array region and in selected parts of the interface or periphery areas. Amorphous carbon in the array region or other exposed parts is removed, thereby leaving a pattern including free-standing, pitch multiplied spacers in the array region. The protective material is removed, leaving a pattern of pitch multiplied spacers in the array region and non-pitch multiplied mask elements in the interface and periphery areas. The pattern is transferred to a hard mask layer, through which an underlying substrate is etched. |
| US07666576B2 |
Exposure scan and step direction optimization
A lithography process to pattern a plurality of fields on a substrate is disclosed. The process includes scanning a first field along a first direction using a radiation beam. Thereafter, the processes steps to a second field adjacent the first field and located behind the first field when the first and second fields are viewed along the first direction. The second field is then scanned along the first direction using the radiation beam. |
| US07666570B2 |
Laser induced thermal imaging method and fabricating method of organic light-emitting diode using the same
A laser induced thermal imaging method capable of effectively laminating a donor film and an acceptor substrate using a magnetic force; and a fabricating method of an organic light-emitting diode using the same. The laser induced thermal imaging method includes arranging an acceptor substrate, in which a first magnet is formed in one surface thereof, on a substrate stage in a processing chamber; arranging on the acceptor substrate a donor film including a second magnet; laminating the donor film and the acceptor substrate using a magnetic force acting between the first and second magnets; and transferring at least one region of an imaging layer onto the acceptor substrate by scanning a laser on the donor film. The laser induced thermal imaging method improved adhesion between the donor film and the acceptor substrate improves a life span, a yield and a reliability of the organic light-emitting diode. |
| US07666568B2 |
Composition and method for providing a patterned metal layer having high conductivity
Disclosed is a method for making a metal pattern with high conductivity comprising providing a patterned substrate comprising a patterned catalyst layer on a base substrate by a thermal imaging method followed by plating to provide the metal pattern. The metal patterns provided are suitable for electrical devices including electromagnetic interference shielding devices and touchpad sensors. |
| US07666564B2 |
Method for forming image
Disclosed is an image forming method employing an apparatus comprising a plurality of toner image forming units, which forms a plurality of toner images and transfer them onto an intermediate transferring member in sequence, and the transferred images is transferred onto a recording sheet. The developer is a non-magnetic single component toner and turbidity of toners of each color is less than 60; and the maximum turbidity difference among the toners is 5-45. |
| US07666563B2 |
Toner and developer using the toner
A toner is provided including a binder resin including at least one polyester resin in an amount of from 50 to 100% by weight, and a colorant having a specific formula, wherein the toner has a shape factor SF-1 of from 120 to 150 and a shape factor SF-2 of from 125 to 180; and a developer using the toner. |
| US07666560B2 |
Imaging member
An imaging member includes a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer. The charge transport layer includes a first surface in contact with the charge generating layer and a second surface. The charge transport layer includes a film forming polymer binder and a charge transport component dispersed therein. The concentration of the charge transport component in the charge transport layer is at a peak in a region of the charge transport intermediate the first and second surfaces of the charge transport layer. |
| US07666559B2 |
Structure and method for determining an overlay accuracy
An enhanced technique for determination of an alignment accuracy involves an overlay target assembly which comprises at least two targets, each target having a first sub-structure of a first layer and a second sub-structure of a second layer, wherein, when the first layer and the second layer are correctly aligned, the first sub-structure and the second sub-structure of at least one of the targets are offset with respect to each other by a programmed offset and the overlay target assembly is invariant to at least one geometric transformation. If the offset vectors which describe the offset between the first sub-structure and the second sub-structure all have the same norm, the overlay error may be determined without calibration. Redundancy may be increased by providing each target with two or more programmed offsets between elements of the first sub-structure and elements of the second sub-structure. |
| US07666556B2 |
Method for manufacturing photomask
A method for manufacturing a photomask includes forming a mask pattern to be transferred onto a wafer on a transparent substrate; transferring the mask pattern on a wafer to form a wafer pattern; selecting a critical dimension modification region requiring a line width modification in the pattern transferred onto the wafer; forming a resist pattern for selectively exposing a portion of the substrate corresponding to the critical dimension modification region; varying a light transmittance of the exposed portion of the substrate by implanting ions into the exposed portion using the resist pattern as an ion implantation mask; and selectively removing the resist pattern. |
| US07666553B2 |
Fabrication method for photomask, fabrication method for device and monitoring method for photomask
A fabrication method for a photomask is disclosed. Two or more metal containing layers are formed over a substrate, and a main pattern and a monitor pattern are formed over one or more of the two or more metal containing layers other than the lowermost metal containing layer. Then, the monitor pattern is measured, and the monitor pattern after being measured is removed. Then, the main pattern is formed over the lowermost metal containing layer to fabricate a photomask formed from the two or more metal containing layers. |
| US07666552B2 |
Lithium secondary battery and separator therefor
A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly where a negative plate and a positive plate are rolled in the form of a spiral while interposing a separator with a modulus of elasticity of around 2.0 kgf/mm2 or less in the longitudinal direction. A can, inside of which the electrode assembly is mounted together with an electrolyte, is electrically connected to one of the negative plate and the positive plate of the electrode assembly. A cap assembly is fitted to the top of the can, and is electrically connected to the other of the positive plate and the negative plate of the electrode assembly. |
| US07666548B2 |
Can type secondary battery
A can type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, a can for receiving the electrode assembly therein, and a cap assembly coupled to an opening section of the can. A cap plate is formed with an electrolyte injection hole and a soft aluminum plug welded to the electrolyte injection hole so as to seal the electrolyte injection hole. |
| US07666539B2 |
Heat efficient portable fuel cell systems
The invention relates to fuel cell systems with improved thermal efficiency. The systems include a fuel cell that generates electrical energy using hydrogen and a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel. Some heat efficient systems described herein include a thermal catalyst that generates heat when the catalyst interacts with a heating medium. The heat is used to heat the fuel cell. The thermal catalyst may be disposed in proximity to the fuel cell, or remote from the fuel cell and a heat transfer pipe conducts heat from the catalyst to the fuel cell. Another thermally efficient embodiment uses a recuperator to transfer heat generated in the fuel cell system to incoming fuel. A fuel cell package may also include a multi-layer insulation arrangement to decrease heat loss from the fuel cell and fuel processor, which both typically operate at elevated temperatures. |
| US07666534B1 |
Electro-catalytic oxidation device for removing carbon from a fuel reformate
An electro-catalytic oxidation device (ECOD) for the removal of contaminates, preferably carbonaceous materials, from an influent comprising an ECOD anode, an ECOD cathode, and an ECOD electrolyte. The ECOD anode is at a temperature whereby the contaminate collects on the surface of the ECOD anode as a buildup. The ECOD anode is electrically connected to the ECOD cathode, which consumes the buildup producing electricity and carbon dioxide. The ECOD anode is porous and chemically active to the electro-catalytic oxidation of the contaminate. The ECOD cathode is exposed to oxygen, and made of a material which promotes the electro-chemical reduction of oxygen to oxidized ions. The ECOD electrolyte is non-permeable to gas, electrically insulating and a conductor to oxidized. The ECOD anode is connected to the fuel reformer and the fuel cell. The ECOD electrolyte is between and in ionic contact with the ECOD anode and the ECOD cathode. |
| US07666532B2 |
Fuel cell system and method of starting fuel cell system
A reaction gas is supplied to a cathode side of a fuel cell at a flow rate higher than that for a usual operation of the fuel cell to thaw the fuel cell system at startup in a freezing state of the system when the system has experienced a temperature lower than an operation temperature of an anode off-gas. A thawing state of the system is detected on the basis of at least two of temperatures of the anode off-gas, a cathode off gas, and a radiator liquid of the fuel cell to control supplying the reaction gas to the cathode side at a usual operation flow rate. An actual increase rate of the temperature of the anode off-gas is obtained and an increase rate of the temperature of the anode off-gas is calculated from the self-heating value to be compared to determine the thawing state. |
| US07666530B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus using the same
Embodiments of the invention relate to easily achieving a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with high reliability and a magnetic recording apparatus with high recording density by improving the magnetic properties and surface smoothness of the soft magnetic underlayer and, moreover, enhancing adhesion with the substrate. In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording media composing a substrate, an adhesion layer formed on the substrate in which a second underlayer is laminated on a first underlayer, a soft magnetic underlayer formed on the second underlayer, an intermediate layer formed on the soft magnetic underlayer, a perpendicular recording layer formed on the intermediate layer, wherein the aforementioned first underlayer consists of an alloy composed of at least two elements selected from the group of Ni, Al, Ti, Ta, Cr, and Co, and the aforementioned second underlayer consists of Ta or a Ta-based amorphous structured alloy containing at least one element selected from the group of Ni, Al, Ti, Cr, and Zr. |
| US07666525B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device comprising a polymer layer containing a polymide having triphenylamine derivative unit
An organic EL device has a layer containing a polyimide having a triphenylamine derivative (TPD) unit. The use of the polyimide as a polymer layer material can ensure solvent selectivity in coating the light-emitting layer and the organic EL device exhibits good luminance efficiency even after a prolonged period use. |
| US07666519B2 |
High temperature sliding alloy
A high temperature sliding alloy has a matrix 1 of a Ni-base alloy or a heat resistant Fe-base alloy, and contains, by mass, 1 to 35% hard particles consisting of a Co-base intermetallic compound dispersed therein, wherein 0.1 to 10% Ag is dispersed in the matrix. Ag is a soft metal, forms an ultrathin film on a sliding surface caused by sliding with a mating member, and presents a lubricating effect. When Ag forms the ultrafine film and spreads on the sliding surface, it works little as a frictional force against the mating member due to its low shear resistance, and accordingly can achieve a low coefficient of friction. |
| US07666509B2 |
Resin composition, prepreg and metal-foil-clad laminate
A resin composition excellent in heat resistance after moisture absorption, lead-free solder reflow properties, dimensional stability and electrical characteristics for high-multilayer and high-frequency-capable printed wiring boards, which composition comprises a bisphenol A type epoxy resin (a) having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a secondary hydroxyl group amount of 0.4 meq/g or less, a novolak type epoxy resin (b) at least two epoxy groups per molecule, a cyanate ester resin (c) having at least two cyanate groups per molecule and spherical silica having an average particle diameter of 4 μm or less, wherein the equivalent ratio of cyanate groups/epoxy groups in the resin composition is in the range of 0.7 to 1.45, and a prepreg and a metal-foil-clad laminate each of which comprises the resin composition. |
| US07666505B2 |
Synthetic microspheres comprising aluminosilicate and methods of making same
A synthetic microsphere having a low alkali metal oxide content and methods of forming the microsphere and its components are provided. The synthetic microsphere is substantially chemically inert and thus a suitable replacement for natural cenospheres, particularly in caustic environments such as cementitious mixtures. The synthetic microsphere can be made from an agglomerate precursor that includes an aluminosilicate material, such as fly ash, a blowing agent such as sugar, carbon black, and silicon carbide, and a binding agent. The synthetic microsphere is produced when the precursor is fired at a pre-determined temperature profile so as to form either solid or hollow synthetic microspheres depending on the processing conditions and/or components used. |
| US07666503B2 |
Self-healing cables
A self-healing cable comprising a conductor and a water-swellable composition surrounding said conductor is disclosed. When the cable is damaged and water ingress reaches the water-swellable composition, the water-swellable composition expands and fills in any void, puncture or crack present, thus sealing the damage in the cable.In one embodiment, the water-swellable composition is formed from an admixture of a substantially non-water-swellable polymer and a water-swellable filler.In another embodiment, the water-swellable composition is formed from a water-swellable polymer. |
| US07666501B2 |
Poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) bi-constituent filaments
This invention relates to poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(alpha-hydroxy acid) biconstituent filaments, methods for making the same and end uses thereof. |
| US07666499B2 |
High modulus polyamide fibers
A process for preparing high initial modulus and high tensile strength polyamide fibers is described. The process comprises complexing the polyamide with a Lewis acid, dry-jet wet spinning the complexed fibers, drying the spun fibers for a period of time, drawing the fibers, and soaking the fibers in solvent to remove the Lewis acid. High molecular weight nylon 6,6 fibers prepared according to the described process show initial moduli of up to 30.1 GPa and tenacities of up to 2.5 GPa. |
| US07666498B2 |
Print methodology for applying polymer materials to roofing materials to form nail tabs or reinforcing strips
A method of making a composite roofing material and the resulting material by depositing nail tabs made of a thermoplastic, thermosetting, adhesive or elastomer material, in a liquid state, onto the base substrate of the composite roofing material or onto the saturated or coated roofing material, or onto a transfer surface to be pressed or laminated onto the roofing material. A preferred embodiment transfers the nail tabs onto an engraved transfer impression roll and uses a pressurized applicator to inject the viscous tab material into engraved patterns depressed in raised areas of the impression roll., then deposits the material onto the roofing material. A preferred embodiment also includes the thermoplastic or thermosetting material in a liquid or viscous state hardened or cured by either its exposure to the air or by the use of ultra-violet or visible light. |
| US07666496B2 |
Micro-sintered node ePTFE structure
The ePTFE structure includes an ePTFE structure which has a node and fibril micro-structure. The micro-structure includes specific nodes which are connected to the fibrils. One or more of the specific nodes are sintered and the fibrils are un-sintered. A method for making the ePTFE structure includes identifying and sintering one or more of the specific nodes. |
| US07666495B2 |
Uncoated facestock for adhesive-backed labels
Disclosed is an uncoated facestock product having enhanced printability, holdout, and edge wick properties, which are attained through a combination of manufacturing techniques including increased refining of the furnish, sizing, increased hard nip calendering, and the use of extended nip calendering. The resulting uncoated facestock product has the following properties: a density between about 0.7 and 1.0 g/cc and/or an ash content of less than about 15% as measured by the 525° C. standard test method; and a finished surface having a Sheffield smoothness between about 50 and 150 Sheffield units and a Parker Print Surf roughness (PPS-10) less than about 5.0 microns. |
| US07666493B2 |
Locally reinforced core structure for composite sandwich structure and method of producing the same
Producing a composite structure involves providing a core structure having a folded configuration with fold valleys forming open channels extending along the valleys, and then forming a local reinforcement zone in the core structure itself, before applying any cover layer onto the core structure. The method may further involve applying two cover layers on two opposite sides of the core structure to form a composite sandwich structure, after the local reinforcement zone has been formed in the core structure. A core structure preferably has a local reinforcement zone formed by two molded bodies, e.g. of cured synthetic resin or foam, arranged form-fittingly on the opposite sides of the core. |
| US07666490B1 |
Functional roll film and vacuum evaporation apparatus capable of producing the functional roll film
A functional roll film comprises a plastic film which is transparent and having gas barrier properties, and provided at its at least one surface with an inorganic oxide layer, and which can be wound; wherein a maximum thickness of the inorganic oxide layer is 1.5 times of a minimum thickness. |
| US07666483B2 |
Patio palm tree
An artificial palm tree assembly for insertion into a table, preferably a patio table, is provided. The artificial palm tree assembly comprises a palm head comprising a crown element and a plurality of tree elements attached to the crown element of the palm head. Each of the tree elements comprises a branch having a plurality of artificial palm tree leaves thereon. In addition, the artificial palm assembly further comprises a trunk element adapted for installation through an opening in the top of the table. The palm head connects to the trunk element via an attachment formed between a bottom area of the crown element and the top end of the trunk element. Moreover, artificial palm assembly preferably further comprises a base portion for providing support for the palm head and the trunk element of the palm tree assembly installed within the patio table. |
| US07666481B2 |
Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device having the same
A liquid crystal composition including 5 to 15% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 1, 25 to 40% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 2, 10 to 25% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 3, 20 to 30% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 4, 15 to 25% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 5, 0 to 10% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 6, 0 to 10% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 7, and 0 to 10% by weight of at least one compound of chemical formula 8. |
| US07666476B2 |
Process of metallizing polymeric foam to produce an anti-microbial and filtration material
A method of producing a metallized polymeric foam that produces an anti-microbial material using an advanced method of metallizing polymeric foam with a metal, such as silver. The foam material may be polyurethane, polyester, polyether, or a combination thereof. The method provides a 3-dimensional surface coating of the metal. The metallized substrate is durable and highly adherent. Such metallized foam is a highly effective filter and/or an anti-microbial product. The mechanism of filtration is mainly due to Vander Der Wal attraction. The anti-microbial activity may be due, in part, to the release of select metal ions as a response to stimuli. |
| US07666475B2 |
Method for forming interphase layers in ceramic matrix composites
A method for forming interphase layers in ceramic matrix composites. The method forms interphase layers in ceramic matrix composites thereby enabling higher matrix densities to be achieved without sacrificing crack deflection and/or toughness. The methods of the present invention involve the use fugitive material-coated fibers. These fibers are then infiltrated with a ceramic matrix slurry. Then, the fugitive material is removed and the resulting material is reinfiltrated with an interphase layer material. The ceramic matrix composite is then fired. Additional steps may be included to densify the ceramic matrix or to increase the strength of the interphase layer. The method is useful for the formation of three dimensional fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites envisioned for use in gas turbine components. |
| US07666467B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junctions using amorphous materials as reference and free layers
Magnetic tunnel junctions are constructed from a MgO or Mg—ZnO tunnel barrier and amorphous magnetic layers in proximity with, and on respective sides of, the tunnel barrier. The amorphous magnetic layer preferably includes Co and at least one additional element selected to make the layer amorphous, such as boron. Magnetic tunnel junctions formed from the amorphous magnetic layers and the tunnel barrier have tunneling magnetoresistance values of up to 200% or more. |
| US07666465B2 |
Introducing nanotubes in trenches and structures formed thereby
Methods of forming a microelectronic structure are described. Embodiments of those methods include providing a substrate comprising at least one opening, and then applying a nanotube slurry comprising at least one nanotube to the substrate, wherein the at least one nanotube is substantially placed within the at least one opening. |
| US07666464B2 |
RF measurement feedback control and diagnostics for a plasma immersion ion implantation reactor
A method of measuring ion dose in a plasma immersion ion implantation reactor during ion implantation of a selected species into a workpiece includes placing the workpiece on a pedestal in the reactor and feeding into the reactor a process gas comprising a species to be implanted into the workpiece, and then coupling RF plasma source power to a plasma in the reactor. It further includes coupling RF bias power to the workpiece by an RF bias power generator that is coupled to the workpiece through a bias feedpoint of the reactor and measuring RF current at the feedpoint to generate a current-related value, and then integrating the current-related over time to produce an ion implantation dose-related value. |
| US07666461B2 |
Diffusion-controllable coatings on medical device
The present invention provides a method for forming on a medical device, preferably an ophthalmic lens, more preferably a contact lens, a diffusion-controllable coating capable of controlling the out-diffusion or release of guest materials from the medical device. The method of the invention comprises: (1) applying one layer of clay and optionally one or more layers of polyionic materials onto the medical device; or (2) applying alternatively a layer of a first polyionic material and a layer of a second polyionic material having charges opposite of the charges of the first polyionic material onto the medical device and releasing the coated medical device into a releasing medium having a composition capable of imparting a desired permeability to the diffusion-controllable coating on the medical device. |
| US07666460B1 |
Process for producing an expanded foodstuff
A process for producing a set expanded foodstuff comprises the step of passing a soft expanded foodstuff composition at a first temperature and a first pressure into a setting region at a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than said first temperature. The soft expanded foodstuff composition is cooled and set in the setting region at a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure. A process for producing a set expanded foodstuff, comprises the steps of passing a soft foodstuff composition which may be in at least a partially expanded condition and which contains a vaporisable expandingagent, at a first temperature and a first pressure into a setting region at a second temperature, said second temperature being lower than said first temperature. The soft foodstuff composition is cooled and set in the setting region at a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure so as to expand or further expand the foodstuff composition by evaporation of the vaporisable expanding agent. |
| US07666456B2 |
Methods for separating tallow from boneless beef using liquid carbon dioxide and carbonic acid
A method includes combining ground beef with liquid that contains carbon dioxide. The ground beef and liquid are added to a vessel. The ground beef contains relative light and heavy components. The components that are predominantly lean beef will settle to the bottom of the liquid, and components that are predominantly fat will rise to the surface of the liquid. The separated components having predominantly lean beef can be removed from the liquid as a reduced fat ground beef product. The method can be practiced with any material containing fat, including plants and animals. |
| US07666454B2 |
Cosmetic composition comprising an essential oil extracted from Helichrysum italicum
An antiwrinkle cosmetic composition comprising a substantially purified essential oil extracted from flower tops of Helichrysum italicum and a method of treating wrinkles in skin comprising applying on the skin an effective quantity of a cosmetic composition. |
| US07666452B2 |
Beverage comprising cathechins and caffeine
A beverage is prepared, which is a beverage containing catechins in ester form (A, mg/L), catechins in free form (B, mg/L), and caffeine (C, mg/L), the contents thereof being (A+B)=500 to 6000 mg/L (1) (A)/(A+B)=0.7 to 1.0 (2) (A)/(C)=6 to 27, (3) such that a high concentration of catechins with high biological functionality, improved flavor and improved product quality with low occurrence of sediment is maintained. |
| US07666450B2 |
Herbal compositions for the regression of chronic inflammatory skin disorders
Herbal compositions that, when used in an effective amount, are suitable for the regression of chronic inflammatory skin disorders, including eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. The compositions, formulated as ointments, oils and shampoos, are comprised of a non-aqueous extract of Wrightia tinctoria, an extract of Tragia involucrata L., extracts of Salix L., Cocos nucifera, and pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable excipients suitable for topical use on humans. |
| US07666448B2 |
Skin cleansing article
A skin care article including a carrier and a moist application that includes partially hydrolyzed fucoidan. The partially hydrolyzed fucoidan may by sulfonated. The present invention also discloses a method of making a skin care article by partially hydrolyzing fucoidan, mixing it with a base and applying it to a carrier. The carrier may be flushable. |
| US07666441B2 |
Allergenic proteins and peptides from dog dander and uses therefor
Isolated nucleic acids encoding allergens of Canis familiaris, Can f I or Can f II, are disclosed. A cDNA encoding a peptide having a Can f I activity and a predicted molecular weight of about 19,200 daltons is also described. A cDNA encoding a peptide having Can f II activity and a predicted molecular weight of about 18,200 daltons is also disclosed. The nucleic acids can be used as probes to detect the presence of Can f I or Can f II nucleic acid in a sample or for the recombinant production of petides having a Can f I or Can f II activity. Peptides having a Can f I or Can f II activity can be used in compositions suitable for pharmaceutical administration or methods of diagnosing sensitivity to dog dander. |
| US07666438B1 |
Multicomponent vaccines
Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as ca capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines. |
| US07666435B2 |
Treatment of fine wrinkles with clostridia neurotoxins
Methods of using clostridial toxins and other biological agents to thin skin and control fine wrinkles in humans are provided. In preferred embodiments the methods provide beneficial effects in humans. |
| US07666432B2 |
Methods of suppressing fibrosis and fibrocyte formation
The present invention relates to the ability of SAP to suppress the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. It also relates to the ability of IL-12, laminin-1, cross-linked IgG and IgG aggregates to suppress the differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes. Methods and compositions for suppressing differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes using these proteins are provided. These methods are useful in a variety of applications including treatment and prevention of fibrosing diseases such as scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis and asthma. Finally, the invention includes assays for detecting the ability of various agents to modulate monocyte differentiation into fibrocytes and to detect monocyte defects. Such assays may also be used to diagnose scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis, or other fibrosing diseases. |
| US07666429B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding a house dust mite allergen Der P III, and uses therefor
Isolated nucleic acids encoding an allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Der p III, are disclosed. A cDNA encoding a peptide having a Der p III activity and a predicted molecular weight of about 24,985 daltons is also described. The nucleic acids can be used as probes to detect the presence of Der p III nucleic acid in a sample or for the recombinant production of peptides having an activity of Der p III. Peptides having an activity of Der p III can be used in compositions suitable for pharmaceutical administration or methods of diagnosing sensitivity to house dust mites. |
| US07666426B2 |
Method for immune response eliciting in a mammal
The invention relates to immunology, in particular to methods for influencing the immune system, and may be useful in immunotherapy for diseases of humans and animals, including therapy for oncological, autoimmune, and viral diseases. The invention comprises exposure of tumor cells obtained ex vivo or pathological cells of a non-tumorous nature or of a fraction of a biological fluid of a mammal containing viruses or bacteria to radiation of the optical range in the presence or absence of photochemical agents or treatment of said cells, viruses, or bacteria by other physical factors or chemical substances known in the art. The cells of suspensions containing viruses or bacteria are administered into the lymphatic system of said mammal. Treated cells or suspensions obtained from an exogenous source and possessing their biologically activity before the treatment may also be administered endolymphatically. The method of the invention enhances the efficacy and usability of immunotherapy. |
| US07666421B2 |
Methods of treatment of autoimmune diseases using humanized immunoglobulin reactive with B7-2
The invention relates to a humanized anti-B7-2 antibody that comprises a variable region of nonhuman origin and at least a portion of an immunoglobulin of human origin. The invention also pertains to methods of treatment for various autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases by administering humanized anti-B7-2 and/or anti-B7-1 antibodies. |
| US07666418B2 |
Method for treating Th2-mediated disease
A recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with an extracellular domain of human CCR4; a DNA which encodes the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for producing the recombinant antibody or the antibody fragment thereof; a method for immunologically detecting CCR4, a method for immunologically detecting a cell which expressed CCR4 on the cell surface, a method for depleting a cell which expresses CCR4 on the cell surface, and a method for inhibiting production of Th2 cytokine, which comprise using the recombinant antibody according or antibody fragment thereof; a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for Th2-mediated immune diseases; and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent for a blood cancer. |
| US07666416B2 |
Mammalian cell culture process
The present invention relates to novel process for the preparation of glycoproteins by mammalian-cell culture wherein the sialic acid content of the glycoprotein' produced is controlled over a broad range of values by manipulating the cell culture environment. The invention provides for processes in which the sialic acid content of the glycoprotein is modified by changes in cell culture parameters which affect cell specific productivity. Preferred embodiments of the invention include cell culture processes in the osmolality of the cell culture is controlled as well as the concentration of a transcription enhancer during the production phase of the cell culture. The invention further provides for novel preparations of-soluble type 1 tumor necrosis factor immunoglobulin G1 and their uses in the treatment of inflammatory or immune related disorders. |
| US07666413B2 |
Method of reducing viscosity of high concentration protein formulations
The present application concerns concentrated protein formulations with reduced viscosity, which are particularly suitable for subcutaneous administration. The application further concerns a method for reducing the viscosity of concentrated protein formulations. |
| US07666411B2 |
Methods of treating and preventing colitis involving IL-13 and NK-T cells
Method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of colitis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that modulates IL-13 activity (FIG. 3). The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of colitis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a substance that modulates NK-T cell activity. The invention also provides for the screening of substances that treat or prevent the inflammatory response of colitis. |
| US07666408B2 |
Angiotensin peptide-carrier conjugates and uses thereof
The present invention provides conjugates of peptide derivatives of the mammalian peptide hormones angiotensinogen, angiotensin I and angiotensin II, presented in a repetitive scaffold by coupling the peptide derivatives to a carrier, particularly a virus-like particle (VLP). The invention also provides methods of producing such conjugates, and immunotherapeutic uses of the resulting immunogen conjugates for the therapy and prophylaxis of conditions associated with the renin-activated angiotensin system. |
| US07666399B2 |
Pesticidal fertilizer
A composition is provided that includes in combination fertilizer particles inclusive of a plant nutrient component and a binder inhibitive of particle disintegration. The fertilizer particles are mixed with and dispersed in concert with bait particles attractive to a pest and inclusive of a pesticide or pest reproduction control agent. The bait particles remain sufficiently devoid of adherent fertilizer particle fragments so as to remain attractive to a target pest. Composition homogeneity is maintained by density matching between the fertilizer particles and bait particles or compensating for differences in density by sizing the lower density particles larger than the higher density particles. |
| US07666393B2 |
Methods for assessing antiangiogenic agents
We have discovered that endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are particularly suitable for use in a sensitive assay for antiangiogenic factors. We have found that EPC mobilization and differentiation is greatly inhibited by antiangiogenic factors as evidenced in vivo by VEGF inducing a massive mobilization of EPC into the blood circulation which effect is significantly inhibited by endostatin treatment, and, in vitro, human blood-derived EPC forming adherent colonies, which colonies, in the presence of angiogenic factors, give rise to differentiated EC, and which differentiation is disrupted and cell growth is inhibited in the presence of angiostatin and endostatin. |
| US07666388B2 |
Multi-metal-nitrogen compounds for use in hydrogen storage materials
There is disclosed a multi-metal-nitrogen compound for use in hydrogen storage materials. The compound comprising two dissimilar metal atoms and a nitrogen atom. The multi-metal-nitrogen compound being capable of absorbing hydrogen at an absorption temperature and pressure, and of desorbing 60% or more by weight of said absorbed hydrogen at a desorption temperature and pressure. |
| US07666387B2 |
Carbonate thermochemical cycle for the production of hydrogen
The present invention is directed to a thermochemical method for the production of hydrogen from water. The method includes reacting a multi-valent metal oxide, water and a carbonate to produce an alkali metal-multi-valent metal oxide compound, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. |
| US07666384B2 |
Stable chlorine dioxide tablet
Provided is a stable solid composition that produces chlorine dioxide upon contact with water. |
| US07666379B2 |
Process and apparatus for removing Bronsted acid impurities in binary halides
A process and apparatus is provided for the purification of binary halide fluid. The process and apparatus purifies the binary halide fluid by selectively removing Bronsted acid impurities and/or volatile oxygen containing impurities present in the binary halide. A regenerable adsorbent polymer is utilized to remove the Bronsted acid impurities from the binary halide fluid and a volatile oxide adsorbent having a specific adsorption capacity for the volatile oxide impurity is utilized to remove the volatile oxide from the binary halide when in gaseous form. |
| US07666377B2 |
Method for the removal of carbon monoxide from a gas mixture
The present invention discloses a method for removing carbon monoxide (CO) from a gas mixture containing CO including contacting the gas mixture with a nano-gold catalyst to reduce the CO content in the gas mixture by CO selective adsorption/oxidation, water gas shift reaction or CO selective oxidation reaction. The nano-gold catalyst includes a solid support and gold deposited on the support, wherein the deposited gold has a size less than 10 nm, and the support is a mixed metal hydroxide and oxide having the following formula: M(OH)qOy Wherein M is Ti, Fe, Co, Zr, or Ni; q is 0.1-1.5; and q+2y=z, wherein z is the valence of M. |
| US07666376B2 |
Diesel particulate filter comprising a finely dispersed diesel particulate catalyst
The invention relates to a device for the, (in particular continuous), oxidation of particulates from the exhaust gases of diesel motors. Said device consists of an open-pored body as a particle filter, on whose surface an oxidation catalyst is finely dispersed. The device is characterized in that from an exhaust gas temperature as low as 150° C., the catalyst causes the oxidation of particulates attached to the filter using the residual oxygen of the exhaust gas, thus keeping the filter body continuously free of particulates during almost all the operating conditions of the motor. |
| US07666374B2 |
Method for cleaning exhaust gases produced by a sintering process for ores and/or other metal-containing materials in metal production
The invention relates to a process for cleaning exhaust gases produced by a sintering process of metal-containing waste. The sintering exhaust gas includes one or more harmful substances which are eliminated in at least two steps by at least one adsorption and/or absorption agent in a single moving bed in a moving bed reactor system. The moving bed includes a particle layer (stage I) disposed above a flow input area and below an adsorption layer (stage II) of the moving bed. One or more harmful substances in the sintering exhaust gas are absorptively or adsorptively bound to potassium and/or sodium compounds and the harmful substances are trapped by adhesion in the flow input area or the Particle layer (stage I) of the moving bed. The substantial removal of NOx and the adsorptive or absorptive removal of dioxins and furans takes place in the adsorption layer (stage II) in the moving bed. |
| US07666371B2 |
Method for recovering metal values from metal-containing materials using high temperature pressure leaching
The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and other metal values from metal-containing materials through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with the various aspects of the present invention, metal-containing pregnant leach solutions from pressure leaching operations need not be significantly diluted to facilitate effective metal recovery using solvent extraction and electrowinning. |
| US07666370B2 |
Sodium salt recycling process for use in wet reprocessing process of spent nuclear fuel
The present disclosure relates to a process for recycling a sodium salt by decomposition of a sodium nitride liquid waste, comprising a neutralization step in which a nitric acid liquid waste or an off-gas having nitric acid dissolved therein which is produced through a wet reprocessing process comprising a dissolution step for dissolving a spent nuclear fuel in nitric acid is neutralized by adding or contacting the nitrate liquid waste or the off-gas to or with at least one sodium salt selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrogencarbonate and sodium carbonate, thereby yielding a sodium nitrate liquid waste; a sodium nitrate-decomposition step in which the sodium nitrate liquid waste is reductively decomposed with a reducing agent, thereby decomposing sodium nitrate into a nitrogen gas and the sodium salt; and a recycle step for recycling the sodium salt into the neutralization step or wet reprocessing process. |
| US07666369B2 |
System and method for recycling sterilant gas
A system for recovery and reutilization of sterilant gas mixture from a sterilizer chamber includes a storage tank in gaseous communication with a sterilizer chamber via a gas recovery assembly, wherein after sterilization the gas recovery assembly evacuates the sterilant gas mixture to the storage recovery tank. The system also includes an inert purge gas supply adapted to supply a purge gas to the sterilizer chamber after the sterilant gas mixture is withdrawn to the storage recovery tank, wherein the gas recovery assembly evacuates an additional portion of the purge gas from the sterilizer chamber to the storage tank to enrich the gas mixture for later reutilization in subsequent sterilization cycles. |
| US07666367B1 |
Method for a burner and a corresponding device
The invention relates to a device equipped with a burner for combusting a fuel/oxidant mixture inside a combustion chamber in which a material (3, 3′, 3″, 3′″) is provided that endures a maximum temperature. The inventive device also comprises one or more supply lines (25, 26) for the fuel as well as for the oxidant which are provided for supplying the same into the combustion chamber. The inventive device is characterized in that it is designed for carrying out a combustion with a combustion temperature of the fuel/oxidant mixture that exceeds the maximum temperature. The device is designed in such a way that at least one additional supply line (30) is provided via which an additional gas having, in particular, a low calorific value can be supplied to the combustion chamber. Said additional gas enables the temperature during combustion to be lowered to a value that is less than the maximum temperature. |
| US07666364B2 |
FCC closed cyclone with snorkel
Thermal cracking in a riser cracking, closed cyclone, fluidized catalytic cracking process is reduced. A snorkel or flow conduit having an inlet just above the catalyst stripper moves stripper vapor into the closed cyclone. The system preferably operates without a stripper cap, relying on fluid dynamics to isolate stripper vapor from upper parts of the vessel containing the riser outlet. Preferably the snorkel is at least partially supported by, and ideally is inside, the primary cyclone dipleg. Reduced residence time of stripper vapor in the vessel containing the stripper and the closed cyclone system reduces thermal cracking of stripper vapor. |
| US07666360B2 |
Multi-through hole testing plate for high throughput screening
A method for holding samples for analysis and an apparatus thereof includes a testing plate with a pair of opposing surfaces and a plurality of holes. Each of the holes extends from one of the opposing surfaces to the other one of the opposing surfaces. The holes are arranged in groups, where each group has at least two rows and two columns of holes. The groups are arranged in sets, where each set has at least two rows and two columns of groups. To analyze samples, at least one of the opposing surfaces of the testing plate is immersed in a solution to be analyzed. A portion of the solution enters openings for each of the holes in the immersed opposing surface. Once the holes are filled with solution, the testing plate is removed and is held above a supporting surface. Surface tension holds the solution in each of the holes. The solution in one or more of the holes is then analyzed and the solution in one of these holes is identified for further study. The location of the identified solution is marked based upon its location within a particular set and group of holes. |
| US07666356B2 |
Trace sampling
A trace sampling detection system includes a gathering device configured to gather particles through a handle-bar, a gate and an air-stream gatherer. A collection tube is configured to deposit gathered particles from the gathering device onto a portion of a sample media. A carousel wheel that includes the sample media is configured to rotate the sample wheel such that the portion of the sample media including the gathered particles is presented to an exothermic decomposition detector that detects, through an infrared sensor, the decomposition of the gathered particles. |
| US07666355B2 |
Automated analyzer
The present invention provides a bar-code driven, completely automated, microplate-based analyzer system for performing chemical, biochemical or biological assays. The analyzer is a modular, bench-top instrument that compactly integrates subsystems for sample dispensing, liquid handling, microplate transport, thermal incubation, vortexing, solid phase separation and optical reading. An internal processor is included for automating the instrument, and a user interface to facilitate communication with the operator via a touch-sensitive liquid-crystal display (LCD), and communicating with a remote network via multiple protocols. The analyzer includes firmware resident within the processing system and the user interface allows the operator to select pre-defined assay batch protocols and the user interface is configured in such as way so as to restrict an operator from programming the firmware. |
| US07666353B2 |
Aluminum-silicon alloy having reduced microporosity
An aluminum silicon die cast alloy having a very low iron content and relatively high strontium content that prevents soldering to dies into die casting process. The alloys of the present invention also have a modified eutectic silicon and modified iron morphology, when iron is present, resulting in low microporosity and high impact properties. The alloy comprises 6-22% by weight silicon, 0.05 to 0.20% by weight strontium and the balance aluminum. Preferably, the alloy of the present invention contains in weight percent: 6-20% silicon, 0.05-0.10% strontium, 0.40% maximum iron and most preferably 0.20% maximum iron, 4.5% maximum copper, 0.50% maximum manganese, 0.60% maximum magnesium, 3.0% maximum zinc, balance aluminum. On cooling from the solution temperature, the strontium serves to modify the eutectic silicon structure as well as create an iron phase morphology change if iron is present, facilitating feeding through the aluminum interdendritic matrix. This, in turn, creates a finished die cast product with extremely low levels of microporosity defects. The strontium content also appears to create a non-wetting monolayer of strontium atoms on the surface of a molten casting, preventing die soldering, even at very low iron contents. The alloy may be used to cast any type of object and is particularly suited for casting outboard marine propellers, driveshaft housings, gear case housings, Gimbel rings and engine blocks. |
| US07666352B2 |
Iridium-based alloy with high heat resistance and high strength and process for producing the same
An iridium-based alloy which has L12-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein and has a basic composition including, in terms of mass proportion, 0.1 to 9.0% Al, 1.0 to 45% W, and Ir as the remainder. The component system containing 0.1 to 1.5% Al has L12-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein. The component system containing 1.5 to 9.0%, excluding 1.5%, Al has L12-type and B2-type intermetallic compounds dispersedly precipitated therein. Part of the Ir may be replaced with an element (X) (Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, or Ru) and part of the Al and W may be replaced with an element (Z) (Ni, Ti, Nb, Zr, V, Ta, Hf, or Mo). The iridium-based alloy, which contains L12-type intermetallic compounds [1r3(Al,W) and [(Ir, X)3(Al, W, Z)] dispersedly precipitated therein, has a high melting point. The lattice constant mismatch between the L12-type intermetallic compounds, i.e., [Ir3 (Al, W)] and [(Ir, X)3(Al, W, Z)], and the matrix is small and, hence, the iridium-based alloy is excellent in high-temperature strength and structural stability. |
| US07666348B2 |
Production method of electrode for cold cathode fluorescent lamp
A production method includes: preparing a metal powder composed of one of Mo and W, and a binder composed of a thermoplastic resin and a wax; mixing the metal powder and 40 to 60 volume % of the binder with respect to the metal powder into a mixed powder; and heating and kneading the mixed powder into a raw material. The production method further includes: supplying a predetermined of the raw material in a hole of a die; and compacting the raw material into a cup-shaped green compact by pressing the raw material by a punch, the cup-shaped green compact having a cylindrical portion, a bottom formed at one end portion thereof, and an opening formed at another end portion thereof. The production method further includes: ejecting the cup-shaped green compact from the hole of the die; removing the binder from the ejected cup-shaped green compact by heating; and sintering the cup-shaped green compact by heating the green compact and diffusion-bonding particles of the green compact. |
| US07666345B2 |
Method and apparatus for melting metal
An apparatus for melting a metal load includes a furnace having a melting chamber with a hearth and a molten metal outlet. The apparatus further includes non-regenerative burners that are operative to fire into the melting chamber, and regenerative burners that also are operative to fire into the melting chamber. The method includes the steps of firing non-regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load, and also firing regenerative burners into the chamber to provide heat for melting the load. |
| US07666344B2 |
Thermal shock resistant ceramic composites
The disclosed invention relates to ceramic matrix composites with ceramic fiber reinforcements. |
| US07666343B2 |
Process and apparatus for producing sub-micron fibers, and nonwovens and articles containing same
A process and apparatus for producing sub-micron fibers, and more specifically a process and apparatus for effecting formation of sub-micron fibers by fibrillation of polymer films, and nonwoven materials and articles incorporating them. |
| US07666341B2 |
Screed mold method
A screed mold method for continuously or periodically molding thermoplastic material into a cushioning element is disclosed. |
| US07666340B2 |
Method and system for forming structural building blocks having a cured binding material therein
A method for fabricating structural building blocks having a cured binding material dispersed within block forming media thereof comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for depositing a volume of block-forming media within a media receiving cavity of block forming equipment. The block-forming media includes a curable binding material dispersed therein and curing of the curable binding material is caused by contact with a prescribed activation material. After or in conjunction with depositing the volume of block-forming media, an operation is performed for depositing the prescribed activation material into the media receiving cavity. Such depositing of the prescribed activation material causing at least a portion of the prescribed activation material to be dispersed within the volume of the block-forming media. During depositing of the prescribed activation material or after depositing of the prescribed activation material is completed, an operation is performed for compressing the block-forming media within the media receiving cavity. |
| US07666338B2 |
Focused heat extrusion process for manufacturing powder coating compositions
An extrusion process for manufacturing powder coating compositions is disclosed. The process generally includes a shear mixing step done at ambient temperature and a focused heating step in which the shear mix is heated to a higher temperature for a shorter time than in conventional methods. The focused heating provides for a shorter heat history, resulting in enhanced coating properties. The mixture may be cooled before it leaves the extruder. |
| US07666335B2 |
Controlling warpage through melt rotation technology
Methods and apparatus control the direction and/or magnitude of warpage in formed plastic parts through strategic repositioning of the non-homogeneous melt conditions across the stream of a laminar flowing fluid flowing through a flow channel to a desirable state. This may be used in combination with more conventional process variables, such as control of material temperature, pack pressure, and pack time. The invention is particularly useful in any solidifying or non-solidifying runner, or flow channel used to make products from laminar flowing fluids. The runner may be a cold-runner or hot-runner system that flow a stream of laminar flowing material, such as thermosetting or thermoplastic plastic (melt) through at least one runner flowing a non-homogeneous melt, and extruded or packed into a single or multiple-cavity mold. The repositioning is achieved by the use of one or more fluid rotation devices, which can be of fixed or adjustable types, strategically positioned in the flow channel of the runner system to affect a desirable change in warpage as a result of the melt condition repositioning. |
| US07666332B2 |
Process for producing optical glass element
To provide a production process capable of making the transmittance of an optical glass element obtainable by press-molding a TeO2-containing glass high.A process for producing an optical glass element, which comprises press-molding a TeO2-containing glass, wherein the press-molding is carried out in an atmosphere in which the nitrogen partial pressure is at most 102 Pa. The above process for producing an optical glass element, wherein the face of a mold for the press-molding to be in contact with the glass is made of carbon. The above process for producing an optical glass element, wherein the molded glass obtained by the press-molding is held in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature within a range of at least a temperature lower by 50° C. than the glass transition point of the TeO2-containing glass and at most the softening point of the glass. |
| US07666331B2 |
Photochromic article
Describes an article, e.g., an optical article such as a lens, in which the article includes (a) a rigid substrate, e.g., a transparent ophthalmic substrate, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic substrate, having at least one surface suitable for accommodating a photochromic coating, and (b) a transparent photochromic coating comprising dendritic polymeric acrylate, e.g., polyester acrylate, on at least a portion of said surface of the substrate, the coating comprising a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic material, e.g., an organic photochromic material. |
| US07666329B2 |
Biasable transfer composition and member
The invention provides conductivity control agent comprised of a polymeric material containing hydroxyalkylphosphonium (2-hydoxyethoxycarbonyl) arylsulfonate salts. The conductivity control agents can be used with semi-conductive rolls, belts and other biasable members. The inclusion of the conductivity control agent in the polymeric or polyurethane elastomers extends the electrical life of the polyurethane biasable member in low humidity environments. Additionally, the resistivity of the elastomeric polyurethane or polymer on the biasable member is controlled to a desirable value by adjusting the conductivity control agent level in the polymeric or polyurethane elastomers. |
| US07666328B2 |
Thick film conductor composition(s) and processing technology thereof for use in multilayer electronic circuits and devices
The invention relates to thick film conductor compositions which are useful in application to both via-fill and/or line conductors to manufacture of Low Temperature Co-fireable Ceramic (LTCC) devices and other Multilayer Interconnect (MLI) ceramic composite circuits such as Photosensitive Tape On Substrates (PTOS); gold, silver and mixed metal multilayer circuits and devices. The invention is useful for forming microwave and other high frequency circuit components selected from the group comprising: antenna, filters, baluns, beam former, I/O's, couplers, via feedthroughs, EM coupled feedthroughs, wirebond connection, and transmission lines. |
| US07666327B1 |
Multifunctional cementitious nanocomposite material and methods of making the same
A high performance multifunctional cementitious nanocomposite material is made by adding a nano admixture to the water used in a conventional cementitious material manufacturing process. The nano admixture is made by dispersing nanomaterials in a solvent and sonicating the mixture, adding a hydrophilic emulsifier, thickener, additive or cellulose derived compound to hot water, where it separates and expands, cooling the water, causing the compound to dissolve, and then adding the solvent and nanomaterial mixture to the water and mechanically mixing. The contact between the nanomaterials and the surrounding matrix changes with applied stress, affecting the volume electrical response of the finished nanocomposite material. By measuring the electrical resistance of the material, its structural health, as well as the stress applied to it, can be monitored. A bridge made with the material is monitored for structural integrity and for the weight, speed, and location of traffic over the bridge. |
| US07666326B2 |
Conductive composition and conductive cross-linked product, capacitor and production method thereof, and antistatic coating material, antistatic coating, antistatic film, optical filter, and optical information recording medium
A conductive composition comprises a π conjugated conductive polymer, a dopant, and a nitrogen-containing aromatic cyclic compound. A capacitor comprises an anode composed of a porous material of valve metal, a dielectric layer formed by oxidizing the surface of the anode, and a cathode provided on the dielectric layer and having a solid electrolyte layer containing a π conjugated conductive polymer, which comprises an electron donor compound containing an electron donor element provided between the dielectric layer and the cathode. Another capacitor is based on the above-described capacitor, wherein the solid electrolyte layer further comprises a dopant and a nitrogen-containing aromatic cyclic compound. An antistatic coating material comprises a π conjugated conductive polymer, a solubilising polymer containing an anion group and/or an electron attractive group, a nitrogen-containing aromatic cyclic compound, and a solvent. An antistatic coating is formed by applying the antistatic coating material. |
| US07666321B2 |
Method for decapsulating package
A method for decapsulating a package is provided. The method comprises steps of providing a package having a chip therein, wherein the chip has an active surface and a rear surface. Further, the package further comprises a heat sink, a plurality of solder bumps, a substrate, an underfill and a plurality of solder balls. The method further comprises removing the heat sink and removing the substrate together with the solder balls. A dry etching process is performed to remove a portion of the underfill. A wet etching process is performed to remove the rest portion of the underfill. A thermal process solder bump removal process is performed to melt the solder bumps and then a solder bump removal process is performed to remove the melted solder bumps from the active surface of the chip. |
| US07666318B1 |
Process, method and system for removing mercury from fluids
There are provided methods and processes that employ a mercury-adsorbing granular material as a sorbent to remove mercury from fluids. The fluids can be waste fluids that result from manufacturing, processing, or other treatment processes or systems. The fluids can also be fluids that are treated in their natural state. The fluids to be treated may include water, air, sludge, slurries, gases from processing or furnaces flues, gaseous flows, liquid flows, and other gases and liquids. In one excellent form of the invention, the mercury-adsorbing material includes taconite tailings. |
| US07666317B2 |
Methods and systems for disinfecting potable water supplies
The invention described herein contains two aspects, usable together or separately, that address the needs in the art described above, namely a first aspect that relates to the provision of a transportable water purification system that can be contained on a passenger transport vehicle, and that can use, but does not require, continuous, real-time monitoring, and a second aspect that relates to the use of UV purification of the water as it is uploaded to the passenger transport vehicle after a single pass through the UV chamber. |
| US07666311B2 |
Flocculating agent
Among flocculating agents reacting in a neutral region and also leaving treated water also in neutral region, a flocculating agent is proposed, which can be used simply and may carry out effective cleaning of mud water in particular.A flocculating agent is proposed, which is a flocculating agent in powder form and exhibiting a pH of 5 to 9 when added to pure water, containing in a mixed state an acidic powder comprising porous particles obtained by adsorbing a metal constituent and an alkaline powder comprising porous particles obtained by adsorbing calcium phosphate. |
| US07666306B2 |
Adsorbent, method for producing same, and method for processing oil-containing waste water
The present invention provides an adsorbent comprising calcined coke with a BET surface area of 20 m2/g or less which is obtained by calcining a particular carbonaceous material at 1000 to 1500° C. and which is preferably obtained by calcining coal coke, petroleum coke or charcoal coke at 1000 to 1500° C. The adsorbent of the present invention exhibits adequate adsorbent ability with respect to an oil component in oil-containing wastewater even when the oil-containing wastewater is an emulsion or contains a low concentration of the oil component, and also stably maintains the adsorbent ability over a long period of time. |
| US07666304B2 |
Magnetic fluid conditioner
A fluid treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes a casing through which fluid flows, an array of magnets in the casing, arranged substantially perpendicular to the side of the casing and therefore substantially perpendicular to the main flow of fluid through the casing, wherein the magnets within the array which lie substantially within the same perpendicular plane are spaced apart and arranged in alternating polarity, and means to support the array of magnets such that the space between the magnets within the array which lie substantially within the same perpendicular plane are substantially equal distances from the adjacent magnets to permit flow of fluid therethrough. In a one arrangement, the casing includes an outer casing made from a material which substantially restricts the magnetic field within the casing. An inner casing is made from a non-magnetic material such as stainless steel. Another arrangement of a fluid treatment apparatus includes an array of magnets in the casing, arranged in planes substantially perpendicular to the side of the casing and therefore substantially perpendicular to the main flow of fluid through the casing. |
| US07666299B2 |
Extractive distillation process for recovering aromatics from petroleum streams
A process for recovering polar hydrocarbons from non-polar hydrocarbons, such as aromatics from non-aromatics, naphthenes from paraffins and isoparaffins, or olefins from paraffins and isoparaffins, in feed mixtures containing at least a measurable amount of heavier hydrocarbons. This improved extractive distillation (ED) process recovers aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, and xylenes from the C6-C8 petroleum streams containing a measurable amount of C9+ hydrocarbons. The ED process also recovers benzene and toluene from the C6-C7 petroleum streams containing a measurable amount of C8+ hydrocarbons. The ED solvent utilized to recover and purify the aromatic hydrocarbons from the petroleum stream with a heavier than intended feedstock of hydrocarbons is also regenerated and recovered. |
| US07666297B2 |
Oxidative desulfurization and denitrogenation of petroleum oils
An improved oxidative process that employ a robust, non-aqueous, and oil-soluble organic peroxide oxidant for effective desulfurization and denitrogenation of hydrocarbons including petroleum fuels, hydrotreated vacuum gas oil (VGO), non-hydrotreated VGO, petroleum crude oil, synthetic crude oil from oil sand, and residual oil. Even at low concentrations and without the assistance of catalysts, the non-aqueous organic peroxide oxidant is extremely active and fast in oxidizing the sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the hydrocarbon feedstocks. Furthermore, the process generates a valuable organic acid by-product that is also used internally as the extractive solvent for effective removal of the oxidized sulfur and nitrogen from the hydrocarbons without the need of a final adsorption step. Novel process steps are also disclosed to substantially prevent yield loss in the oxidative process. |
| US07666294B2 |
Depressed freeze point kerosene fuel compositions and methods of making and using same
A fuel composition useful for operating a jet engine or a diesel engine containing a petroleum derived kerosene fuel and a Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel is provided. The Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel contains normal and iso-paraffins in a weight ratio of greater than 1:1 and/or the freeze point of the composition is lower than the freeze points of both of the petroleum derived kerosene fuel and the Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fuel. |
| US07666293B2 |
Electrochemical reduction of halogenated 4-aminopicolinic acids
The selective electrochemical reduction of halogenated 4-aminopicolinic acids is improved by activating the cathode in the presence of the starting material, excess alkali metal hydroxide and an alkali metal chloride, bromide or sulfate. |
| US07666292B2 |
Method of manufacturing printed circuit board using imprinting process
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a printed circuit board using an imprinting process, in which a pattern having a large area can be uniformly formed using a plurality of molds, and the plurality of molds is sequentially removed, thereby solving problems occurring in release of the molds from an insulating layer. |
| US07666285B1 |
Portable water quality monitoring system
A disposable microsensor is designed, fabricated and tested for standard BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) measurements. A transparent Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) substrate is used for sensor fabrication. Standard lithographic procedures in addition to techniques like screen printing and electroplating are used to fabricate the sensor. A microbial strain of Trichosporon Cutaneum is immobilized over one pair of sensor electrodes while the other is used as a reference. Depending on the respiratory activities of the microbial strain in different samples, the BOD values of the samples can be measured in terms of difference between the output signals. The sensor layer is attached to an injection-molded passive microfluidic channel on the top. Advantages of the BOD microsensor include, but are not limited to, fast BOD measurement, disposability because of its low cost, chemically inert polymer substrate, flow-through sample injection scheme and integration of on-chip optics. |
| US07666282B2 |
Process for providing ethanol
The invention is a process for the purification of ethanol. In one embodiment the process includes boiling a degassed beer feed (106) in a pre-boiler (110) to provide a vapor by-pass fraction (112) that by-passes the conventional beer column and is fed into the rectifier column (124). The process allows free capacity in the rectifier column of new or established plants to be filled by ethanol-water vapor and/or condensate streams that do not originate from the beer column. |
| US07666281B2 |
Method and device for treating water
Purified water for special purposes is produced using a falling-film multieffect evaporator. From the feed water, each effect produces a steam phase and a water phase. The steam phase is used for heating in the subsequent evaporating step, whereby the steam phase condenses to product water, and the water phase becomes feed water for the subsequent evaporation step. According to the invention, the product water may be wholly or partly recycled to the initial feed water, allowing process startup and sterilisation of the plant without conducting hot product water to the drain. |
| US07666280B2 |
Coking drum
Coking drum 3, 4, especially for the manufacture of petroleum coke, which has an approximately cylindrical basic body, at least one inlet and at least two outlets, wherein there is arranged as shut-off member (11) at least at one outlet and/or at the or one inlet, a bridging pipe slide valve having two shut-off plates 27, 28. |
| US07666279B2 |
Structure for extreme thermal cycling
A structure for extreme thermal cycling has a support element that supports a vessel primarily by bearing and frictional forces rather than by welds. The support element has a bearing portion that tapers inwardly beneath a knuckle that separates a cylindrical section of the vessel from a sloped lower section. The bearing portion of the support element follows that slope, providing an extended area of contact between the support element and the vessel. An annular section of the support element can be heated and expanded before placing it around the cylindrical section of the vessel to provide pre-stressing. If required, a strap may extend downwardly from the vessel over an upper edge of the support element. |
| US07666277B2 |
Apparatus for forming an extended nip
Apparatus for forming an extended nip between a mating roll and a shoe roll for treating a product web, the shoe roll having a stationary carrier and a flexible roll shell which can rotate around the carrier and which, in the region of the extended nip, is supported on a hydrodynamically lubricated running surface of a press shoe guided on the carrier, for which purpose a device for applying lubricant to the inner side of the roll shell is provided, where, in an inlet region, the press shoe has a plurality of holes which are arranged transversely with respect to the machine running direction, are connected to a lubricant supply in order to be fed with lubricant and, for this purpose, end at the running surface, and the holes comprise restrictors whose resistance is designed for a pressure drop of 5 to 15 bar. |
| US07666264B2 |
Aircraft cleaner formula
A cleaning composition based on an aqueous or non-petroleum solvent, and useful for cleaning exterior surfaces such as aircraft exterior surfaces and other metal, glass, rubber and polymer surfaces possesses solvent-like properties with respect to greasy soils; inhibits corrosion and degradation of rubber; is biodegradable; forms a stable emulsion with water; remains optically clear and stable at multiple dilutions with water; and conforms to MIL-PRF 87937D. The composition includes at least one fatty acid methyl ester, at least one ethoxylated alcohol having an HLB ranging from about 10 to about 14, at least one alkyl polyglycoside having an HLB ranging from about 10 to about 14, at least one hydrotrope, an alkali metal silicate, at least one corrosion inhibitor in an amount effective to prevent corrosion on metals, and water. |
| US07666259B2 |
Screening and crystallization plates for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth
In one embodiment, a crystallization and screening plate comprises a plurality of cells open at a top and a bottom, a frame that defines the cells in the plate, and at least two films. The first film seals a top of the plate and the second film seals a bottom of the plate. At least one of the films is patterned to strongly pin the contact lines of drops dispensed onto it, fixing their position and shape. The present invention also includes methods and other devices for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth. |
| US07666258B2 |
Lightweight compositions and articles containing such
A lightweight cementitious composition containing from 22 to 90 volume percent of a cement composition and from 10 to 78 volume percent of particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.03 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3, where after the lightweight cementitious composition is set it has a compressive strength of at least 1700 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. The cementitious composition can be used to make concrete masonry units, construction panels, road beds and other articles and can be included as a layer on wall panels and floor panels and can be used in insulated concrete forms. Aspects of the lightweight cementitious composition can be used to make lightweight structural units. |
| US07666256B2 |
Amphoteric pigment dispersion containing ink formulations, methods of using ink formulations, and systems using ink formulations
Ink-jet ink sets, pigment-based ink formulations, methods of printing, and methods of enhancing print quality, are disclosed. One exemplary ink-jet ink set, among others, includes a pigment-based ink formulation at a first pH, including: a pigment, and an amphoteric dispersant having an isoelectric point; and a second ink formulation at a second pH, wherein the first pH and the second pH are each selected from an acidic pH and a basic pH, wherein the first pH and the second pH are not the same, and wherein the amphoteric dispersant has a higher isoelectric point than the first pH when the dispersant is acidic, and a lower isoelectric point than the first pH when the dispersant is basic. |
| US07666254B1 |
Borate compositions for wood preservation
A wood preservation composition comprising an unexpectedly efficacious combination of a boron compound and bifenthrin is disclosed. A method of preserving wood, as well as the preserved wood, are also disclosed. |
| US07666252B2 |
Method of purifying large quantity of exhaust gas containing dilute volatile hydrocarbons
A method of purifying an exhaust gas by way of an adsorption unit (adsorption columns 7a, 7b) including an adsorbent layer paced with precoated mesoporous active carbon capable of alternately switched operations of adsorption and desorption, wherein prior to the treatment by way of the adsorption unit, a concentration increase is effected by way of a pre-treatment unit (honeycomb rotor (11) or stationary honeycomb) including an adsorbent layer packed with precoated mesoporous active carbon for concentrating of any dilute volatile hydrocarbon contained in the exhaust gas. Consequently, there can be provided a method of purifying large amounts of exhaust gas with dilute volatile hydrocarbon concentration, in which without emission of carbon dioxide, any volatile hydrocarbon contained can be recovered with extreme easiness as a liquid. Further, there can be provided a purification method in which zero emission is attained with respect to volatile hydrocarbons. |
| US07666251B2 |
Carbon dioxide purification method
Method of purifying a feed stream containing carbon dioxide wherein the feed stream after having been compressed and dried is partly cooled and then used to reboil a stripping column. Thereafter, the feed stream is further cooled and expanded to a lower operational temperature of the stripping column. A carbon dioxide product stream composed of the liquid column bottoms of the stripping column is expanded at one or more pressures to generate refrigeration, then fully vaporized within the main heat exchanger and compressed by a compressor to produce a compressed carbon dioxide product. Refrigeration is recovered in the main heat exchanger from a column overhead stream extracted from the stripping column within the main heat exchanger either directly or indirectly by auxiliary processing in which carbon dioxide is further separated and optionally recycled back to the main compressor used in compressing the feed stream. |
| US07666248B2 |
Method of priming filter for molten metal
A method is described for priming an in-line molten metal filtration unit having a porous ceramic or refractory filter mounted substantially horizontally in a filter box. This filter box has an inlet for molten metal and an outlet for molten metal, the outlet being a closeable outlet in an exit well connecting to the downstream side of the filter. The method of the invention comprises the steps of adding a molten metal to the filter box sufficient to entirely cover the upstream side of the filter with a depth of molten metal and temporarily sealing the outlet in the exit well. A steadily increasing vacuum is then applied to the closed exit well at a rate between 0.1 and 10 kPa per second by withdrawing a stream of air from the exit well by means of a fan or air venturi until molten metal begins to flow through the filter. At that point the vacuum is quickly released and the molten metal outlet is opened. Once the filter has been primed in this manner, flow of metal through the filter continues while requiring only a relatively low head of molten metal on the inlet side of the filter. |
| US07666246B2 |
Particle dispersion copper alloy and method for producing the same
Hard phase particles including Co alloy particles, carbide alloy particles, and silicide particles are dispersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix composed of Cu self-fluxing alloy of a cladded portion. The cladded portion contains 6 to 15% by weight of Co, 3 to 8% by weight of one of Cr and Mo, 0.3 to 1% by weight of W, 0.5 to 1.8% by weight of Fe, 8 to 15% by weight of Ni, 0.08 to 0.2% by weight of C, 1.5 to 4% by weight of Si, 0.5 to 0.8% by weight of Al, and 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of P, and inevitable impurities and Cu as a balance. The hard phase particles have an average particle diameter of 8 to 20 μm and a particle size distribution width of 0.1 to 100 μm, and to occupy 10 to 20% in an arbitrary cross section of the cladded portion. |
| US07666238B2 |
Polishing composition
A polishing composition comprising an abrasive and water, wherein the polishing composition has an index of degree of sedimentation of 80 or more and 100 or less; a process for producing a substrate comprising polishing a substrate to be polished using the above-mentioned composition; a process for preventing clogging of a polishing pad comprising applying the above-mentioned composition; a process for preventing clogging of a polishing pad comprising applying the above-mentioned composition to polishing with a polishing pad for a nickel-containing object to be polished; and a process for preventing clogging of a polishing pad comprising applying a composition comprising a hydrophilic polymer having two or more hydrophilic groups in its molecule and a molecular weight of 300 or more, or a compound capable of dissolving nickel hydroxide at a pH of 8.0, and water to polishing with a polishing pad for a nickel-containing object to be polished. |
| US07666236B2 |
Hydrogen generator, method of shutting down operation of hydrogen generator, and fuel cell system
A hydrogen generator of the invention includes: a reformer for generating a hydrogen-rich gas from a feed gas and water by a reaction using a reforming catalyst body and sending it out from an outlet port; a material feed system for feeding the feed gas to the reformer; a burner for supplying, to the reforming catalyst body, heat generated by mixing a fuel gas with air and burning it; and an air supply system for supplying air to the burner; wherein, when purging an interior of the reformer using the feed gas in shutting down the hydrogen generator, an amount of the air supplied is increased to put out a flame of the burner, and a purge gas sent out from the outlet port by the purging is mixed and diluted with the air in the burner and is discharged outside. |
| US07666235B2 |
Microwave drying of coal
A method for drying coal using microwave energy to achieve a controlled aggregate moisture content target range without starting combustion or degrading the coking qualities of the coal. Coal feed stock is first separated into fine grade coal and one or more larger grades. The fine grade coal is loaded onto a conveyor as a bed of fixed depth. The fine grade coal is conveyed continuously through a microwave-energized heating chamber for drying. The fine grade coal is dried sufficiently so that when it is combined with the larger grade coals, the moisture content of the aggregate is within a target moisture content range. By volumetrically and uniformly heating the coal, the microwave heating chamber boils away the water without heating the coal itself above about 90° C. In this way, the coal does not combust or oxidize, and its coking qualities are retained. |
| US07666234B2 |
Process for the preparation of fatty acid methyl ester from triglyceride oil by transesterification
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of biodiesel from triglyceride oils through transesterification, particularly the fatty acid methyl ester of oil mechanically expelled from whole seeds of Jatropha curcas, a plant with potential for cultivation on wastelands in India and other countries, all unit operations being carried out at ambient temperature. |
| US07666232B2 |
Reactive trichromatic dye set
A reactive trichromatic set comprising (a) at least one of the following reactive red dye of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, X, D, Z, and n are defined the same as in the specification; (b) at least one reactive yellow dye selected from the following Color Index; C.I. Reactive Yellow 145 and C.I. Reactive Yellow 176; and (c) at least one reactive blue dye selected from the following Color Index; C.I. Reactive Blue 194, C.I. Reactive Blue 221 and C.I. Reactive Blue 222. |
| US07666231B2 |
Process for continuous production of a flocked and dyed cloth backing
In this process of continuous manufacture of a flocked and dyed cloth backing (S) comprising successive stages of application (1) of a polymerizable resin (RP) layer to at least one surface of the cloth backing, projection (2) of white or unbleached polyester flock fibers (FF) onto said resin layer, polymerization (3) of the resin to fix the flock fibers on the cloth backing, deposition (4) of at least one sublimable dye (E) on the flocked surface of the cloth backing and sublimation (4) of the deposited dye to dye the flocked fibers, for the stage of projection (2), polyester super microfibers are used with a titer of less than 0.5 Dtex and a length of between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. |
| US07666228B2 |
Shock-absorbing intervertebral implant
The invention relates to an intervertebral implant comprising a spacer designed to be applied between two spinous processes of two vertebrae. The spacer comprises: two elements (10, 12) made of a first material, and each presenting a first end (10a, 12a) and a second end (10b, 12b), said first end (10a, 12a) being securable to a spinous process; and a connection piece (14) made of a second material of greater elastic deformability than said first material, said connection piece interconnecting said second ends (10b, 12b) of said two elements (10, 12) so that the stresses that are exerted on said two elements (10, 12) are damped, and said connection piece enabling said intervertebral implant to limit and brake the relative movements of said vertebrae. |
| US07666223B2 |
Stent with drug coating
Coatings for stents that include a polymer and a drug are provided. The stent's struts are generally linear segments interrupted by a curved or bent segment that contain a drug/polymer coating wherein the concentration of the drug in the coating is greater in at least a portion of the curved or bent segment as compared to the linear segments. |
| US07666216B2 |
Delivery catheter for ribbon-type prosthesis and methods of use
The present invention is directed to a delivery catheter for use in deploying a vascular prosthesis having a self-expanding radial distal section joined to a helical section for use in a wide range of interventional applications. The delivery catheter comprises an elongated member having a balloon disposed adjacent to a distal end of the member, means for engaging the distal section of the vascular prosthesis against axial translation, and a sheath that restrains the vascular prosthesis against the elongated member during transluminal delivery. The balloon also may be used to perform angioplasty of a stenosis located within the vessel prior to deployment of the vascular prosthesis. Methods of using the delivery catheter of the present invention also are provided. |
| US07666215B2 |
System and method for determining and controlling core body temperature
Systems and methods for accurate temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including inducing hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette attached to the circulatory flow lines of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within a control unit. A temperature measurement scheme for obtaining body core temperature is provided, including methods of obtaining and analyzing temperature data to provide feedback to the control unit for use in controlling the heating and cooling of the heat exchange medium so as to heat or cool a patient to a desired target temperature. |
| US07666212B2 |
Renew compression screw
An external fixator implant screw with an intercalated head, of which one embodiment for lag screw mode has a spherical head, and a partial thread. The spherical head in countersunk bone exerts concentric wide contact on insertion at various angles to surface. Optional canalization of central rod allows guide wire technique and optional mobility of head allows variable shaft length between head and thread. Another embodiment for use in basic implant mode, in a single bone fragment, at right angles to bone surface, has a conical head with limited basal contact on bone, the head being integrated to a solid rod and is fully threaded from head to leading tip. In both embodiments, the load transmission is renewable from outside in case of loosening, without reopening any wound. The implant is made of biocompatible material. |
| US07666209B2 |
Spine distraction implant and method
A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion. |
| US07666207B2 |
Fixation device for bones
A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and two or more anchoring elements. Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axis, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring element may be arranged at an angle of between 65 degrees and 115 degrees relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end. |
| US07666201B2 |
Spreading instrument
A spreading instrument includes instrument fingers which can be spread to partially define a cylindrical passage between the instrument fingers. A rounded groove on the interior surface of each instrument finger is tapered lengthwise, becoming shallower towards the distal end of the finger. When the fingers are spread, the opposing grooves partly define a cylindrical passage adapted to receive a tubular structure. |
| US07666196B1 |
Knot tying device and method
A knot tying device for tying knots including an inner rod having a longitudinal slot extending between the two open ends from an outer diameter to a hollow center. An hollow cylinder is disposed on the inner rod and has a longitudinal slot extending between the two open ends from an outer diameter to a hollow center. A cord clamp is formed between the hollow cylinder and the inner rod, and secures a cord to an end of the outer hollow cylinder. A cord winding cylinder is rotatably disposed on the inner cylinder and has a cord catch and a longitudinal slot extending between the two open ends from an outer diameter to a hollow center. The cord catch can catch a cord secured by the cord clamp and can wind the cord around the outer hollow cylinder. |
| US07666195B2 |
Device and method for endoluminal therapy
A device and method for selectively engaging or penetrating a layer of a luminal organ wall where the luminal organ wall has a plurality of layers including an outermost layer and an innermost layer adjacent to the lumen of the organ. The device and method select one of the plurality of layers of the organ wall other than the innermost layer and deploy from within the lumen of the organ a tissue device through the innermost layer to a specific depth to engage or penetrate the selected one of the plurality of layers. The device and method may be employed to create luminal pouches or restrictive outlets. In a stomach organ, the device and methods may be employed to treat obesity by forming a gastric pouch with or without a restrictive outlet. |
| US07666192B2 |
Skin grafting devices and methods
The present invention provides skin grafting and devices that comprise a systematic approach to the process of skin grafting, i.e., harvesting, post-excision processing and application of donor skin and pre and post-graft treatment of the recipient site. |
| US07666188B2 |
Methods and devices for spinal fixation element placement
Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors. |
| US07666182B2 |
High-frequency surgical apparatus and a method for operating same
The invention relates to a high-frequency surgical apparatus in which, for the purpose of cutting and/or coagulating biological tissue by means of high-frequency current, a high-frequency generator having a first electrode and a second electrode forms a high-frequency circuit through the tissue being treated, with an electric arc being formed, said apparatus having a measuring device to detect DC voltage components forming in the high frequency circuit when the arc is formed, said DC voltage components being usable for controlling the high-frequency generator via a controlling device. The invention is characterized in that the measuring device has an arc-decoupling circuit which separates the DC voltage components in the positive half-cycle of the high-frequency AC voltage from the DC voltage components in the negative half-cycle of the high-frequency AC voltage and makes available at least one of the separated DC voltage components as a signal for subsequent processing in the controlling device. The invention also relates to a corresponding method of running such apparatus. |
| US07666180B2 |
Gastric restrictor assembly and method of use
A gastric restrictor assembly for positioning within the digestive tract, e.g., stomach, of a patient to treat obesity is disclosed. The gastric restrictor assembly includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the assembly within a body lumen and a valve assembly for adjusting the diameter of a throughbore defined by valve assembly. The gastric restrictor includes first and second actuators which can be actuated transorally for operating the attachment mechanism and the valve assembly. |
| US07666178B2 |
Retention device for medical components
The present invention is directed generally to an adapter for assist with the connection of a flexible tubing to a connector, and more particularly to a product that enables the flexible tubing to retain its ability to provide a secure connection even after multiple uses by resisting or limiting permanent deformation thereof. |
| US07666175B2 |
Absorbent article having a multi-dimensionally contoured barrier cuff
A disposable absorbent article may comprise a chassis and a pair of longitudinally disposed barrier cuffs. Each cuff may contain a barrier zone, an attachment zone, and a transition edge separating the barrier zone and attachment zone. The barrier cuffs exhibit a cuff span and a cuff height at a given cross-section through a crotch point and an end region. The absorbent article exhibits a cuff span ratio, defined as a maximum cuff span as measured in the end region of the barrier cuff divided by a cuff span as measured at the crotch point, of greater than 1. The absorbent article exhibits a cuff height ratio, defined as a cuff height as measured at the crotch point divided by a minimum cuff height as measured in the end region, of greater than 1. |
| US07666174B2 |
Disposable diaper
Here is disclosed a disposable diaper, which includes a liquid-absorbent zone in a crotch region having first through fourth sections. A stiffness of the first and second sections formed from top- and backsheets is lower than a stiffness of the third and fourth sections formed from the top- and backsheets and an absorbent core. Stretchably elastic members extending in a longitudinal direction are contractibly attached to the fourth section. A liquid-absorbent zone in the crotch region is formed with a concavity (feces pocket) as the fourth section contract in the longitudinal direction under a contractile force of the elastic members. |
| US07666170B2 |
Medical valve connector
A medical valve connector comprising a tubular body having an inlet fitting of the male luer or luer-lock type with an inner tubular element displaceable axially from a retracted position for closing a passage of flow towards an outlet fitting to an advanced position for opening said passage of flow. A tubular body made of elastic material, set between the inlet and outlet fittings, tends to keep the inner tubular element in the retracted position. Also the outlet fitting can rotate and axially translate between a retracted position and an advanced position. |
| US07666168B2 |
Syringe guard with selected needle configurations
A device for expelling a fluid through a needle mounted on a hub includes an elongated luer member that has a distal portion dimensioned to engage the needle hub to provide fluid communication between the luer member and the needle. An adapter anchors the luer member within the device. Slidingly mounted on the adapter is a cylindrical-shaped inverted plunger that is movable thereon between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. A needle guard is biased by a biasing member to extend distally from the luer member when the plunger is in the advanced position. The guard is selectively engageable with the plunger to be retracted to expose the distal portion of the luer member for fluid engagement with the needle hub when the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position. |
| US07666165B2 |
Cannulated sensing device
A cannulated sensing device is disclosed and can include a housing that can have a proximal end and a distal end. A cannula can extend from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing. Further, a sensor can be attached to the distal end of the housing. |
| US07666164B2 |
Pen needle and safety shield system
A safety shield system for a needle cannula of a pen needle injector or similar device, wherein the safety shield may be retracted from a first position enclosing the needle to a second position exposing the needle for injection. The safety shield system permits retraction of the safety shield during use, but extends the shield enclosing the needle in a locked position following use. The shield system is utilized with a pen needle injector having a double ended needle cannula mounted in a hub received on the open end of the pen needle injector. The assembly is disposed of by removing the assembly and needle cannula hub and storing the assembly in the cup-shaped cap enclosing the exposed end of the needle cannula within the cap. The cap includes internal radial ribs preventing retraction of the shield prior to removing the cap preventing inadvertently piercing the cap during assembly. |
| US07666157B2 |
Surgical protective tool positioning apparatus
A surgical protective tool positioning apparatus includes a base, and two symmetric connecting bases disposed on the base, each having a containing groove formed by enclosing a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall. The second sidewall has a latch hole for interconnecting a containing space above the containing groove and the base for inserting a support stand downwardly into the containing groove. Each support stand has a latch lump latched to and protruded from the latch hole, such that each support stand is protected completely by the first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall and fourth sidewall of each connecting base to provide a better structural strength for connecting the support stand and the connecting base, and achieve the advantages of better durability and safety to the protective tool. |
| US07666156B2 |
Knee brace and methods of use and modification thereof
A knee brace, method of use thereof, and modification to an existing knee brace facilitates inducing side loads to a knee joint to align upper and lower leg portions relative to one another, thereby allowing the knee joint to function properly over its full dynamic range of motion. The knee brace, whether as manufactured or modified, acts to apply a lateral shear force to the knee joint through application of opposing lateral forces, with one lateral force being above the knee joint in one direction and the other lateral force being below the knee joint in an opposite direction. The counteracting forces act to shift femoral condyles and tibial condyles of the knee joint back into proper lateral alignment without acting directly on the patella to counteract the effects of the patella femoral syndrome. |
| US07666152B2 |
Focusing electromagnetic acoustic wave source
An acoustic wave device including an acoustic wave transducer adapted to generate an acoustic wave in a propagation liquid, the acoustic wave transducer having an inner contour defined by rotating a curve about a rotation axis of symmetry, wherein the curve and the acoustic wave are not parallel to the rotation axis of symmetry, and a focusing lens arranged with respect to the acoustic wave transducer so as to focus the acoustic wave emanating from the acoustic wave transducer to a focal point. |
| US07666150B2 |
Blood and interstitial fluid sampling device
A device and method for lancing a patient, virtually simultaneously producing and collecting a small fluid sample from a body. The device comprises a blood collection system including a lancing needle (16), drive mechanism (11), kneading or vibration mechanism (25), optional suction system (7), and sample ejection mechanism. The device is preferably sized to be hand-held in one hand and operable with one hand. The device can optionally contain integral testing or analysis component (83) for receiving the sample and providing testing or analysis indication or readout for the user. A method involves piercing the skin at a rapid rate, kneading the surrounding area by ultrasonic action, piezoelectric or mechanical oscillation to stimulate the blood flow from the wound, drawing the fluid using a pumping system. |