| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07683851B2 |
Method and system for using a single transformer for FM transmit and FM receive functions
Aspects of a method and system for using a single transformer for FM transmit and FM receive functions may include communicating radio frequency signals via an antenna coupled to primary windings of a radio frequency transformer, wherein first secondary windings of the radio frequency transformer may be utilized for receiving the communicated radio frequency signals, and second secondary windings of the radio frequency transformer may be utilized for transmitting the communicated radio frequency signals. Receiving and transmitting may be performed in time division duplex mode or simultaneously. A number of windings of the second secondary windings that may be used for transmitting of the radio frequency signals, may be less than or equal to a number of windings of the primary windings. |
| US07683842B1 |
Distributed built-in test and performance monitoring system for electronic surveillance
A distributed test system for implementing enhanced BIT (Built-In-Test) within an ESM (Electronic Surveillance Monitoring) or RF receiver system. The distributed test system includes a system processor, a programmable RF source element or other comparable test signal generating arrangement, and switched path coupled elements and various measurement elements, each embedded at strategic locations within the ESM system so as to effect maximum path coverage and test benefit. |
| US07683838B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to provide a semiconductor device in which even in the case where a plurality of antennas are provided, there is no limitation on the layout of the antennas so that disconnection between an integrated circuit portion and the antenna and reduction in a communication distance from a communication device can be prevented. An integrated circuit portion which includes a thin film transistor is provided on a first surface of an insulating base. A first antenna is provided over the integrated circuit portion. A second antenna is provided over a second surface of the base. The first antenna is connected to the integrated circuit potion. The second antenna is connected to the integrated circuit portion through a through hole formed in the base. The first antenna and the second antenna overlap with the integrated circuit portion. |
| US07683836B2 |
Antenna with thermally transferred element
An antenna includes an element that is made by thermally bonding a patterned conductive layer to a dielectric sheet. The antenna can be redesigned easily for prototype or low volume production yet the invention is suitable for volume production as well. The antenna, or an element thereof, can be made from a xerographic print using toner as an adhesive. |
| US07683833B2 |
Phase shifting and combining architecture for phased arrays
Improved phased array techniques and architectures are provided. For example, a linear phased array includes N discrete phase shifters and N−1 variable phase shifters, wherein the N−1 variable phase shifters are respectively coupled between adjacent output nodes of the N discrete phase shifters such that the N discrete phase shifters reduce an amount of continuous phase shift provided by the N−1 variable phase shifters. Each of the N discrete phase shifters may select between two or more discrete phase shifts. The N discrete phase shifters also preferably eliminate a need for a variable termination impedance in the linear phased array. |
| US07683830B2 |
Antenna combination technique for multi-frequency reception
A set of receiver antennas, of which at least one of the receiver antennas has the capability of receiving frequencies that another receiver antenna from the set is incapable of receiving, is used for determining position and orientation in a navigation system. |
| US07683829B2 |
Method and apparatus for adapting a receiver frequency plan according to location
A selectable frequency source for use in GPS receivers. A device in accordance with the present invention comprises a reference frequency source, a first divider, coupled to the reference frequency source, the first divider having a first dividing factor, a first mixer, coupled to the first divider, a filter, coupled to the first mixer, a voltage controlled oscillator, coupled to the filter, a second divider, coupled between the voltage controlled oscillator and the first mixer, the second divider having a second dividing factor, and a second mixer, coupled to an output of the voltage controlled oscillator, for mixing a GPS signal with the output of the voltage controlled oscillator, wherein at least one of the first dividing factor and the second dividing factor is changed to change a frequency output of the voltage controlled oscillator. |
| US07683828B2 |
System and method for measuring phase and power variance
A device and method for measuring phase and power shifts in a simultaneous dual polarization radar system comprises an access port, a quadrature mixer, and a power detector. The access port is configured to couple to the simultaneous dual polarization radar system near the antenna of the simultaneous dual polarization radar system. The quadrature mixer is configured to mix a first signal from a first polarization and a second signal from a second polarization. The first signal and the second signal are sampled through the access port. The first power detector is configured to measure the power level of the first signal. |
| US07683824B2 |
Radar apparatus
A radar apparatus includes a sending unit for sending a transmission wave, a plurality of receiving parts for receiving a reflected wave from a reflecting object in a parallel manner, beat signal generation parts for acquiring beat signals at the receiving parts, respectively, from the transmission wave and the wave received at the receiving parts, a beat signal processing part for individually processing the beat signals of the receiving parts, a DBF processing part for DBF processing a beat signal processing result, and an object detection part for acquiring information on the reflecting object from frequency components of a DBF processing result or the beat signal processing result. Amounts of phase lag of the receiving parts are set to different values. The beat signal processing part includes a phase correction part that corrects the phase lag amounts corresponding to the individual receiving parts so as to make them equal to one another. |
| US07683823B2 |
DME ground apparatus
A transponder unit of a DME ground apparatus receives an interrogation signal and converts the same to an IF signal. The unit performs analog-to-digital conversion on the IF signal, generating a digital interrogation signal. The unit calculates two detected outputs whose frequencies are ±900 kHz deviated with respect to the center frequency of the digital interrogation signal. Then, the transponder unit compares the two detected outputs and the digital interrogation signal in terms of magnitude, thereby to determine whether a response signal should be transmitted. |
| US07683821B1 |
Sensor sweeper for detecting surface and subsurface objects
An apparatus and method for detecting surface and subsurface objects is provided. A sweeping mechanism comprising a sensor is connected to a mounting frame. The mounting frame is connected to a motorized host platform. The sweeping mechanism sweeps the sensor according to a predetermined footprint when the motorized host platform either pulls or pushes the mounting frame. A signaling mechanism connected to the sensor produces a signal when the sensor senses an object beneath the surface. |
| US07683820B2 |
Charge-domain pipelined charge-redistribution analog-to-digital converter
A single-ended charge-domain pipeline of at least two stages is provided. Each stage comprises a charge-storage node, a charge-transfer circuit for conveying charge from said charge-storage node out of said stage, a charge-control capacitor connected to said charge-storage node and driven by a periodic clock voltage, a comparator which compares the voltage of said charge-storage node to a reference voltage, and a digital latch which latches the state of said comparator output under control of a second periodic clock voltage and provides a latched digital output from said stage. The second stage of the pipeline further includes a first charge-redistribution capacitor connected to the charge-storage node of the second stage and driven by a conditional voltage responsive to the latched digital output from the first stage. The charge output from each stage of said pipeline is substantially identical to the charge input to said stage. |
| US07683817B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, AD converter, and AD converting method
The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device which can output a digital signal at a high speed without using a high-speed clock. The solid-state imaging device includes light receiving elements provided in an array and generating signal voltages based on light intensity of received light and AD converters each of which is provided in each of columns in the array. Each of the AD converters includes: a reference voltage generating unit (10) generating reference voltages; comparators (11a through 11c) comparing in parallel a current signal voltage which is one of signal voltages generated by the light receiving elements in the respective matrix columns with the reference voltages generated by the reference voltage generating unit; a digital signal generating circuit (23) generating a digital signal showing a result of the comparison and outputting the digital signal out of the AD converter. |
| US07683815B2 |
Cross-coupled switched capacitor circuit with a plurality of branches
A cross-coupled switched capacitor circuit that has two branches. During a first phase for the first branch, an input voltage is provided that causes charge to move through a resistor and to be placed onto a plate of the capacitor within the branch. An equivalent amount of charge is transferred to an output node. The output node may be a summing node of a sigma-delta modulator. The summing node is one of the inputs to an operational amplifier that is part of the integrator of the sigma-delta modulator. The resistor and the capacitor in the first branch define an RC circuit and corresponding RC time constant. During the first phase, the capacitor does not reach a fully settled voltage for a desired resolution. During the second phase, the capacitor in the first branch of the circuit is set to a defined voltage. The defined voltage may be the settling voltage had the capacitor been allowed to settle during the first phase. The second branch of the switched capacitor feedback circuit operates similar to the first branch, but on opposite phases. By not requiring the voltage to settle during the first phase, power can be conserved, since the integrator of the sigma-delta modulator does not need to operate as fast with respect to movement of charge. |
| US07683806B2 |
Handheld electronic device having reduced keyboard and multiple password access, and associated methods
A reduced keyboard handheld electronic device and associated method that utilizes a plurality of passwords for controlling access thereto. The handheld electronic device has a non-predictive keystroke interpretation system, such as a multi-tap system. At least one of the passwords is valid and accepted when input using a keyboard of a separate electronic device, such as a PC or another handheld electronic device, and at least one of passwords is valid and accepted when input using the reduced keyboard of the handheld electronic device. In some embodiments, the keyboard of the separate electronic device is a reduced keyboard, such as a reduced QWERTY or AZERTY keyboard, and in others it is a non-reduced keyboard, such as a standard QWERTY keyboard. |
| US07683805B2 |
Traffic situation display device, method and program thereof and recording medium with the program recorded therein
A processor 180 of a navigation device 100 acquires current position information about a current position of a vehicle. The processor 180 then generates current traffic-jam information about a current traffic-jam condition based on VICS data from a VICS receiver 120 or the like. The processor 180 recognizes a direction indicating a point at which a traffic jam is currently occurring relative to the current position based on current position information and current traffic-jam information. The processor 180 displays the recognized direction with a traffic-jam direction icon on a terminal display section 140. |
| US07683803B2 |
Signal transmission device for a measuring probe, as well as transmission method and measuring probe
A signal transmission device is disclosed, which serves to connect a measuring probe, in particular a pH measuring probe or an oxygen measuring probe, to a signal-processing unit. The signal transmission device includes a differential amplifier at whose non-inverting input an input signal can be applied which is provided by an electrode of the measuring probe, and from which a corresponding low-impedance output signal can be delivered to a transmission line, by which the output signal can be transmitted to the signal-processing unit. The output of the differential amplifier can be connected via a first resistor to the transmission line and to the inverting input of the differential amplifier, and can be connected to the input of a first control unit by which signals can be registered, such as clock signals and/or data, which are applied to the transmission line by the signal-processing unit. |
| US07683802B2 |
Method and conduit for transmitting signals
A wired drill pipe segment includes a tubular body having an axial bore, a box end disposed at a first end of the tubular body having a first core material disposed in the box end, a pin end disposed at a second end of the tubular body having a second core material disposed in the pin end, a first coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material and a second coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material, a third coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material and a fourth coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material, a first conductor connected to the first coil winding and the third coil winding and extending through the tubular body, and a second conductor connected to the second coil winding and the fourth coil winding and extending through the tubular body. |
| US07683795B2 |
Compensation of simple fiber optic faraday effect sensors
A monitoring system for detecting earth faults in an electrical power supply grid providing a power signal includes a plurality of monitoring devices, each of the monitoring devices including a detector for detecting the level of harmonics in the power signal, wherein the level of harmonics is detected in a specific frequency range. Each of the monitoring devices further includes a memory for storing a harmonics reference value, a processor for comparing the detected level of harmonics with the reference level, and a communication device for transmitting an alarm if the detected level of harmonics is above the reference level for a specific period of time. Each of the detectors includes an optical sensor for detecting the harmonics by use of the Faraday effect. |
| US07683794B2 |
Carbon monoxide safety system for preventing entry into a dwelling containing toxic gases
The instant invention provides a system for avoiding or reducing exposure to toxic gases. More specifically, the instant invention includes a base module having a first transceiver securable within a structure, and most preferably within the garage of a home. The base module is constructed and arranged to communicate with a remote module having a second transceiver to alert the user of a dangerous condition within the structure prior to entry thereto. In a most preferred embodiment, the remote module is also a garage door opener that can be carried by a person or within a vehicle. In operation, the remote module sends a signal to the base module. In response, the base transceiver checks the level of a toxic gas such as carbon monoxide within the dwelling, if the level is below a predetermined limit the base module sends a signal to the garage door opener to open the door, if the level of the gas is above the predetermined limit an alarm will be sent to the remote transceiver and the door will not be opened. |
| US07683790B2 |
Snap-hook assemblies with added components
Snap hook assemblies in which additional components have been incorporated are detailed. The assemblies maintain the general shapes of carabiners rather than those of conventional versions of the incorporated components. Included among the incorporated components may be light sources, knife blades, compasses, can or bottle openers, and watches, for example, although other components may be incorporated instead. |
| US07683788B2 |
Reader for RFID transponders and corresponding method
An RFID reader system comprises one or more transceiver modules (10) for communicating with a plurality of RFID tags, a control unit (8) having a reference frequency generator for providing a reference frequency to said one or more transceiver modules (10), a control bus (16) connecting the control unit (8) to said one or more transceiver modules (10) for communicating with said one or more transceiver modules (10) and the control unit (8) having a communications port allowing the control unit to communicate with an application host system. The control unit (8) provides a common reference frequency to said transceiver modules. The invention also relates to a method of reading tags, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of transceiver modules (10) with a common reference frequency, and controlling at least one of the transceiver modules (10) from a control unit (8) to read one or more of the plurality of tags. |
| US07683787B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for managing electronic asset tags for asset devices
Systems, methods, and media for managing electronic asset tags for asset devices are disclosed. Embodiments include a system having one or more asset devices in communication with a network where each asset device has an electronic asset tag, where the electronic asset tag has contents including an asset number associated with the asset device having the electronic asset tag. The system may also include an asset tag manager in communication with the network to access the contents of the electronic asset tags of the one or more asset devices. In a further embodiment, the asset tag manager may be adapted to modify the contents of the electronic asset tags of the one or more asset devices. In another further embodiment, the asset tag manager may be adapted to reload to an asset device the contents of the electronic asset tag of the asset device. |
| US07683786B2 |
Article case with RFID tag and RFID system
The present invention is directed to an article case for accessing information on an RFID tag attached to an article enclosed in the case, and an RFID system using the case. An article case in accordance with an embodiment includes: a built-in antenna communicating with the RFID tag attached to the article; and a communication structure connected to the built-in antenna and disposed on an outer surface of the case, for communicating with an external RFID reader/writer. |
| US07683784B2 |
Apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag, radio-frequency tag, radio-frequency communication system, and radio-frequency communication method
A radio-frequency communication system including a plurality of apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag, and at least one radio-frequency relay tag, wherein each of the apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag includes a transmitter portion configured to transmit to the relay tag a message writing command for writing on the relay tag a desired message to be transmitted to another apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag via the relay tag, and each relay tag includes a plurality of message storage portions provided to store the messages transmitted from the respective apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag. |
| US07683781B2 |
Auto ID system for medical care setting
A system for verifying patient identity is detailed which allows hospital personnel to reduce error in patient care due to misidentification of a patient. Broadly, an inventive system for verifying patient identity includes a machine readable wireless identification tag containing identification information, the tag attached to an identification badge worn by a patient, a device having data input and output capacity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for analysis of data transmitted from the tag, and a machine wireless reader in data communication with the tag and the device. Also included is a signal display element for displaying a signal to a user, the signal display element disposed on the device or the reader. Further, an alert system is provided for alerting hospital personnel to presence of an object or person having a machine readable wireless tag not associated with a first patient in proximity to the first patient. |
| US07683779B1 |
Flatware detection apparatus
An apparatus to prevent workers from inadvertently discarding metal articles is used in the hospitality industry. The apparatus includes a base suitable for mounting to an open end of a waste receptacle, a tray pivotally mounted to the base, and a metal detector mounted to the underside of the tray. The metal detector detects the presence of metal articles deposited in the tray amidst food scraps or other waste. The metal detector signals an audible alarm alerting workers to the presence of metal articles in the waste. Once the metal articles are removed, the worker can use a handle or a button system to pivot the tray, so as to deposit the food scraps or other waste in the waste receptacle. |
| US07683778B2 |
Apparatus for detecting information on object
An apparatus for detecting information on an object includes an irradiating unit, a detecting unit, and an information-obtaining unit. The irradiating unit irradiates the object with electromagnetic waves as a rectangular shaped beam. The electromagnetic waves include a frequency component in (or range of) at least part of a frequency region of 30 GHz to 30 THz, and have variations in magnitude at intervals of 10−11 seconds or more or a temporally constant magnitude. The detecting unit detects the electromagnetic waves transmitted or reflected by the object through interaction therebetween. The information-obtaining unit obtains information on the object from information on the electromagnetic waves detected by the detecting unit. |
| US07683775B2 |
Low power pulse modulation communication in mesh networks with modular sensors
A modular sensor architecture. A sensor includes multiple planes that are in electrical communication. A power plane provides a power source and a communications module that can be optical and/or electrical in nature. The power source can be upgraded using optical power delivered over an optical fiber. The sensor can also both transmit/receive data over the optical fiber. A processing plane provides memory and processing power. The processing plane can be updated/upgraded via the communications module or the optical fiber. A sensor plane includes multiple sensors. Deployed sensors can transmit and receive data or programming using mesh networks and using low power pulse modulation. |
| US07683773B1 |
Telemetry data in packet exchanges
Telemetry data may be included in packet exchanges of authentication protocols. In one example, a tag, associated with shipped goods, authenticates with a local area network that is associated with a destination of the goods. An identification is received from the tag and the authentication and the identification are sent to a remote location as an indication of the goods being at the destination. |
| US07683764B2 |
Automatic locking failsafe for vehicles with passive keys
A method of unlocking a vehicle, which includes initiating an auto-lock command, searching an area surrounding the vehicle for a valid key fob, and sending a normal request from interior antenna if a valid key fob is not found. The method further includes sending a wide area request from an interior antenna if the valid key fob is not found from the normal request. The method includes locking the doors if the valid key fob is not found. The method provides a warning and does not lock the doors if the valid key fob is found. |
| US07683759B2 |
Patient identification system
A patient identification device is disclosed. The device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor. The first sensor may be configured to be positioned on the patient's finger. The device may include a camera. The device may include an identifier. The identifier displays a randomly generated alphanumeric code for further identification of the patient. |
| US07683755B2 |
Control system for electrical devices
Systems and techniques for a lighting control system which include a control switch to control an electrical device are disclosed herein. The control switch includes a master display to display status information of the electrical device. Additionally, a remote control switch couples to provide user-initiated commands to the control switch for controlling the electrical device. The remote control switch includes a display and receive signals from the control switch to display the same status information of the electrical device which enables a user in a location separate from the electrical device to accurately control the electrical device. A second embodiment of the control system may include a unidirectional switch which generates additional control signals that are transmitted to the control switch for control of the electrical device. |
| US07683754B2 |
Method for defining a group from among bi-directional objects
A method for defining a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects, comprising the following stages: a) synchronous application to the objects in a group of an initiator event, b) sending of a message containing a group identifier, and c) recording by the objects that have been subjected to the initiator event of the group identifier. |
| US07683753B2 |
Voltage non-linear resistance ceramic composition and voltage non-linear resistance element
As for the voltage non-linear resistance element layer 2, sintered body (ceramics) having ZnO as main component is used. Said sintered body comprises Pr, Co, Ca and Na are added. Therefore, the ranges are 0.05 to 5.0 atm % of Pr, 0.1 to 20 atm % of Co, 0.01 to 5.0 atm % of Ca and 0.0001 to 0.0008 atm % of Na. When it is within the range, the capacitance changing rate at 85° C. with standard being 25° C. can be made to equal or less than 10%. |
| US07683752B1 |
Fuse box system
A fuse box system that combines a series of specially designed fuses in a fuse box that allows an individual to see if one or more particular fuses within the fuse box are broken. The fuse has one of two different configurations, depending on whether the fuse is used in a system that is used in a polarized or non-polarized system. In each scenario, the fuse includes a number of diodes, one of which is a light emitting diode (LED) that will be lit up when the fuse is working and will not be lit up when the fuse is broken and/or not working. |
| US07683751B2 |
Fuse mounting member
A fuse mounting assembly includes an epoxy-bonded glass-fiber core that is surrounded by a resilient sleeve having a number of radially extending members. Attached to an end of the core is a first mounting bracket and attached to another end of the core is another mounting bracket. Each of the mounting brackets is connected to a fuse which is structured to protect a power circuit. |
| US07683748B2 |
Control element
The invention is directed to a control element, particularly in a central control unit. A magnet clamping system is integrated into a control element in order to render the function “slider setting” unequivocal. In addition to an actuator head that is positioned on a shaft, which is guided in a cylinder, for example, and at least one circuit board having LEDs, the control element includes a magnetic device having a designated magnet, which is functionally connected to the actuator head. When the actuator head is moved vertically by sliding, the magnetic device lifts off the magnet due to tilting, which causes a code disc attached to the actuator head to be brought into an inclined position such that a light flow on the light barriers formed by the LEDs is disrupted and/or opened up. In a further embodiment, this control element also includes press and rotate functions. |
| US07683747B2 |
MEMS RF-switch using semiconductor
A MEMS RF-switch is provided for controlling switching on/off of transmission of AC signals. The MEMS RF-switch of the present invention includes: a first electrode coupled to one terminal of the power source; a semiconductor layer combined with an upper surface of the first electrode, and forming a potential barrier to become insulated when a bias signal is applied from the power source; and a second electrode disposed at a predetermined distance away from the semiconductor layer, and being coupled to the other terminal of the power source, wherein the second electrode contacts the semiconductor layer when a bias signal is applied from the power source. Therefore, although the bias signal may not be cut off, free electrons and holes are recombined in the semiconductor layer, whereby charge buildup and sticking can be prevented. |
| US07683741B2 |
Package for suppressing spurious resonance in an FBAR
Disclosed is a package having a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR). The package may be utilized for suppressing spurious resonance occurred during operation of the FBAR. The package includes a negative impedance converter (NIC) operatively coupled to the FBAR through at least one interconnect. The at least one interconnect includes transmission lines and bonding wires. The package further includes a filter operatively coupled to the NIC. The filter exhibits a parallel resonance at a predefined frequency. The parallel resonance exhibited by the filter is converted to a series resonance by the NIC such that the series resonance of the NIC is responsible for suppressing the spurious resonance occurring during the operation of the FBAR. |
| US07683740B2 |
Electronic component and method for manufacturing same
An electronic component having: a substrate, a lower conductor layer provided on the substrate; an inorganic dielectric film that covers the lower conductor layer; and an upper conductor layer having an upper electrode portion provided on the inorganic dielectric film. The lower conductor layer has a lower electrode portion that together with the upper electrode portion and the inorganic dielectric film constitutes a capacitor, and a coil portion that constitutes an inductor. The entire inorganic dielectric film is formed integrally, and the lower conductor layer is in contact only with the substrate, inorganic dielectric film, and upper conductor layer. |
| US07683738B2 |
Adjustable delay transmission line
A transmission line includes a signal conductor and at least one varactor diode capacitively coupled to the signal conductor. The transmission line's signal path delay is a function of its shunt capacitance, and the varactor's capacitance forms a part of the transmission line's shunt capacitance. The transmission line's signal path delay is adjusted by adjusting a control voltage across the varactor diode thereby to adjust the varactor diode's capacitance. |
| US07683733B2 |
Balun transformer with improved harmonic suppression
An electronic assembly includes a substrate (66), a balun transformer (42) formed on the substrate (66) and including a first winding (50) and a second winding (52), each having respective first and second ends, and a reaction circuit component (48) formed on the substrate (66) and electrically coupled to the second winding (52) between the first and second ends thereof. The balun transformer (42) and the reaction circuit component (48) jointly form a harmonically suppressed balun transformer having a fundamental frequency, and the reaction circuit component (48) is tuned such that the harmonically suppressed balun transformer resonates at a selected harmonic of the fundamental frequency. |
| US07683732B1 |
Continuously adjustable equalizer
There is disclosed a continuously variable equalizer. The continuously variable equalizer may include a series-tuned circuit connected between an RF signal input terminal and an RF signal output terminal. An adjustable T-pad may have an input terminal coupled to the RF signal input terminal, an output terminal coupled to the RF signal output terminal, and a common terminal. A parallel-tuned circuit may be coupled between the T-pad common terminal and a signal return. |
| US07683727B2 |
Acceleration feedback control for crystal oscillators
Methods and apparatus for controlling frequency in a crystal oscillator are provided that allows for continued reception of GPS signal solution in a continuous high G environment. One method comprises measuring G-forces asserted on the crystal oscillator, determining a shift in frequency of the crystal oscillator due to the measured G-forces, determining a temperature that would shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur without the measured G-forces, and changing the temperature of the crystal oscillator based on the determined temperature to shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur if the G-forces were not present. |
| US07683725B2 |
System for generating a multiple phase clock
A system for generating a multiple phase clock is provided. The system includes a ring oscillator structure for generating multiple phases. The structure includes two or more unit oscillators, each unit oscillator implemented by a ring oscillator having M stages. The structure also includes a horizontal loop coupling the two or more unit oscillators to generate multiple phases. The number of phases generated is equal to the product of the number of unit oscillators and M. Another structure generates multiple phases using a multi-dimensional oscillator including ring oscillators constructed as vertical and horizontal loops with shared elements between the oscillators. A memory system includes a ring oscillator structure with vertical and horizontal loops, the ring oscillator structure receiving an input clock and outputting a multiple phase clock to one or more of a memory controller, memory devices and a memory interface device. |
| US07683724B2 |
Frequency synthesizer
A voltage-controlled ring oscillator comprises a ring oscillator having a plurality of differential delay stages for generating signals having a common programmable oscillation frequency with different phases, and a pair of single-sideband mixers coupled to the differential delay stages for producing in-phase and quadrature phase signals having a frequency that is higher than the oscillation frequency. |
| US07683721B2 |
PLL circuit
The present invention relates to a phase locked loop arrangement having an oscillator circuit (240) controlled in response to an output signal of a phase or frequency detection circuit (210), wherein change control (130) are provided for generating a blocking signal in response to the outputs of a first timer (110) to which a predetermined threshold frequency is supplied and a second timer (112) to which an output frequency of the oscillator circuit (240) is supplied. Based on the blocking signal, blocking (260) suppress supply of the output signal to said oscillator circuit (240). Thereby, the output frequency of the PLL arrangement can be prevented from changing beyond the frequency threshold, while only one PLL circuit is required. |
| US07683719B2 |
Internal frequency compensation circuit for integrated circuit controllers
A frequency compensation circuit internal to an integrated circuit which comprises a transconductance amplifier having a first input configured to receive a reference voltage, a second input configured to receive an input voltage and an input current, a first output configured to output a first output current and a second output configured to output a second output current; and a compensation circuit connected to said second output of said transconductance amplifier, wherein said first output is connected to said second input. |
| US07683713B2 |
Predistorter
A predistorter for correcting distortion caused by a memory effect in amplifying a signal by an amplifier is provided. In the memory PD 2 provided to the predistorter, the level detection means 21 detects the level of the signal, the coefficient output means 22 outputs the coefficient corresponding to the detected level, the delay means 23 delays the output coefficient, the difference detection means 24 detects the difference between the output coefficient and the delayed coefficient, the multiplication means 25 multiplies the detected difference with the signal, and the combination means 26 combines the result of the multiplication and the signal. Thus, the result of the combination is output to the amplifier. |
| US07683707B2 |
Self-oscillating modulator
A self-oscillating modulator operates at a two-level output. The modulator comprises an alternating output stage (13), an optional output filter (14), a feedback (16) including a function block with a transfer function (MFB), a forward block (12) having a transfer function (MFW) and is provided with means (17) for calculating the difference between the signal originating from said function block and a reference signal. The output voltage of the modulator either from the alternating output stage (13) and/or the output filter (14) is fed back through the function block, and a multiplication element (11) is placed together with the forward block (12) before the alternating output stage (13). |
| US07683706B2 |
Gain amplifier having switched-capacitor structure for minimizing settling time
Provided is a gain amplifier having a switched-capacitor structure capable of minimizing settling time, in which an input capacitor is connected to an input terminal during a first clock sampling an input signal, and thus an output terminal of the amplifier is reset in advance to an estimated output voltage value rather than 0 by the input capacitor. Accordingly, the slight move of the output terminal of the amplifier is sufficient to settle to a desired value in an amplification mode, so that slewing time can be reduced, and as a result, overall settling time and power consumption can be minimized. |
| US07683705B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for matching a demodulator
A circuit arrangement for matching a demodulator to operating conditions comprises a demodulator designed to demodulate an analog input signal to a demodulated signal. The demodulator is also designed to be driven by a control signal. The circuit arrangement further comprises a sensor which is designed to provide a sensor status signal, and a control unit to whose input side the sensor status signal is applied and which is designed to provide the control signal for the demodulator during operation. |
| US07683703B2 |
Active filter
An active filter comprising a first stage (10), a second stage (20) and a third stage (30), each of them being provided with a respective operational amplifier (11, 21, 31); a feedback branch (50) defined by a resistor (51) connects the output (31c) of the third operational amplifier (31) to the inverting input (11a) of the first operational amplifier (11). A main resistor (60) is connected between the inverting input (11a) of the first operational amplifier (11) and a fixed-potential node, and in particular a grounded node. |
| US07683701B2 |
Low power Bandgap reference circuit with increased accuracy and reduced area consumption
Bandgap reference (BGR) circuits and methods are described herein for providing high accuracy, low power Bandgap operation when using small, low voltage devices in the analog blocks of the BGR circuit. In some cases, chopped input stabilization and dynamic current matching techniques may be combined to compensate for input voltage offsets in the operational amplifier portion and current offsets in the current mirror portion of the Bandgap circuit. When used together, the chopped stabilization and dynamic current matching techniques provide a significant increase in accuracy, especially when using small, low voltage devices in the analog blocks to reduce layout area and support low power supply operation (e.g., power supply values down to about 1.4 volts and below). |
| US07683700B2 |
Techniques of ripple reduction for charge pumps
A charge pump system for supplying an output voltage to a load is described. It includes a regulation circuit connected to receive the output voltage and derive an enable signal from it and multiple charge pump circuits connected in parallel to supply the output voltage. Each of the charge pump circuits is also connected to receive a clock signal and the enable signal. The system also includes one or more delay circuit elements, where a corresponding one or more, but less than all, of the charge pump circuits are connectable to receive the enable signal delayed by the corresponding delay circuit element. |
| US07683695B2 |
Circuits and methods for canceling signal dependent capacitance
Systems and methods for reducing the magnitude of signal dependent capacitance are provided. Capacitance canceling circuitry is operative to generate cancellation capacitance in response to the magnitude of a signal, which may be the same signal that produces the undesired signal dependent capacitance, to at least partially cancel the signal dependent capacitance. |
| US07683692B2 |
Bus circuit
Clock control is handed over in a bus circuit from a first circuit (14) to a second circuit (12). A clock conductor (10a) is driven to a predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the first circuit after a last clock period following the start of execution of the handover command and to continue driving the clock conductor (10a) to the predetermined voltage level for a first time-interval. The clock conductor (10a) is driven to the predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the second circuit after a second time interval following the start of execution of the handover command until a third time interval has elapsed following the end of the second time interval. Subsequently the clock conductor (10a) is driven under control of the clock circuit (140) of the second circuit (14). The first time interval contains a first integer number P1 of periods of a first clock signal of the first circuit and the second and third time interval contain a second and third integer number P2, P3 of periods of a second clock signal of the second circuit, a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 equaling at least a pulse duration of the first clock signal, a duration corresponding to the first integer number P1 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 plus one, a duration corresponding to the second plus third integer P2, P3 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the first number P1 plus one. |
| US07683691B2 |
Clock supplying apparatus
Disclosed herein is a clock supplying apparatus for supplying a clock to a digital circuit, including: a differential clock driver; a first clock line along which a first clock of a positive phase from the clock driver propagates; a second clock line along which a second clock of a reverse phase from the clock driver propagates; and a parallel resonance circuit of an inductor and a capacitor. The inductor of the parallel resonance circuit is connected at a first end to the first clock line and at a second end to the second clock line. The capacitor of the parallel resonance circuit is connected at a first electrode to the first clock line and at a second electrode to the second clock line. |
| US07683686B2 |
Power-on circuit for computer
A power-on circuit of a computer includes a heat sink, an SIO chip, a connector, a first electric switch, a second electric switch, and a third electric switch. When the heat sink is installed properly, the heat sink is grounded, and the first electric switch is turned off. After a power-on button is pressed down, a power supply on pin of the SIO chip sends a low level signal to turn off the second electric switch, the third electric switch is turned on, a power supply on pin of the connector is at a low level, and the computer is powered on. When the heat sink is installed improperly, the heat sink is not grounded, the first electric switch is turned on, the third electric switch is turned off, the power supply on pin of the connector is at a high level, and the computer cannot be powered on. |
| US07683685B2 |
System and method for implementing a digital phase-locked loop
An apparatus for implementing a digital phase-locked loop includes a voltage-controlled oscillator that generates a primary clock signal in response to a VCO control voltage. Detection means generates counter control signals, including count up signals and count down signals, to indicate a current relationship between the primary clock signal and a reference signal. An up/down counter then either increments or decrements a counter value in response to corresponding counter control signals. The counter value is then converted by a digital-to-analog converter into the VCO control voltage for adjusting the frequency of the primary clock signal generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator. In alternate embodiments, the foregoing up/down counter may be utilized to adjust the frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator in proportion to the counter value by utilizing appropriate techniques other than generating a VCO control voltage with a digital-to-analog converter. |
| US07683684B2 |
Power-down mode control apparatus and DLL circuit having the same
A power-down mode control apparatus includes an internal power-down control block configured to receive a locking completion signal and to generate an internal power-down signal, which is toggled for a predetermined time; a noise check block configured to check occurrence/non-occurrence of noise on the basis of a phase detection signal and to generate a plurality of power-down selection signals in response to the locking completion signal and the internal power-down signal; and a power-down enter control block configured to generate a plurality of power-down enter signals, which instruct individual circuits to enter a power-down mode in response to a reference clock signal, the plurality of power-down selection signals, a power-down mode signal, and the internal power-down signal. |
| US07683683B1 |
Frequency doubler with duty-cycle correction and associated methods
An apparatus includes a controllable delay circuit, a clock doubler circuit, a low-pass filter, and a comparator. The controllable delay circuit generates a delayed clock signal from a reference clock signal. The clock doubler circuit generates an output clock signal from the delayed clock signal. A frequency of the output clock signal is twice a frequency of the reference clock signal. The low-pass filter receives the output clock signal and generates a filtered signal. The comparator generates an output signal by comparing the filtered signal with a reference signal. |
| US07683682B1 |
Frequency divider for wireless communication system and driving method thereof
A frequency divider for a wireless communication system is provided. A frequency divider includes a body bias voltage generator and a divider. The body bias voltage generator generates a body bias voltage including a PMOS body bias voltage and an NMOS body bias voltage whose voltage levels are controlled according to an input signal. The divider includes a plurality of flip-flops whose operation points are determined according to the body bias voltage, and generates an output signal by dividing a frequency of the input signal by N. Each of the flip-flops may include a PMOS logic and an NMOS logic. The PMOS logic may include a plurality of PMOS transistors whose operation points are determined according to the PMOS body bias voltage. The NMOS logic may be connected electrically to the PMOS logic and include a plurality of NMOS transistors whose operation points are determined according to the NMOS body bias voltage. |
| US07683681B2 |
Injection-locked frequency divider embedded an active inductor
An injection-locked frequency divider is provided. The injection-locked frequency divider includes an active inductor unit, a source injection unit, a first transistor and a second transistor. The injection-locked frequency divider generates a frequency-divided signal having a half frequency of the signal source. A locking frequency range of the injection-locked frequency divider is determined by a quality factor of a resonant cavity. A quality factor of the active inductor unit is lower than a conventional spiral inductor because the active inductor unit is composed of active elements. In the injection-locked frequency divider, the active inductor unit is used to instead of the conventional spiral inductor, so that the chip area can be reduced and the locking frequency range of the injection-locked frequency divider can be increased. Further, an induction value of the active inductor unit can be altered to change the locking frequency range of the injection-locked frequency divider. |
| US07683679B2 |
AFSM circuit and method for low jitter PLL CMOS programmable divider
A frequency divider (10A) includes an asynchronous finite state machine (AFSM) configured as a counter (20) having an input coupled to an input clock signal (CLK) for producing information representative of a plurality of phase signals (F0,F1,F2,F3) each of which is a divided-down representation of the input clock signal (CLK) and each of which is phase-shifted by a predetermined amount with respect to another of the phase signals (F0,F1,F2,F3). Programmable circuitry (22) operates in response to both dynamic divide ratio information (DIV_RATIO) and the information representative of the plurality of phase signals (F0,F1,F2,F3) so as to generate an output clock signal (CLKOUT) that is divided down according to both the dynamic divide ratio information and the information representative of the plurality of phase signals (F0,F1,F2,F3). |
| US07683676B2 |
Signal-level detecting apparatus, optical receiver, and signal-level detecting method
An amplifying unit performs a differential amplification with a highest level or a lowest level of an input signal and a previous input signal. A semiconductor element transfers a signal level output from the amplifying unit from a second terminal to a third terminal by using a current conducted from the second terminal to the third terminal in response to a voltage applied to a first terminal. A control unit controls the voltage applied to the first terminal of the semiconductor element based on a voltage or a current related to a reference semiconductor element. A holding unit holds a signal level output from the third terminal of the semiconductor element. |
| US07683673B2 |
Stacked differential signal transmission circuitry
Differential signal transmission circuitry in which multiple differential signal transmission circuits are coupled in a stacked relationship between the power supply electrodes to minimize power dissipation by reusing the signal currents among the channels. |
| US07683671B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system providing power supply independent imager output driver having a constant slew rate
An output driver having an output that is not dependant on the variation of the voltage level of a variable supply voltage. The output driver, having at least two power supply voltages and which is not influenced by the variation of the voltage level of a variable power supply, leads to a constant output slew rate. |
| US07683670B2 |
High-speed low-power integrated circuit interconnects
Embodiments that decrease power consumption of interconnecting devices in integrated circuits are disclosed. Embodiments reduce power consumption in integrated circuits by generating full and reduced swing signals at an output of a driver module in response to a control signal during and deactivating one or more elements to conserve power after an input signal remains unchanged for a period of time. Another embodiment reduces power consumption in a circuit, the embodiment comprising a swing module coupled with a swing selector and an output controller. The swing module may generate full or low swing signals depending on the state of the swing selector. The output controller may increase the output impedance of the swing module after an input signal to the swing module remains unchanged for a quantity of time. Various apparatus embodiments include portable computing devices and cellular telephones. |
| US07683669B2 |
Semiconductor device, CPU, image processing circuit and electronic device, and driving method of semiconductor device
The invention provides a semiconductor device which consumes less power in pending. The invention further provides a semiconductor device in which a gate electrode is provided over both sides of a semiconductor thin film which forms a transistor, a logic signal is applied to a first gate electrode, a threshold value control signal is applied to a second gate electrode, and a threshold value of a transistor which forms the semiconductor device is controlled by a potential of the second gate electrode, and a driving method thereof. Then, the invention provides a semiconductor device provided with a plurality of logic circuits formed of such a transistor with a back gate and a driving method thereof. |
| US07683665B1 |
Multiple parallel programmable finite state machines using a shared transition table
A system and method of implementing multiple programmable finite state machines using a shared transition table is disclosed, the method including forming a plurality of finite state machine cores such that an amount of the plurality of finite state machine cores is unchangeable, forming a state transition array, and forming a routing network such that the forming the plurality of associated state transition elements is realized. |
| US07683664B1 |
Selection circuit with programmable constant output
A selection circuit, such as a multiplexer circuit, programmable to hold the output signal at a constant logic level or select 1 of n input signals as the output signal is disclosed. A first bank of transistors receives the n input signals and is controlled by a first set of memory cells. A second bank of transistors is controlled by a second set of memory cells. At least two transistors of the second bank have gates are coupled to a complemented output of one of the second set of memory cells. Each transistor in the second bank is coupled to a subset of transistors of the first bank. An output stage is coupled to the second bank of transistors. A pair of serially coupled transistors has gates coupled to two memory cells of the second set that control the at least two transistors of the second bank. The output stage outputs the constant logic level signal when the serially coupled transistors are conducting, and outputs the selected input signal when the serially coupled transistors are not conducting. |
| US07683662B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing complex logic within a memory array
A logic gate is described that implements complex logic within a memory array. The logic gate receives at least three of a first storage cell signal, a second storage cell signal, a first external signal, or a second external signal at a first input circuitry and second input circuitry. The logic gate then performs one of a set of logic functions using the first storage cell signal, the second storage cell signal, the first external signal, or the second external signal. The set of logic functions includes at least one of a matching function, an OR-AND function, or an AND function. |
| US07683656B1 |
Predriver equalization for common mode noise reduction in a semi-differential current mode driver
Predriver equalization is described. A predriver includes a predriver equalizer to provide equalization on outputs of predrivers. The predriver equalization causes the predrivers to drive the output driver and a preemphasis driver with signals equalized to reduce common mode noise on the output signal. The predrivers can be implemented as complementary semi-differential driver circuits or as complementary logic circuits with weak pull-downs. The driver complexity can be reduced to the use of a semi-differential driver with the use of the predriver equalization. |
| US07683655B2 |
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit is provided having at least one terminal for coupling and/or decoupling of electric signals, particularly of digital signals, and having integrated reference potential means, assigned to the terminal, for providing an electric reference potential to the terminal. It is provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the reference potential means is switchable, particularly by an override process. |
| US07683654B2 |
Signal isolators using micro-transformers
A logic signal isolator comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a transmitter circuit which drives said primary winding in response to a received logic signal, such that in response to a first type of edge in the logic signal, a signal of a first predetermined type is supplied to the primary winding and in response to a second type of edge in the logic signal, a signal of a second predetermined type is supplied to said primary winding, the primary winding and the transmitter being referenced to a first ground; and the secondary winding being referenced to a second ground which is galvanically isolated from the first ground and said secondary winding supplying to a receiver circuit signals received in correspondence to the signals provided to the primary winding, the receiver reconstructing the received logic signal from the received signals. |
| US07683653B2 |
Process and circuit for improving the life duration of field-effect transistors
The invention concerns a process and a circuit designed to improve the life duration of electronic field-effect integrated circuit transistors and in particular those with a thin film gate dielectric. According to the invention, an aging measurement tS is supplied by measuring the charge or discharge time at a reference voltage VREF of the gate of a field effect transistor T1, previously pre-charged to a predefined test voltage VP, and brought to high impedance. Depending on the aging measurement obtained, the operational voltage measurement conditions of the transistor can be maintained or modified to reduce the stress applied to the dielectric. |
| US07683651B2 |
Test structure for electromigration analysis and related method
A test structure for electromigration and related method are disclosed. The test structure may include an array of a plurality of multilink test sets, each multilink test set including a plurality of metal lines positioned within a dielectric material and connected in a serial configuration; each multilink test set being connected in a parallel configuration with the other multilink test sets, the parallel configuration including a first electrical connection to a cathode end of a first metal line in each multilink test set and a second electrical connection to an anode end of a last metal line in each multilink test set. |
| US07683650B1 |
Measurement instrument with synchronized interference signals
An instrument for measuring electrical parameters includes a measurement section having a measurement aperture; and a support section providing at least one of power and digital control for the measurement section. The support section has an interference signal frequency, wherein the interference frequency is an integer multiple of the reciprocal of the measurement aperture and the measurement aperture and the interference signal are phase-locked. As a result, the effect of the interference signal on electrical parameters measured is minimized. |
| US07683648B1 |
Integrated circuit socket and method of use for providing adjustable contact pitch
An integrated circuit socket apparatus and method of use are provided. Included is a body capable of receiving an integrated circuit including a plurality integrated circuit contacts. Further provided is a bottom adapter assembly removably coupled to the body. The bottom adapter assembly includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of pins removably situated between the top portion and the bottom portion of the bottom adapter assembly, for providing electrical communication between the integrated circuit contacts and a plurality of circuit board contacts. Still yet, a coupler is provided which is capable of coupling the top portion and the bottom portion of the bottom adapter assembly when the bottom adapter assembly is removed from the body. |
| US07683647B1 |
Instrument per pin test head
A test head for testing a DUT includes a probe card having a plurality of DUT probes, the probes being in contact with the DUT during the testing; an instrument carrier, the instrument carrier being located above the DUT during the testing; and a SMU mounted on the carrier for each of the probes, each SMU being operably connectable to a respective probe, wherein the carrier is moved with respect to the probe card to permit replacement of the probe card. |
| US07683641B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting a capacitance using sigma-delta measurement techniques
Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using sigma-delta measurement techniques. According to various embodiments, a voltage is applied to the measurable capacitance using a first switch. The measurable capacitance is allowed to share charge with a passive network. If the charge on the passive network is past a threshold value, then the charge on the passive network is changed by a known amount for a sufficient number of repetitions until the measurable capacitance can be detected. Such a detection scheme may be readily implemented using conventional components, and can be particularly useful in sensing the position of a finger, stylus or other object with respect to a button, slider, touchpad or other input sensor. |
| US07683640B2 |
Capacitive fingerprint sensor and the panel thereof
A capacitive fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint capacitor, an integrator, a first transistor, a second transistor and a third transistor. The fingerprint capacitor has a capacitance that is either a valley capacitance CFV or a ridge capacitance CFR, wherein CFV is smaller than CFR. The integrator has a reference capacitor Cfb. The first transistor is configured to control the fingerprint capacitor during a scan line period. The second transistor is configured to discharge the fingerprint capacitor. The third transistor is configured to precharge the fingerprint capacitor and to redistribute the charges between the fingerprint capacitor and the reference capacitor Cfb. |
| US07683637B2 |
Touch sensor with electrostatic immunity and sensing method thereof
The present invention relates to a touch sensor with electrostatic immunity and sensing method thereof. The touch sensor includes a sensing electrode, a discharge element, a sensing-controlling terminal and an input-output (I/O) control terminal, wherein the discharge element is coupled between the sensing-controlling terminal and the I/O control terminal and the sensing electrode is coupled to the sensing-controlling terminal. The essence of the present invention is using charge-discharge through the sensing-controlling terminal and the I/O control terminal for sensing whether a conductor contacts the sensing electrode. There are corresponding compensations no matter an electrostatic charge on the sensing electrode is positive charge or negative charge. Therefore, the influence of electrostatic charge can be eliminated. |
| US07683634B2 |
Micromachined capacitive sensor and linkage
In accordance with the invention, a surface capacitive sensor is mechanically coupled to a conventional macrostructure actuator to measure the displacement of the actuator along a measurement axis with high accuracy. |
| US07683633B2 |
Apparatus for extending the bandwidth of vector network analyzer receivers
A system for measuring a frequency response of an electrical network includes a signal source, a signal source path, a reflectometer receiver interactively associated with the signal source path by a directional coupler, and one or more additional reflectometer receivers arranged in series along the signal source path and associated with the signal source path by one or more respective additional directional couplers. The directional coupler and one or more respective additional directional couplers operate at different frequency ranges. |
| US07683632B2 |
Specific absorption rate measurement system and method
A disclosed specific absorption rate measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention measures a specific absorption rate of electromagnetic waves from a radiating source absorbed in a dielectric medium. The system includes a measurement portion that measures a first electric field vector on an observation surface which is a two-dimensional surface in the dielectric medium; an electric field calculation portion that calculates a second electric field vector in a point excluded from the observation surface in accordance with electric field components of the first electric field vector measured on the observation surface, the electric field components being parallel to the observation surface; and a calculation portion that calculates the specific absorption rate from the calculated second electric field vector. |
| US07683631B2 |
Inverse characteristic measuring apparatus, distortion compensation apparatus, method, program, and recording medium
A nonlinear distortion is compensated based upon a characteristic relating to a characteristic of a device under test. An inverse characteristic measuring device measures an output signal output from the device under test as a result of supplying the device under test with an input signal generated by a signal source. Further, the inverse characteristic measuring device acquires an ideal signal output from the device under test based upon the input signal if the device under test is ideal. Moreover, the inverse characteristic measuring device acquires an inverse characteristic which is a relation of the ideal signal with respect to the output signal. This inverse characteristic is applied to a distortion compensator. The distortion compensator supplies the device under test with the input signal converted based upon the inverse characteristic. As a result, a signal output from the device under test is an ideal signal whose distortion caused by the device under test is compensated. |
| US07683626B2 |
Circuit with an arrangement for the detection of an interrupted connecting line
A circuit arrangement includes a first and a second supply terminal for application of a supply voltage and an output terminal for providing an output signal. The circuit arrangement additionally includes at least one programmable switch arrangement includes a normally off MOS transistor, which has a load path between a first and second load terminal and a control electrode. A capacitive component, has a first and a second terminal, the first terminal of which is connected to the control electrode of the MOS transistor and the second terminal of which is connected to a control and programming terminal. In this case, the load path of the MOS transistor is connected between the output terminal and one of the supply terminals. |
| US07683625B2 |
Electromagnetic surveying
A submersible electromagnetic (EM) field generator for seafloor electromagnetic surveying comprising an AC to DC converter operable to generate a DC output from an AC input and a switching module operable to generate a waveform driving signal by selectively switching the DC output. The EM field generator also comprises an antenna that is operable to generate an EM field in response to the waveform driving signal. This design approach of using a switched DC source allows square or rectangular wave EM signals to be generated which have sharp transition characteristics and which are substantially independent of the AC input characteristics. |
| US07683624B2 |
Magnetic field adjustment device and magnetic field adjustment method for superconducting magnet
A magnetic field adjustment device for a superconducting magnet, wherein magnetic material shim mechanisms are arranged in an axial direction of an inside periphery of the cylindrical superconducting magnet, each of the magnetic material shim mechanisms including a combined shim tray (14 in FIG. 2) in which a plurality of divided shim trays (11 and 12) and shim tray spacers (13) inserted between the divided shim trays are rectilinearly coupled, and magnetic material shims (101) for magnetic field adjustments as are accommodated in the divided shim trays. The magnetic material shim mechanisms afford a high versatility of magnetic material shim arrangements, whereby a correctable range of a magnetic field uniformity can be widened. |
| US07683620B2 |
Suppression of noise in MR images and MR spectroscopic images using signal space projection filtering
A method for suppressing the noise component of a measured magnetic resonance (MR) signal is disclosed. In particular, a signal-space projection operator is produced and employed to suppress the noise component from acquired MR signals that is uncorrelated with the spatial pattern of a desired NMR signal. In one embodiment, an fMRI scan is performed to acquire time course image data. The NMR data is filtered with a signal-space projection operator and reconstructed into a series of image frames. In another embodiment, the signal-space projection operator is employed to suppress lipid signal in MRS image data. |
| US07683619B2 |
High impedance differential input preamplifier and antenna for MRI
Antenna assemblies for magnetic resonance signals comprise a non-resonant loop antenna and a high impedance differential amplifier. The amplifier can include first and second high electron mobility transistors that have gates coupled to an antenna loop that is defined on a rigid substrate. The non-resonant loop has an effective length of less than about 1/10 of a wavelength of a signal to be detected. Arrays of such loops can be defined on the rigid substrate, and HEMTs for the loops secured to the substrate. |
| US07683617B2 |
Non-invasive MRI measurement of tissue glycogen
In a method for deriving information about a selected monosaccharide or polysaccharide such as glucose or glycogen, a selected modification such as saturation is made of magnetic resonance at a magnetic resonance frequency of protons of hydroxyl groups of the selected monosaccharide or polysaccharide. Probative water proton magnetic resonance data are acquired while the selected modification is substantially in effect. Information is derived about concentration or density of the selected monosaccharide or polysaccharide based at least on the probative water proton magnetic resonance data. |
| US07683616B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging method, and diffusion tensor color map image generating apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for generating an image related to a radiographing area of a subject on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal produced in the radiographing area within a static magnetic field space, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a fiber tracking device for tracking a running fiber in the radiographing area on the basis of a diffusion tensor calculated from the magnetic resonance signal; and a diffusion tensor color map image generating device for generating as said image a diffusion tensor color map image so as to match a curved surface including a tract extracted in the fiber tracked by the fiber tracking device, wherein the diffusion tensor color map image generating device generates the diffusion tensor color map image in such a manner that, in the fiber tracked by the fiber tracking device, pixels corresponding to the fiber running as the tract along the curved surface are made equal in color, and the pixels corresponding to the fiber running as the tract along the curved surface and pixels corresponding to a fiber running as a fiber other than the tract in a direction different from the tract become different in color. |
| US07683612B2 |
Thin film magnetic sensor
The thin film magnetic sensor comprising a GMR film having a Giant Magneto-Resistance effect; and thin film yokes formed of a soft magnetic material connected electrically to both ends of the GMR film; wherein the thin film yoke has a high sensitivity portion with a demagnetizing factor of NL in a magnetic sensitive direction, and a low sensitivity portion with a demagnetizing factor of NH(>NL) in the magnetic sensitive direction, the low sensitivity portion being connected electrically in series with the high sensitivity portion. |
| US07683611B2 |
Pipeline inspection using variable-diameter remote-field eddy current technology
The present disclosure relates to a device and method for pipeline inspection, The inspection device may include an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents. A plurality of sensors may then be provided which are capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by the eddy currents and the sensors may be engaged with a sensor shoe. The sensors may then be capable of being positioned at a first distance D1 with respect to an inner pipe wall surface and capable of providing coupling to the magnetic field produced by the eddy currents. The sensor shoe may also be capable of retracting to a second distance D2, wherein D1 |
| US07683608B2 |
Handler comprising an acceleration device for testing electronic components
The technology herein relates to a handler for testing electronic components, said handler comprising an acceleration device provided with a tappet which is linearly guided by means of at least one flat spring comprising two groups of spring arms, one group being fixed to the tappet and the other group to a frame which is stationary in relation to a housing of the movement generation device. Handler comprising an acceleration device for testing electronic components. |
| US07683605B2 |
Test pulses for enabling revenue testable panel meters
A panel meter including an energy test pulse device that enables the panel meter to be used for revenue applications and eliminates the need for two separate meters, one for panel indication, and the other for energy and revenue applications. The electrical panel meter including at least one sensor configured for measuring an electrical parameter; at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to the at least one sensor for converting the measured electrical parameter to a digital signal; a display for continuously displaying at least one electrical parameter; a processor configured to receive the digital signal and calculate an amount of energy consumed; and a test pulse circuit configured to receive the calculated amount and generate a plurality of pulses equal to the calculated amount, wherein each of the plurality of pulses is equal to a predetermined amount of energy. |
| US07683597B2 |
PWM signal generating circuit and power supply apparatus comprising such PWM signal generating circuit
To provide a power supply apparatus having high control resolution of an output power. A PWM signal generating circuit includes: a non-inverting element 31, and an inverting element 32; and further includes a counter 11 for performing count operation in response to rising of a clock signal, a counter 12 for performing count operation in response to falling of the clock signal, comparison circuits 21, 22, and a multiplexer 20. These circuit elements are controlled by PWM control means 10. As another circuit element, the PWM signal generating circuit includes a logical sum element 33. The PWM signal generating circuit serves to arbitrarily change both period and logic “H” time of a PWM signal to be outputted at a time interval which is one half of the clock period. Thus, there is provided a power supply apparatus in which resolution of a PWM signal has been improved within a broad duty range, and fine control of an output power has been performed within a broad output power range. |
| US07683596B1 |
Method for regulating an output voltage of a DC/DC converter using an active DC output control circuit
A control loop system is provided that employs an active DC output control circuit that more accurately calibrates the desired voltage at a load, e.g. 3.3 volts, by adjusting a trim pin on a DC/DC converter. |
| US07683595B2 |
Method for actuation, and actuating circuit for a switch in a power factor correction circuit
The document describes a method and an actuating circuit for actuating a switch regulating the power consumption in a power factor correction circuit which has input terminals for applying an input voltage and output terminals for providing an output voltage. In this case, the switch is cyclically turned on for an on-time and turned off for an off-time, respectively, with the on-time having a first on-time period and a second on-time period which is directly adjacent to the first on-time period. A length for the first on-time period is in this case dependent on the control signal, and a length for the second on-time period is proportional, at least for a prescribed range of values for an instantaneous value of the input voltage, to a quotient with a first first-degree function for this instantaneous value in the denominator and a second first-degree function for the instantaneous value in the numerator, with function values for the first function increasing as the instantaneous value rises. |
| US07683594B2 |
Intelligent dead time control
A circuit for reducing switching losses in a synchronous rectifier of a switching stage including a high-side control transistor and a low-side synchronous transistor coupled at a switching node, the switching stage receiving an input voltage and providing a controlled output voltage at an output node. The circuit including a first circuit portion for sensing waveshape edges of a first signal at a gate terminal of the low-side synchronous transistor and a first voltage to determine a delay between the waveshape edge of the first signal and the waveshape edge of the first voltage; and a second circuit portion for calibrating the first signal and the first voltage to align the waveshape edge of the first signal and the waveshape edge of the first voltage, with an optional offset to achieve minimal power loss. |
| US07683593B2 |
Current sensing in a power converter
In one embodiment, a power converter system includes a power device coupled between a first node and second node. The power device is operable to be turned on and off by a control signal. Current flows through the power device when the power device is turned on for delivering power to a load. A sensing circuit is coupled in parallel to the power device between the first node and the second node. The sensing circuit is operable to develop a signal indicative of the current flowing through the power device and is further operable to be turned on and off by the same control signal as for the power device. The sensing circuit turns on when the power device turns on and turns off when the power device turns off. |
| US07683590B2 |
Step-down switching DC-DC converter
A step-down switching DC-DC converter may include an input coil on the input side, an output coil on the output side, a switch, an output capacitor, a first series circuit connected between a connection point on which the input coil and the switch are connected each other and a negative pole of a power source, and a second series circuit connected between a connection point on which the output coil and the switch are connected to each other and the negative pole of the power source. A connection point between a first intermediate capacitor and the first intermediate coil is connected to a connection point between a second intermediate capacitor and the switch via a switching device cooperating with the switch. The input coil and the first intermediate coil are electromagnetically coupled with each other. The output coil and the second intermediate coil are electromagnetically coupled with each other. |
| US07683589B2 |
Reactive power compensator and control device therefor
A reactive power compensator includes a control block with a limiter and a primary delay-control block with a limiter that set, based on an output of a voltage sensor, reactive power produced by an SVC to a predetermined value. A reactive power controller sets the reactive power produced by the SVC to the predetermined value controls a voltage of a second bus to fall within a predetermined range. This is performed by adjusting an initial value of the reactive power that is output by the SVC, when a bus voltage of the second bus laid at a position apart from a first bus that is laid at a position near the SVC is deviated from a predetermined fixed range. |
| US07683580B2 |
Remaining-battery-capacity estimating apparatus, remaining-battery-capacity estimating method, and remaining-battery-capacity estimating computer program
A remaining-battery-capacity estimating apparatus estimates the remaining capacity of a battery used as a backup. The apparatus reduces the voltage output from a rectifier to an actual load, measures current flowing from the rectifier and the battery to the actual load and a dummy load device provided separately from the actual load, controls the load of the dummy load device such that the measured current is a predetermined value, and calculates the remaining capacity of the battery based on the terminal voltage of the battery and the discharging time of discharging the battery to the actual load and the dummy load device, by referring to battery data indicating the relationship among the discharging time of the battery, the terminal voltage of the battery, and the remaining capacity of the battery, at a predetermined current of the battery. |
| US07683578B2 |
Energy saving system
An energy saving system used in an electronic device is provided. The energy saving system includes a battery for supplying the electronic device with energy; a energy detector for measuring a energy level of the battery, and transmitting a battery energy saving control signal when the measured energy level is equal to or less than a predetermined energy level; and a control unit for changing a predetermined first time period into a predetermined second time period which is shorter than the predetermined first time period according to the battery energy saving control signal, and controlling the electronic device to enter a sleep mode state when an elapsed time of not receiving any operations on the electronic device reaches the predetermined second time period. |
| US07683571B2 |
Electronic device, method for controlling the same, and program for the same
The invention provides an electronic device having a structure operable by the power of a battery pack. The electronic device includes: an authenticating section that authenticates a battery pack connected so as to supply power to determine whether the battery pack is a genuine product; a user interface; and a controller for controlling the electronic device. The controller tries authentication of the battery pack connected so as to supply power with the authentication section. When the battery pack has been authenticated, the discharging of the battery pack is enabled. When the battery pack has not been authenticated, the controller requests the user to input recognition whether the battery pack is a genuine product through the user interface, and changes the control for the battery pack between when the user inputs, in response to the request, the recognition that the battery pack is a genuine product and when the user inputs the recognition that the battery pack is not a genuine product. |
| US07683567B2 |
Method for improving scanning probe microscope imaging by inverse filtering
In accordance with the invention, an inverse filter is used to improve scanned images from a scanning probe microscope by removing the effect of the scanning system dynamics from the image data. This may be done in-line or as a post-processing operation. |
| US07683566B2 |
Fan rotation speed control circuit of power supply system
A fan rotation speed control circuit of a power supply system is provided, which is applicable for controlling the rotation speed of the fan according to a loading state outputted by the power supply system. The fan rotation speed control circuit of the power supply system includes a waveform generating module, for generating an oscillating waveform signal; a current retrieving module, for retrieving a current signal corresponding to the loading state; a rotation speed control signal generating module, for comparing the oscillating waveform signal with the current signal, and generating a rotation speed control signal; a signal amplifying module, for amplifying an amplitude of the rotation speed control signal and outputting the amplified rotation speed control signal to the fan, so as to control the rotation speed of the fan. |
| US07683565B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a haptic device
A method and apparatus for controlling a haptic device. In one embodiment, the haptic device includes an actuator; an actuator sensor, producing an actuator signal indicative of the actuator velocity; a load; a load output sensor producing a load output signal indicative of the load position; and a controller in electrical communication with the load output sensor, actuator sensor and actuator. The controller controls the actuator in response to the actuator signal and the load output signal to provide a haptic response to a user. In one embodiment, the method for controlling an actuator of a haptic device includes the steps of producing an actuator signal indicative of the velocity of an actuator; producing a position signal indicative of the position of a load; and controlling the actuator in response to the actuator signal and the load output position signal to produce a haptic response to a user. |
| US07683564B2 |
System for monitoring load and angle for mobile lift device
A mobile lift device having a load moving device capable of engaging a load is provided. The mobile lift device includes one or more systems for stabilizing the mobile lift device during operation of the load moving device. According to one exemplary embodiment, the mobile lift device is a heavy duty wrecker having a rotatable boom assembly. The heavy duty wrecker comprises a monitoring system for stabilizing the wrecker during operation of the boom assembly. The monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors and a monitoring circuit coupled to the sensors to generate a force signal representative of at least one force being applied to the wrecker based upon the transmitted signals. |
| US07683561B2 |
Device for the incremental control of a direct-current motor for the cooling fan of a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a device (10) for the incremental control of at least one first direct-current motor (12) for the cooling fan of a motor vehicle. Said device comprises a first (14) and a second current-limiting component (16), and a first (22), a second (24) and a third switching element (28). The inventive device is characterized in that the switching elements (22, 24, 28) connect the first (14) and the second current-limiting component (16) in such a manner that the cooling capacity of the cooling fan can be varied in at least four levels different from zero. |
| US07683555B2 |
Discharge tube lighting circuit and electronic apparatus provided with the discharge tube lighting circuit
In a backlight, for example, a pair of U-shaped discharge tubes are connected to connectors of a discharge tube lighting circuit. A secondary output voltage of a first transformer is applied to a first end of one U-shaped discharge tube via a power supply electrode. A secondary output voltage of a second transformer is applied to a first end of the other U-shaped discharge tube via a power supply electrode. A secondary output voltage of a third transformer is applied in common to the other (second) ends of the U-shaped discharge tubes via other power supply electrodes. The secondary output voltages of the first and second transformers are the same in polarity, and are opposite to the secondary output voltage of the third transformer in polarity. |
| US07683553B2 |
LED current control circuits and methods
Embodiments of the present invention include circuits and methods for electrical current control. In one embodiment, a regulator provides power to the anode end of a set of LED strings. A current setting circuit derives its current from a current reference and generates multiple matching currents that drive the low side (cathode end) of the set of LED strings. The current setting circuit also contains a feedback signal to the regulator that helps maintain a desired voltage level to the anode end of the LED strings. This embodiment is designed to be expandable and drive any number of LED strings. The present invention may be implemented with a high or low side driver scheme to drive the current. Also, the present invention may be implemented with bipolar, nmos, pmos, or any device that operates as a transistor. |
| US07683550B2 |
Low-pressure discharge lamp and back light device using the same
A low-pressure discharge lamp (1) is provided that includes a glass tube (2) having an inner diameter in a range of 1 to 5 mm and a pair of electrodes (3) disposed at end portions in the glass tube (2). The pair of electrodes (3) contain at least one transition metal selected from transition metals of Groups IV to VI. Mercury and a rare gas containing argon and neon are sealed in an inner portion of the glass tube (2). A relationship between a cathode glow discharge density J and a composition index α of the sealed rare gas of the low-pressure discharge lamp (1) satisfies the following expression α≦J=I/(S·P2)≦1.5α (where S represents an effective discharge surface area (mm2) of an electrode, I represents a RMS lamp current (mA), P represents a pressure (kPa) of a sealed rare gas, and α represents a composition index of a sealed rare gas that is a constant expressed by α=(90.5A+3.4N)×10−3 when a total of a composition ratio A of argon and a composition ratio N of neon is expressed by A+N=1). |
| US07683545B2 |
Plasma display panel comprising common barrier rib between non-discharge areas
A plasma display panel includes a first substrate, on which discharge sustain electrodes are formed, and an opposing second substrate, on which address electrodes are aligned in a first direction. Barrier ribs between the substrates define a plurality of discharge cells within which phosphor layers are formed. The display electrodes have bus electrodes, forming a corresponding pair within each of the discharge cells, and extension electrodes, extending from the bus electrodes into each of the discharge cells to form an opposing pair. A pair of the display electrodes corresponding to each of the discharge cells forms a first gap and a second gap having different distances from each other between the opposing extension electrodes, and forms a third gap between the bus electrodes. The second gap is longer than the first gap, and the third gap is longer than the second gap. |
| US07683538B2 |
Dual panel-type organic electroluminescent display device
A dual panel-type organic electroluminescent display device includes a first substrate on which gate and data lines cross each other to define sub-pixels. Array elements are disposed at the sub-pixels on the first substrate. A first electrode is disposed on substantially the entire surface of a second substrate opposing the first substrate. An insulating pattern is disposed on the first electrode, an organic electroluminescent layer is disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode is disposed on the organic electroluminescent layer at each sub-pixel. A connection pattern connects the array element and the second electrode at each sub-pixel. The connection pattern contacts the second electrode under the insulating pattern. |
| US07683533B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device provided with a polarizing plate, a prism member and a phase member in a stacked arrangement
An organic EL light-emitting apparatus includes a base, an organic EL device, a prism member, a polarizing member, and a phase member. The prism member, the polarizing member, and the phase member are adjacent to a light extraction side of the organic EL device. The prism member includes a plurality of unit prisms each having a triangular-column shape. The unit prisms are arranged such that their longitudinal directions are parallel to one another. The polarizing member is disposed further from the base than the prism member. The prism member has an apex angle between 90° to 140°. |
| US07683532B2 |
Semiconductor device and light emitting device
The present invention provides a semiconductor device by which a light-emitting device that is unlikely to cause defects such as a short circuit, can be manufactured. One feature of a semiconductor device of the present invention is to include an electrode that serves as an electrode of a light-emitting element. The electrode includes a first layer and a second layer. Further, end portions of the electrode are covered with a partition layer having an opening portion. Moreover, a part of the electrode is exposed by the opening portion of the partition layer. One feature of a semiconductor device of the present invention is to include an electrode that serves as an electrode of a light-emitting element and a transistor. The electrode and the transistor are connected electrically to each other. The electrode includes a first layer and a second layer. Further, end portions of the electrode are covered with a partition layer having an opening portion. Moreover, the second layer is exposed by the opening portion of the partition layer. |
| US07683530B2 |
Cathodoluminescent light source having an electron field emitter coated with nanocarbon film material
A cathodoluminescent light source has a field-emission cathode serving as a source of electrons, an anode having a specular light-reflecting surface, and an electron-excited phosphor applied to the specular light-reflecting anode surface. The cathode and anode are enclosed in an evacuated housing having a transparent surface, so as to let the electron-excited phosphor on the anode surface be irradiated with an electron beam, and to let the luminous flux resulting from the process of cathodoluminescence to emerge. |
| US07683524B2 |
Multichannel, surface parallel, zonal transducer system
A multichannel, surface parallel, zonal transducer system includes a membrane and a compound transducer mounted on the membrane, the compound transducer including a plurality of transducer elements extending generally parallel to the membrane, interconnected in a closed network and individually addressable. |
| US07683523B2 |
Ultrasonic actuator
An ultrasonic actuator (3) includes an actuator body (4) performing a plurality of vibrations including a bending vibration, and a driver element (5) which is attached to a long side surface (40b) of the actuator body (4), and outputs a driving force by making an orbit motion in response to the vibrations of the actuator body (4). The driver element (5) is provided with an attachment surface (51), and is attached to the long side surface (40b) with the attachment surface (51) in surface contact with the long side surface (40b). A width of the attachment surface (51) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b) is smaller than a maximum width of the driver element (5) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b). |
| US07683519B2 |
Curvilinear brush retainer with liner for an electric motor assembly
A curvilinear brush retainer and brushes for an electric motor assembly provides an end plate upon which is disposed a pair of curvilinear brush retainers. The brush retainers are configured to retain and support a pair of curvilinear brushes as they are biased against the commutator of the electric motor along a curvilinear path. Brush liners are disposed within the curvilinear path maintained by the brush retainers, serving to reduce the stiction or frictional force imparted to the brushes as they move, thereby reducing the temperature of the brush and extending their operating life. |
| US07683518B2 |
Motor
A motor includes a stator formed of a stator iron-core having salient pole iron-cores and windings, and a rotor having a rotor iron-core in which permanent magnets are buried. A magnetic pole centerline connecting a rotary center of the rotor to a magnetic pole center crosses an external shape of the rotor iron-core at end point X, and the magnetic-pole boundary line connecting the rotary center to a magnetic pole boundary point crosses the external shape of the rotor iron-core at end point Z. A straight line angled at a given angle θa from the magnetic pole centerline has end point A. Then a sectional view of the rotor iron-core shows an arc drawn between the end points X and A, and the arc's center is the rotary center. The end points A and Z are connected by one or more than one straight lines in series. |
| US07683517B2 |
Rotary electric machine and method for mounting a coil on core for rotary electric machine
A method for mounting coil onto stator for rotary electric machine. The method includes forming coil pieces by winding wire with flat cross section into single row lamination state including wire layers aligned along perpendicular line to flat surfaces of wire. The coil is formed for first portion to be inserted in slot and second portion not inserted in slot appear alternately along the coil. The method displaces wire layers at the first portion changing the single row lamination state to connectively laminated state where wire layers at portion to be inserted in slot each adjacent pair of the wire layers partially overlap with respect to direction perpendicular to flat wire surfaces. The method includes inserting wires of first portion into slot, passing each wire layer through slot opening successively from the top wire layer of lamination and displacing each wire layer at first portion from each other. |
| US07683513B2 |
Electric motor with split magnetic return element
The invention relates to an electric motor (10) and to a method for producing said electric motor, especially for adjusting mobile parts in a motor vehicle. Said electric motor comprises a rotor (12), a lower housing part (16) and an upper housing part (18) which can be radially assembled in relation to the rotor (12), and at least two permanent magnets (22) that are coupled to each other by means of a magnetic feedback element (24). Said feedback element comprises a lower feedback sheet (28) and an upper feedback sheet (30), the upper feedback sheet (30) having a stop face (40) that rests on a mating stop face (42) of the lower housing part (16). |
| US07683505B2 |
Universal energy supply system
A universal energy supply system for at least one electrical consumer comprises at least one AC voltage source and a cable connection connecting the source with the electrical consumer, wherein an AC/DC converting means is assigned to the AC voltage source for converting the AC voltage into DC voltage which DC voltage can be supplied to the electrical consumer via the cable connection. To improve such a universal energy supply system in that with small constructional efforts and with low costs, the energy supply to an electrical consumer is guaranteed also over great distances and the corresponding voltage supply is stabilized, the efficiency being relatively high at the same time and the system being redundant, the AC/DC conversion means comprises a number of AC/DC converting units which are connected in parallel with the AC voltage source on the input side and are serially connected to the electric consumer on the output side, each converting unit being constructed as a blocked switch mode power supply. |
| US07683495B2 |
Integrated circuit package substrate having configurable bond pads
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit package substrates, integrated circuit packages, and processes for assembling the same, are provided. A substrate for a flip chip integrated circuit package includes a substrate body having opposing first and second surfaces. A solder mask layer covers at least a portion of the first surface of the substrate body. First and second electrically conductive features are formed on the substrate body. The first electrically conductive feature is a portion of a first electrical signal net, and the second electrically conductive feature is a portion of a second electrical signal net. The first and second electrically conductive features are configured to be selectively electrically coupled together by application of an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material may be a conductive epoxy, a jumper, a solder paste, a solder ball, or a solder bump that couples a flip chip die to the substrate. |
| US07683494B1 |
Press-fit integrated circuit package involving compressed spring contact beams
An insulative substrate includes a plurality of flexible retaining clips and a plurality of alignment and retaining pins. A metal leadframe includes a plurality of leads. Each lead terminates in a spring contact beam portion. The leadframe is attached to the substrate (for example, by fitting a hole in each lead over a corresponding alignment and retaining pin and then thermally deforming the pin to hold the lead in place). An integrated circuit is press-fit down through the retaining clips such that pads on the face side of the integrated circuit contact and compress the spring contact beams of the leads. After the press-fit step, the retaining clips hold the integrated circuit in place. The resulting assembly is encapsulated. In a cutting and bending step, the leads are singulated and formed to have a desired shape. The resulting low-cost package involves no wire-bonding and no flip-chip bond bump forming steps. |
| US07683490B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and semiconductor device having multilayer interconnection
A semiconductor device includes: multi-layer interconnection substrate having signal distribution interconnection and power supply line; and semiconductor circuit blocks installed on the multi-layer interconnection substrate for performing required operations. The multi-layer substrate includes: a third interconnection layer having interconnections extending in a first direction; a second interconnection layer having interconnections extending in a second direction which is different to the first direction; and a first interconnection layer having interconnections extends in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. |
| US07683481B2 |
Bottom electrode for memory device and method of forming the same
Contacts having use in an integrated circuit and exemplary methods of forming the contacts are disclosed. The methods involve forming a conductive cap over a metal plug. The invention can mitigate keyholes in the contacts by capping and encapsulating the conductive material used to form the contact. The exemplary cap may be made of a nitride material. |
| US07683477B2 |
Semiconductor device including semiconductor chips having contact elements
A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a device including a carrier, an electrically insulating layer arranged over the carrier and a first semiconductor chip arranged over the electrically insulating layer, wherein the first semiconductor chip has a first contact element on a first surface and a second contact element on a second surface. |
| US07683467B2 |
Integrated circuit package system employing structural support
An integrated circuit package system that includes: providing an electrical interconnect system including a support structure and a lead-finger system; stacking a first device over the support structure; stacking a second device over the first device; connecting the first device and the second device to the lead-finger system; stacking a dummy device over the second device; and exposing a support structure bottom side and a dummy device top side for thermal dissipation. |
| US07683463B2 |
Etched leadframe structure including recesses
A leadframe structure is disclosed. The leadframe structure includes a first leadframe structure portion with a first thin portion and a first thick portion, where the first thin portion is defined in part by a first recess. It also includes a second leadframe structure portion with a second thin portion and a second thick portion, where the second thin portion is defined in part by a second recess. The first thin portion faces the second recess, and the second thin portion faces the first recess. |
| US07683461B2 |
Integrated circuit leadless package system
An integrated circuit leadless package system includes forming a lead, attaching an integrated circuit die to the lead, and applying an encapsulant including a thin encapsulant region with a thinner section over the lead than a section over the integrated circuit die. |
| US07683450B2 |
Method for producing smooth, dense optical films
The invention is directed to preparing optical elements having a thin, smooth, dense coating or film thereon, and a method for making such coating or film. The coated element has a surface roughness of <1.0 nm rms. The coating materials include hafnium oxide or a mixture of hafnium oxide and another oxide material, for example silicon dioxide. The method includes the use of a reverse mask to deposit the coating or film on a rotating substrate. |
| US07683448B2 |
CMOS image sensor
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is provided. The CMOS image sensor can include a photodiode, a transfer transistor (Tx), a reset transistor (Rx), a drive transistor (Dx), and a select transistor (Sx). The CMOS image sensor includes a floating diffusion region between the transfer transistor (Tx) and the reset transistor (Rx). The gate of the drive transistor (Dx) is formed of polysilicon and extends to and is formed on the floating diffusion region. |
| US07683447B2 |
MRAM device with continuous MTJ tunnel layers
A method for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device having a plurality of memory cells includes: forming a fixed magnetic layer having magnetic moments fixed in a predetermined direction; forming a tunnel layer over the fixed magnetic layer; forming a free magnetic layer, having magnetic moments aligned in a direction that is adjustable by applying an electromagnetic field, over the tunnel layer; forming a hard mask on the free magnetic layer partially covering the free magnetic layer; and unmagnetizing portions of the free magnetic layer uncovered by the hard mask for defining one or more magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) units. |
| US07683446B2 |
Magnetic memory using spin injection flux reversal
A magnetization direction in a magnetosensing layer (5b) is perturbed near the magnetic connection between a magnetic yoke (5) and the magnetosensing layer (5b). If the magnetization direction of a region in the magnetosensing layer (5b) facing a fixed layer which functions during read is not perturbed, reliability is improved. In this magnetometric sensor, a surface area S1 of fixed layers (43, 44) is made smaller than a surface area S2 of the magnetosensing layer (5b) so that, in the region of the magnetosensing layer (5b) facing the fixed layer, the magnetization direction is perturbed less than in the surrounding region and reliability during data read is improved. |
| US07683445B2 |
Enhanced permeability device structures and method
Low power magnetoelectronic device structures and methods therefore are provided. The magnetoelectronic device structure (100, 150, 450, 451) comprises a programming line (104, 154, 156, 454, 456), a magnetoelectronic device (102, 152, 452) magnetically coupled to the programming line (104, 154, 156, 454, 456), and an enhanced permeability dielectric (EPD) material (106, 108, 110, 158, 160, 162, 458, 460, 462) disposed adjacent the magnetoelectronic device. The EPD material (106, 108, 110, 158, 160, 162, 458, 460, 462) comprises multiple composite layers (408) of magnetic nano-particles (406) embedded in a dielectric matrix (409). The composition of the composite layers is chosen to provide a predetermined permeability profile. A method for making a magnetoelectronic device structure is also provided. The method comprises fabricating the magnetoelectronic device (102, 152, 452) and depositing the programming line (104, 154, 156, 454, 456). The EPD material (106, 108, 110, 158, 160, 162, 458, 460, 462) comprising the multiple composite layers (408) is formed around the magnetoelectronic device (102, 152, 452) and/or between the device (102, 152, 452) and the programming line (104, 154, 156, 454, 456). The presence of the EPD structure (470, 480, 490) in proximity to the programming line (104, 154, 156, 454, 456) and/or the magnetoelectronic device (102, 152, 452) reduces the required programming current. |
| US07683441B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device can include a transistor structure, including a gate dielectric on a substrate, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric, a spacer at sidewalls of the gate electrode, and source/drain regions in the substrate; and an interlayer dielectric on the transistor structure where an air gap is provided in a region between the spacer, the interlayer dielectric, and the source/drain region of the substrate. |
| US07683440B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A drain (7) includes a lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a) aligned with a control gate (5), and a heavily-doped deep impurity region (7b) aligned with a sidewall film (8) and doped with impurities at a concentration higher than that of the lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a). The lightly-doped shallow impurity region (7a) leads to improvement of the short-channel effect and programming efficiency. A drain contact hole forming portion (70) is provided to the heavily-doped impurity region (7b) to reduce the contact resistance at the drain (7). |
| US07683436B2 |
Semiconductor device having a pole-shaped portion and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a square pole-shaped channel portion made from a first semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, and surrounded with four side faces; a gate electrode formed on a first side face of the channel portion, and a second side face of the channel portion opposite to the first side face through respective gate insulating films; a source region having a conductivity type different from that of the channel portion and being formed on a third side face of the channel portion, the source region including a second semiconductor layer having a lattice constant different from that of the first semiconductor layer and being formed directly on the substrate; and a drain region having a conductivity type different from that of the channel portion and being formed on a fourth side face of the channel portion opposite to the third side face, the drain region including the second semiconductor layer being formed directly on the substrate. |
| US07683435B2 |
Misalignment-tolerant multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures
This disclosure relates to misalignment-tolerant multiplexing/demultiplexing architectures. One architecture enables communication with a conductive-structure array having a narrow spacing and pitch. Another architecture can comprise address elements having a width substantially identical to that of conductive-structures with which each of these address elements is capable of communicating. Another architecture can comprise rows of co-parallel address elements oriented obliquely relative to address lines and/or conductive structures. |
| US07683426B2 |
High-voltage lateral DMOS device with diode clamp
All low-temperature processes are used to fabricate a variety of semiconductor devices in a substrate the does not include an epitaxial layer. The devices include a non-isolated lateral DMOS, a non-isolated extended drain or drifted MOS device, a lateral trench DMOS, an isolated lateral DMOS, JFET and depletion-mode devices, and P-N diode clamps and rectifiers and junction terminations. Since the processes eliminate the need for high temperature processing and employ “as-implanted” dopant profiles, they constitute a modular architecture which allows devices to be added or omitted to the IC without the necessity of altering the processes used to produce the remaining devices. |
| US07683423B2 |
Semiconductor device including transistor with composite gate structure and transistor with single gate structure, and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device comprises a first transistor having a composite gate structure containing a lamination of a first polycrystalline silicon film, an interlayer insulating film, and a second polycrystalline silicon film; and a second transistor having a single gate structure containing a lamination of a third polycrystalline silicon film and a fourth polycrystalline silicon film, wherein the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness; the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have different impurity concentrations controlled independently of each other; the second polycrystalline silicon film and the fourth polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness, and the second polycrystalline silicon film, the fourth polycrystalline silicon film, and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same impurity concentration. Also, a method for manufacturing the above-described semiconductor device is described. |
| US07683421B2 |
NAND-type flash memory devices including selection transistors with an anti-punchthrough impurity region and methods of fabricating the same
A NAND-type flash memory device including selection transistors is provided. The device includes first and second impurity regions formed in a semiconductor substrate, and first and second selection gate patterns disposed on the semiconductor substrate between the first and second impurity regions. The first and second selection gate patterns are disposed adjacent to the first and second impurity regions, respectively. A plurality of cell gate patterns are disposed between the first and second selection gate patterns. A first anti-punchthrough impurity region that surrounds the first impurity region is provided in the semiconductor substrate. The first anti-punchthrough impurity region overlaps with a first edge of the first selection gate pattern adjacent to the first impurity region. A second anti-punchthrough impurity region that surrounds the second impurity region is provided in the semiconductor substrate. The second anti-punchthrough impurity region overlaps with a first edge of the second selection gate pattern adjacent to the second impurity region. |
| US07683414B2 |
Semiconductor device, its manufacturing method and electronic apparatus thereof
The present invention proposes a semiconductor device, its manufacturing method and to an electronic apparatus thereof equipped with the semiconductor device where it becomes possible to make a CMOS type solid-state imaging device, an imager area formed with a MOS transistor of an LDD structure without having a metal silicide layer of a refractory metal, an area of DRAM cells and the like into a single semiconductor chip. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is constituted such that an insulating film having a plurality of layers is used, sidewalls at the gate electrodes are formed by etchingback the insulating film of the plurality of layers or a single layer film in the region where metal silicide layers are formed and in the region where the metal silicide layers are not formed, sidewalls composed of an upper layer insulating film is formed on a lower layer insulating film whose surface is coated or the insulating film of the plurality of layers remain unchanged. |
| US07683412B2 |
Semiconductor device having a ferroelectric capacitator
An ultra-thin semiconductor chip of an FeRAM, which is miniaturized and highly integrated with characteristic degradation of a ferroelectric capacitor suppressed though a thin package structure is applied to the FeRAM is realized. The semiconductor chip is molded up by using a sealing resin with a filler content set at a value in a range of 90 weight % to 93 weight % to produce a package structure. |
| US07683409B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor including a second line formed at an upper part of a photodiode region as a transparent electrode for passing light. The second line is composed of a polymeric material having transparency and conductivity. |
| US07683401B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating thereof capable of reducing a shallow trench isolation stress influence by utilizing layout pattern designs
Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of contact metals, and a gate electrode. The semiconductor substrate has an active region and a dummy active region, and a plurality of contact metals are formed in the active region. A gate electrode is located between the contact metals in the active region. A first distance between the active region and the dummy active region, and a second distance between an edge of the contact metal and an edge of the active region are set such that a channel characteristic of the active region is improved. |
| US07683399B2 |
Transistor
There is provided a normally-off type transistor made of a nitride semiconductor. The transistor includes; an undoped GaN layer which forms a channel region; an undoped Al0.2Ga0.8N layer which is formed on the undoped GaN layer and has a band gap larger than that of the undoped GaN layer; a p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer which is formed on the undoped Al0.2Ga0.8N layer, has a p-type conductivity and forms a control region; an Ni gate electrode which contacts with the p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer; a Ti/Al source electrode and a Ti/Al drain electrode which are formed beside the p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer; and an Ni ohmic electrode which is connected to the undoped GaN layer and serves as a hole absorbing electrode. With this transistor, it is possible to achieve a large-current operation and a high switching speed. |
| US07683398B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device having a silicon-containing connection layer and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided which enable reduction and enhanced stability of contact resistance between the back surface of a nitride substrate and an electrode formed thereover. A nitride semiconductor device includes an n-type GaN substrate (1) over which a semiconductor element is formed, and an n-electrode (10) as a metal electrode formed over the back surface of the GaN substrate (1). A connection layer (20) is formed between the GaN substrate (1) and the n-electrode (10), and the connection layer (20) is composed of a material that is other than nitride semiconductors and that contains silicon. |
| US07683396B2 |
High power light emitting device assembly utilizing ESD protective means sandwiched between dual sub-mounts
A high power light emitting device assembly with electro-static-discharge (ESD) protection ability and the method of manufacturing the same, the assembly comprising: at least two sub-mounts, respectively being electrically connected to an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each being made of a metal of high electric conductivity and high thermal conductivity; a light emitting device, arranged on the sub-mounts; and an ESD protection die, sandwiched and glued between the sub-mounts, for enabling the high-power operating light emitting device to have good heat dissipating path while preventing the same to be damaged by transient power overload of static surge. |
| US07683395B2 |
Light-emitting diode arrangement and motor vehicle headlamp
A light-emitting diode arrangement having at least one light-emitting diode chip (1), each light-emitting diode chip (1) being assigned at least one optical element (4). In addition, the light-emitting diode arrangement has at least one heat-conducting element (13) which is suitable to carry away the heat generated by the light-emitting diode chip, and at least one cooling apparatus which is suitable to carry heat away from the heat-conducting element. The light-emitting diode arrangement is particularly well suited, for example, to use in motor vehicle headlamps. |
| US07683387B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate having electrode layers that are formed on insulating layer to cover common voltage line and grounding line
According to an embodiment, there is provided a thin film transistor substrate divided into a display area displaying the image and a non-display besides the display area, the thin film transistor substrate comprising: a common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and a grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test formed at the edge of the non-display area in parallel; an insulating layer covering the common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and the grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test; and an electrode layer formed on the insulating layer corresponded to the common voltage line for MPS (mass production system) test and the grounding line for MPS (mass production system) test. Thus, the present invention provides a thin film transistor substrate and a fabricating method thereof for minimizing defects due to static electricity. |
| US07683386B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device with protrusions to improve external efficiency and crystal growth
A substrate has at least one recess and/or protrusion formed in and/or on a surface thereof so as to scatter or diffract light generated in an active layer. The recess and/or protrusion is formed in such a shape that can reduce crystalline defects in semiconductor layers. |
| US07683380B2 |
High light efficiency solid-state light emitting structure and methods to manufacturing the same
In one embodiment of an epitaxial LED device, a buffer layer (e.g. dielectric layer) between the current spreading layer and the substitute substrate includes a plurality of vias and has a refractive index that is below that of the current spreading layer. A reflective metal layer between the buffer layer and the substitute substrate is connected to the current spreading layer through the vias in the buffer layer. The buffer layer separates the current spreading layer from the reflective metal layer. In yet another embodiment, stress management is provided by causing or preserving stress, such as compressive stress, in the LED so that stress in the LED is reduced when it experiences thermal cycles. In one implementation of this embodiment, a layer is attached to the LED and reflective metal layer, and causes or preserves stress in the LED along one or more directions parallel to an interface between the LED epitaxial layers so that stress in the LED is reduced in said one or more directions when temperature of the structure is increased. |
| US07683375B2 |
Thin-film transistor with controllable etching profile
A thin-film transistor includes a gate layer, a gate insulting layer, a semiconductor layer, a drain layer, a passivation layer (each of which being formed on or over an insulating substrate), and a conductive layer formed on the passivation layer. The conductive layer is connected to the gate layer or the drain layer by way of a contact hole penetrating at least the passivation layer. The passivation layer has a multiple-layer structure comprising at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer stacked, the first sublayer having a lower etch rate than that of the second sublayer. The first sublayer is disposed closer to the substrate than the second sublayer. The second sublayer has a thickness equal to or less than that of the conductive layer. The shape or configuration of the passivation layer and the underlying gate insulating layer can be well controlled in the etching process, and the conductive layer formed on the passivation layer is prevented from being divided. |
| US07683374B2 |
Silicon based photodetector
A method of fabricating a photodetector device includes preparing a silicon substrate, forming a patterned mesa on the silicon substrate, and forming a patterned conductive layer over the patterned mesa. |
| US07683370B2 |
Source/drain electrodes, transistor substrates and manufacture methods, thereof, and display devices
In a thin-film transistor substrate including a substrate, a thin-film transistor semiconductor layer, a source/drain electrode, and a transparent pixel electrode, the source/drain electrode includes a thin film of an aluminum alloy containing 0.1 to 6 atomic percent of nickel as an alloy element, and the aluminum alloy thin film is directly connected to the thin-film transistor semiconductor layer. |
| US07683368B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor element, semiconductor element, electronic device, and electronic equipment
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor element which can produce a semiconductor element provided with a semiconductor layer having a high carrier transport ability, a semiconductor element manufactured by the semiconductor element manufacturing method, an electronic device provided with the semiconductor element, and electronic equipment having a high reliability. In order to achieve the object, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor element having an anode, a cathode, and a hole transport layer provided between the anode and the cathode, the method comprising steps of: a first step for forming layers mainly comprised of a hole transport material having polymerizable groups X on the side of one surface of the anode and on the side of one surface of the cathode, respectively, and a second step for obtaining the hole transport layer by integrating the two layers together by polymerizing the hole transport materials via a polymerization reaction through their polymerizable groups in a state that the layer on the side of the anode and the layer on the side of the cathode are made contact with each other. |
| US07683364B2 |
Gated quantum resonant tunneling diode using CMOS transistor with modified pocket and LDD implants
A gated resonant tunneling diode (GRTD) is disclosed including a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate over a gate dielectric layer which is biased to form an inversion layer between two barrier regions, resulting in a quantum well less than 15 nanometers wide. Source and drain regions adjacent to the barrier regions control current flow in and out of the quantum well. The GRTD may be integrated in CMOS ICs as a quantum dot or a quantum wire device. The GRTD may be operated in a negative conductance mode, in a charge pump mode and in a radiative emission mode. |
| US07683363B2 |
Composition for photon-energy up-conversion
The present invention relates to a composition for photon energy up-conversion, a system comprising said composition and to uses of said composition and said system. |
| US07683361B2 |
Method for generating quantum-entangled photon pairs
A method for generating a quantum-entangled photon pair is such that a biexciton in such a state that the angular momentum is 0 is generated through two-photon resonance induced by irradiating a semiconductor substance, e.g., CuCl, with two parent photons (angular frequency ωi). A photon pair is then generated by splitting the biexciton thus generated simultaneously into two photons (angular frequencies ωs and ωs′). Since the photon pair is generated by splitting such biexciton having an angular momentum of 0, it has a quantum entanglement with regard to polarization. Since the photon thus generated has a wavelength substantially equal to that of the parent photons, photons of shorter wavelength in a quantum entangled state can be generated. |
| US07683356B1 |
Voltage converting circuit
A voltage converting circuit for converting a first voltage signal into a second voltage signal for supplying voltage for an electronic component includes a photoelectric coupler and a connector. The photoelectric coupler includes a light-emitting element and a photosensor. The light-emitting element includes a first terminal configured for receiving the first voltage signal. The photosensor includes a first terminal connected to a power supply, and a second terminal configured for outputting the second voltage signal. The connector configured for connecting the photosensor and the electronic component. When the first voltage signal is at a high level, the light-emitting element emits light to turn on the photosensor, the power supply makes the voltage level of the second voltage signal sent out by the photosensor to satisfy a voltage demand of the electronic component. |
| US07683354B2 |
Water treating reactor for the drinkability thereof
A water treating device includes a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis, an inlet and an outlet. Water to be treated enters the inlet, flows through the cylindrical housing and out the outlet. A plurality of elongated UV lamps are disposed in the cylindrical housing. The UV lamps extend generally in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing, but are disposed in a non-parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing. Typically one end portion of each of the UV lamps is spaced outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing. Along the length of each of the UV lamps, the distance between the longitudinal axis of the UV lamps and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing varies. |
| US07683351B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support for a patterning device, a substrate table for a substrate, a projection system, and a control system. The patterning device is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. The projection system is configured to project the patterned radiation beam as an image onto a target portion of the substrate along a scan path. The scan path is defined by a trajectory in a scanning direction of an exposure field of the lithographic apparatus. The control system is coupled to the support, the substrate table and the projection system for controlling an action of the support, the substrate table and the projection system, respectively. The control system is configured to correct a local distortion of the image in a region along the scan path by a temporal adjustment of the image in that region. |
| US07683350B2 |
Ion implantation method
An ion implantation method is provided. The method, before ion implanting, is to rotate the substrate by an angle and shift the scan path of the ion beam with an interlace pitch in the direction perpendicular to the scan direction and on the plane of the substrate. Therefore a plurality of interlaced and not overlapped ion implantation scan lines are formed on the surface of the substrate, so the method can enhance the uniformity of the dose of the ion implantation in the substrate. |
| US07683347B2 |
Technique for improving ion implantation throughput and dose uniformity
A technique for improving ion implantation throughput and dose uniformity is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for improving ion implantation throughput and dose uniformity may comprise measuring an ion beam density distribution in an ion beam. The method may also comprise calculating an ion dose distribution across a predetermined region of a workpiece that results from a scan velocity profile, wherein the scan velocity profile comprises a first component and a second component that control a relative movement between the ion beam and the workpiece in a first direction and a second direction respectively, and wherein the ion dose distribution is based at least in part on the ion beam density distribution. The method may further comprise adjusting at least one of the first component and the second component of the scan velocity profile to achieve a desired ion dose distribution in the predetermined region of the workpiece. |
| US07683346B2 |
Remote laser assisted biological aerosol standoff detection in atmosphere
A method used to detect and identify biological substances suspended in air in the form of aerosols or clouds including generating a remote infrared light beam directed toward the atmospheric contamination, producing an ultraviolet light beam from the infrared light beam by compression via the air through which the IR beam travels, and producing fluorescence of the atmospheric contamination, when the generated ultraviolet light contacts the atmospheric contamination. The fluorescent signals are then processed in order to identify the nature of the atmospheric contamination. |
| US07683344B2 |
In-line treatment of liquids and gases by light irradiation
An in-line reactor for the treatment of liquids or gasses by light radiation is disclosed. The reactor is made of tube, pipe, or chamber made of a transparent material, having at least one fluid inlet and correspondingly at least one fluid outlet. The transparent material of the tube is selected such that its refractive index is as possible close to the refractive index of the fluid to be treated. Air gap is kept around the outer transparent walls of the reactor, in order to allow for total internal reflection inside the reactor, of light directed into it from a light source in angles of incidence greater than the critical angle. Fluid treatment systems comprising at least one said in-line reactor are also disclosed. Furthermore, method of in-line fluid treatment, and especially of water sterilization and disinfection and aseptic filling of water are disclosed. Surfaces hit by the in-line disinfected water after being launched through an outlet nozzle, could also be sterilized by launching the water with the same UV light used for the in-line treatment locked in total internal reflection within the free flow water jet. |
| US07683339B2 |
Optical radiation sensor system
An optical radiation sensor system having: a housing having a distal portion for receiving radiation from the radiation source and a proximal portion; a sensor element in communication with the proximal portion, the sensor element configured to detect and respond to incident radiation received from the radiation source; and motive structure configured to move the housing with respect to the sensor element between at least a first position and a second position. A radiation pathway is defined between the radiation source and the sensor element when the housing is in at least one of the first position and the second position. Movement of the housing with respect to the sensor element causes a modification of intensity of radiation impinging on the sensor element. |
| US07683338B2 |
Radiological imaging system
The radiological imaging system which can improve an energy resolution and perform a diagnosis with high accuracy includes a bed for carrying an examinee H, first and second imaging apparatuses and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the bed. The first imaging apparatus has a plurality of semiconductor radiation detectors for detecting γ-rays emitted from the examinee H, arranged around the bed, the second imaging apparatus has an X-ray source for emitting X-rays to the examinee H and a radiation detector for detecting X-rays which have been emitted from the X-ray source and passed through the examinee H, and the bed is shared by the first imaging apparatus and the second imaging apparatus. |
| US07683331B2 |
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging
A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging including an open arc-shaped frame. A collimator subsystem is shaped to approximately match the thoracic contour to optimize the geometric efficiency for detecting photons emitted from the heart of patients having different sizes and weights and shaped to surround and position the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient of the patients encompassed by at least one predetermined image volume for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart. The collimator subsystem is facilitated by a tracking system that is capable of quickly bringing up the collimator component, which meets a specific set of collimation requirements, into place for imaging. And an open arc-shaped detector system is coupled to the collimator subsystem having a shape closely matching the shape of the collimator subsystem for detecting collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals. |
| US07683328B2 |
Photographing control apparatus and method
A photographing control apparatus that controls a sensor for accumulating and reading out electric charge in order to obtain an image, includes: a deciding unit adapted to decide a frame period showing an image photographing interval, based on an input of an input unit; a determining unit adapted to determine, based on the frame period decided by the deciding unit, whether accumulation and reading out of electric charge not for use in an image generating process is set in the frame period; and a control unit adapted to control the sensor based on the determination by the determining unit. |
| US07683327B2 |
Development of disposable/sealable tips for spectroscopic probes
Sealable cell for obtaining a reflectance spectrum of a liquid sample using a spectroscopic probe having a removable cap wherein the internal wall of the cap comprises at least one groove that allows air to escape from the head of the probe and a liquid sample held within the cap so that accurate spectra can be obtained. |
| US07683326B2 |
Vehicle vision system with high dynamic range
A vehicular vision system is disclosed comprising a high dynamic range. The systems and methods are advantages for rear vision, collision avoidance, obstacle detection, adaptive cruise control, rain sensing, exterior light control, and lane departure warning, as well as other applications where a given scene may comprise objects having widely varying brightness values. |
| US07683323B2 |
Organic field effect transistor systems and methods
An OFET on a pyroelectric or piezoelectric substrate, such as PVDF, can provide highly adaptable and manufacturable radiation or acoustic sensing. Local charge amplification can be provided, such to construct an array of sensing pixels, which can be configured in an active or passive matrix. A susceptor or guide element can be provided. Systems, devices, methods of making, and methods of using are among the examples described. |
| US07683318B2 |
Laser atom probe
A laser atom probe (100) situates a counter electrode between a specimen mount and a detector (106), and provides a laser (116) having its beam (122) aligned to illuminate the specimen (104) through the aperture (110) of the counter electrode (108). The detector, specimen mount (102), and then be pulsed to bring the specimen to ionization. The timing of the laser pulses may be used to determine ion departure and arrival times allowing determination of the mass-to-charge ratios of the ions, thus their identities. Automated alignment methods are described wherein the laser is automatically directed to areas of interest. |
| US07683314B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion beam attenuator which attenuates an ion beam repeatedly switching between a zero transmission mode of operation during a time period ΔT1 and a non-zero transmission mode of operation during a time period ΔT2. The degree of attenuation of the ion beam can be varied by varying the mark space ratio ΔT2/ΔT1. The ion beam attenuator may release ions in packets or pulses but the packets or pulses of ions may be converted into a continuous ion beam by a relatively high pressure ion guide or gas collision cell arranged downstream of the ion beam attenuator. |
| US07683312B2 |
Fiber-optic interrogator with normalization filters
A fiber optic interrogator includes a broadband optical source, at least one beam splitter directing output of the optical source to an array of fiber optic gratings, at least one linear transmission or reflection filter, at least one optical receiver and at least one amplifier associated with each receiver. In one aspect of the invention, a pair of opposite-sloped linear transmission filters are utilized to normalize the received and filtered reflections with respect to total optical power. |
| US07683305B2 |
Method and apparatus for ambient light detection
An imaging method and apparatus which use a pixel array for capturing images and for measuring ambient light conditions. |
| US07683298B2 |
Raised platform for microwave cooking of a food product
A raised platform for a microwave cooking of a food product that includes a support surface, a pair of generally rectangular legs depending from opposing sides of the support surface, a pair of leg extensions attached to each of the generally rectangular legs, and a susceptor surface disposed on the food product support surface for conducting heat to a food product thereon during microwave cooking. The raised platform can be converted between a collapsed configuration, where the legs are generally parallel to the support surface, and an expanded configuration, where the legs are generally perpendicular to the support surface. |
| US07683292B2 |
Method for cooking a food with infrared radiant heat
An oven using radiant heat at infrared wavelengths optimized for producing rapid and uniform cooking of a wide variety of foods. The infrared oven toasts, bakes, broils, and reheats food at a much faster speed while maintaining high quality in taste and appearance of the cooked food. Optimal infrared wavelengths of the radiant heat sources are used for the best balance of cooking performance, while also reducing the time required to cook the food. Typically short to medium wavelength infrared radiant energy will result in good performance for toasting and browning of food. Medium to long wavelength infrared radiant energy is well suited for delivering more deeply penetrating radiant energy into the food. This deep penetration of radiant infrared heat energy results in a more thorough internal cooking of the food than with conventional methods of conduction and convection cooking. |
| US07683290B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing a welding output circuit path
Methods and apparatus to characterize a welding output circuit path. A welding output circuit path is characterized in real time with respect to a true energy and/or true power input to the welding output circuit path. A welding output circuit path is also characterized with respect to an inductance of the welding output circuit path. A welding output circuit path is further characterized with respect to a welding output waveform. |
| US07683289B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling plasma density profile
A number of RF power transmission paths are defined to extend from an RF power source through a matching network, through a transmit electrode, through a plasma to a number of return electrodes. A number of tuning elements are respectively disposed within the number of RF power transmission paths. Each tuning element is defined to adjust an amount of RF power to be transmitted through the RF power transmission path within which the tuning element is disposed. A plasma density within a vicinity of a particular RF power transmission path is directly proportional to the amount of RF power transmitted through the particular RF power transmission path. Therefore, adjustment of RF power transmitted through the RF power transmission paths, as afforded by the tuning element, enables control of a plasma density profile across a substrate. |
| US07683286B2 |
Switchgear
A switchgear having interrupters wherein at least two moving contacts are capable of being open and close with respect to respective fixed contacts. The switchgear comprises a non-earthed metal vacuum chamber enclosing the interrupters therein, a connection conductor for connecting the moving contacts, an operating rod connected to the connecting conductor by means of an insulator and protruding from the non-earthed metal vacuum chamber, a sealing means for sealing the protrusion of the operating rod at the non-earthed metal vacuum chamber, circuit terminals protruding from the non-earthed vacuum chamber, an earth layer surrounding an outer periphery of the insulating mold, and a potential control means. The control means for controlling the potential of the non-earthed metal vacuum chamber is connected between the circuit terminals and is connected to the non-earthed metal vacuum chamber at the intermediate point of the potential control means. |
| US07683278B2 |
Pushbutton switch mounting structure
A pushbutton switch is provided with: a switch case; a switch body fixed to the switch case; an elastic sealing body that is formed of an elastic material and covers and seals the switch body; a cap member that is formed of a hard material and is detachably mounted at a top portion of the elastic sealing body; a pushbutton portion provided on the cap member and exposing from a switch exposure aperture on a switch mounting apparatus; and a stopper portion provided on the cap member and configured to interfere with a rear surface of the switch mounting apparatus at a peripheral area of the switch exposure aperture and to restrain the cap member from being detached from the switch mounting apparatus, in a state in which the switch case is fixed to the switch mounting apparatus. |
| US07683277B2 |
Connecting element, connection and method for producing a connection between service switching devices
The invention relates to a connector element for two installation breakers, adjacently attached with the broad faces thereof in contact, in particular, power breakers or residual current breakers, the housings of which are each formed from two dished housing pieces. The connector element comprises an approximately cylindrical base body with a first external diameter on the front side of which two radially-sprung, axially projecting first and second expanding arms are moulded. The external contours of the spreader arms lie on a cylindrical outer surface, the external diameter of which is smaller than the first external diameter of the base body. The free ends thereof comprise radially projecting lugs on opposed external lines, which, in the assembly state, clip behind recesses on the housings, for connection by means of the connector element, of adjacent installation breakers. A sprung spreader element is mounted between a first and second spreader arm such that the spreader element supports the sprung spreading of the spreader arms, and which impedes the sprung contact of the first and second spreader arms with each other. |
| US07683275B2 |
Miniature switch and battery holder
A miniature switch module includes a battery harness attached to a circuit board. A diaphragm or pushbutton type switch and a battery are sandwiched between the retainer and circuit board. |
| US07683271B2 |
System for accurately weighing solids and control mechanism for same
A system for accurately weighing a mass of material, including a closed chamber (20) having a gas inlet (22) and a gas outlet (24). A scale (30) is disposed in the closed chamber (20). An inert gas supply, under positive pressure, is connected to the gas inlet (22) and a vacuum powered pressure regulator (100) is connected to the gas outlet (24) to maintain a predetermined pressure level within the closed chamber (20) and to substantially inhibit pressure fluctuations within the chamber (20) that may affect accuracy of the scale (30). |
| US07683267B2 |
Collapsible EMC gasket
A method and associated assembly is provided for a collapsible EMC gasket is provided. In one embodiment, the gasket comprises a flexible conductive sheet disposed between corner of a first and a second surface of a computer frame capable of housing electronic components. The sheet is larger in area than the corner area of the frame such that when disposed, said sheet forms a curved structure. The sheet is being fabricated of a material that can be compressed and then decompressed back to its original shape. |
| US07683257B1 |
Electrical cover plate
Implementations of an electrical cover plate assemblies feature a frame with a finished surface and at least one adapter plate recess in the finished surface. The adapter plate recess includes an electrical device aperture. An adapter plate couples with the frame at the adapter plate recess and is sized to fill the adapter plate recess substantially from its extents at least approximately to an edge of the electrical device aperture. |
| US07683255B2 |
Adapter plate assembly for outdoor installation of notification appliances
The present invention generally discloses a weatherproof flush adapter plate assembly. In one embodiment, the adapter plate assembly includes a plate. The plate includes a front side, a back side, an outer edge, at least one inner edge, at least one mounting member for receiving a back box and at least one mounting member for receiving a notification appliance. The adapter plate assembly also includes a first gasket coupled to the front side of the plate and a second gasket coupled to the back side of the plate. |
| US07683238B2 |
Production of pharmaceutically active proteins in sprouted seedlings
The present invention provides systems and methods for producing pharmaceutically active proteins in transgenic sprouted seedlings. The transgenic sprouted seedlings of the invention are grown in a contained, regulatable environment, wherein expression of a pharmaceutically active protein is controlled by an exogenously inducible promoter. The transgenic sprouted seedlings may be eaten live or preferably harvested live to preserve the maximal biological activity of the pharmaceutically active protein. |
| US07683237B2 |
Maize seed with synergistically enhanced lysine content
The present invention provides a transgenic maize plant having in its genome transgenic DNA including sequence for zein reduction and sequence for lysine biosynthesis, whereby expression of the transgenic DNA results in a synergistically increased lysine content of seed of the transgenic maize plant. The invention further provides a method for providing maize seed with synergistically increased lysine content. |
| US07683236B2 |
Enhanced production of cloned mammals by zona pellucida-free homologous mammalian embryo aggregation
Compositions and methods are provided for the efficient and reproducible generation of clone animals of all developmental stages. Also provided are methods of use of the same in reproductive and therapeutic cloning protocols. |
| US07683234B2 |
Devices and bandages for the treatment or prevention of scars and/or keloids and methods and kits therefor
Devices, bandages, kits and methods are described that can control or regulate the mechanical environment of a wound to ameliorate scar and/or keloid formation. The mechanical environment of a wound includes stress, strain, and any combination of stress and strain. The control of a wound's mechanical environment can be active, passive, dynamic, or static. The devices are configured to be removably secured to a skin surface in proximity to the wound site and shield the wound from endogenous and/or exogenous stress. |
| US07683233B2 |
Process for producing para-xylene
In a process for producing a para-xylene enriched product from a gaseous mixture comprising at least para-xylene, meta-xylene and ortho-xylene, the gaseous mixture is contacted with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing para-xylene and comprising a crystalline molecular sieve having an average crystal size between about 0.5 micron and about 20 microns. The contacting is conducted at a temperature and pressure such that at least part of the para-xylene in the mixture is adsorbed by the adsorbent to produce a para-xylene-depleted effluent stream. The para-xylene is then desorbed from said adsorbent and collected to form a para-xylene enriched stream. The adsorption and desorption steps are repeated for a plurality of cycles, such that the time between successive contacting steps is no more than 10 seconds. |
| US07683228B2 |
Production of high purity cumene from non-extracted feed and hydrocarbon composition useful therein
A process for producing an cumene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of cumene present in the product by the propylation of the benzene present in non-extracted hydrocarbon composition feed, e.g., non-extracted reformate. The non-extracted hydrocarbon composition feed is substantially free of both C4− hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions. |
| US07683222B2 |
Method of producing a fluorine-containing compound
A method of producing a fluorine-containing compound, which contains the step of: fluorinating a substrate in a solvent with fluorine gas, wherein as said substrate, a substrate that cannot substantially undergo fluorinating reaction independently, is allowed to react, in the presence of a substrate that rapidly undergoes fluorinating reaction independently. |
| US07683221B2 |
Process for the production of alkylene glycols using homogeneous catalysts
A process for the manufacture of alkylene glycol by the hydration of alkylene oxide using a soluble catalyst that permits the separation of the reaction product into an alkylene glycol product stream and a recycle stream without the significant precipitation of the soluble catalyst from the recycle stream. |
| US07683209B2 |
Manufacture of hydrofluoroalkanesulfonic acids
A process for manufacture of hydrofluoroalkanesulfonic acid with at least one hydrogen bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom bonded to the sulfonic acid group comprising: contacting a fluoroolefin with sulfite in an aqueous solution adjusted to about pH 4 to pH 12; removing water from the solution to form a solid; directly treating the solid with oleum; and distilling the hydrofluoroalkanesulfonic acid therefrom. Also a process for manufacture of potassium hydrofluoroalkanesulfonate in high purity is described. |
| US07683204B2 |
Mixture of alicyclic polycarboxylic acid esters having high cis isomer content
The present invention relates to mixtures of alicyclic polycarboxylic esters with high cis content, to a process for their preparation by ring-hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic esters, and also to the use of the mixtures. |
| US07683201B2 |
Quinazoline(di)ones for invertebrate pest control
Compounds of Formula I including all geometric and stereoisomers, N-oxides, and agriculturally suitable salts thereof, are disclosed which are useful as invertebrate pest control agents wherein A, B, J, K, L and R3 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula I an N-oxide thereof or a suitable salt thereof and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of surfactants, solid diluents and liquid diluents.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, its N-oxide or a suitable salt of the compound (e.g., as a composition described herein). |
| US07683195B2 |
Silver β-ketocarboxylate, material comprising the same for forming silver metal, and use thereof
It is an object to provide a novel material that can quickly form metal silver even at a low temperature of approximately 210° C. or less. This serves as a metal silver forming material that includes a silver β-ketocarboxylate. By heating this forming material, it is possible to form metal silver quickly even at a low temperature of approximately 210° C. or less. Examples of the silver β-ketocarboxylate include silver isobutyrylacetate, silver benzoylacetate, silver acetoacetate, silver propionylacetate, silver α-methylacetoacetate, and silver α-ethylacetoacetate. |
| US07683189B2 |
Process for producing aminobenzopyran compound
There is provided a method for producing aminobenzopyran compound, which results in little wastes, has no influence on reactors and necessitates a simple work-up procedure. Concretely, it is a method for producing aminobenzopyran compound of formula (2) characterized by reducing a nitro group on 2,2-dimethyl 2H-1-benzopyran compound of formula (1) with hydrazine in the presence of a metal catalyst. |
| US07683188B2 |
Process for preparation of mycophenolic acid and ester derivatives thereof
Provided are processes for preparation of mycophenolic acid. |
| US07683187B2 |
Process for producing delta-lactones
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a lactone. The process comprises the steps of reacting an aldehyde with an organic halide in a carbon chain extension reaction to form an alcohol compound comprising a functional group capable of allowing for carbonylation of said alcohol compound, and then reacting said alcohol compound in a carbonylation reaction to form an hydroxycarboxylic acid; and cyclizing the hydroxycarboxylic acid to produce the lactone. |
| US07683186B2 |
Optically active biaryl phosphorus compound and production process thereof
A phosphorus compound of formula (1): wherein R1 denotes a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy protective group; R2 denotes a group defined by the following formula (R2-1) or (R2-2); R3, R4, R5, and R6 may be the same or different and independently denote a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group; two among R3, R4, R5, and R6 may form an aromatic ring optionally having a substituent group, and two among R3, R4, R5, and R6 may form a methylene chain optionally having a substituent group or a (poly)methylenedioxy group optionally having a substituent group: wherein (R2-1) and (R2-2), R7 denotes an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxy group; R8 and R9 independently denote a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; z denotes a divalent group; and a denotes an integer of 0 or 1. |
| US07683185B2 |
Histone deacetylase inhibitors
The present invention provides histone deacetylase inhibitors of general formula (I), process for the preparation of such compounds and uses of the compounds in medicine. |
| US07683181B2 |
Cyclic N-[1,3,4]-thiadiazol-2-yl-benzene sulfonamides, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the therapeutic use thereof
The present invention comprises cyclic N-[1,3,4]-thiadiazol-2-yl-benzene sulfonamides, their functional derivatives as well as their physiologically acceptable salts and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that exhibit peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) PPARdelta and PPARgamma agonist activity. The structure of the compounds of the invention are defined by Formula I below, wherein the various R1-R9 substituents are defined herein. Processes for the compounds preparation are also disclosed. The compounds are suitable for the treatment of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders, disorders relating to insulin resistance are involved as well as demyelinating and other neurodegenerative disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. |
| US07683179B2 |
Lercanidipine salts
The present invention relates to new addition salts of lercanidipine comprising lercanidipine and an acid counterion wherein the acid counterion is selected from the group consisting of: (i) inorganic acids, (ii) sulfonic acids, (iii) monocarboxylic acids, (iv) dicarboxylic acids, (v) tricarboxylic acids, and (vi) aromatic sulfonimides, with the proviso that said acid counterion is not hydrochloric acid. |
| US07683172B2 |
Urea derivative and process for preparing the same
A process for preparing a compound (C) represented by the following formula: wherein R1 represents hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl or C3-8 cycloalkyl, and R2 represents hydrogen or methoxy, characterized by reacting a compound (A-1) represented by the following formula: wherein R1 has the same definition as above, with a compound (B) represented by the following formula: wherein R2 has the same definition as above, and L represents a leaving group, is provided. Compound (C) is effective for prevention or treatment of various diseases associated with angiogenesis neoplasia. |
| US07683167B2 |
Separating agent for enantiomeric isomers
The present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers exhibiting high separation power. That is, the present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers including, as an active ingredient, a polysaccharide derivative having at least part of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups of a polysaccharide such as cellulose or amylose substituted by at least one of atomic groups represented by the following general formulae (I) and (II): (in the formulae, R represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, or a linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic group). |
| US07683161B2 |
Selective reduction of spinosyn factors Et-J and Et-L to spinetoram
Spinetoram is selectively produced in excellent yields by hydrogenating a mixture of 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn J and 3′-O-ethyl spinosyn L in a water miscible organic solvent using hydrogen gas and a heterogeneous catalyst. |
| US07683160B2 |
Glucopyranosyl-substituted benzyl-benzene derivatives, medicaments containing such compounds, their use and process for their manufacture
Glucopyranosyl-substituted benzyl-benzene derivatives of the general formula I where the groups R1 to R6 as well as R7a, R7b, R7c are defined according to claim 1, including the tautomers, the stereoisomers thereof, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof. The compounds according to the invention are suitable for the treatment of metabolic disorders. |
| US07683159B2 |
Tenascin-W compositions and uses thereof
Tenascin-W, an extracellular matrix molecule that is specifically expressed in metastatic tumours is provided. A system comprising a sample expressing tenascin-W is used as an in vitro method for screening possible anti-tumour agents or for agents that promote osteogenesis. |
| US07683157B2 |
Process for the production of polyarenazole polymer
The present invention concerns a process for making a polyareneazole polymer comprising the steps of: a) contacting azole-forming monomers, metal powder, and optionally P2O5, in polyphosphoric acid to form a mixture; b) blending the mixture at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 110° C.; c) further blending the mixture at a temperature of up to about 145° C. to form a solution comprising an oligomer; d) optionally, degassing the solution; and e) reacting the oligomer solution at a temperature of about 160° C. to about 250° C. for a time sufficient to form a polymer. |
| US07683154B2 |
Epoxy resin curing agent of polyethylene polyamine-monoglycidyl ether adduct and amine compound
Curing agent for epoxy resins, comprising A) 1-99 wt % of an adduct obtainable by reaction of a1) a polyethylene polyamine having up to five nitrogen atoms in the molecule, with a2) a monoglycidylether, wherein the adduct of a1) and a2) is isolated by removing the excessive polyethylene-polyamine, and B) 99-1 wt % of an amine compound having at least two reactive amine hydrogen atoms in the molecule, as well as curable compositions additionally comprising an epoxy compound and the use of said curable compositions for the preparation of moulded articles and sheet materials, as well as for applications in the field of adhesives and sealing compounds. |
| US07683149B2 |
Catalysts for olefin polymerization or oligomerization
Novel iron and cobalt complexes of certain novel tricyclic ligands containing a “pyridine” ring and substituted with two imino groups are polymerization and/or oligomerization catalysts for olefins, especially ethylene. Depending on the exact structure of the ligand, and polymerization process conditions, products ranging from α-olefins to high polymers may be produced. The polymers, especially polyethylenes, are useful for films and as molding resins. |
| US07683146B2 |
Supported metal alkyl compound and process for the polymerization of olefins in its presence
The present invention relates to pulverulent solids obtainable by reaction of a metal alkyl compound of a divalent or higher-valent metal and a finely divided support which on its surface bears functional groups which can form a chemical bond between the metal atom of the metal alkyl compound and the surface of the support, wherein the particles of the finely divided support have particle diameters of less than 1000 nm and less than 5% by weight of the metal alkyl compound is extractable in a single extraction of the pulverulent solid with 20 ml of heptane per gram of solid at 50° C. In addition, the invention relates to a process for preparing the pulverulent solids, a catalyst composition for the polymerization of olefins which comprises the pulverulent solids and polymerization processes using the catalyst composition. |
| US07683141B2 |
Polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer
The present invention relates in a first embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the sealing initiation temperature SIT of the film is Tm−30° C. or less, preferably Tm−33° C. or less, in a second embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the film is having a relative reduction of the static friction value (inside-inside) from one to four days of 35% or more, preferably 40% or more, in a third embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the distribution of the comonomer in the random copolymer determined according to TREF method is multimodal, preferably bimodal, in a fourth embodiment to a polymer film comprising a propylene random copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol %, wherein the copolymer is having an elution interval of 50° C. or more, and in a fifth embodiment to a polymer film comprising a copolymer with a total comonomer content of 4.5 to 12 mol % wherein the random copolymer is a unimodal polymer and the elution interval is determined by the equation Y≦4.5·m+16 wherein Y is the elution interval in ° C. and m is the percentage of ethylene in the copolymer in wt. %. |
| US07683140B2 |
Method for determining temperature value indicative of resin stickiness from data generated by polymerization reaction monitoring
In some embodiments, a method including the steps of monitoring a polymerization reaction which produces a polymer resin in a fluid bed reactor, where a dry melt reference temperature is characteristic of melting behavior of a dry version of the resin, and in response to data indicative of at least one monitored parameter of the reaction, determining a reduced melt reference temperature that is at least substantially equal to the difference between the dry melt reference temperature and a temperature by which the dry melt reference temperature is depressed by the presence of condensable diluent gas with the resin in the reactor. Optionally, the method also includes the step of controlling the reaction in response to the reduced melt reference temperature or a stickiness parameter determined from the reduced melt reference temperature. |
| US07683137B2 |
Color reduction polyethylene modified by radical initiation
Polyethylene modified by using radical initiators such as oxygen and peroxides sometimes has a yellow color which may be reduced or eliminated by incorporating additives such as polyethylene glycol, and/or neutralizing species such as alkali metal stearates, particularly calcium stearate, and zinc oxide. |
| US07683129B2 |
Films from polymer blends
This invention relates to a film comprising a heterogeneous blend of: 1) from 60 to 99 wt % of one or more semi-crystalline polymers; and 2) from 1 to 40 wt % of one or more semi-amorphous polymers; where the blend has: an MFR of 0.5 to 100 dg/min, a haze of 20% or less, and a permanent set of greater than 65%; and where the film is 2.5 to 635 microns thick and has: a haze of 10% or less, a 1° Secant tensile modulus of 100,000 to 30,000 psi, an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction and transverse direction of 45 g/mil or more, a total energy impact of 3 J or more; and a 45 degree gloss of 82 or more. |
| US07683126B2 |
Creping aid composition and methods for producing paper products using that system
The present invention relates to a creping aid composition comprising a film-forming semi-crystalline polymer and a vehicle system comprising a cationic polymer resin, a water soluble anionic film forming polymer, and water, wherein the net Mutek charge of the vehicle system is less than about −200 μeq/g solid and the pH of the creping aid composition is greater than the pH of the vehicle system. The present invention also relates to methods of producing paper products comprising the steps of a) providing a fibrous structure having a first surface and a second surface; b) providing a drying surface; c) applying a creping aid composition whereby the creping aid composition contacts one of the drying surface or the fibrous structure, said creping aid composition comprising i) a film-forming semi-crystalline polymer and ii) a vehicle system comprising a cationic polymer resin, a water-soluble anionic film-forming polymer, and water, wherein the net Mutek charge of the vehicle system is less than about −200 μeq/g solid and the pH of the creping aid composition is greater than the pH of the vehicle system; d) applying the fibrous structure to the drying surface such that the fibrous structure, the creping aid composition and the drying surface are all in contact; e) removing the fibrous structure from the drying surface. |
| US07683121B2 |
Stable wet strength resin
A method of stabilizing an aqueous solution of polyaminoamide-epichlorohydrin resin comprising sequentially adding to the solution about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of one or more strong acids and about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent of one or more weak acids to prepare a stabilized solution having a pH of about 3-4. |
| US07683120B2 |
Dispersants and compositions thereof
The present invention provides a composition comprising (i) a particulate solid; (ii) an organic medium; and (iii) a salt of a hydrocarbyl-substituted acrylating agent. The invention further provides for the use of the composition in various applications including paints, inks or mill bases. |
| US07683118B2 |
Process for preparing fluoropolymer dispersions
A process for preparing a fluoropolymer dispersion that is substantially anionic fluorinated surfactant free includes adding to a fluoropolymer dispersion a nonionic surfactant having a cloud point (CP) between 40 and 80° C. in a concentration of 1.5% to 50% by weight of the fluoropolymer, heating the dispersion up to a temperature Tc in a range of CP±10°C., decanting the dispersion in a reactor at Tc until obtaining a lower aqueous phase containing a concentrated fluoropolymer dispersion and an upper aqueous phase substantially not containing the fluoropolymer dispersion, washing the decanted dispersion with a solution of water and nonionic surfactant having a concentration of the nonionic surfactant of 0.5% to 50% by weight of the fluoropolymer, removing the upper aqueous phase from the upper part of the reactor, and discharge and recovery of the fluoropolymer dispersion. |
| US07683116B2 |
Peroxide dispersions
A hardener composition useful in a two part resin system. The hardener composition includes a reactive carrier, and a peroxide catalyst. The hardener composition can have a shelf life of over six months. A two-part polyester resin system and a method of making a polyester resin composition are also disclosed. |
| US07683114B2 |
Low application temperature hot melt adhesive
A low application temperature rubber-based hot melt adhesive having properties particularly well suited for use in the construction of disposable articles has been invented. The adhesive comprises a styrene block copolymer and a type of wax in an amount effective to produce a viscosity at 120° C. of below about 10,000 centipoises, a cube flow at 130° F. (54° C.) of less than about 300%, a DSC crystallization temperature of less than about 75° C. and a storage modulus of less than about 1.0×107 dynes/cm2 at 10 rads/sec (25° C.). |
| US07683107B2 |
Ink jet printable thick film compositions and processes
The present invention provides a method for the deposition of an ink jet printable composition, to a substrate comprising: depositing an ink composition on a substrate by ink jet printing; wherein said composition comprises: (a) functional material; (b) organic polymer comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone; dispersed in (c) dispersion vehicle selected from organic solvent, water, or mixtures thereof; and wherein the viscosity of said composition is between 5 mPa·s to 50 mPa·s at a temperature of 25 to 35° C. |
| US07683104B2 |
Curable composition, ink composition, inkjet-recording method, and planographic printing plate
The present invention provides a curable composition including: a compound having a single partial structure containing a cyclic ether group, and at least one linear alkyl group having 5 or more carbon atoms; and a compound that generates acid when irradiated with radiation. The present invention also provides an ink composition containing the curable composition, an inkjet-recording method by using the ink composition, and a planographic printing plate obtained by using the ink composition. |
| US07683103B2 |
Dental polymerizable composition
A dental polymerizable composition comprising (a) a fluorine compound comprising a chain polymer having a main chain comprising a monomer unit having a hydrophilic group, and terminal groups comprising a fluoroalkyl group at each of both ends of the main chain; (b) a polymerizable monomer; and (c) a polymerization initiator. The dental polymerizable composition can be suitably used, for example, for dental composite resins, such as dental composite filler materials, crowning materials, and bonding materials; dental adhesive agents, such as teeth-straightening adhesive agents, cavity-coating adhesive agents, and tooth fissure sealing materials; denture base materials, denture base mucosal adjusting materials, fissure sealants, coating agents applied to tooth surface or dental prosthetic, surface glazes, and the like, and especially for various coating applications, for example, a fissure sealant, a coating agent to tooth surface or dental prosthetic, surface stains or a surface glaze, a hypersensitive inhibitor, a dental manicure, or the like. |
| US07683100B2 |
Method of making macroporous cation exchange resins
Methods of making macroporous cation exchange resins are described. The macroporous cation exchange resins are in the form of particles such as beads that contain a hydrophilic, crosslinked, (meth)acrylic-type polymeric material. Additionally, methods of purifying a positively charged material using the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making chromatographic columns that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making filter elements that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, and methods of making porous composite materials that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins are described. |
| US07683097B2 |
Topoisomerase inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds that are effective against inhibiting topoisomerase (i.e., topoisomerase I and/or topoisomerase II). These compounds are used for treating cell-proliferative disorders. In some instances, these compounds have anticancer activity, e.g., against multi-drug resistant cancers. |
| US07683094B2 |
8-azaprostaglandin derivative compound and agent comprising the compound as active ingredient
An 8-azaprostaglandin represented by formula (I) (wherein all symbols have the same meanings as described in the specification), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a cyclodextrin clathrate thereof. Since the compound represented by formula (I) binds to EP2 subtype among PGE receptor strongly, it is useful for preventive and/or treatment for immune diseases, allergic diseases, neuronal cell death, dysmenorrhea, premature birth, abortion, baldness, retinal neuropathy such as glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, arthritis, pulmonary injury, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatic injury, acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, shock, nephritis, renal failure, circulatory diseases, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, hemophagocytosis syndrome, macrophage activation syndrome, still disease, Kawasaki Disease, burn, systemic granuloma, ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, hypercytokinemia at dialysis, multiple organ failure, or bone diseases etc. |
| US07683088B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory disorders
This invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or isomer thereof, which can be useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs, ADAMs, TACE, aggrecanase, TNF-α or combinations thereof. |
| US07683087B2 |
N[S(4-aryl-triazol-3-yl)α-mercaptoacetyl] -p-amino benzoic acids as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors
A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(α-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. are provided, where Q is CO2H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O) N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections. |
| US07683086B2 |
Fungicidal mixtures
The invention relates to a fungicidal mixture that comprises (1) 2-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxypropyl]-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazolo-3-thion (prothioconazole) or the salts or adducts thereof and at least one further fungicidal composition, selected from (2) boscalid or (3) carboxine or (4) metrafenone or (5) a compound of formula (V) or (6) a compound of formula (VI) or (7) quinoxyfen or (8) dithianon or (9) thiram or (10) mepiquat chlorides or (11) cyazofamid or (12) fenoxanil or (13) a compound of formula (XIII) or (14) thiophanate methyl or (15) carbendazim or (16) metalaxyl or (17) fludioxonil or (18) thiabendazole or (19) quintozene or (20) prochloraz or (21) anthraquinone in a synergistically effective amount. |
| US07683079B2 |
4-aminopiperidine derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with DPP-IV, such as diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and/or impaired glucose tolerance, obesity, and/or metabolic syndrome or β-cell protection. |
| US07683073B2 |
Isoquinoline-1,3,4-trione compounds, the synthetic method and the use thereof
The invention relates to various substituted isoquinoline-1,3,4-trione, the synthetic method thereof and the use for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially as the medicine for Alzheimer's disease, apoplexy and brain ischemic injuries. |
| US07683065B2 |
Pyridines useful as modulators of ion channels
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders. |
| US07683064B2 |
Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase
This application discloses 5-phenyl-1H-pyridin-2-one and 6-phenyl-2H-pyridazin-3-one derivatives according to generic Formulae I-III: wherein, variables R, X, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, n and m are defined as described herein, which inhibit Btk. The compounds disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of Btk and treat diseases associated with excessive Btk activity. The compounds are further useful to treat inflammatory and auto immune diseases associated with aberrant B-cell proliferation such as rheumatoid arthritis. Also disclosed are compositions containing compounds of Formulae I-III and at least one carrier, diluent or excipient. |
| US07683059B2 |
Triazole compounds and uses related thereto
The present invention provides a triazole compound of the following formula: a prodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The above-mentioned triazole compound is useful as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome. |
| US07683055B2 |
Lanthionine-related compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases
The present invention provides compositions comprising lanthionine ketimine derivatives and thiomorpholine dicarboxylic acid derivatives, as well as processes for the preparation of such compounds. The invention also concerns the use of lanthionine, lanthionine ketimine (LK), LK derivatives, thiomorpholine dicarboxylic acid (TMDCA), and TMDCA derivatives. It concerns the use of these compounds for the treatment and/or prevention diseases, including diseases affecting the central nervous system. The invention provides for compounds and methods having anti-oxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities. It also provides for compounds having the ability to pass through and/or be transported through cellular membranes, such the blood-brain barrier. |
| US07683054B2 |
Galenic formulations of organic compounds
The present invention relates to a solid oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of aliskiren or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and wherein the active ingredient is present in an amount of more than 46% by weight based on the total weight of the oral dosage form. |
| US07683053B2 |
Phenyl-piperazine derivatives as serotonin reuptake inhibitors
The invention provides compounds represented by the general formula I wherein the substituents are defined in the application. The compounds are useful in the treatment of an affective disorder, including depression, anxiety disorders including general anxiety disorder and panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. |
| US07683052B2 |
Crystalline polymorph of bazedoxifene acetate
The present invention is directed to a crystalline polymorph of bazedoxifene acetate, compositions containing the same, preparations thereof, and uses thereof. |
| US07683050B2 |
Formulations and methods of administration of cephalotaxines, including homoharringtonine
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of patients with cephalotaxines, for example, homoharringtonine. The invention is also directed to improvements in the purity, manufacturing process, formulation and administration of homoharringtonine for the treatment of cancer and other aberrant cellular diseases. The invention also provides methods and compositions for antiparasitic, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial treatments. |
| US07683047B2 |
Treatment of conditions relating to hormone deficiencies by administration of progestins
The present invention includes methods for preventing endometrial hyperplasia associated with estrogen therapy through the administration of a progestin agent. The methods presented may include starting the administration of a progestin agent at a high dose, and then lowering the dose. |
| US07683043B2 |
Creatine phosphate analog prodrugs, compositions and uses thereof
Membrane permeable prodrugs of creatine phosphate analogs, pharmaceutical compositions comprising membrane permeable prodrugs of creatine phosphate analogs, and methods of treating diseases such as ischemia, heart failure, and neurodegenerative disorders comprising administering prodrugs of creatine phosphate analogs, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof are disclosed. |
| US07683042B1 |
Stabilized halide-free glucosamine base and method of preparation
A stabilized glucosamine base composition comprising a glucosamine base having a purity level of at least 99.0 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. % coated with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer comprising a water-soluble, water-immiscible and/or water-swellable homopolymer and/or copolymer. The resultant coated glucosamine base composition will be stable at ambient temperatures and upon exposure to the atmosphere. Suitable polymers include carboxypolymethylene homopolymers and copolymers; polyethylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; polypropylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; ethylcellulose; povidone homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylamide homopolymers and copolymers; polysaccharides; and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers. |
| US07683041B2 |
Microgel particles for the delivery of bioactive materials
Novel microgels, microparticles and related polymeric materials capable of delivering bioactive materials to cells for use as vaccines or therapeutic agents. The materials are made using a crosslinker molecule that contains a linkage cleavable under mild acidic conditions. The crosslinker molecule is exemplified by a bisacryloyl acetal crosslinker. The new materials have the common characteristic of being able to degrade by acid hydrolysis under conditions commonly found within the endosomal or lysosomal compartments of cells thereby releasing their payload within the cell. The materials can also be used for the delivery of therapeutics to the acidic regions of tumors and sites of inflammation. |
| US07683039B2 |
Water soluble, randomly substituted partial N-, partial O-acetylated chitosan, preserving compositions containing chitosan, and processes for making thereof
The present invention is directed to a water soluble, randomly substituted partial N-, partial O-acetylated chitosans or chitosan derivatives and methods of preparing water soluble, randomly substituted partial N-, partial O-acetylated chitosans or chitosan derivatives comprising the steps of dissolving the chitosan or chitosan derivative into an aqueous acidic solution and reacting the chitosan or chitosan derivative with an acetylating agent in the presence of a phase transfer reagent. The present invention is further directed to a pharmaceutical preserving composition comprising: (a) at least one chitosan or chitosan derivative and (b) at least one buffer solution, as well as methods of preserving contact lens solutions and disinfecting contact lens using such composition. |
| US07683036B2 |
Oligomeric compounds and compositions for use in modulation of small non-coding RNAs
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression and function of small non-coding RNAs. The compositions comprise oligomeric compounds, targeted to small non-coding RNAs. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of small non-coding RNAs as well as downstream targets of these RNAs and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with small non-coding RNAs are also provided. |
| US07683032B2 |
Deglycosylated and desialidated long pentraxin PTX3
Deglycosylated long pentraxin PTX3 and desialidated long pentraxin PTX3 are disclosed, as well as processes for their preparation, pharmacological compositions containing them, and their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases in which the use of the long pentraxin PTX is indicated, particularly infectious and inflammatory diseases and female fertility disorders. These proteins are endowed with therapeutic activity superior to that of glycosylated pentraxin. |
| US07683031B2 |
Short peptides from the ‘2nd loop’ of 7 transmembrane receptor which selectively modulate signal transduction
The present invention concerns compounds comprising, within short sequences from a specific regions of the 7TM receptor, that can modulate 7TM receptor-associated signal. The present invention further concerns methods for stimulation angiogenesis by administration of peptides derived from the EDG3 7TM-receptor. |
| US07683030B2 |
Methods of treating diabetes with albumin-conjugated exendin peptides
Modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake. |
| US07683028B2 |
Kahalalide compositions
The present invention is directed to new kahalalide antitumoral compounds, in particular to analogs of kahalalide F, useful as antitumoral, antiviral, and antifungal agents. |
| US07683027B2 |
Methods relating to hypoglycemic unawareness
Provided are methods of administering glucagon so as to reduce the risk of hypoglycemic unawareness. Also provided are methods of returning hypoglycemic awareness to a subject. |
| US07683015B2 |
Method of improving rust inhibition of a lubricating oil
A method of improving the rust inhibition of a lubricating oil by incorporating a solubility improver having an aniline point less than 10° C. A method of improving the rust inhibition of a lubricating oil by incorporating a solubility improver to enable the lubricating oil to meet the requirements of the MIL-PRF-17331J specification. A method of improving the rust inhibition of a lubricating oil by incorporating a solubility improver, a mixture of mono and diacid amine phosphate salts, and a alkenyl succinic compound into the lubricating oil. |
| US07683013B2 |
Base stock lubricant blends for enhanced micropitting protection
A lubricant formulation and method of blending a lubricant formulation is disclosed. The lubricant formulation comprises at least two base stocks. The first base stock comprises a viscosity greater than 100 cSt, Kv100° C. The second base stock comprises a viscosity less than 10 cSt, Kv100° C. The lubricant formulation provides excellent micropitting protection for gears including large gears that are used in wind turbines. In addition, the lubricant may also have a viscosity greater than 38 cSt (Kv 100° C.), a viscosity index greater than 161 and micropitting protection level of a FVA 54 micropitting Test Fail Load Stage greater than 10. |
| US07683011B2 |
Process to prepare borozirconate solution and use as cross-linker in hydraulic fracturing fluids
A process to prepare a stable solution of a borozirconate complex is disclosed and use of the solution in oil field applications such as hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones. The process comprises contacting zirconium complex with a first alkanolamine, then glycerol and water, then with a solution of a boron compound and a second alkanolamine. The solution is particularly suitable for use in a cross-linking composition at temperatures of 275° F. (135° C.) and higher in the subterranean formation. |
| US07683008B2 |
High-strength, low-temperature stable herbicidal formulations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid salts
This invention relates to a high-strength herbicidal formulation containing high concentrations of 2,4-D salt mixtures. The 2,4-D salt mixtures can include the DMA salt and the DMEA and/or the DEEA salt of 2,4-D. Selected combinations of the 2,4-D salt mixtures exhibit significantly greater low temperature stability at high concentrations. |
| US07683003B2 |
Method for identifying Ziegler-Natta cocatalysts
A method for identifying a catalyst composition for use in the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta addition polymerization of an olefin monomer, said catalyst composition comprising a procatalyst comprising a magnesium and titanium containing procatalyst and a cocatalyst said method comprising: a) providing a library comprising at least one procatalyst compound, b) forming a catalyst composition library by contacting the member of said procatalyst library with one or more cocatalysts and contacting the resulting mixture with an olefin monomer under olefin polymerization conditions thereby causing the polymerization reaction to take place, c) measuring at least one variable of interest during the polymerization, and d) selecting the catalyst composition of interest by reference to said measured variable. |
| US07682999B2 |
Glass composition for production of glazing absorbing ultraviolet and infrared radiation
Glass composition intended for the manufacture of windows that absorb ultraviolet and infrared radiation, comprising the oxides below, in contents varying within the following limits by weight: SiO265-80% Al2O30-5% B2O30-5% CaO 5-15% MgO0-2% Na2O 9-18% K2O 0-10% BaO0-5% characterized in that it additionally comprises the absorbent agents below, in contents varying within the following limits by weight: Fe2O3 (total iron)0.7 to 1.6% CeO20.1 to 1.2% TiO2 0 to 1.5% the glass having a redox factor of 0.23 or less and containing no tungsten oxide WO3. |
| US07682998B2 |
Ceramic powder for a green sheet and multilayer ceramic substrate
Provided is a ceramic powder for a green sheet that gives a low-temperature fired ceramic substrate that can be fired at a temperature of 900° C. or lower and has excellent dielectric properties in the higher frequency bands such as microwave and millimeter-wave bands, has a low hygroscopicity, and has minor warping and creasing even in the case of co-firing with a silver-based conductor paste, the ceramic powder for a green sheet including a glass powder and an alumina powder, in which the glass powder contains 35 to 39% by weight of SiO2, 9 to 17% by weight of Al2O3, 21 to 40% by weight of B2O3, 10 to 20% by weight of R′O, wherein R′ is one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca and Ba, 0.2 to 2% by weight of Li2O, and 0.5 to 2% by weight of MO2, wherein M is one or more kinds selected from the group consisting of Ti and Zr, so that the total is 100% by weight. |
| US07682992B2 |
Resistance variable memory with temperature tolerant materials
A PCRAM memory device having a chalcogenide glass layer, preferably comprising antimony selenide having a stoichometric formula of about Sb2Se3, and a metal-chalcogenide layer and methods of forming such a memory device. |
| US07682989B2 |
Formation of a silicon oxide interface layer during silicon carbide etch stop deposition to promote better dielectric stack adhesion
In accordance with the present teachings, semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices and dielectric stack in an integrated circuit are provided. The method of forming a dielectric stack in an integrated circuit can include providing a semiconductor structure including one or more copper interconnects and forming an etch stop layer over the semiconductor structure in a first processing chamber. The method can also include forming a thin silicon oxide layer over the etch stop layer in the first processing chamber and forming an ultra low-k dielectric layer over the thin silicon oxide layer in a second processing chamber, wherein forming the thin silicon oxide layer improves adhesion between the etch stop layer and the ultra low-k dielectric as compared to a dielectric stack that is devoid of the thin silicon oxide layer between the etch stop layer and the ultra low-k dielectric. |
| US07682988B2 |
Thermal treatment of nitrided oxide to improve negative bias thermal instability
A method of reducing threshold voltage shift of a MOSFET transistor resulting after temperature and voltage stress, and an integrated circuit device fabricated according to the method. The method includes the steps of forming a nitrided dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate, and subjecting the nitrided dielectric layer to an anneal at low pressure. |
| US07682987B2 |
Device for processing substrate and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which are hard to cause a defect in processing a substrate owing to that a pressure inside a process chamber is not kept constant, and which enable a better processing of a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus has: a process chamber for processing a substrate; a reactive gas-supplying module for supplying a reactive gas into the process chamber; a reactive gas-supplying line for supplying the reactive gas from the reactive gas-supplying module into the process chamber; an exhaust line for exhausting an inside of the process chamber; a pump provided in the exhaust line for vacuumizing the inside of the process chamber; a pressure-adjusting valve provided in the exhaust line for adjusting a pressure in the process chamber; a first pressure-measuring instrument for measuring an inside pressure of the process chamber; a second pressure-measuring instrument for measuring a differential pressure between the inside pressure of the process chamber and an outside pressure thereof; and a controller which controls the pressure-adjusting valve based on a value of the inside pressure of the process chamber measured by the first pressure-measuring instrument so as to keep the inside pressure of the process chamber constant, and controls the reactive gas-supplying module based on a value of the differential pressure measured by the second pressure-measuring instrument so as to allow supply of the reactive gas into the process chamber in a case of the inside pressure of the process chamber being smaller than the outside pressure thereof, and so as to preclude supply of the reactive gas into the process chamber in a case of the inside pressure of the process chamber being larger than the outside pressure thereof when processing the substrate. |
| US07682985B2 |
Dual doped polysilicon and silicon germanium etch
A method for etching a stack with at least one silicon germanium layer over a substrate in a processing chamber is provided. A silicon germanium etch is provided. An etchant gas is provided into the processing chamber, wherein the etchant gas comprises HBr, an inert diluent, and at least one of O2 and N2. The substrate is cooled to a temperature below 40° C. The etching gas is transformed to a plasma to etch the silicon germanium layer. |
| US07682984B2 |
Interferometer endpoint monitoring device
A photomask etch chamber, which includes a substrate support member disposed inside the chamber. The substrate support member is configured to support a photomask substrate. The chamber further includes a ceiling disposed on the chamber and an endpoint detection system configured to detect a peripheral region of the photomask substrate. |
| US07682966B1 |
Multistep method of depositing metal seed layers
Metal seed layers are deposited on a semiconductor substrate having recessed features by a method that involves at least three operations. In this method, a first layer of metal is deposited onto the substrate to cover at least the bottom portions of the recessed features. The first layer of metal is subsequently redistributed to improve sidewall coverage of the recessed features. Next, a second layer of metal is deposited on at least the field region of the substrate and on the bottom portions of the recessed features. The method can be implemented using a PVD apparatus that allows deposition and resputtering operations. This sequence of operations can afford seed layers with improved step coverage. It also leads to decreased formation of voids in interconnects, and to improved resistance characteristics of formed IC devices. |
| US07682962B2 |
Method for fabricating stacked semiconductor components with through wire interconnects
A method for fabricating a semiconductor component with a through wire interconnect includes the step of providing a substrate having a circuit side, a back side, and a through via. The method also includes the steps of: threading a wire through the via, forming a contact on the wire on the back side, forming a bonded contact on the wire on the circuit side, and then severing the wire from the bonded contact. The through wire interconnect includes the wire in the via, the contact on the back side and the bonded contact on the circuit side. The contact on the back side, and the bonded contact on the circuit side, permit multiple components to be stacked with electrical connections between adjacent components. A system for performing the method includes the substrate with the via, and a wire bonder having a bonding capillary configured to thread the wire through the via, and form the contact and the bonded contact. The semiconductor component can be used to form chip scale components, wafer scale components, stacked components, or interconnect components for electrically engaging or testing other semiconductor components. |
| US07682960B2 |
Method of fabricating a wafer structure having a pad and a first protection layer and a second protection layer
A wafer structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. First, a wafer having a pad and a first protection layer with a first opening is provided. Next, a second protection layer with a second opening is formed on the first protection layer. Part of the pad and the first protection layer are exposed from the openings. The edges of the openings construct a step structure. Following that, an adhesion layer is formed on the pad, the step structure and the second protection layer. Afterwards, a photo-resist layer with a third opening is formed on the adhesion layer. Then, a barrier layer is electroplated onto part of the adhesion layer. Further, a wetting layer is formed on the barrier layer, and then the photo-resist layer and part of the adhesion layer exposed outside the barrier layer are removed. Finally, a solder layer is printed onto the wetting layer. |
| US07682958B2 |
Method for producing an integrated circuit including a fuse element, a fuse-memory element or a resistor element
A method for producing an integrated circuit including a fuse element, a fuse-memory element or a resistor element is disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one metallization layer is applied onto a substrate. A hard mask is applied onto the at least one metallization layer. The at least one metallization layer is wet chemically etched by using the hard mask and the fuse element. The fuse-memory element or the resistor element is formed in a region in which the at least one metallization layer has been etched. |
| US07682957B2 |
Method of forming pad and fuse in semiconductor device
A method of forming a pad and a fuse in a semiconductor device. A copper layer located in both a fuse region and a pad region is formed in a dielectric layer. A first insulating layer is formed on the dielectric layer to cover the copper layer and selectively etched to expose the copper layer in the fuse region. An aluminum fuse is formed on the first insulating layer in the fuse region and connected to the exposed copper layer. A second insulating layer is formed on both the aluminum fuse and the first insulating layer and selectively etched together with the first insulating layer to expose the underlying copper layer in the pad region. An aluminum pad is formed on the second insulating layer in the pad region and connected to the exposed copper layer in the pad region. At least one third insulating layer is formed on both the aluminum pad and the second insulating layer and selectively etched to expose the aluminum pad only. |
| US07682952B2 |
Method for forming low defect density alloy graded layers and structure containing such layers
A structure and method of forming same, comprising a low threading density alloy graded layer, deposited according to a deposition temperature profile in correspondence with increasing alloy composition. In one embodiment, a first substantially relaxed alloy graded layer is deposited while varying a deposition temperature according to a first temperature profile. A second substantially relaxed alloy graded layer is deposited over the first graded layer while varying a deposition temperature according to a second temperature profile. Preferably, the minimum signed rate of change of the second temperature profile is less than the maximum signed rate of change of the first temperature profile. |
| US07682942B2 |
Method for reducing pillar structure dimensions of a semiconductor device
A method creates pillar structures on a semiconductor wafer and includes the steps of providing a layer of semiconductor. A layer of photoresist is applied over the layer of semiconductor. The layer of photoresist is exposed with an initial pattern of light to effect the layer of photoresist. The photoresist layer is then etched away to provide a photoresist pattern to create the pillar structures. The photoresist pattern is processed in the layer of photoresist after the step of exposing the layer of photoresist and prior to the step of etching to reduce the dimensions of the photoresist pattern in the layer of photoresist. |
| US07682939B2 |
Method for the preparation of group IB-IIIA-VIA quaternary or higher alloy semiconductor films
This invention relates to a method for producing group IB-IIA-VIA quaternary or higher alloy semiconductor films wherein the method comprises the steps of (i) providing a metal film comprising a mixture of group IB and group IIIA metals; (ii) heat treating the metal film in the presence of a source of a first group VIA element (said first group VIA element hereinafter being referred to as VIA1) under conditions to form a first film comprising a mixture of at least one binary alloy selected from the group consisting of a group IB-VIA1 alloy and a group IIIA-VIA1 alloy and at least one group IB-IIIA-VIA1 ternary alloy (iii) optionally heat treating the first film in the presence of a source of a second group VIA element (said second group VI element hereinafter being referred to as VIA2) under conditions to convert the first film into a second film comprising at least one alloy selected from the group consisting of a group IB-VIA1-VIA2 alloy and a group IIIA-VIA1-VIA2 alloy; and the at least one group IB-III-VIA1 ternary alloy of step (ii); (iv) heat treating either the first film or second film to form a group IB-IIIA-VIA quaternary or higher alloy semiconductor film. |
| US07682936B2 |
Reduction in thickness of semiconductor component on substrate
It is an object to reduce a thickness of a semiconductor component (chip) on a substrate to a predetermined thickness regardless of a variation in thickness of a substrate in a semiconductor product. In a semiconductor product mounted on a base plate, a surface of a semiconductor component on a substrate is set to be located at a predetermined height h from a surface of a base plate. Thereafter, through machining the surface of the semiconductor component which is adjusted to be located at the predetermined height, it is possible to make the thickness of the semiconductor component on the substrate equal to a predetermined thickness. |
| US07682935B2 |
Process of manufacture of ultra thin semiconductor wafers with bonded conductive hard carrier
A process is described to enable the manufacture of a thinned (<50 μm semiconductor die) which can employ the use of standard equipment for the manufacture of the wafer and the packaging of the die singulated from the wafer. A standard thickness wafer (350 μm) first has junctions formed in its upper surface, but the surface is not yet metallized and patterned. A rigid front plate is connected to the upper surface by a removable adhesive and the wafer is back ground to its final thickness, for example, less than 50 μm. A back metal and a thick conductive backing plate are then fixed to the back metal. The rigid front plate is then removed and the front surface of the wafer is metallized and patterned. Die singulated from the wafer carry the thick permanent conductive backing plate and may be conventionally packaged as prior art 350 μm die. The wafer can initially be partially diced. |
| US07682934B2 |
Wafer packaging and singulation method
A method includes providing a micro device wafer having micro devices supported by a wafer substrate and a multi-device lid substrate coupled to and spaced from the wafer substrate. The method further includes sawing through the multi-device lid substrate to a depth between the wafer substrate and the lid substrate. |
| US07682929B2 |
Method and structure for double lining for shallow trench isolation
A method of forming an integrated circuit device structure having a design rule of less than 0.13 micron. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a pad oxide layer overlying the substrate. The method includes forming a nitride layer overlying the pad oxide layer and patterning the nitride layer and pad oxide layer. A trench structure is formed within a thickness of the substrate using the patterned nitride layer and pad oxide layer as hard mask. The method forms a first thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure using at least thermal oxidation of an exposed region of the trench structure to cover the trench structure. Such thermal oxidation causes a rounding region near corners of the trench structure. The method selectively removes the thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure. The method forms a second thickness of liner oxide within the trench structure using at least thermal oxidation to cover the trench structure. The thermal oxidation causes a further rounding of the rounded region near corners of the trench structure. The method also selectively removes the patterned nitride layer while the second thickness of liner oxide protects the substrate in the trench region. |
| US07682928B2 |
Method of forming isolation layer of semiconductor device
There is provided a method of forming an isolation layer which prevents a failure from occurring depending on a difference in the area of the isolation layer during a planarization process of the isolation layer having a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure. The present invention implements a uniform isolation layer by forming a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer on an isolation layer having a relatively large region and performing a planarization process using the CMP stop layer. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an isolation layer is completed by: forming a buffer insulating layer on a silicon substrate and patterning the buffer insulating layer; selectively etching the silicon substrate and forming trenches including a relatively big region and a relatively narrow region; depositing a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer sequentially on a whole surface of the silicon substrate; selectively removing the second insulating layer and forming a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer only on the relatively large trench region; planarizing the first insulating layer using the CMP stop layer; and removing all of the CMP stop layer and the buffer insulating layer and completing an isolation layer. |
| US07682927B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes coating a solution containing a perhydrosilazane polymer on a substrate, heating the solution to form a film containing the perhydrosilazane polymer, and oxidizing the film in a water vapor atmosphere at a reduced pressure to convert the film into an insulating film containing silicon and oxygen. |
| US07682924B2 |
Methods of forming a plurality of capacitors
A method of forming a plurality of capacitors includes an insulative material received over a capacitor array area and a circuitry area. The array area comprises a plurality of capacitor electrode openings within the insulative material received over individual capacitor storage node locations. The intervening area comprises a trench. Conductive material is formed within the openings and against a sidewall portion of the trench to less than completely fill the trench. Covering material is formed over an elevationally outer lateral interface of the conductive material within the trench and the insulative material of the circuitry area. The insulative material within the array area is etched with a liquid etching solution effective to expose outer sidewall portions of the conductive material within the array area and to expose the conductive material within the trench. The conductive material within the array area is incorporated into a plurality of capacitors. |
| US07682922B2 |
Post STI trench capacitor
A capacitor having a suitably large value for decoupling applications is formed in a trench defined by isolation structures such as recessed isolation or shallow trench isolation. The capacitor provides a contact area coextensive with an active area and can be reliably formed individually or in small numbers. Plate contacts are preferably made through implanted regions extending to or between dopant diffused regions forming a capacitor plate. The capacitor can be formed by a process subsequent to formation of isolation structures such that preferred soft mask processes can be used to form the isolation structures and process commonality and compatibility constraint are avoided while the capacitor forming processes can be performed in common with processing for other structures. |
| US07682915B2 |
Pre-epitaxial disposable spacer integration scheme with very low temperature selective epitaxy for enhanced device performance
The embodiments of the invention provide a method, etc. for a pre-epitaxial disposable spacer integration scheme with very low temperature selective epitaxy for enhanced device performance. More specifically, one method begins by forming a first gate and a second gate on a substrate. Next, an oxide layer is formed on the first and second gates; and, a nitride layer is formed on the oxide layer. Portions of the nitride layer proximate the first gate, portions of the oxide layer proximate the first gate, and portions of the substrate proximate the first gate are removed so as to form source and drain recesses proximate the first gate. Following this, the method removes remaining portions of the nitride layer, including exposing remaining portions of the oxide layer. The removal of the remaining portions of the nitride layer only exposes the remaining portions of the oxide layer and the source and drain recesses. |
| US07682914B2 |
Fully salicided (FUCA) MOSFET structure
A method is described to form a MOSFET with a fully silicided gate electrode and fully silicided, raised S/D elements that are nearly coplanar to allow a wider process margin when forming contacts to silicided regions. An insulator block layer is formed over STI regions and a conformal silicidation stop layer such as Ti/TiN is disposed on the insulator block layer and active region. A polysilicon layer is deposited on the silicidation stop layer and is planarized by a CMP process to form raised S/D elements. An oxide hardmask on the gate electrode is removed to produce a slight recess between the spacers. A silicidation process yields a gate electrode and raised S/D elements comprised of NiSi. Optionally, a recess is formed in the substrate between an insulator block mask and spacer and a Schottky barrier is used instead of a silicidation stop layer to form a Schottky Barrier MOSFET. |
| US07682912B2 |
III-V compound semiconductor device with a surface layer in access regions having charge of polarity opposite to channel charge and method of making the same
A method of forming a III-V compound semiconductor structure (10) comprises providing a III-V compound semiconductor substrate including a semi-insulating substrate (12) having at least one epitaxial layer formed thereon and further having a gate insulator (14) overlying the at least one epitaxial layer. The at least one epitaxial layer formed on the semi-insulating substrate comprises an epi-structure suitable for use in the formation of a channel of a III-V compound semiconductor MOSFET device, wherein the channel (30) having a first polarity. The method further comprises forming a charge layer (22) at a surface of the gate insulator, the charge layer having a second polarity, wherein the second polarity is opposite to the first polarity. |
| US07682907B2 |
Non-volatile memory integrated circuit
A nonvolatile memory integrated circuit arrayed in rows and columns is disclosed. Parallel lines of implant N-type regions are formed in a P-well of a semiconductor substrate, with lines of oxide material isolating each pair of the lines. Columns of memory cells straddle respective pairs of the implant region lines, with one line of the pair forming the source region and one line of the pair forming the drain region of each memory cell of the column. Each memory cell has a floating polysilicon storage gate. One of plural wordlines overlies each row of the memory cells. The portion of the wordline overlying each memory cells forms the control gate of the memory cell. Programming and erase operations occur by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons through a tunnel oxide layer between the floating gate and the source of the cell. |
| US07682905B2 |
Self aligned narrow storage elements for advanced memory device
A method of forming a sub-lithographic charge storage element on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method can involve providing first and second layers on a semiconductor substrate, a thickness of the first layer being larger than a thickness of the second layer; forming a spacer adjacent a side surface of the first layer and on a portion of an upper surface of the second layer; and removing an exposed portion of the second layer that is not covered by the spacer. By removing the exposed portion of the second layer while leaving a portion of the second layer that is protected by the spacer, the method can make a sub-lithographic charge storage element from the remaining portion of the second layer on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07682904B2 |
Method of fabricating flash memory device
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a flash memory device and includes forming an air-gap having a low dielectric constant between word lines and floating gates. Further, a tungsten nitride (WN) layer is formed on sidewalls of a tungsten (W) layer for a control gate. Hence, the cross section of the control gate that is finally formed can be increased while preventing abnormal oxidization of the tungsten layer in a subsequent annealing process. The method of the present invention can improve interference between neighboring word lines and, thus improve the reliability of a device. Accordingly, a robust high-speed device can be implemented. |
| US07682903B1 |
Method of forming a power device
A method of forming a power device includes providing a substrate, a semiconductor layer having at least a trench and being disposed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer, and a conductive material disposed in the trench, performing an ion implantation process to from a body layer, performing a tilted ion implantation process to from a heavy doped region, forming a first dielectric layer overall, performing a chemical mechanical polishing process until the body layer disposed under the heavy doped region is exposed to form source regions on the opposite sides of the trench, and forming a source trace directly covering the source regions disposed on the opposite sides of the trench. |
| US07682900B2 |
Method of fabricating flash memory device
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a flash memory device. According to the method, select transistors and memory cells are formed on, and junctions are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate between a select transistor and an adjacent memory cell are over etched using a hard mask pattern. Accordingly, migration of electrons can be prohibited and program disturbance characteristics can be improved. Further, a void is formed between the memory cells. Accordingly, an interference phenomenon between the memory cells can be reduced and, therefore, the reliability of a flash memory device can be improved. |
| US07682899B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the charge storage layer, and a control electrode formed on the second insulating film, wherein forming the second insulating film comprises forming an insulating film containing silicon using source gas not containing chlorine, and forming an insulating film containing oxygen and a metal element on the insulating film containing silicon. |
| US07682896B2 |
Trench metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors integrated with middle-of-line metal contacts, and method of fabricating same
The present invention relates to a method of fabrication process which integrates the processing steps for fabricating the trench MIM capacitor with the conventional middle-of-line processing steps for fabricating metal contacts, so that the inner metallic electrode layer of the trench MIM capacitor and the metal contact of the FET or other logic circuitry components are formed by a single middle-of-line processing step and comprise essentially the same metallic material. The semiconductor device contains at least one trench metal-oxide-metal (MIM) capacitor and at least one other logic circuitry component, preferably at least one field effect transistor (FET). The trench MIM capacitor is located in a trench in a substrate and comprises inner and outer metallic electrode layers with a dielectric layer therebetween. The FET comprises a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and at least one metal contact connected with the source or drain region. |
| US07682894B2 |
Flash memory and a method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a flash memory device. The method includes forming a gate oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a floating gate including protrusions and depressions on its surface by patterning polysilicon deposited on the gate oxide layer, depositing a dielectric layer on the floating gate and the gate oxide layer, and forming a control gate by patterning polysilicon deposited on the dielectric layer. |
| US07682892B2 |
MOS device and process having low resistance silicide interface using additional source/drain implant
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a semiconductor substrate, a least one MOS transistor formed in or on the substrate, the MOS transistor including a source and drain doped with a first dopant type having a channel region of a second dopant type interposed between, and a gate electrode and a gate insulator over the channel region. A silicide layer forming a low resistance contact is at an interface region at a surface portion of the source and drain. At the interface region a chemical concentration of the first dopant is at least 5×1020 cm−3. Silicide interfaces according to the invention provide MOS transistor with a low silicide interface resistance, low pipe density, with an acceptably small impact on short channel behavior. |
| US07682889B2 |
Trench field effect transistor and method of making it
A method of manufacturing an insulated gate field effect transistor includes providing a substrate (2) having a low-doped region (4), forming insulated gate trenches (8) and implanting dopants of a first conductivity type at the base of the trenches (8). A body implant is implanted in the low-doped regions between the trenches; and diffused to form an insulated gate transistor structure in which the body implant diffuses to form a p-n junction between a body region (22) doped to have the second conductivity type above a drain region (20) doped to have the first conductivity type, the p-n junction being deeper below the first major surface between the trenches than at the trenches. The difference in doping concentration between the low-doped region (4) and the implanted region at the base of the trenches causes the difference in depth of the body-drain p-n junction formed in the diffusion step. |
| US07682886B2 |
Flat panel display and manufacturing method of flat panel display
The present disclosure relates to a display device comprising an insulating substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode on the insulating substrate and separated by a channel area; an organic semiconductor layer formed in the channel area and on at least a portion of the source electrode and at least a portion of the drain electrode; and a self-assembly monolayer having a first portion disposed between the organic semiconductor layer and the source electrode and a second portion disposed between the organic semiconductor layer and the drain electrode to reduce contact resistance between the electrodes and the organic semiconductor layer. Thus, embodiments of present invention provide a display device including a TFT that is enhanced in its performance. |
| US07682885B2 |
Method for fabricating vertical channel transistor in a semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial layer over a substrate, forming a contact hole in the sacrificial layer, forming a pillar to fill the contact hole. The pillar laterally extends up to a surface of the sacrificial layer and then the sacrificial layer is removed. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer over an exposed sidewall of the pillar, and forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer. The gate electrode surrounds the sidewall of the pillar. |
| US07682881B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor substrate with good process efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The thin film transistor substrate includes a first conductive type MOS transistor and a second conductive type MOS transistor. The first conductive type MOS transistor includes a first semiconductor layer formed on a blocking layer and having first conductive type low-concentration doping regions adjacent to both sides of a channel region, first conductive type source/drain regions adjacent to the first conductive type low-concentration doping regions, a first gate insulating layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the first gate insulating layer and overlapping with the channel region and the low-concentration doping regions of the first semiconductor layer, and a first gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer. The second conductive type MOS transistor includes a second semiconductor layer formed on the blocking layer and having second conductive type source/drain regions adjacent to both sides of a channel region, the first gate insulating layer formed on the second semiconductor layer, a third gate insulating layer formed on the first gate insulating layer and overlapping with the second semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode formed on the third gate insulating layer. |
| US07682880B2 |
Method and device for producing layout patterns of a semiconductor device having an even wafer surface
Primitive cells, which are circuit patterns of the constituent elements of a semiconductor device, are arranged in the element formation area of a semiconductor device, and at least one fill cell with a diffusion layer and no wiring, is arranged in the vacant areas that are generated in the element formation area after the primitive cells have been arranged. |
| US07682878B2 |
Encapsulation circuitry on a substrate
An assembly for a circuit board includes a substrate, at least one circuit component formed on the substrate, and a frame. The frame comprises a first substantially planar surface attached to the substrate, and a hole formed through the frame and defined by a wall that surrounds the at least one circuit component. A method of manufacturing the circuit board includes the step of attaching the substantially planar surface of the frame to the substrate in an arrangement in which the at least one circuit component is surrounded by a wall that defines the hole. |
| US07682875B2 |
Method for fabricating a module including a sintered joint
A method comprises applying a paste comprising metal grains, a solvent, and a sintering inhibitor to one of a die and a metal layer. The method comprises evaporating the solvent in the paste and placing the one of the die and the metal layer on the other of the die and the metal layer such that the paste contacts the die and the metal layer. The method comprises applying a force to the one of the die and the metal layer and decomposing the sintering inhibitors to form a sintered joint joining the die to the metal layer. |
| US07682871B2 |
Method for forming a joint
A method for forming a joint. A module is introduced including a paper or plastic substrate, an integrated circuit on a chip mounted on the substrate and in electrical contact with contact areas of the module being located on the surface of the substrate. A web is introduced including one circuitry pattern after another provided with contact areas of the circuitry pattern. Settable isotropically conductive adhesive is dispensed on the contact areas of the circuitry pattern. The contact areas of the module are attached to the contact areas of the circuitry pattern by the isotropically conductive adhesive. The isotropically conductive adhesive is cured at the ambient atmospheric pressure. Settable nonconductive adhesive is dispensed at the side of the module in such a manner that the adhesive is sucked underneath the module by capillary forces. The nonconductive adhesive is cured at the ambient atmospheric pressure. |
| US07682869B2 |
Method of packaging integrated circuit devices using preformed carrier
Disclosed is a method of packaging integrated circuit devices using a preformed carrier. In one illustrative embodiment, the method includes providing a carrier having a plurality of pockets formed therein, positioning an integrated circuit chip and a substrate in each of the plurality of pockets and conductively coupling the integrated circuit chip and the substrate in each of the plurality of pockets to one another. Also disclosed is a packaged integrated circuit device including a preformed body and an integrated circuit chip and a substrate positioned within the preformed body, the integrated chip and the substrate being conductively coupled to one another. |
| US07682867B2 |
Organic thin-film transistor and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are an organic thin-film transistor and a manufacturing method thereof, the organic thin-film transistor comprising a support and provided thereon, a gate electrode, an insulation layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an organic semiconductor layer, the support comprising at least one of resins, and the organic semiconductor layer containing at least one of organic semiconducting materials, wherein a phase transition temperature of one of the organic semiconducting materials is not more than a glass transition point of one of the resins. |
| US07682861B2 |
Method for manufacturing a micromechanical motion sensor, and a micromechanical motion sensor
The present invention relates to measuring devices used in measuring physical quantities, such as acceleration, angular acceleration, or angular velocity, and, more precisely, to micromechanical motion sensors. The area, in the wafer plane, of a motion sensor component according to the present invention is smaller than the area of the motion sensor component having been dice cut and turned by 90°. Correspondingly, the height of the motion sensor component according to the present invention, the component having been turned by 90°, is smaller, in the direction of the joint, than the thickness of the wafer stack formed by the joined wafers. The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing a micromechanical motion sensor, and to provide a micromechanical motion sensor suitable, in particular, for use in small micromechanical motion sensor solutions. |
| US07682856B2 |
Electro-optical device, method of manufacturing electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes, above a substrate, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines that cross each other, a plurality of pixel electrodes that are provided so as to correspond to intersections between the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines, and transistors, each of which is electrically connected to the pixel electrode and has an LDD structure. Further, each of the transistors has a semiconductor layer in which an impurity region is formed around a channel region, the impurity region having a heavily doped region and a lightly doped region whose impurity concentrations are different from each other, a first gate electrode that is formed on the channel region so as not to overlap the lightly doped region in plan view, and a second gate electrode that is electrically connected to the first gate electrode and that is formed on the first gate electrode so as to cover the lightly doped region in plan view. |
| US07682855B2 |
Fabrication method of substrate-free light emitting diode
A substrate-free light emitting diode (LED) including an epitaxy layer, a conductive supporting layer, and a first contact pad is provided. The epitaxy layer includes a first type doped semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a second type doped semiconductor layer. The light emitting layer is disposed on the first type doped semiconductor layer, and a portion of the first type doped semiconductor layer is exposed. The second type doped semiconductor layer and the conductive supporting layer are sequentially disposed on the second type doped semiconductor layer. The first contact pad is disposed on the exposed first type doped semiconductor layer and electrically connected thereto. The first contact pad and the conductive supporting layer serving as an electrode are disposed on the same side of the epitaxy layer to avoid the light shielding effects of the electrode to improve the front light emitting efficiency of the LED. |
| US07682853B2 |
Transparent member, optical device using transparent member and method of manufacturing optical device
In a method of manufacturing an optical device, a whole substrate is first prepared which has a plurality of regions corresponding to substrates constituting a plurality of optical devices, respectively. A plurality of chips are then mounted to the plurality of regions, respectively. A whole sealing member having a plurality of sealing members is integrally attached to the whole substrate to form an intermediate body. The intermediate body is divided into the above-described regions. Thus, the optical device having a substrate, a chip as an optical element mounted to the substrate and a sealing member with transparency provided at the substrate for the purpose of sealing the chip is manufactured. This manufacturing method improves the efficiency of manufacturing an optical device. |
| US07682851B2 |
Organic light emitting display and manufacturing method thereof
An organic light emitting display and a manufacturing method thereof include an improved encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer of the organic light emitting display includes an organic layer uniformly covering bank portions and light emitting areas on a substrate; and an inorganic layer formed thicker on the light emitting areas than on the bank portions. In the organic light emitting display, the inorganic layer is thick on the light emitting area in which a sealing ability is required and the bank portion is thin in order to provide flexibility. Therefore, the encapsulation layer can be formed more easily compared to an encapsulation layer on a device in which the organic layer and inorganic layer are alternately formed at least 10 times. |
| US07682849B2 |
Light emitting diode and fabrication method thereof
A light emitting diode (LED) and a method for fabricating the same, capable of improving brightness by forming a InGaN layer having a low concentration of indium, and whose lattice constant is similar to that of an active layer of the LED, is provided. The LED includes: a buffer layer disposed on a sapphire substrate; a GaN layer disposed on the buffer layer; a doped GaN layer disposed on the GaN layer; a GaN layer having indium disposed on the GaN layer; an active layer disposed on the GaN layer having indium; and a P-type GaN disposed on the active layer. Here, an empirical formula of the GaN layer having indium is given by In(x)Ga(1-x)N and a range of x is given by 0 |
| US07682845B2 |
Methods for calibrating a process for growing an epitaxial silicon film and methods for growing an epitaxial silicon film
Methods are provided for calibrating a process for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film and for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film. One method comprises epitaxially growing a first silicon-comprising film on a first silicon substrate that has an adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure that extends from said first silicon substrate. The step of epitaxially growing uses hydrochloric acid provided at a first hydrochloric acid flow rate for a first time period. A morphology of the first film relevant to the adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure is analyzed and a thickness of the first film is measured. The first flow rate is adjusted to a second flow rate based on the morphology of the first film. The first time period is adjusted to a second time period based on the second flow rate and the thickness. A second silicon-comprising film on a second silicon substrate is epitaxially grown for the second time period using the second flow rate. |
| US07682841B2 |
Method of forming integrated circuit having a magnetic tunnel junction device
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit having a magnetic tunnel junction device is disclosed. The method includes depositing a bottom pinning structure above the bottom conductive structure. A first ferromagnetic structure is deposited above the bottom pinning structure in a chamber. A tunnel barrier structure is deposited above the first ferromagnetic layer structure in the chamber, and a second ferromagnetic structure is deposited above the tunnel barrier structure of the magnetic tunnel junction device in another chamber. |
| US07682836B2 |
Selective binding materials
A template (a molecule preferably of molecular size >500 Da, or a larger entity such as a cell, virus or tissue sample) is dissolved or suspended in a fluid. The fluid is frozen, and the template is removed (e.g. by dissolution or electrophoresis, or mechanically) to leave an “imprinted” frozen fluid. This is capable of selectively adsorbing the template substance. It is usable as a separation medium, a recognition element in sensors and assays, and as a catalyst. |
| US07682828B2 |
Methods for reprogramming somatic cells
The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state. |
| US07682827B2 |
Microelectronic positioning for bioparticles
The present invention provides a method for microelectronic positioning bioparticles, which utilizes dielectric and non-contact electrical force of cell themselves associated with multi-phase electrical signals to attain uniformity of distribution of the bioparticles and positioning thereof within micro-areas in a cell culture system. The obstacle of system geometrical structure is eliminated so as to simplify the system layout and programmably change cells' positions. The present method is suitable for treating cell array in a large quantity. The present method utilizes electrical control for the cells. The clamping of the cells can be removed at any time. It is very advantageous for collection and redistribution of cell products. |
| US07682810B2 |
Method for employing ear corn in the manufacture of ethanol
Ear corn is picked from corn fields by ear corn harvesters and transported to a central shelling station associated with an ethanol manufacturing facility. Shelled corn from the central shelling station is processed into ethanol at the ethanol manufacturing facility, and corn cobs from the central shelling station are burned to provide process heat for the ethanol manufacturing process. Energy is conserved and costs are reduced during the picking and shelling of the car corn and by the burning of cobs for process heat. |
| US07682806B2 |
Methods for diagnosing bipolar disorder
The invention relates to the use of Reelin as a marker for diagnosing psychiatric conditions. The disclosed tools and techniques can facilitate the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism. |
| US07682805B2 |
Methods for diagnosing major depression or schizophrenia
The invention relates to the use of Reelin as a marker for diagnosing psychiatric conditions. The disclosed tools and techniques can facilitate the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism. |
| US07682803B2 |
Immunomodulation using placental stem cells
The present invention provides methods of immunomodulation using placental stem cells and placental stem cell populations. The invention also provides methods of producing and selecting placental cells and cell populations on the basis of immunomodulation, and compositions comprising such cells and cell populations. |
| US07682801B2 |
Dual path immunoassay device
The systems of the invention include test cells with a first sorbent material defining a first flow path for a solution, a second sorbent material defining a second flow path distinct from the first flow path for a sample, and a test line or test site with immobilized antigens or antibodies or other ligand binding molecules such as aptamers, nucleic acids, etc. located at the junction of the first and second sorbent materials. The first and second sorbent strips touch each other at the test site location. |
| US07682797B2 |
Rapid classification of biological components
A method is disclosed for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, cocaine (crystalline tropane alkaloid), methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method involves attaching antigens to a surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein the locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to antigens in the array, thereby forming immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do not form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, thereby forming an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source. Further, an assay, such as a test for illegal drug use, can be coupled to a test for identity such that the results of the assay can be positively correlated to a subject's identity. |
| US07682793B2 |
Immune complexes
A process for the preparation of active receptor and receptor complex fractions from cell lines expressing cell surface receptors which comprises applying ultrasonication to provide said expression to the cells in an aqueous (detergent free or substantially detergent free) composition. |
| US07682791B2 |
Method of generating nested sets of double stranded DNA circles
The invention provides a method of generating nested sets of double stranded DNA (dsDNA) circles that may be used as size ladders in nucleic acid separations and as templates in DNA sequencing operations. In one aspect, the invention provides methods for generating nested sets of double stranded DNA circles in a self-sustaining enzymatic reaction comprising the activities of at least one endonuclease, at least one single stranded exonuclease, and at least one ligase. In another embodiment, such nested sets are generated from linear dsDNA fragments having ligatable terminators that are self-ligated to form corresponding dsDNA circles. |
| US07682790B2 |
Compositions for the isolation and/or stabilization of nucleic acids in biological materials
The present invention relates to new compositions for isolating and/or stabilizing nucleic acids in materials of biological origin. The compositions comprise as an essential ingredient a cationic compound of general formula Y+R1R2R3R4X− wherein Y may represent nitrogen or phosphorus R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently of one another may represent a branched or unbranched C1-C20-alkyl group and/or a C6-C20-aryl group as well as a C6-C26-aralkyl group and X− may represent an anion of an inorganic or organic, mono- or polybasic acid. |
| US07682789B2 |
Method for quantifying biomolecules conjugated to a nanoparticle
Disclosed embodiments concern quantifying a biomolecule conjugated to a nanoparticle. Quantifying typically comprises determining the number of biomolecules per nanoparticle. Any suitable biomolecule can be used, including but not limited to, amino acids, peptides, proteins, haptens, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, DNA, RNA, and combinations thereof. A single type of biomolecule may be conjugated to the nanoparticle, more than one biomolecule of a particular class may be conjugated to the nanoparticle, or two or more classes of biomolecules may be conjugated to the nanoparticle. Certain disclosed embodiments comprise enzymatically or chemically digesting a biomolecule conjugated to the nanoparticle, or displacing a biomolecule using ligand-exchange chemistry. Where biomolecule concentrations are determined, any technique suitable for determining biomolecule concentration can be used, such as spectrophotometric techniques, including measuring tryptophan fluorescence and using a standard fluorescence intensity versus biomolecule concentration curve. |
| US07682788B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved luminescence assays using microparticles
A method and apparatus for performing electrochemiluminescence assays are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an apparatus comprises an ECL-inactive electrode surface having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon and an ECL-active microparticle having a second assay ligand immobilized thereon. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a method comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising an electrochemiluminescent label and a microparticle having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon, (b) applying electrochemical energy to an electrode surface in the presence of said mixture, and (c) measuring emitted electrochemiluminescence, where the microparticle is ECL-active and where the electrode surface is ECL-inactive when electrochemical energy is applied to it in the presence of said mixture. |
| US07682787B2 |
Compositions and methods for treating disorders associated with abnormal phosphate metabolism
The present invention uncovers that mutations in GALNT3 gene encoding UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-T3) cause familial tumoral calcinosis (FTC). Methods and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating disorders associated with abnormal phosphate metabolism are provided. Specifically, inducers of GalNAc-T3 can be used to treat hyperphosphatemia related disorders such as FTC, and on the other hand, inhibitors of GalNAc-T3 can be used to treat disorders associated with hypophosphatemia, such as hypophosphatemic rickets. |
| US07682786B1 |
Modulation of the binding properties of nucleic acid binding partners
A method for specifically determining the presence of a target by contacting said target in the presence of other targets with a probe capable of binding to said target to form a complex of said target with said probe, wherein the contacting is performed in the presence of a compound enhancing the specificity of said binding or the complex formed is contacted with a compound enhancing the specificity of said binding. This method opens the way to a better discrimination between related nucleic acid sequences in diagnostic assays. |
| US07682785B2 |
Method for predicting effectiveness of chemotherapy using anticancer agent
The present invention provides a method for predicting an effectiveness of chemotherapy using an anticancer agent with high probability. The effectiveness is predicted based on a comparison of a parameter relating to CDK and/or CDK inhibitor in a tumor cell specimen obtained from a patient, with a corresponding threshold value to the parameter. The patient to be subjected this sensitivity prediction test of an anticancer agent is administered with the anticancer agent prior to removal of the tumor cell. The threshold is predetermined based on data of correlation between the selected parameter and anticancer agent therapy results obtained from a number of patients actually performed the therapy. Accordingly, the predicting method can provide information useful for determining whether to perform the chemotherapy to individual patients. |
| US07682781B2 |
Method of screening a metabolite of a parent candidate compound for susceptibility to biliary excretion
A method of screening a candidate compound for susceptibility to biliary excretion. The method includes the steps of providing a culture of hepatocytes, the culture having at least one bile canaliculus; exposing a candidate compound to the culture; and determining an amount of candidate compound in the at least one bile canaliculus, the amount of candidate compound in the at least one bile canaliculus indicating the susceptibility of the candidate compound to biliary excretion. Optionally, the culture of hepatocytes is a long-term culture in a sandwich configuration. The method is particularly applicable to the screening of multiple candidate compounds in a single effort. |
| US07682778B2 |
Methods of forming contact plugs in semiconductor devices
Provided are contact photomasks and methods using such photomasks for fabricating semiconductor devices and forming contact plugs on portions of active regions exposed between gate lines. The elongated active regions are arrayed in a series of parallel groups with each group being, in turn, aligned along their longitudinal axes to form an acute angle with the gate lines. The contact photomask includes a plurality of openings arranged in parallel lines that are aligned at an angle offset from previously formed gate lines and which may be parallel to the active regions or may be aligned at an angle offset from the axes of both the groups of active regions and the gate lines. Processes for forming contact plugs using such photomasks may provide increased processing margin and extend the utility of conventional exposure equipment for semiconductor devices exhibiting increased integration density and/or built to more demanding design rules. |
| US07682777B2 |
Method for producing a polymer structure on a substrate surface
A method for producing a polymer structure on a patterning region of a substrate surface includes the steps of depositing an adhesion layer having a first polymer material onto the substrate surface, patterning the adhesion layer such that the first polymer material of the adhesion layer is removed in a first region and the first polymer material of the adhesion layer remains in a second region including the patterning region, depositing a polymer layer of a second polymer material onto the substrate surface and the adhesion layer and patterning the polymer layer such that the polymer structure forms in the second region. |
| US07682776B2 |
Negative lithographic printing plate having darker aluminum substrate
A laser sensitive lithographic printing plate comprises an electrochemically grained, anodized, hydrophilically treated aluminum substrate with a reflection optical density of 0.30 or higher; a free radical polymerizable photosensitive layer; and a water soluble or dispersible overcoat. The photosensitive layer comprises a polymeric binder, a free radical polymerizable monomer, a free radical initiator, and a sensitizing dye. Such dark aluminum substrate in combination with the hydrophilic treatment allows both clean background and good printing durability. Such plate can be exposed with a suitable laser at lower dosage to cause hardening in the exposed areas. The exposed plate can be developed with a regular liquid developer or with ink and/or fountain solution. |
| US07682770B2 |
Resist composition and method for forming resist pattern
A resist composition is provided that yields fine resolution, and improved levels of line edge roughness and depth of focus. This composition includes a resin component (A) that undergoes a change in alkali solubility under the action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid on exposure, wherein the component (A) is a resin with a weight average molecular weight of no more than 8,000 containing structural units (a) derived from a (meth)acrylate ester, and the component (B) includes at least one sulfonium compound represented by a general formula (b-1) or a general formula (b-2) shown below. |
| US07682768B2 |
Production process of polymerized toner
A process for producing a polymerized toner, comprising the step of polymerizing a polymerizable monomer composition containing a polymerizable monomer and a colorant in the presence of a polymerization initiator in an aqueous dispersion medium to form colored polymer particles, the process comprising the steps of mixing the polymerizable monomer with the colorant to prepare a polymerizable monomer mixture having an initial viscosity of 10 to 3,000 mPa·s or 0.3 to 1 mPa·s as measured at 25° C. by a Brookfield type viscometer, and then feeding the polymerizable monomer mixture to a media type dispersing machine to finely disperse the colorant by the media type dispersing machine, thereby preparing a dispersed polymerizable monomer mixture having a viscosity after the dispersion, the ratio of increase in viscosity of which is 1.0 to 10 times or 100 to 2,000 times as high as the initial viscosity. |
| US07682766B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming method and image forming apparatus
In an image forming method in which a toner image, which is visualized via an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photoreceptor, employing a developer incorporating toner, is transferred onto a recording material followed by fixing, and any residual toner remaining on the electrophotographic photoreceptor is removed, an image forming method in which an electrophotographic photoreceptor and a toner which satisfy specified requirements are employed and image formation is carried out while feeding a surface energy lowering agent from the developer onto the aforesaid electrophotographic photoreceptor, and an image forming apparatus employing the same. |
| US07682765B2 |
Toner for developing electrostatic images
To provide a toner for developing electrostatic images which is not easily cause the phenomenon of toner-spent, constituent materials are so selected that a charge control resin has hardness which is the same as the hardness of a binder resin or the charge control resin is harder than the binder resin, as measured with a scanning probe microscope in a viscoelasticity evaluation mode in respect to the binder resin and the charge control resin which are present in the particle interiors or particle surfaces of the toner. |
| US07682764B2 |
Resin coated carrier for electrophotography and two-component developer for electrophotography made therefrom
A resin coated carrier for electrophotography and a two-component developer for electrophotography made therefrom, in which electrostatic charge giving ability to toner is high, anti-spent property is superior, charging property is stable even if a large number sheets are continuously printed, initial electrostatic charge increasing ability and electrostatic charge maintaining ability after leaving are also superior, and fogging at supplying toner and fogging after leaving are not generated. In a resin coated carrier for electrophotography comprising a coating material and a core material, in which the coating material covers the surface of the core material, the coating material contains a resin component and a conductive agent, the core material is ferrite, and electric resistance of the carrier at an applied voltage of 100 V set to be 1.0×103 to 1.0×106 Ω·cm, or breakdown voltage is set to be 120 to 280 V. |
| US07682763B2 |
Imaging member having antistatic anticurl back coating
The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the incorporation of polyols in the anticurl back coating to reduce or eliminate static charge buildup in the imaging member and to improve image quality. |
| US07682761B2 |
Method of fabricating a grayscale mask using a wafer bonding process
A method of fabricating a grayscale mask includes preparing a quartz wafer; depositing a layer of Si3N4 on the quartz wafer; depositing a layer of titanium/TEOS directly on the Si3N4 layer on the backside of the quartz wafer; removing the layer of Si3N4 from the front side of the quartz wafer; depositing a layer of SRO directly on the front side of the quartz wafer; patterning a microlens array on the SRO layer; etching the SRO layer to form a microlens array in the SRO layer; depositing a layer of titanium; patterning and etching the titanium layer; depositing a layer of SiOxNy on the SRO microlens array; CMP to planarize the layer of SiOxNy removing the titanium/TEOS layer from the backside of the quartz wafer; bonding the planarized SiOxNy to a quartz reticle plate; and etching to remove Si3N4 from the bonded structure to form a grayscale mask reticle. |
| US07682755B2 |
Lithography mask and optical lithography method using surface plasmon
A periodic structure for producing surface plasmon resonance as a result of coupling surface plasmon with light is formed on a side to which the light is to be input, while a fine structure having a periodically or aperiodically arbitrary shape is formed opposite to the periodic structure in order that a pattern a dimension of which is a half or less than a wavelength of light can be transferred to a resist without requiring closely contact of the resist with a mask, or an exposure for a long period of time unlike near field lithography. An electric field transmission layer may be formed between the periodic structure and the fine structure, and the fine structure may be formed on the electric field transmission layer. |
| US07682754B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolytic solution for electrochemical cells
The invention relates to the use of an amine oxide as an additive in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution is suitable for use in electrochemical cells such as lithium batteries and lithium ion batteries. Batteries using this electrolyte solution have long life and high capacity retention. |
| US07682753B2 |
Solid electrolyte comprising fluorine-containing polymer having fluorine-containing ether chains
There is provided a fluorine-containing polymer solid electrolyte which has an excellent ion-conducting property, is high in oxidation resistance, is stable electrochemically and thermally, has sufficient strength and is applicable to various electrochemical devices. The electrolyte comprises (A) a non-crystalline fluorine-containing polymer having, in a trunk chain and/or side chain of the polymer molecule, a structural unit D having five or more chained units derived from a fluorine-containing ether, (B) an electrolytic compound and (C) a solvent, and has an ionic conductivity of from 10−10 to 101 S/cm measured at 25° C. by an alternating current complex impedance method. The electrolyte is useful for various electrochemical devices. |
| US07682748B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
In a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, as the positive electrode active material or as the negative electrode active material, a mixture containing molybdenum dioxide and lithium titanate in a weight ratio (molybdenum dioxide:lithium titanate) of 90:10 to 50:50 is used. |
| US07682746B2 |
Negative electrode for non-aqueous secondary battery
Negative electrodes and non-aqueous secondary batteries that comprise the negative electrodes are disclosed. The electrode comprises a current collector; and a mixture on the current collector, the mixture comprising a negative electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder. The active material has the overall composition: AM1qM21-qOy; in which (1) A is LiX or LiX-rGr, in which G is selected from Na, K, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and mixtures thereof, in which G and M1 are different; (2) 0≦x≦3; 0 |
| US07682739B2 |
Negative electrode for nonaqueous secondary battery and process of producing the same
A negative electrode 1 for nonaqueous secondary batteries characterized by having an active material layer 5 and a metallic lithium layer 3 both between a pair of current collecting surface layers 4. The negative electrode 1 has two negative electrode precursors 2 each composed of the current collecting surface layer 4 and the active material layer 5 on one side of the surface layer 4. The two negative electrode precursors 2 are united with their active material layers 5 facing each other and with the metallic lithium layer 3 sandwiched therebetween. A metallic material having low capability of forming a lithium compound penetrates through the whole thickness of the active material layer 5. |
| US07682738B2 |
Lead acid battery with gelled electrolyte formed by filtration action of absorbent separators and method for producing it
A method for producing a lead acid battery that operates on the oxygen cycle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: assembling a cell comprising a positive plate, a negative plate, and a sheet of separator material which is an absorbent, porous filtration medium, so that there is free space between the plates and surfaces of the separator, inserting the cell into a case, introducing into the case a mixture of sulfuric acid and silica including silica from a never dried precipitated silica slurry, causing the sulfuric acid in the mixture in the free space to gel, and sealing the case. The sulfuric acid in the mixture in the free space can be caused to gel by an increase in the silica content thereof, by an increase in the specific gravity thereof, or by both an increase in the silica content thereof, and an increase in the specific gravity thereof. |
| US07682736B2 |
Electrochemical device
An electrochemical device includes a case, a nonaqueous electrolyte filled in the case and containing a room temperature molten salt in an amount of 1 to 50 vol %, a first electrode housed in the case, and a second electrode housed in the case and containing a substance having a lamellar crystal structure. The room temperature molten salt contains a cation represented by formula (1) or formula (2) given below. R1 includes a carbonic acid ester group. Each of R2 and R3 denotes a substituent having an acyclic structure and having 4 or less carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 are combined to denote a substituent having a cyclic structure and having 4 or 5 carbon atoms. R4 includes a carbonic acid ester group, R5 has an acyclic structure and has 4 or less carbon atoms, and R6 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. |
| US07682734B2 |
Rechargeable battery having pliable cell and manufacturing method thereof
A rechargeable battery having a compact size and improved strength comprises a case, a battery cell, a circuit board and a covering member. The case has an internal space and an open end. The battery cell is made of a pliable material and is installed within the case, wherein a surface of the battery cell is electrically connected to the circuit board at the open end of the case. The covering member hermetically seals the open end of the case. Accordingly, the battery has a compact size, improved strength and may be manufactured easily. |
| US07682733B2 |
Thin film battery having textured layer
A monolithically integrated lithium thin film battery (10) provides increased areal capacity on a single level (without stacking of multiple cells). The Lithium thin film battery (10) comprises a substrate (12) having a surface (13) textured to comprise a plurality of openings (16) having sides (15) angled between 10 and 80 degrees to the surface (13). A current collector (18) and a cathode (22) are formed on the substrate (12) and within the openings (16). An electrolyte (24) comprising lithium phosphorous oxynitride is formed by physical vapor deposition on the cathode (22), thereby providing a layer on the surface of the cathode (22) and within the openings (16) of the cathode having substantially the same thickness. An anode (26) and a capping layer (28) are then formed on the electrolyte (24). |
| US07682729B2 |
Package structure of electric storage cells
A cell binder includes a frame body and a frame body. A storage portion of a electric storage cell are pressed/clamped by the bottom of an accommodating portion of the frame body and the bottom of an accommodating portion of the frame body. Also, a sealing portion of the electric storage cell is accommodated in a gap between the bottom of a fitting concave portion of the frame body 16 and the front end of a projecting portion of the other frame body, in a state of being deflected by bending, and the sealing portion is clamped between an inner wall of the fitting concave portion and an outer wall of the projecting portion, thereby fitting the frame bodies to each other. This makes it possible to reduce the size for clamping the sealing portion and to achieve the downsizing of the entire package. In addition, providing the sealing portion with deflections allows movements of the electric storage cell to be accommodated when vibrations are applied. This eliminates a possibility that the sealing portion will be damaged by a shearing stress, and leads to durability to be improved. |
| US07682723B2 |
Membranes for fuel cells, method for producing said membranes and production of fuel cells using membranes of this type
A membrane for fuel cells, which is characterized by a homogeneous absorption and good retention of doping agents, and which guarantees a high mechanical stability at high temperatures when doped. Such membranes consist of at least one polymer, whose nitrogen atoms are chemically bonded to a central atom of a derivative of a polybasic inorganic oxo acid. The membranes are produced from polymer solutions that are devoid of water and oxo acid derivatives, by heating the solution that has been introduced into a membrane mold until a self-supporting membrane has been formed and then by thermally regulating the latter. Inventive fuel cells having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that comprises a membrane of the invention and phosphoric acid as the doping agent have, for example, an impedance of 0.5-1 Ωcm2 at a measuring frequency of 1000 Hz and at an operating temperature of 160° C. and a gas flow for hydrogen of 170 mL/min and for air of 570 mL/min. They can be used as high-temperature polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cells for a working temperature of up to at least 250° C. |
| US07682721B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system and a related operating method are disclosed. The system includes a fuel cell body 1 having an anode electrode supplied with fuel gas containing hydrogen and a cathode electrode supplied with oxidizer gas, a catalyst degradation-suppressing means operative to interrupt supplying oxidizer gas to the cathode electrode after disconnecting the external load from the fuel cell body 1 and allow a load current, generated by the fuel cell body 1, to be extracted by an internal load 26 while supplying fuel gas to the anode electrode, a hydrogen supply stop means operative to interrupt a supply of fuel gas to the anode electrode during a period in which the load current is extracted by the internal load, and load current control means controlling a target load current such that after the supply of fuel gas to the anode electrode is stopped, a pressure inside the anode electrode is maintained at a target pressure. |
| US07682720B2 |
Diagnostic method for detecting a coolant pump failure in a fuel cell system by temperature measurement
A technique for determining whether a cooling fluid pump used for pumping a cooling fluid through a fuel cell stack has failed. The technique includes measuring the temperature of the cooling fluid at the output from the stack and/or measuring the cathode exhaust gas temperature as close as possible to the cathode outlet of the stack. The measured temperature is compared to a temperature that would be expected under the current operating conditions of the fuel cell system in a controller. If the difference between the measuring temperature and the expected temperature is large enough, then the controller provides a warning signal of pump failure, and also possibly reduces the stack outlet power. |
| US07682711B2 |
Magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, and manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium
A magnetic recording medium is provided which includes a recording layer formed in a concavo-convex pattern including recording elements formed as convex portions, provides a good flying performance of a magnetic head, and has high reliability. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including that magnetic recording medium and a manufacturing method of that magnetic recording medium are also provided. The magnetic recording medium includes: the recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over a substrate, the recording elements being formed as convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern; filling elements with which concave portions between the recording elements are filled; a conductive film which has a smaller electric resistivity than the filling elements and is formed over the filling elements; and a protective layer which covers the recording elements and the filling elements and is in contact with an upper surface of the conductive film. |
| US07682707B2 |
Organic light-emitting devices using spin-dependent processes
The maximum luminous efficiency of organic light-emitting materials is increased through spin-dependent processing. The technique is applicable to all electro-luminescent processes in which light is produced by singlet exciton decay, and all devices which use such effects, including LEDs, super-radiant devices, amplified stimulated emission devices, lasers, other optical microcavity devices, electrically pumped optical amplifiers, and phosphorescence (Ph) based light emitting devices. In preferred embodiments, the emissive material is doped with an impurity, or otherwise modified, to increase the spin-lattice relaxation rate (i.e., decrease the spin-lattice time), and hence raise the efficiency of the device. The material may be a polymer, oligomer, small molecule, single crystal, molecular crystal, or fullerene. The impurity is preferably a magnetic or paramagnetic substance. The invention is applicable to IR, UV, and other electromagnetic radiation generation and is thus not limited to the visible region of the spectrum. The methods of the invention may also be combined with other techniques used to improve device performance. |
| US07682704B2 |
Microporous metal parts
A metal injection-molding feedstock is heated and plasticized. Supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into the feedstock to form micropores when the pressure is reduced and a parts mold is filled. The micropores are retained when the green parts are debindered and sintered. |
| US07682703B2 |
Microfabrication using patterned topography and self-assembled monolayers
A method of selectively and electrolessly depositing a metal onto a substrate having a metallic microstructured surface is disclosed. The method includes forming a self-assembled monolayer on the metallic microstructured surface, exposing the self-assembled monolayer to an electroless plating solution including a soluble form of a deposit metal, and depositing electrolessly the deposit metal selectively on the metallic microstructured surface. Article formed from this method are also disclosed. |
| US07682701B2 |
Composition for forming silica based coating film, silica based coating film and method for preparation thereof, and electronic parts
The composition for forming silica based coating of the invention comprises siloxane resin such as an alkoxysilane as component (a), a solvent such as an alcohol capable of dissolving the siloxane resin as component (b), an ammonium salt, etc. as component (c) and a thermal decomposing/volatile compound as component (d), wherein the stress of the coating obtained by heat treatment at 150° C./3 min is 10 MPa and the specific permittivity of the silica based coating obtained by final curing is less than 3.0. The composition for forming silica based coating according to the invention can form a silica based coating having low permittivity, excellent adhesion and sufficient mechanical strength. |
| US07682700B2 |
Aluminum phosphate compounds, compositions, materials and related composites
Composites and methods relating to the use of inventive aluminophosphate compounds and films thereof with glass, ceramic and non-oxide ceramic substrates. |
| US07682695B2 |
Dust core with specific relationship between particle diameter and coating thickness, and method for producing same
The object of the present invention is to provide a powder core and method for making the same that is equipped with insulative coating having superior heat resistance, with the coating making it possible to adequately restrict the flow of eddy currents between particles.The powder core is equipped with a plurality of compound magnetic particles bonded to each other. Each of said plurality of composite magnetic particles includes: a metal magnetic particle 10; an insulative lower layer coating 20 surrounding a surface 10a of said metal magnetic particle 10; an upper layer coating 30 surrounding said lower layer coating 20 and containing silicon; and dispersed particles 50 containing a metal oxide compound and disposed in said lower layer coating 20 and/or said upper layer coating 30. A mean particle diameter R of the dispersed particles 50 meets the condition 10 nm |
| US07682694B1 |
Product and method for impact deflecting materials
Method and system for making a low cost, light weight impact deflecting material, comprising directionally aligned single walled carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin composition, that is near impervious to bullets fired at close range at all angles of incidence, that does not deteriorate upon abrasion or when exposed to wide ranges of temperature and humidity, and that when used to construct a protective shield for a body armor vest protects the wearer from blunt trauma effects. |
| US07682693B2 |
Filling material
A filling material for filling into articles of bedding and the like is presented and includes polyester fibres having an average dimension of 0.5 to 2.5 dtex and being coated with a slickener and crimped. The fibres have been cut to an average length of 4-15 mm and have subsequently been opened. In a method of forming a filling material a tow of slickened fibres of the above type is formed and crimped and is then cut to the above mentioned length. The cut fibres are then opened to form the filling material. |
| US07682692B2 |
Pressure-sensitive adhesive product
A pressure-sensitive adhesive product contains a substrate having formed on at least one surface thereof a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, wherein the substrate is formed from a styrene-based resin composition and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed from an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive containing an acrylic polymer, a liquid paraffin, and a rosin-based tackifying resin. In the acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, the ratio of the liquid paraffin is preferably 6 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the acrylic polymer and the ratio of the rosin-based tackifying resin is preferably 1 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the acrylic polymer. The liquid paraffin may have a number-average molecular weight of 300 to 500 and may have a dynamic viscosity at 37.8° C. of 6 to 80 mm2/second. |
| US07682689B2 |
Successively biaxial-oriented porous polypropylene film and process for production thereof
Disclosed is a successively biaxially stretched film obtained by successive biaxial stretching method comprising extruding a melt of a β-crystal nucleating agent-containing polypropylene-based resin composition from a T-die, cooling the extruded resin on a chill roll, and stretching the resulting web sheet longitudinally and then transversely, wherein the longitudinally stretched sheet is made to have a degree of β-crystal orientation of less than 0.3 by the following method (I) and/or (II), optionally subjected to annealing treatment, and transversely stretched: method (I): melting the polypropylene-based resin composition containing needle crystals of a specific β-crystal nucleating agent at a temperature not lower than m.p. of the polypropylene-based resin and lower than dissolution temperature of the β-crystal nucleating agent in the polypropylene-based resin melt, and extruding the melt from the T-die at the same temperature, method (II): adjusting neck-in ratio during longitudinal stretching to 25 to 55%. The porous polypropylene film has good breakage resistance during manufacture, excellent thickness uniformity, high porosity and air-permeability, and is useful for battery separators. |
| US07682686B2 |
Tufted fibrous web
A fibrous web having a first surface and a second surface. The fibrous web has a first region and at least one discrete second region, the second region being a discontinuity on the second surface and being a tuft comprising a plurality of tufted fibers extending from the first surface. The tufted fibers define a distal portion, the distal portion comprising portions of the tufted fibers being bonded together. Bonding can be thermal melt-bonding. In another embodiment the second surface of the web can have non-intersecting or substantially continuous bonded regions, which also can be thermal melt-bonding. |
| US07682682B2 |
Stiffener stop with staggered slopes and panel fitted with such a stop
The object of this invention is a stiffener stop in particular for a primary structural panel of the “skin+stiffener” type for aircraft, said stop consisting of an initial slope connected to the normal height of the stiffener and a final slope, wherein at least one interval having a slope nearly equal to zero with respect to the plane of the base skin in the stop area is inserted between the two aforesaid slopes. |
| US07682681B2 |
Sound absorbing/sound blocking automotive trim products
Sound absorbing/sound blocking products, including trim products formed from a porous fibrous layer backed by a sound absorbing layer and a sound blocking layer for use within vehicles, and methods of making same, are provided. A porous fibrous layer structure including a fibrous layer backing is heated to achieve a fluid or semi-fluid state and then subjected to vacuum to draw air through the fibrous layer backing to create a porous structure. A layer of sound absorbing and a layer of sound blocking material may be applied to the porous fibrous layer backing to provide improved acoustic properties. An underlayment may further be included to provide selected areas of increased thickness and provide tailoring of sound attenuation. |
| US07682680B2 |
Method and apparatus for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat employing multiple durometer layers
A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat that employs a layer of resilient gel material that exhibits a first durometer. The method employs a frame assembly that receives a flexible support sheet. The frame assembly includes an aperture that receives a layer of heated liquid gel which cools to form the layer of resilient gel material exhibiting the first durometer. In one embodiment, a barrier layer exhibiting a second durometer is situated on the gel layer that exhibits the first durometer. In one embodiment, the barrier layer prevents the flow of oils from the gel layer to a flexible base sheet disposed on the barrier layer. In another embodiment, the flexible base sheet may exhibit a second durometer. In either embodiment, the layers exhibiting the first and second durometer cooperate to influence the feel of the mat to the user. |
| US07682676B2 |
Optical element and optical pickup device
An optical element irradiated with a light flux having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm, is provided with a synthetic resin base material; and an antireflection film provided on the synthetic resin base material and including a contact layer being in contact with the synthetic resin base material, wherein the contact layer is a film made of a material containing no oxygen atom or a film made of a mixed material or a material containing no oxygen atom and a material containing an oxygen atom in which the mixed material contains the material containing an oxygen atom less than 10%. |
| US07682675B2 |
Self-adhesive sealing tape for sealing the passages of construction units through plastic foils lining roofs
A self-adhesive flexible sealing tape, especially on a butyl or acrylic base, possibly a butyl rubber base, intended for sealing purposes and so designed that both the sealing tape and the carrier foil applied to the sealing tape are capable of being stretched, thus enabling the carrier tape to follow the stretching state of the sealing tape. |
| US07682674B2 |
BADGE- and BPA-free can coating
The present invention relates to a composition, which is useful for producing coatings for metal sheet substrates of metal cans for storing and/or transporting food or beverages or a lid thereof, and which comprises the following components: (a) 30 to 90 wt. % of a polyvinylchloride-(PVC)-polymer, (b) 7 to 25 wt. % of an acrylic resin, (c) 3 to 40 wt. % of a crosslinking agent, which is produced from phenol, para-tert.-butylphenol, xylenol or a mixture thereof, and formaldehyde, (d) 0 to 8 wt. % additive, (e) 0 to 50 wt. % pigment and (f) a solvent-component, where all weight percentages are on the basis of the total dry weight of the coating composition (without solvents) and the composition is substantially free of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (“BADGE”) and also substantially free of bisphenol-A-resins. The composition provides metal can coatings that have suitable flexibility, scratch resistance, adherence and sterilization resistance when processed in contact with food. The coatings are suitable for three-piece cans as well as deep-drawn metal cans. In particular they are, however, useful for lids that are to be torn open due to their extraordinary flexibility and sterilization resistance. |
| US07682673B2 |
Blood-flow tubing
An artificial or modified natural blood flow tubing has a helical-flow inducer to induce helical flow in such fashion as to eliminate or reduce turbulence. One inducer is a tubular stent of expansible mesh having a helical vane. |
| US07682670B2 |
Method for controlling the volume of a molecular beam
A molecular beam source for use in thin-film accumulation, which enables the adjustment of the volume of a molecular beam, which is discharged per hour by using a needle valve, to be constant irrespective of a decrease in a thin-film element-forming material remaining within a crucible, contains heaters 32 and 42 for heating the thin-film element-forming materials “a” and “b” within crucibles 31 and 41, and valves 33 and 43 for adjusting the volumes to be discharged of molecules of the thin-film element forming materials “a” and “b”, which are generated within the crucibles 31 and 41. It further contains a controller for adjusting the opening of the valves 33 and 43 by servomotors 36 and 46 through feeding back information relating to the volumes of the molecular beams, which are obtained from film-thickness meters 16 and 26 for detecting the volume of molecular beams discharged towards the film-forming surface, a heating electric power source for supplying an electric power to heaters 32 and 42, and a controller for adjusting the electric power to be supplied to the heating electric power source depending upon the information relating to the volume of the molecular sources and information relating to the opening of the valves. |
| US07682669B1 |
Methods for covalently immobilizing anti-thrombogenic material into a coating on a medical device
The present invention is directed to a medical device having a polymerized base coat layer for the immobilization of an anti-thrombogenic material, such as heparin, thereon. The binding coat layer is comprised of various chemically functional groups which are stable and allow for the immobilization of the anti-thrombogenic material thereto. Methods for immobilizing the anti-thrombogenic material within the base coat layer posited on a surface of the medical device are also provided. |
| US07682667B2 |
Method of thermal spraying
An adhesion strength of spray coating comparable to that obtained in a conventional combination of blast treatment and gas flame spraying can be realized even if roughening is conducted with the use of simple tools by performing in advance such a roughening treatment that the average roughness (Ra) of the surface of the thermal spray subject falls within the range of 2 to 10 μm with the use of a grinding tool, and thereafter carrying out thermal spraying under such conditions that the average area of each of molten particles when molten particles of a thermal spray material have stuck to the surface of thermal spray subject falls within the range of 10000 to 100000 μm2. In the roughening by grinding tools, a large-scale apparatus is not needed as different from the blast treatment, and portable small tools can be used in overhead location work at field repair. The scattering of powder resulting from grinding is slight so that the danger of environmental pollution is low. |
| US07682666B2 |
Method of producing a color and/or effect film exhibiting an isotropic flop behavior and an isotropic color locus
Method of preparing single-layer or multilayer color and/or effect films comprising a color and/or effect layer, by (1) continuously applying a component amount of a basecoat material (A) by means of a directed application technique to a carrier, the applicator (1) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to construct a portion of the color and/or effect layer, (2) at least once, continuously applying the remainder of the basecoat material (A) and/or a basecoat material (B), which is different than the basecoat (A), to the component layer (1) formed by an application technique (2) which in the resulting component layer (2) induces no arrangement of the pigments in a preferential direction, the applicator (2) and the carrier being in relative motion with respect to one another, to further or fully construct the color and/or effect layer, and (3) drying or partly or fully curing the color and/or effect layer. |
| US07682664B2 |
Method of forming composite ceramic targets
Disclosed are processes and compositions for fabricating irradiation targets from slurry compositions using a slip casting method to form a layer of the slurry composition on a substrate. The layer of slurry is allowed to dry on the substrate to produce a green cast layer that may then be cut, milled or otherwise machined to form intermediate targets having one or more predetermined configurations. These intermediate targets are subsequently subjected to a thermal process by which organic components remaining in the green cast layer are driven off and/or oxidized to form a densified, substantially inorganic, layer that has a density below that of the primary particles. |
| US07682662B2 |
Painted golf ball and process for preparing the same
The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a paint film which is obtained from an environment-friendly aqueous paint and is excellent in the adhesion and the wear-resistance.The gist of the present invention lies in improving the adhesion between the paint film obtained from the aqueous polyurethane paint and the surface of the golf ball body by first applying the aqueous liquid of the aqueous polycarbodiimide on the surface of the golf ball body, subsequently forming the primer layer comprising the aqueous polycarbodiimide, and then applying the aqueous polyurethane paint to form the paint film, while reducing the amount of solvent used in the aqueous paint for applying on the golf ball by using the polycarbodiimide liquid and the aqueous polyurethane paint. |
| US07682660B2 |
Process and apparatus for organic vapor jet deposition
A method of fabricating an organic film is provided. A non-reactive carrier gas is used to transport an organic vapor. The organic vapor is ejected through a nozzle block onto a cooled substrate, to form a patterned organic film. A device for carrying out the method is also provided. The device includes a source of organic vapors, a source of carrier gas and a vacuum chamber. A heated nozzle block attached to the source of organic vapors and the source of carrier gas has at least one nozzle adapted to eject carrier gas and organic vapors onto a cooled substrate disposed within the vacuum chamber. |
| US07682659B1 |
Fabrication of suspended carbon micro and nanoscale structures
Methods for the fabrication of suspended carbon structures using a negative photoresist that is exposed to a source of UV light, and a two step pyrolysis process. Ebeam lithography is used to define the suspended structures. The fabrication method described herein provides a novel carbon microfabrication technique, which has potential applications in carbon based electronics, sensors, batteries, microfluidics, etc. |
| US07682658B2 |
Method for making carbon nanotube array
A method for making an array of carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate with a film of a first catalyst thereon; (b) disposing the substrate in a quartz boat; (c) disposing a second catalyst adjacent to the substrate in the quartz boat; (d) disposing the quartz boat in a reaction chamber having a gas inlet configured for introducing a carbon source gas and a carrier gas into the reaction chamber and a gas outlet; (e) heating the reaction chamber to a predetermined temperature and introducing the carbon source gas into the reaction chamber along a direction from the second catalyst to the substrate, whereby the second catalyst reacts with the carbon source gas thereby producing a resultant for promoting catalytic activity of the first catalyst; and (f) growing an array of carbon nanotubes on the substrate. |
| US07682655B1 |
Method and apparatus for lining pipes with environmentally compatible impervious membrane
A method and apparatus for remotely installing a monolithic liner in a conduit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main component body including electromagnetic actuators, pneumatic cylinders, linear actuators relays, solenoids, ion generator, attachment points for tethers, umbilical, cameras and diameter specific guides and a reciprocation head attached thereto. The longitudinally traversing reciprocation head incorporates a fluid driven rotary turbine motor assembly communicating with shaft and self cleaning dissipation device integrating both conical and inverted cone surfaces. Also included on the reciprocating assembly is an impingement block for the efficient mixing of products and a termination mechanism for the precise remote control of product flow. Additionally, the assembly provides the ion generator to direct a stream of negatively charged air flow to the shaft and the diffusion device to effectively prohibit excess material accumulation. |
| US07682654B2 |
Fused nanostructure material
Disclosed herein is a nanostructured material comprising carbon nanotubes fused together to form a three-dimensional structure. Methods of making the nanostructured material are also disclosed. Such methods include a batch type process, as well as multi-step recycling methods or continuous single-step methods. A wide range of articles made from the nanostructured material, including fabrics, ballistic mitigation materials, structural supports, mechanical actuators, heat sink, thermal conductor, and membranes for fluid purification is also disclosed. |
| US07682652B2 |
Surface treatment method, circuit lines formation method, circuit lines formation apparatus, and printed circuit board formed thereby
The present invention relates to a method of surface treatment, a method for forming circuit lines, a printed circuit board formed thereby, and an apparatus for forming circuit lines on a substrate, wherein fine circuit lines are formed simply, rapidly, and economically. The method for forming circuit lines of the present invention comprises: (a) selectively applying a surface treatment solution which includes an alkali metal compound on a base film in accordance with circuit patterns by a discharging method; (b) applying a conductive ink which includes metal nanoparticles in accordance with the surface-treated circuit pattern; and (c) curing the base film on which the conductive ink is applied under a reduction atmosphere lines. |
| US07682651B2 |
Method for manufacturing display device
A method for manufacturing a display device, having hollows containing fine particles, for displaying an image using the fine particles includes a step of packing a dispersion in the hollows, the dispersion containing the fine particles, a dispersion medium, and a precursor, dissolved or dispersed in the dispersion medium, for forming a sealing layer; a step of providing a support layer on partitions; a step of coating a face of the support layer and end portions of the partitions with the sealing layer precursor by allowing the face of the support layer and the end portions of the partitions to adsorb the sealing layer precursor, the face of the support layer and the end portions of the partitions being in contact with the dispersion; and a step of forming the sealing layer by subjecting the resulting sealing layer precursor to at least one of polymerization and cross-linking. |
| US07682649B2 |
Medical devices and methods of making the same
An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, having a layer that can enhance the biocompatibility of the endoprosthesis, and methods of making the endoprosthesis are disclosed. |
| US07682648B1 |
Methods for forming polymeric coatings on stents
A method is provided for forming a polymeric coating on a stent. The method can comprise applying a prepolymer or a combination of prepolymers to the stent and initiating polymerization to form a polymeric coating on the stent. The coating material can optionally contain a biologically active agent or combination of agents. |
| US07682647B2 |
Thermal treatment of a drug eluting implantable medical device
A coating and a method of coating an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes subjecting the coating to a thermal condition which can result in reduction of the rate of release of an active agent from the coating subsequent to the implantation of the device. |
| US07682643B2 |
Method for manufacturing containered green tea beverage
To provide a new manufacturing method of containered green tea beverage suited for selling hot. A step of eliminating silica was introduced in the manufacturing process, wherein the silica is eliminated after adding silica to a tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves to adsorb the sediment component present in tea extract to the silica. By adding silica to the tea extract and bringing them into contact, the proteins and polysaccharides causing secondary sediment can be selectively adsorbed and decreased, allowing the occurrence of sediment to be prevented, even when selling the beverage hot. Furthermore, it allows a large amount of flavor component to be left. Further more, a large amount of catechins can be left in the beverage, allowing the growth of heat-resistant bacteria to be inhibited by the antibacterial action of catechins. |
| US07682642B2 |
Resistant starch compositions
Process for sterilising a resistant starch composition comprising: (a) dispersing said resistant starch composition in oil; (b) heating the starch/oil dispersion obtained in step (a) to a target temperature of 100 to 175° C., preferably about 150° C.; and (c) cooling the starch/oil dispersion; sterilised resistant starch obtained by this process and uses thereof. |
| US07682641B1 |
Method and apparatus for preserving perishable products
The invention can be summarized as follows. There is provided a method for preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising the step of treating the product with one or more near-infrared lights, wherein preferably at least one near-infrared light is a near-infrared laser (or laser diode). The perishable product may be simultaneously treated with a magnetic field. The invention also pertains to an apparatus that may be used to preserve the quality of a perishable product. |
| US07682639B1 |
Water packet
A sealed, double walled water packet has an inner packet filled with potable water that has a porous outer surface layer containing absorbed water and an outer packet that encloses the inner packet and is connected to the inner layer. The inner packet (which may contain as little as a swallow of water) is connected to the outer packet (both of which can be made as envelopes with tearable sections or peel off corners) along one side or by a string so that the inner packet can be twirled or waved to cause rapid evaporation of water in the porous outer surface layer (which can include hydrogel) to thereby cool the potable water contained inside the inner packet before it is opened. |
| US07682636B2 |
Curcuminoid compositions exhibiting synergistic inhibition of the expression and/or activity of cyclooxygenase-2
A novel formulation is provided that serves to inhibit the inflammatory response in animals. The formulation comprises, as a first component an effective amount of a curcuminoid species and an effective amount of a second component selected from the group consisting of an alpha-acid species or a beta-acid species or derivatives thereof. The composition provides synergistic anti-inflammatory effects in response to physical or chemical injury or abnormal immune stimulation due to a biological agent or unknown etiology. |
| US07682631B2 |
Adhesin-specific nanoparticles and process for using same
The present invention is generally directed to compositions useful in preventing and/or treating disease due to infection by any of a variety of biologically active pathogenic microorganisms. The compositions include nanoparticles formed of a hydrophobic polymeric core, hydrophilic linking agents bound to the core, and biofunctional materials bound to the linking agents. The biofunctional materials are functionally identical to receptors on host cell surfaces that can be recognized and bound by adhesins on the surface of the targeted pathogenic adhesin-bearing microorganisms. In one embodiment, the binding action between the nanoparticles and the microorganisms can lead to the formation of large agglomerated complexes, which can then be easily removed from an area, including the digestive tract of an infected individual. The compositions of the present invention can also be utilized in preventing enteric infections via the ability to purge animals of enteropathogens prior to transport and processing for human consumption. |
| US07682623B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for topical application
A pharmaceutical or cosmetic carrier or composition for topical application characterized by rheological properties which render the carrier or composition semi-solid at rest and a liquid upon application of shear forces thereto. The composition or carrier are prepared by mixing 1-25 percent of a solidifying agent and 75-99 percent of a hydrophobic solvent, by weight, wherein at least one of them has therapeutic or cosmetic benefits, in the presence or absence of a biologically active substance. |
| US07682612B1 |
Treatment of hematologic malignancies associated with circulating tumor cells using chimeric anti-CD20 antibody
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) may be treated with antibodies directed against the CD20 antigen. |
| US07682611B2 |
Method of modulating the activity of functional immune molecules to CXCR4 protein
The invention relates to a method for controlling the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, such as an antibody, a protein, a peptide or the like, an agent of promoting the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, and an immunologically functional molecule having the promoted activity. |
| US07682609B2 |
Protein formulation
A stable lyophilized protein formulation is described which can be reconstituted with a suitable diluent to generate a high protein concentration reconstituted formulation which is suitable for subcutaneous administration. For example, anti-IgE and anti-HER2 antibody formulations have been prepared by lyophilizing these antibodies in the presence of a lyoprotectant. The lyophilized mixture thus formed is reconstituted to a high protein concentration without apparent loss of stability of the protein. |
| US07682606B2 |
Methods of producing edible fungi containing activated folates and nutritional supplements containing activated folates
Methods are described for producing reduced, methylated, biologically active forms of folate, including 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (i.e. 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate. Edible mushroom-producing fungi are cultivated to enhance the uptake of pteroylmonoglutamate (synthetic folate) into edible portions of the plants. The mushroom-producing fungi reduce and methylate the pteroylmonoglutamates into activated folates. The cultivated mycelia or mushrooms of the mushroom-producing fungi are harvested, and may be consumed directly or processed into oral dosage formats (capsules, tablets, softgels, powders, gel packets, liquids, nutritional bars, beverages) for use as functional foods or nutritional supplements. |
| US07682604B2 |
Composite powder, cosmetics containing the same, and process for producing composite powder
An object of the present invention is to provide a composite powder, cosmetics containing the same, and the production method of the same. When blended into cosmetics, the above-described composite powder corrects skin surface unevenness and imperfections in skin color, renders a natural finish, and have durability in finished makeup. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the composite powder of the present invention comprises flaky substrate powder and barium sulfate particles or zinc oxide particles that adhere to the surface, in protrusions, of the substrate powder. |
| US07682602B2 |
Near-infrared fluorescent contrast medium
A near-infrared fluorescing contrast medium which exhibits superior imaging capability and is also difficult to accumulate in a living body, is disclosed, comprising a cyanine compound containing water-solubilizing groups and represented by the following formula. The imaging method by use thereof is also disclosed. |
| US07682601B2 |
Bifunctional tridentate pyrazolyl containing ligands for re and tc tricarbonyl complexes
The present invention relates to a chelating agent of the general formula: (I), wherein m is 0 or 1; X is NR4 or S; Y is SR5, NHR5 or P(R5)2; R1 and R3 are the same or different and are selected from H, alkyl or aryl; R2 is H, COOH, NHR6 or (CH2)nCOOR6; R4 is H, alkyl, aryl, (CH2)nCOOR6 or (CH2)nOR6; R5 is H, alkyl, aryl, (CH2)nCOOR6 or (CH2)nOR6, R6 is H, alkyl or aryl; n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10; and when R1═R3═CH3, R2, R4 and R5 are not all three H. The invention further relates to a method and kit for the preparation of radiolabeled biomolecules while using the chelating agent. |
| US07682593B2 |
Process for the production of Ge by reduction of GeCl4 with liquid metal
The invention relates to the manufacture of high purity germanium for the manufacture of e.g. infra red optics, radiation detectors and electronic devices. GeCl4 is converted to Ge metal by contacting gaseous GeCl4 with a liquid metal M containing one of Zn, Na and Mg, thereby obtaining a Ge-bearing alloy and a metal M chloride, which is removed by evaporation or skimming. The Ge-bearing alloy is then purified at a temperature above the boiling point of metal M. This process does not require complicated technologies and preserves the high purity of the GeCl4 in the final Ge metal, as the only reactant is metal M, which can be obtained in very high purity grades and continuously recycled. |
| US07682582B2 |
Simultaneous removal of H2S and SO2 from tail gases
A process for the simultaneous removal of H2S and SO2 from tail gases is disclosed. A tail gas stream is contacted with a sorbent in a sorption zone to produce a product gas stream and a sulfur laden sorbent, wherein the sorbent comprises Zn and a promoter metal. |
| US07682580B2 |
Catalytic reactor having radial leaves
A reactor includes a plurality of metal leaves which extend from an interior of the reactor to its exterior. The leaves occupy a space between an internal mandrel and an external tube. In one embodiment, the leaves are generally flat pieces of foil, stacked together so that they do not touch except at spacers formed in the pieces. In another embodiment, the leaves are formed of a pleated and crimped foil, each leaf being defined by a piece of foil that has been folded over upon itself. In both embodiments, the leaves extend from the internal mandrel, radially outward to an inner surface of the tube. The reactor facilitates the transfer of heat between the outside of the reactor and its inside region. |
| US07682576B2 |
Apparatus for recovering power from FCC product
Disclosed is an apparatus for recovering power from an FCC product. The dry gas is combusted and combined with FCC regenerator flue gas to raise the power recovery capability of the flue gas. The flue gas can be used to generate electrical power or steam. Alternatively or additionally, dry gas from an FCC product stream is separated and delivered to an expander to recover power before combustion. |
| US07682572B2 |
Frozen tissue microarray
A tissue microarray includes frozen tissue cores that extend from the top of the tissue microarray to a release. The release is a material from which embedding material of the tissue microarray can easily be removed. A stiffener is used with the release to maintain a flat shape of the release. The tissue cores may be formed from whole (i.e., paraffin-free) frozen tissue. A method and tool for manufacturing the tissue microarray are also disclosed. |
| US07682566B2 |
Sensor unit for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection
A surface plasmon resonance assay apparatus is loaded with a sensor unit. A sensing surface of a thin film detects reaction of a sample. A dielectric prism is overlaid with the thin film to constitute an interface. A reflection angle upon occurrence of attenuated total reflection of the illuminating light is changeable according to reaction of the sample on the sensing surface. Protecting panels are disposed to face outer surfaces of the prism, for covering and protecting at least partially the outer surfaces. A first window in one of the protecting panels is positioned on a path of the illuminating light traveling for incidence on the interface, for passing the illuminating light. A second window in one remaining protecting panel is positioned on a path of the illuminating light traveling upon reflection by the interface, for passing the illuminating light. |
| US07682555B2 |
Suction cart for suctioning off the gases and dust produced during flame cutting processes
A suction cart suctions away the gases and dust produced during flame cutting processes and catches the scrap metal produced. The suction cart can travel underneath the flame cutting bench and is outfitted with at least one suction pipe, which emerges into a suction duct, is configured so that it is able to handle the disposal work for materials located underneath the flame cutting bench. A cleaning blade or rake is arranged on the suction cart, the cleaning blade or rake being able to be lifted and lowered onto the floor underneath the flame cutting bench. |
| US07682553B2 |
Balloon structure with PTFE component
A medical balloon having a high burst strength and the ability to return to its preinflation diameter following repeated inflation may be prepared from a first inner layer of material, a second intermediate layer of expanded PTFE and a third outer layer of material. |
| US07682551B2 |
Method for manufacturing three-dimensional photonic structure
A three-dimensional component having cavities containing a photocurable resin material and having a structure in which a plurality of cured resin layers composed of the photo-cured resin material are stacked, is manufactured by stereolithography. Inorganic members are inserted into concave portions when the concave portions are formed before covering the cavities, each of the concave portions being at least a portion of the corresponding cavity, and the photocurable resin material remaining. When the three-dimensional component is completed, the photocurable resin material remaining in the cavity is thermally cured, thus being brought into contact with the inorganic members. In this manner, a three-dimensional photonic structure having the plurality of inorganic members precisely disposed at desired periodic positions within the resin matrix is efficiently manufactured. |
| US07682544B2 |
Method of fabricating photovoltaic panel
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic panel is disclosed which is formed by arranging a number of granular photovoltaic devices in an array and forming the array into the shape of a panel from a transparent resin and includes each photovoltaic device having a part protruding from the resin. The method includes filling an escape recess of a receiver with a plastic sealing material, setting a forming die on the receiver, accommodating the photovoltaic devices in bowl-shaped recesses of the forming die respectively, pressing the photovoltaic devices accommodated in the bow-shaped recesses from above so that lower portions of the photovoltaic devices are fitted into the through holes of the bowl-shaped recesses thereby to be thrust inside the plastic sealing material substantially by a predetermined amount, respectively, pouring a liquid phase of the transparent resin into the forming cavity of the forming die, hardening the liquid resin in the forming cavity of the forming die so that the photovoltaic devices are integrated by the transparent resin into a photovoltaic panel, and taking the photovoltaic panel out of the forming cavity of the forming die. |
| US07682542B2 |
Method of making fuser member
A method of making a fuser roller comprising: providing a fuser roller an outer layer comprising a fluorothermoplastic polymer; and annealing the outer surface of the outer layer through contact the outer layer by means of heat and pressure. |
| US07682541B2 |
Manufacturing method of a microchemical chip made of a resin
A manufacturing method of a microchemical chip made of a resin and having a micro channel, which comprises forming a photoresist film over the surface of one side of a metal support substratum, stacking a photomask for the formation of a channel pattern over the photoresist film, forming a minute-structure photoresist pattern over the metal support substratum by a photofabrication technology as a flat-sheet mold, disposing the flat-sheet mold or unit mold obtained by separating the flat-sheet mold on the bottom of a contour forming frame for resin molding, pouring a resin into the contour forming frame for resin molding and curing the resin to form a resin structure having a micro channel formed by the mold, and attaching the resin structure having a micro channel to a flat sheet to be a lid of the micro channel; and microchemical chips manufactured by this method. |
| US07682540B2 |
Method of making hydrogel implants
Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis. |
| US07682539B1 |
Regeneration of silk and silk-like fibers from ionic liquid spin dopes
The present invention relates to a process of forming fibers of silk and silk-like proteins in a solution with a solvent consisting of a pure ionic liquid, an ionic liquid mixture, an ionic liquid mixed with one or more cosolvents, or an ionic liquid mixture mixed with one or more cosolvents. A solution is extruded through a spinneret orifice to form a fiber. The spinneret is either directly immersed in the coagulation bath or the spinneret is surrounded by a noncoagulating medium (i.e., air or other inert fluid) and the extruded fiber is subsequently immersed in a coagulation bath. Fibers may also be formed by extruding a fiber directly from a reservoir of solution into a noncoagulating, inert medium and then immersing the extruded fibers into a coagulation bath to rinse the fiber of ionic liquid. |
| US07682537B2 |
Mold-press forming apparatus and method of manufacturing a formed product
A mold-press forming apparatus for applying a molding pressure to a mold containing a forming material to perform press forming includes a loading chamber (that is, an airtight chamber) P1 kept airtight. The loading chamber P1 is connected to a pressure reducing member which includes evacuating members 14 and 13 arranged in an evacuating path 7 connected to the loading chamber P1 for evacuating a gas in the loading chamber P1, and a plurality of valves 11 and 12 arranged in the evacuating path 7 in parallel to each other. When the loading chamber P1 is evacuated, the pressure reducing member changes a pressure reducing rate in the course of pressure reduction. |
| US07682535B2 |
Method of filling the cavity of a tool
A method of filling the cavity of a tool used for production of a molded part from a melt, especially the cavity of an injection molding machine, wherein the melt is introduced into the cavity under pressure and is subjected to a dwell pressure towards the end or at the end of its flow path. The tool wall temperature is determined at the end of the flow path of the melt and the switching point for switching to the dwell pressure is determined from the increase of the tool wall temperature. |
| US07682529B2 |
Gallium oxide-zinc oxide sputtering target, method for forming transparent conductive film, and transparent conductive film
Provided is a high density gallium oxide-zinc oxide series sintered body sputtering target for forming a transparent conductive film containing 20 to 2000 mass ppm of zirconium oxide. In a gallium oxide (Ga2O3)-zinc oxide (ZnO) series sputtering target (GZO series target) for forming a transparent conductive film, trace amounts of specific elements are added to obtain a target capable of improving the conductivity and the bulk density of the target; in other words, capable of improving the component composition to increase the sintered density, inhibit the formation of nodules, and prevent the generation of an abnormal electrical discharge and particles. Also provided are a method for forming a transparent conductive film using such a target, and a transparent conductive film formed thereby. |
| US07682528B2 |
Oxide ion conductor
An La2O3 powder and an SiO2 powder are mixed with each other, and then heated. By heating, a porous material of LaXSi6O1.5X+12 (8≦X≦10) as a composite oxide is produced. Subsequently, the porous material is pulverized to obtain a powder, and the powder is added to a solvent to prepare a slurry. The slurry is solidified in a magnetic field to prepare a compact. After that, the compact is sintered, and an oxide ion conductor is obtained thereby. |
| US07682527B2 |
Fabrication of light emitting film coated fullerenes and their application for in-vivo light emission
A nanoparticle coated with a semiconducting material and a method for making the same. In one embodiment, the method comprises making a semiconductor coated nanoparticle comprising a layer of at least one semiconducting material covering at least a portion of at least one surface of a nanoparticle, comprising: (A) dispersing the nanoparticle under suitable conditions to provide a dispersed nanoparticle; and (B) depositing at least one semiconducting material under suitable conditions onto at least one surface of the dispersed nanoparticle to produce the semiconductor coated nanoparticle. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle comprises a fullerene. Further embodiments include the semiconducting material comprising CdS or CdSe. |
| US07682526B2 |
Stable imidazoline solutions
A imidazoline concentrate, uses of the concentrate, and methods of increasing a storage stability of solutions containing the concentrate are disclosed. The concentrate may include a reaction product of a fatty acid, an alkylene polyamine, a hydrocarbyl succinic acid or anhydride, and an alkoxylated alkylphenol component. The concentrate may contain from about 2 to about 50 wt. % of the alkyphenol component. |
| US07682519B2 |
Formulation for dust abatement and prevention of erosion
A composition of matter containing a solution made from: from about 18 to about 70 wt % of a sugar; from about 2 to about 10 wt % of a water-soluble polysaccharide; from about 0.1 to about 1 wt % of a phosphate; from about 0.01 to about 1 wt % of a surfactant; and from about 18 wt % to remainder of water. A method for dust and sand abatement and erosion prevention by: providing the above solution, applying the solution to sand or dust particles wherein the solution binds to the particles; and allowing the solution to bind to the sand or dust particles and to dry thereby forming a hardened crust. |
| US07682512B2 |
Multi-level filter device
The present invention is directed to a method for filtering fluid, preferably effluent fluid in a septic system, by providing a staged, filtering array in an effluent flow path, the stages positioned in an orientation designed to maximize filtering capability in conjunction with predetermined aperture positions and dimensions. |
| US07682508B2 |
Base for internal combustion engine filter cartridge
Base for an internal combustion engine filter cartridge, intended to receive s a filter cartridge (3) provided with apertures for the entry of the oil to be filtered and for the exit of the filtered oil, in a respective upwardly facing matching engagement seat (2) provided with oil feed and discharge. channels to be connected to the matching channels of said cartridge, with said seat—there being peripherally associated a salient enveloping element (33) with which it forms an oil spill protection compartment, from the bottom of which there extends a recovery conduit (6) connected to a collection site and intercepted by a check valve (66), the closed or open state of which depends on whether the cartridge and seat are mutually engaged or disengaged respectively. |
| US07682507B2 |
Fluid filter element
A filter element is removably positionable within a filter housing defining a filter chamber for said filter element. The filter housing comprises a standpipe extending within the filter chamber. The filter element includes a tubular filter media circumscribing the standpipe, a first end cap supporting the filter media at one end thereof, a second end cap longitudinally spaced from the first end cap and supporting the filter media at the opposite end thereof, and a center tube extending between the first and second end caps. The center tube has at least one inlet opening therethrough at a first end thereof adjacent to the first end cap and a standpipe opening therethrough at a second end thereof adjacent to the second end cap. The second end cap has at least one intake opening therethrough radially spaced from the standpipe opening in the center tube. |
| US07682506B2 |
IC system including sample pretreatment and using a single pump
An IC system including sample preparation. The system includes a liquid sample injection loop, an ion concentrator, an ion separator, and only a single pump for pumping fluid through the system. |
| US07682504B2 |
System for growing crustaceans and other fish
A recirculated marine aquaculture system for growing crustaceans within a body of water includes a wholly submerged chamber situated in the body of water having a filtering wall connecting the chamber floor and ceiling permitting water to flow from the water body into the first chamber while excluding particulate materials. A second chamber is situated above the first chamber having a plurality of water outlets below the body of water upper surface, and a top having an air inlet above the body of water upper surface. A stand pipe has an open lower end opening into the first chamber and a plurality of laterally directed openings into the top of the second chamber. An impeller coupled to the stand pipe moves filtered water from the first chamber through the laterally directed openings into the second chamber adjacent to the air inlet, the water exiting the second chamber into the body of water through the plurality of water outlets after mixing with air drawn in through the air inlet. |
| US07682502B2 |
Process to hydrogenate aromatics present in lube oil boiling range feedstreams
An improved hydrogenation process for lube oil boiling range feedstreams utilizing a catalyst comprising at least one Group VIII noble metal selected from Pt, Pd, and mixtures thereof having an average pore diameter of about 15 to less than about 40 Å. |
| US07682501B2 |
Processing of different feeds in a fluid catalytic cracking unit
An apparatus and method for processing different feeds in a fluid catalytic cracking unit are disclosed which result in improved yields of C3, C4 and gasoline range hydrocarbons as compared to conventional systems. The process comprises injecting a main hydrocarbon feed into a catalyst-containing riser reactor through a plurality of main feed injectors, and injecting a light hydrocarbon feed into the riser reactor at a location upstream from the main feed injectors and downstream from a control valve such as a regenerated catalyst slide valve, the light feed being injected in a region having a high density of catalyst particles. The light feed is injected in a dispersed way such the amount of feed injected corresponds to the density of catalyst particles at that particular point, with greater amounts of feed being injected at locations having a large number of catalyst particles. Also, a heavy hydrocarbon feed or a heavy recycle stream from the same FCC unit can be injected at the same elevation as the main feed injectors but through separate injectors. |
| US07682499B2 |
Mineral insulating oil, a process for preparing a mineral insulating oil, and a process for using a mineral insulating oil
The invention provides for a mineral insulating oil having a naphthenic base oil and a paraffinic base oil wherein the naphthenic base oil includes a ratio of total sulfur to basic nitrogen of less than about 80:1. The invention also provides for a mineral insulating oil having a naphthenic base oil, a paraffinic base oil, and an antioxidant agent wherein the naphthenic base oil includes a ratio of total sulfur to basic nitrogen of less than about 80:1. The invention also provides for a process for producing a mineral insulating oil including contacting a naphthenic base oil and a paraffinic base oil wherein the naphthenic base oil includes a ratio of total sulfur to basic nitrogen of less than about 80:1. The invention also provides for a process for producing a mineral insulating oil including contacting a naphthenic base oil, a paraffinic base oil, and an antioxidant agent wherein the naphthenic base oil includes a ratio of total sulfur to basic nitrogen of less than about 80:1. |
| US07682491B2 |
Antifoulant for hydrocarbon processing equipment
A method of using substituted olefin polymers prepared by reacting one or more C2-C10 mono-olefin polymers having a number average molecular weight of about 300 to about 5,000 with C4-C10 monounsaturated dicarboxylic acid derivatives and compositions comprising the substituted olefin polymers for preventing fouling of hydrocarbon processing equipment, especially ethylene dichloride distillation units. |
| US07682490B2 |
Dynamic flange seal and sealing system
The present invention features a flange to flange dynamic seal and sealing system, particularly suited for use within high temperature, high pressure environments, such as a delayed coking process. The dynamic flange seal and sealing system comprises two primary elements or seals, each of which are capable of independently forming a flange seal between two flanged components or combining to create a flange seal. Specifically, these primary seals are an iconel bellows seal and a bi-material gasket, each of which surround a flange opening along a sealing surface. The flange seal created by the dynamic flange seal and sealing system is capable of being maintained in light of, or rather the sealing system adapts to, any structural or environmental changes within the connected flanges. As such, the flange seal may be a dynamic flange seal or a static flange seal or both. |
| US07682488B2 |
Method of making a paper web containing refined long fiber using a charge controlled headbox
A method of forming a cellulosic web is discussed, the product of which may, for example, possess at least one of increased softness, strength, and absorbency. The method measures the total anionic charge and controls the net charge of an aqueous stream. |
| US07682486B2 |
Low density paperboard articles
The invention provides a low density paperboard material and associated method for use in producing an insulated container, and is especially well-suited for making cups. The paperboard material comprises a paperboard web including wood fibers and expanded microspheres, and has a relatively low density ranging from about 6 to about 10 lb/3MSF/mil, a relatively high caliper ranging from about 24 to about 35 mil, and an internal bond strength of at least about 80×10−3 ft-lbf., preferably at least 100×10−3 lft-lbf. For applications such as cups the material is also coated on one or both sides with a barrier coating, preferably low density polyethylene, to limit liquid penetration into the web. The low density paperboard material of the invention is convertible for manufacture of containers, particularly cups, and exhibits insulative properties comparable to higher cost materials conventionally used to make cups. Also, the surface of the low density board may have a Sheffield smoothness of 300 SU or greater compared with the surface smoothness of 160 to 200 SU for conventional cupstock, the latter having been thought necessary for adequate print quality. However, it has been found that the low density board exhibits good printability on flexo printing machines despite its relatively rough surface, which is surprising and bonus effect realized along with the insulative and other properties of the board. |
| US07682481B2 |
Vacuum processing apparatus
The present invention provides a vacuum processing apparatus that allows easy exchange of processing chambers. A vacuum processing apparatus of the present invention has a processing chamber and a carrying-in-and-out chamber. The carrying-in-and-out chamber is fixed and located at a position above the processing chamber. The processing chamber can be lowered by a vertically moving mechanism. Therefore, the processing chamber is separated from the carrying-in-and-out chamber by lowering the processing chamber. A conveying means is connected to the processing chamber so that it is possible to easily convey the processing chamber after being removed from the carrying-in-and-out chamber. The operation for exchanging the processing chambers can be simpler than in the conventional systems. |
| US07682480B2 |
Photoresist conditioning with hydrogen ramping
A method for etching a feature in an etch layer through a photoresist mask over a substrate is provided. A substrate with an etch layer disposed below a photoresist mask is placed in a process chamber. The photoresist mask is conditioned, wherein the conditioning comprises providing a conditioning gas comprising a hydrogen containing gas with a flow rate and at least one of a fluorocarbon and a hydrofluorocarbon with a flow rate to the process chamber; and energizing the conditioning gas to form the conditioning plasma. The conditioning plasma is stepped. An etch plasma is provided to the process chamber, wherein the etch plasma is different than the conditioning plasma. A feature is etched in the etch layer with the etch plasma. |
| US07682479B2 |
Fin structure formation
A method for forming fin structures is provided. Sacrificial structures are provided on a substrate. Fin structures are formed on the sides of the sacrificial structures. The forming of the fin structures comprises a plurality of cycles, wherein each cycle comprises a fin deposition phase and a fin profile shaping phase. The sacrificial structure is removed. |
| US07682476B2 |
Method to create 3-dimensional images from a 2-dimensional image
This is a method to create 3-dimensional images from a 2-dimensional image. This Method utilizes various pieces of paper produced within the process and a method of attachment all together with layering and spacing in 3-dimensions to create a final piece of artwork which is 3-dimensional. Among other uses the end product of this method can be used as a free standing work of art which can be matted and framed and placed either hanging or attached to a wall or other surface or placed on an easel or other tripod mechanism for free standing on a table or floor or other surface. |
| US07682474B2 |
Cutter composed of Ni-Cr-Al Alloy
A cutter is composed of a Ni—Cr—Al alloy containing from 32 to 44 mass percent of Cr, from 2.3 to 6.0 mass percent of Al, the balance being Ni, impurities, and additional trace elements and having a Rockwell C hardness of 52 or more. This Ni—Cr—Al alloy provides a cutter produced with a superior workability and by a significantly simplified process, having a low deterioration in the hardness even when heated in use, having excellent corrosion resistance and low-temperature embrittlement resistance, and satisfactorily maintaining the cutting performance for a long time. |
| US07682473B2 |
Ti, Al and Nb alloys
A method for forming a finished implant prosthesis which comprises: (a) providing an unforged alloy consisting essentially of Ti(x %)Al(y %)Nb wherein x is between about 45 to 54% by atoms, y is between about 15 to 25% by atoms and the balance is niobium; (b) forging the alloy at an elevated temperature below a melting point of the alloy in a shape which is an implant preform; and (c) machining the implant preform to provide a machined implant; and (d) finishing the exposed surfaces of the implant so as to provide the exposed surfaces with a finish which provides biocompatibility, to thereby form the implant prosthesis. |
| US07682472B2 |
Method for casting polycrystalline silicon
In melting and casting by a water-cooled crucible induction melting technique, a partition means is inserted on top portion of a melt, and a new raw material for is charged on an upper side of the partition means to continue the melting and casting. Therefore, the continuous casting can be kept while avoiding mixture of the melt on a lower side of with the melt on an upper side of the partition means. A partition plate or a partition plate with legs can be used as the partition means. When the present invention is applied to production of a silicon ingot used for a solar cell and the like, productivity is largely improved, which allows costs to be remarkably reduced in solar energy generation. Therefore, the present invention can widely be utilized as the method for casting a polycrystalline-silicon ingot for a solar cell. |
| US07682465B2 |
Sliding tine assembly for a dishwasher
A dishwasher includes a tub defining a washing chamber within which is arranged a dishrack having provided thereon an adjustable tine row assembly. The dishrack includes a base portion formed by a first plurality of spaced support members, and a second plurality of spaced support members that extend generally perpendicularly to the first plurality of spaced support members. The first and second plurality of spaced support members form a lattice work that defines the base portion. The tine row assembly includes a first tine row element, a second tine row element and a slider element that interconnects the first and second tine row elements with at least one of the first plurality of spaced support members. In this manner, the first and second tine row elements are selectively shiftable along the base portion providing a consumer with a greater degree of flexibility when loading/arranging dishware on the dishrack. |
| US07682464B2 |
Automated washing system with compliance verification
A system is provided for providing automated washing and verifying compliance of use. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more cleaning stations through various technologies, such as RFID. Individual's use of cleaning stations is monitored to determine compliance with hand-washing requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the cleaning station(s). Educational and/or entertainment content may be displayed to the user when he or she is using the cleaning station. Additionally, the cleaning station may identify containers having authorized consumables such as soap or disinfectant. |
| US07682463B2 |
Resist stripping method and resist stripping apparatus
After the resist stripping liquid is supplied to the surface of the substrate which is being rotated at a first rotational speed, the rotational speed of the substrate is reduced from the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed with the supply of the resist stripping liquid to the surface of the substrate continued, thereby forming a liquid film by a mount of the resist stripping liquid on the surface of the substrate and then, maintaining a state where the liquid film is formed. |
| US07682460B2 |
Cleaning method
The method for cleaning chemical process and hydrocarbon processing apparatuses is performed by establishing a closed flow circulation loop, under specific operating conditions and in the presence of hydrocarbon-based fluids. The cleaning method is monitored by performing chemical/physical analysis. After cleaning the apparatus(es) can be immediately inserted back into the process. An optional degassing step can also be performed, in case the apparatus(es) has to be disassembled for inspection of maintenance. |
| US07682457B2 |
Frontside structure damage protected megasonics clean
An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from a workpiece is described. Embodiments of the invention describe placing a workpiece on a holding bracket within a process chamber to hold and rotate the workpiece to be cleaned. A first cleaning fluid is provided to the workpiece non-device side, while a degasified liquid is provided to the workpiece device side during megasonic cleaning. The degasified liquid inhibits cavitation from occurring on and damaging the device side of the workpiece during megasonic cleaning. |
| US07682456B2 |
Substrate treatment method and substrate treatment apparatus
A substrate treatment method is disclosed, which can effectively reduce the amount of charges accumulated on a substrate due to treatment of the substrate with a water-containing liquid. The method comprises the steps of: supplying a water-containing liquid to a substrate held generally horizontally by a substrate holding/rotating mechanism while rotating the substrate at a first rotation speed; and removing charges from the substrate after the water supplying step by performing a puddle process for a predetermined period by retaining a liquid film of a predetermined liquid on a surface of the substrate held generally horizontally by the substrate holding/rotating mechanism with the substrate being rotated at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed or kept in a non-rotating state without further supplying the predetermined liquid to the liquid film. |
| US07682455B2 |
Device for storing and/or transporting plate-shaped substrates in the manufacture of electronic components
To make possible a tightly packed, essentially horizontal storage of wafers (40), in which a simplified access to each of these wafers (40) is possible, a device is provided having a plurality of superimposed storage elements (10). The storage elements (10) have device features (16) for depositing the wafers (40). The storage elements (10) have projections (14) for lifting, whereby a specific storage element (10a) as well as all storage elements (10) arranged above this specific storage element (10a) can be lifted by a predetermined first height for producing a contact gap. The projections (14) can also be used to lift the storage element (10b) arranged below the said storage element (10a) by a predetermined second height for producing a freedom of access. |
| US07682452B2 |
Apparatus and methods of growing void-free crystalline ceramic products
A method and apparatus for eliminating voids and improving crystal quality in shaped ceramic product, e.g. sapphire fiber or silicon sheet, from a melt by using a sloped die tip. The sloped die tip or array thereof comprises an outer sidewall which is sloped outwardly at an angle of 5° to 40° from the vertical. |
| US07682451B2 |
PBN container and method for producing PBN container
There is disclosed a PBN container in which a conductive film is deposited on a surface of a body formed by depositing PBN (pyrolytic boron nitride), wherein, at least, an angle between a PBN cut face of the body and at least one wall surface adjacent to the PBN cut face is 20°-80°, and a method for producing a PBN (pyrolytic boron nitride) container comprising at least steps of depositing PBN to form a body, processing a PBN cut face of the formed body so that at least, an angle between the PBN cut face and at least one wall surface adjacent to the PBN cut face is 20°-80°, and coating a surface of the processed body with a conductive film. Thus, there can be provided a PBN container excellent in durability where a conductive film is laminated on a surface of a body formed by depositing PBN, and a method for producing the PBN container. |
| US07682436B2 |
Carbon black aqueous dispersion and method of producing the same
A carbon black aqueous dispersion which exhibits excellent dispersibility in an aqueous medium, a small amount of feathering, excellent rubbing resistance (quick-drying properties), excellent discharge stability, and the like, and is suitable as an ink for inkjet printers and the like, and a method of producing the same are disclosed. The carbon black aqueous dispersion includes an aqueous medium and carbon black dispersed in the aqueous medium, acidic hydrogen-containing groups on the surface of the carbon black being neutralized with divalent or higher valent cations and monovalent cations so that 50 to 95% of hydrogen atoms of the acidic hydrogen-containing groups are replaced by the divalent cations and the remaining hydrogen atoms are replaced by the monovalent cations, and the method includes subjecting carbon black to liquid-phase oxidation in an oxidizing agent aqueous solution, removing reduced salts from the resulting slurry, adding divalent or higher valent cations and monovalent cations to the slurry to replace 50 to 95% of hydrogen atoms of acidic groups by the divalent cations and replace the remaining hydrogen atoms by the monovalent cations, and purifying the resulting product. |
| US07682432B2 |
Adhesion promotion in printed circuit boards
An adhesion promotion process and composition for enhancing adhesion between a copper conducting layer and a dielectric material during manufacture of a printed circuit board. The composition contains a corrosion inhibitor, an inorganic acid, and an alcohol which is effective to increase copper-loading in the composition. |
| US07682430B2 |
Device for extracting gas or liquid from microfluidid through-flow systems
The invention concerns a device which is used to separate gas or liquid from microfluidic flow-through systems. The gas or liquid separation is achieved independently of the spatial orientation of the device. In addition the invention concerns a microfluidic flow-through system in which a device according to the invention enables bubble-free fluid transport. |
| US07682424B2 |
Contaminant removal from a gas stream
A system employing a regenerable zinc-oxide based sorbent to remove one or more contaminants from an incoming gas stream. The contaminant-depleted gas stream can then be used for any subsequent application, while at least a portion of the contaminant-laden sorbent can be regenerated via a step-wise regeneration process. In one embodiment, sorbent regenerated via the step-wise regeneration process can comprise less sorbent-damaging compounds than traditional sorbents exposed to conventional regeneration processes. |
| US07682423B2 |
Zinc-oxide-based sorbents and processes for preparing and using same
Zinc oxide-based sorbents, and processes for preparing and using them are provided. The sorbents are preferably used to remove one or more reduced sulfur species from gas streams. The sorbents comprise an active zinc component, optionally in combination with one or more promoter components and/or one or more substantially inert components. The active zinc component is a two phase material, consisting essentially of a zinc oxide (ZnO) phase and a zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) phase. Each of the two phases is characterized by a relatively small crystallite size of typically less than about 500 Angstroms. Preferably the sorbents are prepared by converting a precursor mixture, comprising a precipitated zinc oxide precursor and a precipitated aluminum oxide precursor, to the two-phase, active zinc oxide containing component. |
| US07682421B2 |
Degassing a liquid using a gravity fed apparatus
A liquid is degassed with an apparatus including a membrane contactor, where the liquid is drawn through the apparatus by gravity. |
| US07682418B2 |
Cored wire injection process in steel melts
The present invention provides a cored wire injection process for introducing fluxes and alloying additives in liquid steel bath. The bath temperature and chemistry of the liquid steel is adjusted according to requirements in a secondary treatment unit. The additives are released from the cored wire, while controlling the zone of release. The yield of the additives can thus be controlled by changing dimension of the cored wire and speed of injection to suit the grade of steel processed and the treatment temperature. The zone of release is preferably close to the bottom of the ladle and the diameter and sheath thickness of the cored wire are preferably more than 13 mm and 0.4 mm respectively. |
| US07682417B2 |
Cold work steel article
A cold work steel article. The article comprises a material which comprises, in addition to Fe, the elements C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Mo, Ni, V, W, Cu, Co, Al, N and O in certain concentrations and has been produced by by a powder metallurgical process. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. |
| US07682416B2 |
Air cleaner arrangements; serviceable filter elements; and, methods
An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use. |
| US07682410B2 |
Gas odorant
The present invention refers to the use as gas odorant of alkoxy alkynes of formula (I) wherein R1 is methoxy or ethoxy; and R2 is hydrogen or methyl, to a process of odorizing gas and to fuel gas comprising it. |
| US07682408B2 |
Disperse azo dyestuffs
The present invention relates to a dyestuff of the formula (I) wherein each of G1 and G2, independently is hydrogen, (C1-C4)-alkyl, trifluoromethyl, halogen, nitro, cyano or —SO2—T, wherein T is halogen, (C1-C4)-alkyl, (C1-C4)-alkoxy, aryl or aryloxy; K is a coupling component; and n is 1 or 2. The invention also relates to a process for its preparation and their use and for ink jet printing containing the ink. |
| US07682402B2 |
Aqueous composition comprising hydrogen peroxide and inert particles
The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for bleaching keratin fibers, and in particular human keratin fibers such as the hair, having a viscosity of less than 2×103 poises and comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, hydrogen peroxide and at least 20% by volume of suitably selected inert particles, to a bleaching process using this composition, and also to the use of this composition for bleaching keratin fibers. The composition in accordance with the invention makes it possible rapidly to obtain substantial lightening of keratin fibers, while at the same time limiting the degradation of the keratin fibers and the skin irritation. |
| US07682401B2 |
Ureteral stent
A ureteral stent assembly includes an elongate member having a distal end portion for placement within a kidney of a patient and a proximal end portion for placement in at least one of a ureter of the patient and a bladder of the patient. The distal end portion has a retention portion configured to help retain at least a portion of the elongate member in the kidney of the patient. The elongate member is configured to be passed through the ureter of the patient from the kidney to the bladder to remove the elongate member from the patient. In one embodiment, the retention portion is configured such that a distal tip of the distal end portion of the ureteral stent is spaced from a sidewall of the ureter when the elongate member is passed through the ureter of the patient to remove the elongate member from the patient. |
| US07682393B2 |
Implant system, method, and instrument for augmentation or reconstruction of intervertebral disc
An augmentation instrument for attaching a retaining device to a vertebral endplate comprises a drive housing having a distal end portion, a drive mechanism extending through the drive housing and including a flexible shaft portion, and an attachment mechanism at the distal end portion of the drive housing. The attachment mechanism is adapted for coupling to the retaining device. |
| US07682391B2 |
Methods of implanting a prosthetic mitral heart valve having a contoured sewing ring
A prosthetic mitral heart valve including a contoured sewing ring that better matches the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring includes an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow and having at least one raised portion. There may be two raised portions located approximately 120° apart from each other and designed to register with two anterior trigones of the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring may be formed by a suture-permeable annular member surrounded by a fabric covering, the annular member desirably being molded of silicone. The raised portion(s) may gently curve upward to a height of about 2 mm above the adjacent portions of the outflow end of the sewing ring. The sewing ring may also be constructed so as to be more flexible around a posterior aspect than around an anterior aspect to accommodate calcified tissue more commonly found around the posterior annulus. The contoured sewing ring can be combined with various types of heart valve including bioprosthetic and mechanical valves. A bioprosthetic heart valve of the present invention may include a support stent having three outflow commissures alternating with three inflow cusps, with two of the commissures being located at the same place as two raised portions of the sewing ring. A method of implant includes tilting the prosthetic heart valve in the mitral annulus so that a posterior commissure angles away from the ventricular wall and reduces the chance of contact therebetween. |
| US07682390B2 |
Assembly for setting a valve prosthesis in a corporeal duct
The invention concerns an assembly comprising a valve prosthesis to be implanted and a support receiving said valve. The support comprises: at least a tubular portion made of a pliable material slightly stretchable in the circumferential direction; means for fixing said tubular portion to the wall of the corporeal duct; and a plurality of elongated reinforcing elements, arranged on the circumference of said tubular portion and linked to said tubular portion independently of one another; the valve is linked at least partly to said elongated reinforcing elements, in particular at the commissures of its leaflets, and said elongated reinforcing elements jointly form, in extended position, a structure having a predetermined diameter that ensures sufficient extension of said valve. |
| US07682389B2 |
Cardiac valve featuring a parabolic function
There is provided an artificial cardiac or heart valve, more particularly a flexible leaflet heart valve used to replace natural aortic or pulmonary valves of the heart in which the leaflet geometry is defined by a parabolic function and a method of manufacturing said artificial cardiac valves. In addition, there is provided leaflets which have geometry defined by a parabolic function. |
| US07682384B2 |
Stent with helical elements
An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones. |
| US07682381B2 |
Composite medical textile material and implantable devices made therefrom
An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 ml/min/cm2, and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 ml/min/cm2. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful. A knitted portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 5 to about 200 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension is also useful. |
| US07682379B2 |
Device for osteosynthesis
The device for performing osteosynthesis includes a fixation element, such as a bone plate having a bottom surface designed to bear against the bone, a top surface, and at least one through hole extending from the bottom surface to the top surface, the though hole having a central axis and configured and dimensioned to receive a multiaxially pivotal insert or bushing for a bone screw. A bushing insertable into the through hole, includes a central bore designed to receive a bone screw, the central bore having a longitudinal axis, and a peripheral outer surface designed to be in contact with the through hole. The bushing is configured and dimensioned to be radially compressible and radially expansible, and the cross section of the through hole, which is orthogonal to the central axis, is non-circular. The cross section of the bushing that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis has a shape that corresponds substantially to the cross section of the through hole of the bone plate. When placed in the through hole, the bushing is rotationally fixed relative to its longitudinal axis, but remains pivotally adjustable within the through hole relative to the bone plate. |
| US07682371B2 |
Device with actuatable fluid-column occluder for prevention of embolization
A flexible elongate device having a distally mounted occluder for collecting particulate debris in a body lumen. The occluder containing a fixed amount of fluid is reversibly expandable by push-pull actuation from a contracted configuration to a deployed configuration wherein the occluder is expanded into sealing engagement with the wall of the body lumen. The occluder has a distal end axially secured to an elongate inner member and a proximal end attached to a distal end of an outer tubular member. The occluder has an impermeable occluder casing for containing the occluder fluid. The elongate inner member is slidable within the outer tubular member such that relative longitudinal movement between the elongate inner member and outer tubular member changes the length of the occluder and thus redistributes the occluder fluid within the occluder casing to transform the occluder between its contracted and deployed configurations. |
| US07682369B2 |
Surgical device for connecting soft tissue
The invention comprises a surgical instrument including an external tube (2) and two elongated members (4) positioned in said tube (2), each of which includes a distal end (10a) for capturing one of the two tissue zones (M1, M2) to be attached. The instrument (1) may further comprise a catching member (22, 25) for each tissue (M1, M2) to be attached; a rod (15, 16) linked to each catching member (22, 25) enabling tension to move axially, said rod (15, 16) being separable from said catching member (22, 25) when a tension is exerted on it beyond a certain threshold; and a member (17a) forming a stop for locking axially each catching member (22, 25) during said tension. |
| US07682353B2 |
Catheter device
A kit for preparing a medical catheter from catheter sections comprises a tubular protective member surrounding a first, proximal one of the catheter sections. The kit further comprises a joint for interconnecting the catheter sections, the joint defining a substantially liquid tight seal at one end of a substantially annular and longitudinally extending cavity provided between the proximal end portion of the first catheter section and an inner wall of the tubular protective member. Following removal of the tubular protective member, one of the catheter sections is exposed and ready for insertion into the urethra. |
| US07682349B2 |
Fastener orientation for packaged garments having refastenable seams
Packaged garments having prefastened, refastenable seams oriented in a certain position can preserve fastener performance. Such refastenable seams are particularly suitable for side seams on pant-like disposable garments. Prior to or during packaging of the garment, the refastenable seams are prefastened and positioned such that any fastening components lie flat in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which front and back panels of the garment lie. When the garment is compressed and packaged, the fastening components remain flat and do not become creased or crushed. |
| US07682344B2 |
Device for protecting an injection apparatus
A device for protecting an injection apparatus for injecting a product, the said apparatus comprising a needle and a piston connected to an actuating rod surmounted by a piston head, the said device comprising: a support sleeve, a protective sleeve for protecting the needle, first retaining means for holding the protective sleeve in its standby configuration in a first position, second retaining means for holding the protective sleeve in its standby configuration in a second position, an intermediate collar comprising collaboration means for collaborating with the piston head, and deactivation means for deactivating the first and second retaining means. The second retaining means being able to be deactivated by the deactivation means of the intermediate collar by the release of the pressure of the piston head on the collaboration means of the intermediate collar to allow the protective sleeve to deploy under the action of pushing means. |
| US07682337B2 |
Method and apparatus for gaining percutaneous access to a body
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for gaining percutaneous access to body anatomy, for example an organ or a body lumen. According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided comprising a needle and an outer sheath. The needle is receivable within the outer sheath and comprises a plurality of outer diameters. A distal portion of the needle has a lesser diameter than a proximal portion of the needle. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07682336B2 |
Gas assisted endoscopic applicator system
An apparatus for making and administering two non-homogenous liquids to target tissue includes a spray comprising two syringes for containing the first and second non-homogenous liquid where the syringes are adapted to be removably coupled to an applicator. The applicator includes a pair of elongated tubes each having a tubular sheath at a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen in which the pair of elongated tubes are disposed. The apparatus includes a regulator module having an inlet port adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a gas outlet port adopted for connection to the gas inlet port of the sheet. A vent gas inlet port is adapted for connection to a vent port of an endoscopic cannula where the regulator vents a quantity of gas from the endoscopic cannula approximately equal to a quantity of gas introduced at the gas inlet port of the sheet. |
| US07682333B2 |
Powered surgical handpiece with precision suction control
A handpiece (20) for actuating a surgical cutting accessory (24). The handpiece has a housing (22) with a bore (46) through which a suction is drawn. A valve (50) regulates the suction flow. The valve (50), formed of metal, has an barrel (60), formed of rubber, that surrounds the rotating valve stem (56). The barrel defines a non-circular openings (96) through which there is suction flow. The openings are shaped to have small diameter sections (104) that initially come into registration with the suction bore when the stem is rotated to the open state. This ensures that, when the valve is open, there is only a relatively small surgeon-selected suction flow through the handpiece. The barrel is formed with ribs (94, 106) the serve as seals between the valve and the adjacent surface of the housing. A suction fitting (49) is rotatably fitted to the proximal end of the handpiece. |
| US07682329B2 |
Methods and apparatus for leukoreduction of red blood cells
A method and apparatus for red blood collection and filtration is provided wherein a red blood cell collection assembly provides for leukoreduction filtration concurrent with or soon after the red blood cell separation and collection procedure. Such procedures involve filtering the separated red blood cells in a diluted state after and/or prior to flushing the filter with storage solution. Storage solution may thus be passed through the leukoreduction filter before, with and/or after the RBCs have been filtered therethrough. The red blood cell collection, filtration and storage assembly is preferably preconnected to a blood component separation disposable assembly, including, for example, a centrifuge vessel and a blood removal/return assembly for removing blood from a donor, passing the blood to the centrifuge vessel for separation of the blood into components for collection and providing for filtration of the separated red blood cell component. |
| US07682328B2 |
Access disconnection systems and methods
An extracorporeal blood system includes: (i) an extracorporeal blood machine; an extracorporeal blood circuit coupled operably to the machine, the extracorporeal blood circuit including first and second blood lines, the blood lines configured to be in blood flow communication with a patient; (ii) an electrical loop including first and second electrodes placed in contact with blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit; (iii) a device configured to inject an electrical signal into the blood circuit via the loop; and (iv) a third electrode placed in contact with blood flowing through the extracorporeal blood circuit, the third electrode configured to enable a change in an electrical value to be measured so that an access disconnection of the extracorporeal blood circuit from the patient can be measured. |
| US07682325B2 |
Adjustable dorsal splint
The present invention provides an adjustable dorsal splint for resolving the shortcomings of a typical fixation splint. The invention includes a fixation splint, which contains a splint body, a first retaining portion, and a second retaining portion. A curvature adjustment portion is placed at a preset location of the splint body of the fixation splint, so as to adjust the splint body into predefined bending angle. As the fixation splint is provided with a curvature adjustment portion, it is possible to flexibly adjust the bending angle of the fixation splint to mate with the foot of the patient, thereby maintaining the position of the feet with better efficiency. |
| US07682324B2 |
Breast and bottle feeding infant head support
A breast and bottle feeding infant head support including a slip-on sleeve open at opposite ends and inclusive of inner and outer linings forming first and second outwardly opposing face surfaces of predetermined length and width, and a cushion insert between the inner and outer linings forming at least one of the outwardly opposing face surfaces wherein the sleeve, when worn on the arm, is of a length to extend past the crook of a wearer's elbow and towards the palm of the wearer's hand for the fingers to hold the sleeve in place. |
| US07682321B2 |
Skin massage device
A skin massage device having a handset connected to a machine body. The handset in turn has a chamber closed by a deformable membrane which adheres to a patient's skin by virtue of a vacuum generated in the chamber by a vacuum generating device. The device also has an electronic device for producing a variable vacuum in the chamber to deform the membrane and so lift, fold, compress, and smooth the patient's skin as to perform the massage cycle set by the operator. |
| US07682318B2 |
Blood sampling apparatus and method
Blood samples can be collected without substantial contamination from ambient air, such that the blood sample may be analyzed accurately for gaseous components such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. An embodiment of the device has integrated actuation, lancing, and sample acquisition components, which in some embodiments are miniaturized and/or disposable. |
| US07682312B2 |
System for sensing, diagnosing and treating physiological conditions and methods
One method for diagnosing a cardiovascular-related condition in a breathing person comprises interfacing a valve system to the person's airway. The valve system is configured to decrease or prevent respiratory gas flow to the person's lungs during at least a portion of an inhalation event. The person is permitted to inhale and exhale through the valve system. During inhalation, the valve system functions to produce a vacuum within the thorax to increase blood flow back to the right heart of the person, thereby increasing blood circulation and blood pressure. Further, at least one physiological parameter is measured both prior to and while the person inhales and exhales through the valve system. The measured parameters are evaluated to confirm the initial diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition. |