| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07843449B2 |
Three-dimensional display system
A three-dimensional display system provides a projection screen having a predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function. Three-dimensional images are respectively modulated in coordination with the predetermined angularly-responsive reflective surface function to define a programmable mirror with a programmable deflection angle. |
| US07843446B2 |
Direct current to direct current converting circuit, display apparatus having the same and method of driving the direct current to direct current converting circuit
In a DC-DC converting circuit, a charge pumping part receives an input voltage, a first clock and a second clock and outputs first and second voltages to first and second nodes, which are boosted by high voltages of the first and second clocks with respect to the input voltage. An output part is connected to the first and second nodes of the charge pumping part, and a level boosting part turns on or turns off the charge pumping part in response to the first and second clocks. The output part outputs the first and second voltages through an output terminal during a high period of the first clock and during a high period of the second clock, respectively. Thus, an output voltage having a voltage level corresponding to two times that of the input voltage may be output from the output terminal while the first and second clocks are provided. |
| US07843444B2 |
Video graphics array interface tester
An exemplary video graphics array interface tester includes a VGA connector being configured to couple to a VGA interface to be tested and having a plurality of signal pins to output different VGA signals; a load circuit connected to the signal pins of the VGA connector for impedance matching; a selection switch having a plurality of throws corresponding to the signal pins of the VGA connector connected to the signal pins of the VGA connector respectively, and a pole; and a test port connected to the pole of the selection switch for selectively testing one of the VGA signals via selection of the selection switch. Using this tester to detect the VGA interface can guarantee quality and improve efficiency of VGA test. |
| US07843443B2 |
Display control apparatus, display control method and program
A display control apparatus that can display bitmap images in a form depending on characteristics of a language. An identifying unit identifies a display language; a management unit adapted to manage determination information for determining whether or not a lateral orientation, or a lateral display position, or a lateral traveling direction for displaying objects associated with the display language identified by the identifying unit is changed depending on the display language, for each of the objects. A determination unit adapted to determine the lateral orientation, or the lateral display position, or the lateral traveling direction with respect to the objects to be displayed, based on the display language identified by the identifying unit and the determination information managed by the management unit. |
| US07843442B2 |
Pixel and organic light emitting display using the pixel
A pixel and an organic light emitting display using the pixel capable of displaying an image of uniform luminance. A pixel circuit is coupled with at least one scan line and at least one data line. The pixel circuit first charges a voltage corresponding to a first data signal across at least one capacitor when the first data signal is supplied from the data lines, and second charges the at least one capacitor when a current as a second data signal is provided. The pixel circuit controls an amount of current supplied to a second power supply from the first power supply through the organic light emitting diode according to the voltage charged in the at least one capacitor. Accordingly, an image of uniform luminescence may be displayed. |
| US07843441B2 |
Method of enabling interaction with computer software
A method for enabling user interaction with computer software including, in a computer system generating print data, transferring the print data to a printer which prints a form in response to the print data with information related to an interactive element coincident with coded data indicative of the interactive element, receiving indicating data from a sensing device which senses the coincident coded data to generate the indicating data to be indicative of the interactive element, identifying, using the indicating data, the interactive element, and performing an action associated with the interactive element. The coded data is indicative of an identity, and the computer system determines the identity using the indicating data and a page description using the identity, and identifies the interactive element using the page description. |
| US07843437B1 |
Hand-held browser transcoding
A hand-held computer device with integral web page transcoding. A processor, forming a part of the handheld computer has a display coupled to the processor forming a part of the handheld computer, with the display having limited resolution of M×N pixels. A browser program running on the processor facilitates retrieving and viewing of a web page having size greater than M×N on the display. This is accomplished in a browser having an associated browser plug-in that transcodes the web page to a format adapted to the display. The transcoding is carried out by, among other things, generating a menu of frames from the web page to permit a user to select a desired frame for display by selecting frame titles as menu selections and compressing an image to a size suitable for display on the M×N resolution display. |
| US07843436B2 |
Portable information processing apparatus
A portable information processing apparatus including a main body including a display opening and a front panel surface surrounding the display opening, a display unit to display an image through the display opening, a key button input unit oppositely arranged across the display unit in a first portion of the front panel surface and an additional input unit including at least one additional input unit in a second portion of the front panel surface. |
| US07843427B2 |
Methods for determining a cursor position from a finger contact with a touch screen display
A portable device with a touch screen display detects a contact area of a finger with the touch screen display and then determines a first position associated with the contact area. The cursor position of the finger contact is determined, at least in part, based on: the first position, one or more distances between the first position and one or more of the user interface objects; and one or more activation susceptibility numbers, each associated with a respective user interface object in the plurality of user interface objects. If the cursor position falls into the hidden hit region of a virtual push button on the touch screen display, the portable device is activated to perform operations associated with the virtual push button. |
| US07843421B2 |
Gate driver and driving method thereof in liquid crystal display
A gate driver includes several first and second circuit units outputting first and second driving signals to odd and even gate lines, respectively, and each of the first circuit units or the second circuit units includes a signal output unit for outputting the driving signal and a shift register unit for outputting a start signal to a next circuit unit. A driving method is also disclosed. |
| US07843420B2 |
LCD with source driver and data transmitting method thereof
A data transmitting method for inputting a data signal to an electronic device. The data signal includes first and second sets of data, and the electronic device includes first to fourth receiving units and corresponding first to fourth registers. The transmitting method includes the following steps. First, the first and second receiving units are disabled. Then, the first set of data is inputted to the electronic device through the third and fourth receiving units and stored in the third and fourth registers during a first clock cycle of a clock signal. Thereafter, the second set of data is inputted to the electronic device through the third and fourth receiving units and stored in the third and fourth registers while the first set of data stored in the third and fourth registers is inputted to the first and second registers during a second clock cycle of the clock signal. |
| US07843419B2 |
Transflective LCD and driving method thereof
The present invention provides a transflective LCD including a plurality of pixel units defined by scan lines and data lines. Each pixel unit includes two sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel includes a storage capacitor. The two storage capacitors are connected to different voltage sources and correspond to a reflection region and a transmission region in a pixel unit respectively to modify the pixel voltage. |
| US07843417B2 |
Optical display system and method, active and passive dithering using birefringence, color image superpositioning and display enhancement with phase coordinated polarization switching
A display apparatus includes a passive display, a light source, and a video signal input, in operation in response to a video signal the passive display modulates light from the light source to provide an image, and the intensity of the light source is controlled by the video signal. A method of producing a displayed image using a passive display illuminated by a light source is characterized in controlling the light source to obtain a displayed image with a desired amount of information, gray scale and/or color characteristics. A method of reducing power consumption by a display system in which a light modulating display modulates incident light from a light source to provide images is characterized in controlling power provided to the light source to reduce output thereof for relatively dark images. |
| US07843411B2 |
Remote cholesteric display
A remote display for use with a portable electronic communications device such as a cell phone is disclosed to provide information on a larger remote reflective cholesteric display. The portable communications device may connect with the remote display by wire or wirelessly. The remote display is separate from the portable communications device but can interact with it. Moreover, the remote display may serve multiple purposes, such as providing a user interface, displaying images, and collecting solar power whereby a photovoltaic material behind the display generates electrical energy from light incident on the cholesteric liquid crystal material. |
| US07843410B2 |
Method and device for electrically programmable display
One embodiment includes a display of interferometric modulators having a configurable resolution characteristic. Selected rows and/or columns are interconnected via a switch. The switch can include a fuse, antifuse, transistor, and the like. Depending on a desired resolution for a display, the switches can be placed in an “open” or “closed” state. Advantageously, using the switches, a display can readily be configured for differing modes of resolution. Furthermore, using the switches, a display can be configured to electrically connect certain rows or columns in the display such that the connected rows or columns can be driven simultaneously by a common voltage source. |
| US07843409B2 |
Dual panel apparatus and method of driving the same
The present relates to a dual panel apparatus including two panels driven simultaneously. The dual panel apparatus includes a first panel, a second panel and a data driver. The first panel has a plurality of pixels formed in cross areas of data lines and first scan lines. The second panel has a plurality of second pixels formed in cross areas of the data lines and second scan lines. The data driver provides compensating precharge current to one or more data line. The dual panel apparatus uses two panels as main display device and sub display device, and thus the unit cost of the dual panel apparatus is reduced. |
| US07843408B2 |
Device substrate, light emitting device and driving method of light emitting device
A light emitting device comprising a light emitting element and a first transistor and a second transistor controlling current to be supplied to the light emitting element in a pixel; the first transistor is normally-on; the second transistor is normally-off; a channel length of the first transistor is longer than a channel width thereof; a channel length of the second transistor is equal to or shorter than a channel length thereof; gate electrodes of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to each other; the first transistor and the second transistor have the same polarity; and the light emitting element, the first transistor and the second transistor are all connected in series. |
| US07843405B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a calculation unit for calculating an average picture level of an input picture, a sub-field mapping unit for mapping data of the input picture to a first sub-field group and a second sub-field group, and a controller for controlling a time range between the data mapped to the first sub-field group and the data mapped to the second sub-field group according to the average picture level. If the average picture level is calculated at a first level, a generating time point of the data mapped to the second sub-field group is controlled to be at a first starting time point. If the average picture level is calculated at a second level higher than the first level, the generating time point of the data mapped to the second sub-field group is controlled to be at a second starting time point later than the first starting time point. If the average picture level is calculated at a third level higher than the second level, the generating time point of the data mapped to the second sub-filed group is controlled to be at a third starting time point earlier than the second starting time point. |
| US07843401B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus for displaying image signals of a form of packets incorporating display position information includes a combination of unit display devices so as to acquire translational objectivity. Each of the unit display devices including a receiving part for receiving image signals, a processing part for dividing input image signals into those falling inside and those falling outside a range for display or those subject to or those not subject to display based on the display position information and serving to process display positions of the image signals falling outside the range for display or not subject to display, an output part for outputting the processed image signals along an axis of translational objectivity to a subsequent unit display device, and a display part for displaying the images falling in the range for display, the image display apparatus displaying the image signals as a whole, with the image signals processed sequentially with the unit display devices. |
| US07843394B2 |
Radio antenna unit and mobile radio device equipped with the same
A multi-band antenna can be realized by using a common antenna element with a simple configuration. A radio antenna unit includes a ground conductor plate 1 provided to a casing of a radio device and having a ground potential, a first radio circuit 2 handling a system in a first frequency band and a second radio circuit 3 handling a system in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band, which are provided in the ground conductor plate 1, a first feeding line 4 connected to the first radio circuit 2 and being a coaxial transmission line having an outer conductor 5 that is arranged along the ground conductor plate 1, an antenna element 6 connected to the first feeding line 4 and the outer conductor 5 respectively, and arranged along the ground conductor plate 1, and a second feeding line 7 for connecting the second radio circuit 3 and the outer conductor 5, wherein the first feeding line 4 feeds a high frequency power input from the first radio circuit 2 and the second feeding line 7 feeds a high frequency power input from the second radio circuit 3. |
| US07843392B2 |
Dual frequency antenna system
A dual-frequency conformal multi-filiar helical antenna system (20) provides a low-profile, low drag antenna useable in flying equipment. This antenna system (20) securely holds within its shell (22) signal distribution circuitry (64), signal combining circuitry (68), and any other circuit components necessary for antenna system (20) to communicate with other stations or devices. Antenna system (20) has radiating conductors (24, 32) tuned to two different frequencies such that simultaneous transmission and reception of signals is possible in the same and opposite directions. |
| US07843389B2 |
Complementary wideband antenna
A complementary wideband antenna includes a planar dipole formed of two dipole sections and a shorted patch antenna located between the dipole sections, the dipole sections being spaced above a ground plane. A variety of different feed probe designs can be used to excite the antenna. The complementary wideband antenna has electrical characteristics including low back radiation, low cross polarization, a symmetrical radiation pattern, and is stable in gain and radiation pattern shape over the frequency bandwidth. |
| US07843388B2 |
Arrival direction estimation apparatus
A technology for providing an arrival direction estimation apparatus which can greatly reduce the calculation amount in spectrum calculation and can perform precise direction estimation without setting short frequency division in spectrum calculation is disclosed. According to the technology, there is provided the arrival direction estimation apparatus including an antenna, a complex digital signal converting means, a real number correlation matrix calculating means, a real number weight matrix calculating means, a spectrum calculating means, and a spectrum peak detecting means, wherein the spectrum calculating means has a real number matrix storing means which stores a real number matrix, a multiplying means which multiplies part of elements of the real number matrix by part of elements of a real number weight matrix, a result storing means which stores the multiplication processing result, a calculating means which performs at least one or more processing of matrix element inversion processing and matrix element sign change processing for the stored processing result, an adding means which adds the processing result by the calculating means, part of the processing result stored in the result storing means, and part of the elements of the real number weight matrix, and a spectrum calculating means which calculates a spectrum with the use of the processing result. |
| US07843374B2 |
Priority encoder
A priority encoder encodes an (N+1)-bit thermometer code, where N indicates a natural number. A plurality of selectors are arranged in a matrix of M rows and (N+1) columns, where M indicates a natural number, and select one of signals at first and second input terminals (1,0) in accordance with the value of a signal input to the control terminal. An output signal from the selector in the i-th row and (j−1)th column is input to the first input terminal of the selector in the i-th row and j-th column (1≦i≦M, 2≦j≦N+1), a predetermined value of 1 or 0 is input to the second input terminal of the selector in the i-th row and j-th column, and the j-th significant bit of the thermometer code is input to the control terminal of the selector in the i-th row and j-th column. |
| US07843371B2 |
Error avoidance in data transmission using dynamic modification of analog sampling rates
A method and apparatus for error avoidance in data transmission using dynamic modification of sampling rates. An embodiment of a method for transmission of data includes determining the transmission capacity for a transmission channel or channels. A sampling rate is selected based at least in part on the determined transmission capacity for the one or more transmission channels. An instruction, command, or information regarding the sampling rate is inserted in a data packet, and the data packet is transmitted. |
| US07843368B2 |
Programmable settling for high speed analog to digital converter
In an embodiment, an apparatus and method reduces a calibration settling time in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC has a reference voltage supply. The reference voltage supply has an output. A filter capacitor is coupled to the reference voltage supply output. An isolation transistor is series-coupled between the filter capacitor and ground. The isolation transistor isolates the filter capacitor during calibration of the ADC. |
| US07843366B2 |
DVD EFM modulation architecture using two passes to reduce circuit size
A method for modulating a video input signal received into a modulation circuit is disclosed. A first step of the method generally comprises (A) during a first modulation pass, generating (i) a primary frame by inserting a plurality of primary synchronization codes into the video input signal, (ii) a secondary frame by inserting a plurality of secondary synchronization codes into the video input signal, (iii) a plurality of first values and a first digital sum value both for the primary frame and (iv) a plurality of second values and a second digital sum value both for the secondary frame. A second step of the method generally comprises (B) during a second modulation pass, generating a video output signal presented from the modulation circuit by modulating the video input signal using one set of (i) the first values and (ii) the second values as determined by the first digital sum value relative to the second digital sum value. |
| US07843360B2 |
Lane change turn signal appropriate use reminder system
A vehicle safety system to improve lane change turn signal use by creating a conditioned response in the driver of a motor vehicle such that turn signals are used more appropriately over time for changing lanes. This is achieved using existing lane departure warning components and comparing each lane change at lower speeds to the coinciding turn signal on/off status, and determining if turn signal usage was appropriate. If lane changes indicate repeated, neglectful turn signal usage, a reminder message is presented to the driver. The lane departure warning remains functional at higher speeds, but at lower speeds, the present invention provides a less abrupt, friendly reminder message to use turn signals for lane changes. Drivers who repeatedly neglect to use turn signals will over time increase usage and reminder messages will cease, thereby improving vehicle safety by increasing appropriate turn signal use while changing lanes. |
| US07843357B2 |
Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities
A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system is provided. The controller includes a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, each measurement being indicative of the electrical current being drawn by a respective bathing unit component in the bathing system. The controller also includes a processing unit for modifying the measurements stored in the memory unit and for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of measurements stored on the memory unit. In specific implementations, sensing circuitry adapted for obtaining measurements associated to components, such as relays and fuses, is provided. This sensing circuitry allows identify components on the controller, such as relays and fuses for example, and bathing unit components in the bathing system as potential causes of an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system. |
| US07843356B2 |
Threat detection and monitoring apparatus with integrated display system
The present invention is generally related to a threat detection and monitoring apparatus with an integrated display system. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for use as a public safety and emergency messaging system adapted to detect and identify threats in the surrounding environment and display useful information regarding the threat or other public information to the public. |
| US07843352B2 |
Ignition-source detecting system and associated methods
A system of ignition-source detection and prevention in containers and open materials handling systems. The system includes an electronic processor located in close proximity to a detector, a spray nozzle, and a valve. The electronic processor may be configured to be placed in a dust-hazard environment. The detector may be configured to detect radiation and/or a flame. Associate methods are also disclosed, including: a method of responding to an ignition source, a method of installing an ignition-source detection system, and a method of testing an ignition-source detection system. |
| US07843351B2 |
Back training device
A novel back training device is disclosed. The back training device includes a control box; a detector mounted to the control box, for detecting when a person bends at the waist; and an alert means, operatively connected to the detector for alerting the person when the person bends at the waist. |
| US07843341B2 |
Label with electronic components and method of making same
A method of making an electronic label, such as an RFID label, includes attaching a circuit, such as an antenna, to a substrate material, applying an adhesive layer to the substrate material over the circuit, adding a release layer over the adhesive layer, forming at least one opening in the release layer to expose at least one portion of the circuit, and connecting a microchip to the at least one portion of the circuit through the at least one opening. The circuit can be an RFID inlay, including an antenna and a microchip, and can be formed of a conductive ink. A portion of the release layer at the at least one microchip has an opening to expose the at least one microchip so that the at least one microchip is free from coverage by the release layer. |
| US07843340B2 |
Mail delivery alert system
A mail delivery alert system includes a mailbox housing that encloses an interior space that defines an open front. A door is pivotally coupled to the housing and is movable between open and closed configurations relative to the open front. A first sensor is positioned in the housing so as to detect an opening of the door and a second sensor is positioned so as to detect the presence of an article, such as mail, in the open space of the housing. The system includes a transmitter and a processor. The processor includes programming for actuating the transmitter to transmit an alert signal through the air upon the first sensor detecting an opening of the door and the second sensor detecting the presence of an article in the open space of the housing. The system includes a receiver remote from the housing for receiving the alert signal. |
| US07843339B2 |
Secure point of sale device employing capacitive sensors
A point of sale device including a housing, a protected enclosure located within the housing, information storage functionality located within the protected enclosure and storing information to be protected information, a capacitance sensor based security system including at least one capacitance sensor operative to sense the capacitance of at least one of at least part of the housing and at least part of the protected enclosure at a reference time and thereafter and to provide an alarm indication of at least a predetermined change in the capacitance sensed by the at least one capacitance sensor. |
| US07843336B2 |
Self-contained wireless security sensor collective system and method
A system includes a plurality of sensors and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. A first of the sensors senses information relating to a specified condition and sends a wireless message with information relating to the specified condition to a second of the sensors. The first sensor also sends another wireless message relating to the specified condition to the monitoring system. The second sensor may also sense information relating to the specified condition, and the message sent to the monitoring system may include information derived from the information sensed by both the sensors. The second sensor may modify its functionality in response to the wireless message sent by the first sensor. |
| US07843331B2 |
System for dynamically pushing information to a user utilizing global positioning system
A system is provided for directing region-specific information. The system locates and transmits information to location-specific users. A directed information system links information related to the location-specific users. The directed information system has access to a regionally defined data base for directing region-specific information to location specific-users. |
| US07843329B2 |
Received information transferring apparatus, receiving apparatus and received information transferring system
In order to maintain stability when connected, a cradle 27 includes an engagement part 33 for engaging with regard to a unit connection part which allows an antenna unit having at least a receiving antenna to be detachably connected to a receiving unit constituting a receiving apparatus together with the antenna unit; and a connecting terminal 31 provided so as to be communicably connected to a connector provided to the receiving unit only when the unit connection part and the engagement part are in engaged state. |
| US07843321B2 |
Vehicle violation enforcement system and method
A vehicle violation enforcement and noticing system that includes a first server and a second server. The first server contains a vehicle information database that is in communication with the second server. The second server is a mobile data terminal that allows for the identification of vehicles and retrieves the vehicle information pertaining to the identified vehicles from the first server via a communications link. Once the vehicle information has been received, appropriate enforcement tactics are prepared based upon the received vehicle information. The appropriate enforcement tactics may include printing a notice informing a vehicle user of the current and outstanding debt associated with the vehicle for placement directly on the vehicle, writing a notice as per instructions displayed by the second server, for placement directly on the vehicle, booting the vehicle, towing the vehicle and/or informing a second agency of the vehicle location so that the second agency may take appropriate action. |
| US07843318B2 |
Monitoring apparatus for electronic key and displaying apparatus for positional information on electronic key
A control unit having an immobilizer function includes a circuit for transmitting a request signal within a predetermined range. After receiving a reply signal from an electronic key in response to this request signal once and allowing a movable body to move, when a reply signal to the periodically sent request signal is not received, it is determined that the electronic key is out of the range, and it is assumed that the key has been dropped. A monitor section outputs a warning signal and transmits the warning signal to the navigation unit. A navigation unit, in response to the warning signal, stores the location at that time as the positional information on the electronic key. The navigation unit also displays a map showing the location of a key based on positional information on the electronic key. With this system, a lost electronic key may be readily located. |
| US07843313B2 |
Distributed stand-off verification and face recognition systems (FRS)
A system for providing stand-off biometric verification of a driver of a vehicle while the vehicle is moving and/or a person on foot at a control gate, including an RFID vehicle tag reader, an RFID personal smart card reader and a facial detection and recognition (verification) system. The driver carries a RFID personal smart card that stores personal information of the driver and a face template of the driver. The vehicle carries a RFID vehicle tag that stores information regarding the vehicle. When the vehicle approaches the control gate, the RFID vehicle tag reader reads data from the RFID vehicle tag and the RFID personal tag reader reads data from the RFID personal smart card. The facial detection and verification system scans and reads a facial image for the driver. All the data and facial images detected by the readers are sent to a local computer at the control gate for further processing (final face verification). The local computer at the control gate decodes and retrieves the face template from the data read from the RFID personal smart card. |
| US07843312B2 |
Wireless control of security system with key-operated key fob
A key fob with a housing into which a deadbolt key is mounted such that the shank protrudes therefrom, enabling a user to turn the housing and cause the key to lock or unlock the door. Within the keyfob are a pair of switches or other sensing means configured to close on either the turning of the housing in a first (clockwise) direction or a second (counterclockwise) direction. Based on the direction the housing is turned, either a first coded signal or a second coded signal is transmitted to a control panel. The control panel will then either arm or disarm the security system based on how it has been programmed during installation. This enables the user to easily arm the system when the door is being locked and disarm the system when the door is being unlocked without requiring a separate action on the part of the user. |
| US07843310B2 |
Power management systems, methods, and programs for in-vehicle devices
An in vehicle device transfers connection information to a power management device, the connection information indicating whether the in-vehicle device can communicate with the power management device. The in-vehicle device either transfers condition information to the power management device, the condition information indicating that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off, or sets the in-vehicle device to not communicate with the power management device when a predetermined condition is met, the predetermined condition indicative of an inability of the in-vehicle device to transfer information to the power management device. The power management device requests the connection information from the in-vehicle device and requests the condition information from the in-vehicle device. The power management device determines that the in-vehicle device is ready for turning off when both the connection information and the condition information have been received from the in-vehicle device, or no connection information has been received from the in-vehicle device because the in-vehicle device has been set to not communicate with the power management device. |
| US07843309B2 |
Power resistor
A resistor includes first and second opposite terminations, a resistive element formed from a plurality of resistive element segments between the first and second opposite terminations, at least one segmenting conductive strip separating two of the resistive element segments, and at least one open area between the first and second opposite terminations and separating at least two resistive element segments. Separation of the plurality of resistive element segments assists in spreading heat throughout the resistor. The resistor or other electronic component may be packaged by bonding to a heat sink tab with a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material. The resistive element may be a metal strip, a foil, or film material. |
| US07843306B2 |
Transformer core
A transformer core includes a stack of a plurality of planar core plates of a magnetically permeable material, which plates each consist of a first and a second sub-part that together enclose at least one opening. The sub-parts can be fitted together via contact faces that are located on either side of the opening and that extend obliquely with respect to the centerline of the core plate. The invention also relates to the use of the described transformer core in a Coriolis flowmeter with the Coriolis tube extending through the opening so as to induce a current in the tube. |
| US07843304B2 |
Grounding of magnetic cores
An apparatus includes a magnetic core, a ground node, and one or more vias to provide a connection between the magnetic core and the ground potential. The magnetic core includes a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer. In addition, the apparatus may include a conductive pattern. The conductive pattern may be at a third layer between the first and second magnetic layers. The apparatus may be included in inductors, transformers, transmission lines, and other components using ferromagnetic cores or shields. Such components may be integrated on a chip or die. |
| US07843299B2 |
Inductive devices and transformers utilizing the tru-scale reactance transformation system for improved power systems
In inductive devices and transformers, a periodic transformation system reduces or prevents heat or distortion, reduces resistance or impedance and improves output energy. In one embodiment, the Tru-Scale Reactance Transformation System provides an harmonic relationship among the core, winding, magnetic flux, and the current in order to maximize energy output of inductive devices, such as a transformer, by reducing EMF collisions in any type of power systems. |
| US07843297B2 |
Coded magnet structures for selective association of articles
A panel system for a panel or sets of panels having a magnetic mounting that utilizes a plurality of magnets in a magnet structure that provides a magnetic attachment alignment configuration and a release configuration. In one embodiment, magnet structures are configured so that a panel will mount correctly favoring a given support structure and will not achieve attachment strength and may even reject other support structures of similar dimensions. The magnet structures may be based on sets of codes having low cross correlation or the same code positioned to avoid attachment magnetic attraction. Alternatively, sets of magnet structures of reversed polarity may be placed in accordance with a set of codes having a low cross correlation. The magnet structures may be used to favor selective placement of a panel in one of several possible mounting locations or in one of several possible mounting orientations. |
| US07843296B2 |
Magnetically attachable and detachable panel method
A method for a panel having a magnetic mounting that utilizes a plurality of magnets in a magnet structure that allows high magnetic force when the panel is installed and the magnet structure is aligned while permitting removal using relatively light force applied to misalign the magnet structure to allow removal. In one embodiment, the magnet structure can provide precision positioning of the panel to a position on the order of the width of a single component magnet of the magnet structure. In another embodiment, the magnet structure may be misaligned for removal by a rotation of the magnet structure. In a further embodiment, the misalignment may be achieved by a lateral shift of the magnet structure. The invention may be adapted to a wide variety of panels including but not limited to doors, window coverings, storm coverings, seasonal covering panels, baby gates, white boards, and green house panels. |
| US07843295B2 |
Magnetically attachable and detachable panel system
A panel having a magnetic mounting that utilizes a plurality of magnets in a magnet structure that allows high magnetic force when the panel is installed and the magnet structure is aligned while permitting removal using relatively light force applied to misalign the magnet structure to allow removal. In one embodiment, the magnet structure can provide precision positioning of the panel to a position on the order of the width of a single component magnet of the magnet structure. In another embodiment, the magnet structure may be misaligned for removal by a rotation of the magnet structure. In a further embodiment, the misalignment may be achieved by a lateral shift of the magnet structure. The invention may be adapted to a wide variety of panels including but not limited to doors, window coverings, storm coverings, seasonal covering panels, baby gates, white boards, and green house panels. |
| US07843294B2 |
System and method for moving an object
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US07843292B2 |
Coil for producing a magnetic field
The invention relates to a coil for producing a magnetic field having at least one winding (12), which is manufactured from a superconductor, is cast into a plastic and whose winding end (19) which is arranged at the circumference (13) of the winding (12) is used for making contact with an electrical conductor (15). In order to provide coils with windings (12) consisting of superconductors which make robust contact-making possible given simple production, an electrically conductive connection piece (30) with a base region (31), which is connected to the winding end (19), and a top region (32) for connecting the conductor (15) is provided for contact-making purposes, the base region (31) of said connection piece (30) being covered partially in the radial direction by a reinforcing insert (14), which is cast into the plastic (20) and at least partially surrounds the winding (12). |
| US07843289B1 |
High reliability microwave mechanical switch
An improved electromechanical switch designed to operate at frequencies from DC through microwave has terminal probe tips that are formed from an alloy of noble metal and contoured with a pattern of peaks and valleys in order to provide better contact wiping operation and capture of wear debris. The switch incorporates damper elements to reduce switching contact bounce, thus providing increased contact life as well as higher quality signal switching. |
| US07843288B2 |
Apparatus and system for transmitting power wirelessly
An apparatus for transmitting power wirelessly is provided. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric resonator which generates evanescent waves in a predetermined direction in order to transmit power; and a loop antenna which is coupled to a surface of the dielectric resonator and supplies power to the dielectric resonator. The dielectric resonator transmits power by means of evanescent waves generated in directions perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric resonator and by radiation in directions parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric resonator. Accordingly, efficient power transmission over short and long distance ranges is possible. |
| US07843286B2 |
Dielectric resonator filter having a tunable element eccentrically located and a method of production thereof
A high-frequency filter arrangement comprising at least one filter consisting of a plurality of high-frequency inter-coupled cavities in which a locally fixed respective dielectric resonator element is disposed and in which a respective dielectric body can be modified, in order to tune the frequency of the filter, in the position thereof in relation to the dielectric resonator element. The structure of the inventive filter arrangement is simple, compact and economical and excellent filter and tuning properties are obtained by virtue of the fact that the dielectric body is arranged in an eccentric recess of the dielectric resonator element and that the dielectric body is rotatably arranged in the eccentric recess. |
| US07843285B2 |
Piezoelectric thin-film filter
A piezoelectric thin-film filter includes a first electrode pair having two or more first electrode fingers disposed on one main surface of a piezoelectric thin film and second electrode fingers disposed on the other main surface of the piezoelectric thin film so as to face the first electrode fingers. A second electrode pair includes two or more third electrode fingers disposed on the main surface such that the third electrode fingers and the first electrode fingers are disposed alternately with gaps therebetween and fourth electrode fingers disposed on the other main surface so as to face the third electrode fingers with the piezoelectric thin film therebetween. Insulating films are provided between the first and third electrode fingers. Each of the center-to-center distances Wa+Wm and Wf+Wm between the first and third electrode fingers that are disposed alternately is larger than a value twice the thickness T of the piezoelectric thin film. |
| US07843284B2 |
Lithographically defined multi-standard multi-frequency high-Q tunable micromechanical resonators
Disclosed are micromechanical resonator apparatus having features that permit multiple resonators on the same substrate to operate at different operating frequencies. Exemplary micromechanical resonator apparatus includes a support substrate and suspended micromechanical resonator apparatus having a resonance frequency. In one embodiment, the suspended micromechanical resonator apparatus comprises a device substrate that is suspended from and attached to the support substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed on the suspended device substrate, and a plurality of interdigitated upper electrodes formed on the piezoelectric layer. In another embodiment, the suspended micromechanical resonator apparatus comprises a device substrate that is suspended from and attached to the support substrate, a lower electrode formed on the suspended device substrate, a piezoelectric layer formed on the lower electrode, and a plurality of interdigitated upper electrodes formed on the piezoelectric layer. The substrate may comprise a silicon substrate, or a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, such as a diamond on silicon substrate. Additionally, lateral frequency-adjusting electrodes may be disposed adjacent to the resonator apparatus that are separated therefrom by a capacitive gap, and which are configured to receive a direct current voltage that adjusts the resonance frequency of the resonator apparatus. |
| US07843283B2 |
MEMS controlled oscillator
An array of micromechanical oscillators have different resonant frequencies based on their geometries. In one embodiment, a micromechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency defined by an effective spring constant that is modified by application of heat. In one embodiment, the oscillator is disc of material supported by a pillar of much smaller diameter than the disc. The periphery of the disc is heated to modify the resonant frequency (or equivalently the spring constant or stiffness) of the disc. Continuous control of the output phase and frequency may be achieved when the oscillator becomes synchronized with an imposed sinusoidal force of close frequency. The oscillator frequency can be detuned to produce an easily controlled phase differential between the injected signal and the oscillator feedback. A phased array radar may be produced using independent phase controllable oscillators. |
| US07843278B2 |
Frequency jitter generation circuit
A frequency jitter generation circuit having a voltage generator and an oscillator circuit is provided. The voltage generator receives an input voltage and converts the input voltage into an upper reference voltage output to the oscillator circuit. Voltage level of the upper reference voltage is varying. The oscillator circuit is coupled with the voltage generator. Voltage level of a reference voltage in the oscillator circuit is oscillated between the upper reference voltage and a lower reference voltage to generate a frequency signal with a jitter based on the variation of the upper reference voltage. |
| US07843277B2 |
Haptic feedback generation based on resonant frequency
A system that generates a haptic effect generates a drive cycle signal that includes a drive period and a monitoring period. The drive period includes a plurality of drive pulses that are based on the haptic effect. The system applies the drive pulses to a resonant actuator during the drive period and receives a signal from the resonant actuator that corresponds to the position of a mass in the actuator during the monitoring period. |
| US07843271B2 |
Audio amplifier and methods for use therewith
An audio amplifier includes an output stage for generating an output stage voltage in response to an input signal and an output stage quiescent current. A controlled current source controls the output stage quiescent current in response to a quiescent current signal during a start-up cycle. |
| US07843265B2 |
Methods and apparatus to reduce idle current in power amplifiers
Power amplifiers with reduced idle currents are described. In some examples, a power amplifier includes a driver configured to generate a control signal based on an input signal. The power amplifier also includes a first output transistor configured to selectively provide an output signal via an output channel that has a resistance based on the control signal, and a channel adjuster configured to generate several digital signals based on the control signal. A composite switch, which includes several segment transistors, is included to selectively increase or decrease the output channel resistance based on the digital signals. |
| US07843264B2 |
Differential amplifier with accurate input offset voltage
An amplifier with accurate input offset voltage is described. In one design, the amplifier includes first and second unbalanced differential pairs. The first unbalanced differential pair receives a differential input signal and provides a first differential current signal. The second unbalanced differential pair receives a differential reference signal and provides a second differential current signal, which is subtracted from the first differential current signal to obtain a differential output signal. The second differential current signal tracks an error current in the first differential current signal so that the differential output signal is zero when the differential input signal is equal to a target input offset voltage for the amplifier. For each unbalanced differential pair, one transistor is M times the size of the other transistor, with M being selected to obtain the target input offset voltage. |
| US07843262B2 |
High efficiency power amplifier
Disclosed a power amplifier including a main amplifier with class bias AB and a peak amplifier with class C bias. A quarter-wave length transmission line having a length equal to one-fourth of the wave-length of a fundamental frequency is connected to an output side of the peak amplifier. Outputs of the main amplifier and the peak amplifier are combined. An envelope amplifier that modulates the drain bias voltage in accordance with an envelope of the modulation wave input signal and an envelope detector are provided as a drain-bias circuit for the main amplifier (FIG. 1). |
| US07843259B2 |
Field effect transistor circuit and method of operation of field effect transistor circuit for reducing thermal runaway
A field transistor is divided into a number of cells (6) and includes a separate first gate line (20) connected to first transistor cells (8) and a separate second gate line (22) connected to second transistor cells (10). A drive circuit is used to drive all the cells (6) in a normal, saturated operations state but to drive only the second cells (10) in a linear operations state to reduce the number of cells used in the linear operations state. |
| US07843256B2 |
Internal voltage generator
An internal voltage generator includes a pull-up driver to pull-up drive a supply terminal of an internal voltage, a pull-down driver to pull-down drive the supply terminal of the internal voltage, a pull-up driving control unit to turn on the pull-up driver when a first feedback voltage corresponding to the internal voltage becomes lower than a reference voltage, and a pull-down driving control unit to turn on the pull-down driver when a second feedback voltage becomes higher than the reference voltage, the second feedback voltage having a voltage level corresponding to that of the internal voltage and lower than that of the first feedback voltage. |
| US07843248B1 |
Analog switch with overcurrent detection
A switch circuit including a first switch, a reference device, a current generating device and a comparator. The first switch has a first resistance and develops a first voltage when a first current is provided through it. The reference device has a second resistance which is a known multiple of the first resistance. The current generating device provides a reference current through the reference device which develops a second voltage having a level indicative of a maximum current level of the first current. The comparator compares the first and second voltages and provides a maximum current indication. An amplifier may be used to force one side of the first switch and the reference device to the same voltage, where the reference device is coupled between an input and an output of the amplifier. The switch circuit may include a calibration mode. |
| US07843245B2 |
Reference voltage generating circuit and offset-compensated current-voltage converting circuit using the same
There is provided a reference voltage generating circuit generating a reference voltage to be applied to a current-to-voltage converting circuit in order to compensate for an offset voltage of the current-to-voltage converting circuit converting an input current into a voltage and outputting the voltage, the reference voltage generating circuit including: a sampling conversion circuit having the same circuit characteristics as the current-to-voltage converting circuit and adding a predetermined offset to the reference voltage to generate an output voltage; and a comparator controlling the reference voltage so that the output voltage of the sampling conversion circuit is equal to a predetermined voltage, wherein the reference voltage is applied as an input to the sampling conversion circuit. |
| US07843244B1 |
Low latency synchronizer circuit
A synchronizer circuit includes a master stage and a slave stage. The master stage may include a first master latch coupled to receive a data input signal, and a clock signal. The master stage may also include a second master latch coupled to receive the data input signal, and a delayed version of the clock signal. The master stage may further include a pull-up circuit that may drive an output line of the master stage depending upon an output of each of the first master latch and the second master latch. The slave stage may include a slave latch having an input coupled to the output line of the master stage. The slave stage may provide an output data signal that corresponds to the captured input data signal and is synchronized to the receiving clock signal. |
| US07843243B2 |
Flip-flop circuit, pipeline circuit including a flip-flop circuit, and method of operating a flip-flop circuit
Example embodiments relate to an electronic circuit, for example, a flip-flop circuit, a pipeline circuit including the flip-flop circuit and a method for operating the flip-flop circuit. A flip-flop circuit may include a precharge transistor configured to precharge an internal node to a first power supply voltage in response to a clock signal, a first pull-down unit configured to pull down a voltage of the internal node to a second power supply voltage, a pull-up transistor configured to pull up a voltage of an output node to the first power supply voltage in response to the voltage of the internal node, and a second pull-down unit configured to pull down the voltage of the output node to the second power supply voltage. The pipeline circuit may include a pulse generating circuit, a first flip-flop group, a combination logic circuit, and a second flip-flop group. A method for operating a flip-flop circuit may include precharging an internal node to a first power supply voltage in response to a clock signal, pulling down a voltage of the internal node, pulling down the voltage to a second power supply voltage in response to a first pulse signal, and pulling up a voltage of an output node to the first power supply voltage. |
| US07843242B1 |
Phase-shifted pulse width modulation signal generation
A pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator generates multiple output PWM signals from an input PWM signal, whereby each output PWM signal has a frequency and duty ratio substantially similar to the input PWM signal and each output PWM signal is phase-shifted in relation to the other output PWM signals. The PWM signal generator samples a PWM cycle of the input PWM signal to determine various PWM parameters representative of the duration of the active portion of the sampled PWM cycle and the total duration of the sampled PWM cycle. The PWM signal generator then uses the PWM parameters to generate corresponding PWM cycles for the output PWM signals using a set of two independent counters. This process of sampling a PWM cycle of the input PWM signal and generating the output PWM signals based on the PWM parameters resulting from the sampling process can be repeated for one or more iterations. |
| US07843238B2 |
Circuit for discharging an electrical load, power output stage comprising such a discharge circuit for the control of plasma display cells, and related system and method
An embodiment of a discharge circuit comprises an output circuit with one output connected to an electrical load to absorb a discharge current given by the load when a logic signal commands a discharge of the load. The discharge circuit also comprises a control circuit to give the output circuit an appropriate control signal so that a slope of an output potential of the output circuit diminishes gradually when the logic signal commands a discharge of the load. Limiting the slope of the output potential gradually (and not suddenly) may limit the electromagnetic radiation generated by these variations. |
| US07843237B2 |
Circuit arrangement for actuating a transistor
One example of the invention relates to a circuit arrangement for actuating a high-side transistor which includes a control terminal and a load terminal. The circuit arrangement includes a driver circuit that is designed to generate, in response to a control signal, a driver signal for the control terminal of the high-side transistor. A supply circuit is capacitively coupled to a radio-frequency signal source and is designed to provide a supply voltage to the driver circuit, the supply voltage being referenced to a floating reference potential. |
| US07843230B1 |
Differential hysteresis comparator circuits and methods
A comparator circuit for providing hysteresis comprises first and second differentially coupled transistors. The first of the differentially coupled transistors provides drain current to first and second load transistors. The second of the differentially coupled transistors provides drain current to third and fourth load transistors. In one example embodiment, the drain of the first of the differentially coupled transistors also drives the gate of the first and third load transistors, while the drain of the second of the differentially coupled transistors drives the gate of the second and fourth transistors. |
| US07843228B2 |
Half bin linear frequency discriminator
Frequency discriminator based on a variant of the DFT transform in which the usual twiddle factors are replaced with twiddle factors as for a DFT on a number of points which is the double as the actual number of sample points. The DFT so modified allows half-bin frequency discrimination, with few added computational burden. Two DFT shifted of half bin with respect to the zero frequency provide a linear response of the discrimination and good immunity to noise. The discriminator is particularly useful in FLL for tracking signals in a GPS receiver. |
| US07843225B2 |
Protocol-based bus termination for multi-core processors
A multi-core bus termination apparatus includes a protocol analyzer and a plurality of drivers. The protocol analyzer is disposed within a processor core and configured to receive one or more protocol signals, and is configured to indicate whether or not the processor core owns the bus. The plurality of drivers is coupled to the protocol analyzer. Each of the plurality of drivers has one of a corresponding plurality of nodes, and each is configured to control how the one of the corresponding plurality of nodes is driven responsive whether or not the processor core owns the bus. Each of the plurality of drivers has protocol-based multi-core logic. The protocol-based multi-core logic is configured to enable pull-up logic if the processor core owns the bus, and is configured to disable the pull-up logic if the processor core does not own the bus. |
| US07843223B1 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a buffer unit configured to include first and second buffers, connected to each other in a cross-coupled manner, to receive a reference voltage and to buffer an input signal applied to the first and second buffers based on the reference voltage to drive an output terminal with a current-driving capacity; and a drive power adjustor configured to adjust the current-driving capacity depending on a level of a power supply voltage applied to the buffering unit. |
| US07843222B1 |
Buffer-driving circuit capable of increasing responding speed and prolonging lifespan, buffer, and method thereof
A method for increasing responding speed and lifespan of a buffer includes detecting an edge of an input signal of the buffer, triggering a pulse signal with a predetermined period according to the detected edge, and driving the buffer for generating an output signal according to the pulse signal and the input signal. |
| US07843221B2 |
Semiconductor device, display panel and electronic equipment
The present invention provides a semiconductor device having a buffer circuit formed on an insulating substrate using single-channel type thin film transistors, wherein the buffer circuit has an output stage which including first and second thin film transistors connected in series between first and second power sources, and the output terminal potential of the output stage is switched to the potential of the first or second power source in a complementary manner by the input timings of a set signal adapted to control the first thin film transistor and a reset signal adapted to control the second thin film transistor. |
| US07843220B2 |
Integrated circuits
An integrated circuit comprises a processor, a controller and plural terminals. Each terminal constitutes a connection between the integrated circuit and a peripheral device. Each terminal is connected to a logic circuit on the integrated circuit by a respective IO cell in series connection with a respective IO isolation circuit and wherein the controller is operable on power up of the integrated circuit to activate a reset state and to release the reset state prior to releasing IO isolation by one or more of the IO isolation circuits. Each IO isolation circuit may be arranged so that a default state of the IO isolation circuit is a state in which the IO cell is isolated from the logic circuit. The IO isolation circuits may be controllable by software, for instance a driver for a peripheral device connected to the terminal associated with the IO isolation circuit. Plural IO isolation circuits may be connected so as to be commonly controllable by a single control signal from the controller. |
| US07843216B2 |
Techniques for optimizing design of a hard intellectual property block for data transmission
Techniques are provided for implementing channel alignment for a data transmission interface in an HIP block on a programmable logic integrated circuit. The HIP block channel alignment logic can be run using a reduced number of parallel data paths, which consumes substantially less logic resources. Also, the HIP block channel alignment logic circuits can be processed at the higher HIP core clock rate in serial, decreasing lock latency time. Techniques are provided for implementing error handling for transmitted data in programmable logic circuits. The programmable logic circuits can be configured to implement error generation and error monitoring functions that are tailored for any application. Alternatively, the logic elements can be configured to perform other functions for applications that do not require error handling. The phase skew between data and clock signals on an integrated circuit are reduced by routing clock signals along with the data signals to each circuit block. |
| US07843214B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device having standard cell including resistance element
A standard cell includes an input terminal, an output terminal, first and second inverters coupled in series between the input and output terminals, the first inverter including a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type, the first transistor being coupled between a first power source terminal and a first node, and the second transistor being coupled between a second node and a second power source terminal, and a plurality of resistance elements which are used to provide a conductivity path between the first and second nodes, in order to adjust a duty ratio of a signal which passes the standard cell. |
| US07843212B2 |
Differential circuit with precisely controlled terminator circuit
The present invention provides a precisely controlled terminator circuit of a differential amplifier, in particular, for a differential amplifier of an optical receiver. The differential circuit, which receives a differential signal by a first input for the normal phase signal and a second input for an anti-phase signal, provides a terminator circuit comprises two resistors connected in serial between two inputs and two resistive connections each including a transistor and a resistor serially connected to the transistor and connected between respective inputs and the power supply line Vcc. The control unit, by receiving a medium potential of two resistors, provides a bias to two transistors so as to equalize the medium potential with the reference potential. |
| US07843211B2 |
Impedance adjusting circuit and semiconductor memory device having the same
An impedance adjusting circuit includes: a calibration circuit configured to generate a first calibration code and a second calibration code for determining termination resistance; a transmission line circuit configured to transfer the first calibration code during a first section and to transfer the second calibration code during a second section; and a termination resistor circuit adapted to match an impedance with a resistance determined by receiving the first and second calibration codes. |
| US07843210B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and testing method of the same
A disclosed semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a logic circuit, a memory circuit to which data are written by the logic circuit and from which the data are read by the logic circuit, a register circuit holding the data when the logic circuit writes the data to the memory circuit, and a selector circuit selecting one of data output from the register circuit and data output from the memory circuit, and outputting the selected data to the logic circuit. Further in the semiconductor integrated circuit device, in an operational test of the logic circuit, the selector circuit selects the data output from the register circuit and outputs the selected data to the logic circuit. |
| US07843208B2 |
Display substrate and apparatus and method for testing display panel having the same
A display substrate includes a gate pad part, a source pad part, a first static dissipative part, and a first test part. A gate pad part is formed on one terminal of each of a plurality of gate lines and transfers signals to the gate lines. A source pad part is formed on one terminal of each of a plurality of source lines and transfers signals to the source lines. A first static dissipative part disperses static charge that flows into the source pad part. A first test part receives a first test signal, makes electrical contact with the first static dissipative part, and transfers the first test signal to the source lines through the first static dissipative part. A display apparatus including the display substrate transmits first test signals that are uniformly applied to source lines through a first test part, so defects are easily detected through a gross test. |
| US07843206B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method for inspecting same
An internal connection output pad (14A) connected to a CMOS output circuit (15A, 16A) on a first chip (11A) is electrically connected via a chip-to-chip bonding wire (17) to an internal connection input pad (14B) connected to a CMOS input circuit (15B, 16B) on a second chip (11B). In order to inspect the presence or absence of leakage resistance (40), a test circuit (30) controls a high-impedance output state, a high-level output state and a low-level output state of the internal connection output pad (14A) via the CMOS output circuit (15A, 16A). If a difference between a value obtained by measuring a current flowing through a power supply to a ground in the high-impedance output state and a value obtained by measuring such a current in the high-level output state is calculated, a transistor leakage current is canceled, so that a correct minute leakage current can be detected. |
| US07843205B2 |
Process monitor for monitoring an integrated circuit chip
A system or apparatus for monitoring an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip includes: a sense circuit at least partially constructed on the IC chip and configured to produce one or more sense signals each indicative of a corresponding process-dependent circuit parameter of the IC chip; and a digitizer module configured to produce, responsive to the one or more sense signals, one or more digitized signals each representative of a corresponding one of the sense signals. A controller is configured to determine a value of one or more of the process-dependent circuit parameters based on one or more of the digitized signals. |
| US07843200B2 |
Capacitive proximity switch and domestic appliance equipped therewith
A capacitive proximity switch has an electrically conductive sensor surface, which is covered by an electrically non-conductive covering plate and which serves as a part of a capacitor having a capacitance that varies with proximity. The sensor surface is connected to a control input of a semiconductor switch that has a signal input with a clock signal and a signal output. A household appliance is equipped with the capacitive proximity switch. The signal output of the semiconductor switch has an output signal, which follows the clock signal and which has signal portions that are proportional to the capacitance of the capacitor formed with the sensor surface. |
| US07843197B2 |
Protective device with end-of-life indication before power denial
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an automatic self-test assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the detection circuit, the fault detection circuit and the circuit interrupter assembly. The automatic self-test assembly is configured to cause the detection circuit to generate a simulated sensor fault signal during a predetermined half-cycle of an AC line cycle in accordance with a predetermined periodic testing schedule, monitor the fault detection signal corresponding to the simulated sensor fault signal, and generate a test result signal based on monitoring the fault detection signal. The automatic self-test assembly also includes a noise immunized decision circuit configured to evaluate a plurality of test results to thereby provide a noise immunized end-of-life signal. One of the conductive paths that connects the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals being interrupted in response to the noise immunized end-of-life signal. |
| US07843194B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate a magnetic field, a reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct an image for a subject on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal radiated from the subject in the magnetic field, a presumption unit configured to presume a distribution of an image quality deterioration degree occurring in the image on the basis of a precision at which the generation unit generates the magnetic field, and a creation unit configured to create a display image showing the distribution of the image quality deterioration degree on the image. |
| US07843192B2 |
Kit, method and apparatus for monitoring operation of a bearing assembly, method for producing said apparatus, and bearing assembly with a condition monitor
A technique for determining properties of a bearing assembly in use involves using an eddy current probe for detecting changes in material density within a raceway of the bearing assembly. A field of detection of the eddy current probe enters the bearing raceway intermediate races that define the raceway, and as such the detection is of the bearing elements, and not deflections in a wall that defines the raceway. |
| US07843189B2 |
Current sensor having coil mounted to current carrying bus and related system
A current sensor includes a coil for sensing current in a current carrying bus, and a mount for mounting the coil to the current carrying bus at a distance from the bus. A system including the current sensor includes similar structure. |
| US07843186B2 |
Switching regulator having high speed response
A step-down switching regulator that converts an input voltage to a predetermined lower output voltage which includes a first switch, an inductor, a second switch, a controller, and a detector to detect a proportional voltage of the output voltage and to output detection results to the controller when the proportional voltage exceeds a first predetermined reference voltage or falls below a second predetermined reference voltage which is lower than the first predetermined reference voltage. The controller shuts the first switch off when the proportional voltage exceeds the first predetermined reference voltage and shuts the second switch off when the proportional voltage falls below the second predetermined reference voltage. |
| US07843182B2 |
Unit operable in a plurality of operating modes, device, and transmitting/receiving system
A unit operable in a plurality of operating modes includes a first circuit, a regulator and current controller. The first circuit is adapted to operate in a first operating mode, and not to operate in a second operating mode preceding the first operating mode. The a regulator is adapted to supply driving voltage to the first circuit, and switchable among a plurality of levels of internal current. The current controller adapted to control the internal current of the regulator in the first operating mode to a first level among the plurality of levels of internal current. The current controller adapted control the internal current of the regulator in the second operating mode to a second level among the plurality of levels of internal current. The second level is lower than the first level. |
| US07843181B2 |
DC-DC converter controller having optimized load transient response and method
A power supply controller (25) is configured to accurately adjust the value of an output voltage of a power supply system (10) responsively to the output voltage increasing to an undesirable value. The controller (25) accurately limits an upper value of the output voltage during a light load condition, and rapidly reduces the value of the output voltage to a desired value. The power supply controller is configured to turn off the first output transistor but inhibit turning off the second output transistor using two different control signals. |
| US07843180B1 |
Multi-stage linear voltage regulator with frequency compensation
A two-gain-stage linear error amplifier is provided with frequency compensation and independently selectable stage gains and a reasonably small compensation capacitor to promote stability with a reasonable phase margin over a wide load range so that the invention is useful as a low drop out (LDO) voltage regulator circuit device that is stable over a wide load range. |
| US07843179B2 |
Control circuit for synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter, synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter and control method thereof
To provide a control circuit for a synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter, a synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter and a control method thereof in which, in a light load state and a no-load state, an output voltage can be dropped to thus prevent an overshoot state from continuing. A synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter 10 and a control circuit 20A thereof comprising a first switching element FET1 that is made conductive when power is accumulated in an induction element L1, and a second switching element FET2 that is made conductive when power accumulated in induction element L1 is supplied to a load, also comprises a detecting unit COMP2 that detects that a value of an output voltage VOUT of the synchronous rectifier-type DC-DC converter 10A is a predetermined voltage value that is higher than a target voltage value, and control units COMP1 and OR1 that maintain the second switching element FET2 in a conductive state after discharge of the power accumulated in the induction element L1 is finished, based on the detection results of the detecting unit COMP2. |
| US07843175B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling excitation
Excitation control circuitry for a synchronous generator is disclosed. The synchronous generator is of a type comprising a main machine (2) and an exciter (6) for exciting the main machine. The excitation control circuitry comprises an automatic voltage regulator (10) for controlling power flow from the main machine to the exciter, and an excitation boost system (14) for selectively supplying power from a second source of electrical power (12) to the exciter (6). This can allow additional excitation to be provided, for example, when the generator is in overload. This arrangement can allow a synchronous generator to be upgraded by adding the excitation boost system to provide enhanced overload performance. |
| US07843173B2 |
Charger and method of charging
A charger includes input terminals whereto positive and negative voltages from a power source unit are applied, output terminals generating an output charging a secondary battery, upon being applied with the voltage from the input terminals via positive and negative power source lines, a first field effect type transistor and a second field effect type transistor having a region between a drain and a source inserted in at least one of the positive and negative power source lines, and having a first parasitic diode with a polarity reverse against charge current, and a second parasitic diode with a polarity forward direction with charge current respectively, a first detection circuit and a second detection circuit having series connections of a plurality of resistors inserted between the positive and negative power source lines, the first circuit is between the input terminals and the first transistor, and the second circuit is between the first transistor and the second transistor, and a charge control unit supplied with the first and second detection voltages, and generates ON/OFF control signals for the gates of the first and second transistors. |
| US07843172B2 |
Battery charging controller and portable electronic device
A battery charging controller according to the present invention controls battery charging in response to a charging-control signal sent from a CPU, and includes an starting controller which is started upon a detection of an insertion of an AC adapter, and which then starts a regulator at a predetermined timing by using a regulator control signal. The regulator is started upon a detection of the regulator control signal, and thereafter starts the CPU by using an starting signal. The CPU is started upon a detection of the starting signal. |
| US07843166B2 |
Alternating-current power supply device recovering magnetic energy
The present invention relates to an alternating-current power supply device which can improve a power factor of an alternating-current load, realizes low cost and miniaturization, and recovers magnetic energy. The alternating-current power supply device includes a bridge circuit composed of four reverse conducting semiconductor switches, a capacitor that is connected between direct-current terminals of the bridge circuit and absorbs the magnetic energy at the time of cutting off the current, an alternating-current voltage source that is connected to the induction load in series and is inserted between alternating-current terminals of the bridge circuit, and a control circuit that gives a control signal to gates of the respective reverse conducting semiconductor switches and controls on/off states of the respective reverse conducting semiconductor switches. The control circuit simultaneously controls the on/off operation of the paired reverse conducting semiconductor switches positioned on a diagonal line of the four reverse conducting semiconductor switches composing the bridge circuit, makes a control so that when one pair of the two pairs is ON, the other pair is OFF, and switches the control signal in synchronization with a voltage of the alternating-current voltage source. |
| US07843163B1 |
Portable weather resistant enclosure
A portable weather resistant enclosure for supporting electronics in the field, having a body in sealable engagement with a door, a pedestal for elevating the enclosure above a surface, at least two lifting eyes for transporting the enclosure, the portable weather resistant enclosure being constructed to resist deformation during transport. |
| US07843159B2 |
Motor controller
A motor controller includes: a notch filter arranged inside a control system; an oscillation frequency estimating section which estimates an oscillation frequency component in a motor; and a notch control section which controls a notch filter so as to change a notch frequency and a notch width. The notch control section changes a frequency between an oscillation frequency and a notch frequency set in a notch filter as a new notch frequency, while changing a notch width to a new notch width such that the notch width is larger after the change than before the change. |
| US07843157B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing motor control signals
A method for providing a compatible interface between a motor control circuit and a system controller is described. The method includes determining which signals in the interface have incompatible voltage requirements, and inserting a series resistance in an interface extending between the motor control circuit and the system controller for each signal determined to have incompatible voltage requirements therebetween. |
| US07843155B2 |
Direct flux regulated permanent magnet brushless motor utilizing sensorless control
A permanent magnet rotor for use in a flux regulated permanent magnet brushless machine is constructed such that the inductance along the direct and quadrature axes is markedly different to provide sensorless position feedback for the rotor. |
| US07843150B2 |
Power regulation for LED strings
One embodiment of the invention includes a power regulator system. The system comprises at least one current regulator configured to maintain a substantially constant current flow through each of at least one series connected light emitting diode (LED) string. The system also comprises a power converter configured to generate an output voltage to provide power to the at least one current regulator and the at least one series connected LED string. The system further comprises a voltage regulator configured to determine a voltage that provides power to the at least one current regulator and to adjust the output voltage based on the determined voltage to mitigate power loss due to excessive voltage provided to power the at least one current regulator. |
| US07843147B2 |
LED driver circuits and methods
An LED driver circuit may include dimming circuitry. In particular, the LED driver circuit may include a switching converter, an LED and a switch. The LED may be electrically connected to the switching converter and the switch may be connected in parallel with the LED. The switching converter and/or the switch may be configured to be controlled to achieve dimming of the LED. Current may be supplied to the LED and the switch may be turned on and off to dim the LED. The switching converter coupled to the LED may include a switching element in series with an inductor and the LED. In such case, the switching element may be turned on to supply current to the LED and the inductor, and the switch may be turned on and off to dim the LED. |
| US07843127B2 |
Light emitting panel and a light source for reducing deterioration of pixel
In light emitting panel, the light emitting panel includes a substrate, a pixel part and a protection part. The pixel part has more than or equal to two unit parts separated from each other. The protection has a concave part marking off neighboring unit parts. |
| US07843126B2 |
Color filter panel, organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An OLED apparatus includes a substrate, a TFT, a scan line, a data line, a power supply line, a color filter, a pixel electrode, a light emitting layer and a counter electrode. The TFT is formed on the substrate. The scan line transmits a scan signal to a control electrode of the TFT. The data line transmits a data signal to the TFT. Bias voltages are applied to the TFT through the power supply line. The color filter overlaps with one or more of the scan line, the data line and the power supply line. The pixel electrode overlaps with one or more of the scan line, the data line and the power supply line. The light-emitting layer is formed on the pixel electrode. The counter electrode is formed on the light-emitting layer. Therefore, cross talk may be reduced and the opening ratio increased to enhance luminance. |
| US07843123B2 |
OLED with semi-transparent layer
The organic light-emitting device of the present invention includes a plurality of organic light-emitting elements including an organic light-emitting element showing a first emission color and at least one organic light-emitting element showing a different emission color from the first emission color, each of the organic light-emitting elements including: a first electrode having a reflective surface; a second electrode placed on a light extraction side and including a semi-transparent layer; an organic compound layer including a light-emitting layer and formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a micro cavity structure for resonating light emitted from the light-emitting layer between the reflective surface and the semi-transparent layer, wherein the semi-transparent layer in the organic light-emitting element showing the first emission color is different in thickness and/or material from the semi-transparent layer in the at least one organic light-emitting element showing the different emission colors. |
| US07843120B2 |
Screen structure, display panel and electronic equipment using the same, and method of manufacturing the same
A screen structure has a transparent substrate and a color filter on the transparent substrate, and light from a source of luminescence transmits the color filter and the transparent substrate. The transparent substrate has a height difference specified by a refractive index of the transparent substrate, a refractive index of the color filter, and a wavelength of the light which transmits the color filter in an interface with the color filter. |
| US07843118B2 |
Electron-emitting device, electron source using the same, image display apparatus, and information displaying and reproducing apparatus
An electron-emitting device is provided with improved electron emitting efficiency. An electron-emitting device includes first and second electroconductive films disposed on a surface of a substrate in opposition to each other to form a gap between ends of the first and second electroconductive films. The end of the first electroconductive film includes a portion the minimum distance d1 from which to the second electroconductive film is 10 nm or less. Let d2 denote a minimum distance between the end of the first electroconductive film which is away from the portion the minimum distance d1 from which to the second electroconductive film is 10 nm or less by the minimum distance d1 and the end of the second electroconductive film. The relation of d2/d1≧1.2 is satisfied. |
| US07843114B2 |
Piezoceramic multilayer actuator and method of manufacturing a piezoceramic multilayer actuator
A piezoceramic multilayer actuator (10) has a plurality of piezoceramic layers (12) and a security layer (20) disposed between two piezoceramic layers (12). The piezoceramic layers (12) have a piezoceramic first material sintered at a sintering temperature. The security layer (20) has a second material (32) and particles (30) at least partially embedded in the second material (32). The particles (30) have a third material different from the first material and different from the second material (32). An adhesion between the third material and the first material is weaker than an adhesion between the second material (32) and the first material. |
| US07843111B2 |
Dielectric composite and a method of manufacturing a dielectric composite
A composite for a transducer facilitates an increased actuation force as compared to similar prior art composites for transducers. In accordance with the present invention, the composite also facilitates increased compliance of the transducer in one direction and an improved reaction time as compared to similar prior art composites for transducers, as well as provides an increased lifetime of the transducer in which it is applied. |
| US07843110B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus (100t) is provided with: stage portion (130) which can be displaced; a first elastic portion (120-1) whose one end is connected to the stage portion and which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction; a driving source device (180), to which other end of the first elastic portion is connected, comprising: a first applying device (181) for applying an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the first elastic portion; and a second applying device (182) for applying a driving force for displacing, in a stepwise manner or in a continuous manner, the stage portion in other direction; a second elastic portion (120-2) whose one end is connected to the driving source device and which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in the one direction; a third elastic portion (120-3) whose one end is connected to other end of the second elastic portion and which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in the other direction; and a base portion (110) to which other end of the third elastic portion is connected. |
| US07843108B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus (100t) is provided with: a stage portion (130) which can be displaced; two first elastic portions (120-1) which have elasticity to displace the stage portion in one direction and which are arranged along the one direction; two driving source portions (180) each of which comprises: a first applying device (181) for applying an excitation force for displacing the stage portion such that the stage portion is resonated in the one direction at a resonance frequency determined by the stage portion and the first elastic portion; and a second applying device (182) for applying a driving force for displacing the stage portion in other direction, the two driving source portions being arranged along the one direction; two second elastic portions (120-2) which have elasticity to displace the stage portion in the one direction and which are arranged along the one direction; a third elastic portion (120-3) which has elasticity to displace the stage portion in the other direction; and a base portion (110) to which other end of the third elastic portion is connected, the driving apparatus shifting a direction of the excitation force applied by each of the two driving source portions. |
| US07843105B2 |
Brush holder component with ground contact plate
Electric motor, as well as a brush mount component (34) for positioning of carbon brushes with respect to a commutator (30) of an electric motor (12), having at least one attachment means (55) for fixing the brush mount component (34) on a printed circuit board (28), with an earth contact plate (70) being mounted on the brush mount component (34) and being designed symmetrically with respect to the arrangement of the carbon brushes (32). A method for production of an electric motor such as this is also described. |
| US07843101B2 |
Interior permanent magnet electric motor including a rotor having circumferential surface portions with defined curve profiles
A rotary shaft 60 having an outside diameter larger than the bore diameter of a rotary shaft insert hole 59 of a rotor 50 is inserted into the rotary shaft insert hole 59. A magnet insert hole 51a1 is provided in a main magnetic pole [a] of the rotor 50. Permanent magnets 52a1 to 52a3 are inserted into the magnet insert hole 51a1 such that a gap is formed between the permanent magnets 52a1 to 52a3 and the magnet insert hole 51a1. A semi-tubular rivet insert hole 55a and interlocks 57a1, 57a2 elongated in the radial direction of the rotor are disposed radially outward of the magnet insert hole 51a in the rotor. A semi-tubular rivet 56a is inserted into the semi-tubular rivet insert hole 55a such that a gap is formed between the semi-tubular rivet 56a and the semi-tubular rivet insert hole 55a. Passage holes 58ab, 58da are provided in the auxiliary magnetic poles [ab], [da]. |
| US07843084B2 |
Electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source
An exemplary electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source includes two power ports configured to connect to external power sources and a battery compartment configured to receive a battery module. The voltage of the battery module is higher than at least one of the external power sources. The electronic device further includes a power selection module allocated between the battery module and the power port which selects the lower voltage. Three diodes are respectively located on the output path of the three power sources. A path switch that controls whether power to the device comes from the battery compartment or a power port is located between the anode of the battery compartment and the diode located on the output path of the battery module. Among the multiple power sources, the external power source providing a higher voltage is the first to be chosen to power the electronic device. |
| US07843082B2 |
Islanding detection apparatus for a distributed generation power system and detection method therefor
An islanding detection apparatus for a distributed generation power system and a detection method therefor operates a power converter to act as a virtual capacitor or inductor at a frequency close to but unequal to that of a utility power system under abnormal condition of the utility power system. When power failure occurs in the utility power system, only the distributed generation power system supplies power to a load so that a load voltage has been changed in at least one of amplitude and frequency which can be immediately detected islanding phenomenon. |
| US07843078B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating power in a wind turbine
A generator for use in a wind turbine includes a rotor including a plurality of windings. The rotor is configured to be electrically coupled to a wind turbine electrical distribution system. The generator also includes a stator including a plurality of windings. The stator is configured to be magnetically coupled to the rotor and electrically coupled to the wind turbine electrical distribution system. The stator is further configured to switch between a first number of magnetic poles and a second number of magnetic poles. |
| US07843077B2 |
Pulsed energy transfer
A system capable of converting fluid energy into electrical energy in conditions of low fluid flow is provided. In an embodiment, the system may engage and disengage an energy converter via an automatic clutch. In an embodiment, the transmission of energy to an energy converter is controlled by switching the energy converter on and off. In another embodiment, the flow of electrical energy to an electrical load is controlled by a switching device. In another embodiment, a funnel is used for condensing the flow of fluid moving through the system. |
| US07843075B2 |
Apparatus and methods of forming an interconnect between a workpiece and substrate
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods of forming interconnect between a workpiece and substrate and its application to packaging of microelectronic devices are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07843074B2 |
Underfill for light emitting device
A light emitting chip is disposed on a support surface. A plurality of bonding bumps are disposed in a gap between the light emitting chip and the support surface. The plurality of bonding bumps provide at least one electrical power input path to the light emitting chip. An underfill comprising underfill material is disposed in the gap between the light emitting chip and the support surface such that the underfill substantially fills the gap but does not form a fillet extending outside the gap over sidewalls of the light emitting chip. The underfill is configured to provide at least one of (i) mechanical support for the light emitting chip and (ii) a thermal conduction path from the light emitting chip to the support surface. |
| US07843070B2 |
Nanotube and metal composite interconnects
Nanotube and metal composite interconnects are generally described. In one example, an apparatus includes an interlayer dielectric (ILD) and one or more interconnect structures coupled to the ILD, the one or more interconnect structures including a composite of metal and one or more nanotubes. |
| US07843068B2 |
Semiconductor chip and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate 11, a through via 12 provided in a through hole 17 that passes through the semiconductor substrate 11, insulating layers 21-1 to 21-3 laminated on the semiconductor substrate 11, a multi-layered wiring structure 14 having a first wiring pattern 22 and a second wiring pattern 23, and an external connection terminal 15 provided on an uppermost layer of the multi-layered wiring structure 14, wherein the through via 12 and the external connection terminal 15 are connected electrically by the second wiring pattern 23. |
| US07843067B2 |
Method and structure of integrated rhodium contacts with copper interconnects
The present disclosure relates to a microelectronic structure and the manufacture of the microelectronic structure. Specifically, the disclosure relates to an interconnect barrier layer between a rhodium contact structure and a copper interconnect structure in a microelectronic structure. The microelectronic structure provides for low resistance in microelectronic devices. |
| US07843065B2 |
Flash memory device and fabricating method thereof
A flash memory device may include a first insulating layer on a base insulating layer on a substrate, a lower wire layer that fills a trench in the first insulating layer, a first insulating interlayer and a second insulating layer stacked in sequence on the first insulating layer and the lower wire layer, a middle wire layer that fills a trench in the second insulating layer, and a second insulating interlayer and an upper wire layer stacked in sequence on the middle wire layer, wherein the lower wire layer. The middle wire layer and the upper wire layer may be electrically connected to each other and the first insulating layer may include a low-k layer in contact with the base insulating layer. In addition, each of the first insulating interlayer, the second insulating layer, and the second insulating interlayer may include an FSG layer. |
| US07843062B2 |
Thermally programmable anti-reverse engineering interconnects wherein interconnects only conduct when heated above room temperature
An interconnect and method of making the interconnect. The method includes forming a dielectric layer on a substrate, the dielectric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface; forming a first wire and a second wire in the dielectric layer, the first wire separated from the second wire by a region of the dielectric layer; and forming metallic nanoparticles in or on the top surface of the dielectric layer between the first and second wires, the metallic nanoparticles capable of electrically connecting the first wire and the second wire only while the nanoparticles are heated to a temperature greater than room temperature and a voltage is applied between the first and second wires. |
| US07843060B2 |
Droop-free high output light emitting devices and methods of fabricating and operating same
Light emitting devices include a semiconductor light emitting diode that is configured to operate at a substantially droop-free quantum efficiency while producing warm white light output of at least about 100 lumens/cool white light output of at least about 130 lumens. The semiconductor light emitting diode may include a single semiconductor die of at least about 4 mm2 in area that operates at a current density of less than about 9 A/cm2, so as to operate at the substantially droop-free quantum efficiency. Related fabricating and operating methods are also disclosed. |
| US07843058B2 |
Flip chip packages with spacers separating heat sinks and substrates
A package structure includes a substrate; a die over and flip bonded on the substrate; a heat sink over the die; and one or more spacer separating the heat sink from the substrate. |
| US07843057B2 |
Method of making a fiber reinforced printed circuit board panel and a fiber reinforced panel made according to the method
A method of making a printed circuit board panel, a printed circuit board panel made according to the method, and a system incorporating a printed circuit board provided onto the panel. The printed circuit board panel has a panel top edge, a panel bottom edge parallel to the panel top edge, and two parallel panel side edges, and further includes a first set of fiber bundles extending at the predetermined angle with respect to the panel side edges, and a second set of fiber bundles extending at the predetermined angle with respect to the panel top edge. |
| US07843056B2 |
Integrated circuit micro-module
In one aspect, an integrated circuit package composed of a plurality of immediately adjacent stacked layers of cured, planarizing, photo-imageable dielectric is described. At least one interconnect layer is provided between a pair of adjacent dielectric layers. An integrated circuit is positioned within one or more of the dielectric layers such that at least one of the dielectric layers extends over the active surface of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is electrically coupled with I/O pads on a surface of the package at least in part through the interconnect layer or electrically conductive vias. In particular embodiments, the package can include thermal pipes, a heat sink, multiple integrated circuits, interconnect layers, conductive vias that electrically connect different components of the package and/or passive devices. In some specific embodiments, the dielectric layers are formed from a suitable epoxy such as SU-8 type. In a method aspect of the invention, the dielectric layers may be formed using a spin-on coating approach and patterned using conventional photolithographic techniques. |
| US07843054B2 |
Chip package and manufacturing method thereof
A chip package including a circuit substrate, a chip, a B-staged adhesive layer, a leadframe, a number of first bonding wires, a number of second bonding wires, and a number of third bonding wires. The chip is disposed on the circuit substrate. The B-staged adhesive layer is disposed on the circuit substrate. The leadframe is disposed on the circuit substrate and includes a number of leads. Portions of the leads are embedded in the B-staged adhesive layer, and an end of each of the leads is exposed by the B-staged adhesive layer. The first bonding wires are electrically connected between the chip and the circuit substrate. The second bonding wires are electrically connected between the chip and the leads. The third bonding wires are electrically connected between the leads and the circuit substrate. In addition, a manufacturing method of a chip package is also provided. |
| US07843048B2 |
Multi-chip discrete devices in semiconductor packages
Semiconductor packages that contain multiple dies containing discrete devices and methods for making such devices are described. The semiconductor package contains both a first die containing transistor and second die containing a diode. The interconnect lead of the semiconductor package is connected to the bond pad of the transistor. At the same time, the interconnect lead contains a die attach pad for the diode. The result of this configuration is an integrated functional semiconductor device with a diminished footprint and decreased cost of manufacture. By using more than a single die containing a discrete device in a single semiconductor package, the device can also provide a wider variety of functions. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US07843043B2 |
Structure of a lead-frame matrix of photoelectron devices
A structure of a lead-frame matrix of photoelectron devices is provided. The lead-frame matrix is used to fabricate a first lead-frame array and a second lead-frame array. In the structure of the lead-frame matrix of the photoelectron devices, pins of the first lead-frame array and pins of the second lead-frame array are alternatively inserted. |
| US07843038B2 |
High linearity digital variable gain amplifier
Variable gain amplifiers offering high frequency response with improved linearity and reduced power dissipation are provided. An amplifier is disclosed that is constructed from a one-stage topology with multiple signal paths and compensation networks for improved linearity and stable operation. In this amplifier, improved performance is obtained by replacing single transistor components with enhanced active devices which incorporate local negative feedback. One embodiment of the invention is a transconductance enhancement circuit that improves transconductance and input impedance relative to the prior art. A further development is an enhanced active cascode circuit that provides improved linearity. A high frequency bipolar transistor switch is also disclosed that incorporates lateral PNP transistors as high frequency switches with improved OFF-state to ON-state impedance ratio to realize a variable gain function. These circuits are combined in an amplifier circuit that provides variable gain and high frequency performance, with improved linearity, gain, and input impedance. |
| US07843033B2 |
Shielded integrated circuit pad structure
An integrated circuit pad structure includes a ground strip (206) positioned below a pad (101). In one example a conductive element (102) is coupled to the pad (101), and at least two tiled layers, positioned below the first conductive element (102) and positioned above the ground strip (206) are included. A conductor (203), may run beneath the ground strip (206). In a second example, a pad (101) is seated on a ground shield cage having a bottom conductive ground element (302) including several ground strips where at least one ground strip (116) is along a signal routing path. The ground shield cage further includes a set of stacked conductive ground elements, stacked to form sidewalls (209, 210) of the cage. The top conductive ground element (301) of the stacked elements has an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, such that the inner perimeter surrounds the pad (101) and the top conductive ground element (301) is in the plane of the conductive element (102) coupled to the pad (101). |
| US07843027B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, camera and method of producing the solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device in which a first conductive type epitaxial layer is formed on its first surface with an interconnection layer and light is received at a second surface of said epitaxial layer, the solid-state imaging device including: (a) a second conductive type region formed in said epitaxial layer with a first impurity concentration and storing a charge generated by a photoelectrical conversion, and (b) a first conductive type impurity layer formed closer to said second surface side of said epitaxial layer than said second conductive type region and having a second impurity concentration higher than the first impurity concentration; wherein the second impurity concentration has a concentration gradient increasing toward the second surface side. |
| US07843026B2 |
Composite material with conductive structures of random size, shape, orientation, or location
A composite material with at least one of a negative effective permittivity and a negative effective permeability for incident radiation of at least one wavelength is described. The composite material comprises conductive structures that are substantially random with respect to at least one of size, shape, orientation, and location. |
| US07843025B2 |
Micromechanical semiconductor sensor
A manufacturing method for a micromechanical semiconductor element includes providing on a semiconductor substrate a patterned stabilizing element having at least one opening. The opening is arranged such that it allows access to a first region in the semiconductor substrate, the first region having a first doping. Furthermore, a selective removal of at least a portion of the semiconductor material having the first doping out of the first region of the semiconductor substrate is provided. In addition, a membrane is produced above the first region using a first epitaxy layer applied on the stabilizing element. In a further method step, at least a portion of the first region is used to produce a cavity underneath the stabilizing element. In this manner, the present invention provides for the production of the patterned stabilizing element by means of a second epitaxy layer, which is applied on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07843024B2 |
Method and structure for improving device performance variation in dual stress liner technology
A method and semiconductor structure that overcome the dual stress liner boundary problem, without significantly increasing the overall size of the integrated circuit, are provided. In accordance with the present invention, the dual stress liner boundary or gap therebetween is forced to land on a neighboring dummy gate region. By forcing the dual stress liner boundary or gap between the liners to land on the dummy gate region, the large stresses associated with the dual stress liner boundary or gap are transferred to the dummy gate region, not the semiconductor substrate. Thus, the impact of the dual stress liner boundary on the nearest neighboring FET is reduced. Additionally, benefits of device variability and packing density are achieved utilizing the present invention. |
| US07843023B2 |
Electromechanical switch
An electromechanical filter of the present invention is an electromechanical switch formed on a substrate. The switch has a fixed electrode which is to become a signal transmission line, and a movable electrode formed in a levitating manner while being spaced from the fixed electrode with a gap therebetween. An insulating film is provided on the fixed electrode, and an actuator is formed around the movable electrode formed on a post section. Thereby, an electromechanical switch equipped with a movable electrode fixing mechanism which prevents occurrence of self-actuation, which has hitherto been difficult to realize, is materialized. |
| US07843021B2 |
Double-side mountable MEMS package
The MEMS package has a mounting substrate on which one or more transducer chips are mounted wherein the mounting substrate has an opening. A top cover is attached to and separated from the mounting substrate by a spacer forming a housing enclosed by the top cover, the spacer, and the mounting substrate and accessed by the opening. Electrical connections are made between the one or more transducer chips and the mounting substrate and/or between the one or more transducer chips and the top cover. A bottom cover can be mounted on a bottom surface of the mounting substrate wherein a hollow chamber is formed between the mounting substrate and the bottom cover, wherein a second opening in the bottom cover is not aligned with the first opening. Pads on outside surfaces of the top and bottom covers can be used for further attachment to printed circuit boards. The top and bottom covers can be a flexible printed circuit board folded under the mounting substrate. |
| US07843019B2 |
Seal ring for mixed circuitry semiconductor devices
In mixed-component, mixed-signal, semiconductor devices, selective seal ring isolation from the substrate and its electrical potential is provided in order to segregate noise sensitive circuitry from electrical noise generated by electrically noisy circuitry. Appropriate predetermined sections of such a mixed use chip are isolated from the substrate through a non-ohmic contact with the substrate without compromising reliability of the chip's isolation from scribe region contamination. |
| US07843018B2 |
Transistor providing different threshold voltages and method of fabrication thereof
A transistor includes a channel region with a first portion and a second portion. A length of the first portion is smaller than a length of the second portion. The first portion has a higher threshold voltage than the second portion. The lower threshold voltage of the second portion allows for an increased ON current. Despite the increase attained in the ON current, the higher threshold voltage of the first portion maintains or lowers a relatively low OFF current for the transistor. |
| US07843017B2 |
Start-up control device
A transistor having a start-up control element is provided. The transistor includes an N-type depletion mode transistor and an N-type enhancement mode transistor. The N-type depletion mode transistor includes a drain for electrically connecting to an external power supply, and a gate normally grounded. The N-type enhancement mode transistor includes a drain electrically connected to the external power supply, and a gate electrically connected to a source of the depletion mode transistor. |
| US07843016B2 |
Asymmetric field effect transistor structure and method
Disclosed are embodiments for a design structure of an asymmetric field effect transistor structure and a method of forming the structure in which both series resistance in the source region (Rs) and gate to drain capacitance (Cgd) are reduced in order to provide optimal performance (i.e., to provide improved drive current with minimal circuit delay). Specifically, different heights of the source and drain regions and/or different distances between the source and drain regions and the gate are tailored to minimize series resistance in the source region (i.e., in order to ensure that series resistance is less than a predetermined resistance value) and in order to simultaneously to minimize gate to drain capacitance (i.e., in order to simultaneously ensure that gate to drain capacitance is less than a predetermined capacitance value). |
| US07843014B2 |
Small size transistor semiconductor device capable of withstanding high voltage
In one embodiment of the present invention, a high withstand voltage transistor is disclosed having small sizes including an element isolating region. The semiconductor device is provided with the element isolating region formed on a semiconductor substrate; an active region demarcated by the element isolating region; a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate in the active region by having a gate insulating film in between; a channel region arranged in the semiconductor substrate under the gate electrode; a source region and a drain region positioned on the both sides of the gate electrode; and a drift region positioned between one of or both of the source region and the drain region and the channel region. One of or both of the source region and the drain region are at least partially positioned on the element isolating region, and are connected with the channel region through the drift region. |
| US07843012B2 |
CMOS transistor
The CMOS transistor of the present invention includes deep halo doped regions in the substrate, which can avoid the occurrence of latch-up. In addition, the fabrication of the deep halo doped regions is integrated into the process of making the lightly doped drains or the source/drain doped regions, and therefore no extra mask is required. |
| US07843007B2 |
Metal high-k transistor having silicon sidewall for reduced parasitic capacitance
A method is disclosed to reduce parasitic capacitance in a metal high dielectric constant (MHK) transistor. The method includes forming a MHK gate stack upon a substrate, the MHK gate stack having a bottom layer of high dielectric constant material, a middle layer of metal, and a top layer of one of amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. The method further forms a depleted sidewall layer on sidewalls of the MHK gate stack so as to overlie the middle layer and the top layer, and not the bottom layer. The depleted sidewall layer is one of amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. The method further forms an offset spacer layer over the depleted sidewall layer and over exposed surfaces of the bottom layer. |
| US07843006B2 |
Semiconductor component arrangement having a power transistor and a temperature measuring arrangement
A semiconductor component arrangement includes a power transistor and a temperature measurement circuit. The power transistor includes a gate electrode, a source zone, a drain zone and a body zone. The body zone is arranged in a first semiconductor zone of a first conduction type. The temperature measuring circuit comprises a temperature-dependent resistor and an evaluation circuit coupled to the temperature-dependent resistor. The resistor is formed by a portion of said first semiconductor zone. |
| US07843002B2 |
Fully isolated high-voltage MOS device
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an n-type tub extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the n-type tub comprises a bottom buried in the semiconductor substrate; a p-type buried layer (PBL) on a bottom of the tub, wherein the p-type buried layer is buried in the semiconductor substrate; and a high-voltage n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVNMOS) device over the PBL and within a region encircled by sides of the n-type tub. |
| US07843001B2 |
Insulated gate type semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
In an insulated-gate type semiconductor device in which a gate-purpose conductive layer is embedded into a trench which is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a source-purpose conductive layer is provided on a major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a portion of a gate pillar which is constituted by both the gate-purpose conductive layer and a cap insulating film for capping an upper surface of the gate-purpose conductive layer is projected from the major surface of the semiconductor substrate; a side wall spacer is provided on a side wall of the projected portion of the gate pillar; and the source-purpose conductive layer is connected to a contact region of the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, which is defined by the side wall spacer. |
| US07842999B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided with silicon pillars arranged in a matrix and formed substantially perpendicularly to a main surface of a substrate, bit lines provided above the silicon pillars, gate electrodes covering a side surface of each silicon pillars via gate insulation films, first and second diffusion layers provided at an upper part and a lower part of the silicon pillar, respectively, a reference potential wiring provided in common to the plural silicon pillars for supplying a reference potential to the first diffusion layers, and memory elements connected between the second diffusion layers and the bit lines. The gate electrodes covering the silicon pillars adjacent in a first direction crossing the bit line are in contact with each other, and gate electrodes covering the silicon pillars adjacent in a second direction parallel with the bit line are isolated from each other. |
| US07842996B2 |
Memory cell of nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A memory cell of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a semiconductor region, source/drain areas arranged separately from each other in the semiconductor region, a tunnel insulating film arranged on a channel region between the diffusion areas, a floating gate electrode arranged on the tunnel insulating film, an inter-electrode insulator arranged on the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode arranged on the inter-electrode insulator. The inter-electrode insulator includes lanthanoid-based metal Ln, aluminum Al, and oxygen O, and a composition ratio Ln/(Al+Ln) between the lanthanoid-based metal and the aluminum takes a value within the range of 0.33 to 0.39. |
| US07842992B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having floating gate that includes two layers
It is an object to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with an excellent writing property and charge-retention property. A semiconductor layer including a channel forming region between a pair of impurity regions which are formed to be apart from each other is provided. In an upper layer portion thereof, a first insulating layer, a floating gate electrode, a second insulating layer, and a control gate electrode are provided. The floating gate has at least a two-layer structure, and a first layer being in contact with the first insulating layer preferably has a band gap smaller than that of the semiconductor layer. The stability of the first layer is improved by formation of a second layer of the floating gate electrode using a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound material. Such a structure of the floating gate electrode can improve injectability of carriers in writing and a charge-retention property. |
| US07842989B2 |
Semiconductor memory cell and semiconductor memory array using the same
A memory element including a first FET, and a selection switch including a second FET are connected in series, and a semiconductor film and a dielectric film stacked over a substrate form a common channel and a common gate insulating film in the first and second FETs. A first gate electrode of the first FET and a second gate electrode of the second FET are formed on the dielectric film, and a drain electrode and a source electrode are formed on the semiconductor film. Under the semiconductor film, a back-gate electrode is formed with a ferroelectric film interposed therebetween, and the ends of the semiconductor film that forms the channel are located inwardly of the ends of the back-gate electrode. |
| US07842987B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing the same, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first conductive region of the semiconductor substrate; a first conductive region on an upper surface side of the first conductive region of the semiconductor substrate; a second conductive region below the first conductive region on the upper surface side of the first conductive region of the semiconductor substrate. The solid-state imaging device further includes a photoelectric conversion region including the first conductive region located on the upper surface side of the first conductive region of the semiconductor substrate and the second conductive region and a transfer transistor transferring charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion region to a readout region; and a pixel including the photoelectric conversion region and the transfer transistor. The first conductive region, which is included in the photoelectric conversion region, extends to the lower side of a sidewall of a gate electrode of the transfer transistor. |
| US07842985B2 |
CMOS image sensor
Disclosed is a CMOS image sensor including a gate electrode of a finger type transfer transistor for controlling the saturation state of a floating diffusion region according to the luminance level (i.e. low luminance or high luminance). The CMOS image sensor includes first and second photodiode regions for generating electrons in response to incident light, and a transfer transistor positioned between the first and second photodiodes for receiving the generated electrons transferred from the first and/or second photodiode. |
| US07842984B2 |
CMOS image sensor
A CMOS image sensor is described, based on a substrate and including a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a source follower transistor, a select transistor, a photodiode and a floating node structure. The substrate includes a floating node area between the transfer transistor and the reset transistor. The floating node structure includes a P-well in the substrate within the floating node area, an N-well in the substrate outside of the floating node region, a lightly N-doped region having a portion in the P-well and another portion connected with the N-well, a heavily N-doped region in the N-well, and a contact plug for coupling the heavily N-doped region to the source follower transistor. |
| US07842980B2 |
Image sensor microlens structures and methods of forming the same
An image sensor includes a light receiving device in a substrate, a color filter over the light receiving device, a buffer film over the color filter, and a microlens on the buffer film. The microlens has a concave bottom face and a convex top face. The buffer film has a substantially flat top outside the microlens and has a convex top face below the microlens. |
| US07842979B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of driving the same
A solid-state imaging device includes an N-type semiconductor substrate, an N-type impurity region provided in the surficial portion of the N-type semiconductor substrate, a photo-electric conversion unit formed in the N-type impurity region, a charge accumulation unit formed in the N-type impurity region so as to contact with the photo-electric conversion unit, and temporarily accumulating charge generated in the photo-electric conversion unit, a charge hold region (barrier unit) formed in the N-type impurity region so as to contact with the charge accumulation unit, and allowing the charge accumulation unit to accumulate the charge, and a charge accumulating electrode provided to the charge accumulation unit. The charge accumulation unit and the charge hold region are formed to be N−-type. |
| US07842978B2 |
Imaging device by buried photodiode structure
An n-type region as a charge storage region of a photodiode is buried in a substrate. The interface between silicon and a silicon oxide film is covered with a high concentration p-layer and a lower concentration p-layer is formed only in the portion immediately below a floating electrode for signal extraction. Electrons generated by light are stored in the charge storage region, thereby changing the potential of the portion of the p-layer at the surface of the semiconductor region. The change is transmitted through a thin insulating film to the floating electrode by capacitive coupling and read out by a buffer transistor. Initialization of charges is executed by adding a positive high voltage to the gate electrode of a first transfer transistor such that the electrons stored in the charge storage region are transferred to the n+ region and generation of reset noise is protected. |
| US07842974B2 |
Gallium nitride heterojunction schottky diode
A gallium nitride based semiconductor diode includes a substrate, a GaN layer formed on the substrate, an AlGaN layer formed on the GaN layer where the GaN layer and the AlGaN layer forms a cathode region of the diode, a metal layer formed on the AlGaN layer forming a Schottky junction therewith where the metal layer forms an anode electrode of the diode, and a high barrier region formed in the top surface of the AlGaN layer and positioned under an edge of the metal layer. The high barrier region has a higher bandgap energy than the AlGaN layer or being more resistive than the AlGaN layer. |
| US07842973B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device capable of avoiding generation of a barrier in a conduction band while maintaining high withstanding voltage and enabling high speed transistor operation at high current in a double hetero bipolar transistor, as well as a manufacturing method thereof, wherein a portion of the base and the collector is formed of a material with a forbidden band width narrower than that of a semiconductor substrate, a region where the forbidden band increases stepwise and continuously from the emitter side to the collector side is disposed in the inside of the base and the forbidden band width at the base-collector interface is designed so as to be larger than the minimum forbidden band width in the base, whereby the forbidden band width at the base layer edge on the collector side can be made closer to the forbidden band width of the semiconductor substrate than usual while sufficiently maintaining the hetero effect near the emitter-base thereby capable of decreasing the height of the energy barrier generated upon increase of the collector current and enabling satisfactory transistor operation at high current. |
| US07842971B2 |
Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) device for high-voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) applications
A silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) device having a high holding voltage includes a PNP transistor and an NPN transistor, each transistor having both p-type and n-type dopant regions in their respective emitter areas. The device is particularly suited to high voltage applications, as the high holding voltage provides a device which is more resistant to latchup subsequent to an electrostatic discharge event compared to devices having a low holding voltage. |
| US07842968B2 |
Integrated low leakage diode
An integrated low leakage diode suitable for operation in a power integrated circuit has a structure similar to a lateral power MOSFET, but with the current flowing through the diode in the opposite direction to a conventional power MOSFET. The anode is connected to the gate and the comparable MOSFET source region which has highly doped regions of both conductivity types connected to the channel region to thereby create a lateral bipolar transistor having its base in the channel region. A second lateral bipolar transistor is formed in the cathode region. As a result, substantially all of the diode current flows at the upper surface of the diode thereby minimizing the substrate leakage current. A deep highly doped region in contact with the layers forming the emitter and the base of the vertical parasitic bipolar transistor inhibits the ability of the vertical parasitic transistor to fully turn on. |
| US07842966B2 |
Compound semiconductor light-emitting diode and method for fabrication thereof
A compound semiconductor light-emitting diode includes a light-emitting layer (133) formed of aluminum-gallium-indium phosphide, a light-emitting part (13) having component layers individually formed of a Group III-V compound semiconductor, a transparent supporting layer (14) bonded to one of the outermost surface layers (135) of the light-emitting part (13) and transparent to the light emitted from the light-emitting layer (133), and a bonding layer (141) formed between the supporting layer (14) and the one of the outermost surface layers (135)of the light-emitting part (13) containing oxygen atoms at a concentration of 1×1020 cm−3 or less. |
| US07842960B2 |
Light emitting packages and methods of making same
In a light emitting package (8), at least one light emitting chip (12, 14, 16, 18) is supported by a board (10). A light transmissive encapsulant (30) is disposed over the at least one light emitting chip and over a footprint area (32) of the board. A light transmissive generally conformal shell (40) is disposed over the encapsulant and has an inner surface (44) spaced apart by an air gap (G) from, and generally conformal with, an outer surface (34) of the encapsulant. At least one phosphor (50) is disposed on or embedded in the conformal shell to output converted light responsive to irradiation by the at least one light emitting chip. A thermally conductive filler material disposed in the generally conformal shell (40) is effective to enhance a thermal conductivity of the composite shell material to a value higher than 0.3 W/(m·K). |
| US07842958B1 |
Light-emitting diode, light-emitting device, lighting apparatus, display, and signal light
A light-emitting diode includes a substrate, a semiconductive light-emitting layer, and electrodes. The semiconductive light-emitting layer is deposited on one side of the substrate. The electrodes are composed of a conductive material filled in pores leading to the semiconductive light-emitting layer through the substrate. The semiconductive light-emitting layer includes sequentially deposited n-type and p-type semiconductive layers. The electrodes include n-side and p-side electrodes. One of the n-side and p-side electrodes penetrates through one of the n-type and p-type semiconductive layers, which is disposed closer to the substrate but not targeted for connection, and terminates with a tip thereof located within the other semiconductive layer. The other of the n-side and p-side electrodes penetrates through the substrate from the other side opposite to the one side of the substrate and terminates with a tip thereof located within the one semiconductive layer disposed closer to the substrate. |
| US07842954B2 |
Active matrix array structure
An active matrix array structure, disposed on a substrate, includes a first patterned conductive layer, a patterned gate insulating layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, a second patterned conductive layer, a patterned overcoat layer and a transparent conductive layer. The patterned gate insulating layer has first openings that expose a part of the first patterned conductive layer. The patterned semiconductor layer is disposed on the patterned gate insulating layer. The second patterned conductive layer is disposed on the patterned semiconductor layer. The patterned overcoat layer has second openings that expose a part of the first patterned conductive layer and a part of the second patterned conductive layer. The transparent conductive layer is completely disposed on the substrate. The transparent conductive layer disposed in the first openings and the second openings is broken off at a position that is in between the substrate and the patterned overcoat layer. |
| US07842951B2 |
Transistor and display device having the same
A transistor includes a control electrode, a first current electrode and a second current electrode. The control electrode includes a body portion, and first and second hand portions protruded from first and second ends of the body portion, respectively. The first current electrode is electrically insulated from the control electrode and disposed over a region between the first and second hand portions of the control electrode. A portion of the first current electrode is overlapped with a portion of the control electrode. The second current electrode is electrically insulated from the control electrode and partially overlapped with the body portion, the first hand portion and the second hand portion of the control electrode. Therefore, parasitic capacitance is reduced. |
| US07842950B2 |
Display device with field generating electrodes
A display device including a first substrate, a first subpixel electrode, a second subpixel electrode corresponding to the first substrate, a second substrate and a common electrode formed on the second substrate is provided. The first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode are formed on the first substrate. The second subpixel electrode is spaced apart from the first subpixel electrode. The common electrode has a first cutout and a second cutout. The first cutout is disposed over the first subpixel electrode and the second cutout is disposed over the second subpixel electrode. At least a portion of the first cutout has a first width and at least a portion of the second cutout has a second width different from the first width. The first width is larger than the second width in one embodiment. This structure enhances the aperture ratio and the brightness of the display device. Failures such as a residual image, stain or fingerprint may be reduced and the picture quality is improved. |
| US07842949B2 |
IC with comparator receiving expected and mask data from pads
Test circuits located on semiconductor die enable a tester to test a plurality of die/ICs in parallel by inputting both stimulus and response patterns to the plurality of die/ICs. The response patterns from the tester are input to the test circuits along with the output response of the die/IC to be compared. Also disclosed is the use of a response signal encoding scheme whereby the tester transmits response test commands to the test circuits, using a single signal per test circuit, to perform: (1) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic high, (2) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic low, and (3) a mask compare operation. The use of the signal encoding scheme allows functional testing of die and ICs since all response test commands (i.e. 1-3 above) required at each die/IC output can be transmitted to each die/IC output using only a single tester signal connection per die/IC output. In addition to functional testing, scan testing of die and ICs is also possible. |
| US07842947B2 |
Organic EL display panel and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is an organic EL display panel which includes: a substrate; a linear first bank which is disposed over the substrate and defines a linear region; a second bank which defines two or more pixel regions arranged in the linear region; a pixel electrode disposed in the pixel region; a linear organic layer which is formed by coating method in the linear region over the pixel electrode and second bank; and a counter electrode over the organic layer, wherein the first bank is larger in height than the second bank, the first and second banks are made of resin, anisole contact angle at the top of the first bank is 30-60°, and anisole contact angle at the top of the second bank is 5-30°. |
| US07842945B2 |
Anthracene derivative, and light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device using anthracene derivative
An object is to provide a novel anthracene derivative. Another object is to provide a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency. Yet another object is to provide a light-emitting element with a long lifetime. Still another object is to provide a light-emitting device and an electronic device having a long lifetime by using the light-emitting elements of the present invention. The anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided. The ability of the anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) to exhibit high luminous efficiency allows the production of a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency and a long lifetime. |
| US07842942B2 |
Organic semiconducting layers
An organic semiconducting layer formulation containing an organic binder which has a permittivity, ∈, at 1,000 Hz of 3.3 or less and a polyacene compound of Formula A: and processes for the preparation thereof and uses thereof in various electronic devices. |
| US07842940B2 |
Structure and method to form semiconductor-on-pores (SOP) for high device performance and low manufacturing cost
A semiconducting material that has all the advantages of prior art SOI substrates including, for example, low parasitic capacitance and leakage, without having floating body effects is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a Semiconductor-on-Pores (SOP) material that includes a top semiconductor layer and a bottom semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layers are separated in at least one region by a porous semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures including the SOP material as a substrate as well as a method of fabricating the SOP material are also provided. The method includes forming a p-type region with a first semiconductor layer, converting the p-type region to a porous semiconductor material, sealing the upper surface of the porous semiconductor material by annealing, and forming a second semiconductor layer atop the porous semiconductor material. |
| US07842936B2 |
Lithography system and projection method
The present invention relates a probe forming lithography system for generating a pattern on to a target surface such as a wafer, using a black and white writing strategy, i.e. writing or not writing a grid cell, thereby dividing said pattern over a grid comprising grid cells, said pattern comprising features of a size larger than that of a grid cell, in each of which cells said probe is switched “on” or “off, wherein a probe on said target covers a significantly larger surface area than a grid cell, and wherein within a feature a position dependent distribution of black and white writings is effected within the range of the probe size as well as to a method upon which such system may be based. |
| US07842934B2 |
Terminal structures of an ion implanter having insulated conductors with dielectric fins
Terminal structures of an ion implanter having insulated conductors with dielectric fins are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the terminal structures of an ion implanter may be realized with insulated conductors with one or more dielectric fins. For example, the ion implanter may comprise an ion source configured to provide an ion beam. The ion implanter may also comprise a terminal structure defining a cavity, wherein the ion source may be at least partially disposed within the cavity. The ion implanter may further comprise an insulated conductor having at least one dielectric fin disposed proximate an exterior portion of the terminal structure to modify an electric field. |
| US07842931B2 |
Extraction electrode manipulator
An extraction electrode manipulator system, comprising an ion source, a suppression electrode and a ground electrode, wherein the two electrode are supported by coaxially arranged two water cooled support tubes. A high voltage insulator ring is located on the other end of the coaxial support tube system to act as a mechanical support of the inner tube and also as a high voltage vacuum feedthrough to prevent sputtering and coating of the insulating surface. |
| US07842930B2 |
Charged particle detector assembly, charged particle beam apparatus and method for generating an image
A charged particle detector assembly comprises a particle detector, which has at least one particle sensitive region for detecting at least a portion of the spatial distribution of charged particles and for generating a two-dimensional optical signal which correlates to the detected spatial distribution. Further, an image conduit has an input coupled to the particle sensitive region of the particle detector for transmitting the two-dimensional optical signal to at least one optical detector. Further, a selecting means is adapted for selecting at least a portion of the two-dimensional optical signal. |
| US07842929B2 |
Systems and methods related to radiation delivery
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to the calibration and quality assurance of motion tracking enabled radiation therapy machines. A phantom, capable of mimicking human breathing through inflation and deflation of the lungs, houses an independently moving target (tumor) that detects the amount of radiation received from the radiation therapy machine. This amount can be compared with a desired amount to determine if adjustment or repositioning is necessary. The servo-mechanism(s) of the motion tracking enabled radiation therapy machine(s) are adjusted in comparison of detected versus programmed motion of the respiring phantom having incorporated independently moving target that incorporated radiation dose detector(s). In the invention, motion tracking and irradiation mechanisms of the radiation therapy machine are adjusted to calibrate with reference to performance specifications of the radiation therapy machine. |
| US07842923B2 |
Thermal actuator for an infrared sensor
In one embodiment, an infrared (IR) sensor has a flexible beam connected between two anchors supported on a substrate. The beam is mechanically coupled to a plate that has an IR-absorbing layer and is adapted to transfer the IR-induced heat to the beam. The heat transfer causes the beam to deform and move the plate with respect to the substrate. The motion of the plate is detected electrically or optically to quantify the amount of IR radiation received by the plate. The beam, anchors, and plate are formed from a planar layer of material that is supported at a specified offset distance from the substrate. During fabrication, certain portions of the planar layer are removed to define the beam, anchors, and plate. |
| US07842919B2 |
Q-pole type mass spectrometer
A Q-pole type mass spectrometer can be used under a high-pressure atmosphere of more than 0.1 Pa. The Q-pole type mass spectrometer can analyze the mass of gas molecules continuously, and can separate mass properly even if an ion is injected at high speed in order to reduce the influence of an end electric field near an end face (fringing) of the Q-pole. The motion of the ions to be measured in the diameter direction is independent of the motion of ions in the axial direction within the Q-pole region of the Q-pole type mass spectrometer. In the Q-pole type mass spectrometer installed in a reduced pressure atmosphere, the motion of ions to be measured in the axial direction advancing from an ion source toward a collector, is controlled within the Q-pole region so as to separate the mass of the ions to be measured by Coulomb force generated by a quadrupole high-frequency electric field in the diameter direction. |
| US07842918B2 |
Chemical structure-insensitive method and apparatus for dissociating ions
In a method for exciting a precursor ion in an ion trap, the ion is trapped in a nonlinear trapping field that includes a quadrupolar field and a multipole field. The quadrupolar field is generated by applying a radio-frequency (RF) trapping voltage to the ion trap at a trapping amplitude and trapping frequency. A supplemental alternating-current (AC) voltage is applied to the ion trap at a supplemental amplitude and supplemental frequency. The supplemental amplitude is low enough to prevent ejection of the ion from the ion trap, and the supplemental frequency differs from the secular frequency of the ion by an offset amount. One or more operating parameters of the ion trap are adjusted, such that the ion absorbs energy from the supplemental field sufficient to undergo collision-induced dissociation (CID) without being in resonance with the supplemental field. |
| US07842917B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmission mode ion/ion dissociation
A method an apparatus for analyzing biomolecules is described. The method includes injecting and storing one species of ionized molecule in a linear ion trap and injecting second species of oppositely polarity ionized molecule such that the second species is transmitted through the stored first species. The resultant reaction products may be analyzed by a mass analyzed taking account of the remaining charge values. In an aspect, a linear ion trap may be used as the reaction volume, and the ionized species injected along the axis of the trap in a substantially collinear manner. The mass analysis may be performed by mass selective axial ejection or by a mass spectrometer. |
| US07842916B2 |
Method of and apparatus for analyzing ions adsorbed on surface of mask
A method of analyzing ions adsorbed on a surface of a mask for pattern formation of a semiconductor device, and an apparatus using the same are disclosed. The ion analyzing method includes: filling a heating container within a main chamber with a predetermined amount of a solvent; immersing a mask in the solvent-filled heating container; raising an internal pressure of the chamber to a predetermined level by supplying gas into the chamber; separating ions from a surface of the mask by heating the solvent within the heating container at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period; and analyzing the ions by collecting the solvent. |
| US07842914B2 |
Optoelectronic package, camera including the same and related methods
A camera includes a first substrate having top and bottom surfaces, a second substrate having top and bottom surfaces, a spacer substrate between a substantially planar portion of the top surface of the second substrate and a substantially planar of the bottom surface of the first substrate, at least two of the first substrate, the second substrate and the spacer substrate sealing an interior space, a detector within the interior space, and an electrical interconnection extending from the detector to outside the interior space. |
| US07842913B2 |
Method for determining the position of a first moving component relative to a second component and device for applying said method
A method for determining the position of one of two components in relative motion with respect to each other, using optical means, comprises: directing at least one light beam emitted by a light source attached to one component towards a diffractive support attached to the second component, calculated and manufactured for generating an optical signal indicative of the positioning of said support, the optical signal being produced by the diffractive support in transmission and/or in reflection, and the optical signal including information indicative of its quality; detecting and reading at least one optical code formed by said signal, which corresponds to a unique position of the diffractive support relatively to the beam; and assigning a position to each detected optical code. |
| US07842895B2 |
Key switch structure for input device
A key switch structure used in an input device is disclosed to include a circuit module, a key cap supported on a vertically compressible and elastically deformable hollow actuation member of a rubber membrane of the circuit board, a positioning board fastened to the circuit module, and two links arranged in a crossed manner and coupled between coupling portions of the positioning and the key cap to guide vertical movement of the key cap by means of a scissor action when the key cap is pressed by a user to compress the vertically compressible and elastically deformable hollow actuation member in triggering a circuit module to produce a control signal. |
| US07842892B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring the body weight
An apparatus and a method for measuring a body weight of a user are provided. The apparatus includes a container containing a fluid inside for supporting the user, a fluid sensor measuring a pressure of the fluid inside the container, and a control unit determining the body weight of the user. The fluid sensor measures a change of the pressure as the user lying on the container, and the control unit determines the body weight of the user based on the change of the pressure. |
| US07842891B2 |
Sealing board and method for producing the same
There is provided a sealing board (30) for sealing a container containing an electronic component, constituted of a base which is made of a material exhibiting a low wettability to a brazing filler metal (31) and on a surface of which a metal layer exhibiting a high wettability to the brazing filler metal (31) is formed, a brazing filler metal portion formed on the metal layer to form a closed region, and an exposed portion in which a surface of the base is exposed in at least a part of the closed region. By making at least a part of the sealing board as the exposed portion, it is possible to produce the sealing board with the brazing filler metal for a package stable in quality and inexpensively. |
| US07842885B2 |
Simplified truss assembly and lighting track interconnection
A simplified assembly truss system rivets each power track inside one chord of each truss span so that the electrical components cannot be misaligned inside the chord during final assembly. The chord is slotted to receive lighting heads in its mid-sections, and short end slots allow interconnecting plugs to be inserted into matching power track ends. A stop captured by the rivets near each chord-end indexes the interconnecting plugs to ensure the final electrical assembly is correct. |
| US07842882B2 |
Low cost and high throughput deposition methods and apparatus for high density semiconductor film growth
The present invention describes a method of obtaining an absorber layer for a solar cell, That method includes depositing a preparatory material comprising a melt of at least one Group IIIA material on a base to form a precursor layer, and reacting the precursor layer with at least one Group VIA material to form a dense Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer. The method described above can further include forming the preparatory material, the preparatory material comprising the melt of at least one Group IIIA material and a solid phase in the form of particles, such that the solid phase in the form of particles is included within the melt during the step of depositing. Various techniques for applying the preparatory material to the base as a melt are also described. |
| US07842881B2 |
Solar cell structure with localized doping in cap layer
A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate and a sequence of semiconductor layers disposed over the substrate. The sequence of semiconductor layers includes a semiconductor window layer. The solar cell also includes a semiconductor silicon-containing cap layer over the window layer. The cap layer is spatially separated from the window layer by a semiconductor barrier layer that either includes no silicon or has a silicon concentration that is significantly lower than the silicon concentration of the cap layer. |
| US07842880B2 |
Weavable fiber photovoltaic collectors
Photovoltaic fibers and methods of making photovoltaic fibers are provided. The photovoltaic fiber contains a core, bottom metal-semiconductor compounds over the core, a semiconductor layer comprising semiconductor elements and insulating materials over the bottom metal-semiconductor compounds, and upper metal-semiconductor compounds over the semiconductor layer. The photovoltaic fiber can be weavable. Fabrics including the photovoltaic fibers can be utilized in any suitable application or photovoltaic collector. |
| US07842879B1 |
Touch sensitive impact controlled electronic signal transfer device
One embodiment of the Touch sensitive impact controlled signal transfer device invention whereas the invention is used as a musical glove device that sends electrical signals to a sound module when areas of the glove containing piezoelectric discs are tapped or otherwise impacted on a surface and where the force applied by impact to the piezoelectric disc or discs is interpreted by the sound module and said module produces a sound at a volume level directly related to the force of impact on the piezoelectric discs and where multiple piezoelectric disks are located in each glove allowing a plurality of sounds by tapping different areas of the glove, such as the palm, thumb and fingers. |
| US07842874B2 |
Creating music by concatenative synthesis
Automated creation of new music by listening is disclosed. A method to create new music may comprise listening to a plurality of music, learning from the plurality of music, and performing concatenative synthesis based on the listening and the learning to create the new music. The method may be performed on a computing device having an audio interface, such as a personal computer. |
| US07842872B2 |
Steel pan tablature system and associated methods
A tablature system for representing a series of notes to be played on a steel pan/drum having concentric rings of note pads is provided, wherein each note pad is for producing a distinct musical pitch. The tablature includes a staff having three horizontal lines positioned atop each other, a first line representing a center ring of note pads, a second line representing an inner ring of note pads, and third line representing an outer ring of note pads. For each note pad to be represented, a rhythmic indicator is provided that lies adjacent the horizontal line commensurate with where the note pad to be represented lies. For each note pad to be represented, the note name is positioned above the respective rhythmic indicator. |
| US07842869B2 |
String instrument with improved acoustic properties and fixing plate for fixing one end of the strings of a guitar
A string instrument with improved acoustic properties includes taut strings fixed at both ends of the instrument. An element is arranged on at least one end of at least one string, between a fixing device of a first material and the string, said element of a second material having a conductive and absorbent capacity for sound waves in the audible frequency range created by striking the strings, which is lower than the conductive or absorbent capacity of the first material in said frequency range, in such a way that the string is protected against any contact with the fixing device. The invention also relates to a fixing plate for guitars, including electronic guitars or electronic bases, having a sleeve disposed in a string hole of the fixing plate at a terminating end of a string. |
| US07842864B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH13KD
A novel maize variety designated PH13KD and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize varietyPH13KD with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13KD through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH13KD or a locus conversion of PH13KD with another maize variety. |
| US07842863B1 |
Maize variety PHP8R
A novel maize variety designated PHP8R and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHP8R with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHP8R through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHP8R or a trait conversion of PHP8R with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHP8R, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHP8R and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07842858B1 |
Soybean variety XB30L09
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB30L09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB30L09, to the plants of soybean XB30L09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB30L09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB30L09 with another soybean plant, using XB30L09 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US07842855B2 |
Plant 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase in a transformed host cell. |
| US07842852B2 |
Method for increasing the content of polyunsaturated long-chained fatty acids in transgenic organisms
The present invention relates to a method for increasing the content of polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids in an organism by introducing nucleic acids coding for polypeptides or proteins exhibiting a phospholipase, ketoacyl-CoA reductase and/or dehydratase activity. The present invention also provides nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides with enzyme activities of a phospholipase, ketoacyl-CoA reductase and/or dehydratase, and nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms containing the nucleic acid sequences according to the present invention. A further part of the present invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced according to the method of the present invention and the use thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and the use thereof. |
| US07842850B2 |
Methods for producing fertile crosses between wild and domestic soybean species
Methods for producing hybrids between domestic and wild soybean that are fertile and can be further bred with other soybean plants are provided, thus allowing transfer of desirable traits and genes from the wild soybean into the domestic soybean. This invention also provides novel media for producing callus and multiple somatic embryos, as well as novel media for producing multiple shoots from the embryos. The hybrid plants are made fertile by colchicine treatment to double their chromosome number so that they can be backcrossed into domestic soybean. These methods and media allow the production of elite soybean lines containing traits or genes from wild soybean as well as a minimum amount of additional wild soybean DNA. Backcrosses containing only one wild soybean chromosome can be produced, as well as sets of such backcrossed lines that each contain one chromosome from the wild ancestor, but collectively all the wild chromosomes from the hybrid ancestor. Plants and plant progeny and plant tissue (tissue including seeds) of plants produced by the foregoing methods are also provided. The methods do not require genetic modification, and thus this invention allows production of domestic soybean plants that are not genetically-modified organisms (non-GMO) but that express desirable traits derived from wild soybean. |
| US07842842B1 |
Hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds—synthetic routes, compositions and uses thereof
Disclosed are new chemical entities 2, 3, 7-trimethyl-7-alkoxy-octanals, represented by the general structure (STR#GEN) wherein “R” represents an alkyl, allyl, alkenyl, or aryl alkyl groups. In specific the present invention discloses novel hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds represented by STR#I, II and III to generate new flavor and/or aroma materials. The use of compounds of the present invention as a part of perfume and aroma (fragrance) compositions is also disclosed by the invention. |
| US07842830B2 |
Transition-metal charge-transport materials, methods of fabrication thereof, and methods of use thereof
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include transition-metal charge-transport materials, methods of forming transition-metal charge-transport materials, and methods of using the transition-metal charge-transport materials. |
| US07842827B2 |
Mesoporous metal-organic framework
The present invention relates to a porous metal-organic framework comprising AlIII and at least one at least bidentate compound, wherein the at least one at least bidentate organic compound is a six-membered aromatic hydrocarbon ring A in which one or more ring carbons may be replaced by nitrogen and which has three substituents X and optionally one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of R, NRR′, OR, SR, F, Cl and Br, where R, R′ are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, methyl which may optionally be substituted by one or more fluorine atoms or ethyl which may optionally be substituted by one or more fluorine atoms and each X is, independently of the others, C(═O)O−, C(═S)O−, C(═O)S−, C(═S)S− or a protonated form thereof. The invention further provides a process for preparing it and provides for the use of the new porous metal-organic framework. |
| US07842823B2 |
Fluorogenic probes for reactive oxygen species
The present invention provides a novel class of fluorogenic probes for reactive oxygen species. Exemplary probes of the invention utilize a boronate deprotection mechanism to provide high selectivity and optical dynamic range for detecting H2O2 in aqueous solution over similar reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide, nitric oxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and hydroxyl radical; Peroxyresorufin-1 (PR1), Peroxyfluor-1 (PF1), and Peroxyxanthone-1 (PX1) are first-generation probes that respond to H2O2 by an increase in red, green, and blue fluorescence, respectively. The boronate dyes are cell-permeable and can detect micromolar changes in H2O2 concentrations in living cells, including hippocampal neurons, using confocal and two-photon microscopy. The unique combination of ROS selectivity, membrane permeability, and a range of available excitation/emission colors establishes the potential value of PR1, PF1, PX1, and related probes for interrogating the physiology and pathology of cellular H2O2. |
| US07842822B2 |
Substituted benzopyrans as selective estrogen receptor-beta agonists
The present invention relates to substituted benzopyran derivatives, stereoisomers, and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof useful as Estrogen Receptor beta agonists for treating Estrogen Receptor beta mediated diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. |
| US07842816B2 |
N3 alkylated benzimidazole derivatives as MEK inhibitors
Disclosed are amino acid prodrugs of compounds of the formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein W, R1, R2, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, in mammals. Also disclosed is a method of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative disease in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. |
| US07842812B2 |
Substituted 5-aminomethy1-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid amides
Substituted 5-aminomethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid amides, a process for the production thereof, pharmaceutical preparations containing these compounds and the use of these compounds in pharmaceutical preparations for treatment or inhibition of withdrawal symptoms, memory disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cardiovascular disorders, water retention, intestinal motility disorders, urinary incontinence, anorexia, tinnitus, pruritus, depression, sexual dysfunction, airways diseases, food intake disorders, or type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes, or for anxiolysis, diuresis, suppression of the urinary reflex, reducing the addictive potential of opioids, modulating locomotor activity, influencing the cardiovascular system, or regulating electrolyte balance. |
| US07842809B2 |
Pyrazolopyridines and salts thereof, a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compounds, a method of preparing same and use of same
The invention relates to pyrazolopyridines according to the general formula (I): and salts thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said pyrazolopyridines and to a method of preparing said pyrazolopyridines as well as the use thereof for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of diseases of dysregulated vascular growth or of diseases which are accompanied with dysregulated vascular growth, wherein the compounds effectively interfere with angiopoietin and therefore influence Tie2 signalling. |
| US07842805B2 |
Pharmaceutical compounds as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis and the use thereof
Disclosed are 1-arylamino-phthalazines, 4-arylamino-benzo[d][1,2,3]triazines, and analogs thereof effective as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. The compounds of this invention are useful in the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs. |
| US07842803B2 |
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands 101
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands of Formula I wherein X, n, R1 and R2 are as described in the specification, diastereoisomers, enantiomers, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, methods of making, pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods for using the same. |
| US07842798B2 |
Production of attenuated, human-bovine chimeric respiratory syncytial virus vaccines
Chimeric human-bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are infectious and attenuated in humans and other mammals and useful in vaccine formulations for eliciting an anti-RSV immune response. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a chimeric RSV genome or antigenome which includes a partial or complete human or bovine RSV “background” genome or antigenome combined or integrated with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain. In preferred aspects of the invention, chimeric RSV incorporate a partial or complete bovine RSV background genome or antigenome combined with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) from a human RSV. A variety of additional mutations and nucleotide modifications are provided within the human-bovine chimeric RSV of the invention to yield desired phenotypic and structural effects. |
| US07842797B2 |
Human CDR-grafted antibody and antibody fragment thereof
A human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) but does not react with a human blood platelet; a human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of CCR4 and has a cytotoxic activity against a CCR4-expressing cell; and a medicament, a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent comprising at least one of the antibodies and the antibody fragments thereof as an active ingredient. |
| US07842795B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding a heme binding protein polypeptide
The present invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for detecting of formyl peptide receptor like-2 (FPRL2) polypeptide activity in a sample and identifying agents which modulate polypeptide activity. It further relates to antibodies raised against FPRL2. It further relates to substances for preventing, treating and/or alleviating diseases or disorders characterized by dysregulation of FPRL2 polypeptide signalling. |
| US07842792B2 |
Compositions and methods for non-targeted activation of endogenous genes
The present invention is directed generally to activating gene expression or causing over-expression of a gene by recombination methods in situ. The invention also is directed generally to methods for expressing an endogenous gene in a cell at levels higher than those normally found in the cell. In one embodiment of the invention, expression of an endogenous gene is activated or increased following integration into the cell, by non-homologous or illegitimate recombination, of a regulatory sequence that activates expression of the gene. In another embodiment, the expression of the endogenous gene may be further increased by co-integration of one or more amplifiable markers, and selecting for increased copies of the one or more amplifiable markers located on the integrated vector. The invention also provides methods for the identification, activation, isolation, and/or expression of genes undiscoverable by current methods since no target sequence is necessary for integration. |
| US07842791B2 |
Dispersible pharmaceutical compositions
A pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising a vehicle that comprises (a) an amphipathic oil that is water dispersible and ethanol insoluble, (b) microcrystalline wax, and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable non-aqueous carrier; and having an antibacterial substance in an antibacterially effective amount stably dispersed in the vehicle. The composition is suitable for administration by intramammary infusion to a milk producing animal for treatment and/or prevention of mastitis or other diseases of the udder, as well as for otic administration for treatment and/or prevention of an ear infection. |
| US07842790B2 |
Antibodies against human parathyroid hormone related protein
Disclosed are an antibody against human para-thyroid-hormone-related protein, a DNA coding for the antibody, a recombinant vector containing the DNA, a transformant transformed with the recombinant vector, a method for preparation of the antibody, and uses of the antibody. |
| US07842789B2 |
Antibody fragment-polymer conjugates and uses of same
Described are conjugates formed by an antibody fragment covalently attached to a non-proteinaceous polymer, wherein the apparent size of the conjugate is at least about 500 kD. The conjugates exhibit substantially improved half-life, mean residence time, and/or clearance rate in circulation as compared to the underivatized parental antibody fragment. Also described are conjugates directed against human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human p185 receptor-like tyrosine kinase (HER2), human CD20, human CD18, human CD11a, human IgE, human apoptosis receptor-2 (Apo-2), human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), human tissue factor (TF), human α4β7 integrin, human GPIIb-IIIa integrin, human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human CD3, and human interleukin-2 receptor α-chain (TAC) for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. |
| US07842788B2 |
Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type three (TIMP-3) composition and methods
The present invention relates in general to metalloproteinase inhibitors and to polynucleotides encoding such inhibitors. In particular, the invention relates to novel mammalian inhibitors of metalloproteinase, which are designated as type three or TIMP-3, to fragments, derivatives, and analogs thereof, and to polynucleotides encoding the same. Novel methods of producing such compositions and novel methods of using such compositions are also provided. |
| US07842782B2 |
Heparanase-derived peptides for vaccination of tumor patients
Disclosed is a vaccine against diseases, particularly tumor diseases, being associated with an enhanced heparanase expression and/or activity, wherein the vaccine contains a heparanase peptide, which binds to a HLA molecule. |
| US07842781B2 |
Method for isolating a polynucleotide of interest from the genome of a mycobacterium using a BAC-based DNA library. application to the detection of mycobacteria
The present invention is directed to a method for isolating a polynucleotide of interest that is present or is expressed in a genome of a first mycobacterium strain and that is absent or altered in a genome of a second mycobacterium strain which is different from the first mycobacterium strain using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector. The invention further relates to a polynucleotide isolated by this method and recombinant BAC vector used in this method. In addition the present invention comprises method and kit for detecting the presence of a mycobacteria in a biological sample. |
| US07842778B2 |
Polyester process using a pipe reactor
The invention is directed to polyester processes where the esterification process at utilizes a vapor removing device, wherein the vapor removing device is substantially horizontally oriented, wherein the esterification effluent forms a two-phase laminar, stratified, non-circular vapor/liquid flow in at least a portion of said vapor removing device. |
| US07842776B2 |
Appliance parts comprising polyester compositions formed from 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol
Described are appliance parts comprising polyester compositions comprising polyesters which comprise (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues or ester residues thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. |
| US07842775B2 |
Development and characterization of novel proton conducting aromatic polyether type copolymers bearing main and side chain pyridine groups
Featured are novel heterocycle substituted hydroquinones, aromatic copolymers and homopolymers bearing main and side chain polar pyridine units. These polymers exhibit good mechanical properties, high thermal and oxidative stability, high doping ability and high conductivity values. These novel polymers can be used in the preparation and application of MEA on PEMFC type single cells. The combination of the above mentioned properties indicate the potential of the newly prepared materials to be used as electrolytes in high temperature PEM fuel cells. |
| US07842772B2 |
Stabilization of cross-linked silane group containing polymers with phenomic stabilizers
The present invention relates to a composition for cross-linking and stabilization of a polymer containing hydrolysable silane groups comprising a sulphonic acid as a silanol condensation catalyst characterized in that it comprises a stabilizer which is neutral or acidic, does not contain ester groups and is a compound according to formula (I): wherein R is an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbyl radical which may comprise heteroatoms, R′ is a hydrocarbyl radical, R″ is a hydrocarbyl radical and R′ and/or R″ being a bulky radical, X1, X2 or X3 is the same or different H or OH, whereby at least X1, X2 or X3 is OH, and n is 1 to 4; or a compound according to formula (II): R′″—(S)p—R′″ (II) wherein R′″ is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl radical and p is 1 to 6; or a mixture of any of such compounds, to a stabilized polymer comprising the above stabilizers and to a process for cross-linking and stabilization of silane group containing polymers in the presence of the above mentioned stabilizers. |
| US07842771B2 |
Self-adhesive addition-crosslinking silicone compositions
Self-adhesive addition-crosslinking silicone compositions contain (A) at least one diorganopolysiloxane, (B) at least one SiH-containing crosslinker containing a defined fraction of radicals, with the proviso that the viscosity of the organohydropolysiloxane (B) as determined at 25° C. is 5 mPa·s to 5 Pa·s, (C) at least one organohydrooligosiloxane, and (D) at least one hydrosilylation catalyst. |
| US07842770B2 |
Compositions of ethylene/α-olefin multi-block interpolymer for blown films with high hot tack
The present invention relates to film layers and compositions having improved hot tack properties. The compositions comprise at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer, wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer may have, for example, a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship: Tm>−2002.9+4538.5(d)−2422.2(d)2. |
| US07842767B2 |
Polyether based monomers and highly cross-linked amphiphile resins
The present invention relates to a cross-linked polyether which is obtained by polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of (a) (α-X-methyl) vinyl-EWG, (α-X-methyl) vinyl-ERG, or (α-X-methyl) vinyl-aryl, where X is oxygen, sulfur, PEG, PPG or poly (THF); (b) a monomer which is polymerizable with a PEG, PPG or poly (THF) cross-linker having at least one (α-X-methyl) vinyl-EWG, (α-X-methyl) vinyl-ERG or (α-X-methyl) vinyl-aryl, where X is oxygen, sulfur, PEG, PPG, or poly (THF); (c) a PEG, PPG, or poly (THF) cross-linker having at least an acrylamide or a methacrylamide end group; and (d) mixtures thereof. Various monomers, resins and methods for preparing such cross-linked polyethers are also disclosed. |
| US07842766B2 |
Phosphorus-containing copolymers, method for the production thereof, and use thereof
Copolymers which are obtained by free radical copolymerization of a vinylic poly(alkylene oxide) compound (A) with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer compound (B), and the use thereof as dispersants for aqueous solid suspensions, in particular hydraulic binders based on cement, lime, gypsum and anhydrite, are described. With very good water reduction power, the copolymers according to the invention scarcely retard the hardening of the concrete and ensure long processability of the concrete. |
| US07842761B2 |
Bioderived plasticizer for biopolymers
A bioderived plasticizer for biopolymers includes a compatibilizing unit and a polyester plasticizing unit. The plasticizer improves the flexibility of biopolymers while not adversely affecting their modulus. The compatibilizing unit renders the plasticizer more miscible with the desired base biopolymer and includes a lower alkyl (C3 to C7) organic acid. The polyester plasticizing unit is formed from monomers comprising a multifunctional alcohol and an aliphatic anhydride or its equivalent dicarboxylic acid and ester derivatives. The polyester plasticizing unit may optionally include one or more difunctional alcohols in combination with the multifunctional alcohol. The resulting the bioderived plasticizer has a low glass transition temperature (Tg), preferably between −20° C. to 30° C. The plasticizer is preferably amorphous. |
| US07842760B2 |
Liquid-crystalline polyester blend
The present invention provides a liquid-crystalline polyester blend, which is obtained by combining a liquid-crystalline polyester (A) and a liquid-crystalline polyester (B) such that the ratio by weight of (A)/(B) is 99/1 to 80/20: liquid-crystalline polyester (A) which consists of aromatic oxycarbonyl repeating units, aromatic dioxy repeating units and aromatic dicarbonyl repeating units, and contains 40-80 mol % of the repeating unit represented by formula (I) based on the total repeating units constituting the liquid-crystalline polyester (A); liquid-crystalline polyester (B) which comprises repeating units represented by formulae (I) and (II), wherein the molar proportion of the total amount of the repeating units represented by formulae (I) and (II) based on the total amount of the repeating units constituting the liquid-crystalline polyester (B) is greater than or equal to 90 mol % and the molar proportion of the repeating units represented by formulae (I) to (II) is from 10/90 to 50/50. The liquid-crystalline polyester blend of the present invention exhibits excellent dielectric properties in high frequency regions as well as good impact strength and molding processability. |
| US07842757B2 |
Pigment preparation
The invention relates to a solid pigment preparation comprising a pigment and a dispersant resin, wherein the composition comprises at least 35% by weight of at least one pigment and at most 65% by weight of dispersant resin, calculated on the combined weight of pigment and dispersant resin, wherein the dispersant resin comprises a polymer backbone produced by chain-reaction polymerization having pendent hydrophilic polyalkylene oxide side groups, and wherein the pigment particles within the preparation have average particle sizes in the range of 50 nm to 5,000 nm. |
| US07842754B2 |
Thermoplastic elastomer composition
Disclosed is a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by dynamically crosslinking a composition composed of a component (A), a component (B) and a component (C) with 0.05 to 5 parts by mass of a crosslinking agent per 100 parts by mass of the component (A). The component (A) is 50 to 85 parts by mass of an acrylic rubber prepared by copolymerizing a monomer mixture mainly containing an alkyl acrylate and also containing 0.5 to 15% by mass of an epoxy group-containing monomer. The component (B) is 15 to 50 parts by mass of a thermoplastic polyester resin. The component (C) is 1 to 35 parts by mass of a graft copolymer or a precursor thereof per 100 parts by mass of the total of the components (A) and (B), and the graft copolymer is composed of an olefin polymer segment and a vinyl copolymer segment. |
| US07842751B2 |
Water-based paint compositions
This invention provides a water-based paint composition comprising an emulsion resin (A), melamine resin (B) and hydrophobic solvent (C), the emulsion resin (A) being fine resin particles having core/shell type multilayered structure composed of the core made of a copolymer (I) obtained by copolymerization of 0.1-30 mass % of polymerizable unsaturated monomer (a) having at least two polymerizable unsaturated groups per molecule and 70-99.9 mass % of other polymerizable unsaturated monomer (b), and the shell made of a copolymer (II) obtained by copolymerization of 5-50 mass % of vinyl aromatic compound (c) and 50-95 mass % of other polymerizable unsaturated monomer (d), the solid mass ratio of the copolymer (I)/copolymer (II) being within a range of 10/90-90/10; the melamine resin (B) having a weight-average molecular weight within a range of 1,000-5,000; and containing, per 100 mass parts of solid resin content in the water-based paint composition, the emulsion resin (A) within a range of 10-80 mass parts, the melamine resin (B), within a range of 5-50 mass parts, and the hydrophobic solvent (C), within a range of 10-100 mass parts. Use of the water-based paint composition allows formation of coating film free of metallic mottling and excelling in flip-flop property, smoothness, luster and water resistance. |
| US07842745B2 |
Degassing compositions for curable coatings
Non-yellowing degassing compositions which enhance degassing in powder coatings and other film-forming curable coatings are disclosed. The non-yellowing compositions contain degassing agents including a plurality of unfused aromatic rings and at least one functional group selected from ketals, carbamates, carbonates and carboxylic acid esters. The degassing agents resist decomposition and discoloration, and are relatively stable at resin curing conditions. The degassing agents may be synergistically combined with other materials, such as fatty acid amide-containing waxes, to produce new and surprisingly effective degassing compositions suitable for use in powder coatings. Curable compositions which utilize the new degassing compositions are also disclosed. |
| US07842744B2 |
Optical film
The present invention provides an optical film, which is excellent in ultraviolet absorption capability at 380 nm with little bleed-out, comprising a resin containing a triazine compound represented by the following general formula (I). (In the formula, R1-R6 may be a hydrogen atom; hydroxyl group; or an organic group selected from among an alkyl group, alkoxy group, dialkyl amino group, alkyl carbonyloxy group, aryl group, arylated alkyl group, aryloxy group, arylated alkyloxy group and an aryl carbonyloxy group having 18 or less carbon atoms, independently. However, the alkyl part of these organic groups may be substituted by a hydroxyl group, halogen atom, cyano group or nitro group, interrupted by an oxygen atom, sulfur atom, carbonyl group, ester group, amide group or imino group, or have a double bond, and these substitutions, interruptions and double bonds may be combined). |
| US07842742B2 |
Pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets, and surface protecting film
An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition excellent in antistatic property of a non-electrification-prevented adherend (subject to be protected) upon peeling, and has reduced stainability in an adherend and excellent in adhesion reliance, and electrification preventing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets using the same. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.1 to 100% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid alkylene oxide. In addition, there is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.5 to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing monomer and having a glass transition temperature Tg of no higher than 0° C. Furthermore, there is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.01 to 20% by weight of a reactive surfactant. |
| US07842732B2 |
Microgels in non-crosslinkable organic media
The invention relates to a composition which comprises a specific non-crosslinkable medium and at least one microgel, processes for its preparation, uses of the compositions, and microgel-containing polymers, rubbers, lubricants, coatings etc. prepared therefrom. |
| US07842717B2 |
DNT-maleate and methods of preparation thereof
(S)-N,N-Dimethyl-3-(1-naphthalenyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propanamine maleate (DNT-maleate) and polymorphs of DNT-maleate, compositions of DNT-maleate and its polymorphs, processes for the preparation of DNT-maleate and its polymorphs, and processes for the preparation of duloxetine hydrochloride from DNT-maleate are provided. |
| US07842716B2 |
Treating vascular events with statins by inhibiting PAR-1 and PAR-4
The present invention relates to new methods for treating and/or preventing vascular events by inhibiting G-coupled Protease Activating Receptor (PAR)-1 and/or PAR-4 with the administration of statins. In one embodiment, individuals who are at risk for vascular events, but have cholesterol levels (e.g., total cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein) in normal ranges, are treated with statins. |
| US07842711B2 |
Indazolecarboxamide derivatives for the treatment and prevention of malaria
The invention relates to methods of treating or preventing malaria which comprises administering to a patient in need thereof, an effective amount of a 1H-indazole-3-carboxamide derivative of general formula (I), in the form of a base or of an addition salt with an acid, or in the form of a hydrate or of a solvate of said base or acid addition salt. |
| US07842709B2 |
Method for treating inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract
A method for treating an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract, for example inflammatory bowel disease, in a subject comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of (S,S)-2- [1-carboxy-2-[3-(3,5-dichlorobenzyl)-3H-imidazol-4-yl]-ethylamino]-4-methylpentanoic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. |
| US07842708B2 |
Arylpropionamide, arylacrylamide, arylpropynamide, or arylmethylurea analogs as factor XIa inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the variables A, L1, M and R11 are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors or dual inhibitors of fXIa and plasma kallikrein. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same. |
| US07842706B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition
Pharmaceutical composition which comprises an insulin sensitivity enhancer in combination with other antidiabetics differing from the enhancer in the mechanism of action, which shows a potent depressive effect on diabetic hyperglycemia and is useful for prophylaxis and treatment of diabetes. |
| US07842703B2 |
Substituted benzofused derivatives and their use as vanilloid receptor ligands
The present invention relates to substituted benzofused derivatives, which can be used as vanilloid receptor ligands, method of treating diseases, conditions and/or disorders modulated by vanilloid receptors with them, and processes for preparing them. |
| US07842699B2 |
Pyrrolo[2,3-D]pyrimidine compounds
A compound of the formula wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above, which are inhibitors of the enzyme protein kinases such as Janus Kinase 3 and as such are useful therapy as immunosuppressive agents for organ transplants, xeno transplation, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Type I diabetes and complications from diabetes, cancer, asthma, atopic dermatitis, autoimmune thyroid disorders, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Leukemia and other autoimmune diseases. |
| US07842698B2 |
Pyridine methylene azolidinones and use thereof phosphoinositide inhibitors
The present invention relates to pyridine methylene azolidinone compounds of Formula (I) for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multi-organ failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, graft rejection or lung injuries. Specifically, the present invention is related to pyridine methylene azolidinone derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide-3-kinases, PI3Ks. |
| US07842693B2 |
Substituted piperazines
Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and which have been further confirmed in animal testing for inflammation, one of the hallmark disease states for CCR1. The compounds are generally aryl piperazine derivatives and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists. |
| US07842692B2 |
Azaindole derivative having PGD2 receptor antagonistic activity
The present invention creates an azaindole derivative having DP receptor antagonistic activity and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the said compound as an active ingredient, and further providing a therapeutic agent for treating allergic diseases.A compound of the general formula (I) wherein the ring A is an aromatic carbocyclic ring etc.; the ring B is a 3- to 8-membered nitrogen-containing non-aromatic heterocyclic ring etc.; the formula of —X1═X2—X3═X4— is a formula of —C(R1)═C(R2)—C(R3)═N— etc.; R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom etc.; R6 is optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyloxy etc.; R7 is independently a halogen atom etc.; R8 is optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl etc.; R9 is carboxy etc.; M is sulfonyl etc.; Y is a single bond etc.; L1, L2 and L3 are a single bond or alkylene optionally containing one or two heteroatoms etc.; n is 0 etc.; q is 0 etc.; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof. |
| US07842690B2 |
Cyclic hydroxylamine as psychoactive compounds
A compound of formula (I): in which X represents O or CH2; R3 and R4 each independently represent hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; p represent 0 or 1; and R represents a five- or six-membered saturated or unsaturated ring selected from: formula (II), (III) and (IV); or R represents a five- or six-membered oxo-substituted unsaturated ring selected from: (V) and (VI); wherein R1 and R2 together represent an oxo group, or R1 and R2 each represent hydrogen, methoxy or ethoxy, or R1 and R2 together with the interjacent carbon atom represent a 1,3-dioxolane or 1,3-dioxane ring, attached via the 2 position and optionally bearing one or more methyl or ethyl groups; or a salt thereof, is suitable for the treatment of anxiety and depression. |
| US07842668B1 |
Apo-2 ligand/trail formulations
The inventions include Apo2L/TRAIL formulations and methods of using such formulations. Lyophilized and crystal formulations of Apo-2L/TRAIL which are stable and have improved Apo2L/TRAIL trimer formation are provided. Methods of making Apo-2L/TRAIL formulations, as well as devices and kits containing such formulations are also provided. |
| US07842664B2 |
Synthetic lipid mixtures for the preparation of a reconstituted surfactant
The invention relates to reconstituted surfactants consisting of artificial phospholipids and peptides able to lower the air-liquid surface tension, more particularly to reconstituted surfactants comprising special phospholipid mixtures and artificial peptides which are analogues of the natural surfactant SP-C protein for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and other diseases relating to pulmonary surfactant dysfunctions. |
| US07842662B2 |
Synthetic peptide amide dimers
The invention relates to synthetic peptide amide ligands of the kappa opioid receptor and particularly to agonists of the kappa opioid receptor that exhibit low P450 CYP inhibition and low penetration into the brain. The synthetic peptide amides of the invention conform to the structure: Pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of pain and inflammation associated with a variety of diseases and conditions. Such treatable pain includes visceral pain, neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia. Inflammation associated with conditions such as IBD and IBS, ocular and otic inflammation, other disorders and conditions such as pruritis, edema, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, ileus, tussis and glaucoma are treatable or preventable with the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. |
| US07842657B2 |
Spray-drying process
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a spray-dried powder comprising (i) anionic detersive surfactant; (ii) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % zeolite builder; (iii) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % phosphate builder; and (iv) optionally from 0 wt % to 15 wt % silicate salt; wherein the process comprises the steps of: (a) forming an alkaline slurry in a mixer, the slurry having a viscosity of from X to Y s−1 at a temperature of 70° C. and at a shear rate of 50 s−1, wherein the alkaline slurry is shear thinning; and (b) transferring the alkaline slurry from the mixer through at least one pump to a spray pressure nozzle; (c) contacting a viscosity increasing agent to the alkaline slurry after the mixer and before the spray pressure nozzle so as to increase the viscosity of the alkaline slurry to form a viscous alkaline slurry, step (c) being carried out at an average shear rate of from 10 s−1 to 150 s−1; (d) spraying the viscous alkaline slurry through the spray pressure nozzle into a spray-drying tower; (e) spray-drying the viscous alkaline slurry to form a spray-dried powder; and (f) optionally, contacting an alkalinity source with the alkaline slurry and/or the viscosity increasing agent, and/or the viscous alkaline slurry. |
| US07842656B2 |
Wood treatment method
A method for treating wood to inhibit leaching of copper compounds into the environment. The method comprises treating the wood with a copper-containing wood preservative and a latex copolymer. |
| US07842655B2 |
Colored bleaching composition
Liquid bleaching composition comprising a hypohalite bleach, a trimethoxy benzoic acid or a salt thereof, a pigment and/or a dye and an alkali metal salt of silicate, an alkali metal periodate or mixture thereof and the process for treating a surface using said composition. |
| US07842654B2 |
Method, articles and compositions for cleaning bathroom surfaces
The present invention relates to a disposable cleaning article for cleaning a bathroom surfaces which includes a layer of nonwoven substrate and a cleaning composition which can be either in a liquid or paste form. The cleaning article is water activate.The present invention also relates to a method of cleaning a hard surface by adding water to a disposable cleaning article impregnated with a cleaning composition and then wiping the bathroom surface. |
| US07842651B2 |
Silicate drilling fluid composition containing lubricating agents and uses thereof
The present disclosure relates to the compositions of a water-based silicate drilling fluid comprising: (1) alkali metal silicates; (2) cationic polyacrylamide; (3) a lubricant composition; and (4) other conventional drilling fluid additives. The lubricant composition comprises a lubricating effective amount of a carrier oil and one or more lubricants selected from lecithins, sulfurized vegetable and/or lard oils or modified castor oil. |
| US07842649B2 |
Quality control method for making a biochip displaying an encoded bead array
This invention provides high unit density arrays of microparticles and methods of assembling such arrays. The microparticles in the arrays may be functionalized with chemical or biological entities specific to a given target analyte. The high unit density arrays of this invention are formed on chips which may be combined to form multichip arrays according to the methods described herein. The chips and/or multichip arrays of this invention are useful for chemical and biological assays. |
| US07842648B2 |
Aqueous suspended agricultural chemical composition
The present invention relates to an aqueous suspended agricultural chemical composition wherein component (a) is ethyl(R)-2-[4-(6-chloroquinoxalin-2-yloxy)phenoxy]propionate of which the ratio of β-type crystal is 80% by weight or more, component (b) is surfactant and component (c) is water. An aqueous suspended agricultural chemical composition of the invention has good flowability and the growth of quizalofop-p-ethyl particle is small, resulting in high preservation stability under severe preservation condition. |
| US07842644B2 |
Catalyst for oxidation of metal mercury
A catalyst is provided having higher mercury oxidation performance than a conventional catalyst without increasing catalyst quantity or enhancing SO2 oxidation performance and constitutes an oxidation catalyst for metal mercury, which contains a molybdenum and vanadium complex oxide, for example, MoV2O8, as a main component having a catalytic activity and is formed by placing the molybdenum and vanadium complex oxide in layers only on the surface of a plate-like or honeycomb-like porous carrier. The porous carrier contains Ti and W and has a function of an NOx removal catalyst as a whole. |
| US07842643B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying catalyst
An exhaust gas purifying catalyst exhibiting high catalytic performance and restraining an amount of noble metals used is provided. An exhaust gas purifying catalyst has a catalyst substrate and a catalyst coating layer formed on the catalyst substrate. The catalyst coating layer has a layered structure including an inside layer containing (a-1) Pd, (a-2) Pt, and (a-3) an inorganic oxide, and an outside layer containing (b-1) a noble metal and (b-2) an inorganic oxide. A part of (a-3) the inorganic oxide carries Pd and Pt so that a weight ratio Pd/Pt is within a range of 8 to 12, whereas the other part of (a-3) the inorganic oxide carries Pd and Pt so that a weight ratio Pd/Pt is within a range of 4 to 6 or within a range of 18 to 22. |
| US07842642B2 |
Catalyst carrier and catalyst using the same
The catalyst carrier in accordance with the present invention is a catalyst carrier comprising a support containing an oxide and an element in group 3A of the periodic table, and a coating part covering at least a part of a surface of the support; wherein the coating part contains an element in group 3A of the periodic table; and wherein the element in group 3A contained in the coating part has a concentration higher than that of the element in group 3A contained in the support. In this case, even when a catalyst in which rhodium is supported by the catalyst carrier is used for a long time in a high temperature environment, the grain growth of rhodium particles can be suppressed, and the catalyst can fully be prevented from lowering its activity. |
| US07842633B2 |
High-resistance high-zirconia cast refractory material
A high-zirconia cast refractory material which contains 85-95 wt % of ZrO2, 4-12 wt % of SiO2, 0.1 to less than 0.8 wt % of Al2O3, less than 0.04 wt % of Na2O, 0.01-0.15 wt % of K2O, 0.1-1.5 wt % of B2O3, 0.01-0.2 wt % of CaO, less than 0.4 wt % of BaO, less than 0.2 wt % of SrO, 0.05-0.4 wt % of Y2O3, and 0.3 wt % or less of Fe2O3 and TiO2 together, but does not substantially contain CuO and P2O5 (less than 0.01 wt %), such that the molar ratio of the glass-forming oxides (such as SiO2 and B2O3) to the glass-modifying oxides (such as Na2O, K2O, CaO, MgO, SrO, and BaO) is 20-100, said refractory material having an electric resistance being 200 Ω·cm or higher after standing for 12 hours at 1500° C. |
| US07842632B2 |
Pulling roll material for manufacture of sheet glass
A pulling roll for glass manufacture comprised of a high-temperature millboard material. The millboard comprises aluminosilicate refractory fiber, silicate, mica, and kaolin clay. A method of manufacturing a pulling roll is disclosed, together with a roll produced by the methods disclosed herein. The method comprises forming a pulling roll and densifying at least a portion of the pulling roll by exposing to the pulling roll to high temperatures. |
| US07842630B2 |
Wettable polyester fibers and fabrics
The present invention is aimed at a method of providing wettability to polyester fibers or filaments, to woven or nonwoven fabrics made therefrom and to resultant articles of manufacture. The method comprises melt extruding a mixture comprising a polyester and one or more alkyl metal sulfonates where the metal is Na, Li or K and the alkyl is straight or branched chain alkyl of 12 to 15 carbon atoms, or is straight or branched chain alkenyl of 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl metal sulfonates are present from about 2% to about 5% by weight based on the weight of the polyester. A post treatment step such as an alkaline treatment step is not included. The melt extrusion mixtures do not include certain additives such as polyoxyalkylene compounds, alkylmonoethonolamide compounds, alkyldiethanolamine compounds and polyetheramide compounds. |
| US07842629B2 |
Non-woven glass fiber mat faced gypsum board and process of manufacture
A gypsum board comprises a set gypsum layer having a first face and a second face. A fibrous mat is affixed to at least one of the faces. The mat comprises a non-woven web bonded together with a resinous binder. The web comprises a blend of a major portion composed of chopped continuous glass fibers having an average fiber diameter ranging from about 8 to 17 μm and a minor portion composed of fine staple fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 5.5 μm, the minor portion comprising about 1-30 percent of the dry weight of the web. The board is exceedingly durable. It has a smooth surface that is readily finished in an aesthetically pleasing way, using paint or other wall covering systems. |
| US07842628B2 |
Woven or knitted fabric containing two different yarns and clothing comprising the same
A woven or knitted fabric, formed from two types of yarns different in self-elongating property upon absorbing water and capable of facilitating the air-permeability when wetted with water, is constituted so that a ratio A/B of a mean length A of yarns (1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property to a mean length B of yarns (2) arranged in the same direction as that of the yarn (1) and having a lower water-absorbing, self-elongating property than that of the yarn (1) is adjusted to 0.9 or less. |
| US07842626B2 |
Partially fluorinated compositions and surface active agents
Partially fluorinated amino acid derivatives are provided that are useful as organogelators and surface treatment materials to provide oil- and water- repellency properties to substrates. Also provided are composite materials comprising a porous support and a porous nanoweb. The porous nanoweb contains fibrous structures of about 10 nm to about 1000 nm effective average fiber diameter. |
| US07842623B2 |
Composition for removing an insulation material and related methods
A composition for removing an insulation material and related methods of use are disclosed. The composition comprises about 1 to 50 percent by weight of an oxidizing agent, about 0.1 to 35 percent by weight of a fluorine-containing compound, and water. The insulation material comprises at least one of a low-k material and a protection material. |
| US07842622B1 |
Method of forming highly conformal amorphous carbon layer
A method of forming a conformal amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer on an irregular surface of a semiconductor substrate includes: vaporizing a hydrocarbon-containing precursor; introducing the vaporized precursor and an argon gas into a CVD reaction chamber inside which the semiconductor substrate is placed; depositing a conformal amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer on the irregular surface of the semiconductor substrate by plasma CVD; and controlling the deposition of the conformal ratio of the depositing conformal amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer. The controlling includes (a) adjusting a step coverage of the conformal amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer to about 30% or higher as a function of substrate temperature, and (b) adjusting a conformal ratio of the conformal amorphous hydrogenated carbon layer to about 0.9 to about 1.1 as a function of RF power and/or argon gas flow rate. |
| US07842614B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and polisher used in the method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including depositing an interconnect material including Cu or Cu alloy over an insulating film, and polishing the interconnect material by CMP with a polishing liquid, wherein the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the polishing liquid is controlled so as to be in the range of 400 mV to 700 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. |
| US07842609B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A hole is formed in an insulating layer. A semiconductor substrate is heated at a temperature of equal to or more than 330° C. and equal to or less than 400° C. Tungsten-containing gas and at least one of B2H6 gas and SiH4 gas are introduced into a reaction chamber to thereby form a first tungsten layer. Subsequently, at least one of H2 gas and inert gas is introduced into the reaction chamber, the temperature of the semiconductor substrate is raised to equal to or more than 370° C. and equal to or less than 410° C. with 30 or more seconds, and tungsten-containing gas is introduced into the reaction chamber to thereby form a second tungsten layer on the first tungsten layer. |
| US07842606B2 |
Method of depositing thin film and method of manufacturing semiconductor using the same
Disclosed herein are a method of depositing a thin film and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor using the same, having high selectivity by increasing etching resistance while an extinction coefficient associated with anti-reflectivity is maintained low. The method of depositing a thin film according to the invention includes (a) depositing an carbon anti-reflective film on the bottom film of a substrate; and (b) adding a compound containing nitrogen (N), fluorine (F) or silicon (Si) to the surface or the inner portion of the carbon anti-reflective film, to deposit a thin film of a-C:N, a-C:F or a-C:Si, having high selectivity, to a thickness from 1 to 100 nm using an atomic layer deposition process. Therefore, an ultrathin film having etching resistance is formed on or in the carbon anti-reflective film and the density and compressive stress of the carbon anti-reflective film are increased, thus increasing etching selectivity. |
| US07842603B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor memory device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device includes forming an insulation layer including a contact plug over a substrate structure, forming a metal line structure over the insulation layer, the metal line structure including a patterned diffusion barrier layer and a metal line and contacting the contact plug, and oxidizing a surface of the metal line to form a passivation layer over the metal line. |
| US07842600B2 |
Methods of forming interlayer dielectrics having air gaps
Methods of forming an interlayer dielectric having an air gap are provided including forming a first insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate. The first insulating layer defines a trench. A metal wire is formed in the trench such that the metal wire is recessed beneath an upper surface of the first insulating layer. A metal layer is formed on the metal wire, wherein the metal layer includes a capping layer portion filling the recess, a upper portion formed on the capping layer portion, and an overhang portion formed on the portion of the first insulating layer adjacent to the trench protruding sideward from the upper portion. The first insulating layer is removed and a second insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate to cover the metal layer, whereby an air gap is formed below the overhang portion of the metal layer. A portion of the second insulating layer is removed to expose the upper portion of the metal layer. The upper portion and the overhang portion of the metal layer are removed. A third insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate from which the upper portion and the overhang portion have been removed to maintain the air gap. |
| US07842597B2 |
Chip package, chip packaging, chip carrier and process thereof
A chip package includes a semiconductor substrate, conductive plugs and a chip. Wherein, the conductive plugs perforate the semiconductor substrate. Besides, the chip is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the conductive plugs. Based on the above-described design, the chip package is capable of reducing the thermal stress problem caused by a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) dismatch compared with the prior art. The present invention discloses further a chip packaging process and furthermore a chip carrier and the process thereof. |
| US07842596B2 |
Method for formation of high quality back contact with screen-printed local back surface field
A thin silicon solar cell having a back dielectric passivation and rear contact with local back surface field is described. Specifically, the solar cell may be fabricated from a crystalline silicon wafer having a thickness from 50 to 500 micrometers. A barrier layer and a dielectric layer are applied at least to the back surface of the silicon wafer to protect the silicon wafer from deformation when the rear contact is formed. At least one opening is made to the dielectric layer. An aluminum contact that provides a back surface field is formed in the opening and on the dielectric layer. The aluminum contact may be applied by screen printing an aluminum paste having from one to 12 atomic percent silicon and then applying a heat treatment at 750 degrees Celsius. |
| US07842590B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate including laser annealing
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by laser annealing. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is arranged opposite to the first surface. A first dopant is introduced into the semiconductor substrate at the second surface such that its peak doping concentration in the semiconductor substrate is located at a first depth with respect to the second surface. A second dopant is introduced into the semiconductor surface at the second surface such that its peak doping concentration in the semiconductor substrate is located at a second depth with respect to the second surface, wherein the first depth is larger than the second depth. At least a first laser anneal is performed by directing at least one laser beam pulse onto the second surface to melt the semiconductor substrate, at least in sections, at the second surface. |
| US07842589B2 |
Laser irradiation apparatus with means for applying magnetic field
According to the present invention, oxygen and nitrogen are effectively prevented from mixing into the semiconductor film by doping Ar or the like in the semiconductor film in advance, and by irradiating the laser light in the atmosphere of Ar or the like. Therefore, the variation of the impurity concentration due to the fluctuation of the energy density can be suppressed and the variation of the mobility of the semiconductor film can be also suppressed. Moreover, in TFT formed with the semiconductor film, the variation of the on-current in addition to the mobility can be also suppressed. Furthermore, in the present invention, the first laser light converted into the harmonic easily absorbed in the semiconductor film is irradiated to melt the semiconductor film and to increase the absorption coefficient of the fundamental wave. |
| US07842587B2 |
III-V MOSFET fabrication and device
A semiconductor fabrication process includes forming a gate dielectric layer (120) overlying a substrate (101) that includes a III-V semiconductor compound. The gate dielectric layer is patterned to produce a gate dielectric structure (121) that has a substantially vertical sidewall (127), e.g., a slope of approximately 45° to 90°. A metal contact structure (130) is formed overlying the wafer substrate. The contact structure is laterally displaced from the gate dielectric structure sufficiently to define a gap (133) between the two. The wafer (100) is heat treated, which causes migration of at least one of the metal elements to form an alloy region (137) in the underlying wafer substrate. The alloy region underlies the contact structure and extends across all or a portion of the wafer substrate underlying the gap. An insulative or dielectric capping layer (140,150) is then formed overlying the wafer and covering the portion of the substrate exposed by the gap. |
| US07842578B2 |
Method for fabricating MOS devices with a salicided gate and source/drain combined with a non-silicide source drain regions
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device, e.g., CMOS image sensor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, which has a first device region and a second device region. The method forms a gate polysilicon layer overlying the first and second device regions. The method forms a silicide layer overlying the gate polysilicon layer. The method patterns the silicide layer and gate polysilicon layer to form a first silicided gate structure in the first device region and a second silicided gate structure in the second device region. The method also includes forming a blocking layer overlying the second device region. The method forms a silicide material overlying a first source region and a first drain region associated with the first silicided gate structure, and maintaining a second source region and a second drain region associated with the second silicided gate structure free from any silicide using the blocking layer. |
| US07842577B2 |
Two-step STI formation process
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a first isolation region in the semiconductor substrate; after the step of forming the first isolation region, forming a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device at a surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the step of forming the MOS device comprises forming a source/drain region; and after the step of forming the MOS device, forming a second isolation region in the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07842576B2 |
Semiconductor device including first and second sidewalls and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a non-volatile memory with high yield, and a semiconductor device manufactured by the method. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a process of forming a second side wall such that the width of the second side wall, which is formed on the side of a portion of a second gate electrode that does not face dummy gates on a drain forming region side, in a gate length direction is larger than that of the second side wall, which is formed on the side of the second gate electrode on a source forming region side, in the gate length direction, in a non-volatile memory forming region. |
| US07842572B2 |
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices with local recess channel transistors
A method of manufacturing a local recess channel transistor in a semiconductor device. A hard mask layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate that exposes a portion of the substrate. The exposed portion of the substrate is etched using the hard mask layer as an etch mask to form a recess trench. A trench spacer is formed on the substrate along a portion of sidewalls of the recess trench. The substrate along a lower portion of the recess trench is exposed after the trench spacer is formed. The exposed portion of the substrate along the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a channel impurity to form a local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench. A portion of the local channel impurity doped region surrounding the lower portion of the recess trench is doped with a Vth adjusting impurity to form a Vth adjusting impurity doped region inside the local channel impurity doped region. The width of the lower portion of the recess trench is expanded. A gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate in the recess trench. A gate electrode layer is formed on the gate insulating layer in the recess trench. A portion of the gate insulating layer and the gate electrode layer is etched to form a gate. |
| US07842567B2 |
Dual work function CMOS devices utilizing carbide based electrodes
Concurrently forming different metal gate transistors having respective work functions is disclosed. In one example, a metal carbide, which has a relatively low work function, is formed over a semiconductor substrate. Oxygen and/or nitrogen are then added to the metal carbide in a second region to establish a second work function in the second region, where the metal carbide itself establishes a first work function in a first region. One or more first metal gate transistor types are then formed in the first region and one or more second metal gate transistor types are formed in the second region. |
| US07842566B2 |
FinFET and method of manufacturing the same
A FinFET may include a semiconductor fin having a top surface and a sidewall having different crystal planes. A gate dielectric layer on the top surface and on the sidewall has different thicknesses. A gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric layer across the top surface and sidewall of the semiconductor fin. |
| US07842565B2 |
Beam homogenizer and laser irradiation apparatus
The present invention provides a beam homogenizer for homogenizing energy distribution by making the distance between lenses small to shorten the optical path length with the use of an array lens of an optical path shortened type, and a laser irradiation apparatus using the beam homogenizer. The beam homogenizer is equipped with a front side array lens of an optical path shortened type whose second principal point is positioned ahead on a beam incidence side, a back side array lens of an optical path shortened type whose first principal point is positioned behind on a beam emission side, and a condensing lens, wherein the distance between the second principal point of the front side array lens and the first principal point of the back side array lens is equal to the focal length of the back side array lens. |
| US07842559B2 |
Method of fabricating multi-gate semiconductor devices with improved carrier mobility
A method of fabricating a multi-gate device is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes providing a substrate having a first semiconductor layer with a first carrier mobility enhancing parameter, an insulating layer, a second semiconductor layer with a second carrier mobility enhancing parameter different from the first carrier mobility enhancing parameter. A first and second dielectric layer are then provided on the substrate. A first trench is formed in a first active region through the dielectric layers, the second semiconductor layer and the buried insulating layer. A first fin is formed in the first trench, protruding above the first dielectric layer and having the first carrier mobility enhancing parameter. A second trench is formed in a second active region through the dielectric layers. A second fin is formed in the second trench, protruding above the first dielectric layer and having the second mobility enhancing parameter. |
| US07842558B2 |
Masking process for simultaneously patterning separate regions
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises patterning a first plurality of semiconductor structures in an array portion of a semiconductor substrate using a first photolithographic mask. The method further comprises patterning a second plurality of semiconductor structures over a logic portion of a semiconductor substrate using a second photolithographic mask. The method further comprises patterning a sacrificial layer over the first plurality of semiconductor structures using the second photolithographic mask. The sacrificial layer is patterned simultaneously with the second plurality of semiconductor structures. |
| US07842555B2 |
Integrated transistor module and method of fabricating same
An integrated transistor module includes a lead frame that defines at least one low-side land and at least one high-side land. A stepped portion of the lead frame mechanically and electrically interconnects the low-side and high-side lands. A low-side transistor is mounted upon the low-side land with its drain electrically connected to the low-side land. A high-side transistor is mounted upon the high-side land with its source electrically connected to the high-side land. |
| US07842554B2 |
VLSI hot-spot minimization using nanotubes
The invention relates to a semiconductive device comprising a die with at least one defined hot-spot area lying in a plane on the die and a cooling structure comprising nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes extending in a plane different than the plane of the hot-spot area and outwardly from the plane of the hot-spot area. The nanotubes are operatively associated with the hot-spot area to decrease any temperature gradient between the hot-spot area and at least one other area on the die defined by a temperature lower than the hot-spot area. A matrix material comprising a second heat conducting material substantially surrounds the nanotubes and is operatively associated with and in heat conducting relation with the other area on the die defined by a temperature lower than the hot-spot area. The heat conductivity of the nanotubes is greater than the heat conductivity of the matrix material, with the distal ends of the nanotubes exposed to present a distal surface comprising the first heat conducting means for direct contact with a medium comprising a cooling fluid. The inventors also disclose processes for manufacturing and using the device and products produced by the processes. |
| US07842553B2 |
Cooling micro-channels
The present disclosure relates generally to microelectronic technology, and more specifically, to an apparatus used for the cooling of active electronic devices utilizing micro-channels or micro-trenches, and a technique for fabricating the same. |
| US07842552B2 |
Semiconductor chip packages having reduced stress
A structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (i) a carrier substrate which includes substrate pads, (ii) a chip physically attached to the carrier substrate, and (iii) a first frame physically attached to the carrier substrate. A CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) of the first frame is substantially lower than a CTE of the carrier substrate. |
| US07842547B2 |
Laser lift-off of sapphire from a nitride flip-chip
In a method for fabricating a flip-chip light emitting diode device, epitaxial layers are deposited on a sapphire growth substrate to produce an epitaxial wafer. A plurality of light emitting diode devices are fabricated on the epitaxial wafer. The epitaxial wafer is diced to generate a device die. The device die is flip chip bonded to a mount. The flip chip bonding includes securing the device die to the mount by bonding at least one electrode of the device die to at least one bonding pad of the mount. Subsequent to the flip chip bonding, the growth substrate of the device die is removed via the application of laser light. |
| US07842545B2 |
Semiconductor package having insulated metal substrate and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a semiconductor package in which an adhesion force between an insulation metal substrate and a molding member is increased by removing a solder mask layer from the insulation metal substrate and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes an insulation metal substrate that includes a base member, an insulating layer disposed on the base member, and conductive patterns formed on the insulating layer. Semiconductor chips are arranged on the conductive patterns. Solder mask patterns are arranged on the conductive patterns to surround the semiconductor chips. Leads are electrically connected to the conductive patterns through wires. A sealing member is arranged on an upper surface and side surfaces of the substrate to cover portions of the leads, the wires, the semiconductor chips, and the solder mask patterns. |
| US07842543B2 |
Wafer level chip scale package and method of laser marking the same
A wafer level chip scale package and method of laser marking the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of semiconductor devices on a frontside surface of a wafer, metallizing device contacts on the frontside surface of the wafer, grinding the backside surface of the wafer, silicon etching the backside surface of the wafer, laser marking the backside surface of the wafer following the silicon etch step, oxide etching the backside surface of the wafer following the laser marking step, depositing a metal layer on the backside surface of the wafer following the oxide etch step, and dicing the wafer into wafer level chip scale packages. A wafer level chip scale package includes a mark formed on a backside surface thereof, the mark comprising a plurality of trenches formed in a silicon backside surface and corresponding indentations formed in an overlaying back metal layer. |
| US07842542B2 |
Embedded semiconductor die package and method of making the same using metal frame carrier
An embedded semiconductor die package is made by mounting a frame carrier to a temporary carrier with an adhesive. The frame carrier includes die mounting sites each having a lead frame interconnect structure around a cavity. A semiconductor die is disposed in each cavity. An encapsulant is deposited in the cavity over the die. A package interconnect structure is formed over the lead frame interconnect structure and encapsulant. The package interconnect structure and lead frame interconnect structure are electrically connected to the die. The frame carrier is singulated into individual embedded die packages. The semiconductor die can be vertically stacked or placed side-by-side within the cavity. The embedded die packages can be stacked and electrically interconnected through the lead frame interconnect structure. A semiconductor device can be mounted to the embedded die package and electrically connected to the die through the lead frame interconnect structure. |
| US07842541B1 |
Ultra thin package and fabrication method
A method includes forming a substrate layer, the substrate layer including a circuit pattern having terminals and bump pads. A stiffener is formed, the stiffener including via apertures having electrically conductive via aperture sidewalls and an electronic component opening. The stiffener is attached to the substrate layer. The electrically conductive via aperture sidewalls are electrically connected to the terminals. An electronic component is mounted to the bump pads and within the electronic component opening thus minimizing the height of the package. Further, the stiffener minimizing undesirable bending of the package and acts as an internal heat sink. |
| US07842537B2 |
Stressed semiconductor using carbon and method for producing the same
A stressed semiconductor using carbon is provided. At least one carbon layer containing diamond is formed either below a semiconductor layer or above a semiconductor device. The carbon layer induces stress in the semiconductor layer, thereby increasing carrier mobility in the device channel region. The carbon layer may be selectively formed or patterned to localize the induced stress. |
| US07842536B2 |
Vacuum jacket for phase change memory element
A memory device including a phase change element and a vacuum jacket. The device includes a first electrode element; a phase change element in contact with the first electrode element; an upper electrode element in contact with the phase change element; a bit line electrode in contact with the upper electrode element; and a dielectric fill layer surrounding the phase change element and the upper electrode element, spaced from the same and sealed by the bit line electrode to define a vacuum jacket around the phase change element and upper electrode element. |
| US07842535B2 |
Structured silicon anode
A silicon/lithium battery can be fabricated from a silicon substrate. This allows the battery to be produced as an integrated unit on a chip. The battery includes a silicon anode formed from submicron diameter pillars of silicon fabricated on an n-type silicon wafer. The battery also includes a cathode including lithium. |
| US07842534B2 |
Method for forming a compound semi-conductor thin-film
A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material. |
| US07842532B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate having a principal surface; a first nitride semiconductor layer formed on the principal surface of the substrate and includes one or more convex portions whose side surfaces are vertical to the principal surface; and a second nitride semiconductor layer selectively grown on the side surfaces of the one or more convex portions of the first nitride semiconductor layer. |
| US07842531B2 |
Gallium nitride-based device and method
A gallium nitride-based device has a first GaN layer and a type II quantum well active region over the GaN layer. The type II quantum well active region comprises at least one InGaN layer and at least one GaNAs layer comprising 1.5 to 8% As concentration. The type II quantum well emits in the 400 to 700 nm region with reduced polarization affect. |
| US07842527B2 |
Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of high performance non-polar III-nitride optical devices
A method of device growth and p-contact processing that produces improved performance for non-polar III-nitride light emitting diodes and laser diodes. Key components using a low defect density substrate or template, thick quantum wells, a low temperature p-type III-nitride growth technique, and a transparent conducting oxide for the electrodes. |
| US07842524B2 |
Organic electro luminescence device and fabrication method thereof
An organic electro luminescence device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. An array element is formed on a first substrate and an electro luminescent diode is formed on a second substrate. The array element and the electro luminescent diode are electrically connected together by a spacer. A separator divides a sub pixel into a first region and a second region. In the electro luminescent diode, an anode electrode is formed over the first and second regions. An organic electro luminescent layer and a cathode electrode are formed on the anode electrode of one of the first and second regions. |
| US07842523B2 |
Buried conductor for imagers
A pixel cell having a photo-conversion device at a surface of a substrate and at least one contact area from which charge or a signal is output or received. A first insulating layer is located over the photo-conversion device and the at least one contact area. The pixel cell further includes at least one conductor in contact with the at least one contact area. The conductor includes a polysilicon material extending through the first insulating layer and in contact with the at least one contact area. Further, a conductive material, which includes at least one of a silicide and a refractory metal, can be over and in contact with the polysilicon material. |
| US07842518B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, includes forming a porous dielectric film above a substrate using a porous insulating material, forming an opening in the porous dielectric film, repairing film quality of the porous dielectric film on a surface of the opening by feeding a predetermined gas replacing a Si—OH group to the opening, and performing pore sealing of the surface of the opening using the same predetermined gas as that used for film quality repairs after repairing the film quality. |
| US07842517B2 |
Method and compositions for the detection of protein glycosylation
The invention provides methods and compositions for the rapid and sensitive detection of post-translationally modified proteins, and particularly of those with post-translational glycosylations. The methods can be used to detect O-GlcNAc posttranslational modifications on proteins on which such modifications were undetectable using other techniques. In one embodiment, the method exploits the ability of an engineered mutant of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase to selectively transfer an unnatural ketone functionality onto O-GlcNAc glycosylated proteins. Once transferred, the ketone moiety serves as a versatile handle for the attachment of biotin, thereby enabling detection of the modified protein. The approach permits the rapid visualization of proteins that are at the limits of detection using traditional methods. Further, the preferred embodiments can be used for detection of certain disease states, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. |
| US07842515B2 |
Nano-structured device for analysis or separation, and its preparation and application
This invention involves the nano-structured support used for separation or/and analysis, especially the chip substrate, ELISA plate substrate, planar chromatography strip and chromatography gel. Besides, it involves the functionalized nano-structured support of high sensibility for separation or/and analysis, especially the analysis-chip, ELISA plate, planar chromatography reagent strip and chromatography gel. In addition, this invention also involves the nano-structured marking system for analysis. Moreover, it concerns the test kit; especially the chip kit, ELISA kit, and planar chromatography kit. What's more, this invention involves the preparing methods and the applications of all those mentioned above, especially the chip analysis, analyses with ELISA plate, planar chromatography strip and chromatography separation. |
| US07842510B2 |
Method for measuring maturity degree of compost and measuring solution
A method for measuring the maturity degree of a compost capable of determining the maturity degree of a compost purportedly of a product in a short period of time (10 to 30 minutes) by compost manufacturers, users and even those with insufficient expertise and experiences such as buyers in the distribution industry on site and also capable of determining it according to the maturity stage in an easy and cost-effective manner, and a measuring solution. A specific measuring solution is added to the compost to flocculate a compost extract containing humic-like substance and decomposed organic matter, and a liquid phase is acquired by precipitating the compost extract by the solid/liquid separation. Based on the correlation in which the absorbency of the liquid phase declines as the compost becomes more mature, the maturity degree of the compost is measured from the color contrasting density of the liquid phase. |
| US07842509B2 |
Blood analyzer and blood analyzing method
A blood analyzer has a light emitter for emitting light to an analysis sample which is a mixture of a blood specimen and a reagent. It also has a light receiver for receiving light of a plurality of wavelengths from the analysis sample over time, and for acquiring data of the amount of the received light corresponding to each of the wavelengths at a plurality of points of time. A selector selects the data corresponding to one of the wavelengths, based on the change of the amount of received light over time in the data acquired by the light receiver. An analysis section analyzes a characteristic of the blood specimen using the data which are selected by the selector. A blood analyzing method is also described. |
| US07842508B2 |
Method for determining the gas hydrate anti-agglomeration power of a water/oil system
In order to determine the gas hydrate anti-agglomeration power of a system composed of an aqueous phase dispersed in a liquid hydrocarbon phase in the presence of a gas, at least two successive cycles of hydrate formation and dissociation is carried out by cooling and reheating a sample of said system placed in the cell of a calorimeter to record thermograms; the anti-agglomeration power of said system is determined by comparing the thermograms obtained during the various cycles. |
| US07842503B2 |
Hybrid recombinases for genome manipulation
The present invention provides methods to site-specifically manipulate genomes by using hybrid recombinases. Hybrid recombinases comprise a modified catalytic domain from a unidirectional serine phage integrase, fused to a foreign DNA recognition domain. |
| US07842500B2 |
Anti-heparan sulfate antibody, method for detection of heparan sulfate, and kit for detection of heparan sulfate
An antibody which reacts with N-acetylheparosan and heparan sulfate that is derived from bovine kidney but does not substantially react with heparan sulfate derived from a murine Engelbreath-Holm-Swarn tumor tissue, the antibody being produced with a hybridoma which is prepared using a substance composed of a protein and N-acetylheparosan bound to the protein. |
| US07842499B2 |
Substrates, devices, and methods for cellular assays
The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystals and other biophotonically based assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal or other biophotonically based assay formats. |
| US07842498B2 |
Hydrophobic surface chip
The invention provides a water-swellable hydrophobic hydrogel and analytical devices incorporating the hydrogel of the invention. Also provided are methods of using the hydrogel to prepare the analytical devices and methods of using the analytical devices to detect, quantitate and discriminate between analytes in a sample. Moreover, the invention provides kits that include components of a hydrogel and instructions for making a chip with a hydrophobic surface. |
| US07842494B2 |
Micro-organisms for the treatment of soil and process for obtaining them
The present invention relates to product(s) containing living microorganism(s) suitable for soil treatment, microorganisms multiplying under different climatic and natural circumstances, as well as procedures for the production of the products, and procedures for the treatment of the soil and plants with the products. More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for preparing the products from any of the microorganisms specified below, or from the mixture thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to a procedure for the creation of the cultures of the microorganisms to be used. The subject invention also pertains to the microorganisms themselves. More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for the treatment of the soil and the plants with a product containing at least one of the microorganisms selected from Azospirillum brasilense ssp. SW51 (NCAIM /P/ B 001293), Azotobacter vinelandii ssp. M657 (NCAIM /P/B 001292), Pseudomonas fluorescens var. SW11 (NCAIM /P/ B 001296), Bacillus polymyxa var. SW17 (NCAIM /P/ B 001295), Bacillus megaterium var. M326 (NCAIM /P/ B 001291), Micrococcus roseus ssp. A21 (NCAIM /P/B 001294), Bradyrhizobium japonicum var. PH25 (NCAIM /P/ B 001302), and Streptomyces albus var. 0003 LP (NCAIM /P/ B 001301), and furthermore the products multiplying and existing in the environment of the plant in question, containing the listed microorganisms and their production. |
| US07842492B2 |
Compositions of and methods of using sulfatases from flavobacterium heparinum
This invention is related, in part, to sulfatase enzymes and methods of their use. |
| US07842478B2 |
DNA encoding mammalian phosphodiesterases
The present invention relates to novel purified and isolated nucleotide sequences encoding mammalian Ca2+/calmodulin stimulated phosphodiesterases (CaM-PDEs) and cyclic-GMP-stimulated phosphodiesterases (cGS-PDEs). Also provided are the corresponding recombinant expression products of said nucleotide sequences, immunological reagents specifically reactive therewith, and procedures for identifying compounds which modulate the enzymatic activity of such expression products. |
| US07842472B2 |
Methods and compositions for monitoring and risk prediction in cardiorenal syndrome
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions selected to monitor cardiorenal syndrome using assays that detect NGAL, preferably together with assays that detect natriuretic peptides such as BNP. Such methods and compositions can provide early indications of a deterioration in cardiorenal syndrome status, including prognosis regarding mortality and worsening renal function. |
| US07842470B2 |
Method for pharmacoperones correction of GnRHR mutant protein misfolding
This application relates to methods of identifying pharmacoperone agents that can restore function to a misfolded protein, such as a misfolded protein that causes disease. Also disclosed are methods of using such pharmacoperone agents to treat a disease or disorder that results from the misfolded protein. |
| US07842465B2 |
Immunocytostaining methods for enhanced dye ratio discrimination in rare event detection
A method is provided for preparing a sample containing potential cells of interest and of using a laser of a laser based system for novel excitation and emission collection, and data usage including use of obtained data for direct and ratio based measurements. The prepared sample is configured to emit signals having spectral characteristics sufficient to permit filtering to differentiate and eliminate most false positives from true positives among acquired imaging events, in an imaging system employing a laser spot having a range of diameters from 1 to 20 μm or greater and which excites the fluorescence in a conventional or novel manner. These filtered events may be subsequently imaged and confirmed with another higher resolution device such as a fluorescent microscope in a short amount of time. |
| US07842461B2 |
CD38 as a prognostic indicator in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
The subject invention discloses a method for determining the prognosis and probable clinical course of a subject diagnosed with B-CLL. Specifically, the invention involves comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein an elevated level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level of CD38 expression may indicate poor prognosis or aggressive course of disease in the subject. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether the Ig V genes of the B-CLL cells of a B-CLL patient are mutated, comprising comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein a lower level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level indicates IG V gene mutation. |
| US07842459B2 |
Nucleotide and amino acid sequences, and assays and methods of use thereof for diagnosis
Novel splice variant nucleic acid sequences. The novel splice variants and their nucleic acid sequences according to the present invention may optionally be used for diagnosis of a variant-detectable disease as described herein. |
| US07842454B2 |
Kit for preparing cancer cell detection sample and kit for cancer cell detection using the same
A kit for preparing a cancer cell detection sample which is highly safe, simple, and high in precision, and can detect a cancer cell quantitatively, and a kit for cancer cell detection using the same, as well as a method for diagnosing cancer using those kits, and a method for preparing a sample for cancer cell detection are provided. A kit for preparing a detection sample for detecting a cancer cell of the present invention, comprising a test container having an opening for receiving a biological sample collected from a subject, and a reagent inclusion part for accommodating a reagent containing a virus, a seal part for sealing the reagent inclusion part of the test container, a cap for closing the opening, and an opener for breaking the seal part. |
| US07842453B2 |
Methods of identifying modulators of ChemerinR polypeptides
The present invention relates to a G-protein coupled receptor and a novel ligand therefor. The invention provides screening assays for the identification of candidate compounds which modulate the activity of the G-protein coupled receptor, as well as assays useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a disease or disorder related to the dysregulation of G-protein coupled receptor signaling. |
| US07842452B2 |
Pattern forming method
A pattern forming method which uses a positive resist composition comprises: (A) a silicon-free resin capable of increasing its solubility in an alkaline developer under action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; (C) a silicon-containing resin having at least one group selected from the group of consisting (X) an alkali-soluble group, (XI) a group capable of decomposing under action of an alkaline developer and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer, and (XII) a group capable of decomposing under action of an acid and increasing solubility of the resin (C) in an alkaline developer, and (D) a solvent, the method comprising: (i) a step of applying the positive resist composition to a substrate to form a resist coating, (ii) a step of exposing the resist coating to light via an immersion liquid, (iii) a step of removing the immersion liquid remaining on the resist coating, (iv) a step of heating the resist coating, and (v) a step of developing the resist coating. |
| US07842451B2 |
Method of forming pattern
Disclosed is a method of forming a pattern. A first organic polymer layer is formed on a substrate on which an underlying layer, and then a second organic polymer layer, which has an opening partially exposing the first organic polymer layer, is formed on the first organic polymer layer. Next, a silicon-containing polymer layer is formed on the second organic polymer layer to cover the opening. The silicon-containing polymer layer is oxidized and simultaneously the second organic polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer are ashed by oxygen plasma to form a pattern having an anisotropy-shape. The underlying layer is etched using the silicon-containing polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer as an etching mask to form a pattern. |
| US07842448B2 |
Method of forming fixed images
A method of forming fixed images, including the step of applying a two-component developer containing a carrier and a toner containing a wax and a resin binder containing a crystalline polyester to a two-component development device with a linear speed of from 500 to 5,000 mm/sec, to develop the toner, wherein the crystalline polyester is contained in an amount of from 3 to 40% by weight and the wax in an amount of from 2.5 to 10% by weight, of the toner, and wherein the two-component development device comprises at least three magnet rollers which are arranged closely to each other along the perimeter of a photoconductor, wherein one magnet roller arranged on the uppermost side in the rotational direction of the photoconductor rotates in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the photoconductor at the point therebetween, and the other magnet rollers rotate in the same direction as the photoconductor at the point therebetween. The method of forming fixed images according to the present invention forms excellent fixed images by, for example, development of a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like. |
| US07842446B2 |
Toner
An object of the present invention is to provide a toner excellent in durability and storage stability, and having good fixing performance in a wide fixing temperature region even at a high process speed. According to the present invention, there is provided a toner containing: a binder resin; a colorant; and a polyester resin, in which: I) the polyester resin contains at least, as a main component, polyester obtained by subjecting a monomer composition containing an alcohol selected from aliphatic diols each having 2 to 22 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid selected from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids each having 2 to 22 carbon atoms to a polycondensation reaction; and II) a region having a lamellar structure is present at a surface layer of the toner. |
| US07842445B2 |
Secure imaging toner and methods of forming and using the same
A toner for printing documents that are difficult to chemically or physically forge and that are readily easy to visually verify and methods of using and forming the toner are disclosed. The toner includes a colorant for printing an image on a surface of a document, a fluorescent pigment that under normal lighting is masked by the colorant but creates a visible image on the first surface of the a substrate when irradiated by black or ultra-violet light, and a dye for forming a latent version of the image underneath a surface of a substrate. An image formed using the toner of the invention is readily verified by comparing the colorant-formed image and the dye-formed image. In addition, if a solvent is used in an attempt to alter the printed image on the substrate, the dye migrates or diffuses to indicate tampering with the document. |
| US07842444B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and coating composition
The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate having a photosensitive layer and a protective layer thereon, the protective layer comprising a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure, in which the relationship between a pH of the exfoliated protective layer extracted with distilled water (pHOCL) and a pH of said distilled water (pHw) satisfies the following formula (A):pHOCL−pHW≦0.5. |
| US07842440B2 |
Colored curable composition, color filter and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a compound represented by the following Formula (C1), or a colored curable composition containing a tetraazaporphyrin colorant having at least one group represented by the following Formula (I), and a color filter using the composition and a manufacturing method thereof: wherein Rc1: a halogen atom, aliphatic group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, cyano group, carboxyl group, carbamoyl group, aliphatic oxycarbonyl group, aryloxycarbonyl group, acyl group, hydroxyl group, aliphatic oxy group, aryloxy group, etc.; Zc1: a non-metal atom group necessary for forming a 6-membered ring together with the carbon atom; M: two hydrogen atoms, a divalent metal atom, divalent metal oxide, divalent metal hydroxide, divalent metal chloride; cm=0 to 2, cn=0, 1 to 5; cr1, cr2, cr3, cr4=0 to 1 (cr1+cr2+cr3+cr4≧1); L1: an alkylene group; A1 and A2: —O—, —C(═O)—, —OC(═O)—, —C(═O)O—, —N(R2)C(═O)—, —C(═O)N(R2)—, —N(R2)C(═O)—, —OC(═O)N(R2)—, N(R2)C(═O)N(R3)—, —N(R2)SO2—, —SO2N(R2)—, or —SO2—; L2: an alkylene group, aralkylene group, or arylene group; n: an integer from 1 to 3; m: an integer from 0 to 3; R1: a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group; and R2 and R3: a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group. |
| US07842438B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet photolithography mask, with resonant barrier layer
The invention relates to extreme ultraviolet photolithography masks that operate in reflection. These masks comprise a lower mirror covering a substrate, and two types of reflecting zones Z1 and Z2 in order to form a phase shift mask. An etch stop layer is interposed between the lower mirror and an upper reflective structure. This layer has a thickness such that it behaves like a reflective resonant cavity surrounded by the upper and lower reflective structures. |
| US07842437B2 |
High-resolution, patterned-media master mask
A high-resolution, patterned-media master mask is disclosed. The high-resolution, patterned-media master mask includes an electron-absorption substrate for absorbing electrons from an electron beam (e-beam) during an e-beam exposure by an e-beam lithography process and suppressing a backscattering of the electrons based on an electron-backscattering-suppressing atomic number associated with a constituent atomic species of the electron-absorption substrate, wherein the electron-absorption substrate comprises a material composed of greater than fifty atomic percent of the constituent atomic species, and wherein the electron backscattering-suppressing atomic number is less than an atomic number eight. The high-resolution, patterned-media master mask further includes a patterned portion coupled with the electron-absorption substrate, wherein the patterned portion is patterned by the e-beam lithography process, and wherein a resolution of the patterned portion is increased in response to the electron-absorption substrate suppressing the backscattering of the electrons. |
| US07842433B2 |
Fuel cell separator plate and method for producing it
A fuel cell separator plate comprising a portion in contact with an electrode, and a sealing portion provided around the contact portion, the contact portion having a larger surface roughness (Rmax) than that of the sealing portion. It is preferably a molded separator plate made of a composite carbon material comprising carbon and a thermosetting resin. |
| US07842432B2 |
Nanowire structures comprising carbon
The present invention is directed to nanowire structures and interconnected nanowire networks comprising such structures, as well as methods for their production. The nanowire structures comprise a nanowire core, a carbon-based layer, and in additional embodiments, carbon-based structures such as nanographitic plates consisting of graphenes formed on the nanowire cores, interconnecting the nanowire structures in the networks. The networks are porous structures that can be formed into membranes or particles. The nanowire structures and the networks formed using them are useful in catalyst and electrode applications, including fuel cells, as well as field emission devices, support substrates and chromatographic applications. |
| US07842431B2 |
Mixture, cation conductor and electrochemical device using those
A mixture, cation conductor and electrochemical device using same are provided. The mixture and a cation conductor, in which cations can be moved without humidification even in a range of temperatures less than or equal to the boiling point of water, or an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell using them. A fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, which are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between, is provided. The electrolyte film contains a first compound formed of an imidazole derivative containing N having an unshared electron pair and a second compound of at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds having structures shown below. |
| US07842430B2 |
Nanocomposite, nanocomposite electrolyte membrane including the same and fuel cell including the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane
A nanocomposite includes metal-carbon nanotubes and a sulfonated polysulfone. In the nanocomposite, the sulfonated polysulfone and the metal-carbon nanotubes have strong attraction therebetween due to π-π interactions or van der Waals interactions, and thus the nanocomposite has excellent ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. In addition, the nanocomposite includes a metal that can be used as a catalyst for an anode, and thus the reduction in power generation caused by methanol crossover can be minimized. Therefore, a nanocomposite electrolyte membrane prepared using the nanocomposite can minimize the reduction in power generation caused by the crossover of a polar organic fuel such as methanol. In a fuel cell employing the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane, when an aqueous methanol solution is used as a fuel, crossover of the methanol is more suppressed, and accordingly, the fuel cell has an improved operating efficiency and a longer lifetime. |
| US07842426B2 |
Use of a porous material in the manifolds of a fuel cell stack
A fuel cell stack is disclosed that utilizes a porous material internally disposed in the fuel cell outlet manifolds, wherein the porous material facilitates the transport of liquid water from the plate outlets thereby minimizing the accumulation of liquid water in the fuel cell stack. |
| US07842425B2 |
Electrical interconnect for a fuel cell stack
A fuel cell arrangement including a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode, first and second flow field plates adjacent the anode and cathode, respectively; a fuel cell health management (FCHM) device; a plurality of plate members interposed between each of the fuel cells and being made of an electrically conductive metallic material and disposed between the first and second flow field plates of adjacent fuel cells to connect the fuel cells in series, and having an electrically conductive tab. The tab of each of the plate members being electrically connected to the FCHM to conduct current provided by the FCHM to provide a substantially uniform voltage over each electrically of the plate members to rejuvenate each fuel cell, to monitor each fuel cell, and to control each fuel cell, and having a heat sink for dissipating heat. |
| US07842424B2 |
Multiple stage combustion process to maintain a controllable reformation temperature profile
A reaction vessel that integrates and balances an endothermic process with at least one exothermic process of the fuel cell system. Preferably the exothermic process is conducted in stages to provide more uniform and/or controllable heat generation and exchange, and to produce a uniform and/or controllable temperature profile in the endothermic reaction process. The invention allows for the elimination of the working fluid loop of prior art systems that had unsatisfactory response times at startup, and during transient conditions, and also added to the overall mass and volume of the fuel cell system. |
| US07842420B2 |
Electrode material with enhanced ionic transport properties
Materials useful as electrodes for lithium batteries have very good electronic and ionic conductivities. They are fabricated from a starting mixture which includes a metal, a phosphate ion, and an additive which enhances the transport of lithium ions in the resultant material. The mixture is heated in a reducing environment to produce the material. The additive may comprise a pentavalent metal or a carbon. In certain embodiments the material is a two-phase material. Also disclosed are electrodes which incorporate the materials and lithium batteries which incorporate those electrodes. |
| US07842419B2 |
Electroactive material and use thereof
An electroactive material and a method of manufacturing the same is provided, in which the primary component of the electroactive material is a metal boron oxide complex, and the electroactive material exhibits excellent charge/discharge characteristics. The electroactive material of the present invention is primarily composed of an amorphous metal complex represented by the general formula M2-2xO2xO3. M is one or two or more metal elements selected from the transition metal elements, e.g., Fe or V. In addition, x is 0 |
| US07842417B2 |
Electrolyte for lithium ion rechargeable battery and lithium rechargeable battery including the same
An electrolyte for a lithium ion rechargeable battery, including a lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a dihalogenated ethylene carbonate, and a halogenated ethylene carbonate. The electrolyte may include about 0.01 to about 2 weight % of the dihalogenated ethylene carbonate, and the electrolyte may include about 0.1 to about 10 weight % of the halogenated ethylene carbonate. |
| US07842415B2 |
Terminal connector for connecting a cell to a medical device
A electrical connector for connection to an electrochemical cell is described. The connector comprises a conductive lid; a ferrule disposed within an opening through the conductive lid; a conductive center pin disposed within the ferrule; and a hermetic seal formed between the pin and an interior surface of the ferrule. A mating terminal connector adapted to be connected to the ferrule and the conductive center pin is further provided. The terminal connector is a device for easily and quickly connecting the cell to a circuit board of the kind found in an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, neuro-stimulator, drug pump, and the like. |
| US07842413B2 |
Rechargeable battery to reduce internal resistance and method of manufacturing the same
A rechargeable battery reducing internal resistance and equalizing the distribution of current flow in an electrode plate assembly. A plurality of battery jars are connected to one another through partition walls. A power generation element including an electrode plate assembly, in which a cathode plate and an anode plate are stacked together with a separator arranged in between, and collector plates joined to opposite ends of the electrode plate assembly are accommodated in each battery jar. The collector plates on opposite sides of the partition wall formed between two adjacent battery jars are connected to each other. Connection holes are formed in the partition wall at a plurality of locations. Connection projections, which project from the collector plates, are fitted into the connection holes and welded. The connection projections have distal ends that are in contact with each other. |
| US07842410B2 |
Polymer electrolyte membrane and fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane
A solid acid including a carbon nanotube (CNT), a spacer group combined with the CNT and an ionically conductive functional group connected to the spacer group. A polymer electrolyte membrane may include the same composition, and may be used in a fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte membrane using the solid acid has excellent ionic conductivity and suppresses the cross-over of methanol. The polymer electrolyte membrane is used as an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell. |
| US07842409B2 |
Anti-ferromagnetically coupled perpendicular magnetic recording media with oxide
The present invention relates to perpendicular magnetic recording media with improved signal-to-medium noise ratio (“SMNR”) and thermal stability, which media include a pair of vertically spaced-apart perpendicular ferromagnetic layers which are anti-ferromagnetically coupled (“AFC”) across a non-magnetic spacer layer. The invention is of particular utility in the fabrication of data/information storage and retrieval media, e.g., hard disks, having ultra-high areal recording/storage densities. |
| US07842408B2 |
Magnetic film, manufacturing method thereof and thin film magnetic head
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive capable of allowing higher data transfer rates and higher recording densities. According to one embodiment, an upper magnetic core and lower magnetic core comprise a multi-layered magnetic film formed by alternately stacking a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer and a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer by plating. The plating bath is such that the temperature is about 30±1° C., pH is about 2.0−1.0 to 2.0+0.5, metal ion concentrations are about 5 to 25 (g/l) for Ni2+ and 5 to 15 (g/l) for Fe2+, saccharin sodium concentration is about 1.5±1.0 (g/l), sodium chloride concentration is about 25±5 (g/l), and boric acid concentration is about 25±5 (g/l). Since each layer's crystal structure is different from that of its adjacent lower layer, epitaxial growth is broken within each layer. Thus, since crystal grains are reduced in size, it is possible to lessen the decrease of the permeability μ at higher frequencies. |
| US07842401B2 |
Halogen-free varnish and prepreg thereof
A halogen-free varnish includes epoxy resin, composite curing agent, condensed phosphate, and filler. The composite curing agent includes Benzoxazine (BZ) resin and amino triazine novolac (ATN) resin. The filler has aluminium hydroxide and silica. Glass fabric is dipped into the varnish so as to form a prepreg with better thermal stability, anti-flammability, and low moisture absorption. |
| US07842400B2 |
Surface-treated steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a surface treated steel sheet including a steel sheet; a plating layer containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and aluminum on a surface of the steel sheet; and a film on the plating layer, the film containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, and Zn, a tetravalent vanadium compound, and a phosphoric acid group. This surface treated steel sheet exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and excellent surface appearance without containing hazardous substances, such as hexavalent chromium, in the film. |
| US07842397B2 |
Nickel plating solution and its preparation method, nickel plating method and printed wiring board copper foil
A nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no nickel chloride; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. Another nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no boric acid; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. |
| US07842396B2 |
Air cooled heat shield
A heat shield is disclosed comprising a formed sheet having a thickness, an exterior shielding surface, and an interior shielded surface, wherein the exterior shielding surface comprises a multiplicity of protruding perforations. The protruding perforations comprise protrusions increasing surface area and generating turbulent flow, and small openings through the shield to allow convection air flow to pass through. |
| US07842395B2 |
Multiple layer interlayers having a gradient region
The present invention provides multiple layer interlayers that can be used in multiple layer glass panel type applications to reduce the amount of sound transmitted through the panel while also providing a colored region within a gradient region. The acoustic effect can be achieved by using two or more polymer sheets having differing compositions that have been combined into a single multiple layer interlayer, and the gradient region effect is achieved by forming a colored region in one or more gradient regions of the individual layers. |
| US07842394B2 |
Paper release compositions having improved adhesion to paper and polymeric films
The present invention relates to curable alkenyl based silicone release coating compositions having improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates. Furthermore the present invention relates to the process for making a silicone release coating with improved adhesion to paper and polymeric substrates. |
| US07842392B2 |
Article comprising polystyrene and thermoplastic polyurethane
Articles comprising polystyrene and thermoplastic polyurethane joined adheringly without chemical adhesion promoter. |
| US07842391B2 |
Gel reduction in blends of thermoplastic polyurethane and hydroxyl functional polymers
Gas barrier layers and composites contain a low gel sheet produced from a composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a hydroxyl functional copolymer, and a gel reducing additive. The gel reducing additive has functional groups that can react with isocyanate groups to reduce gel formation during the processing of blends of urethane containing polymers and hydroxyl functional polymers. Multilayer composites containing the low gel sheets can be made into inflatable membranes for containing an inflationary gas. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the membranes are used as bladders of cushioning devices in the soles of shoes, particularly athletic shoes. |
| US07842386B2 |
Powdery water-absorbing polymers with fine particles bound by thermoplastic adhesives
A process for producing and a powdery water-absorbing polymers comprising: about 0.01 to 20 wt. % of a fine particle with a particle size of less than about 200 μm; about 0.001 to 10 wt. % of a thermoplastic adhesive; and about 60 to 99.998 wt. % of a water-absorbing polymer particle with a particle size of about 200 μm and above, wherein the powdery water-absorbing polymers have: a flow value (FFC) within the range from about 1 to 13, and/or a dust portion of at most about 6 are disclosed. Also disclosed are a transport process, a composite, chemical products, and a use of a thermoplastic adhesive. |
| US07842385B2 |
Coated nano particle and electronic device using the same
A coated nano particle and an electronic device using the composite nano particle as an illuminator are provided. The composite nano particle includes a nano particle receiving light and emitting light; and a coating material formed on a surface of the nano particle and having an index of refraction different from that of the nano particle. The coated nano particle is made by coating a surface of the nano particle with a material having an index of refraction, which has an intermediate value between an index of refraction of a matrix and an index of refraction of the nano particle as an illuminator, with a predetermined thickness. The light emitted from the nano particle is efficiently transferred to the outside as the light reflected from the matrix and absorbed by the nano particle is suppressed. Therefore, a luminous efficiency of the illuminator is improved, and an electronic device using the illuminator is provided. |
| US07842384B2 |
Heat resistant capsule and process for producing the same
According to the present invention, there is provided a capsule comprising a capsule covering film and a capsule filler solution encapsulated therein, wherein curdlan is used as a capsule covering film matrix of this capsule covering film. This capsule is a capsule excellent in heat resistance, containing a non-protein-based capsule covering film matrix. The present invention also provides a process for producing this capsule. |
| US07842383B2 |
Yttrium-aluminum double oxide thermal spraying powder
A thermal spraying powder contains granulated and sintered particles of an yttrium-aluminum double oxide formed by granulating and sintering raw-material particles. The crushing strength of the granulated and sintered particles is 15 MPa or more, and 10% particle size of the granulated and sintered particles is 6 μm or more. The thermal spraying powder is suitable for use in forming a thermal spray coating through plasma spraying. |
| US07842380B2 |
Brightness enhancement film
A brightness enhancement film comprising a substrate which comprises, on one side, a scratch-resistant layer comprising inorganic microparticles is provided. The brightness enhancement film is useful as a scratch-resistant brightness enhancement film in liquid crystal displays. |
| US07842373B2 |
High performance geosynthetic article
Geotechnical article, and process for making it, the article having coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 150 ppm/° C. at ambient; resistance to acidic media greater than polyamide 6 resin and/or resistance to basic media greater than PET resin; resistance to hydrocarbons greater than that of HDPE; creep modulus of at least 400 MPa at 25° C., at 20% of yield stress load for 60 minutes (ISO 899-1); and 1 percent secant flexural modulus at least 700 MPa at 25° C. (ASTM D790); the article including a composition including (a) from about 1 to about 95% by weight of the composition of at least one functional group containing polymer or oligomer; and (b) from about 5 to about 99% by weight of the composition of at least one engineering thermoplastic, and optionally containing a filler and optionally containing an unmodified polyolefin, ethylene copolymer or ethylene terpolymer. |
| US07842371B2 |
Washcoat loaded porous ceramics with low backpressure
Disclosed are washcoated ceramic honeycomb filters. The ceramic filters exhibit a relatively high level of washcoat loading while exhibiting minimized levels of backpressure. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the washcoated ceramic honeycomb filters. The method comprises providing an cell geometry derived from a predetermined level of washcoat loading to be applied to the ceramic honeycomb article. |
| US07842368B1 |
Method for producing a shaped foam body, especially a foam padding element for a vehicle seat
A method produces a shaped foam body, especially a foam padding unit for a vehicle seat. At least one adhesive closure with adhesive elements is housed in a recess of a foaming mold used for producing the shaped foam body and is covered with a covering element inhibiting foaming. The covering element is placed on the side opposite to the adhesive elements to extend from the recess over a predetermined width, and is maintained by a holding device, while being removably held against the parts of the foaming mold which surround the recess. |
| US07842364B2 |
Differential release system for a self-wound multilayer dry paint decorative laminate having a pressure sensitive adhesive
A self-wound decorative dry paint transfer laminate includes a layer of dry paint, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side of the dry paint layer, and a release liner in releasable contact with the dry paint layer on a side opposite from the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The release liner has a matte release coat layer that contacts the dry paint layer. The matte release coat releasably adheres to the dry paint layer to provide a protective function but also to transfer a decorative matte finish to the dry paint layer when the release liner is removed from the dry paint layer. The opposite side of the release liner has an adhesive release coat that contacts the pressure-sensitive adhesive when the laminate is in a self-wound form. |
| US07842363B2 |
Differential release system for a self-wound multilayer dry paint decorative laminate having a pressure sensitive adhesive
A self-wound decorative dry paint transfer laminate includes a layer of dry paint, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side of the dry paint layer, and a release liner in releasable contact with the dry paint layer on a side opposite from the pressure-sensitive adhesive. The release liner has a matte release coat layer that contacts the dry paint layer. The matte release coat releasably adheres to the dry paint layer to provide a protective function but also to transfer a decorative matte finish to the dry paint layer when the release liner is removed from the dry paint layer. The opposite side of the release liner has an adhesive release coat that contacts the pressure-sensitive adhesive when the laminate is in a self-wound form. |
| US07842359B2 |
Animated artificial flower
A device simulating a blooming flower includes a piston slidably disposed within an elongated tube simulating a flower stem. A chamber within the stem is configured to hold a dissolvable solid material. The piston is biased upwardly, but held in place by the dissolvable solid material placed in the chamber above the piston. A simulated flower is attached to the end of the stem or piston and has a plurality of simulated petals configured to open as the stem is placed in a liquid, the solid material dissolves, and the piston moves upwardly within the stem. |
| US07842357B2 |
Tetrahydropyran compound, liquid crystal, composition and liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition
A compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are, for example alkyl; T1, T2 and T3 are independently tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl or tetrahydropyran-3,6-diyl; A1 and A2 are, for example 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are, for example, a single bond; i, j, k, m and n are, for example 0 or 1; and i+j+k+m+n is, for example 2 or 3. |
| US07842356B2 |
Substrate processing methods
Substrate processing methods involve forming an insulating film of amorphous carbon on a substrate by supplying acetylene gas and hydrogen gas with a volume ratio of 4:3 to 4:1, or alternatively, butyne gas, into a process vessel in which the substrate is accommodated. The methods further involve generating a plasma inside of the process vessel by emitting a microwave. The pressure inside of the process vessel is maintained to be 4.0 Pa or less and the substrate is maintained to be 200° C. or less while the insulating film is formed. |
| US07842352B2 |
Nanoparticle coatings and methods of making
A surface can be treated to deposit a superhydrophilic coating on a surface that can be antireflective and antifogging. The coating can remain antireflective and antifogging for extended periods. The coating can include oppositely charge inorganic nanoparticles, and can be substantially free of an organic polymer. The coating can be made mechanically robust by a hydrothermal calcination. |
| US07842346B1 |
Framed carpet tile
A method of producing a framed carpet tile may include providing a carpet tile in accordance with the prior art techniques and then treating the carpet tile in one of various manners to provide a frame internal to side edges of the carpet tile. The treatment can include tip shearing side portions relative to an internal portion to provide at least one discontinuity, dripping colors to provide a frame, carving, burning, or otherwise providing a frame internal to the side edges of the carpet tile in various disclosed embodiments. |
| US07842344B2 |
Peptide and protein arrays and direct-write lithographic printing of peptides and proteins
The present invention relates to the use of direct-write lithographic printing of proteins and peptides onto surfaces. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for creating protein and peptide arrays and compositions derived therefrom. Nanoscopic tips can be used to deposit the peptide or protein onto the surface to produce a pattern. The pattern can be dots or lines having dot diameter and line width of less than 1,000 nm. The tips and the substrate surfaces can be adapted for the peptide and protein lithography. |
| US07842342B2 |
Method for manufacturing protective layer
A method for manufacturing a protective layer such that when the protective layer is formed in a film-forming chamber, the partial pressure of water in the film-forming chamber is controlled by the exhaust velocity of the water in the film-forming chamber. During formation of the protective layer the total pressure in the film-forming chamber is kept constant. In addition, the partial pressure of the water in the film-forming chamber is controlled while introducing a gas into the film-forming chamber, thereby controlling the ratio of the partial pressure of hydrogen to the partial pressure of oxygen in the film-forming chamber. |
| US07842340B2 |
Fibre coating method and apparatus
A fiber unit coating apparatus includes a chamber into which an uncured resin coated fiber unit is passed. Microspheres mixed with air are fed into the chamber via ducts and apertures. As a result rapid and even application of the microspheres can be achieved, and the system allows controllable application of the microspheres by varying the rate of flow of the air/microsphere mixture. Positive pressure chambers are provided to prevent the microspheres from blocking the inlet and outlet points where the fiber unit enters and leaves the chamber. |
| US07842339B2 |
Method of making a wipe-resistant antireflection coating on a borosilicate glass body and coating solution for use in said method
In the method of making an adherent and wipe-resistant porous SiO2-containing antireflection coating on a borosilicate glass body a coating solution containing from 1.0 to 6.0 wt. % of HCl, from 0.5 to 7.0 wt. % of a SiO2 sol based on solids content, from 0.5 to 5.0 wt. % of water, and from 85 to 98 wt. % of at least one volatile water-soluble organic solvent, is used to form an antireflection coating on the glass body. A glass body, on which the foregoing coating can be provided with good adherence and wipe resistance properties, is made of borosilicate glass having a composition, in percent by weight based on oxide content, of SiO2, 70 to 75; B2O3, 8 to 11; Al2O3, 5 to 9; alkali metal oxides, 7 to 12; and alkaline earth metal oxides, 0 to 10. |
| US07842333B2 |
Method of forming phosphor film and method of manufacturing light emitting diode package incorporating the same
The invention relates to a method of forming a phosphor film and a method of manufacturing an LED package incorporating the same. The method of forming a phosphor film includes mixing phosphor and light-transmitting beads in an aqueous solvent such that the nano-sized light-transmitting beads having a first charge are adsorbed onto surfaces of phosphor particles having a second charge. The method also includes coating a phosphor mixture obtained from the mixing step on an area where the phosphor film is to be formed, and drying the coated phosphor mixture to form the phosphor film. The invention further provides a method of manufacturing an LED package incorporating the method of forming the phosphor film. |
| US07842325B2 |
Method of making high solids, high protein dairy-based food
The present invention provides a process for producing a high solids/high protein dairy product wherein an MPC is first mixed with molten fat to produce a mixture of protein particles coated in fat and the mixture hydrated, acidified and heated under low shear to produce a dairy product, preferably a cheese or cheese-like product having a protein to water ratio of between 0.6 and 3.0. |
| US07842323B1 |
Mat device and method of use
A mat device for receiving dough to be rolled out and reducing the mess usually associated with rolling out of the dough includes a sheet including a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is positioned on a support surface. The sheet has a folding line extending along a width of the sheet and bisecting the sheet into a first section and a second section. The folding line facilitates folding of the second section with respect to the first section. An adhesive is coupled to the bottom surface of the first section of the sheet. The adhesive releasably adheres the first section to the support surface when the first section is placed on the support surface. |
| US07842319B2 |
Food grade colored fluids for printing on edible substrates
Food grade colored fluids which include food grade dyes and food grade glycols are provided. Also provided are methods for applying the food grade colored fluids directed to the surface of an edible substrate, and edible substrates having the food grade colored fluids applied to a surface thereof. The food grade colored fluids may optionally include glycerine and water. In one embodiment, the food grade glycol makes up at least about 25 wt. % of the colored fluid and water makes up no more than about 35 wt. % of the colored fluid. |
| US07842318B2 |
Use of a potent product extracted from rhizomes of Zingiber officinale in treating a disease associated with Helicobacter pylori
The present invention discloses a new use of a potent product extracted from rhizomes of Zingiber officinale in treating a disease associated with Helicobacter pylori such as gastritis, gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer in a patient. The potent product is prepared by a process including the steps of a) preparing a crude extract from rhizomes of Zingiber officinale, said crude extract comprising 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol; b) introducing the crude extract to a reverse phase chromatography column, and eluting the column with a first eluent having a polarity lower than water to obtain a first potent fraction or a second eluent having a polarity lower than that of the first eluent to obtain a second potent fraction. Preferably, the second potent fraction is substantially free of both 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol. |
| US07842317B2 |
Method of treating viral conditions
An antiviral composition and a method of treating viral conditions comprising colloidal silver and an antiviral natural herb or a natural herb from the Rutaceae family, such as Ruta graveolens, Myrtaceae family, such as Melaleuca alternifolia, Cupressaceae family, such as Thuja occidentalis, and the Moraceae family, such as unripe fig, or any combination thereof. |
| US07842316B2 |
Cosmetic compositions having extracts of Amomum melegueta and methods of treating skin
There is disclosed a topical composition and method for preventing and/or ameliorating the effects of aging on skin to improve the aesthetic appearance of skin and/or scalp. The invention utilizes the topical application of Amomum melegueta extract. |
| US07842315B2 |
Compositions for treating liver fibrosis or cirrhosis
Disclosed is a composition for hepatoprotection, or for prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, which comprises as an active ingredient a water extract of a mixture of Trionycis Carapax, Raphani Semen, Artemisia capillaris Herba, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Poria cocos, Alismatis Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Salvia Miltiorrhizae Radix, Polyporus, Amomi Fructus, Ponciri Fructus, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Helenii Radix. |
| US07842312B2 |
Polymeric compositions comprising therapeutic agents in crystalline phases, and methods of forming the same
The present invention relates to a drug-containing polymeric composition comprising at least one therapeutic agent encapsulated in at least one biocompatible polymer, wherein at least a portion of the therapeutic agent in this polymeric composition is crystalline. The at least one biocompatible polymer may form a substantially continuous polymeric matrix with the at least one therapeutic agent encapsulated therein. Alternatively, the at least one biocompatible polymer may form polymeric particles with the at least one therapeutic agent encapsulated therein. |
| US07842306B2 |
Wound care device having fluid transfer properties
This disclosure relates to wound care devices which are capable of one-way, directional flow of fluids and contaminants away from the wound site to the opposite side of the wound care device, which functions as a fluid reservoir. This fluid transport mechanism generally aids in reducing wound maceration by removing excess fluid, and potentially even bacteria, and is carried out without loss of physical integrity of the wound care device itself. In addition to providing a unidirectional fluid transport mechanism, the wound care device may contain a topically applied silver-based antimicrobial finish which provides certain levels of antimicrobial agent to the wound in order to clear infection from the wound site and control bacterial growth in the wound care dressing. Exemplary topical antimicrobial finishes include silver ion-releasing compounds. |
| US07842302B2 |
Mixture comprising a detergent and a co-detergent
The invention relates to a mixture comprising a surfactant and a cosurfactant, the cosurfactant being an amphiphilic polymer having one or more hydrophobic subunits (A) and one or more hydrophilic subunits (B), wherein one or more hydrophobic subunits (A) have been formed on the basis of a polyisobutene block whose polyisobutene macromolecules have terminal double bonds to an extent of at least 50 mol %. |
| US07842294B2 |
Proteins belonging to the Bcl-2 family and fragments thereof, and their use in cancer patients
The present invention relates to proteins belonging to the Bcl-2 family and peptides fragments thereof for use in pharmaceutical compositions. The disclosed proteins and peptide fragments are in particularly useful in vaccine compositions for treatment of cancer. The invention furthermore relates to methods of treatment using said compositions. It is also an aspect of the invention to provide T-cells and T-cell receptors specifically recognising the disclosed proteins and peptide fragments. |
| US07842291B1 |
Methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating diseases
Methods and compositions are provided for assessing, treating, and preventing diseases, especially cancer, using cancer-associated targets (CAT). Methods and compositions are also provided for determining or predicting the effectiveness of a treatment for these diseases or for selecting a treatment, using CAT. Methods and compositions are further provided for modulating cell function using CAT. Also provided are compositions that modulate CAT (e.g., antagonists or agonists), such as antibodies, proteins, small molecule compounds, and nucleic acid agents (e.g., RNAi and antisense agents), as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Further provided are methods of screening for agents that modulate CAT, and agents identified by these screening methods. |
| US07842288B2 |
Marine anti-bio-fouling coating and a method of applying the coating
A marine anti-bio-fouling coating 10, for application onto the surface of a marine article 12. The coating 10 comprises a self-levelling, self-curing epoxy resin primer adhesive 14, an adhesive modified epoxy resin binder adhesive 16 and granulated Copper Nickel alloy 18. When a coated marine article 12 is immersed in water a chemical reaction occurs between the water and the Copper Nickel alloy 18 which causes a film of a complex metal oxide 20 to form on the exterior surface of the layer of Copper Nickel alloy granules 18. The oxide film 20 forms an inhospitable environment to aquatic organisms and aquatic borers, thereby preventing bio-fouling occurring on the coated marine article. A method of applying the coating 10 to a marine article 12 is also provided. |
| US07842287B2 |
Acid-gas absorbing tablet and method of use
An acid-gas absorbing tablet including in relatively sufficient proportions an adsorbent which may be activated carbon or silica gel or a mixture thereof, potassium carbonate, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, and potassium bicarbonate. A method of absorbing acid gases from a confined environment utilizing the above tablet by inserting it into the confined environment. |
| US07842283B2 |
Generation of therapeutic microfoam
A method for producing a microfoam suitable for use in scleropathy of blood vessels comprises introducing a physiologically acceptable blood-dispersible gas into a container (1) holding an aqueous sclerosant liquid and releasing the mixture of blood-dispersible gas and sclerosant liquid, whereby upon release of the mixture the components of the mixture interact to form a microfoam. |
| US07842282B2 |
Generation of therapeutic microfoam
A method for producing a microfoam suitable for use in scleropathy of blood vessels comprises introducing a physiologically acceptable blood-dispersible gas into a container (1) holding an aqueous sclerosant liquid and releasing the mixture of blood-dispersible gas and sclerosant liquid, whereby upon release of the mixture the components of the mixture interact to form a microfoam. |
| US07842278B2 |
Hypoxia-selective, weakly basic 2-nitroimidazole delivery agents and methods of use thereof
The invention features a class of 2-nitroimidazole compounds with a secondary basic nitrogen atom and a linker bearing one or more therapeutic agents, cytotoxic agents, detectable labels, or chelating groups. In particular, the invention provides 2-nitroimidazole compounds containing a cluster of boron atoms for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The 2-nitroimidazole compounds can be used to treat hypoxic conditions, including, e.g., cancer, inflammation, and ischemia. The weakly basic 2-nitroimidazole compounds target to hypoxic tissue and provide increased tissue concentration overall. |
| US07842277B2 |
Molecular sieve composition, a method of making and a process of using the same
This disclosure relates to a crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition having, in its as-synthesized form, an X-ray diffraction pattern including a peak at d-spacing maximum of 12.33±0.23 Angstroms, a distinguishable peak at a d-spacing maximum between 12.57 to about 14.17 Angstroms and a non-discrete peak at a d-spacing maximum between 8.8 to 11. Angstroms, wherein the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum between 12.57 to about 14.17 Angstroms is less than 90% of the peak intensity of the d-spacing maximum at 12.33±0.23 Angstroms. This disclosure also relates to methods of making the crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition. |
| US07842276B1 |
Catalysts for the evolution of hydrogen from borohydride solution
Organic pigments are capable of catalyzing the decomposition reaction of hydrogen-rich, stabilized, borohydride solutions to generate hydrogen gas on-board an operable hydrogen-consuming device such as a motor vehicle or other combustion engine. The organic pigments are used in hydrogen generating systems and in methods for controlling the generation of hydrogen gas from metal hydride solutions. |
| US07842273B2 |
Method for the preparation of γLiV2O5
The invention relates to the preparation of an optionally carbonaceous γ-LiV2O5 material.The process consists in preparing a composition formed of carbon and of precursors of Li and of V and in subjecting it to a heat treatment. The composition is prepared by bringing carbon, α-V2O5 and a Li precursor into contact in amounts such that the ratio of the [V2O5]/[Li] concentrations is between 0.95 and 1.05 and the carbon is in excess of at least 25% with respect to the stoichiometry. The heat treatment is carried out in two stages: a first stage at a temperature between 90° C. and 150° C. for a time of 1 to 12 hours and a second stage at a temperature between 420° C. and 500° C. for a time of between 10 min and 1 hour, under a nitrogen or argon atmosphere or under vacuum.Applications: positive electrode active material. |
| US07842272B2 |
Process for the regeneration of sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid contaminated with byproducts of chloromethane scrubbing is regenerated for reuse in the scrubbing process by diluting with water to not lower than about a 55 weight percent concentration, heating the diluted acid to boiling at not more than about 135° C., concentrating the acid to a concentration of minimally 80 weight percent at a temperature of at least 170° C., and reacting the concentrated acid with an oxidizing agent. |
| US07842259B2 |
Conically shaped screenless internals for radial flow reactors
An apparatus for contacting a bed of particulate material with a cross flowing fluid, which maintains the bed of particulate material within a retention volume. The apparatus includes partitions for retaining particles, with apertures disposed within the partitions. The apertures are covered by shrouds that extend above the edges of the apertures to prevent solid particles from spilling through inlet apertures. |
| US07842254B2 |
Maximum reaction rate converter for exothermic reactions
An ammonia converter is disclosed. The converter can alter the conversion of ammonia by controlling the reaction temperature of the exothermic reaction along the length of the reactor to parallel the equilibrium curve for the desired product. The converter can comprise a shell 101 and internal catalyst tubes 109. The feed gas stream enters the reactor, flows through the shell 101, and is heated by indirect heat exchange with the catalyst tubes 109. The catalyst tubes 109 comprise reactive zones 122 having catalyst and reaction limited zones 124 that can comprise inert devices that function to both separate the reactive zones, increase heat transfer area, and reduce the temperature of the reaction mixture as the effluent passes through the catalyst tube 109. |
| US07842248B2 |
Microfluidic system comprising microfluidic pump, mixer or valve
A microfluidic system. The system comprises: (A) a microfluidics platform comprising: a compliant body having a microfluidic channel defined therein; an elongate chamber defined by a section of the microfluidic channel, the chamber having a membrane wall defining part of an outer surface of the body; and a plurality of compression members spaced apart along the membrane wall, each compression member being configured for pinching a respective part of the membrane wall against an opposed wall of the chamber; and (B) a MEMS integrated circuit bonded to the outer surface of the body, the MEMS integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of moveable fingers, each finger engaged with a respective compression member, each finger being configured to urge the respective compression member between a closed position in which the respective part of the membrane wall is sealingly pinched against the opposed wall, and an open position in which the respective part of the membrane wall is disengaged from the opposed wall; a plurality of thermal bend actuators, each associated with a respective finger for controlling movement of the respective finger, and control circuitry for controlling actuation of the actuators. |
| US07842247B2 |
Sample holder for dynamic light scattering
A sample holder holds various sizes of capillaries or cuvettes for use in dynamic light scattering (DLS) or quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS), such as in DLS of fluid samples such as platelet solutions, whole blood, colloids or the like. The sample holder has a base with a stationary backing member and a sliding, rail-mounted clamping member that is magnetically biased toward the backing member. The sample holder has Peltier-type thermoelectric heating/cooling elements that extend the full height of the clamping and backing members to optimize heat transfer efficiency. The sample holder further includes horizontal slots that enable collection of scattered light from various angles around the device. Finned heat sinks are mounted above and below the horizontal slots on the outwardly facing surfaces of the backing and clamping members to stabilize the temperature of the fluid sample in the sample holder without interfering with incident or scattered light. |
| US07842241B2 |
Analyte meter protectors and methods
Analyte meter protectors, meters that include the same, and methods. |
| US07842240B2 |
Microchip for analysis, analysis system having the same, and analysis method
A microchip has a substrate on which there are formed a reaction bath section, a first flow channel to which are connected a supply channel that supplies a buffer solution and the reaction bath section, a second flow channel to which are connected a supply channel that supplies a sample solution containing a first substance and a channel that discharges the sample and buffer solutions to an exterior of the substrate, and a connecting channel connecting the first flow channel to the second flow channel. The reaction bath section receives the first and second substances so that the first and second substances react in the reaction bath section. The first and second flow channels are provided with valves disposed relative to the connecting channel such that selective opening and closing of the valves causes the buffer solution to flow first into the reaction bath section at a preselected speed and the sample solution to flow second into the reaction bath section at the preselected speed to cause the first and second substances to react in the reaction bath section. |
| US07842238B2 |
Fully automated microarray processing system
An automated microarray processing system includes a microarray housing assembly module, an incubation module, a washing module and at least one automated transport module. With the automated transport module being mechanically moved among the microarray housing assembly module, the incubation module and the washing module, biochemical reaction of a reaction region of a microarray and a biological sample solution disposed therebetween is automatically performed, and the reacted microarray is automatically cleaned when the biochemical reaction of the microarray is completed. |
| US07842234B2 |
Diagnostic devices incorporating fluidics and methods of manufacture
The present invention relates to diagnostic devices incorporating electrode modules and fluidics for performing chemical analyses. The invented devices consist of a sensor array formed on an electrode module, the sensor array being contained within a fluidic housing. The electrode module is a laminate of a perforated epoxy foil and a photo-formed metal foil with sensor membranes deposited into the perforations. The fluidic housing is an element consisting of a plastic card-like body with fluidic conduits and a sealed fluid reservoir contained in a foil-lined cavity. |
| US07842233B2 |
Apparatus and methods for disinfecting components of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle
A device for disinfecting components of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle is provided. The device includes an ionizer arranged in the air conditioning system and an electronic control unit configured to activate the ionizer to produce an amount of ions. The amount of ions is determined as a function of an amount of condensate on the components of the air conditioning system to be disinfected. |
| US07842231B2 |
Method for producing a titanium metallic composition having titanium boride particles dispersed therein
An article made of constituent elements is prepared by furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively contain the constituent elements. The constituent elements include a titanium-base metallic composition, boron present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit, and, optionally, a stable-oxide-forming additive element present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce a material comprising a titanium-base metallic composition having titanium boride particles therein, without melting the titanium-base metallic composition. The titanium-base metallic composition having the titanium boride particles therein is consolidated without melting. |
| US07842228B1 |
Continuous refractory ore bioprocessing apparatus
Disclosed is a continuous refractory ore bioprocessing apparatus for the digestion of metal ore with bacteria. It includes a long trough tank fitted with a screw conveyer that extends along the length of the tank. A shell, having a number of feed ports, covers the screw conveyer. Granules of ore to be bioprocessed pass through the feed ports toward the screw conveyer portion of the reactor wherein the ore is ground by the screw conveyer and is bioprocessed as the screw conveyer rotates to push the ore along the reactor. Gas distribution manifolds are attached to the tank and are configured so that gas may be injected into the tank and onto the surface of the shell so as to encourage agitation of the materials in the tank and in the screw conveyer portion of the bioreactor while discouraging fouling of the shell and clogging of the feed ports. |
| US07842227B2 |
Drying jig, drying method of honeycomb molded body, and manufacturing method of honeycomb structured body
A drying jig of the present invention is a drying jig for a pillar-shaped honeycomb molded body having a large number of cells longitudinally placed in parallel with one another with a cell wall therebetween, comprising: a fixing member for preventing separation or opening of the drying jig; and a piling member which enables the drying jig to be piled up in multi stage at the time of drying. |
| US07842222B2 |
Preform for blowing a container and process for manufacturing thereof
Preform for the blow-molding of a container comprising a neck section (10), an adjoining wall section (20) having a substantially cylindrical shape, with in between a neck ring (12) as a transition region, and further a bottom section (30) which forms the base of the preform, which is composed of a multilayer structure consisting in two surface layers, the one of which (1) is directed outwardly respective the preform and wherein the other (3) is directed inwardly with respect thereto, with in between an intermediate layer (2) which forms a core layer, wherein both surface layers (1, 3) are composed of a primary material and wherein said intermediate layer (2) is composed of a secondary material, remarkable in that the center surface of said intermediate layer (2) is directed outwardly, toward the outer surface, with respect to the center surface of said wall section (20) and in that said primary and secondary materials respectively are mutually different. This invention further relates to a method for producing the aforementioned preform. Microorganismus are mixed into the polymers to improve material properties. |
| US07842219B2 |
Mold for forming a molding member and method of fabricating a molding member using the same
There are provided a mold for forming a molding member and a method for forming a molding member using the same. The mold includes an upper surface, and a lower surface having an outer peripheral surface and a concave surface surrounded by the outer circumference. Injection and discharge holes extend from the upper surface to the lower surface. Accordingly, after the mold and the package are coupled so that the discharge hole is directed upward, a molding member can be formed on the package by injecting the molding material through the injection hole, whereby it is possible to prevent air bubbles from being captured in the molding member. |
| US07842218B2 |
Method of producing a structure
Producing a structure, in which: building elements are juxtaposed so as to define a space between said building elements; a joint compound composition is mixed with water so as to obtain a joint compound; said space is filled with said joint compound composition, without using a tape; and said joint compound is left to harden, wherein said joint compound composition includes: a) 50 to 60% of calcium sulphate hemihydrate; b) 5 to 15% of an organic binder in powder form; and c) 0.05 to 0.2% of a water repellent selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, stearic acid and their alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal salts. |
| US07842215B2 |
Process of forming a container closure
A one-piece container closure with a collar, stiff planar triangular leaflets attached by linear hinges to the collar, and thin flexible foldable webs attached to and extending between the leaflets. The leaflets are flat with the webs folded beneath in closed closure position. The leaflets are pivoted upwardly with webs unfolded therebetween in open position. An integral cap is attached to the collar by a snap-action bow-tie hinge. A central pin on the cap seals with the leaflets when the cap is closed. The closure is integrally molded in open position with raised leaflets and unfolded webs, leaflets then being lowered and the webs folded to closed position while the closure is still warm, the cap then being closed, and the closed closure then being annealed to establish the elastic positional memory of the leaflets and hinges in the closed position when product is not being dispensed through the closure. |
| US07842214B2 |
Process for forming microporous membranes
A method for forming a microporous membrane having a microstructure is described. Dope and coagulant formulations are simultaneously cast, where the coagulant formulation diffuses into the dope formulation through an interface effecting a phase inversion forming a microstructure. |
| US07842212B2 |
Floor covering, floor panels for forming such floor covering, and method for realizing such floor panels
Floor covering, consisting of hard panels, with a laminated structure, whereby at least at the upper surface a printed decorative layer with a wood pattern is present, with thereupon a transparent layer of synthetic material in which impressions are formed, wherein the impressions substantially follow the wood pattern. |
| US07842209B2 |
Vacuum debulk and radiation cure method
To fabricate a composite item from a layup of composite material, the layup is degassed, debulked, and cured. To degas the layup, an envelope pressure within an envelope that includes the layup is reduced, a chamber pressure within a chamber that includes the envelope is reduced, and the layup is heated. To debulk the layup, the chamber pressure is increased relative to the envelope pressure so that the envelope exerts a compressive force upon the layup in response to the relatively higher chamber pressure as compared to the envelope pressure. To cure the layup, the layup is exposed to radiation. |
| US07842205B2 |
Manufacturing method by treating substrate introduced into treatment apparatus from transfer container
The present invention provides a manufacturing method by which a substrate (typically, a TFT substrate) can be installed directly in a treatment apparatus by using a transfer container without shifting the substrate from the transfer container to another container. It is possible to use the container efficiently and transfer different substrates in size with one container. A manufacturing method in which a substrate is directly installed in an electrostatic-protected transfer container by a substrate supplier, and then the container is directly installed in a treatment apparatus by a substrate demander after transferring can be realized, thereby making it possible to transfer substrates such as a TFT substrate. A contamination of a substrate due to particles and electrostatic discharge damage of a TFT substrate can be avoided because a transferring operation is not needed. A manufacturing method in which a substrate holding portion of the container is replaced depending on the size of a substrate and different substrates in size can be transferred with one container may be employed. |
| US07842203B2 |
Gasket for molding plastic lens
A mold (1) for molding a plastic lens is formed of a first mold (3) which forms one lens surface of the plastic lens, a second mold (4) which forms the other lens surface of the plastic lens, and a cylindrical gasket (2) into which the first and second molds (3, 4) are to be pressed. An elastically deformable projecting band (5) which has a triangular section and tapers gradually toward its distal end integrally projects on the inner circumferential surface of the gasket (2). The projecting band (5) projects on the inner circumferential surface of the gasket (2) throughout an entire circumference to form a ring-like shape, and inclines upward with respect to an axis (L) of the gasket (2). The first mold (3), when pressed into the gasket (2), presses the projecting band (5) to elastically deform it downward. |
| US07842201B2 |
System for manufacturing micro-retarder and method for manufacturing the same
A system for manufacturing a micro-retarder and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The system for manufacturing a micro-retarder includes a carrying device, a heating device and a movement control device. The carrying device is used for carrying a polymolecule film. The polymolecule film is selected from a polymolecule film having an arrangement direction. The heating device is used for providing a heating source. The energy formed in the central area of the heating source is smaller than that in the peripheral area of the heating source. The movement control device is used for controlling the heating source and the polymolecule film to relatively move along a first direction, so that the adjusted heating source heats at least one partial area of the polymolecule film along the first direction and resumes the partial area of the polymolecule film to be non-directional. |
| US07842200B2 |
Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode materials
The invention relates to compositions and composite particles that may be employed as anode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). The invention particularly relates to novel metallic SOFC anode materials, which preferably comprise metallic nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), especially if the Ni/Cu oxide has been stabilized with yttrium (Y) oxide (e.g., Y2O3) and/or zirconium (Zr) oxide (e.g., ZrO2) composition(s) (“YSZ”). Such compositions may additionally comprise a cerium (Ce) oxide (such as CeO2) (e.g., Ni/YSZ/CeO2). The invention particularly concerns such compositions and particles produced through the use of direct deposition or Flame Spray Pyrolysis so as to provide a controlled morphology and chemical composition. |
| US07842194B2 |
Dispensing system for alkali metals capable of releasing a high quantity of metals
A dispensing system is provided for alkali metals, that allows increasing the quantity of alkali metal that can be dispensed, as well as the time during which the system can be used with properties of metal vapors release which are constant over time. The system includes an alkali metal dispenser, the dispenser being a metallic container having one or more first openings and containing a mixture of one or more alkali metal compounds and one or more reducing compounds, preferably in the form of loose powders or pellets of the powders. The system further includes a metallic shield which substantially encloses the container and has one or more second openings facing the first openings. |
| US07842193B2 |
Polishing liquid
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a polishing liquid for polishing a barrier metal material on an interlayer insulation material, the polishing liquid having a pH of from 2.0 to 6.0 and including an aqueous solution containing a compound represented by the following formula (1), and polishing particles containing silicon oxide and dispersed in the aqueous solution: R1—(CH2)m—(CHR2)n—COOH (1) wherein m+n≦4; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a hydroxyl group; R2 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, a benzene ring or a hydroxyl group; and when a plurality of R2s are present in the formula (1), they are the same or different from one another. |
| US07842192B2 |
Multi-component barrier polishing solution
The polishing solution is useful for removing barrier materials in the presence of at least one nonferrous interconnect metal with limited erosion of dielectrics. The solution contains 0 to 20 weight percent oxidizer, at least 0.001 weight percent inhibitor for reducing removal rate of the nonferrous interconnect metals, 1 ppm to 4 weight percent organic-containing ammonium cationic salt formed with a quanternary ammonium structure, 1 ppm to 4 weight percent anionic surfactant, the anionic surfactant having 4 to 25 carbon atoms and the total carbon atoms in of the ammonium cationic salt plus the anionic surfactant being 6 to 40 carbon atoms, 0 to 50 weight percent abrasive and balance water; and the solution having a pH of less than 7. |
| US07842191B2 |
CMP slurry for metallic film, polishing method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A CMP slurry for metallic film is provided, which includes water, 0.01 to 0.3 wt %, based on a total quantity of the slurry, of polyvinylpyrrolidone having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 20,000, an oxidizing agent, a protective film-forming agent containing a first complexing agent for forming a water-insoluble complex and a second complexing agent for forming a water-soluble complex, and colloidal silica having a primary particle diameter ranging from 5 to 50 nm. |
| US07842189B2 |
Treatment device, treatment device consumable parts management method, treatment system, and treatment system consumable parts management method
A processing apparatus includes counters each used to measure the length of RF discharge time over which power is applied to a consumable component in correspondence to a specific type of processing executed in a processing chamber, a storage to store wear coefficient information indicating wear coefficients each corresponding to one of the plurality of types of processing, and a control unit that obtains information indicating RF discharge time lengths measured by the counters in correspondence to the individual types of processing, obtains the wear coefficients corresponding to the individual types of processing indicated in the wear coefficient information stored in the storage, calculates a wear index value for the consumable component based upon the RF discharge time lengths and the wear coefficients corresponding to the individual types of processing, and executes consumable component management processing based upon the calculated wear index value. |
| US07842181B2 |
Composition and process for the removal of sulfur from middle distillate fuels
A composition and process for removing sulfur from middle distillate petroleum hydrocarbon fuels. The composition includes an alumina component and a carbon component. The composition is present in an amount effective to adsorb sulfur compounds from the fuel. The alumina component and the carbon component preferably collectively comprise a composite material. The composition can further include a sulfur component, preferably a metal sulfide or sulfur oxide. The composition can also further include at least one compound having a Group VI or Group VIII metal from the periodic table. |
| US07842179B2 |
Sealing ring assembly and mounting method
A sealing ring assembly and an improved method for mounting a sealing ring into an electrochemical cell used for Electrochemical Capacitance Voltage (ECV) profiling measurements. The ring is located in a holder having at least one secondary bore providing fluid communication between a forward face of the holder and the central bore of the ring, directed parallel to but tangentially offset relative to the inner wall of the central bore so as to impart a degree of rotational flow to electrolyte entering the sealing ring through the or each secondary bore which effectively removes gas bubbles and refreshes the electrolyte. The holder facilitates ring removal with a much reduced risk of damage to the delicate sealing surface. |
| US07842178B2 |
Magnet incorporated electrically conductive electrodes
An electrically conducting electrode having a composite and a current collector in electrical contact with the composite, the composite can comprise at least about 10 weight percent electrically conductive particles, at least about 0.5 weight percent magnetic particles, and an optional polymeric binder, wherein composite is at least about 80 weight percent with respect to the combined weight of the electrically conductive particles, the magnetic particles and the binder. Electrochemical systems can effectively use these electrodes to improve system performance. |
| US07842174B2 |
Electrochemical chip with miniaturized sensor array
A handheld sensor device is provided for measuring an ion concentration in a solution. The solution is in an electrochemical cell that includes a counter electrode, a working electrode, and a reference electrode. The sensor includes a control amplifier configured to provide a current through the counter electrode and the working electrode so as to maintain a predetermined voltage between the working electrode and the reference electrode. The sensor also includes a current amplifier configured to measure the current provided through the counter electrode and the working electrode. In one embodiment, the sensor also includes a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) including a phase accumulator. The DDFS is configured to selectively generate a waveform specified by an electrochemical technique such as square wave voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, differential-pulse polarography, normal-pulse polarography, or other known electrochemical techniques. An example microelectrode array usable with the handheld sensor is also provided. |
| US07842168B2 |
Method for producing silicon oxide film and method for producing optical multilayer film
The invention provides a method for producing a silicon oxide film, whereby a film having uniform optical constants such as refractive index, absorption coefficient, etc. can be formed continuously at a high deposition rate.A method for producing a silicon oxide film, which comprises depositing a silicon oxide film on a substrate by carrying out AC sputtering by using a sputtering target comprising silicon carbide and silicon with a ratio in number of atoms of C to Si being from 0.5 to 0.95, in an atmosphere containing an oxidizing gas, with an alternating current having a frequency of from 1 to 1,000 kHz. |
| US07842163B2 |
Embossed tissue products
Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. After the additive composition is applied to the web or otherwise incorporated into the tissue web, the tissue web is embossed. During embossing, the additive composition forms well defined embossments in the web that are water resistant. In one embodiment, the additive composition may also be used to bond multiple tissue webs together to form a multiple ply product during the embossing operation. |
| US07842160B2 |
Semiconductor producing device and semiconductor device producing method
A tubular electrode (215) and a tubular magnet (216) are installed on an external section of a processing furnace (202) for an MMT device. A susceptor (217) for holding a wafer (200) is installed inside a processing chamber (201) of the processing furnace. A gate valve (244) for conveying the wafer into and out of the processing chamber; and a shower head (236) for spraying processing gas in a shower onto the wafer, are installed inside the processing furnace. A high frequency electrode (2) and a heater (3) are installed inside the susceptor (217) with a clearance between them and the walls forming the space. The clearances formed between the walls forming the space in the susceptor and the high frequency electrode and the heater prevent damage to the high frequency electrode and the heater even if a thermal expansion differential occurs between the high frequency electrode, the heater and the susceptor. |
| US07842158B2 |
Multiple zone carrier head with flexible membrane
A carrier head for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate includes a base and a flexible membrane extending beneath the base. The flexible membrane includes a central portion with an outer surface providing a substrate receiving surface, a perimeter portion connecting the central portion to the base, and at least one flap extending from an inner surface of the central portion. The flap divides a volume between the flexible membrane and the base into a plurality of chambers, and the flap includes a laterally extending first section and an angled second section extending beneath the first section and connecting the laterally extending first section to the central portion. |
| US07842156B2 |
Webs and methods of making same
There are disclosed methods of making RFID transponder webs and intermediate webs such as RFID strap webs and antenna webs, as well as such webs per se. |
| US07842155B1 |
Process for making a post-assembly markable label
A method of producing a laminated label structure that includes a region that is markable after assembly of the label structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing a strip of base material having a front face, applying a release material to a markable region of the front face for being marked after assembly of the label structure, and cutting the base material to form a first portion of a perimeter of the label structure. The method further comprises positioning a laminate material over a portion of the front face including the markable region, cutting the base material and the laminate material to form a second portion of the perimeter, cutting the laminate material substantially along a margin of the markable region without severing the base material; and peeling away from the base material a portion of the laminate material overlying the markable region of the front face. |
| US07842152B2 |
Method of making RFID devices
A method of making RFID tags includes printing individualized information to a printable facestock on which an RFID device is attached. Generic information may be preprinted on the facestock before the RFID device is attached. The facestock may be folded over, putting the generic information and individualized information on different sides of the tag. The individualized information may be a function of information obtained by reading or interrogating the RFID device. |
| US07842151B2 |
Method and device for forming a layered product having a bent over edge
An apparatus for manufacturing a layered product having a curved surface part with an extremely small radius of curvature while lowering the rate of occurrence a defective product is provided. The manufacturing apparatus is for a layered product in which a decorative material is laminated on a surface and side of a base material, and includes a cutting unit for forming a first cut portion at the corner of the base material and forming a second cut portion having an arc-shaped portion at a portion of a rear surface side of the decorative material opposing to the first cutout part and a bending member for bending the decorative material at the circular arc-like part of the second cutout part. |
| US07842148B2 |
Method for determining the operating parameters of a device for laying a thread by projection
A method for determining the operating parameters of a device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread (1) laid directly in its final position by projecting lengths of thread (10) onto a receiving surface (S). The device includes an assembly comprising a rotary conduit (2) of given length B and of longitudinal axis bb′ fixed to a shaft (20) of axis R constituting the axis of rotation of the conduit, so that the outer radial end of the conduit is directed substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation, the conduit receiving the thread (1) via its central end, which is the opposite end to the outer radial end, from the feed means, the thread leaving via the outer radial end, feed means for feeding thread (1) from a source of thread, the feed means controlling the linear rate of advance of the thread inside the rotary conduit, means for rotating the conduit at a speed Ω about the axis R, the conduit running in a plane of rotation P forming an angle θ with the longitudinal direction of the receiving surface, and thread cutting means (24, 31), wherein the angle βc formed by the conduit and a direction of the plane P at the time that the length of thread is cut is determined in such a way that the initial contact between the length of thread and the receiving surface S is one third of the way from the rear of the length. |
| US07842147B2 |
Composite panel having in-situ thermoset foamed core
A method for making a composite panel, wherein the composite panel has a honeycomb core sandwiched between a pair of facing sheets, includes the steps of (a) coating the interior walls of the cells with a unexpanded thermo-expandable material; (b) bonding a pair of facing sheets to the opposite sides of the honeycomb core; and (c) heating the honeycomb core while the honeycomb core is sandwiched between the pair of facing sheets with sufficient heat to cause the thermo-expandable material to expand and to substantially fill the cells. |
| US07842145B2 |
Method for laying composite tape
A composite member and an associated method for forming the composite member are provided. The composite member is formed of a plurality of elongate tapes. Each tape is disposed a path defined by a plurality of natural path segments, each of which defines a non-natural offset angle relative to the adjacent segments. |
| US07842143B2 |
Hyperelastic shape setting devices and fabrication methods
Shape-setting methods for fabricating devices made of single crystal shape memory alloys. The method include drawing a single crystal of a shape memory alloy from a melt of the alloy. This is followed by heating and quenching the crystal sufficiently rapid to limit the formation of alloy precipitates to an amount which retains hyperelastic composition and properties of the crystal. |
| US07842141B2 |
Stainless-steel pipe for oil well and process for producing the same
A steel composition contains: 0.05% or less of C; 0.5% or less of Si; 0.20% to 1.80% of Mn; 0.03% or less of P; 0.005% or less of S; 14.0% to 18.0% of Cr; 5.0% to 8.0% of Ni; 1.5% to 3.5% of Mo; 0.5% to 3.5% of Cu; 0.05% or less of Al; 0.20% or less of V; 0.01% to 0.15% of N; and 0.006% or less of O on a mass basis, and satisfies the following expressions: Cr+0.65Ni+0.6Mo+0.55Cu−20C≧18.5 and Cr+Mo+0.3Si−43.5C−0.4Mn−Ni−0.3Cu−9N≦11 (where Cr, Ni, Mo, Cu, C, Si, Mn, and N represent their respective contents (mass %)). After such a steel pipe material is formed into a steel pipe, the steel pipe is quenched by cooling after heating to a temperature of the AC3 transformation point or more and tempered at a temperature of the AC1 transformation point or less. |
| US07842136B2 |
Device and method for collecting wastewater in dishwashers
A device and method for handling waste water to-be-discharged out of a dishwashing machine that includes a pump well and a sump section, with the sump section communicating with the pump well in the lower regions of the dishwashing machine through an inflow section. The device also contains a valve located in or operating with the inflow section that blocks the influx of waste water from the pump well into the sump section when the valve is closed. The valve allows the influx of waste water from the pump well into the sump section when the valve is opened. |
| US07842129B2 |
Lacquer formulation for improving surface properties
A coating formulation containing at least one surface-modified silicon dioxide having a 60° reflectometer value of <3 and a black number My of at least 140 has excellent performance properties, for example, a very good transparency. |
| US07842128B2 |
Tissue marking compositions
Provided are permanent tissue markings comprising at least one colored compound comprising a thermally activatable fragmentation group and at least one infrared absorbing compound, wherein the at least one colored compound is capable of being rendered colorless by unimolecular fragmentation of the thermally activatable fragmentation group when the tissue marking is non-imagewise exposed by a source of infrared radiation. |
| US07842127B2 |
Corrosion inhibitor composition comprising a built-in intensifier
A corrosion inhibitor composition comprising one or more organic solvents, one or more corrosion inhibitor intermediates and about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent of one or more iodide salts dissolved in said composition and methods of using the corrosion inhibitor composition in acid fracturing and matrix acid stimulation of subterranean formations. |
| US07842124B2 |
Polymer membrane for separating aromatic and aliphatic compounds
This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition comprising an associating polymer. The polymer coating is characterized as having hard and soft segments where the hard segment comprises TMPA, combined with HDPA. The membrane may utilize a porous substrate. |
| US07842121B2 |
System and method for providing aqueous stream purification services
A system and method are disclosed for providing aqueous stream purification services. The system includes at least one separation unit. Each separation unit may include a mechanical vapor recompression separator, a steam stripper, and a secondary recovery heat exchanger. The system for wastewater purification may receive water from a waste water storage, purify the water, and return the purified water to a purified water storage. The system may include a controller. The controller may include an operating conditions module configured to interpret at least one operating condition. Operating conditions may be waste fluid stream impurity concentrations, waste fluid stream flow rates, steam inlet temperatures, recirculation stream flow rates corresponding to the at least one separation unit, recirculation stream temperatures corresponding to the at least one separation unit, purified product stream flow rates, purified product stream impurity concentrations, and/or purge stream concentrations corresponding to the at least one separation unit. |
| US07842119B2 |
Solidification product of dust generated during steel making and method for production thereof
A solidified product (B) is produced by charging a dust (11) generated in a steel making process and containing iron and an oxide thereof as a principal component into a mold (7) and by subjecting it to a pressure molding. A raw material charged to the mold is a mixed granulated product (11p) prepared by mixing the dust and a powder containing carbon as a principal component and by granulating the resultant mixture. |
| US07842118B2 |
Recycling method for scrap silicon
Scrap silicon from which a profit can be obtained taking into consideration the purchase price and refining cost of scrap silicon and the expected sale price of silicon products is selectively recovered, the recovered scrap silicon is refined, and silicon which can be sold as a silicon product is manufactured. |
| US07842116B2 |
Air intake filter screen assembly
A filter screen assembly for use with an air intake structure, the structure including a face within which is formed an air intake opening. The filter screen assembly includes a screen having a flexible mesh material and an outer perimeter edge. The perimeter edge is secured at specified locations to the face of the air intake structure, and in order to filter out contaminants associated with an air stream entering the intake structure and to prevent the screen from being drawn into the air intake opening. |
| US07842113B2 |
Extended water level range steam/water conical cyclone separator
An extended water level range steam/water conical cyclone separator for separating steam from water in a steam/water mixture supplied to a steam drum of a boiler, has a housing comprising a conical portion with upper and lower cylindrical portions, and a conical vane plate. An open bottom extension sleeve portion for discharging water from the steam/water conical cyclone separator housing and connected to the lower cylindrical water outlet portion is provided such that the conical vane plate is located at an intermediate location between the upper conical portion and the open bottom extension sleeve portion of the lower cylindrical portion. Extended water level range capability is thus provided while maintaining adequate steam/water cyclone separator performance characteristics. |
| US07842111B1 |
Polycrystalline diamond compacts, methods of fabricating same, and applications using same
Embodiments of the present invention relate to PDCs including a PCD table having an exterior cutting region that exhibits enhanced thermal stability. In one embodiment, a method comprises forming an assembly including a first region having non-diamond carbon material and a second region having a plurality of diamond particles. The method comprises subjecting the assembly to heat and pressure sufficient to form the PDC. In another embodiment, a PDC comprises a substrate and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table comprises an exterior cutting region including a plurality of elongated diamond grains that are generally randomly oriented. The PCD table comprises a main region positioned between the substrate and exterior cutting region, and including a plurality of bonded diamond grains. In another embodiment, the first region may include coarse-sized diamond particles instead of non-diamond carbon material. |
| US07842109B2 |
Reformer for fuel cell system having increased heat transfer efficiency
A reformer includes a first body, a second body which is disposed in an inner portion of the first body, a heat source unit which is disposed in an inner portion of the second body to generate heat, a reforming reaction unit which includes a reforming catalyst placed in a space between first and second bodies to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from the fuel through a reforming reaction using the reforming catalyst, and a nozzle member which is disposed in the second body to distribute the fuel and the oxygen to the heat source unit. |
| US07842108B2 |
Gasification method and device for producing synthesis gases by partial oxidation of fuels containing ash at elevated pressure and with quench-cooling of the crude gas
A method and device for the gasification of solid fuels such as bituminous coal, lignite coal, and petroleum coke in the flue stream with an oxidizing medium containing free oxygen, by partial oxidation at pressures between atmospheric pressure and 80 bar and at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,900 degrees. The fuel is gasified by pneumatic metering of pulverized fuel, gasification reaction in a reactor with cooled reactor chamber contour, quencher cooling, crude gas scrubbing, and partial condensation. |
| US07842105B2 |
Ball of fire, an invention in the field of combustion
A process of making vegetal fuel based combustible spheres produced from naturally occurring and renewable residues of olive arboricultural farming and olive processing. The combustible spheres providing a renewable energy alternative to the use of fossil fuels. Where the use of the vegetal based combustible spheres replaces fossil fuels, the reduction in the generation of undesirable noxious gasses from combustion is achieved along with reduced consumption of the world's limited fossil fuel reserves. |
| US07842103B2 |
Method for manufacturing solid electrolytic capacitor device
The present invention relates to a production method of a solid electrolytic capacitor element wherein a semiconductor layer is formed by electrolytic polymerization on an oxide dielectric film formed on the surface of an electric conductor and an electrode layer is laminated thereon, comprising passing current providing a period for temporarily applying a reverse voltage during the electrolytic polymerization passing current using an electric conductor having a dielectric layer formed thereon as an anode and a negative electrode plate placed in the electrolyte as a cathode; a solid electrolytic capacitor element produced by the method; a solid electrolytic capacitor obtained from the solid electrolytic capacitor element and use thereof. According to the present invention, a solid electrolytic capacitor element in which a high quality semiconductor layer is formed in a short time can be produced, which enables to produce a solid electrolytic capacitor having a good ESR property. |
| US07842097B2 |
Tissue repair matrix
A porous three-dimensional tissue repair matrix is provided which is biodegradable. The matrix is preferably formed from mineralized collagen where the mineral comprises particulate calcium phosphate immobilized in the matrix. |
| US07842096B2 |
Hip stem prosthesis
A hip prosthesis for insertion into a femur. In one exemplary embodiment, the hip prosthesis includes a stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. This stem may include anterior and posterior locking surfaces which diverge away from the stem. A shank portion may extend distally from the anterior and posterior locking surfaces and converge at an angle distally toward the stem. |
| US07842084B2 |
Method and systems for sizing, folding, holding, and delivering a heart valve prosthesis
A folding device used to fold a cardiac valve is disclosed. Also shown are methods and system for holding and delivering a cardiac valve during implantation. The folding device facilitates folding either a stented or unstented prosthetic valve prior to insertion into a valve annulus. A delivery system is provided to allow a user to measure the patient annulus to select the prosthetic valve size and insert a folded prosthetic valve into a target site. Methods for using the folding device and delivery system are also disclosed. |
| US07842080B2 |
Stent with improved flexibility
A stent comprises a plurality of connected serpentine circumferential bands. Adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are connected via a plurality of longitudinal connectors extending between peaks on one serpentine circumferential band and troughs on the serpentine circumferential band adjacent thereto. The struts of the serpentine bands are arranged such that on expansion of the stent, peaks and troughs which are substantially circumferentially aligned with one another, but not connected with one another, on adjacent serpentine circumferential bands are circumferentially displaced from one another. |
| US07842079B2 |
Apparatus for a stent having an expandable web structure and delivery system
The present invention provides a stent comprising a tubular flexible body having a wall with a web structure that is expandable from a contracted delivery configuration to deployed configuration. The web structure comprises a plurality of neighboring web patterns, where each web patterns is composed of adjoining webs, and the web patterns are interconnected by transition sections. Each adjoining web comprises a central section interposed between two lateral sections to form concave or convex configurations. A delivery system for the stent is also provided. |
| US07842078B2 |
Apparatus for a stent having an expandable web structure and delivery system
The present invention provides a stent comprising a tubular flexible body having a wall with a web structure that is expandable from a contracted delivery configuration to deployed configuration. The web structure comprises a plurality of neighboring web patterns, where each web patterns is composed of adjoining webs, and the web patterns are interconnected by connection elements. Each adjoining web comprises a central section interposed between two lateral sections to form concave or convex configurations. A delivery system for the stent is also provided. |
| US07842077B2 |
Bifurcated axially flexible stent
A stent with axial flexibility, in a preferred embodiment, has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposed bands, wherein each band defines a generally continuous wave along a line segment parallel to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of links maintains the bands in a tubular structure. In a further embodiment of the invention, each longitudinally disposed band of the stent is connected, at a plurality of periodic locations, by a short circumferential link to an adjacent band. Further, a pair of bifurcated stents is disclosed. |
| US07842073B2 |
Screw and rod fixation assembly and device
The present invention provides for a screw and rod fixation assembly for fixing a screw and, optionally, a rod. The screw and rod fixation assembly includes a screw, fixing mechanism, a substantially annular ring, rod seating mechanism, and locking mechanism. The present invention also provides for a fixing mechanism for fixing a screw, wherein the fixing mechanism further includes an inner surface wall having a gripping portion and a non-gripping portion. Further, the present invention provides for a substantially annular ring for guiding and providing mechanical and frictional force to a screw head. Additionally, the present invention provides for a rod seating mechanism operatively engaged to the screw head and including at least one flexible portion capable of being compressed against a portion of a rod therein. Finally, the present invention provides for a locking mechanism for engaging the rod and the rod seating mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a deflecting mechanism for deflecting the at least one flexible portion of the rod seating mechanism against and around the rod as the locking mechanism further engages the at least one flexible portion of the rod seating mechanism. |
| US07842071B2 |
Transverse connector
A crosslink or connecting assembly is provided to secure multiple spinal rods in relation to each other. The connecting assembly is disposed transversely between two spinal rods and has moveable components for rotating, pivoting, and extending portions of the connecting device in order to accommodate the positioning of the spinal rods. |
| US07842070B2 |
Vascular sealant delivery device and sheath introducer and method
A sheath introducer is inserted through the skin and into a body lumen, e.g., the femoral artery, for a medical procedure. Upon completion of the medical procedure, the sheath introducer is partially withdrawn from the body lumen so that at least one through-wall hole in a body region of the sheath introducer is positioned outside the body lumen, but under the skin. An opening in a distal end tip of the sheath introducer is sealed so that no blood is flowing into the sheath introducer the after sheath introducer is partially withdrawn. A surgical sealant is injected into the sheath introducer and flows out of the at least one through-wall hole and surrounds the access site. After injection of the surgical sealant, the sheath introducer is removed. The surgical sealant seals the puncture and minimizes any blood flow from the body lumen through the puncture. |
| US07842065B2 |
Rapid exchange sheath for deployment of medical devices and methods of use
A rapid exchange sheath comprising an elongate tubular member, a guidewire, and support wire having an expandable filter at a distal end. The guidewire passes through a first opening at a distal end of the tubular member and a second opening a short distance proximal from the distal end. The support wire is received in a lumen of the tubular member, or, in certain embodiments, extends proximally through a third opening a short distance proximal from the distal end. Methods of using the sheaths for deploying and/or exchanging medical device(s) in a patient's vessel are also disclosed. |
| US07842064B2 |
Hinged short cage for an embolic protection device
A filtering device for capturing and removing embolic debris from a body vessel and a system for insertion and removal of the filtering device to facilitate an interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a body vessel. The filtering device is adapted to be expandable in the body vessel, allowing blood to pass therethrough while maintaining apposition with the body vessel wall and capturing embolic material released into the bloodstream during the interventional procedure, and to be collapsible to remove the captured embolic material from the body vessel. The filtering device includes a guidewire, an expandable cage assembly secured to the guide wire, filter material secured to the expandable cage assembly, and at least one hinge, the hinge allowing the expandable cage assembly to bend independent from the guide wire. The system, which includes a delivery sheath and filtering device, is adapted to retain the expandable cage assembly in a collapsed condition and deliver and deploy the filtering device at a location in the body vessel distal the treatment site. |
| US07842063B2 |
Embolic protection device
An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval. The filter element (105) may conveniently be mounted on a tubular sleeve (104) which is slidable and rotatable on the guidewire (101) between spaced-apart stops (106, 120) on the guidewire (101) which allows some manipulation of the guidewire independently of the filter when the filter is in use. |
| US07842061B2 |
Methods of achieving lung volume reduction with removable anchored devices
An intra-bronchial device placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure that reduces ventilation to the lung portion by preventing air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may engage the air passageway wall by piercing or friction, include a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall, and may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device. The anchors may be carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure, or by a central portion of the support structure. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve. |
| US07842058B2 |
Manipulation and cutting system and method
A system for rapid manipulation and cutting that includes a housing, a first cutting element, and a drive mechanism adapted to be mounted at least partly within the housing and connected to the first cutting element for imparting relative motion to the first cutting element as a combination of slicing and downward forces at the portion of the first cutting element which is adapted to contact the tissue. |
| US07842055B2 |
Neuro thrombectomy catheter
An elongate tubular body extends between a rotatable cutter and a control. The cutter is connected to the control with a rotatable element. A vacuum is applied through an annular passage defined between the tubular body and the rotatable element. The tubular body has a sufficiently small outside diameter and sufficient kink resistance and pushability to navigate through arteries such as the internal carotid artery. |
| US07842053B2 |
Double coil occluder
An occluder that has a coil on one or both sides of a medical defect, particularly a septal defect such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Each coil can be formed as a tube that is hollow, with or without a closed end. The tube can be delivered over a wire. For occluding a PFO, the coils can be designed to provide a compressive force to one or both of septum primum and septum secundum. |
| US07842052B2 |
Necklift procedure and instruments for performing same
A method for threading a suture in a patient's body. The method includes the steps of providing a suture, providing a threading device comprising an elongated rod having a suture tie-off location and first and second ends, tying the suture to the suture tie-off location, inserting the first end of the elongated rod through a first opening in the patient's skin, passing the first end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to a second opening in the patient's skin, pulling the first end of the elongated rod and a portion of the suture through the second opening, without turning the elongated rod around, and passing the second end of the elongated rod subcutaneously to an opening in the patient's skin. At least one point during the performance of the method the first end of the elongated rod extends out of the first opening and the second end of the elongated rod extends through the second opening. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second ends of the threading device are each lighted at predetermined points during the method. |
| US07842045B2 |
Single fire vascular clip applier with disposable jaw
A single-fire clip applier with disposable jaws and re-usable handles is provided. The first jaw member is coupled to a second jaw member by a connector spring. The connector spring biases the jaws to an open at rest position. The jaws are releasably mountable to a post on the handles. Actuation of the handles produces a corresponding actuation of the jaws. After use, the jaws may be disposed and the handles re-sterilized. Different sized jaws for different sized clips may be used with one common re-usable handle. |
| US07842043B2 |
Instrumentation for inserting and impacting an artificial intervertebral disc in an intervertebral space
Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes an inserter/impactor for inserting and removing the static trials and for inserting the artificial intervertebral discs, the inserter/impactor having at least one shaft having a longitudinal axis and a shaft distal end adapted for engagement with the trials and the disc, the shaft distal end further having forward surfaces for engagement with corresponding confronting surfaces of at least one of the baseplates for axial rotationally aligning the at least one of the baseplates with respect to the longitudinal axis. |
| US07842042B2 |
Convergent tunnel guide apparatus and method
A tunnel guide apparatus and method for forming two convergent tunnels in a bone. The apparatus includes a first bullet member for aiming a guide pin to form a first tunnel in the bone. A second bullet member adjustably connects to the first bullet member, for aiming a guide pin to form a second tunnel in the bone such that the first and second tunnels are convergent. The two bullet members are joined by a guide arm member disposed on a guide arc member such that the first and second bullet members and the guide arm member are adjustable on the guide arc member to form the two tunnels. |
| US07842041B2 |
Steerable vertebroplasty system
Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone cement injection needle is provided, having a laterally deflectable distal end. Systems are also disclosed, including the steerable injection needle, introducer and stylet. The system may additionally include a cement delivery gun, one-time use disposable cement cartridges and a cement mixing chamber. Methods are also disclosed. |
| US07842040B2 |
Internal bone fixation system with integrated mixer
Systems and methods for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. A system for repairing a fractured bone includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of bone cement components and an inner lumen for passage of a mixing element; an internal bone fixation device releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the internal bone fixation device moves from a first compact state to a second expanded state when the bone cement components are delivered to the internal bone fixation device and mixed within the internal bone fixation device; and a spinning mechanism engaged to a rotatable shaft, wherein the spinning mechanism is inserted into the internal bone fixation device. |
| US07842038B2 |
Method for using retractable stylet and cannula combination to form an opening in bone
In one preferred aspect, a method is provided for forming an opening in bone for the sequential dilation of tissue. |
| US07842037B2 |
Flexible bone fixation device
A bone fixation device comprises a beam including plurality of stacked flexible members. At least one locking member is provided in engagement with the plurality of stacked flexible members. The at least one locking member is configured to retain the plurality of stacked flexible members together in either a locked relationship or an unlocked relationship. In the locked relationship, the at least one locking member compress the plurality of stacked flexible members together. The plurality of stacked flexible members are configured to bend when a threshold force is applied to the beam, provided the plurality of stacked flexible members are in an unlocked relationship. When the plurality of stacked flexible members are in an unlocked relationship, the threshold force is insufficient to bend the plurality of stacked flexible members. |
| US07842036B2 |
Pediatric intramedullary nail and method
An intramedullary nail (20) and related method for fixing a fracture in a long bone. The nail (20) comprises an elongate member (22) having a longitudinal axis (54), a proximal end section (32), a distal end section (34) and a solid central section (24) extending between the proximal and distal end sections (32, 34). The proximal and distal end sections (32, 34) respectively include proximal and distal fastener receiving areas (28, 30) of greater cross sectional dimensions than the central section (24). Each fastener receiving area (28, 30) includes at least one hole (50, 52) extending transverse to the longitudinal axis for receiving a cross fastener (110) adapted to secure to the bone on opposite sides of the elongate member (22). The proximal and distal end sections (32, 34) thereby provide rigid anchoring locations relative to the central section (24) and the central section provides flexibility to promote healing of the fracture. |
| US07842035B2 |
Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion
Methods and devices for occlusion of the fallopian tubes of a woman. The method involves thermally damaging the lining of the utero-tubal junction with relatively low power, followed by placement of a reticulated foam plug. In one embodiment, vascularized tissue grows into the plug and prevents or discourages formation of scar tissue around the plug. Another embodiment with a relatively small foam pore size encourages formation of a vascularized capsule around the plug. The presence of this vascularized capsule limits the patient's foreign body response, so that the capsule does not constrict around the plug. Also presented is a catheter designed for wounding the epithelial layer of the utero-tubal junction, and a method of using the catheter to form a long yet shallow lesion in the utero-tubal junction. |
| US07842033B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for performing electrosurgical procedures
Systems, methods, and instruments associated with controlling the operating modes of an electrosurgical instrument using control signals delivered in a wireless manner from the electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical instrument transmits wireless control signals to the electrosurgical generator to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy. The control signals are delivered to the electrosurgical generator without the need for a conductive cord extending between the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument. The energy is delivered to the electrosurgical instrument, in response to the wireless control signals, along a path through an electrode and the physician utilizing the electrosurgical instrument and/or a conductive path external to the physician. The electrode upon which the physician rests provides a path for the electrosurgical energy and optionally prevents burning of the physician during an electrosurgical procedure. |
| US07842032B2 |
Apparatus and methods for the selective removal of tissue
An Ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy, either in combination or in sequence, provides resize ablation of unwanted tissue parts, and may be used on various body tissues including internal organs. |
| US07842030B2 |
Device and method for detection of eye movements
In a device for detecting eye movements, used in an eye-surgical instrument, which deflects a pulsed treatment laser beam over the cornea in order to form cut areas in the cornea of the eye, and thus forms a sequence of optical breakthroughs in or on the cornea, wherein an optical unit is provided for monitoring the cornea, it is provided that the optical unit monitors the position of at least one optical breakthrough generated in the cornea and recognizes an eye movement on the basis of a migration movement of the monitored optical breakthrough. |
| US07842029B2 |
Apparatus and method having a cooling material and reduced pressure to treat biological external tissue
Devices and methods having a cooling material and reduced pressures to treat biological external tissue using at least one energy source are disclosed. The cooling material may be water, ethyl alcohol, and/or any other material having a vapor pressure below atmospheric pressure. The energy source may be incoherent light, coherent light, a radio frequency, ultrasound, a laser, and/or any other type of energy that can be applied through the device. The features of various embodiments of the device include the generation of positive pressure and/or negative pressure through one or more pressure conduits, the application of an object within a recess of the device, and measurements through various sensors on the device. These sensors may be monitored and/or controlled through a display element having rows and columns of pixels on the device. The device may be a handheld device or an add-on to existing devices in some embodiments, and may include skin color sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors, vapor pressure sensors, material sensors, and/or capacitance sensors. |