| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07856242B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactive audience participation at a live entertainment event
The present invention relates to a method for providing interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. The method includes providing audience members with an interactive device that presents a promotional message and includes a user interface, broadcasting audio programming to the audience member through the interactive device, querying the audience members, wherein answers to the querying may be entered by the audience member via the user interface of the interactive device, transmitting the answers to a central processor, storing the answers as audience data, processing the audience data into results, storing the results of the processing of the audience data and broadcasting the results of the processing of the audience data. |
| US07856237B1 |
Method for transmission of location-specific information
A method for transmission of location-specific information is described. Content transmitters are positioned at different locations and information which is specific for this location is stored in a content memory for each content transmitter. Each content transmitter transmits this location-specific information in a spatially narrowly bounded transmission area. On entering the transmission area, a mobile receiving unit receives the location-specific information, processes it further and causes it to be displayed. |
| US07856233B2 |
System, method, and device for providing communications using a distributed mobile architecture
An authentication, authorization, and accounting module of a first distributed mobile architecture is disclosed and includes a home location register. The home location register provides information associated with one or more mobile subscribers that are registered with the first distributed mobile architecture. Also, the information within the home location register at the first distributed mobile architecture is also provided at a first community location register at a second distributed mobile architecture that is accessible to the first distributed mobile architecture. The module further includes a second community location register that includes information associated with one or more mobile subscribers registered with the second distributed mobile architecture. |
| US07856230B1 |
System and method for reconnecting dropped mobile telephone calls
The present invention provides a system and method for reconnecting a dropped mobile telephone call without input from the dropped party or the remaining party. In accordance with the present invention, the system determines that a call has been terminated abnormally, possibly due to an unsuccessful transition between cell towers. The system then initiates reconnection of the dropped party with the remaining party with no input from either party. The remaining party may optionally hear a recorded message while the call is reconnected. |
| US07856229B2 |
System for personal management information applications
The present invention relates to a system comprising a processor, a memory unit and a display screen, wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement a method of importing selected information into a first application, comprising the step of capturing within a displayed screen of a second application a first format of information that includes a plurality of selectable information value types, whereby at least two out of the plurality of information value types have a different value type attribute, whereby each value type attribute is correlated with a local position of the system. The invention relates further to a process for establishing a connection between a portable computer system comprising a processor, a memory unit and a display screen and a plurality of subgroups consisting of interconnected computer systems comprising the steps, wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement a method of importing selected information into a first application. |
| US07856228B2 |
Measurement, collection, distribution and reporting of atmospheric data
For improved reliability and relevancy of reporting of atmospheric condition data, faster access to the data, and more geographically granular collection of data, data pertaining to atmospheric conditions is measured at network towers, collected, managed, distributed and presented according to a requested service. Weather data is measured and collected at a granularity greater than previously existing systems by communicatively coupling and generally co-locating weather or atmospheric measuring instruments to existing mobile network towers, and collecting and distributing the data as part of enhanced services for end users. Accordingly, when weather data is collected from the measuring instruments placed on network towers according to the present invention, and aggregated at one or more servers, the weather data may be distributed to end users of the communications networks with greater relevancy. Any of the voice/data, control and broadcast channels of an applicable mobile communications network may be utilized. |
| US07856224B2 |
Systems and methods for recovering a signal of interest from a complex signal
A system for recovering a signal of interest from a complex signal is provided. The system includes a plurality of different oscillators. Each of the plurality of oscillators is configured to facilitate improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an input complex signal by adjusting an oscillation frequency of each of the plurality of oscillators based on an input frequency of interest of the input complex signal. |
| US07856219B2 |
Transformer coils for providing voltage isolation
A circuit package providing voltage isolation includes at least one output and first circuitry located in a substrate of the circuit package for performing an operation. A transformer located in the metal layers of the circuit package provides voltage isolation between the first circuitry and the at least one output. |
| US07856216B2 |
Diversity receiver and gain adjusting method therefor
Reception levels are measured in respective branches to compare the results of the measurements with one another to select the result of the measurement of a maximum reception level which is the highest reception level. The gains of variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) of all the branches including variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) included in a branch corresponding to the maximum reception level are adjusted to the same value such that output levels of the variable gain amplifiers (6, 7) are set to a preset target level. |
| US07856208B2 |
Dynamic antenna control
Undesired interfering signal sources within a wireless communication network disturb the radio communication between radio base stations and mobile stations. The invention presents a method and device wherein the beam pattern of an antenna, comprising two or more sectorized antenna elements with overlapping beam patterns, is adapted such that the position of the source of interfering signal is preferably substantially located within the overlap of said beam patterns. The one or more beam patterns are adapted in bearing such that the resulting interfering signal is reduced by the superimposing effect of radio wave propagation within the overlap area. |
| US07856206B2 |
System and method for manually adjustable directional antenna
Systems and methods for a manually adjustable directional antenna are disclosed. The device includes a housing and the housing includes a wireless modem, a directional antenna and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the directional antenna via a mounting pipe. Alternatively, the housing includes a directional antenna, an adjustment mechanism, and a connector, which couples the directional antenna to an external modem. The adjustment mechanism may be an adjustment knob for the directional antenna within the housing or a rotatable turntable used to support and rotate the entire housing, including the directional antenna. |
| US07856205B2 |
Conversion from note-based audio format to PCM-based audio format
A system and method for converting a polyphonic note-based audio object to a Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio format is disclosed. An electronic communication device includes a memory containing a polyphonic note-based audio object containing at least two notes which overlap in at least some time interval and a lookup table containing trigonometric function evaluations. The polyphonic note-based audio object contains note frequency information. The polyphonic note-based audio object is converted to a PCM stream by generating PCM code words for each sample point in the PCM stream based upon the polyphonic note frequency information. The PCM code words are determined based upon selection of one or more of the trigonometric function evaluations within the look-up table. A speaker outputs audio based upon the PCM formatted stream. |
| US07856204B2 |
Method of using a telephone device to view content stored therein on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device
A telephone device is used to establish two-way communication with a remotely located entity, or to transfer content from a display screen of the telephone device to a nearby display screen for full viewing of the content. The two-way communication is initiated by an object emitting a signal containing a telephone number to the telephone device, which, in turn, automatically dials the telephone number. |
| US07856201B2 |
Image transfer fixation apparatus and image formation apparatus
A transfer fixation apparatus includes: a fixing member that carries the toner image; a pressurizing member that becomes in contact with the fixing member with pressure to form a nip through which the recording target medium is transported; and a plurality of heating members that are provided at relatively upstream positions when viewed from the relatively downstream nip and apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium that is transported toward the nip, wherein the number of heating members that apply heat to the surface of the recording target medium is changed depending on whether the transfer of the toner image is performed only on the front side of the recording target medium or the transfer of the toner image is performed also on the reverse side of the recording target medium after the transfer of the toner image on the front side of the recording target medium. |
| US07856198B2 |
Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus
A toner cartridge includes: a cartridge main body having an opening; a toner chamber that is provided inside the cartridge main body and contains toner; an open-close member that opens/closes the opening by moving; and a regulation part that regulates movement of the open-close member in an opening/closing direction when the cartridge main body is moved in a direction where it is removed/attached to/from an image forming apparatus, wherein the opening enables movement of the toner between a position inside the toner chamber and a position outside the cartridge main body. |
| US07856197B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method including toner replenishment
An image forming apparatus including a toner bottle, accommodation unit, door unit, drive unit and developing unit. The toner bottle stores toner. The accommodation unit accommodates the toner bottle such that the toner bottle lies in the accommodation unit. The door unit covers the toner bottle. The drive unit rotates the toner bottle to supply the toner stored in the toner bottle and renders the toner bottle not to be rotated during a time the door is opened. The developing unit is set in a printable state during a time the toner bottle is detached from the accommodation unit after the door unit is opened. A corresponding method is also described. |
| US07856196B2 |
Developing housing and conveying device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device includes a developer holding member that carries a developer; an upper developer housing section that houses the developer; a lower developer housing section that has a bottom surface lower than a bottom surface of the upper developer housing section and houses the developer; a toner supply section that includes an upper toner supply part, a lower toner supply part, and a toner transport section; an upper conveying section that includes a rotation shaft, a first conveying member, a second conveying member, and a diameter direction conveying part; and a lower conveying section that conveys at least one of the developer and the toner in a direction opposite to the conveying direction by the first conveying member. |
| US07856192B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a movable member movable from an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus to an inside thereof while carrying the cartridge. The cartridge includes a drum, charging and developing rollers, rotatably connected first and second frames supporting different rollers, drum and developing roller driving force receiving portions, first and second portions-to-be-supported, on one and the other ends of the first frame, first and second portions-to-be-positioned, on one and the other ends of the first frame positioned to first and second main assembly side positioning portions during a lowering movement of the movable member toward a transfer belt, charging and developing bias contacts exposed at the other end, and a portion-to-be-urged, on the first frame upper surface for receiving an elastic force to position the process cartridge relative to the main assembly. |
| US07856189B2 |
Image forming apparatus and a method of effectively detecting toner state in the same
An image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to optically detect a density of a reference pattern image, a toner density sensor configured to detect a density of toner in a developing unit, a storing unit configured to store an image area coverage of an output image, a determining unit configured to determine whether a state of toner accommodated in a toner supplying unit is an almost empty state and an empty state or neither based on detection results obtained by the sensors, a controlling unit configured to continuously perform a toner state check when the image area coverage of the output image is greater than a predetermined image area coverage value and the density of the reference pattern image is greater than a predetermined density level after the determination of the state of toner is the almost empty state or the empty state or neither. |
| US07856187B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image forming unit; a fixing unit having a heating part; a rotary drive unit; a driving force transmission unit including a displacement part displaceable to a transmitting position where rotation of the rotary drive unit is transmitted to the fixing unit and a non-transmitting position where the rotation of the rotary drive unit is not transmitted to the fixing unit; a cover configured to cover the heating part; a lock unit configured to selectively lock the cover; and a link unit configured to link the lock unit with the displacement part so that the lock unit locks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the transmitting position and unlocks the cover when the displacement part is displaced to the non-transmitting position. |
| US07856186B2 |
Image forming apparatus and power control method thereof
An image forming apparatus including: a body; an electronic unit; a replaceable unit that is detachably installed within the body; a power supply that generates and outputs a predetermined operation voltage; a high voltage generating part that receives the operation voltage and generates and outputs a high voltage; an electronic unit driving part that receives the operation voltage and regulates a driving voltage supplied to the electronic unit; and a controller that controls the power supply to cut off the operation voltage if the replaceable unit is not installed within the body. Also taught is a method of operating the image forming apparatus. |
| US07856181B2 |
Stereoscopic imaging device
A compound-eye camera comprises: a camera body substantially shaped like a rectangular solid having a front side and a back side larger than other sides and including a display device on the back side; and substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels, each storing a refractive optical system including two reflective optical elements for refracting a photographing optical axis twice, the lens barrels guiding subject images incident on a pair of right and left objective lenses to image sensors. In the camera, the substantially L-shaped first and second lens barrels are each disposed along two adjacent inner surfaces of the camera body. Thereby, a compound-eye camera which has excellent portability and enables the installation of a large display device is achieved. |
| US07856179B2 |
Image stabilization control circuit and image-capturing device
An image stabilization control circuit of an image-capturing device prevents overflow of data in an integration process performed in a digital signal process on a signal outputted by a gyro-sensor. A gyro-filter receives, as an input, fixed-point format angular velocity data (Dω) obtained by subjecting an output signal from the gyro-sensor to an analog-to-digital conversion. In the gyro-filter, an input format conversion circuit converts from fixed-point format to floating-point format. A camera shake vibration component is obtained from the floating-point format Dω, is integrated, and data (Dθ) corresponding to an oscillation angle is generated. After a centering process is performed, Dθ is converted from floating-point format to fixed-point format by an output format conversion circuit, and outputted from the gyro-filter. A drive signal for driving an image stabilization mechanism is generated on the basis of the data outputted by the gyro-filter. |
| US07856177B2 |
Lens apparatus and camera
An optical apparatus includes a photographic optical system including an image stabilizing unit supported by a support member via a plurality of elastic members, an actuator configured to drive the image stabilizing unit in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis thereof, a position detection unit configured to detect a position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image stabilizing unit, a gravitational direction determination unit configured to determine a gravitational direction based on an output from the position detection unit, a setting unit configured to set a holding position at which the image stabilizing unit is held based on information concerning the gravitational direction output from the gravitational direction determination unit, and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on information concerning the holding position to move the image stabilizing unit to the holding position. |
| US07856176B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating hand-trembling of camera
A method and apparatus for compensating hand-trembling of a camera with reduced time required for capture compensated images. The method may include: calculating exposure time proper for preventing hand-trembling using an AE (Automatic Exposure) algorithm during an image-capturing standby mode; executing image-capturing multiple times depending on the exposure time at the time of inputting a photographing signal through a photographing button, and detecting the amount of hand-trembling at each time of image-capturing. The storing of images can be selected by a preset number of required images from the captured images as resultant images, the images being sequentially stored from an image having a lowest amount of hand-trembling as a resultant image, whereby an image with reduced hand-trembling can be obtained. |
| US07856173B2 |
Shooting device for electrical image stabilizing using relationship between stabilization information and shooting condition
A shooting device includes a image sensor for capturing an image of a subject, a detection unit detecting stabilization information from the image, a stabilization information recording unit associating a shooting condition during shooting with the detected stabilization information and recording the shooting condition and the stabilization information, and an electronic image stabilization unit. The electronic image stabilization unit extracts the stabilization information corresponding to the shooting condition having a predetermined relationship with the shooting condition by referring to the stabilization information recording unit using the shooting condition, and stabilizes the shooting device shake based on the extracted stabilization information. |
| US07856172B2 |
Jiggle measuring system and jiggle measuring method
A camera shake measurement system includes a display unit for sequentially displaying a plurality of distinguishable test patterns, a first storage unit for storing as a template each of the plurality of test patterns to be displayed, a second storage unit for storing a composite image produced by photographing at least two test patterns as still images from the plurality of test patterns to be sequentially displayed by a photographing apparatus, and a pattern recognition unit for recognizing images that match each of the templates from the composite image by calling the templates from the first storage unit, calling the composite image from the second storage unit, and moving, for each of the called templates, the template while superposing the template on the composite image. |
| US07856167B2 |
Image playback apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to an image playback apparatus and method, and a program for enabling a quick display of a last picture of moving pictures during fast forward playback as well as a first picture of the moving pictures during fast reverse playback. Concerning GOPs from a GOP at which the fast forward playback is started to a GOP#(N−1) that is immediately prior to a last GOP#N, encoded video data of I-pictures is stacked in a stream buffer, whereas concerning the last GOP#N, the encoded video data of all frames is stacked in the stream buffer. To the last GOP#N, only I-pictures are decoded and displayed. Thereafter the I-picture and the P-pictures in the last GOP#N is decoded, and only the last picture is displayed. The present invention can be applied to DVD players or the like. |
| US07856165B2 |
Optical waveguide film and manufacturing method thereof
An optical waveguide film includes a film including a clad layer and a core layer covered by the clad layer; and an adhesive layer formed at least on one surface of the film, having a rough structured surface having an arithmetic mean surface roughness of 0.1 to 2.0 μm, and having a storage modulus at 25° C. of 10 to 100 MPa obtained by dynamic viscoelastic measurement in torsion mode with a frequency of 1 Hz. |
| US07856162B2 |
Large mode area fiber amplifiers with reduced stimulated brillouin scattering
A large mode area fiber amplifier suitable for high power applications includes a core region specifically configured to allow for high power operation while also limiting the amount of SBS that is generated. The composition of the core region is selected to include a dopant (such as aluminum) in selected areas to reduce the acoustic refractive index of the core and limit the spatial overlap between the acoustic and optical fields. The acoustic refractive index is also structured so that the acoustic field is refracted away from the central core area. In one embodiment, the core may comprise a depressed index center portion and surrounding ring core area, with the center portion including the aluminum doping and the ring formed to have a diameter less that the phonon decay length for the operating wavelength(s). |
| US07856161B2 |
Optical fiber faceplates including convergent constituent imaging conduits and tiled imaging arrays incorporating the same
An imaging module includes an optical fiber faceplate with an image-input face, a planar image-output face, and a plurality of adjacently fused, internally reflecting imaging conduits extending between the image-input and image-output faces. The constituent imaging conduits extend along conduit axes that mutually converge in a direction that such that an image inputted through the image-input face is reduced in size along at least one dimension for outputting through the image-output face. The imaging module further includes an imaging detector array including a plurality of photosensitive detector elements arranged in accordance with a predetermined array format. The faceplate is situated in front of the detector array such that light incident upon the image-input face is transmitted through the faceplate and optically communicated to the detector elements through the image-output face. Multiple imaging modules can be tiled in tight formations in order to form a larger format imaging array. |
| US07856160B2 |
Illumination device, image display device, and projector
An image display device includes: a first face; a laser light source device emitting laser light; and a diffractive optical element on which the laser light emitted from the laser light source device is incident, generating diffracted light from the incident laser light, and illuminating the first face with the diffracted light, the first face is provided at a position on which zero-order light emitted from the diffractive optical element is not incident, and an image is displayed by light via the first face. |
| US07856156B2 |
Lithium niobate modulator having a doped semiconductor structure for the mitigation of DC bias drift
There is provided in one of the embodiments of the disclosure a lithium niobate modulator structure for mitigating DC bias drift comprising a highly doped semiconductor layer patterned above an optical waveguide having one or more DC sections and an RF section, wherein a metal layer or contact is in contact with a portion of the semiconductor layer and a buffer layer is deposited in the RF section. There is provided in another embodiment of the disclosure a method for making a lithium niobate electro-optical modulator for mitigation of DC bias drift. |
| US07856154B2 |
System and method of super-resolution imaging from a sequence of translated and rotated low-resolution images
A method and system for super-resolving images from low-resolution sequences comprising an image processor having an input for inputting multiple images of a scene with sub-pixel translations and rotations; one of the images of the scene being a reference image; and at least one memory comprising a gross translation estimation algorithm for estimating overall translations of at least one image with respect to the reference image on the image processor and aligning the inputted images according to the gross translation estimates on the image processor; a sub-pixel estimation algorithm for obtaining the sub-pixel shift and rotation of each image with respect to the reference image; and an error reduction algorithm for applying at least one spatial frequency domain constraint and at least one spatial domain constraint to the images to produce a high-resolution image. |
| US07856151B2 |
Method for edge-based multi rate image sharpness enhancement
The present invention relates to a method for processing digital image data (ID), wherein the process of multi rate, multi resolution and/or multi scale signal processing is involved in order to realize a respective multi rate, multi resolution and/or multi scale sharpness enhancement with respect to said image data (ID). |
| US07856148B2 |
Processing multiview video
Decoding a video signal comprises receiving a bitstream comprising the multiview video signal encoded according to dependency relationships between respective views, and view-dependency data representing the dependency relationships; extracting the view-dependency data and determining the dependency relationships from the extracted data; and decoding the multiview video signal according to the determined dependency relationships using illumination compensation between segments of pictures in respective views, where the multiview video signal includes multiple views each comprising multiple pictures segmented into multiple segments. |
| US07856145B2 |
Image processing system and method therefor, image processing apparatus and method, image capturing apparatus and method, program recording medium, and program
An image processing system includes an image capturing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus. The image capturing apparatus is configured to capture an image including an object, to obtain status information of the object, and to record the image and the status information of the object. The image processing apparatus is configured to specify details of a modification to be applied to the image according to the recorded image and status information of the object, to set setting information for modifying the image on the basis of the details of the modification, to extract a feature value from the image, and to record the setting information in a setting-information recording medium in association with the extracted feature value of the image. |
| US07856140B2 |
Method, computer program, computer and printing system for trapping image data
In a method or computer program product for trapping of image data, the image data in an output image per image point is prepared as color separation data, and the image data is processed. |
| US07856136B2 |
Analysis of patterns among objects of a plurality of classes
A method for the detection and analysis of patterns receives an image containing object labels and performs relational feature development using the input image to create at least one pattern map. It then performs relational feature analysis using the at least one pattern map to create a relational feature analysis result. The pattern detection and analysis method further comprises a recipe for automation control and includes determination of a genetic anomaly.A relational feature development method receives an image containing object labels and performs core measurement table development using the input image to create at least one core measurement table. It then performs feature table production using the at least one core measurement table to create at least one feature table. It also performs PatternMap creation using the at least one feature table to create a PatternMap. The relational feature development method further comprises a PatternMap integration and update step to create an updated PatternMap.A boundary distance measurement receives an image containing object labels and performs structure object mask production using the input image to create structure object mask. It then performs inner distance transform using the structure object mask to create inner distance transform image and finds individual object centroid using the input image to create individual object centroid output. In addition, it finds object boundary distance using the individual object centroid and the inner distance transform image to create object boundary distance output. |
| US07856135B1 |
System for analyzing ocular fundus images
An image analysis system provides for importing, normalizing and co-registering a plurality of ocular fundus images, or images obtained by their decomposition, analysis, processing, or synthesis. Differences between the image are determined and of those differences those that are meaningful (e.g., from a diagnostic point of view) are highlighted. Sequences of these differences, which reflect changes in the eye represented in the images, are synthesized so as to present a view of how the differences manifest over time. Structures of importance in the eye are overlapped so that the information may be presented in a meaningful fashion for diagnostic purposes. |
| US07856132B2 |
Method, a computer program, an apparatus and an imaging system for image processing
A method for processing an image comprising the steps of assigning a value of a positioning error to a detail in the image, wherein the value corresponds to a positioning uncertainty of a position of the detail in the image. The method includes visualizing the value of the positioning error enabling an interactive adjustment of the value. The method further includes storing the adjusted value of the positioning error with reference to a position of the detail in the image. |
| US07856131B2 |
Method and apparatus for internet, intranet, and local viewing of virtual microscope slides
A method of and apparatus for viewing microscopic images include transmitting tiled microscopic images from a server to a client. The client assembles the tiled images into a seamless virtual slide or specimen image and provides tools for manipulating image magnification and viewpoint. The method and apparatus also provides a virtual multi-headed microscope function which allows scattered viewers to simultaneously view and interact with a coherent magnified microscopic image. |
| US07856130B2 |
Object recognition system for medical imaging
An improved system and method (i.e. utility) for segmentation of medical images is provided. The utility fits an estimated boundary on a structure of interest in an automated selection and fitting process. The estimated boundary may be a model boundary that is generated actual boundaries of like structures. In one arrangement, the boundaries may be selected based on the age and/or ethnicity of a patient. In further arrangements, narrow band processing is performed to estimate the actual boundary of the structure of interest. |
| US07856128B2 |
Method of compensating for distortion caused by fingerprint input sensors of heterogeneous fingerprint recognition systems
A method of correcting distortion caused by fingerprint input sensors of heterogeneous fingerprint recognition systems. The method includes a first step of fabricating a measurement pattern for measuring resolutions of a fingerprint input sensor, a second step of measuring image resolutions of an image, acquired by the fingerprint input sensor, using the fabricated measurement pattern for predetermined locations and directions, a third step of designing control lines for compensating for the distortion caused by the fingerprint input sensor, based on the measured resolutions, a fourth step of obtaining average horizontal and vertical resolutions of the acquired image, a fifth step of modeling the control lines based on a ratio of the average horizontal resolution to the vertical average resolution, and a sixth step of compensating for the distortion of the acquired image based on results of the modeling. |
| US07856126B2 |
Position sensing device
A position sensing device is provided which can include a first sensing unit for outputting a detection signal periodically changing in accordance with the movement of an object, a second sensing unit for sensing a reference position of the object, and an arithmetic unit for determining position data corresponding to the position of the object based on the detection signals, where the position sensing device can determine the relative position of a lens unit. |
| US07856125B2 |
3D face reconstruction from 2D images
A 3D face reconstruction technique using 2D images, such as photographs of a face, is described. Prior face knowledge or a generic face is used to extract sparse 3D information from the images and to identify image pairs. Bundle adjustment is carried out to determine more accurate 3D camera positions, image pairs are rectified, and dense 3D face information is extracted without using the prior face knowledge. Outliers are removed, e.g., by using tensor voting. A 3D surface is extracted from the dense 3D information and surface detail is extracted from the images. |
| US07856123B2 |
Method for recognising faces by means of a two-dimensional linear discriminant analysis
The invention relates to a method for recognizing faces in digital images consisting in providing for a knowledge base which contains face images and is hierarchical into several classes each of which comprises different images of the same person. The invention relates to pre-processing said knowledge base in such a way that a minimization of variance in each class and a maximization of variance between different classes are simultaneously obtainable, thereby making it possible to form a vectorial base comprising the discriminant component of said knowledge base. The comparison of a recognizable face with a pre-processed reference face such as the knowledge base and an eventual reconstruction of a recognized face are also disclosed. |
| US07856118B2 |
Methods for recommending a personal care product and tools therefor
A method of product recommendation includes receiving an image taken of a tool, disposed against a target substrate and including a frame with an aperture in which the substrate is visible and a color correction scale disposed proximate to the aperture, the scale having at least a first color correction region and a second color correction region, the color of the first region being different than the color of the second region. The method also includes locating a color correction scale region of the image corresponding to the scale and a target substrate region of the image corresponding to the substrate visible in the aperture, analyzing the scale region to determine a color correction, correcting the image according to the color correction, extracting a set of substrate region values from the substrate region of the image, and generating a product recommendation according to the set of substrate region values. |
| US07856117B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An apparatus that embeds data in an image includes a mark embedding unit that embeds a feature that forms a predetermined pattern in the image, as a mark to be used to specify an area in which the data is embedded, and a data embedding unit that embeds the data in the image of the area specified by the mark. |
| US07856115B2 |
Optimized moving-coil loudspeaker
An optimized moving-coil loudspeaker is described herein. The loudspeaker includes an acoustic-radiating diaphragm that is non-cylindrical shape. The diaphragm is a substantially-planar substrate having uniform density. A moving-coil assembly is coupled to the acoustic-radiating diaphragm. The assembly is configured to move back and forth in a linear fashion. As the assembly is connected to the diaphragm it causes acoustic waves to be emitted from a front surface the acoustic-radiating diaphragm. The acoustic-radiating diaphragm is not supported by a conventional basket, among other differences. |
| US07856109B2 |
Audio signal switching apparatus
An audio signal switching apparatus at least comprises an audio jack, a speaker jack, a detection circuit and a control circuit. The audio jack and the speaker jack are separately configured in a computer system. The detection circuit detects whether the computer system is turned on or turned off. The control circuit is connected to the detection circuit and electrically connects the audio jack to the speaker jack when the computer system is turned off. |
| US07856104B2 |
System and method for ensuring secure communication between TV and set back box
A random number or HDCP key is sent from a TV to a set back box (SBB) over a HDMI channel, and unless the SBB returns the same random number/key to the TV over a USB link, the TV will not communicate further with the SBB. |
| US07856103B2 |
Microcontroller and authentication method between the controllers
A microcontroller includes a program memory configured to store a program group and a first encryption key; a CPU; and an identification (ID) storage section configured to store an identification data peculiar to a user of the microcontroller. The CPU executes the program group to generate a second encryption key based on the identification data and the first encryption key and to encrypt a random number with the second encryption key. |
| US07856100B2 |
Privacy-preserving data aggregation using homomorphic encryption
A method and system for collecting data from devices using a homomorphic encryption of the data is provided. A collection system of a device adds contributions to homomorphically encrypted data and forwards the requests to another device. When the device receives a reply to the request, it uncombines its contribution to the homomorphic encryption of the data. The device then forwards the reply to the previous device. The initiator device ultimately removes its contribution to the encryption and identifies the data. |
| US07856091B2 |
Telephone system responsive to call control protocol
Some embodiments provide receipt by a telephone of call control signals from an external device, the call control signals associated with a third party call control protocol, and execution of telephone call functionality in accordance with the call control signals. |
| US07856090B1 |
Automatic spim detection
A spim detection manager automatically detects and blocks spim. The spim detection manager detects a first incoming instant message from an unrecognized source, and sends a response to that source. The spim detection manager receives a second incoming instant message from the unrecognized source in reply to the sent response. The spim detection manager examines the second incoming instant message, and determines whether the incoming instant messages comprise spim based on its content. In some embodiments, the spim detection manager concludes that at least one of the incoming instant messages was generated by an automated process, and that therefore the incoming messages comprise spim. Where the spim detection manager determines that an incoming instant message comprises spim, it blocks that incoming message. Where the spim detection manager determines that an incoming instant message is legitimate, it forwards that message to the target user. |
| US07856088B2 |
System and method for integrating heterogeneous telephone mailboxes
A system and method for integrating heterogeneous phone message mailboxes in a common interface. A message record is created in a data structure of a local telephone device when a phone message received over a first telephone line is stored in a local answering device is completed. A message alert is received when a remote phone message is stored in a remote mailbox associated with a second telephone line linked to the local telephone device. The remote phone message is sent to the local telephone device for silent playback. The remote message is marked as old at the remote mailbox. A message record is created in the data structure corresponding to the remote message. A program operates to produce an ordered message record list in the data structure that includes, for example, an interleaved chronological list of all phone messages stored in the local and remote mailboxes. |
| US07856086B2 |
X-ray generator
An electron beam corresponding to radiation intensity data is output from an electron source by supplying high energy pulses p-1 through p-n, which correspond to the radiation intensity data of a radiation field, to the electron source from a power source 108. This electron beam is deflected so as to be incident in parallel to the medial axis of a plurality of X-ray target tubes 104-1 through 104-n by a deflection means comprising electromagnets, such that X-ray beams x-1 through x-n, which are produced when the electron beam collides with an inner wall of an X-ray target tube are irradiated with a desired intensity. |
| US07856075B2 |
Clock supply circuit and clock supply method
The present invention provides a clock supply device and a clock supply method by which the holdover characteristics that maintains with high precision the same frequency as the frequency observed immediately before an error can be achieved simply with the addition of a high stability oscillator. An output clock signal that is output from a conventional PLL circuit is monitored with a clock signal of a high-stability fixed oscillator, and the monitor result is written in a memory. A holdover reference generating circuit averages the result written over a certain period of time. When a frequency error monitoring circuit detects a frequency error in an input reference signal, a selector selects a holdover reference, instead of the input reference signal, and inputs the holdover reference to the PLL circuit. Alternatively, the holdover reference generating circuit may select the input of the PLL circuit at the time of an error, and then perform holdover. |
| US07856073B2 |
Digital gain adjustment in a wireless receiver
A radio receiver includes a communication interface, a mixing module, an analog to digital converter, a digital gain block, and a gain setting block. The communication interface receives a continuous time radio signal. The mixing module down converts the continuous time radio signal to a continuous time analog signal. The analog to digital converter converts the continuous time analog signal to a sequence of input digital samples. The digital gain block receives the sequence of input digital samples and gain adjusts the sequence of input digital samples based upon a gain setting to produce a sequence of output digital samples. The gain setting block produces the gain setting at any time as one of a first fixed gain setting, a second fixed gain setting, and a filtered time varying gain when transitioning between the first fixed gain setting and the second fixed gain setting. |
| US07856070B2 |
Method and system for digital baseband receiver with digital RF/IF/VLIF support in GSM/GPRS/EDGE compliant handsets
A method and system for digital baseband receiver with digital RF/IF/VLIF support in GSM/GPRS/EDGE compliant handsets. The method may comprise receiving an input signal which may be a digital RF signal, IF or VLIF signals, and the input signal may comprise of I and Q components. The serial digital RF signal may be converted to a parallel digital formatted signal, the latter of which may be transferred to an input of a multiplexer. The received IF signal or VLIF signal may be filtered and transferred to the input of the DU which may convert the VLIF signal to a baseband signal by processing the VLIF signal with a CORDIC algorithm. The DU may bypass processing the IF signal. The output of the DU may be transferred to the input of the multiplexer, such that the multiplexer may select the parallel digital formatted signal or the output of the DU. |
| US07856069B2 |
Distortion compensation apparatus
A distortion compensation apparatus includes an amplifier for amplifying an input signal, a calculation unit for obtaining a distortion compensation coefficient of the amplifier corresponding to an amplitude level of the input signal, based on the input signal input to the amplifier and an output signal output from the amplifier, a memory for storing the distortion compensation coefficient, obtained by the calculation unit, into a write address being made to correspond to the input signal amplitude level, a distortion compensation processing unit for reading out the distortion compensation coefficient from the readout address of the memory, and for performing distortion compensation processing of the input signal using the distortion compensation coefficient, and an address generator for generating the write address and the readout address, based on the input signal amplitude level. |
| US07856065B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting IQ imbalance in an OFDM receiver
Methods and apparatus for processing received OFDM signals to compensate for distortions caused by IQ imbalances are disclosed. Receiver circuits may be configured to demodulate symbols from a first logical channel, using an uncompensated received OFDM signal that includes the effects of those distortions. Receiver circuits may be further configured to calculate an IQ imbalance parameter, using the demodulated symbols, for use in compensating the received OFDM signal to reduce the effects of the IQ imbalances. The compensated signal produced thereby may be used for demodulating symbols from a second logical channel, perhaps corresponding to a user data channel. |
| US07856064B2 |
OFDM communication apparatus and OFDM communication method
An OFDM communication apparatus that can set an optimum repetition number to data to be transmitted, thereby improving the error rate characteristic and hence the communication quality. In this apparatus, a repetition number deciding part (153) decides, based on quality information outputted from a quality information extracting part (152), a required repetition number. A systematic bit repetition number deciding part (154) decides, based on the repetition number notified of by the repetition number deciding part (153), an optimum repetition number for the systematic bit. A parity bit repetition number deciding part (155) operates similarly. Repetition parts (103-1, 103-2) repeat the bits in accordance with instructions from the systematic bit repetition number deciding part (154) and from the parity bit repetition number deciding part (155). |
| US07856059B2 |
Determining the number of unidirectional and bidirectional motion compensated frames to be encoded for a video sequence and detecting scene cuts in the video sequence
Methods for processing a set of successive video frames in two passes to determine the number of bidirectional (B) and unidirectional (P) motion compensated frames to be encoded in a video coding system. During the first pass, motion vectors and motion costs are computed for each frame and a derived cost value is computed based on the motion cost of at least one frame. The derived cost value is used to determine the number (NB) of B-frames to be encoded in the set of successive frames. In the second pass, the set of successive frames are encoded where NB frames are encoded as B-frames and some or all motion vectors computed in the first pass are re-used in the second pass. A scene cut detection method is also provided where an impulse-like increase in a ratio of motion costs is monitored. |
| US07856057B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video decoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07856056B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination. |
| US07856054B1 |
Scene change identification during encoding of compressed video
A video encoder identifies scene changes during the encoding of video sequences based on the distribution of macroblock types within each image. Once an image is identified as a scene change, control information is sent to a quantizer to adjust the quantization of the image to improve image quality. The image quantization is improved without changing the frame or picture type of the image within its group of pictures. To improve the image quality, the quantizer can directly or indirectly change the quantization parameter used to quantize the DCT coefficients for the image. |
| US07856049B2 |
Ranging and registering cable modems under attenuated transmission conditions
A cable modem communication system includes a plurality of Cable Modems (CMs), a CM network segment, and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The CMTS segregates the plurality of CMs into a first group of CMs with which standard registering and ranging operations are performed and a second group of CMs with which attenuated transmission registering and ranging operations are performed. Each CM of the first group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a first format. Each CM of the second group of CMs operable to perform registering and ranging operations by transmitting a ranging burst of a second format that differs from the ranging burst of the first format. The CMTS may include a rake receiver that receives and demodulates a plurality of multi-path copies of the ranging burst of the second format. |
| US07856048B1 |
On-chip IQ imbalance and LO leakage calibration for transceivers
The disclosure can provide methods and systems for autocalibrating a transceiver. The method can include upconverting a bandpass input signal by mixing the bandpass input signal with a first local oscillator signal to form an initial transmitter signal. The initial transmitter signal can be looped back to a receiver and downconverted with a second local oscillator signal having a frequency that is different from the first local oscillator to form an intermediate frequency signal. At least one of a gain and a phase of the transmitter can be adjusted based on a transmitter image sideband of the intermediate frequency signal to generate a calibrated transmitter signal having minimized transmitter image sideband. |
| US07856046B2 |
Surface emitting laser diode including grating layer
A surface emitting laser diode includes a ring-shaped first semiconductor layer including an n-type clad layer, a ring-shaped active layer provided on the first semiconductor layer, and a ring-shaped second semiconductor layer which is provided on the active layer and includes a p-type clad layer and a grating layer including grating units continuously arranged in a circumferential direction, each grating unit including a plurality of regions having different refractive indices and being adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. |
| US07856043B2 |
Vertical external cavity surface emitting laser with pump beam reflector
A vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) using end pumping in which a pumping beam is recycled using a pumping beam reflection layer to increase pumping beam absorption is provided. The VECSEL includes: an active layer for generating and emitting signal light; an external mirror that is separated from and faces a top surface of the active layer and transmits a first portion of the signal light and reflects a second portion of the signal light to the active layer; a first reflection layer contacting a lower surface of the active layer and reflecting the signal light to the external mirror; a pump laser for emitting the pumping beam toward the lower surface of the active layer to excite the active layer; and a second reflection layer contacting the top surface of the active layer and reflecting a portion of the pumping beam back to the active layer. |
| US07856036B2 |
Point to multipoint crosslink
A communication network comprises a first central digital subscriber line (DSL) unit having at least one application port and a plurality of DSL ports; a first remote DSL unit having at least one application port and at least one DSL port, wherein the first remote DSL unit is communicatively coupled to the central DSL unit via a first single independent DSL pair having a first EOC channel; and a second remote DSL unit having at least one application port and at least one DSL port, wherein the second remote DSL unit is communicatively coupled to the central DSL unit via a second single independent DSL pair having a second EOC channel; wherein the at least one application port in the central DSL unit is communicatively coupled to an application port in at least one of the first remote DSL unit and the second remote DSL unit. |
| US07856033B2 |
Methods and systems for adaptive communication
One embodiment relates to a method for transitioning from an initial data rate utilizing an initial transmission variable to a new data rate in a multi-carrier communication system. In the method, a first function or a second function is selected to calculate a modified transmission variable, wherein the first function or second function is selected as a function of relative priorities of first and second communication parameters. The new data rate is implemented by modification of transmission variable. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US07856031B2 |
Method and apparatus for guaranteeing fairness regarding access to medium among stations in WLAN
A method and apparatus for guaranteeing fairness regarding access to a medium among a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network (WLAN) where a plurality of high throughput (HT) stations and a plurality of 802.11 legacy stations coexist are provided. In the WLAN, information that allows a plurality of hearing legacy stations and a plurality of hearing HT stations which receive a data frame having an HT format transmitted by a transmitting HT station to fairly contend for use of a medium is transmitted as a frame having a format that can be interpreted by all the legacy HT stations. Therefore, the legacy stations can contend for a medium under the same conditions as the HT stations. |
| US07856029B2 |
Pre-start-up procedure for internal interface of distributed radio base station
A radio base station (20) has an internal interface (26) connecting a radio equipment (RE) (24) and a radio equipment controller (REC) (22). The radio base station performs a pre-start-up procedure or method for the internal (26). The pre-start-up procedure is performed preparatory to and/or in conjunction with a start-up procedure for the internal interface. As on e of its aspects, the pre-start-up procedure involves storing one or more previously proven combinations of line bit rate and protocol as stored combination(s) for use on the internal interface. Prior to synchronization of the internal interface, the stored combination(s) are retrieved and included in a temporary available set of combinations of line bit rate and protocol. Thereafter the start-up procedure for the internal interface is initiated for the purpose of determining efficacy of the temporary available set. Should synchronization of the physical layer by the start-up procedure succeed, the pre-start-up procedure uses a valid combination of line bit rate and protocol in the available set for negotiating between the radio equipment controller (REC) and the radio equipment (RE). Should the start-up procedure fail, the pre-start-up procedure removes a failed combination of line bit rate and protocol from the set. |
| US07856028B2 |
Power dissipation management for wired transceivers
A system, method and apparatus for reducing a power consumed by a physical layer device (PHY). A length of a cable connecting the PHY to a link partner is determined. Based on the length, power provided to one or more components of the PHY, or any portion thereof, is reduced. The power provided is reduced while maintaining a level of reliability specified by a protocol governing operation of the PHY. The length can be determined using time-domain reflectometry (TDR) techniques. Any portion of an echo cancellation filter, a crosstalk filter, an equalizer, a precoder, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a forward error correction (FEC) decoder and/or an FEC coder can be powered-down or power-optimized to reduce the overall power consumed by the PHY. The protocol governing operation of the PHY can be IEEE 802.3. |
| US07856025B2 |
Method and system for intercommunicating between private network user and network with QoS guarantee
A method and a system for intercommunicating between a private network user and a network with QoS guarantee are provided. The bearer control layer entity and the application layer entity obtain the address (port) translation information in the network with independent bearer control layer, and then allocate the resources for the private network user based on the address (port) translation information. According to the present invention, the various function entities may process transmission and translation of the private addresses correctly and hence accomplish a correct addressing and resource allocation. Thus, the problems that the end-to-end QoS resource allocation cannot be accomplished and the end-to-end QoS cannot be guaranteed when the user uses a private address are solved. |
| US07856023B2 |
Secure virtual private network having a gateway for managing global ip address and identification of devices
A gateway apparatus (100) is capable of connecting to an internal network (10) and an external network (50), and includes an information management unit (120) for managing a global IP address of the gateway apparatus and identification information for a device to be permitted to connect to the internal network. The information management unit transmits the global IP address and the identification information over the external network to an external apparatus. In response to a request received over the external network, the information management unit transmits a one-time password over the external network to the external apparatus. The gateway apparatus further includes: a connector unit (130) permitting the device to connect to the internal network, when it receives a URI containing the global IP address and the one-time password from the device to be permitted to connect over the external network; and an address converter unit (140) for converting between an IP address for the external network into an IP address for the internal network and converting an IP address for the internal network into an IP address for the external network. |
| US07856022B1 |
Non-disruptive data migration with external virtualization engine
Transferring I/O from a first storage device coupled to a storage area network to a second storage device coupled to the storage area network includes blocking I/O operations for a first port of the first storage device coupled to the storage area network, where the first port is associated with a first identifier. Transferring I/O also includes coupling the second storage device to the storage area network via a port associated with a second identifier different from the first identifier, coupling a virtualization engine to the storage area network via a first port provided with the first identifier and via a second port, and causing at least a portion of I/O operations received by the virtualization engine through the first port thereof to be routed through the second port thereof to the second storage device without host/application disruption. |
| US07856021B2 |
Packet transfer method and apparatus
When a partial rate guaranteed service is applied to a communication line connecting predetermined routers, a TCP tunnel (TCP connection) is established between the routers, a packet whose destination is a router connected to the communication line is passed through the TCP tunnel, and other packets of an application using a UDP of a VoIP or the like are forwarded by a normal routing control without being passed through the TCP tunnel. |
| US07856020B2 |
TCP receiver acceleration
A transport protocol receiver for receiving a packet from a network, the packet having a header, payload, and connection context. The receiver includes an analysis engine, coupled to receive the packet from the network and adapted to parse and validate the header, locate the connection context, and generate a classification of the header. The receiver further includes a context processing engine, coupled to the analysis engine, and adapted to evaluate and update the connection context, responsive to the classification; and a data dispatch engine, coupled to the analysis engine and the context processing engine, and adapted to convey the payload to a destination, responsive to the connection context, such that the analysis engine, the context processing engine, and the data dispatch engine operate substantially asynchronously. |
| US07856016B2 |
Access control method, access control system, and packet communication apparatus
An access control method for a network including a plurality of packet communication apparatuses is disclosed. The access control method includes a first step in which a sender packet communication apparatus attaches user attribute information to a packet to be transmitted, and a second step in which a communication control mechanism within an end system corresponding to a destination packet communication apparatus or a packet receiving apparatus performs access control based on the user attribute information attached to the packet. |
| US07856015B2 |
Network switch having port blocking capability
A switch is configured to block packets from being transmitted through designated ports. The switch has port bitmap generator configured to obtain a port bitmap and a table is configured to store a block mask indicating which port the packet should not be transmitted. A block mask lookup is configured to determine the block mask for the packet from the table, and a transmit port bitmap generator is configured to determine which ports the packet should be transmitted using the port bitmap and the block mask. |
| US07856011B2 |
Reordering packets
There are disclosed processes and apparatus reordering packets. The system includes a plurality of source processors that transmit the packets to a destination processor via multiple communication fabrics. The source processors and the destination processor are synchronized together. Time stamp logic at each source processor operates to include a time stamp parameter with each of the packets transmitted from the source processors. The system also includes a plurality of memory queues located at the destination processor. An enqueue processor operates to store a memory pointer and an associated time stamp parameter for each of the packets received at the destination processor in a selected memory queue. A dequeue processor determines a selected memory pointer associated with a selected time stamp parameter and operates to process the selected memory pointer to access a selected packet for output in a reordered packet stream. |
| US07856010B2 |
Circulating switch
A circulating switch comprises switch modules of moderate capacities interconnected by a passive rotator. Data is sent from a one switch module to another switch module either directly, traversing the rotator once, or indirectly through at least one intermediate switch module where the rotator is traversed twice. A higher capacity extended circulating switch is constructed from higher-capacity switch modules, implemented as common memory switches and having multiple ports, interconnected through a multiplicity of rotators preferably arranged in complementary groups of rotators of opposite rotation directions. A polyphase circulating switch having a low switching delay is derived from a multi-rotator circulating switch by providing programmable rotators having adjustable relative rotator-cycle phases. A low delay high-capacity switch may also be constructed from prior-art medium-capacity rotator space switches with mutually phase-shifted rotation cycles. |
| US07856005B2 |
Impulsive noise suppression scheme in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
This invention provides an impulsive noise suppression method in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. The method comprises an equalization and de-mapping step for estimating a preliminary estimation of signal and a total noise estimation by utilizing ideal channel estimation, de-mapping, and pilot insertion technique on received signal; and a SNR comparison step for determining a SNR by dividing said preliminary estimation of signal and said total noise estimation and comparing said SNR with a threshold value. |
| US07856004B2 |
Method for scheduling heterogeneous traffic in B3G/4G cellular networks with multiple channels
A method includes tracking average user throughput, packet delay and jitter for every user that is serviced in an OFDM cellular system; using feedback to determine a potential schedule set responsive to user requirements for data and voice traffic responsive to minimum rate guarantee for data flows, and maximum tolerable delay and jitter guarantees for voice flows; with multiple flows for each user, first determining contending flow for each user responsive to aggregate rate feedback; obtaining search space for the user requirements of rate, delay and jitter responsive to corresponding optimizing strategies; determining individual rate, delay and jitter related schedules providing maximum incremental or marginal utility; and calculating final schedule of users on channels providing maximum incremental or marginal utility among parameter specific schedules form the determining step. |
| US07856003B2 |
Local area network having multiple channel wireless access
A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively. Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point. For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel. |
| US07856000B2 |
Apparatus and method capable of improved coexistence of multiple wireless communication techniques
Techniques involving wireless communications are disclosed. For instance, an embodiment provides an apparatus having a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The first transceiver engages in wireless communication using a first technique that employs control packets. The second transceiver engages in wireless communication using a second technique. The second technique may establish a transmission priority over the first technique. Also, the first transceiver may refrain from transmitting the control packets at predetermined times to prevent collisions with prioritized transmissions received by the second transceiver. |
| US07855999B2 |
Wireless station and a transmission method in a wireless local area network
A wireless station, in a wireless LAN, includes a network interface to a network interface device, e.g., a NIC, that includes a transceiver, an antenna, at least a first power supply or energy holder. The wireless station supports transmission of data in frames of variable length. Frame fragmentation is implemented by dividing a (long) frame into a number of frame fragments. Each fragment is sent as a non-fragmented frame. The length of a time period before or between transmission of (consecutive) frame fragments is controlled in order to decrease energy consumption during a predetermined time interval. |
| US07855993B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing power fluctuations during preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system using cyclic delays
Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing power fluctuations during preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system using cyclic delays. A preamble having a legacy portion and a high throughput portion is transmitted (or received) on each of N antennas, wherein at least a portion of the preamble on a first of the N antennas is delayed relative to at least the portion of the preamble on a second of the N antennas, wherein the delay is non-orthogonal amount to introduce variation across the preambles transmitted on the N transmit antennas. The legacy portion may be, for example, an 802.11 a/g preamble. |
| US07855991B2 |
Method and system for idle mode signaling reduction
A method and a system for idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) are provided. The method includes obtaining ISR activation information of a source network, and setting an ISR status of a user equipment (UE) in a target network according to the obtained ISR activation information of the source network. Thus, the ISR status of the UE can be processed when the UE is handed over between networks. |
| US07855985B2 |
Wireless network system and method of transmitting or receiving data over wireless network
A wireless network system and a method of transmitting or receiving data over a wireless network capable of limiting transmission or reception of request packets by stations existing on the wireless network, where directional communication is performed in a high-frequency bandwidth, while a wireless network coordinator is being changed or while the wireless network coordinator is in a busy state. The wireless network coordinator includes a frame generation unit which generates a beacon frame for forming a superframe; a management unit which determines a state of a network and a wireless network station on the network, and inserts a result of the determination in the beacon frame, wherein the management unit sets a field of the beacon frame which indicates whether an accepting command which is transmitted by a station on or participating in the network can be received; and a communication unit which transmits the beacon frame. |
| US07855975B2 |
Response time estimation for intermittently-available nodes
Message exchanges may be executed between a middleware component and at least one intermittently-available node, during connected phases of the intermittently available node with the middleware component. Transmission parameters associated with the message exchanges may be monitored, and a current request message to be sent to the intermittently-available node may be determined, the current request message being associated with a time-to-live. An expected message exchange time of the current request message and a resulting response message received from the node in response thereto may be determined, relative to the connected phases and based on at least some of the transmission parameters. Based on the expected message exchange time, it may be predicted whether the current request message and the resulting response message will be successfully exchanged with the intermittently-available node, prior to an expiration of the time-to-live of the current request message. |
| US07855974B2 |
Method and apparatus for network packet capture distributed storage system
This is invention comprises a method an apparatus for Infinite Network Packet Capture System (INPCS). The INPCS is a high performance data capture recorder capable of capturing and archiving all network traffic present on a single network or multiple networks. This device can be attached to Ethernet networks via copper or SX fiber via either a SPAN port (101) router configuration or via an optical splitter (102). By this method, multiple sources or network traffic including gigabit Ethernet switches (102) may provide parallelized data feeds to the capture appliance (104), effectively increasing collective data capture capacity. Multiple captured streams are merged into a consolidated time indexed capture stream to support asymmetrically routed network traffic as well as other merged streams for external consumption. |
| US07855972B2 |
Creating, modifying and storing service abstractions and role abstractions representing one or more packet rules
The present invention provides a method and system for controlling usage of network resources on a communications network. The method comprising acts of: (a) creating one or more packet rules for analyzing packets received at one or more devices of the communications network, each rule including a condition and action to be taken if a packet received at a device satisfies the condition; and (b) creating one or more service abstractions associated with a user of the communication network, each service abstraction representing a named set of one or more of the packet rules. In some embodiments one or more role abstractions may be created, each role abstraction representing a role of a user with respect to the communications network, and each role abstraction including a set of one or more packet rules, and possibly one or more service abstractions. |
| US07855969B2 |
Selective test point for high speed SERDES cores in semiconductor design
The present invention is directed to a method and system for testing systems involving high speed SERDES cores by exposing an internal nature of signals. The signals are tapped at various external test points. The present invention may take one or more test points in receive and/or transmit paths of high speed SERDES cores, and expose the test points by routing signals to the pins/balls on a chip. Programmable directing (multiplexing) of signals may be utilized to restrict number of output debug ports. Consequently, the number of the pin count required for the chip may be controlled. |
| US07855967B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing line rate netflow statistics gathering
An apparatus and method for using a direct memory access (“DMA”) to facilitate netflow statistics are disclosed. A network device such as a router or a switch, in one embodiment, includes a statistic component, a local memory, and a memory access controller. The statistic component is configured to gather information relating to net usage from packet flows or netflows in response to corresponding index values or tags. While the local memory such as a cache provides the index values or tags assignable to packet flows, the memory access controller such as a DMA transfers at least a portion of the index values or tags between the local memory and a main memory for enhancing capacity of the local memory. |
| US07855965B2 |
Packet network telecommunication system
Packet network telecommunication systems, especially Internet Protocol (IP) telephony removes the need of explicit installing of TSP (TAPI service provider) software or other telephony software at each workstation. Application server software or corresponding control software is arranged to take care of all call control actions on behalf of the phone client software so that the phone client software only needs to receive and transmit speech data streams, and to communicate all control messaging from and to the particular phone client software via the communication link between the control software and the phone client software. Since modern operating systems include support for the user interface devices as well as transmitting and receiving real-time data streams, the phone client software does not require any specific interfacing software to be installed on the client workstation. |
| US07855958B2 |
Determining priority of bearer channels in a wireless telecommunications network
A method is provided of determining priorities of radio bearer channels in a wireless telecommunications network that offers various predetermined levels of quality of service. The method involves determining a numerical value representing a priority rating to be applied to a radio bearer channel. This is done by assigning each of at least two quality of service attributes of the bearer channel with a respective numerical value, then processing the values to provide the priority rating for the bearer channel. |
| US07855952B2 |
Silent failure identification and trouble diagnosis
According to one method for identifying and resolving a silent failure in a telecommunications network, performance data associated with data traffic passing through a network element in the telecommunications network is collected. A determination is made whether the performance data has fallen below a threshold to identify the silent failure at the network element. The silent failure fails to trigger an alarm included on the network element. Responsive to determining that the performance data is below the threshold and thereby identifying the silent failure at the network element, troubleshooting rules may be retrieved. The silent failure is resolved based on the performance data and the troubleshooting rules. |
| US07855951B2 |
Signal transmission scheme for efficient management of common enhanced dedicated channel
A signal transmission scheme for efficient management of a common E-DCH is provided. In the case of a common E-DCH that a UE in an idle mode or in a CELL_FACH status uses within a limited period of time, the UE may notify a Node B of release of radio resources of the common E-DCH using scheduling information including TEBS=0 within the period of time when the UE has completed data transmission. It is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of resources and unnecessary battery consumption of the UE by taking into consideration the above circumstances when triggering new scheduling information since HARQ transmission of the scheduling information has failed. |
| US07855948B2 |
Interference mitigation in a wireless communication system
By virtue of one embodiment of the present invention, dynamic signal to noise ratio measurements made on received signals are used to identify degraded segments of a channel. The degraded segments are then no longer used for transmitting payload data. In the context of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system, degraded OFDM subchannels, as determined on a real-time basis, are not used to transmit payload data. In an OFDM network where access is shared in the time domain among multiple transmitters and a single allocable time slot includes an integer number of OFDM bursts, the medium access control layer adjusts packet length, and therefore the amount of data to be included in a given slot, in response to the fluctuating number of available subchannels. |
| US07855943B2 |
Optical disk device and method for processing optical disk
According to one embodiment, the invention provides an optical disk device having a drive and a control section. The drive applies recording processing and reproduction processing to an optical disk. When the optical disk is an unformatted blank medium, if the drive detects a medium ID and a medium key block region from the optical disk, the control section judges that there is copyright protection information and outputs display information which is used for the recording processing with respect to the optical disk together with display information showing the presence or absence of the copyright protection information. |
| US07855940B2 |
Pickup lens with phase compensator and optical pickup apparatus using the same
A pickup lens with a phase compensator is composed of a condenser lens and a phase compensator. At least one surface of the condenser lens has a step-like annular zone structure to compensate wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t1 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ1 and wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t2 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ2. The phase compensator compensates wavefront aberration generated when recording and reproducing data on an information recording medium having a substrate thickness of t3 with a laser beam having a wavelength λ3. |
| US07855939B2 |
Optical disc apparatus employing an objective lens having a high numerical aperture
An optical disk apparatus that includes a movable part having an objective lens for focusing a laser beam onto an optical disk. A lens-holding member holds the objective lens. A protecting member prevents contact of the objective lens with the optical disk. An elastic supporting member supports the movable part, and an actuator drives the movable part toward or apart from the optical disk. The apparatus is constructed not to cause contact of the protecting member with the optical disk in a non-working state of the actuator, even when the elastic supporting member is bent by gravity toward the optical disk. |
| US07855937B2 |
Near-field light generating element and heat-assisted magnetic recording head utilizing surface plasmon mode
Provided is a near-field light generating element capable of avoiding excessive temperature rise, which comprises a waveguide and a near-field light generating layer. The layer comprises: a propagation surface on which surface plasmon excited by the light propagates; and a near-field light generating end at which near-field light is generated. The end is one end of the propagation surface. And a portion of the side surface of the waveguide is opposed to a portion of the propagation surface of the near-field light generating layer with a predetermined spacing so that the light propagating through the waveguide is coupled with the near-field light generating layer in a surface plasmon mode. The near-field light generating layer is preferably tapered toward the near-field light generating end. |
| US07855933B2 |
Clock synchronization circuit and operation method thereof
A semiconductor memory device with a clock synchronization circuit capable of performing a desired phase/frequency locking operation, without the jitter peaking phenomenon and the pattern jitter of an oscillation control voltage signal using injection locking. The device includes a phase-locked loop that detects a phase/frequency difference between a feedback clock signal and a reference clock signal to generate an oscillation control voltage signal corresponding to the detected phase/frequency difference, and generates the feedback clock signal corresponding to the oscillation control voltage signal. An injection locking oscillation unit sets up a free running frequency in response to the oscillation control voltage signal and generates an internal clock signal which is synchronized with the reference clock signal. |
| US07855931B2 |
Memory system and method using stacked memory device dice, and system using the memory system
A memory system and method uses stacked memory device dice coupled to each other and to a logic die. The logic die may include a timing correction system that is operable to control the timing at which the logic die receives signals, such as read data signals, from each of the memory device dice. The timing correction controls the timing of the read data or other signals by adjusting the timing of respective strobe signals, such as read strobe signals, that are applied to each of the memory device dice. The memory device dice may transmit read data to the memory device at a time determined by when it receives the respective strobe signals. The timing of each of the strobe signals is adjusted so that the read data or other signals from all of the memory device dice are received at the same time. |
| US07855928B2 |
System and method for controlling timing of output signals
The timing of output signals can be controlled by coupling a digital signal through a signal distribution tree having a plurality of branches extending from an input node to respective clock inputs of a plurality of latches. A phase interpolator is included in a signal path common to all of the branches, and a respective delay line is included in each of the branches. Each of the latches couples a signal applied to its data input to an output terminal responsive to a transition of the digital signal applied to its clock input. The delay lines are adjusted so that the latches are simultaneously clocked. The delay of the phase interpolator is adjusted so that the signals are coupled to the output terminals of the latches with a predetermined timing relationship relative to signals coupled to output terminals of a second signal distribution tree. |
| US07855926B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having local sense amplifier with on/off control
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell array blocks, a bit line sense amplifier, a local sense amplifier that can be controlled to be turned on or off, a data sense amplifier, and a controller. The controller activates a local sense control signal for a predetermined duration in response to first and second signals. The first signal is a bit line sense enable signal that activates the bit line sense amplifier, and the local sense amplifier is activated for a predetermined duration after the bit line sense enable signal is activated. The second signal is activated or deactivated in phase with a column selection line signal that connects a pair of bit lines and a pair of local input/output lines. Accordingly, it is possible to turn on or off the local sense amplifier according to operating conditions, thereby increasing a tRCD parameter and reducing the consumption of current. The operating speed of the semiconductor memory device can be improved by combining the local sense amplifier with a current type data sense amplifier that does not require precharging and equalization during a read operation. |
| US07855925B2 |
Inter-transmission multi memory chip, system including the same and associated method
A multi memory chip stacked on a multi core CPU includes a plurality of memories, each memory corresponding to a CPU core from among the CPU cores and being configured to directly transmit data between the other memories of the multi memory chip. |
| US07855916B2 |
Nonvolatile memory systems with embedded fast read and write memories
A nonvolatile memory system is described with novel architecture coupling nonvolatile storage memory with random access volatile memory. New commands are included to enhance the read and write performance of the memory system. |
| US07855915B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device capable of high-speed writing
A memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells in each of which a plurality of bits are stored. A sense amplifier detects data read from a memory cell selected from the memory cell array. At the time of a write verify operation for verifying write data, when a threshold voltage of the memory cell exceeds a predetermined checkpoint, the data control unit converts write data to be written to the memory cell into data of the number of times indicating the remaining number of write voltage application times, inverts only one bit of the data of the number of times each time a write voltage application operation is performed, and changes a definition of the data of the number of times to thereby perform a subtraction operation. |
| US07855913B2 |
Dynamically configurable MLC state assignment
Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as those facilitating a data conditioning scheme for multilevel memory cells. For example, one such memory device is capable of inverting the lower page bit values of a complete page of MLC memory cells when a count of the lower page data values is equal to or greater than a particular value or a comparison of current levels compared with a reference current level is equal to or exceeds some threshold condition. Memory devices and methods are also disclosed providing a means for determining initial programming pulse conditions for a population of memory cells based on the number of lower page data values being programmed to a logical 0 or a logical 1 data state. |
| US07855912B2 |
Circuit and method for multiple-level programming, reading, and erasing dual-sided nonvolatile memory cell
A control apparatus programs, reads, and erases trapped charges representing multiple data bits from a charge trapping region of a NMOS dual-sided charge-trapping nonvolatile memory cell includes a programming circuit, an erasing circuit, and a reading circuit. The programming circuit provides a negative medium large program voltage to cell's gate along with positive drain and source voltage to inject hot carriers of holes to two charge trapping regions, one of a plurality of threshold adjustment voltages representing a portion of the multiple data bits to the drain and source regions to set the hot carrier charge levels to the two charge trapping regions. The erasing circuit provides a very large positive erase voltage to tunnel the electrons from cell's channel to whole trapping layer including the two charge trapping regions. The reading circuit generates one of a plurality of threshold detection voltages to detect one of a plurality of programmed threshold voltages representative of multiple data bits, generates a drain voltage level to activate the charge-trapping nonvolatile memory cell. |
| US07855911B2 |
Reconfigurable magnetic logic device using spin torque
Spin torque magnetic logic devices that function as memory devices and that can be reconfigured or reprogrammed as desired. In some embodiments, the logic device is a single magnetic element, having a pinned layer, a free layer, and a barrier layer therebetween, or in other embodiments, the logic device has two magnetic elements in series. Two input currents can be applied through the element to configure or program the element. In use, logic input data, such as current, is passed through the programmed element, defining the resistance across the element and the resulting logic output. The magnetic logic device can be used for an all-function-in-one magnetic chip. |
| US07855907B2 |
Mitigation of charge sharing in memory devices
One embodiment relates to a memory element disposed on a substrate. The memory element includes first and second interlocked data storage elements adapted to cooperatively store the same datum. An output of the first data storage element is coupled to an input node of the second data storage element. An output of the second data storage element is coupled to an input of the first data storage element. An isolation element in the substrate is arranged laterally between storage nodes of the first and second data storage elements. The isolation element is arranged to limit charge sharing between the storage nodes of the first and second data storage elements. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US07855898B2 |
Expansion card retention assembly
An exemplary retention assembly (30) is used to assemble an expansion card mounted to an expansion card bracket (22) to an enclosure (24). The retention assembly includes a resisting catch (34), a rotatable holder (32), and a resisting lock (38). The resisting catch is slidable relative to the enclosure. The rotatable holder is rotatable relative to the enclosure around a first axis, and rotatably connected to the resisting catch around a second axis. The rotatable holder is configured for resisting to hold the expansion card bracket in position. The resisting lock is configured for resisting the resisting catch to prevent the resisting catch from sliding, and releasing the resistance of the resisting lock to the resisting catch for allowing the resisting catch sliding to make the rotatable holder rotating around the first axis, and the resisting catch rotating relative to the rotatable holder around the second axis. |
| US07855897B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device including a first portion, a second portion, and a circuit board is provided. The first portion has a first surface including a first conductive region. The second portion has a second surface including a second conductive region and a second nonconductive region. The second conductive region and the second nonconductive region are respectively in contact with a part of the first conductive region. The circuit board has a plurality of electronic components thereon, and the circuit board is disposed at one side of the first portion and the second portion. |
| US07855896B2 |
RF circuit modules and integrated chassis with power interface for RF circuit modules
An RF management system especially suitable for use in CATV head end environments is disclosed. The system is characterized by a basic rack-mountable chassis component that can be configured for both front and rear mount applications, for different cable management solutions and for accepting eighteen passive RF modules or nine active RF modules or a combination of passive and active RF circuit modules. The active configuration of the chassis has an integrated power bus with at least nine connectors for receiving up to nine active RF circuit modules. The active RF circuit modules, such as power supplies and amplifiers are each provided with a “floating” connector for ease in connecting the power supply module or amplifier module to the power bus. The RF power supply module is capable of supplying power to all the active RF modules in the chassis as well as to active RF modules mounted in one or more other chassis in the rack. |
| US07855894B2 |
Printed circuit board
Chip capacitors 20 are provided in a printed circuit board 10. In this manner, the distance between an IC chip 90 and each chip capacitor 20 is shortened, and the loop inductance is reduced. In addition, the chip capacitors 20 are accommodated in a core substrate 30 having a large thickness. Therefore, the thickness of the printed circuit board does not become large. |
| US07855891B1 |
Modular heat sinks for housings for electronic equipment
A housing for an outside plant telecommunication equipment (OSP) which uses modular heat sink assemblies. OSP housings contain electronic circuit boards on which are mounted electrical components that generate heat. Thermal conductors or mesas contact the electrical components to conduct heat from the components to the environment. Rather than create single purpose housings with cast thermal conductors, the improved housing uses heat sink plates which can easily be swapped out to accommodate a variety of electronic circuit boards that might be needed within a general purpose housing. Together with faster turnaround time to create a new design for a housing, lower manufacturing and inventory costs result. |
| US07855889B2 |
Resilient fastener and thermal module incorporating the same
A thermal module (10) includes a fin assembly (14), a heat pipe (16) thermally contacting with a heat generating electronic component (60) disposed on a printed circuit board (50) and the fin assembly, and a resilient fastener (20) attaching an evaporation section (164) of the heat pipe to the heat generating electronic component. The fastener includes a mounting element (40) being attached to the printed circuit board, and an engaging element (30) embedded in the mounting element. The engaging element includes a base plate (32) having a first surface contacting with the evaporation section of the heat pipe and a second surface thermally contacting with the heat generating electronic component, and at least a resilient strip (34) sandwiched between the first surface of the base plate of the engaging element and the mounting element. |
| US07855886B1 |
Electronic device and heat dissipation apparatus thereof
An electronic device can conveniently change and assemble a heat dissipation apparatus which is received in the electronic device and dissipates heat for the electronic device. The electronic device with a fan heat dissipation apparatus can be replaced by a blower heat dissipation apparatus, without changing a chassis of the electronic device. |
| US07855880B2 |
Low cost disaster resistant data storage module
A disaster resistant data storage module is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the module is sized to fit into a standard drive bay inside the chassis of a personal computer or server. Standard sized hard drives may be utilized. For example a 2.5 inch standard hard drive may be placed in a protective enclosure which is in turn sized to fit in a standard 3.5 inch drive bay. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a highly reflective exterior surface or coating which reflects radiant energy from a fire but which simultaneously conducts heat generated by a data storage device carried within the module. |
| US07855878B2 |
Goal posts side key implementation scheme for offset hinge clamshell phone with thickness flip hardware compartment
A mobile phone or other electronic device is provided with side keys inside the goalpost compartment at a location offset from the axis of rotation to optimize the use of internal limited space inside the goalpost. In the preferred form, side keys comprise keycaps positioned in the goalpost area, while the switches are located inside the hardware compartment and engaged by the keycaps via a pin providing a cam. |
| US07855874B2 |
Battery unit
According to one embodiment, a battery unit comprises a plurality of battery cells; and a casing having an upper and lower walls. The casing comprises a first portion that stores at least one battery cell; a second portion that stores at least one battery cell; and a third portion that connects the first portion and the second portion to each other. The third portion is at least partially formed to be thinner than the first and second portions. The third portion has therein a rib extending between the upper wall and lower walls. |
| US07855872B2 |
Toolless mounting system and method for an adjustable scalable rack power system
Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a power distribution rack, and uninterruptible power supply rack and a plurality of equipment racks. A plurality of power cables are run from the power distribution rack to each of the plurality of equipment racks using power cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks. A plurality of data cables run between the plurality of equipment racks using data cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks. The power cable tracks and data cable tracks are designed to be installed on the roofs of the equipment racks without the need for tools. |
| US07855870B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor (1) is prepared by carbonizing a wound element (21) formed by winding an anode foil (22) and a cathode foil (23) together with a separator paper (4) sandwiched therebetween, and forming a solid electrolyte layer, including said separator (4), including a conductive polymer between the anode foil (22) and the cathode foil (23). The separator paper (4) is paper prepared by mixing fibers having low heat resistance and carbonized by said carbonizing, and fibers having high heat resistance not carbonized by said carbonizing, and fibrillated fibers having narrow spaces between fibers are used as said fibers having high heat resistance. The solid electrolytic capacitor has an excellent ESR characteristic, in which a dense solid electrolyte layer can be formed by a chemical polymerization method. |
| US07855862B1 |
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit and method that includes P-channel device in signal path
One example of an ESD protection circuit (100) can include a p-channel field effect transistor (PFET) (110) having a source-drain path connected between a pad (102) and a protected circuit (106). In an ESD event, PFET (110) can provide an ESD discharge path between pad (102) and a high power supply node (114) or low power supply node (112). |
| US07855861B2 |
Insulator barrier for noise reduction of a TMR magnetic transducer
A hard disk drive slider comprises an overcoat layer, which covers an air-bearing surface of the slider. The overcoat covers an exposed surface of a tunneling magnetoresistance transducer. An adhesion layer is coupled with the overcoat layer and the air-bearing surface. The adhesion layer comprises a compound of nitrogen. The compound of nitrogen reduces noise in read data from the tunneling magnetoresistance transducer. |
| US07855856B2 |
Disk device employing a CSS system head supporting unit
A disk drive includes a magnetic recording medium rotatably supported, a spindle motor for spinning the recording medium, a slider having a head, a supporting arm having the slider at a first end facing the recording medium, a bearing for holding the supporting arm rotatably along a recording surface of the medium and pivotably in a vertical direction with respect to the recording surface, a leaf spring giving thrusting force to a first end of the supporting arm toward the medium, and a driver for rotating the supporting arm along the recording surface. When the driver rotates the supporting arm along the recording surface and parks the head in a given evacuation area on the recording surface, a second end of the supporting arm is depressed. |
| US07855855B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus including a recording head having an actuator and operable to perform recording on a recording medium by an operation of the actuator, a head holder holding the recording head, a circuit board having a heat-conductive substrate and provided on the head holder, a drive circuit operable to drive the actuator, a flexible wiring member on which the drive circuit is mounted and which connects the circuit board and the actuator such that a signal outputted from the circuit board is transmitted to the actuator via the drive circuit, and a radiator plate provided on the head holder, held in heat conductive contact with the drive circuit, and also held in heat conductive contact with the circuit board. |
| US07855851B2 |
Storage device
A magnetic disk device includes a head that reads position information, a position-information correction value for correcting the position information, and an error correcting code for the position-information correction value from a storage medium; a microcontroller unit (MCU) and an error check and correct (ECC) circuit for correcting an error in the position-information correction value based on the error correcting code; and a static var compensator (SVC) that performs position control based on either one of the position-information correction value read by the head and the position-information correction value with the error corrected by the MCU and the ECC circuit, and the position information read by the head so that the head is located at a target position on the storage medium. |
| US07855850B2 |
Method and apparatus for head positioning using spiral servo patterns in a disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive having a disk, a read head, a servo controller, and a CPU. In the disk, a multi-spiral servo pattern is recorded. The read head reproduces a hexagon-shaped detection signal from the multi-spiral servo pattern. The servo controller generates amplitudes values for respective frames, from the multi-spiral servo pattern. The CPU performs positional-error calculation by using the amplitude values for the frames. Upon detecting a positional change of the head is detected, the CPU performs the positional-error calculation by using the amplitude values generated at the time of replacing the frames with other frames, and corrects the positional error by adding an offset determined from the positional change of the head, to the result of the positional-error calculation. |
| US07855847B2 |
Optical component and image pickup unit
An optical component includes: an optical element; a sealing member in a ring shape arranged on the optical element; a stepped portion formed on a front of a circumference surface of the optical element; and a movement-restricting portion arranged at a rear of the optical element. The stepped portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a front of the optical element, and the movement-restricting portion restricts a movement of the sealing member toward a rear of the optical element. |
| US07855846B2 |
Imaging unit and electronic device using the same
An imaging unit, including: a lens housing section to accommodate a lens; a lens driving section, including: a moving member which supports the lens and moves the lens in an optical axial direction, and an electro-mechanical transduction element to drive the moving member in the optical axial direction; a camera-shake preventing section which drives the lens housing section to prevent camera-shake; and a rotation regulating section to prevent the lens from rotating around an optical axis. |
| US07855843B2 |
Optical finger navigation device with a folded air lens
A fingerprint navigation system with a folded air lens structure and a folded air lens. The system includes a light source, a folded air lens structure, a light reflector, and a navigation sensor. The folded air lens structure is aligned to direct light from the light source to an object surface. The folded air lens structure includes a first portion and a second portion. The light reflector is aligned to direct the light from the first portion of the folded air lens structure to the second portion of the folded air lens structure. The navigation sensor is calibrated to produce a navigation image corresponding to the light directed through the folded air lens structure and the folded air lens. |
| US07855839B2 |
Artificial eye and measuring instrument for measuring the accommodation of an eye
A liquid lens system comprises a liquid drop 10 whose shape can be influenced by electrical fields. A plurality of electrodes are arranged annularly around the liquid drop. The liquid lens system may be employed in an artificial eye, an accommodation measuring instrument and a dioptric telescope. |
| US07855836B2 |
Lens array, LED print head, exposure device, image forming apparatus, and reading apparatus
A lens array includes a lens plate having a plurality of lenses arranged next to each other in a direction perpendicular to optical axes thereof, and a light blocking member for blocking light incident on the lenses. The light blocking member includes a light blocking portion and a plurality of light passing portions arranged at positions corresponding to the lenses. The light passing portions communicate with each other. |
| US07855834B2 |
Multilayered phase difference plate and projector
There is provided a multilayered phase difference plate that serves as a half-wavelength phase difference plate in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm by bonding together a first phase difference plate and a second phase difference plate in a manner that their respective optical axes intersect each other. The multilayered phase difference plate obtains a high incident light polarization conversion efficiency because the respective plate thicknesses of the first and second phase difference plates are within a range such that phase difference deviation amounts become offset by each other. |
| US07855833B2 |
Transmission screen
A transmission screen through which an observer can see the side of the screen opposite to the observer side, and which has a sufficient viewing angle is provided. The transmission screen is a transmission screen 1 having a light diffusing layer 2 comprising a transparent binder and light diffusing elements contained in the binder, and the transmission screen is constituted so that the light diffusing elements should have a relative refractive index n of 0.75 or smaller or 1.25 or larger relative to refractive index of the transparent binder, both surfaces of the transmission screen 1 should be substantially smooth, and the transmission screen should have a total haze (JIS K7136:2000) of 10 to 85%. |
| US07855832B2 |
Optical instrument comprising an entrance cavity in which a mirror is placed
The invention relates to an optical instrument (1) comprising at least one mirror called the primary mirror (3), placed in a cavity (2) and comprising an active face capable of being subjected to instantaneous variations of the incident radiative flux. According to the invention, the cavity (2) comprises a rigid internal casing (20) around the mirror consisting of a material having a thermal inertia so as to damp the instantaneous variations of the incident radiative flux thereby making it possible to limit the temperature fluctuations of this cavity and, consequently, the temperature fluctuations of the mirror. The invention applies to the space field. |
| US07855824B2 |
Method and system for color optimization in a display
Disclosed herein are iMoD displays optimized by utilizing different materials for one or more different color subpixels. Such optimized displays have improved color gamut over displays where all subpixels are constructed with the same material. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing such displays and methods for optimizing iMoD displays. |
| US07855823B2 |
Acoustooptic device and optical imaging apparatus using the same
The present invention provides an acoustooptic device usable even with light in the ultraviolet region, free from laser damage and optical damage, and excellent in acoustooptic performance and an optical imaging apparatus using the same. The acoustooptic device according to the present invention includes a high-frequency signal input part (65), a transducer part (64), and an acoustooptic medium (6). A high-frequency signal input from the high-frequency signal input part (65) is converted into a mechanical vibration by the transducer part (64), and an optical characteristic of the acoustooptic medium (6) varies depending on the mechanical vibration. The acoustooptic medium is formed of a Group III nitride crystal. The optical imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source, an acoustooptic device, a driving circuit, and an image plane. Light from the light source is diffracted by the acoustooptic device in accordance with a signal from the driving circuit and the resultant diffracted light forms an image on the image plane. An acoustooptic medium of the acoustooptic device is formed of a Group III nitride crystal. |
| US07855818B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
In an optical scanning apparatus, an aperture is provided between a semiconductor laser in a light source unit and an oscillating mirror, and between a cylindrical lens and the oscillating mirror. When a light beam from the semiconductor laser comes into an reflection surface of the oscillating mirror, the optical scanning apparatus is configured to limit a beam width of the light beam to a width appropriate to the reflection surface, and then to ensure an irradiation position of the light beam in a main-scanning direction to come into the reflection surface of the oscillating mirror, by causing the light beam to pass through an opening of the aperture. |
| US07855815B2 |
Light guide optical system, document illuminating device using same, and image reading apparatus using same
A light guide optical system guides a plurality of light beams emitted from a plurality of point light sources arranged linearly to a predetermined surface. The light guide optical system has a plurality of optical surfaces arranged periodically in the arrangement direction of the plurality of point light sources. Each of the plurality of optical surfaces has power in the arrangement direction of the plurality of point light sources. |
| US07855813B2 |
Support stand, scanner device, and image recording apparatus
A support stand includes: scanner attachment portions to which one end portion and the other end portion of a scanner along a scanning direction are attached; a scanner fixing structure that fixes the one end portion of the scanner to the scanner attachment portions; and a scanner attachment structure that attaches the other end portion of the scanner to the scanner attachment portions such that the other end portion of the scanner is movable along the scanning direction. |
| US07855809B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for executing a process of error diffusion
An image processing apparatus executes an error diffusion process to multivalue image data consisting of a plurality of density components. A first processor executes the error diffusion process by changing at least one of a quantization threshold value and a quantization diffusion coefficient which are used for the error diffusion process based on a value of the multivalue image data of the density components or a value calculated from the multivalue image data value. A second processor executes the error diffusion process by setting the quantization threshold value and the quantization diffusion coefficient which are used for the error diffusion process into fixed values. An error diffusion processing controller controls to execute the error diffusion process to at least one color among the density components by the first processor and execute the error diffusion process to other density components by the second processor. |
| US07855806B2 |
Banding profile estimator using multiple sampling intervals
A method of integrating multiple sampling interval image data with timing information from a defect once-around sensor and the machine page sync signals to estimate a banding profile. By augmenting the sampling interval data with the timing data, proper phasing of each frequency over each sampling interval can be maintained. Specifically, when the data over the multiple intervals is taken, the defect source once-around signal and the page sync signals are also recorded. The combination of this information allows the algorithm to extract phase and amplitude information of banding defects from the sampling intervals using a new matched-filter based parameter estimation algorithm. Estimated banding profiles are then generated from the known frequencies, and the estimated amplitude and phase values. |
| US07855800B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing printer separator pages
An arrangement is provided wherein a printer used with a host device is operated to generate print batch separator pages using the same blank sheets as are used to print respective pages of successive print jobs. The printer is directed to print a visually distinctive graphic indicator, such as a separator border, trim, header, visible banner or other visual indicator or markings. This eliminates the need for an additional printer separator page tray. Usefully, a host device is operated to generate a separator command in a specified PDL language. A printer control device receives the page separator PDL command, and software contained in the printer control converts the PDL command into a printer readable format (PRF). A printer component responsive to the PRF command then operates the printer to print the specified separator page. |
| US07855799B2 |
Print workflow automation
Illustrative systems and methods provide a graphical user interface for establishing parameters for printing and finishing print jobs. In an illustrative system and method, print job parameters are defined, for example: by establishing print parameters corresponding to the position of a document in a print job and/or the position of a page in document; by establishing associations between values of fields in file names and print parameters; and by establishing associations between text at a particular position on a page of a document and print parameters. The user's inputs defining the printing and finishing parameters are stored in a file such as, for example, an XML file. The system retrieves the printing and finishing parameters and formats PDL and JCL commands which can be forwarded onto the printing and finishing system. |
| US07855794B2 |
Proxy printing system, information processing apparatus, and controlling method
In a proxy printing system, one print job is transmitted to a first one of printers connected over a network, and when a print failure occurs in the first printer, a second networked printer processes the print job to perform proxy printing. The system detects a failure of the first printer attempting to process the print job and issues a notification. In accordance with managed history information for the first printer, the proxy printing system detects whether a printer that has previously processed a print job as a proxy for the first printer exists out of the networked printers. The system issues a notification indicating at least one detected printer as a proxy destination candidate. The system performs control so that the printer is used to execute proxy print processing, and updates the history management table after the execution of the proxy print processing. |
| US07855791B2 |
Vibration-resistant interferometric scanning system and method thereof
A vibration-resistant interferometric scanning system and method are provided in the present invention. In the present invention, the brightness distribution in a high-coherence interference pattern is analyzed so as to perform a compensation action to lock the brightness distribution of a high-coherence interference pattern and consequently locking the fringe distribution of a low-coherence interference pattern or to perform a scanning operation composed of plural shifting actions with specified scanning distances in sequence and plural compensation actions to lock the fringe distribution in a low-coherence interference pattern corresponding to the surface profile of a measured object. Consequently, with the system and method of the present invention, the surface profile of a measured object disturbed by external or internal vibrations can be measured accurately and precisely. |
| US07855788B2 |
Spectroscopy method and spectroscope
To achieve an apparatus capable of measuring a light absorption coefficient f a sample with high sensitivity. A ring down spectroscope uses a wavelength-variable femtosecond soliton pulse light source 1. Pulse light is input to a loop optical fiber 6 through a first light waveguide 4 and a wavelength selective switch 5. Ring down pulse light is input to a homodyne detector through the wavelength selective switch 5. On the other hand, pulse light propagating in the first light waveguide 4 is split and input to light waveguides constituting a second light waveguide 20 through an optical directional coupler 8 and a first optical switching element 12. The pulse light propagating in the second light waveguide 20 is input to the homodyne detector as reference light and used for synchronous detection. The plural light waveguides constituting the second light waveguide 20 differ in optical length in accordance with the length of the optical fiber 6, and can slightly change the optical length. |
| US07855780B1 |
Combined fiber-optic absorption and emission measurement apparatus
Disclosed is a spectroscopic system having a fiber-optic probe for simultaneous IR and Raman measurement. The probe includes a single strand of optical fiber, such as sapphire which is suitable for IR absorption measurements as far as 4 μm and Raman excitation at wavelengths as short as 300 nm. The probe is immersed in the sample and functions in the evanescent wave mode for both IR absorption and Raman scattering measurements. The sensing system makes possible the synergistic, and simultaneous, analysis of both IR and Raman data in an integrated device. |
| US07855777B2 |
Exposure apparatus and method for manufacturing device
An exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate by projecting an image of a pattern, via an projection optical system and a liquid of a liquid immersion area formed on the substrate, onto the substrate, includes a liquid supply mechanism having supply ports for supplying the liquid on both sides of a projection area respectively and capable of simultaneously supplying the liquid from the supply ports, the image of the pattern being projected onto the projection area. The liquid supply mechanism supplies the liquid from only one of the supply ports disposed on the both sides when the mechanism starts to supply the liquid. The liquid may be supplied while moving an object such as a substrate placed to face the projection optical system. Accordingly, an optical path space on the image side of the projection optical system can be filled with the liquid quickly while suppressing formation of air bubbles. |
| US07855773B2 |
Liquid crystal panel having low-resistance common electrode layer
An exemplary liquid crystal panel (20) includes a first substrate (22), a second substrate (24) facing toward the first substrate (22), a liquid crystal layer (23) sandwiched between the two substrates, and a plurality of the conductive adhesive blocks (225) in the non-displaying region. The first substrate includes a non-displaying region (222). A transparent conductive layer (226) is disposed at a surface of the first substrate and capable of transmitting a common voltage signal to the liquid crystal layer. The first substrate at the non-displaying region includes protrusions (253) defining a plurality of gaps (254) therebetween. The transparent conductive layer covers the protrusions including parts of the protrusions defining the gaps. The conductive adhesive blocks contact the transparent conductive layer at the non-displaying region. |
| US07855770B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a pair of electrodes over an inner side of a substrate of a liquid crystal element in which a stack of polarizers on the outer side of a substrate are provided and arranged between a pair of protective layers such that no protective layer is located between the stacked polarizers
To provide a display device having a high contrast ratio by a simple and easy method and to manufacture a high-performance display device at low cost, in a display device having a display element between a pair of light-transmitting substrates, layers each including a polarizer having different wavelength distribution of extinction coefficient from each other with respect to the absorption axes are stacked and provided on an outer side of the light-transmitting substrates. Further, a retardation plate may be provided between the stacked polarizers. |
| US07855768B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal display using separate transmissive and reflective liquid crystal cells and materials with single cell gap
A transflective liquid crystal display (TLCD) using separate transmissive (T) and reflective (R) cells in which two liquid crystal materials with different birefringence changes are used. The birefringence change of the R region is half of the birefringence change of the T region. In this case, a single cell gap is possible and identical transmittance and reflectance for R and T is obtained. It is applicable to various reflective LC modes, and the fabrication methods are simple. |
| US07855767B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a display area that can be seen by a user, and a peripheral area external to the display area. The display area and the peripheral area are provided with pixel electrodes including transparent electrodes and reflective electrodes. The reflective electrodes on the display area have holes exposing the transparent electrodes, while the reflective electrodes on the peripheral area have no hole. |
| US07855765B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a backlight which arranges light emitting diodes on a side surface of a light guide plate, even when the light emitting diodes having a thickness larger than a thickness of the light guide plate are used, it is possible to manufacture the light guide plate with high accuracy by injection molding. In a liquid crystal display device having a backlight which radiates light to a liquid crystal panel, LEDs are mounted on the light guide plate formed on the backlight as a light emitting element, and an S-shaped inclined portion whose thickness is not changed is formed on the light guide plate from a light incident surface to a light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Since the thickness of the inclined portion is not changed, it is possible to make the pressure of resin flow at the time of performing injection molding uniform thus manufacturing the light guide plate with high accuracy. |
| US07855764B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a light source, a light guiding plate, a first displaying panel, and a second displaying panel, in which the light guiding plate has an inclined portion which becomes gradually thicker as it becomes nearer the light source, the second displaying panel is arranged on a first side of the light guiding plate, on which the inclined portion is disposed, and the first displaying panel is arranged on a second side of the light guiding plate, on which the inclined portion is not disposed, and an end portion of a displaying region of the second displaying panel is arranged nearer the light source than an end portion of a displaying region of the first displaying panel. |
| US07855762B2 |
Liquid crystal module
A liquid crystal module includes: a first support part for receiving and affixing ends of a plurality of lamps; an optical plate disposed above an upper surface of the first support part; a second support part for retaining the optical plate and having a lower surface above the optical plate, wherein the upper surface of the first support part or the lower surface of the second support part has a recessed portion contacting the optical plate such that a gap is formed between the optical plate, and one of the upper surface of the first support part and the lower surface of the second support part. |
| US07855761B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device which uses light emitting diodes as a light source, a backlight can efficiently house a heat radiation plate even when an area of the heat radiation plate is increased by taking the radiation of heat from the light emitting diodes into consideration. Light emitting diodes are arranged on a metal substrate to form a plate-shaped light source portion. A heat radiation effect is enhanced by adhering a heat radiation plate to the plate-shaped light source portion. The heat radiation plate to which the plate-shaped light source is adhered is constituted as a housing casing thus efficiently housing the heat radiation plate. A problem which occurs due to the use of the metal-made housing casing can be overcome by mounting a resin-made light guide plate fixing member on the housing casing. |
| US07855757B2 |
Liquid crystal display, method of manufacturing the same, and method of repairing the same
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of repairing the same capable of obtaining a wide viewing angle and improving a success ratio of repair. The LCD includes a gate line, a first data line intersecting the gate line, a thin film transistor (“TFT”) connected with the gate line and the first data line, a pixel electrode connected with the TFT, a first conductive pattern partially overlapping with a first end of the pixel electrode, a second conductive pattern partially overlapping with a second end of the pixel electrode, and a storage capacitor, wherein at least one of the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern partially overlaps with the first data line adjacent to the first end of the pixel electrode and a second data line adjacent to the second end of the pixel electrode, respectively. |
| US07855754B2 |
Television display cover
A television display cover for covering the screen of a plasma or LCD screen when the television is not in use. The cover can be converted from existing frames, framed art, or mirrors already contained in a users' home or wall or panel for attachment of the display cover. A housing containing driving means is secured to a wall or recessed surface. The television display cover is then secured to the outside face of the housing. The cover can then be pivoted to an open or closed position to either expose the television display or cover it up. |
| US07855753B2 |
Digital correction module for video projector
A geometry correction module for a fixed pixel raster projector to project an image onto a projection surface is provided. The geometry correction module includes a receiver and a geometry corrector. The receiver collects an input pixels grid that represents an input image. The geometry corrector generates an output pixels grid representing an output image that compensates for the geometry of the projection surface by repositioning image data interpolated from at least two input pixels. The output image represents an altered input image that when projected onto the projection surface will display a correctly proportioned input image. A method of correcting geometry distortion when projecting an image is also provided. |
| US07855749B2 |
Digital camera having multiple power off modes
Either of two power off modes can be selected in a digital camera that reads out images from an image-capturing element, temporarily stores them in a buffer memory and then transfers and records the images from the buffer memory into a recording medium. In a first power off mode, the supply of stabilized power is stopped in response to a main switch off operation only after unrecorded images present in the buffer memory are all recorded into the recording medium. In a second power off mode, the supply of the stabilized power is stopped immediately in response to a main switch off operation regardless of whether or not there are yet-to-be recorded images present in the buffer memory. The power is cut off in conformance to the current power off mode setting when the main switch is turned off. |
| US07855748B2 |
Reference voltage generation in imaging sensors
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate generating and/or maintaining low noise reference voltages for CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensors. A primary reference voltage can be generated utilizing a low noise bandgap. Further, the primary reference voltage can be filtered via a low pass filter. The filtered, primary reference voltage can thereafter be distributed to a plurality of isolated domains. Each of the isolated domains can generate an independent set of reference voltages based upon the filtered, primary reference voltage. Moreover, subsets of these reference voltages can be employed by programmable digital to analog converters (DACs). Each of the reference voltages can be isolated from switching noise and/or clock glitches generated within each domain. Further, each DAC output can be buffered to have adequately low impedance with appropriate drive capability and requisite signal swing. |
| US07855746B2 |
Lens barrel, camera, and mobile information terminal
A lens barrel including a plurality of lens groups; a plurality of lens retaining frames; a telescopic cylinder retained by a fixed base member and configured to retain a portion of the plurality of lens retaining frames inside of the telescopic cylinder; and a lens retaining frames driving device configured to drive the plurality of lens retaining frames. A portion of the lens retaining frames driving device for driving the lens-retracting frame which is one of the lens retaining frames is formed to project backwardly in a direction of an optical axis from a rear end surface of the fixed base member for retaining the telescopic cylinder. |
| US07855745B2 |
Imaging device capable of reducing power consumption
An electronic camera is provided with a power-saving S-AF mode and a C-AF mode as focus adjustment modes. In the S-AF mode, focus adjustment is performed upon half depression of a release button. In the C-AF mode, the focus adjustment is repeated during a shooting mode regardless of the half depression of the release button to simplify the focus adjustment of a shooting time so that shooting is smoothly performed. When the electronic camera is set to the shooting mode, an AF controller obtains an Ev value representing subject brightness. The Ev value is compared with a threshold value stored in a memory. When the Ev value exceeds the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the S-AF mode. When the Ev value falls below the threshold value, the focus adjustment mode is changed to the C-AF mode. |
| US07855742B2 |
Solid state imaging device with horizontal transfer paths and a driving method therefor
In a solid state imaging device, signal charges are branched to be output to in the form of one or plural outputs. At a horizontal transfer speed not lower than a predetermined transfer speed, the imaging device transfers signal charges of color attributes classified by a branching section, to plural horizontal transfer paths, where the signal charges are converted into analog voltage signals, which will be output synchronously. At a horizontal transfer speed lower than the predetermined transfer speed, the analog voltage signal converted is output from, e.g. the horizontal transfer path which has been selected. Output amplifiers arranged on the horizontal transfer paths are differentiated in sensitivities in detecting signal charges, depending on color attributes of signal charges supplied, and output the analog voltage signals. |
| US07855738B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method for use in such device
An imaging device which assures high-quality image information free from a line noise by extracting line noise information from a taken image, detecting an existence of an extrinsic line noise in the image, and correcting the line noise if it exists. The imaging device comprises a memory circuit for storing image pick-up outputs at imaging of a two-dimensional area sensor comprising photosensors or radiation sensors, an extrinsic line noise detection unit for detecting an extrinsic line noise in the image pick-up outputs stored in the memory circuit, and an arithmetic processing circuit for calculating an output quantity of the detected extrinsic line noise. The line noise is eliminated by correcting the image pick-up outputs on the basis of the obtained output quantity of the extrinsic line noise. |
| US07855731B2 |
Image vibration-compensating apparatus and method thereof
An image vibration-compensating apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus and the method are applied in an image-capturing apparatus, such as a digital still camera (DSC) or digital video recorder (DVR), for compensating image vibration when capturing an image. The image vibration-compensating apparatus comprises an adaptive edge extractor, a sub-region movement detector, a frame motion calculator, and a correcting vector generator. The image vibration-compensating apparatus analyses the difference between the current image and the previous image, and outputs the correcting motion vector to achieve the function of image vibration-compensation. In the image vibration-compensating method, an accumulate compensation mode is used to prevent fast motion of an image frame which will cause discomfort of the user's eyes when a relatively large image vibration occurs in a short period. |
| US07855729B2 |
Video recording control system
A video recording control system includes monitor cameras and video recording apparatuses. The monitor cameras are assigned to the video recording apparatuses in a manner such that each of the video recording apparatuses corresponds to at least one assigned monitor camera. Each of the monitor cameras sends its video signal to the assigned one of the video recording apparatus. The video recording apparatuses record the video signals sent from the monitor cameras. A first device operates for detecting a failure of each of the video recording apparatuses. When the first device detects a failure of at least one of the video recording apparatuses, a second device changes the assignment of the monitor cameras to the video recording apparatuses so that at least one of the monitor cameras which has been assigned to the failed video recording apparatus will be newly assigned to normal one of the video recording apparatuses. |
| US07855722B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and its driving method
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) includes: a liquid crystal panel having liquid crystal cells divided by scan lines and data lines and arranged in a matrix shape; a data driving circuit to supply an image signal to the liquid crystal cells via the data lines; a scan driving circuit to sequentially select and scan the scan lines and to control an on/off state of switching elements arranged in each of the liquid crystal cells; a timing controller to drive both the data driving circuit and the scan driving circuit, based on an externally inputted signal; and a common electrode driving circuit to drive a common electrode of the liquid crystal panel. The common electrode driving circuit supplies a common voltage to the common electrode, the common voltage including a DC voltage for a first period of a first horizontal period (1H) and another voltage for a second remaining period of the first horizontal period (1H). |
| US07855719B2 |
Touch input method and portable terminal apparatus
A touch input method applied to a portable terminal apparatus includes the following steps. First, a touch command is received. Then, a pressing area is derived by conducting a range computation according to the touch command. After that, a cursor is produced according to the touch command. Finally, the cursor is optionally disposed inside a predetermined range around the pressing area according to a present location of the pressing area. A portable terminal apparatus applying the touch input method is also disclosed. |
| US07855718B2 |
Multi-touch input discrimination
Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different input patterns to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, large objects hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., a cheek, thigh or chest) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface. In addition, rough contacts due to, for example, ears and earlobes, may be similarly identified and distinguished from contacts due to fingers, thumbs, palms and finger clasps. |
| US07855717B2 |
Touch screen apparatus and method
In a method for determining a position of a touch on a touch screen, a first sinusoidal signal is provided to an electrode on a touch screen, the first sinusoidal signal having a frequency. A signal flowing from the first electrode is sensed to generate a sensed signal, and the sensed signal is multiplied by a second sinusoidal signal to generate a first multiplied signal, the second sinusoidal signal having the frequency, the second sinusoidal signal having a phase. The first sensed signal is also multiplied by a third sinusoidal signal to generate a second multiplied signal, the third sinusoidal signal having the frequency, the third sinusoidal signal having a phase different from the phase of the second sinusoidal signal by 90 degrees. The first multiplied signal is filtered to generate a first filtered signal, and the second multiplied signal is filtered to generate a second filtered signal. An estimated touch position is generated based on the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal. |
| US07855716B2 |
Infrared touchframe system
A touchframe system includes a plurality of light emitting elements and a plurality of light receiving elements positioned around the perimeter of the display area. Each of the light receiving elements in combination with a plurality of the light emitting elements form a zone of light beam paths. The number and positioning of receivers is sufficient to form a plurality of partially overlapping zone pairs. These zone pairs are arranged relative to the display area such that any touch event lies within at least two zone pairs. A processor monitors each of the zone pairs for blockage of at least one light beam path. Upon such blockage, the processor calculates the location of the touch event associated with the blockage based on the slopes and end points of at least two intersecting blocked light beam paths from a first zone pair and two intersecting blocked light beam paths from a second zone pair. |
| US07855711B2 |
Conductive islands for printable electronic paper
Electric paper with an anisotropic conductive island writing and viewing surface includes a ground plane, a media layer that is formed adjacent to the ground plane and that includes a plurality of microencapsulated multi-chromal particles, and a conductive layer formed adjacent to the media layer, wherein the conductive layer includes a plurality of embedded conductive fibers that form an anisotropic conductive island surface for writing and viewing images. |
| US07855708B2 |
LED backlight luminance sensing for LCDs
A liquid crystal display (LCD) system having LED backlight luminance sensing is disclosed. An array of LEDs in a backlighting position includes a plurality of LED strings. At least one LED from at least one string is identified as a sampling LED. The light emitted from the sampling LED is detected via an optical path using a light sensor. The reading from the sensor is contrast with a command, which results in a power compensation to the array accordingly. In one embodiment, the system includes a sampling enclosure encasing the sampling LED and light sensor. The sampling LED's direction of emission is altered from the string and reflected from the inside of the enclosure. In another embodiment, the system includes a direct sensing optical path between the light sensor and the sampling LED. |
| US07855705B2 |
Color liquid crystal display panel design
A method of forming a liquid crystal display includes determining an illuminant blue peak wavelength, an illuminant green peak wavelength, and an illuminant red peak wavelength, and assembling a liquid crystal display with a blue light reflecting liquid crystal layer having a blue peak reflection wavelength being a shorter wavelength than the illuminant blue peak wavelength, and a green light reflecting liquid crystal layer having a green peak reflection wavelength substantially equal to or longer than the illuminant green peak wavelength, and a red light reflecting liquid crystal layer having a red peak reflection wavelength being a longer wavelength than the illuminant red peak wavelength. Liquid crystal displays are also described. |
| US07855700B2 |
Organic light emitting display
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display that reduces the number of output lines and adjusts a white balance. A scan driver supplies scan signals to a plurality of scan lines. A data driver supplies data signals to a plurality of output lines. Demultiplexers are installed at the respective output lines, and supply the data signals to the plurality of data lines. Data capacitors are coupled with the data lines, and charge a voltage corresponding to the data signals. An image display device is coupled with the scan lines and the data lines, and includes red pixels having a red organic light emitting diode, green pixels having a green organic light emitting diode, and blue pixels having a blue organic light emitting diode. A first initialization power supply supplies a first voltage to the red pixels. A second initialization power supply supplies a second voltage to the green pixels. A third initialization power supply supplies a third voltage to the blue pixels. Voltages of the first, second, and third initialization power supplies are differently set, respectively. |
| US07855695B2 |
Electronically scanned array having a transmission line distributed oscillator and switch-mode amplifier
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array is provided that includes: a first substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the first substrate; an RF network adjacent the first substrate, and a plurality of distributed amplifiers integrated with the first substrate and coupled to the RF network, each distributed amplifier including a varactor configured to load the RF network with a variable capacitance responsive to a control signal, wherein the RF network and the distributed plurality of amplifiers are configured to form a resonant network such that if a timing signal is injected into an input port of the RF network, the resonant network oscillates to provide a globally synchronized RF signal to each of the antennas, and wherein a resonant oscillation of the resonant network is tunable responsive to the control signal. |
| US07855692B2 |
Method of aligning antenna azimuth
There is disclosed a method of aligning an azimuth of an antenna by use of an antenna azimuth aligning instrument capable of economically and precisely aligning the azimuth in a case where a direction of a main beam of a directional antenna is matched with a counter antenna. There is provided a method of aligning the azimuth of the directional antenna by use of the antenna azimuth aligning instrument to be attached to the antenna for use in radio communication, the azimuth aligning instrument includes an aiming hole whose central axis is constituted in parallel with a main beam azimuth of the antenna and in which a diameter of an opening 2C on an operator's viewing side is set to be larger than that of an opening 2B on a target side, and the azimuth of the antenna is aligned using the centers of the two openings of the aiming hole as aims for a target. |
| US07855685B2 |
Microwave communication package
A microwave communication package is constructed on an electrically conducting base plate having a first side defining a base plate cavity, with an antenna apparatus mounted on an opposite, second side. A dielectric substrate on the first side of the base plate covers the base plate cavity; and sealing apparatus contacting the dielectric substrate and the base plate completely around the base plate cavity hermetically seals the cavity. Circuitry mounted on a surface of the substrate within the base plate cavity includes one or more microstrip lines communicating components to one or more waveguides comprising openings extending through the base plate; and the waveguides are coupled at their opposite ends to the antenna apparatus. |
| US07855681B2 |
Systems and methods for determining element phase center locations for an array of antenna elements
A method for operating a communications system is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals at a plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of signals arriving at the array of antenna elements at a plurality of angles of arrival (AOAs) with respect to a reference location. The method also includes calculating a plurality of differential distance vectors between the plurality of antenna elements and the reference location, each of the plurality of differential distance vectors associated with one of the plurality of AOAs and at least one of the pluralities of signals. The method further includes obtaining a plurality of actual phase center locations for the plurality of antenna elements based on the plurality of differential distance vectors and the plurality of AOAs and providing a correction to configuration data for the array of antenna elements based at least on the plurality of actual phase center locations. |
| US07855680B2 |
Alignment method for multi-satellite consumer receiver antennas
A method, apparatus and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with a first signal transmitted by a first satellite in the satellite configuration, and aligning the reflector in tilt with a second signal transmitted by a second satellite in the satellite configuration, wherein aligning the reflector in azimuth and elevation with the first signal and in tilt with the second signal aligns the reflector with at least a third signal transmitted from a third satellite. |
| US07855677B2 |
Code generation apparatus
The code generation apparatus includes: a clock generator which generates a clock signal of a first frequency; a timing controller which generates a timing signal of a second frequency lower than the first frequency; a code table storage in which a plurality of code sequences serving as a source for a pseudo-noise code is stored; an address controller which selects, according to the timing signal, a code sequence to be read, from among a plurality of code sequences; a partial code sequence extractor which extracts, as a partial code sequence, a code of a predetermined length, from the code sequence to be read; and a parallel-series convertor which outputs the partial code sequence one bit at a time, according to the clock signal. |
| US07855676B2 |
Radar level gauge system with leakage detection
A radar level gauge system comprising a transceiver for generating, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals; an antenna arranged to direct transmitted electromagnetic signals towards a surface of the product contained in the tank, and to return reflected electromagnetic signals resulting from reflections at impedance transitions encountered by the transmitted electromagnetic signals back to the transceiver; and a hollow waveguide connecting the transceiver and the antenna for guiding the electromagnetic signals therebetween. The radar level gauge system further comprises a leak indication member being movably arranged inside the hollow waveguide in such a way that a force resulting from leakage of the fluid at the sealing member causes a movement of the leak indication member which causes a change in at least one microwave propagation characteristic of the hollow waveguide. |
| US07855674B2 |
Method and radar system for coherent detection of moving objects
The present invention provides a coherent radar system based on a modification of standard non-coherent radar without Moving Target Indication. Typical radars in this class are Navigation radars which are mass produced with low cost components. These radars utilize a magnetron in the transmitter which is a random phase device. In the present invention, the received signal is extracted just prior to amplitude detection process (where phase information is lost), and digitized using an analogue to digital converter providing coherent detection based on correlation between the transmitted pulse and the received signal. |
| US07855673B2 |
Holographic imaging of natural-fiber-containing materials
The present invention includes methods and apparatuses for imaging material properties in natural-fiber-containing materials. In particular, the images can provide quantified measures of localized moisture content. Embodiments of the invention utilize an array of antennas and at least one transceiver to collect amplitude and phase data from radiation interacting with the natural-fiber-containing materials. The antennas and the transceivers are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, which are between 50 MHz and 1 THz. A conveyance system passes the natural-fiber-containing materials through a field of view of the array of antennas. A computing device is configured to apply a synthetic imaging algorithm to construct a three-dimensional image of the natural-fiber-containing materials that provides a quantified measure of localized moisture content. The image and the quantified measure are both based on the amplitude data, the phase data, or both. |
| US07855669B2 |
Circuit device to generate a high precision control signal
In an embodiment, a circuit device includes a first counter responsive to a clock signal and to a first control word having a first precision. The counter produces a first control signal related to the first control word at a first output. The circuit device further includes a second counter responsive to the clock signal and to a second control word having the first precision. The second counter produces a second control signal related to the second control word at a second output. The circuit device also includes a filtering circuit responsive to the first output and the second output to receive the first and second control words. The filtering circuit is adapted to produce an output control signal related to the first and second control words, where the output control signal has a second precision that is greater than the first precision. |
| US07855667B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor device is described which includes a first comparator judging the level of an input signal based on a first judgment value, a second comparator judging the level of the input signal based on a second judgment value, and a calibrator outputting a control signal for starting the calibration of the second judgment value in the case that the calibration of the first judgment value is ended. |
| US07855655B2 |
Current switch with automatic calibration
A current switch is automatically calibrated when a flow of electric current is initiated in a power cable. |
| US07855652B1 |
System and method for detecting sleepwalking
A system and method of detecting possible sleepwalking episodes that include generating one or more signals indicative of the movement of an individual while sleeping, determining whether the movement signals indicate a possible sleepwalking episode, causing one or more motion based alert signals to be emitted if the movement signals do indicate a possible episode, monitoring a proximity of the individual to a position within a sleeping environment, and causing one or more proximity based alert signals to be emitted when the individual is determined to be at least a certain distance away from the position. |
| US07855646B2 |
Inductive coupling in documents
Inductive Coupling in Document 5 A document comprises a substrate. The substrate comprises a coupling circuit having conductive tracks printed on the substrate. The coupling circuit comprises a first coupling part (40) for coupling to a memory tag (14) and of a size to receive a memory tag within the first coupling part, a second coupling (41) part for coupling to a reader, the first coupling part being smaller than the second coupling part, and a connecting part (42) to connect the first coupling part and the second coupling part. |
| US07855645B2 |
Vehicle identification tag and methods of verifying the validity of a vehicle identification tag
The invention relates to a vehicle identification tag and methods of verifying the validity of a vehicle identification tag. One embodiment provides a vehicle identification tag including a first portion having a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag and a second portion, where information on the first portion and information on the second portion assist a user in verifying that the vehicle identification tag is a valid vehicle identification tag. |
| US07855642B2 |
Portable motion-detecting alarm with remote notification
A Disturbance-Sensing System comprises a fixed unit comprising a small and self-powered unit for associating with an object being protected, and for sensing an alarm event such as movement of the object being protected, and for remotely notifying the an owner or person responsible for the object being protected that the alarm event is occurring; and a mobile unit which may be carried by an owner of or person responsible for the object being protected, for receiving the notification of the alarm event. The fixed unit may be attached to or otherwise disposed in, on or in proximity to the object being protected. The mobile unit may comprise a user's cell phone. Various means for attaching the fixed unit to an object being protected are disclosed. |
| US07855635B2 |
Method and system for coupling an alarm system to an external network
A communication system is provided that can be added to a legacy alarm system to provide a plurality of communication modes to a remote server system from the legacy alarm system and provide remote control and monitoring to a user of the system via two-way communication links. The communication system can be configured to communicate with an alarm processor of the legacy alarm system through use of a keypad bus typically used by the legacy alarm system for communications between the alarm processor and one or more keypads. Communication modes that can be provided by embodiments of the present invention can include, for example, communication over a public switched telephone network, cellular transmission, broadband transmission, wireless broadband, and the like. The communication system can monitor all configured communication modes and determine which communication mode is the best for providing communication between the alarm system and the remote server. Through these communication modes and by virtue of being coupled to the alarm processor via the keypad bus, the communication system can provide both transmission to the remote server of the status and alarm condition of the legacy alarm system as well as provide control signals from the remote server to the legacy alarm system. |
| US07855634B2 |
Barrier movement system including a combined keypad and voice responsive transmitter
A keypad transmitter for mounting outside a controlled area which may respond to the voice or other biometric indicia of users by transmitting validatable codes to a controller of a barrier movement system. The keypad may be used to send a validatable code or it may be used in a learning operation of the voice responsive portion. The voice responsive portion includes speaker dependent voice analysis for some functions and speaker independent voice analysis for other functions. |
| US07855630B2 |
Fuse state indicator systems
Fuse state indicators for use with disconnect devices having a fuse are provided. Fuse state indicators include a housing having circuitry, a detecting means for detecting an open circuit condition, conductors adapted for electrical connection to a disconnect device so as to complete a circuit connecting the detecting means with a fuse of the disconnect device, and a signal transmitting means. The detecting means is configured to transmit a signal to the signal transmitting means for determining an operational state of the fuse. The signal transmitting means, in turn, is configured to transmit a signal to a remote device the state of the fuse. |
| US07855626B2 |
Inductor and electric power supply using it
An inductor embedded in a printed wiring board includes a conductor extending in the thickness direction of a printed circuit board and a magnetic body that is in contact with the conductor with no gap therebetween. For example, the magnetic body is composed of ferrite having a cylindrical tubular shape. The conductor is composed of a copper film formed by plating on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical tubular ferrite. The inductor is inserted in the thickness direction of the printed wiring board. |
| US07855623B2 |
Low loss RF transmission lines having a reference conductor with a recess portion opposite a signal conductor
A transmission structure having high propagation velocity and a low effective dielectric loss. The structure comprises a dielectric, a first reference conductor disposed below the dielectric, a signal conductor disposed above the dielectric, and a second reference conductor disposed over the signal conductor. The second reference conductor has a recess portion facing the signal conductor, the recess portion defining a gap between the second reference conductor and the signal conductor. The gap may be filled with air which has a relative dielectric constant approximately equal to one (1). Because of the physical and dielectric constant characteristics of the gap, the structure concentrates an electric field in the gap resulting in an effective dielectric constant approximately (approaching) one (1) and an effective dielectric loss approximately equal to zero (0). Thus, the structure exhibits a propagation velocity approximately equal to the speed of light. |
| US07855622B2 |
Reflection-type bandpass filter
A reflection-type bandpass filter for ultra-wideband wireless data communication is provided. The filter comprises two conductors extending in a first direction on the surface of a dielectric substrate at a first distance from each other, the surface of the dielectric substrate between the conductors defining a non-conducting portion, wherein the width of the two conductors or the first distance, or both, varies in a length direction of the two conductors. Furthermore, a reflection-type bandpass filter comprising a dielectric substrate; a first conductor provided on the surface of the dielectric substrate; and a side conductor provided next to the first conductor at a first distance from the first conductor, with a non-conducting portion intervening a portion between the first and side conductors, wherein the first conductor width or the distance between the first and side conductors, or both, varies along the length direction of the first conductor, is provided. |
| US07855619B2 |
Electronic part and electronic equipment with electronic part
An electronic part, an object of which is to improve temperature characteristics and electrical properties, includes a substrate (1), a comb-type electrode (2) that is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate (1), and a protective film (4) that covers the comb-type electrode (2) and has an uneven shape at its top surface. If the pitch width of one pitch in the uneven shape of the protective film (4) is L, the width of one pitch of a convex portion (4a) of the unevenness in the uneven shape of the protective film (4) is L1, the width of one pitch of a concave portion (4b) thereof is L2, the pitch width of one pitch of the comb-type electrode (2) is p, the width of one of electrode fingers which form the comb-type electrode (2) is p1 and the width between the electrode fingers is p2, then each parameter is set so that the following expressions are satisfied, L1≦p1 and L2≧p2 (herein, the correlations of L≈p, p1+p2=p and L1+L2=L are satisfied). |
| US07855618B2 |
Bulk acoustic resonator electrical impedance transformers
An electrical impedance transformer comprises a first film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), having a first electrical impedance and a first resonance frequency. The electrical impedance transformer also comprises: a second FBAR, having a second electrical impedance and a second resonance frequency, and being disposed over the first FBAR. The electrical impedance transformer also includes a decoupling layer disposed between the first and the second FBARs. The first electrical impedance differs from the second electrical impedance and the first and second resonance frequencies are substantially the same. |
| US07855612B2 |
Direct coaxial interface for circuits
In general, in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a low-loss interface for connecting an integrated circuit such as a monolithic microwave integrated circuit to an energy transmission device such as a waveguide is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the interface comprises a coaxial structure such as a coaxial cable that directly connects the monolithic microwave integrated circuit to the waveguide to transmit energy such as microwave energy with minimal loss. |
| US07855609B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer driving circuit and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
With the aim of suppressing power consumption and reducing circuit size, a positive FET is turned on in accordance with a positive pulse signal and turned off when a return voltage rises up to a positive threshold. An active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. A negative FET is turned on in accordance with a negative pulse signal and turned off when the return voltage falls down to a negative threshold. The active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. |
| US07855608B2 |
System and method for providing temperature correction in a crystal oscillator
A system and method for providing temperature compensation in a oscillator component (such as a crystal oscillator component) that includes a closely-located temperature sensing device. The crystal oscillator component in example systems and methods is exposed to a temperature profile during a calibration procedure. Temperature and frequency data are collected and applied to coefficient generating function according to a temperature compensation model to generate a set of coefficients that are used in the temperature compensation model in an application device. The generated coefficients are stored in a coefficient memory accessible to an application device during operation. |
| US07855604B1 |
Protection circuit and method for RF power amplifiers in WLAN transceivers
A transmitter system includes a transmitter with a power amplifier. An antenna communicates with the power amplifier. A protection circuit generates a sensed signal that varies with an impedance of the antenna and reduces an output of the power amplifier in response to the sensed signal exceeding a predetermined threshold. |
| US07855601B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including: a gain control circuit; a first circuit which is controlled a gain to be constant by the gain control circuit; and a bias circuit connected to the first circuit, wherein the first circuit including a first transistor; and a load resistance, an amplification factor or an attenuation factor of the first circuit is proportionate to a product of a transconductance of the first transistor and a resistance value of the load resistance, and a voltage applied to the load resistance is set as an output of the semiconductor device, the bias circuit generates and outputs a differential current of a current that is proportionate to a drain current flowing into the first transistor and a current that is inversely proportionate to the load resistance value, and an output of the bias circuit is connected to an output node of the first circuit. |
| US07855596B2 |
Demodulation circuit
A modulation ratio enhancement circuit increases the modulation ratio of a current signal which is ASK-modulated with signal data. A branch unit, an average value detection unit, a comparator and a buffer constitute a demodulation unit so that the signal data is demodulated from a current signal of which the modulation ratio is increased by the modulation ratio enhancement circuit. |
| US07855594B2 |
Fine gain and phase adjustment of analog quadrature filters
Methods and apparatus to fine gain and/or phase adjustment of analog quadrature filters are described. In one embodiment, gain and/or phase of an analog quadrature filter may be digitally controlled by switching one or more resistors coupled to the quadrature filter. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US07855592B1 |
Charge pump
A charge pump circuit has at least three stages: a pre-stage, a common stage and post stage. Each stage has three devices which are common. An NMOS device, which is called the charge injection device (CID), is controlled by a PMOS device during charge injection and an NMOS device during charge trapping. Also, each of the stages includes comparison stages for the CID in order to minimize the bulk to source voltage (Vbs) or bulk to drain voltage (Vbd). This greatly improves efficiency during the charge injection phase. Furthermore, the post-stage includes a comparison stage for the PMOS device since the threshold voltage increases as you increase the number of stages with the bulk tied to VPWR. The PMOS comparison stage should be inserted at the stage where the PMOS device begins to operate in the sub-threshold region, which is technology and voltage dependent. |
| US07855591B2 |
Method and system for providing a charge pump very low voltage applications
A method and system for providing an output voltage greater than a voltage provided by a voltage supply in a semiconductor device are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of clock signals, providing a first stage and providing a second stage. The first stage includes at least a first pumping node, a pumping capacitor and a device coupled with the pumping node, and an auxiliary capacitor pair for providing an undershoot for the device for value(s) of the clock. The auxiliary and pumping capacitors receive a first portion of the clock signals. The second stage includes at least a second pumping node. The first and second portions of the clock signals are provided to the first and second stages, respectively. The first stage and the second stage are configured to alternately charge and fully discharge based on the clock signals. |
| US07855586B2 |
Frequency jitter generator and PWM controller
A frequency jitter generator and a frequency jitter PWM controller are provided for overcoming the shortcoming that a conventional PWM controller reduces the electromagnetic interference issue by means of varying the operating frequency of the PWM controller based on an input voltage, while resulting in the uncertainty of the range of frequency jitter and the difficulty circuit design due to the effect of the input voltage and the load. The frequency jitter generator and PWM controller adjust the range of frequency jitter by using a signal within a fixed voltage range. The invention not only gets rid of the effect of the input voltage and the loading, but also simplifies the circuit design by fixing the range of frequency jitter no greater than a predetermined percentage regardless of the operating frequency of the PWM controller. |
| US07855585B2 |
Local coarse delay units
One delay locked loop circuit embodiment includes a delay line system configured to generate a clock output signal by adding a delay line system time delay to a clock reference signal, a phase detector, a shift register, and a control unit. The delay line system includes a coarse delay line to adjust the delay line system time delay by remote coarse-shifting, a phase selector configured to adjust the delay line system time delay by local coarse-shifting output signals from a series of local coarse delay units, and a phase mixer to adjust a particular time delay of the clock output signal by fine-shifting. The phase mixer does not receive the clock reference signal. The phase detector detects a phase difference between the clock reference signal and the clock output signal. The shift register controls the remote coarse-shifting, and the control unit controls the local coarse-shifting, based on the phase difference. |
| US07855577B1 |
Using a single buffer for multiple I/O standards
A buffer circuit for using one buffer for multiple differential I/O standards is disclosed. The buffer circuit includes a differential input buffer. The first input of the differential input buffer may receive an input and the second input is coupled to a switch. The switch may be a one-time-programmable switch. The switch has a coupling to transmit a signal to the second input of the differential input buffer. The switch may be programmed to selectively transmit different signals to the differential input buffer. The first input terminal of the switch may receive an inverted version of the input signal and the second input terminal of the switch may receive a reference voltage. The buffer may transmit an LVDS signal or an SSTL signal or an HSTL signal. Using one differential buffer for multiple I/O standards may reduce the overall die size and may save space on the die. |
| US07855575B1 |
Wide voltage range level shifter with symmetrical switching
Described herein is the method and apparatus for generating symmetrical level shifted signals by a symmetrical level shifter. The symmetrical level shifter comprises an edge detector operable to generate transition edge based pulses from an input signal based on a first power supply level; a voltage level shifter, coupled with the edge detector, operable to convert the transition edge based pulses based on the first power supply level to edge based pulses based on a second power supply level; and a divider circuit, coupled with the voltage level shifter, operable to generate an output signal from the edge based pulses based on the second power supply level. |
| US07855574B2 |
Programmable multiple supply regions with switched pass gate level converters
A level conversion architecture that accommodates signals traveling between logic blocks operating at corresponding voltage levels is provided. The architecture includes pass gates connected in series between the logic blocks. One of the gates of the pass gates is supplied with a selectable gate voltage supply. The selectable gate voltage supply is selected from a plurality of voltages based on a configuration random access memory (CRAM) setting. In one embodiment, a half latch is connected to one of the pass gates. In this embodiment, the half latch is part of a feedback loop to minimize power leakage of a logic element in one of the logic blocks. A method for managing power consumption and providing voltage level conversion between regions of an integrated circuit is also provided. |
| US07855573B1 |
Controller area network active bus terminator
A terminator for a CAN bus includes an electronic relay and a termination impedance. The electronic relay has first and second control input conductors and switched output conductors. The electrical connection between the switched output conductors is normally closed. The first control input conductor is connected to the power conductor and the second control input conductor is connected to a fifth terminal of the first CAN bus connector. The termination impedance is connected in series at the end node of the CAN bus with the switched output conductors across the high data conductor and the low data conductor. By this arrangement, the termination impedance is effectively connected across the high data conductor and the low data conductor at the end node of the CAN bus until an extension of the CAN bus is plugged into the first CAN bus connector. When an extension of the CAN bus is plugged into the first CAN bus connector, the fifth terminal of the CAN bus connector is connected to the ground conductor. This actuates the relay and opens the switched output conductors. |
| US07855570B2 |
Semiconductor device for performing mount test in response to internal test mode signals
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of pins for receiving a plurality of external mount test signals; and a signal generating unit for generating a plurality of internal test mode signals in response the external mount test signals, wherein the semiconductor device enters into a mount test mode in response to the internal test mode signals for evaluating an operation of the semiconductor device mounted on an actual application device. |
| US07855569B2 |
Wafer holder for wafer prober and wafer prober equipped with the same
The invention provides a wafer-prober wafer holder that allows positional precision and temperature uniformity to be increased, and also allows the chip to be heated and cooled rapidly, and a wafer prober device provided with the same. The wafer-prober wafer holder of the invention is constituted by a chuck top having a chuck top conducting layer on its surface, and a support member for supporting the chuck top, and has a cavity in a portion between the chuck top and the support member. The chuck top preferably is provided with a heating member. |
| US07855560B2 |
Analog front-end coherent in-phase demodulation data acquisition system for resistivity image tools
A method and system for measuring formation resisitivity is achieved by introducing an electrical signal into the formation. The current of the introduced electrical signal is then sensed, producing an analog voltage signal as a measurement of the formation. The introduced electrical signal is compared with the measured signal of the formation. The comparison is made in a quadrature demodulation device, producing an in-phase demodulated signal. A quasi-direct-current signal is extracted from the in-phase demodulated signal, producing an analog measurement related to the resistivity of the formation. |
| US07855554B2 |
Semiconductor device, magnetic sensor, and physical quantity sensor
A semiconductor device includes: a detection Hall element for detecting a magnetic field; a temperature monitor Hall element; and a calculation circuit. The detection Hall element has a characteristic, which is almost a same as the temperature monitor Hall element. The detection Hall element is disposed near the temperature monitor Hall element. The detection Hall element outputs a Hall voltage. The temperature monitor Hall element includes a pair of driving signal supply terminals for outputting a temperature monitor voltage. The calculation circuit calculates to cancel a temperature characteristic of the Hall voltage based on the Hall voltage and the temperature monitor voltage. |
| US07855553B2 |
Test components fabricated with large area sensors used for determining the resistance of an MR sensor
Test methods and components are disclosed for testing resistances of magnetoresistance (MR) sensors in read elements. Test components are fabricated on a wafer with a first test lead, a test MR sensor, and a second test lead. The test leads and test MR sensor are fabricated with similar processes as first shields, MR sensors, and second shields of read elements on tie wafer. However, the test MR sensor is fabricated with an area that is larger than areas of the MR sensors in the read elements. The larger area of the test MR sensor causes the resistance of the test MR sensor to be insignificant compared to the lead resistance. Thus, a resistance measurement of the test component represents the lead resistance of a read element. An accurate resistance measurement of an MR sensor in a read element may then be determined by subtracting the lead resistance. |
| US07855550B2 |
Velocity-detecting device
A velocity-detecting device is mainly based on detection of charge, including a circuit board provided thereon with at least two capacitance sensors with potential difference. The two capacitance sensors are provided at different locations for detecting the time difference when a living thing moves and has its charge respectively reaching the critical one preset by the two capacitance sensors for calculating the moving velocity of the living thing, able to detect and calculate the moving velocity of a living thing for carrying out relative reaction to a machine. |
| US07855549B2 |
Integrated process condition sensing wafer and data analysis system
A process condition measuring device and a handling system may be highly integrated with a production environment where the dimensions of the process condition measuring device are close to those of a production substrate and the handling system is similar to a substrate carrier used for production substrates. Process conditions may be measured with little disturbance to the production environment. Data may be transferred from a process condition-measuring device to a user with little or no human intervention. |
| US07855545B2 |
Sinusoidal modulated signal clarification tool using various oscillator systems
A sinusoidal modulated signal and noise are applied to a system consisting of two oscillators of the so-called General Type, which can be, but are not limited to, the Van der Pol type, Rotator type, Tracking Force type, Linear type, or any other type of oscillator. The two oscillators in the system can also be of different types. The General Type oscillators are tuned for specific frequencies of the incoming sinusoidal modulated signal. The process of adjusting of oscillators to an incoming signal is known as Dynamic Synchronization. During the transitional period, because the noise is random, the noise pushes the frequencies of the General Type oscillators in opposite directions over time and thus self-eliminates its impact on such oscillators. The resulting signal is much less noisy, i.e., clarified, so that the sinusoidal modulated signal can be further evaluated by, for example, extracting and further analyzing its spectral peaks. |
| US07855544B1 |
AC low current probe card
A probe system for connecting a measurement apparatus to a DUT includes an AC probe having an AC shield conductor and an AC probe conductor shielded by the AC shield; a first DC probe having a first DC probe conductor and a first guard conductor for guarding the first DC probe conductor when a virtual version of a voltage on the first DC probe conductor is applied to the first guard conductor; a second DC probe having a second DC probe conductor and a second guard conductor for guarding the second DC probe conductor when a virtual version of a voltage on the second DC probe conductor is applied to the second guard conductor; a first capacitive connection between the AC shield conductor and the first guard conductor; a second capacitive connection between the AC shield conductor and the second guard conductor; a third capacitive connection between the first guard conductor and the first DC probe conductor; and a fourth capacitive connection between the second guard conductor and the second DC probe conductor, each DC probe guard conductor having a virtual version of a DC voltage present on the respective DC probe conductor for DC measurements on the DUT by the measurement apparatus and the DC probe conductors providing an AC ground conductor for AC measurements on the DUT by the measurement apparatus. |
| US07855542B2 |
Voltage regulator startup method and apparatus
A voltage regulator circuit comprises an amplifier, bias network and startup circuit. The bias network is configured to generate a bias voltage for setting a bias current in the amplifier. The startup circuit is configured to mirror the amplifier bias current and to assist the bias network in setting the amplifier bias current based on the mirrored amplifier bias current until the bias voltage approximates a desired level. |
| US07855539B1 |
Circuit and method for adaptive current limit control in a power converter
A circuit includes a power converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate a regulated output voltage. The power converter includes an inductor. The circuit also includes a control loop configured to dynamically adjust a valley current limit of the power converter. The valley current limit identifies a minimum current through the inductor during a current-limited mode of operation. The regulated output voltage could be provided to a load configured to operate using the regulated output voltage. The control loop could be configured to dynamically adjust the valley current limit based on an average current through the inductor. The control loop could also be configured to dynamically adjust the valley current limit so that an output current reaches a desired average value during the current-limited mode of operation. The power converter could represent a buck converter, a boost converter, a buck-boost converter, or a hysteretic control power converter. |
| US07855527B2 |
Inverter device
The inverter device contains the following structure: an inverter circuit which has upper-arm switching elements that are connected on a positive side of a DC power source and lower-arm switching elements that are connected on a negative side of the DC power source; a current sensor that detects current flowing between the DC power source and the inverter circuit; and a control circuit that controls the inverter circuit by a PWM driving so that the inverter circuit outputs AC current to the motor. The control circuit provides a carrier cycle with a first correction and provides the successive cycle with a second correction, by which the current sensor can detect phase current of the motor. A ripple current caused by the first correction and a ripple current caused by the second correction are opposite in polarity. |
| US07855519B2 |
Method for driving of a fluorescent lighting and a ballast stabilizer circuit for performing the same
A method of driving a fluorescent light, having: (a) receiving and full-wave rectifying commercial AC power; (b) dividing phases of the AC power full-wave rectified at step (a) depending on voltage magnitude, and performing switching control such that low-voltage portions of the divided voltages, having low phases, are used as heating power for heating filaments of a fluorescent tube, and high-voltage portions of the divided voltages, having high phases, are used as discharge voltage of the fluorescent tube; (c) switching on the low-voltage portions having low phases as the heating power for heating the filaments of the fluorescent tube in response to a signal output at step (b); and (d) switching on the high-voltage portions having high phases as the lighting power of the fluorescent tube in response to the signal output at step (b). |
| US07855516B2 |
Controllable power supply circuit for an illumination system and methods of operation thereof
A method for reducing acoustic noise produced during use of a lamp dimmer detects whether the dimmer is a leading edge (101) or a trailing edge dimmer (102). A nominal firing time of a leading edge dimmer is determined and a post-correction applied to a voltage applied to the dimmer starting from the nominal firing time so as to build-up the voltage gradually during a predetermined post-correction time period and thereby reduce the rate of rise of the leading edge thereof. A nominal cutoff time of a trailing edge dimmer is determined and a pre-correction applied to a voltage applied to the dimmer starting from the nominal cut-off time so as to diminish the voltage gradually during a predetermined pre-correction time period and thereby reduce the rate of rise of the leading edge thereof. Other methods are disclosed for soft starting filament lamps and controlling dimmer circuits. |
| US07855509B2 |
Transparent drying agent and organic electroluminescent device
A transparent drying agent includes a mixture of an alkoxide of the Group II, Group III or Group IV metal and a transparent organic polymer which is inert to and soluble with this metal alkoxide. |
| US07855508B2 |
LED device having improved light output
A white light-emitting microcavity light-emitting diode device including a reflective electrode and a semi-transparent electrode formed over a substrate and an unpatterned white-light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the semi-transparent electrode. The reflective electrode, semi-transparent electrode, and unpatterned white-light-emitting layer form an optical cavity, and either the reflective or semi-transparent electrode is patterned to form independently-controllable light-emitting sub-pixel elements. Color filters are formed over a side of the semi-transparent electrodes opposite the unpatterned white light-emitting-layer in correspondence with the independently-controllable light-emitting elements to form colored sub-pixels. One of the independently-controllable light-emitting element has at least two commonly-controlled portions that together emit substantially white light to form a white sub-pixel. The optical cavity of one or more of the commonly-controlled portions of the white sub-pixel comprises optical microcavities tuned to emit light at a different complementary wavelength at an emission angle. |
| US07855507B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and fabricating method of the same having organic light emitting diodes stacked in a double layer
An organic light emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes a first organic light emitting diode and a second organic light emitting diode. The first organic light emitting diode has a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first organic emission layer positioned between the first and second electrodes. The second organic light emitting diode has the second electrode, a third electrode, and a second organic emission layer positioned between the second and third electrodes. A first driver thin film transistor is connected to the first electrode. A second driver thin film transistor is connected to the second electrode. |
| US07855505B2 |
Display device supplying a common voltage
A display device includes an insulating substrate having a display area, a line part including a data line and a gate line insulated from and crossing each other, a common voltage supplying part formed outside an outer circumference of the display area, an insulating layer formed on the common voltage supplying part and including a contact hole formed on an area in which some lines of the line part extend substantially in parallel with each other, and a common electrode electrically connected with the common voltage supplying part exposed through the contact hole. |
| US07855504B2 |
Display panel and fabricating method thereof
A fabricating method of display panel is provided. A first substrate having display area and non-display area is provided. A pixel array and a spacer layer are respectively formed in the display area and non-display area by forming many first strip electrodes parallel to each other and on the substrate, by forming an organic function layer on the substrate and covering the first strip electrodes, and by forming many second strip electrodes parallel to each other and on the organic function layer. An extension direction of the first strip electrodes is different to that of the second strip electrodes. The spacer layer surrounds the display area. A sealant is formed in the non-display area, and the spacer layer is disposed between the sealant and the pixel array. A second substrate is arranged above the first substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed by using the sealant. |
| US07855502B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
A display panel includes a first plurality of scan lines, a second plurality of scan lines, and a cell section that includes first and second electrode layers that cross form a plurality of display cells. Each cell includes a light-emitting layer which is formed between the first and second electrode layers. The panel also includes a plurality of contacts, each of which electrically couples at least one of the first or second scan lines to a corresponding one of the second electrode layers. One or more of the contacts have a dimension which is different from a dimension of one of the display cells. |
| US07855499B2 |
Back light unit using an electron emission device and display including the same
A back light unit may include an electron emitter substrate adapted to emit electrons from a front surface and a rear surface thereof, a first anode substrate arranged opposite to the front surface of the electron emitter substrate, the first anode substrate adapted to receive electrons emitted from the electron emitter substrate, to emit light in response to the electrons, and to output the light from a front surface of the first anode substrate, and a second anode substrate arranged opposite to the rear surface of the electron emitter substrate, the second anode substrate adapted to receive electrons emitted from the electron emitter substrate, to emit light in response to the electrons, and to reflect light to the first anode substrate. |
| US07855496B2 |
Boron nitride nanotube paste composition, electron emission source including the same, electron emission device including the electron emission source, and backlight unit and electron emission display device including the electron emission device
Boron nitride nanotube paste compositions, electron emission sources including the same, electron emission devices including the same and backlight units and electron emission display devices including the same are provided. A boron nitride nanotube paste composition includes about 100 parts by weight boron nitride nanotubes, from about 500 to about 2000 parts by weight glass frit, from about 1000 to about 2000 parts by weight filler, from about 2000 to about 4000 parts by weight organic solvent, and from about 4000 to about 6000 parts by weight polymer binder. Electron emission devices including the boron nitride nanotube electron emission sources have longer lifespan and improved uniformity among pixels. |
| US07855493B2 |
Microchannel plate devices with multiple emissive layers
A microchannel plate includes a substrate defining a plurality of pores extending from a top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate. The plurality of pores includes a resistive material on an outer surface that forms a first emissive layer. A second emissive layer is formed over the first emissive layer. The second emissive layer is chosen to achieve at least one of an increase in secondary electron emission efficiency and a decrease in gain degradation as a function of time. A top electrode is positioned on the top surface of the substrate and a bottom electrode is positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate. |
| US07855490B2 |
Planar spring assembly with attached solder strip and method for making same
There is disclosed for use with a piezoelectric stack, first and second side electrodes, each side electrode having two serpentine shape members positioned in a common plane, where the two serpentine shape members of an electrode have alternately spaced conductive fingers which project outward toward each other. The conductive fingers are adapted to be electrically coupled to the ends of alternate ones of internal electrode layers of the piezoelectric stack. The undersides of the conductive fingers which contact the ends of the internal electrodes are provided with a solder material to provide good electrical contact by applying the soldered finger to the internal electrode and applying heat to reflow the solder. The serpentine shape of the side electrodes here disclosed provides high flexibility which can absorb displacement of the internal electrodes as they move up, down, in and out as the piezoelectric layers of the stack expand and contract. This flexibility helps to avoid electrical contact separation between the side electrodes and the internal electrodes. |
| US07855488B2 |
Piezoceramic device
The present invention relates to a piezoelectrical device whose electrode layers contain copper. The usage of copper in electrode layers is enabled by a debindering process, which is carried out by steam. |
| US07855486B2 |
Claw pole generator, especially for bicycle generator hub
A claw pole generator is basically provided with a circularly arranged permanent magnet and an internal stationary unit with a yoke and a coil. The yoke includes a first laminated yoke and a second laminated yoke. The first and second laminated yokes include a disc-shaped connecting portion arranged on one side of the coil and a plurality of outer circumferential yoke portions that are arranged between the coil and the permanent magnet with circumferential spaces in-between. Each of the outer circumferential yoke portions has a plurality of outer circumferential yoke layers laminated overlying each other along a radial direction with respect to the axial centerline of the coil. An outermost one of the outer circumferential yoke layers that is closest to the permanent magnet with a longer axial length than an innermost one of the outer circumferential yoke layers. |
| US07855485B2 |
Air core stator installation
Stator for use in an electrical machine. A non-magnetic support frame section and a non-magnetic coil support are used to provide an air gap stator configuration. The present stators provide an air gap winding configuration that facilitates the fixing of stator coils in the air gap, spaced apart from the magnetic back iron. |
| US07855483B2 |
Turbomachine with integral generator/starter
A turbomachine such as an aircraft turbojet including an electrical generator/starter that can be mounted and dismounted by axial translation in an upstream enclosure of the turbomachine between the low-pressure compressor and the high-pressure compressor, and couple to electrical cables which extend inside the structural arms of the intermediate casing of the turbomachine. |
| US07855477B2 |
Apparatus for preventing displacement of retainer
There is provided an apparatus for preventing displacement of a retainer in a rolling guide by making use of the property of the retainer of moving half the distance of a moving object, such as a table. The apparatus for preventing displacement of a retainer in a guide apparatus having a plurality of finite rollers held by retainers and including a guide mechanism for guiding the movement of a moving object of a machine tool along guide surfaces of a bed or a saddle, and a linear motor feed mechanism for feeding the moving object, includes: a displacement regulator having a stopper for regulating the position of each retainer, the regulator being movable in conjunction of the movement of the moving object; a line of magnet plates of a linear motor for driving of the moving object, the line of magnetic plates being a constituent of a linear motor feed mechanism for the moving object and being arranged parallel to the guide surfaces; a linear motor mechanism for moving the displacement regulator in the same direction as the moving direction of the moving body; and a linear motor control means for moving the displacement regulator in synchronization with the movement of the moving object at a velocity which is one-half of the velocity of the moving object. |
| US07855476B2 |
Atmospheric electrical generator
A mechanism to tap an electrical source which uses an aircraft (preferably a lighter than air balloon) tethered by a conductive line. The conductive line is extended/withdrawn by a winch motor to adjust the altitude of the aircraft. The conductive line is isolated from the ground and an electrical conductor is connected to the conductive line and to an electrical load. In this manner, static electricity generated in the atmosphere is gathered for use. |
| US07855473B2 |
Apparatus for phase rotation for a three-phase AC circuit
An apparatus for providing phase rotation for a three-phase AC circuit. The apparatus comprises three phase input terminals and three phase output terminals, where a first phase input terminal is coupled with a third phase output terminal; a second phase input terminal is coupled with a first phase output terminal; and a third phase input terminal is coupled with a second phase output terminal. |
| US07855471B2 |
Power supply device and image forming apparatus
A voltage converting unit converts a first voltage of an auxiliary power supply unit into a second voltage. A voltage determining unit determines whether the second voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A first switch, which is arranged between the voltage converting unit and a load, switches on and off a supply of an electric power of the second voltage to the load. When it is determined that the second voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold, a voltage-conversion control unit controls the voltage converting unit to stop converting the voltage, and then a switching control unit controls the first switch to supply the electric power of the second voltage to the load. |
| US07855468B2 |
Hinged blade device to convert the natural flow or ocean or river current or ocean waves to rotational mechanical motion for power generation
A device and method for producing rotational mechanical power is disclosed which has a plurality of hinged blades attached to a central circular hub. The device may be used to convert the kinetic energy from the movement of the wind, ocean or river currents, or tidal flows into useful rotational mechanical power. The rotational mechanical power may be converted into electrical energy. Each of the plurality of blades are attached to the central circular hub via a hinge. Each blade is also fitted with a blade limiter to restrict its motion to no more than 90° relative range from the tangent line to the central hub at the point where the blade attaches to the hub. The hinges and blade limiters allow the blades to both present a surface automatically to the motive natural fluid and to generate the maximum torque in one side and minimum resistance torque positions in the opposite side relative to the motion of the motive stream. The resultant blades relative position creates a torque differential from one side of the central hub to the other causing the hub to rotate. The central hub will rotate in the same direction regardless of the direction of flow of the natural motive stream. |
| US07855466B2 |
Electric power generation system with current-controlled power boost
An electric power system includes a variable speed generator driven by an engine and an electrical energy storage device. The generator and the storage device are coupled to a variable voltage DC bus. An inverter converts DC electricity from the DC bus to AC electricity for one or more electrical loads. A detector is included to monitor electric current provided to the DC bus by the storage device and provide a corresponding signal. Control circuitry is responsive to this signal to regulate power output from the storage device to the DC bus. |
| US07855463B2 |
Method for producing a circuit module comprising at least one integrated circuit
An integrated circuit module comprises a chip, the chip comprising a substrate with a first main area and a second main area, the first main area comprising two half-sets of pads, the chip further comprising an integrated circuit with components and two half-sets of connection lines, the connection lines connecting the components of the integrated circuit to the pads, the integrated circuit further comprising a changeover device, the changeover device having two switching states in order to interchange the electrical assignment between the half-sets of the connection lines and the half-sets of the pads, and a carrier, the carrier comprising contact pieces. The chip is arranged on the carrier with one of the two main areas of the chip facing the carrier and the contact pieces of the carrier are connected to the pads of the chip, wherein one of the two switching states of the changeover device is selected, depending on which of the two main areas of the chip is the area facing the carrier. |
| US07855462B2 |
Packaged semiconductor assemblies and methods for manufacturing such assemblies
Packaged semiconductor assemblies including interconnect structures and methods for forming such interconnect structures are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a packaged semiconductor assembly includes a support member having a first bond-site and a die carried by the support member having a second bond-site. An interconnect structure is connected between the first and second bond-sites and includes a wire that is coupled to at least one of the first and second bond-sites. The interconnect structure also includes a third bond-site coupled to the wire between the first and second bond-sites. |
| US07855459B2 |
Modified gold-tin system with increased melting temperature for wafer bonding
A semiconductor structure and a bonding method are disclosed that includes a device wafer, a substrate wafer, and a metal bonding system between the device wafer and the substrate wafer. The metal bonding system includes gold, tin, and nickel, and includes at least one discrete layer of gold and tin that is at least about 88 percent gold by weight. |
| US07855458B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component includes a substrate, and a capacitor unit on the substrate. The capacitor unit has a laminate structure including a first electrode layer provided on the substrate, a second electrode layer opposed to the first electrode layer, and a dielectric layer disposed between the first and the second electrode layers. The first electrode layer has a multilayer structure including an adhesion metal layer joined to the dielectric layer. The adhesion metal layer is provided with an oxide coating on a side of the dielectric layer. |
| US07855457B2 |
Stacked multilayer structure and manufacturing method thereof
A stacked multilayer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a stacked layer part including a plurality of conducting layers and a plurality of insulating layers, said plurality of insulating layers being stacked alternately with each layer of said plurality of conducting layers, one of said plurality of insulating layers being a topmost layer among said plurality of conducting layers and said plurality of insulating layers; and a plurality of contacts, each contact of said plurality of contacts being formed from said topmost layer and each contact of said plurality of contacts being in contact with a respective conducting layer of said plurality of conducting layers, a side surface of each of said plurality of contacts being insulated from said plurality of conducting layers via an insulating film. |
| US07855455B2 |
Lock and key through-via method for wafer level 3 D integration and structures produced
A three dimensional device stack structure comprises two or more active device and interconnect layers further connected together using through substrate vias. Methods of forming the three dimensional device stack structure comprise alignment, bonding by lamination, thinning and post thinning processing. The via features enable the retention of alignment through the lamination process and any subsequent process steps thus achieving a mechanically more robust stack structure compared to the prior art. |
| US07855449B2 |
Cooling device for a light-emitting semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing such a cooling device
A cooling device for cooling a light-emitting semiconductor device, such as a LED device (20), comprises a ceramic plate (15) having coolant-conveying channels (12) incorporated therein. The ceramic plate (15) is adapted for forming an integral part of the optical system of the light-emitting semiconductor device (20) and to cool a light-emitting portion (26) of the light-emitting semiconductor device (20). A method of forming a cooling device comprises the steps of forming a charge of ceramic particles, embossing the charge with a stamp to form coolant-conveying channels in the charge, hardening the charge, and providing a cover on top of the channels to seal them. |
| US07855448B2 |
Optimization of routing layers and board space requirements for ball grid array package implementations including array corner considerations
A method and apparatus for improved contact pad arrays and land patterns for integrated circuit packages are presented. A plurality of conductive pads are arranged in an array of rows and columns. At least one edge of a perimeter of the array is not fully populated with conductive pads. Spaces created in the edge by missing conductive pads create additional routing channels for signals from conductive pads within the array to be routed external to the array through the edge. A land pattern may have routing channels on one or more layers of a printed circuit board. In such a multi-layer land pattern, spaces can be created in edges on any number of the layers. Furthermore, corner pad arrangements having known routing channel characteristics can be used in any number of corners of a land pattern that incorporates spaces in an edge. |
| US07855445B2 |
Circuit device including rotated stacked die
In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes a first die coupled to a circuit substrate and having a substantially planar surface. The first die includes electrical contacts distributed on the substantially planar surface adjacent to at least three edges of the first die. The circuit device further includes a second die attached to the substantially planar surface of the first die. The second die is rotated by an offset angle about an axis relative to the first die. The offset angle is selected to allow horizontal and vertical access to the electrical contacts. |
| US07855444B2 |
Mountable integrated circuit package system with substrate
A mountable integrated circuit package system includes: providing a substrate having an opening provided therein; providing an encapsulated integrated circuit package having an external leadfinger; mounting the encapsulated integrated circuit package by the external leadfinger proximate to the opening in the substrate; and connecting the external leadfinger and the substrate. |
| US07855443B2 |
Stack structure of semiconductor packages and method for fabricating the stack structure
A stack structure of semiconductor packages and a method for fabricating the stack structure are provided. A plurality of electrical connection pads and dummy pads are formed on a surface of a substrate of an upper semiconductor package and at positions corresponding to those around an encapsulant of a lower semiconductor package. Solder balls are implanted to the electrical connection pads and the dummy pads. The upper semiconductor package is mounted on the lower semiconductor package. The upper semiconductor package is electrically connected to the lower semiconductor package by the solder balls implanted to the electrical connection pads, and the encapsulant of the lower semiconductor package is surrounded and confined by the solder balls implanted to the dummy pads. Thereby, the upper semiconductor package is properly and securely positioned on the lower semiconductor package, without the occurrence of misalignment between the upper and lower semiconductor packages. |
| US07855442B2 |
Silicon based package
A Silicon Based Package (SBP) is formed starting with a thick wafer, which serves as the base for the SBP, composed of silicon which has a first surface and a reverse surface which are planar. Then form an interconnection structure including metal capture structures in contact with the first surface and multilayer conductor patterns over the first surface. Form a temporary bond between the SBP and a wafer holder, with the wafer holder being a rigid structure. Thin the reverse side of the wafer to a desired thickness to form an Ultra Thin Silicon Wafer (UTSW) for the SBP. Form via holes with tapered or vertical sidewalls, which extend through the UTSW to reach the metal capture structures. Then form metal pads in the via holes which extend through the UTSW, making electrical contact to the metal capture structures. Then bond the metal pads in the via holes to pads of a carrier. |
| US07855440B2 |
Functional device-mounted module and a process for producing the same
An optical functional device-mounted module and a producing process thereof. A bank to dam a liquid sealing resin is provided on a substrate around an optical functional device, the substrate being formed with a predetermined wiring pattern and having the optical functional device mounted thereon. The liquid sealing resin is filled between the functional device and the bank by dropping the liquid sealing resin therebetween. A package component member having a light transmission hole corresponding to an optical function part of the optical functional device is brought into contact with the bank such that the light transmission hole is opposed to the function part of the optical functional device, thereby causing the package component member to contact with the liquid sealing resin. The package component member is fixed onto the substrate by curing the liquid sealing resin and the bank is finally cut off and removed. |
| US07855434B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of decreasing variations in size of metal resistance element
A semiconductor device is provided wherein a foundation insulating film is formed over a semiconductor substrate, a metal resistance element is formed on the foundation insulating film, and contacts are formed at both ends of the metal resistance element in a longitudinal direction of the metal resistance element and connected to the metal resistance element. The foundation insulating film comprises a single upwardly concave curved surface constituting not less than about 40 percent of an upper surface of the metal resistance element between the contacts in the longitudinal direction thereof. The curved surface of the foundation insulating film causes the metal resistance element to comprise a single upwardly concave curved surface constituting not less than about 40 percent of upper and lower surfaces of the metal resistance element between the contacts in the longitudinal direction thereof. |
| US07855431B2 |
Capacitor unit and method of forming the same
A capacitor unit includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor includes a first lower electrode, a first dielectric layer pattern and a first upper electrode sequentially stacked. The first capacitor includes a first control layer pattern for controlling a voltage coefficient of capacitance (VCC) of the first capacitor between the first lower electrode and the first dielectric layer pattern. The second capacitor includes a second lower electrode, a second dielectric layer pattern and a second upper electrode sequentially stacked. The second lower electrode is electrically connected to the first upper electrode, and the second upper electrode is electrically connected to the second lower electrode. The second capacitor includes a second control layer pattern for controlling a VCC of the second capacitor between the second lower electrode and the second dielectric layer pattern. |
| US07855425B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The invention is directed to providing a smaller semiconductor device having a light emitting element with a low manufacturing cost and a method of manufacturing the same. An adhesive layer 9 and conductive pastes 10a, 10b are selectively applied to a front surface of a semiconductor substrate 6. Then, a light emitting element (a LED die 4) is formed on the semiconductor substrate 6. A P type semiconductor layer 3 is connected to the conductive paste 10a, and an N type semiconductor layer 2 is connected to the conductive paste 10b. The LED die 4 is thus electrically connected to pad electrodes 8a, 8b through the conductive pastes 10a, 10b. Then, a protection layer 12 having openings in the positions corresponding to the pad electrodes 8a, 8b is formed on the semiconductor substrate 6. Electrode connection layers 13 and conductive terminals 14 are then formed on the pad electrodes 8a, 8b, 8c in the openings. The protection layer 12, the semiconductor substrate 6 and so on are then cut along a predetermined dicing line DL and separated into individual dies. |
| US07855421B2 |
Embedded phase-change memory and method of fabricating the same
An embedded memory required for a high performance, multifunction SOC, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The memory includes a bipolar transistor, a phase-change memory device and a MOS transistor, adjacent and electrically connected, on a substrate. The bipolar transistor includes a base composed of SiGe disposed on a collector. The phase-change memory device has a phase-change material layer which is changed from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by a current, and a heating layer composed of SiGe that contacts the lower surface of the phase-change material layer. |
| US07855417B2 |
Non-volatile memory with a stable threshold voltage on SOI substrate
A non-volatile memory disposed in a SOI substrate is provided. The non-volatile memory includes a memory cell and a first conductive type doped region. The memory cell includes a gate, a charge storage structure, a bottom dielectric layer, a second conductive type drain region, and a second conductive type source region. The gate is disposed on the SOI substrate. The charge storage structure is disposed between the gate and the SOI substrate. The bottom dielectric layer is disposed between the charge storage layer and the SOI substrate. The second conductive type drain region and the second conductive type source region are disposed in a first conductive type silicon body layer next to the two sides of the gate. The first conductive type doped region is disposed in the first conductive type silicon body layer and electrically connected to the conductive type silicon body layer beneath the gate. |
| US07855415B2 |
Power semiconductor devices having termination structures and methods of manufacture
A semiconductor power device includes a drift region of a first conductivity type, a well region extending above the drift region and having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, an active trench extending through the well region and into the drift region, source regions having the first conductivity type formed in the well region adjacent the active trench, and a first termination trench extending below the well region and disposed at an outer edge of an active region of the device. The sidewalls and bottom of the active trench are lined with dielectric material, and substantially filled with a first conductive layer forming an upper electrode and a second conductive layer forming a lower electrode, the upper electrode being disposed above the lower electrode and separated therefrom by inter-electrode dielectric material. The first termination trench can be lined with a layer of dielectric material that is thicker than the dielectric material lining the sidewalls of the active trench, and is substantially filled with conductive material. |
| US07855414B2 |
Semiconductor device with increased breakdown voltage
Optimization of the implantation structure of a metal oxide silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET) device fabricated using conventional complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) logic foundry technology to increase the breakdown voltage. The techniques used to optimize the implantation structure involve lightly implanting the gate region, displacing the drain region from the gate region, and implanting P-well and N-well regions adjacent to one another without an isolation region in between. |
| US07855413B2 |
Diode with low resistance and high breakdown voltage
A transistor and diode having a low resistance and a high breakdown voltage are provided. When the bottom portion of a narrow trench having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped is filled with a semiconductor grown by epitaxial method, a {1 0 0} plane is exposed at the sidewalls of the narrow trench. The semiconductor is epitaxially grown at a constant rate on each sidewall of the narrow trench; thereby, creating a filling material with no voids present therein. The concentration and width of the filling material are optimized. This allows the portion located between the filling materials in a drain layer to be completely depleted when the filling material is completely depleted; thereby, making it possible to establish an electric field having a constant strength in the depletion layer extended in the drain layer. |
| US07855412B2 |
Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
An SiC semiconductor device includes a substrate, a drift layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate, a base region disposed above the drift layer, a source region disposed above the base region, a trench penetrating the source region and the base region to the drift layer, a gate insulating layer disposed on a surface of the trench, a gate electrode disposed on a surface of the gate insulating layer, a first electrode electrically coupled with the source region and the base region, a second electrode disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and a second conductivity-type layer disposed at a portion of the base region located under the source region. The second conductivity-type layer has the second conductivity type and has an impurity concentration higher than the base region. |
| US07855408B2 |
Semiconductor device having fine contacts
A semiconductor device has a structure of contacts whose size and pitch are finer that those that can be produced under the resolution provided by conventional photolithography. The contact structure includes a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate, annular spacers situated in the interlayer insulating layer, first contacts surrounded by the spacers, and a second contact buried in the interlayer insulating layer between each adjacent pair of the first spacers. The contact structure is formed by forming first contact holes in the interlayer insulating layer, forming the spacers over the sides of the first contact holes to leave second contact holes within the first contact holes, etching the interlayer insulating layer from between the spacers using the first spacers as an etch mask to form third contact holes, and filling the first and second contact holes with conductive material. In this way, the pitch of the contacts can be half that of the first contact holes. |
| US07855402B2 |
Compound semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
In a HEMT with a spacer layer composed of a 3 nm-thick intrinsic InAlAs layer, a supply layer composed of a 4 nm-thick n-type InAlAs layer, and a barrier layer composed of a 5 nm-thick intrinsic InAlAs layer, the spacer layer and supply layer exist between a channel layer and a planar-doped layer and the total thickness of these layers is approximately 7 nm. For this reason, the impurity (Si) in the planar-doped layer never diffuses into the channel layer, making available an excellent low-noise characteristic. In addition, since an intrinsic semiconductor layer is used as the barrier layer, it is possible to obtain an adequate gate withstand voltage even if the barrier layer is made thinner. It is therefore possible to cancel the degradation of the transconductance gm by thinning the barrier layer. |
| US07855400B2 |
Semiconductor light detecting element and method for manufacturing the semiconductor light detecting element
A semiconductor light detecting element having a mesa structure comprises: a first semiconductor layer having n-type conductivity located on a semiconductor substrate, a light absorbing layer located on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer located on the light absorbing layer; a burying layer burying peripheries of the light absorbing layer and the second semiconductor layer. The burying layer has a band gap larger than the band gap of the light absorbing layer. The second semiconductor layer has a first region having p-type conductivity, and a second region having i-type or n-type conductivity and located between the first region and the burying layer. |
| US07855398B2 |
Ceramic light emitting device package
A light emitting device comprising a ceramic substrate is disclosed. And embodiment of the substrate comprises a mounting portion, a peripheral wall extending from the mounting portion, and a reflective surface extending from the peripheral wall opposite the mounting portion. The reflective surface has a reflective material located thereon. The peripheral wall, the mounting portion, and the reflective surface form a well. A light emitter is located adjacent the mounting portion. A transparent material is located in the well. The peripheral wall is devoid of the reflective material. |
| US07855394B2 |
LED array package covered with a highly thermal conductive plate
A light source includes a substrate, a light emitting diode on the substrate, and a phosphor layer over the light emitting diode. A plate is on the phosphor layer. An attachment member is coupled to the plate and is configured to conduct heat away from the plate. |
| US07855388B2 |
Alternating current light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof
An alternating current light-emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of microdie light-emitting elements formed on the substrate, a rectifying element-dedicated member formed on a surface of a portion of microdie light-emitting elements, a rectifying unit formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member and provided with at least four rectifying elements forming a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and an electrically conductive structure electrically connecting the rectifying elements and the microdie light-emitting elements. With the rectifying unit being formed on the rectifying element-dedicated member, the rectifying elements are highly tolerant of reverse bias and feature low starting forward bias. Also, the present invention provides a method for fabricating an alternating current light-emitting device. |
| US07855386B2 |
N-type group III nitride semiconductor layered structure
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-resistance n-type Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure having excellent flatness and few pits.The inventive n-type group III nitride semiconductor layered structure comprises a substrate and, stacked on the substrate, an n-type impurity concentration periodic variation layer comprising an n-type impurity atom higher concentration layer and an n-type impurity atom lower concentration layer, said lower concentration layer being stacked on said higher concentration layer. |
| US07855385B2 |
SiC crystal and semiconductor device
The present invention discloses a SiC crystal, comprising: acceptor impurities that are in a concentration greater than 5×1017 cm−3; donor impurities that are in a concentration less than 1×1019 cm−3 and greater than the concentration of the acceptor impurities. The present invention discloses a semiconductor device, comprising: a SiC fluorescent layer having acceptor impurities that are in a concentration greater than 5×1017 cm−3 and donor impurities that are in a concentration less than 1×1019 cm−3 and greater than the concentration of the acceptor impurities; and a light emission layer that is layered on the SiC fluorescent layer and emits excitation light for the SiC fluorescent layer. |
| US07855383B2 |
Semiconductor device and its manufacturing method
A semiconductor device and its manufacturing method are disclosed. The nitrogen flow is gradually changed to form a semiconductor device with a gate or a source/drain having a nitrified gradient layer structure. Different extents of nitrification inside the nitrified gradient layer structure provide protection and buffering to prevent the undercut after etching due to different materials in the multilayer structure or the interface effect. |
| US07855382B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure including a gate, a gate dielectric layer, a patterned semiconductor layer having a channel area disposed above the gate, a patterned dielectric layer having an etching-stop layer disposed above the gate and a number of bumps, a patterned metal layer having a reflective pixel electrode, a source and a drain, an overcoat dielectric layer, and a transparent pixel electrode sequentially disposed on a substrate is provided. The source and the drain respectively cover portions of the channel area. The reflective pixel electrode connects the drain and covers the bumps to form an uneven surface. The overcoat dielectric layer disposed on a transistor constituted by the gate, the gate dielectric layer, the patterned semiconductor layer, the source and the drain has a contact opening exposing a portion of the reflective pixel electrode. The transparent pixel electrode is electrically connected to the reflective pixel electrode through the contact opening. |
| US07855379B2 |
Electron device using oxide semiconductor and method of manufacturing the same
In an electron device in which plural thin film transistors each having at least a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor region including a channel, a gate insulation film and a gate electrode are provided on a substrate, a device separation region provided between the plural thin film transistors and the semiconductor region are constituted by a same metal oxide layer, and resistance of the semiconductor region is formed to be lower than resistance of the device separation region. |
| US07855378B2 |
Phase change memory devices and methods for fabricating the same
Phase change memory devices and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a phase change memory device includes a bottom electrode formed over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode. A heating electrode is formed in the first dielectric layer and partially protrudes over the first dielectric layer, wherein the heating electrode includes an intrinsic portion embedded within the first dielectric layer, a reduced portion stacked over the intrinsic portion, and an oxide spacer surrounding a sidewall of the reduced portion. A phase change material layer is formed over the first dielectric layer and covers the heating electrode, the phase change material layer contacts a top surface of the reduced portion of the heating electrode. A top electrode is formed over the phase change material layer and contacts the phase change material layer. |
| US07855377B2 |
Alignment structures for an optical assembly
An optical assembly is provided that includes a substrate. The substrate has one or more optical waveguides. A component is coupled to and spaced apart from the substrate. The component has one or more photodetectors. One or more flexible optical pillars is disposed between the optical waveguides and the photodetectors. The flexible optical pillars are aligned by one or more alignment structures. The flexible optical pillars are optically transmissive and configured to transmit light from the optical waveguides to the photodetectors. |
| US07855372B2 |
Non-streaming high-efficiency perforated semiconductor neutron detectors, methods of making same and measuring wand and detector modules utilizing same
Non-streaming high-efficiency perforated semiconductor neutron detectors, method of making same and measuring wands and detector modules utilizing same are disclosed. The detectors have improved mechanical structure, flattened angular detector responses, and reduced leakage current. A plurality of such detectors can be assembled into imaging arrays, and can be used for neutron radiography, remote neutron sensing, cold neutron imaging, SNM monitoring, and various other applications. |
| US07855366B2 |
Bipolar junction transistor-based uncooled infrared sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A BJT (bipolar junction transistor)-based uncooled IR sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The BJT-based uncooled IR sensor includes: a substrate; at least one BJT which is formed to be floated apart from the substrate; and a heat absorption layer which is formed on an upper surface of the at least one BJT, wherein the BJT changes an output value according heat absorbed through the heat absorption layer. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a BJT-based uncooled IR sensor capable of being implemented through a CMOS compatible process and obtaining more excellent temperature change detection characteristics. |
| US07855362B1 |
Contamination pinning for auger analysis
Electron spectroscopy methods and apparatus are disclosed. A beam of primary electrons is applied to a measurement location on a surface of a sample. A pinning flux of electrons is applied to one or more pinning regions proximate the measurement location. The pinning flux is characterized by a location, size, shape, and electron flux configured such that contaminants preferentially migrate to the pinning region rather than the measurement location. Emissions from the surface resulting from interaction with the primary electrons and the surface of the sample at the measurement location are analyzed. |
| US07855361B2 |
Detection of positive and negative ions
An ion detector comprises an ion guide with electrodes arranged about a first axis; a positive ion detection device with an ion inlet at a first side of the ion output section offset from and at an angle to the first axis; and a negative ion detection device with an ion inlet at a second side opposite the first side, offset from and at an angle to the first axis. A negative voltage bias applied to the positive ion device accelerates positive ions toward the inlet along a path including a component along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. A positive voltage bias applied to the negative ion detection device accelerates negative ions toward the inlet along a path that includes a component along the second axis orthogonal to the first axis in a direction generally opposite to the path of the positive ions. |
| US07855356B2 |
Determination of chemical empirical formulas of unknown compounds using accurate ion mass measurement of all isotopes
A method of determining an empirical formula of an analyte ion from a measured mass spectrum including a main peak and one or more isotope peaks. The method comprises comparing a relative isotopic intensity of the measured isotope peak to a calculated relative isotopic intensity of an isotopic ion of a proposed empirical formula and comparing a relative mass defect of the measured isotope peak to a calculated relative mass defect of the isotopic ion of the proposed empirical formula. The proposed empirical formula is identified as a potential candidate for the analyte ion based on these comparisons. |
| US07855355B2 |
High-voltage power unit and mass spectrometer using the power unit
The output terminal P2 of the positive voltage generating circuit 2 and the output terminal Q1 of the negative voltage generating circuit 4 are connected in series. The output terminal Q2 of the negative voltage generating circuit 4 is connected to the ground via the resistor 10. Each of the resistors 6 and 7 is respectively connected in parallel to the voltage generating circuits 2 and 4. A high voltage whose polarity is changed is taken from the output terminal P1 of the positive voltage generating circuit 2. For changing the output voltage from positive to negative one, the control circuit 1 controls each of the drive circuits 3 and 5 so that the output of the positive voltage generating circuit 2 changes from the voltage +HV to zero and the output of the negative voltage generating circuit 4 simultaneously changes from zero to −HV. Accordingly, the output voltage changes in a short period of time. Although a high-voltage-resistance resistor is required in this configuration, it is far more inexpensive and has higher reliability compared to a high-voltage relay or a semiconductor switch which has been conventionally used. |
| US07855353B2 |
Vehicle window camera arrangement having camera with camera portions handling separate image and intensity acquisition functions using same light-guiding element portion
A camera arrangement includes a camera, a light source, and a light-guide which are in an inside region separated from an outside region by a window. The camera and the light source are pointed at the window. The light-guide is between the camera and the window and between the light source and the window. The light-guide couples light incident to the window from the outside region towards a portion of the camera. The light-guide couples light from the light source into the window which is reflected at the interface between the window and the outside region and couples the reflected light towards another portion of the camera. The camera records an image indicative of the incident light from the outside region through the light-guide and records an intensity of the reflected light from the light source through the light-guide. |
| US07855352B2 |
Shielding door device for radiation inspection system
A radiation inspection system includes a shielding door device for a radiation inspection system, comprising a door body, two guides located on two opposite sides of the door body, a rack, a gear and a motor. The two guides are fixed on an upper surface of a frame and the door body is movably connected to the two guides via bearings. The rack is fixed on a bottom of the door body and meshed with the gear. The gear is coupled with a shaft of the motor fixed on a lower surface of the frame. This configuration is advantageous in automatic and complete shielding of the radiation inspection system without interference. In addition the shielding door can be controlled intelligently, so that accidental radiation leakage can be prevented. |
| US07855351B2 |
Microwave expandable product
A system for preparing, cooking, and treating expandable products in a microwave oven. Under pressure of the microwaves, pressure of one or more components acts to break one or more seals between the cells so that the components can mix and provide a desirable end product, which can be a liquid or solid form. The disposable system can make hot beverages and meals and create other products. Creating or decreasing pressure on the components causes expansion of a plastic or other material located between the non-shrinkable member and the shrinkable member. Expansion of the components under microwaves acts to aid the forcing of liquid through the divider. |
| US07855350B2 |
Apparatus and method for clamping sheet-metal components
An apparatus is provided for clamping components during machining, in particular during welding of sheet-metal components arranged in two or multiple layers. The apparatus includes a holder for a machining head, in particular for a laser machining head, a pressure-exerting element fitted on the holder in a movable fashion relative thereto, a pressure-exerting device provided operatively between the holder and the pressure-exerting element and having a first actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element relative to the holder into a first direction, and a second actuating element for moving the pressure-exerting element into a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and a force-setting device for controlling the pressure-exerting device in order to set a clamping force. During welding, the clamping force is exerted on the sheet-metal components by the pressure-exerting element. |
| US07855348B2 |
Multiple illumination sources to level spectral response for machine vision camera
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a camera and a group of light emitting diodes configured and arranged to illuminate an object imaged by the camera. The group of LEDs comprises at least one first LED of a first type that emits light with a first spectrum profile and at least one second LED of a second type that emits light with a second spectrum profile that is substantially different than the first spectrum profile. The apparatus may further comprise an adjustment mechanism for adjusting of the relative amounts of illumination energy generated by the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED during each of a plurality of scan cycles of the camera. |
| US07855344B2 |
Reversing switch
A reversing switch for use in a multi-phase electrical system, and in particular a three phase electrical system has a conductor for linking the input and output of one of the three phases. The reversing switch has two phase switches for reversing polarity. Each phase switch has a pair of stationary contacts and a moveable contact for reversing phase by switching between the stationary contacts. The moveable contacts of each phase switch are moveable in unison by a motor and associated transmission during switching of the reversing switch between first and second modes of operation of opposite polarity. |
| US07855340B2 |
Plasticised polyvinyl chloride
Esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids are used as plasticisers for polyvinyl chloride to enable products with comparable mechanical properties to be obtained using less polyvinyl chloride. Use of these esters also produces formulations with increased stability to ultra-violet light, improved low temperature properties, lower viscosity and improved processability as well as reduced smoke on burning. The esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids may be used alone or in admixture with other plasticisers when the esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids may act as viscosity depressants. Fast fusing plasticisers may also be included. The formulations are particularly useful in the production of a range of goods from semi-rigid to highly flexible materials and are particularly useful in the production of medical materials such as blood bags and tubing. |
| US07855337B2 |
Electrical systems, facilities, and methods with power pedestals having EUFER grounding
Power pedestals are provided with an electrical ground connection to rebar encased in a foundation slab of a facility to thereby establish a EUFER ground for the power pedestal. Many pieces of rebar may be present within the foundation slab and may be interconnected to form a rebar network. In addition to the EUFER ground provided by the rebar, other grounding techniques may also be included such as a ground ring formed by ground rods spaced around the foundation slab and interconnected by a buried conductor that encircles the foundation slab. The rebar may be electrically connected to the ground ring to establish the conductivity to the earth. The power pedestal and EUFER ground may be present at various facilities, such as those including outdoor electronics equipment closures such as remote terminals and base stations. |
| US07855334B2 |
Music edit device and music edit method
A music editing apparatus is provided that uses so-called time line meta data that describe a beat and melody structure of a song to automatically accomplishes an automatic DJ remix play with a low load. The apparatus also includes a synchronous reproduction controlling section which sends a master beat to the remix processing section and reproduces a plurality of songs corresponding to a remix process which the remix processing section designates corresponding to a remix pattern and the meta data and a mixing section which mixes the songs reproduced by the synchronous reproduction controlling section. The synchronous reproduction controlling section also includes a phase comparator which compares a phase of a beat synchronous signal generated from the meta data supplied from the remix processing section with that of the master beat signal; an integrating circuit which integrates a phase compared output of the phase comparator; and a correcting section which corrects a tempo based on an integrated output of the integrating circuit. |
| US07855333B2 |
Music edit device and music edit method
A remix processing section performs a remix process based on both meta data that are pre-generated corresponding to song data and that contain at least a time-based beat position and a file for deciding a remix pattern. A synchronous reproduction controlling section generates a master beat, sends the master beat to the remix processing section, and reproduces a plurality of songs based on individual entries of the meta data according to the remix process which the remix processing section has designated corresponding to the remix pattern and the meta data. A mixing section mixes songs reproduced by the synchronous reproduction controlling section. A music editing apparatus that can accomplish editing of overlaying or connecting whole or part of each of many songs recorded in a record medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory with their beats matched is provided. |
| US07855328B2 |
Defensin polynucleotides and methods of use
Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided. |
| US07855325B2 |
Use of nitric oxide modulators in Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation
Use of nitric oxide modulators during the transformation process can enhance Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants. |
| US07855322B2 |
Self processing plants and plant parts
The invention provides polynucleotides, preferably synthetic polynucleotides, which encode processing enzymes that are optimized for expression in plants. The polynucleotides encode mesophilic, thermophilic, or hyperthermophilic processing enzymes, which are activated under suitable activating conditions to act upon the desired substrate. Also provided are “self-processing” transgenic plants, and plant parts, e.g., grain, which express one or more of these enzymes and have an altered composition that facilitates plant and grain processing. Methods for making and using these plants, e.g., to produce food products having improved taste and to produce fermentable substrates for the production of ethanol and fermented beverages are also provided. |
| US07855321B2 |
Plant acyltransferases specific for long-chained, multiply unsaturated fatty acids
The present invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which code for polypeptides with acyl transferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences which code for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors.A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process according to the invention and to their use. |
| US07855318B2 |
Cloning of cytochrome P450 genes from Nicotiana
The present invention relates to p450 enzymes and nucleic acid sequences encoding p450 enzymes in Nicotiana, and methods of using those enzymes and nucleic acid sequences to alter plant phenotypes. |
| US07855315B2 |
Continuous manufacturing of superabsorbent/ion exchange sheet material
A continuous sheet having a combination of acidic and basic water-absorbing resin particles that are essentially not neutralized and can be continuously manufactured on conventional papermaking apparatus, using a wet, dry, or wet-dry process to manufacture a water-absorbent sheet-like substrate containing 50%-100% by weight of the combination of acidic and basic water-absorbent particles is disclosed. |
| US07855314B2 |
Absorber and absorbent article
An Absorber and an absorbent article including a fiber aggregate wherein a tow composed of fibers is used as the fiber aggregate, and the compression resilience RC is 45 to 60%. Also, the fiber aggregate has a density of 0.0075 g/cm3 or less, weight of 0.0075 g/cm2 or less and a mass of 1 to 15 grams. |
| US07855312B2 |
Method for processing an olefin-containing product stream
A method is described for processing an olefin-containing product stream (1) that contains, besides ethylene and propylene, longer-chain olefins and compounds of hydrocarbons with oxygen (oxygenates). Such a product stream (I) can occur in particular in olefin synthesis from methanol. The product stream is dewatered in successive process steps, optionally compressed in several steps and dried. Then it is subjected to fractionation. For removal of the undesired oxygenates it is proposed that the oxygenates be washed out of the gaseous product stream after the compression steps and before the drying step in a column (12) with methanol. |
| US07855311B2 |
Formation of hydroxycarbonyl compounds
Aldehyde and ketone reactants are converted to hydroxyaldehydes, polyhydroxyaldehydes, hydroxyketones and/or polyhydroxyketones in liquid phase by an aldol condensation process where a selected product carbon chain length is produced using specific concentrations of soluble inorganic base at sub-ambient temperature. |
| US07855291B2 |
Process for the preparation of substituted phenylalanines
Intermediates and synthetic processes for the preparation of substituted phenylalanine-based compounds (e.g., of Formula I) are disclosed: |
| US07855283B2 |
Antisense antiviral compound and method for treating arenavirus infection
The invention provides antisense antiviral compounds and methods of their use and production in inhibition of growth of viruses of the Arenaviridae family and in the treatment of a viral infection. The compounds are particularly useful in the treatment of Arenavirus infection in a mammal. The antisense antiviral compounds are substantially uncharged morpholino oligonucleotides have a sequence of 12-40 subunits, including at least 12 subunits having a targeting sequence that is complementary to a region associated with viral RNA sequences within a 19 nucleotide region of the 5′-terminal regions of the viral RNA, viral complementary RNA and/or mRNA identified by SEQ ID NO:1. |
| US07855280B2 |
Separation methods
Separation methods, for example, to isolate a recombinant protein, are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes forming a solid containing a first cation and a first anion in a medium containing a protein, and separating the solid from the protein. |
| US07855276B2 |
Framework residue substituted humanized COL-1 antibodies and their use
The present disclosure provides humanized COL-1 monoclonal antibodies that retain CEA binding affinity, compared to a parent antibody. Also disclosed herein are humanized COL-1 monoclonal antibodies that have reduced immunogenicity, compared to a parent antibody. The disclosed humanized COL-1 antibodies include substitution of framework residues with residues from the corresponding positions of a homologous human sequence. In several embodiments, methods are disclosed for the use of a humanized COL-1 antibody in the detection or treatment of a CEA-expressing tumor or cell in a subject. Also disclosed is a kit including the humanized COL-1 antibodies described herein. |
| US07855272B2 |
SDRE protein from Staphylococcus aureus and diagnostic kits including same
An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrE and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials. |
| US07855271B2 |
Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of breast cancer
Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer, particularly breast cancer, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more breast tumor polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly breast cancer. |
| US07855264B2 |
Polymeric products useful as oil repellents
Polymeric products are disclosed that are suitable for application to fibrous substrates such as textiles, leather and paper, to impart oil (oleophobicity) and water repellent (hydrophobicity) properties to the treated material. The polymeric products comprise an amino-functional polysiloxane bonded through its amino groups to an addition copolymer of a fluoro-substituted alkyl ester of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an olefinically unsaturated monomer having a functional group capable of reacting with the amino groups of polysiloxane and optionally one or more olefinically unsaturated comonomers. |
| US07855263B2 |
Process for producing thermoformed articles
A process for obtaining thermoformed articles, comprising the following steps: a) forming a sheet comprising a propylene resin; b) thermoforming the sheet obtained in step a); wherein said propylene resin has the following characteristics: a) distribution of molecular weight Mw/Mn lower than 4; preferably lower than 3; b) 2,1 insertions measured with by 13C-NMR lower than 0.50%; preferably lower than 0.40%; c) eta* and the frequency ω meet the following relation for ω comprised between 0.1 ad 1: eta*>3700ω(−0 13) d) melt flow rate (MFR) (ISO 1133) lower than 5; preferably lower than 4; more preferably lower than 3; wherein the polypropylene resin comprises: (i) from 10 to 100% by weight of a propylene homopolymer or a propylene copolymer containing from 0.1% to 10% by mol of derived units of ethylene or an alpha-olefin of formula CH2═CHZ wherein Z is a linear or branched C2-C20 radical; and (ii) from 0 to 90% by weight of a propylene copolymer containing from 0.1% to 10% by mol of derived units of ethylene or an alpha-olefin of formula CH2═CHZ wherein Z is a linear or branched C2-C20 radical, said propylene copolymer having a content of ethylene or an alpha-olefin of formula CH2═CHZ different from the propylene copolymer (i). |
| US07855259B2 |
Method for producing melt-processable fluororesin
To provide a method for producing a melt-processable fluororesin, which is capable of increasing the molecular weight of the fluororesin and preventing coloration of the fluororesin, by using a specific fluorinated emulsifier other than ammonium perfluorooctanoate. A method for producing a melt-processable fluororesin which is characterized in that a fluorinated monomer is emulsion-polymerized in an aqueous medium containing a fluorinated emulsifier of a formula (I)XCF2CF2(O)mCF2CF2OCF2COOA wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, A is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or NH4, and m is an integer of 0 or 1. |
| US07855254B2 |
Thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition
The invention pertains to a multi-phase thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition, comprising a thermoplastic fluoropolymer and discrete domains of melt-processable perfluoropolymer, to the articles therefrom and to a process for manufacturing thermoplastic fluoropolymer compositions. The multi-phase thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprises: —at least one thermoplastic fluoropolymer (A); and —from 0.1 to 10% by weight of (A) of at least one melt-processible perfluoropolymer (B), and is characterized in that the polymer (B) is present in the composition in phase-separated domains in a continuous phase mainly comprising (A), at least 75% by volume of said domains having maximal dimension not exceeding 1 μm. The process of the invention comprises mixing: (i) a thermoplastic fluoropolymer (A); (ii) a melt-processible perfluoropolymer (B) under the form of particles having an average primary particle size not exceeding 300 nm; (iii) and optionally other additives or filling materials. |
| US07855252B2 |
End capping additive for polycondensate polymer resins
A polymeric composition including a mono-functional, low molecular weight, low epoxy content end-cap which includes the polymerization product of at least one epoxy-functional monomer and at least one styrenic and/or (meth)acrylic monomer, with a polyfunctional chain extender; and at least one condensation polymer. |
| US07855247B2 |
Particle dispersed resin composition and process for producing the same
A particle dispersed resin composition (19) is a composition in which a particle dispersed solvent (17) with and in which functional particulate powder is mixed and dispersed is mixed with a heated and melted resin (16). The amount of the resin (16) is set at a capable amount thereof which the resin (16) impregnates. |
| US07855241B2 |
Method of improving abrasion resistance of plastic article using nanoparticles and article produced thereby
The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active nanoparticle compound and at least one thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface. |
| US07855235B2 |
Method to start a process for producing hydrocarbons from synthesis gas
A method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, liquid and solid hydrocarbons comprises providing a synthesis gas and catalytically converting the synthesis gas into normally gaseous, liquid or solid hydrocarbons. The process involves using at least a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons produced as a recycle stream to which hydrogen is added prior to its reintroduction into the reactors and as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds from start-up towards a steady state, the amount of recycle stream is reduced. |
| US07855232B2 |
Organoselenium compound for cancer chemoprevention
A compound containing an alkylene selenocyanate or an alkylene isoselenocyanate moiety effective to prevent the occurrence or progression of cancer or a precancerous condition. The compound can be provided and administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, a cosmetic, a food additive, supplement, or the like. Methods for synthesis and use of the chemopreventive compound of the invention are also provided. |
| US07855228B2 |
Antibiotics targeting MreB
The identification of MreB as essential for bacterial chromosome segregation provides a new target for antibiotic action. The MreB function is useful in the development of screening assays for new antibiotics, which may use, for example, genetic mutants in MreB, tests of MreB mediated chromosome segregation, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the antibiotic is an isothiourea compound, which may comprise a polyhalogenated benzyl group, e.g. at the 4 position, the 2,4 position, etc. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an MreB targeted antibiotic as an active agent is administered to a patient suffering from a microbial infection, particularly bacterial infections. |
| US07855226B2 |
Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Disclosed herein is a method comprising administering a compound to a mammal suffering from an inflammatory bowel disease for the treatment of said disease, said compound having a structure according to Formula I wherein X, Y, B, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n have the meanings found herein. |
| US07855225B2 |
17βHSD type 5 inhibitor
To provide a novel and excellent method for treating and/or preventing prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer, lung cancer, endometriosis, leiomyoma and the like based on selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5.It was found that an N-sulfonylindole derivative, where the indole ring is substituted by a carboxy group, a carboxy-substituted lower alkyl group or a carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl group at its carbon atom, has potent selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5 and may become a therapeutic agent and/or preventive agent for benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cancer and the like without accompanying adverse drug reactions due to a decrease in testosterone, and the present invention has thus been completed. |
| US07855224B2 |
Indole derivatives as histamine 3 receptor inhibitors for the treatment of cognitive and sleep disorders, obesity and other CNS disorders
This invention relates to compounds having pharmacological activity, to compositions containing these compounds, and to a method of treatment employing the compounds and compositions. More particularly, this invention concerns certain indole derivatives and their salts and solvates. These compounds have H3 histamine receptor antagonist activity. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and to a method of treating disorders in which histamine H3 receptor blockade is beneficial. |
| US07855221B2 |
Crystalline form of an alkoxyimidazol-1-ylmethyl biphenyl carboxylic acid
The invention provides a crystalline freebase form of 4′-{2-ethoxy-4-ethyl-5-[((S)-2-mercapto-4-methylpentanoylamino)methyl]imidazol-1-ylmethyl}-3′-fluorobiphenyl-2-carboxylic acid. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline compound, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compound, and methods of using the crystalline compound to treat diseases such as hypertension. |
| US07855219B2 |
Substituted 2-oxy-3,5-dicyano-4aryl-6-aminopyridines and use thereof
This invention relates to compounds of formula (I) in which the variable groups are as defined in the text and claims. A pharmaceutical composition and methods of using these materials in treatment of various conditions are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US07855215B2 |
Cyclic diaryl ureas suitable as tyrosine kinase inhibitors
The invention relates to novel compounds of Formula I: wherein p is 1, 2 or 3; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; A is CRc, S, NRc or O, where Rc is H or lower alkyl; X, Y and Z are each independently selected from N or C—R3, wherein at least two of X, Y and Z are N; and each Ra is independently selected from hydrogen and lower-alkyl; each Rb is hydrogen or lower-alkyl; G is a group Ar or represents CN or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl; Ar is a saturated or unsaturated cyclic group, which is substituted or unsubstituted and maybe a five or six membered monocyclic or a 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 membered bicyclic or tricyclic ring and may contain 0, 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, N and S; and wherein the radicals have R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings as defined herein, to salts, esters, N-oxides or prodrugs thereof; and their use in the treatment of protein kinase dependent diseases, their use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of said diseases, methods of use of diary urea derivatives in the treatment of said diseases, pharmaceutical preparations comprising these novel diaryl urea derivatives, processes for the manufacture of the novel diaryl urea derivatives, the use or methods of use of the novel diaryl urea derivatives as mentioned above, and/or these novel diaryl urea derivatives for use in the treatment of the animal or human body. |
| US07855213B2 |
Compounds
This invention relates to novel compounds having the structural formula I below: and to their pharmaceutically acceptable salt, compositions and methods of use. These novel compounds provide a treatment or prophylaxis of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer Disease, neurodegeneration and dementia. |
| US07855211B2 |
Protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which is useful in the treatment of cell proliferative diseases. |
| US07855208B2 |
3, 9-diazabicyclo(3.3.1)non-3-yl-aryl methanone derivatives as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists
This invention relates to novel diazabicyclic aryl derivatives which are found to be cholinergic ligands at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and modulators of the monoamine receptors and transporters. Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances. |
| US07855207B2 |
6-alkenyl and 6-phenylalkyl substituted 2-quinolinones and 2-quinoxalinones as poly(adpribose) polymerase inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) and compounds of formula (VII-a) as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and their use as PARP inhibitors wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Re, Rd and X have defined meanings. |
| US07855204B2 |
Derivatives of gefitinib
This invention relates to novel quinazoline derivatives, their derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by inhibiting cell surface tyrosine receptor kinases. |
| US07855203B2 |
Indazolyl-substituted pyrroline compounds as kinase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to novel indazolyl-substituted pyrroline compounds of Formula (I): useful as kinase or dual-kinase inhibitors, methods for producing such compounds and methods for treating or ameliorating a kinase or dual-kinase mediated disorder. |
| US07855201B2 |
Morpholine carboxamide prokineticin receptor antagonists
The present invention is directed to morpholine carboxamide compounds which are antagonists of prokineticin receptors, in particular antagonists of prokineticin 2 receptors, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which prokineticin receptors are involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which prokineticin receptors are involved. |
| US07855198B2 |
Benzamide derivative or salt thereof
There is provided a compound having a capsaicin receptor VR1 inhibitory activity and useful as a therapeutic agent for various pains including inflammatory pain and neurogenic pain, migraine, cluster headache, bladder diseases including overactive bladder, and the like.A benzamide derivative or a salt thereof wherein a benzene ring is attached to a D ring (a monocyclic or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring or a monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaromatic ring) through an amide bond, the benzene ring is directly bonded to an E ring (a monocyclic or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring or a monocyclic or bicyclic heteroaromatic ring), and the benzene ring is further bonded to A (an amino moiety, a monocyclic or bicyclic heterocycle) through L (a lower alkylene). |
| US07855197B2 |
Biologically active methylene blue derivatives
A phenothiazinium compound of Formula (I) wherein: A and B each independently is in which R′ and R″ each independently is a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group, or R′ and R″ together with the N atom to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring; and where XP− is a counteranion and P is 1, 2 or 3; except for the compounds in which A and B are both either —N(CH3)2 or —N(CH2CH3)2 for use in a treatment that requires removal, deactivation or killing of unwanted tissues or cells. |
| US07855195B2 |
Method of treating mental disorders using D4 and 5-HT2A antagonists, inverse agonists or partial agonists
The present invention relates to methods of treating of the underlying dysregulation of the emotional functionality of mental disorders (i.e. affect instability-hypersensitivity-hyperaesthesia-dissociative phenomena- . . . ) using compounds and compositions of compounds having D4 and/or 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic activity for. The invention also relates to methods comprising administering to a patient diagnosed as having a neuropsychiatric disorder a pharmaceutical composition containing (i) compounds having D4 antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic activity and/or (ii) compounds having 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic, and/or (iii) any known medicinal compound and compositions of said compounds. The combined D4 and 5-HT2A antagonistic, partial agonistic or inverse agonistic effects may reside within the same chemical or biological compound or in two different chemical and/or biological compounds. |
| US07855190B2 |
Methods of hormonal treatment utilizing contraceptive regimens with continuous estrogen administration
The present invention provides contraceptive regimens in which a female is administered a combined dosage form of estrogen and progestin followed by a period of administration of estrogen. The disclosed contraceptive regimens can be administered to a female as a method of providing non-contraceptive benefits. |
| US07855189B2 |
N-phenylphosphoric acid triamides, method for the production thereof and their use as agents for regulating or inhibiting enzymatic urea hydrolysis
The invention relates to N-phenylphosphoric acid triamides of general formula (I) to a method for the production thereof and to their use as agents for regulating or inhibiting enzymatic urea hydrolysis. In formula (I), X represents oxygen or sulfur; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, independent of one another, represent hydrogen C1-C8 alkyl/heteroalkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl/heteroalkenyl, C2-C8—alkynyl/heteroalkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl/heterocycloalkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkenyl/heterocycloalkenyl, C6-C10 aryl/C5-C10 heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroarylalkyl, alkaryl, alkheteroaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, hetaryloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, hetarylthio, acyl, aroyl, hetaroyl, acyloxy, aroyloxy, hetaroyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, hetaryloxycarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyano, nitro, sulfo, carbonyl, carboxy, carbamoyl, sulfamoyl, with the provision that: at least one radical R is not hydrogen; in the event R1, R2, R4, R5 represent H, R3 is not nitro or cyano, and; in the event R1 represents Cl or R1 and R3 represent Cl, at least one of the remaining radicals is not hydrogen. |
| US07855178B2 |
Growth factor binding constructs materials and methods
The present invention provides materials and methods for antagonizing the function of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, platelet derived growth factor receptors and other receptors. Soluble binding constructs able to bind vascular endothelial growth factors, platelet derived growth factors, and other ligands are provided. |
| US07855176B1 |
Reduced volume formulation of glatiramer acetate and methods of administration
A method for reducing frequency of relapses in a human patient afflicted with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) comprising administering to the patient 0.5 ml of an aqueous pharmaceutical solution of 20 mg glatiramer acetate and 20 mg mannitol. |
| US07855174B2 |
Methods of treating vasodilatory shock
The invention encompasses methods of decreasing the lumenal diameter of a blood vessel by contacting the vessel with a myosin light chain phosphatase inhibitor. |
| US07855171B2 |
Method and composition to remove iron and iron sulfide compounds from pipeline networks
The present invention comprises an iron complexing mixture and method of using same wherein beneficial performance and natural gas pipeline cleaning methods are employed. The synergistic improvement of combining two water-soluble metal complexing agents, THPS and IDS, prove to offer advantages in performance over the individual use of either chemical. |
| US07855168B2 |
Method and composition for removing filter cake
The current disclosure describes a multifunctional fluid that addresses a new concept in the removal of filter cake. A composition is disclosed comprising: a carrier fluid, a surfactant, a fluorine source and an organic stabilizer able to minimize precipitation of fluorine The associated method to remove the filter cake is also described. |
| US07855166B2 |
Sulfonylamino(thio)carbonyl compounds
Sulfonylamino(thio)carbonyl compounds are used to control unwanted plants or to regulate growth in plants. Sulfonylamino(thio)carbonyl compounds are applied to plants, the seed or the area on which the plants are growing to control the growth of such plants. |
| US07855164B1 |
Screening methods employing stress-related promoters
The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying compounds that can enhance plant resistance to stress. |
| US07855159B1 |
Alpha-beta SiAlON ballistic ceramic armor
A SiAlON ceramic armor made from a starting powder mixture. The ceramic armor contains between about 60 weight percent and about 98 weight percent alpha SiAlON phase that contains an alpha SiAlON-bound rare earth element and between about 2 weight percent and about 40 weight percent of a beta SiAlON phase of the formula Si6−zAlzOzN8−z wherein the value of “z” ranges between about 0.2 and about 1.0. The ceramic armor further comprising sintering aid residue present as a result of the starting powder mixture containing between about 4 weight percent and about 14 weight percent of an oxide of an alpha SiAlON-bound rare earth element. The ceramic armor has a fracture toughness (KIC) greater than about 6.00 M·Pa m1/2 and a Vickers hardness (HVN) equal to greater than about 17.5 GPa. |
| US07855157B1 |
Multi-functional layered structure having structural and radiation shielding attributes
A cosmic and solar radiation shielding structure that also has structural attributes is comprised of three layers. The first layer is 30-42 percent by volume of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene fibers, 18-30 percent by volume of graphite fibers, and a remaining percent by volume of an epoxy resin matrix. The second layer is approximately 68 percent by volume of UHMW polyethylene fibers and a remaining percent by volume of a polyethylene matrix. The third layer is a ceramic material. |
| US07855156B2 |
Method of and apparatus for inline deposition of materials on a non-planar surface
In manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first chamber is provided. An opening couples the first chamber to a first environment through which at least one substrate can pass. A first seal environmentally isolates the first chamber from the first environment. A process chamber is coupled to the first chamber. Another seal environmental isolates the first and the process chambers. The substrate is placed within the first chamber, and the first chamber and the outside environment are isolated. The second opening is opened, and the substrate moves into the semiconductor process chamber. The first chamber is again environmentally isolated from the second volume. A semiconductor processing step is performed on the substrate within the processing chamber. While the substrate is processed, the substrate is rotated and translated through the processing chamber. |
| US07855154B2 |
Methods of forming intermediate semiconductor device structures using spin-on, photopatternable, interlayer dielectric materials
A cap layer that enables a photopatternable, spin-on material to be used in the formation of semiconductor device structures at wavelengths that were previously unusable. The photopatternable, spin-on material is applied as a layer to a semiconductor substrate. The cap layer and a photoresist layer are each formed over the photopatternable layer. The cap layer absorbs or reflects radiation and protects the photopatternable layer from a first wavelength of radiation used in patterning the photoresist layer. The photopatternable, spin-on material is convertible to a silicon dioxide-based material upon exposure to a second wavelength of radiation. |
| US07855152B2 |
Method of producing active matrix substrate
The invention provides a production method for an active matrix substrate in which a plurality of contact holes are formed by a one-mask process so as to reach metal films which are present at different depth positions in an insulating layer and are not evaporated by dry etching using a fluorine-containing gas. The method includes a step of performing dry etching using mixed gas of CHF3, CF4 and O2 to form the plurality of contact hole, a step of subjecting the plurality of contact holes to oxygen ashing, and a step of forming a transparent conductive film in the plurality of contact holes. |
| US07855145B2 |
Gap filling method and method for forming semiconductor memory device using the same
A gap filling method and a method for forming a memory device, including forming an insulating layer on a substrate, forming a gap region in the insulating layer, and repeatedly forming a phase change material layer and etching the phase change material layer to form a phase change material layer pattern in the gap region. |
| US07855135B2 |
Method to reduce parastic capacitance in a metal high dielectric constant (MHK) transistor
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. |
| US07855132B2 |
Method of manufacturing bonded wafer
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a bonded wafer. The method includes forming an oxygen ion implantation layer in an active layer wafer having a substrate resistivity of 1 to 100 mΩcm by implanting oxygen ions in the active layer wafer, bonding a base wafer and the active layer wafer directly or through an insulating layer to form a bonded wafer, heat treating the bonded wafer to strengthen the bond and convert the oxygen ion implantation layer into a stop layer, grinding, polishing, and/or etching, from the active layer wafer surface side, the bonded wafer in which the bond has been strengthened to expose the stop layer on a surface of the bonded wafer, removing the stop layer, and subjecting the bonded wafer from which the stop layer has been removed to a heat treatment under a reducing atmosphere to diffuse an electrically conductive component comprised in the active layer wafer. |
| US07855128B2 |
Back-illuminated imager using ultra-thin silicon on insulator substrates
A method for fabricating a back-illuminated semiconductor imaging device on an ultra-thin semiconductor-on-insulator substrate (UTSOI) is disclosed. The UTSOI substrate is formed by providing a handle wafer comprising a mechanical substrate and an insulator layer substantially overlying the mechanical substrate. A donor wafer is provided. Hydrogen is implanted in the donor wafer to form a bubble layer. The donor wafer is doped with at least one dopant to form a doped layer proximal to the bubble layer. The handle wafer and the donor wafer are bonded between the insulator layer of the handle wafer and a surface of the donor wafer proximal to the doped layer to form a combined wafer having a portion substantially underlying the bubble layer. The portion of the combined wafer substantially underlying the bubble layer is removed so as to expose a seed layer. An epitaxial layer is grown substantially overlying the seed layer, wherein at least one dopant diffuse into the epitaxial layer. At the completion of the growing of the epitaxial layer, there exists a net dopant concentration in the seed layer and the epitaxial layer which has maximum value at or near an interface between the seed layer and the insulator layer. |
| US07855124B2 |
Method for forming a semiconductor device
A method for forming a semiconductor device, includes the steps of providing a substrate; forming a patterned stack on the substrate including a first dielectric layer on the substrate, a first conductive layer on the first dielectric layer and a mask layer on the first conductive layer, wherein a width of the mask layer is smaller than a width of the first conductive layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the sidewall of the patterned stack; forming a third dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a second conductive layer over the substrate; and removing the mask layer and a portion of the first conductive layer covered by the mask layer to form an opening so as to partially expose the first conductive layer. |
| US07855121B2 |
Method of forming organic thin film and method of manufacturing semiconductor device using the same
Provided are a method of forming an organic semiconductor thin film and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the. According to example embodiments, a method of forming an organic semiconductor thin film at least may include exposing a lower substrate coated with an organic semiconductor solution using a method of generating a shearing stress to the portion of the lower substrate coated with the organic semiconductor solution. A guide structure may be formed adjacent to the organic semiconductor solution. |
| US07855110B2 |
Field effect transistor and method of fabricating same
An FET and method of fabricating an FET. The method includes forming a gate dielectric layer on a top surface of a silicon region of a substrate and forming a gate electrode on a top surface of the gate dielectric layer; forming a source and a drain in the silicon region and separated by a channel region under the gate electrode, the source having a source extension extending under the gate electrode and the drain having a drain extension extending under the gate electrode, the source, source extension, drain and drain extension doped a first type; and forming a source delta region contained entirely within the source and forming a drain delta region contained entirely within the drain, the delta source region and the delta drain region doped a second dopant type, the second dopant type opposite from the first dopant type. |
| US07855103B2 |
Wirebond structure and method to connect to a microelectronic die
A wirebond structure includes a copper pad formed on or in a surface of a microelectronic die. A conductive layer is included in contact with the copper pad and a bond wire is bonded to the conductive layer. The conductive layer is formed of a material to provide a stable contact between the bond wire and the copper pad in at least one of an oxidizing environment and an environment with temperatures up to at least about 350° C. |
| US07855099B2 |
Manufacturing method for a secure-digital (SD) flash card with slanted asymmetric circuit board
A flash-memory device has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with a PCB with a flash-memory chip and a controller chip. The controller chip includes an input/output interface circuit to an external computer over a Secure-Digital (SD) interface, and a processing unit to read blocks of data from the flash-memory chip. The PCBA is encased inside an upper case and a lower case, with SD contact pads on the PCB that fit through contact openings in the upper case. Supporting end ribs under each of the SD contact pads and middle ribs support the PCB at a slanted angle to the centerline of the device. The PCB slants upward at the far end to allow more thickness for the chips mounted to the bottom surface of the PCB, and slants downward at the insertion end to position the SD contact pads near the centerline. |
| US07855097B2 |
Method of increasing yield in OFETs by using a high-K dielectric layer in a dual dielectric layer
Dielectric layer pinholes in OFET structures are addressed in a method of fabricating OFET devices through the addition of a high-K dielectric layer to eliminate the effects of shorts in the dielectric layer. The original dielectric layer is maintained such that the semiconductor/dielectric interface remains unchanged. The high-K dielectric layer contributes material to the gate dielectric to plug up pinholes in the original dielectric, but does not contribute significant capacitance due to the high dielectric constant of the additional dielectric layer. The incidence of pinholes in the dielectric layer is reduced without significantly affecting the performance of the OFET transistor. |
| US07855093B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing semiconductor laser device capable of reducing κL, with manufacturing restrictions satisfied, is provided. In a distributed-feedback or distributed-reflective semiconductor laser device, immediately before burying regrowth of a diffraction grating, halogen-based gas is introduced to a reactor, and etching is performed on the diffraction grating so that each side wall has at least two or more crystal faces and a ratio of length of an upper side in a waveguide direction to a bottom side parallel to a (100) surface is 0 to 0.3. And, a reactive product formed on side surfaces of the diffraction grating and in trench portions between stripes of the diffraction grating at an increase of temperature for regrowth is removed. Therefore, the diffraction grating with reduced height and a sine wave shape is obtained, thereby κL of the device is reduced. Thus, an oscillation threshold and optical output efficiency can be improved. |
| US07855092B2 |
Device for emitting white-color light
A device for emitting white-color light comprises: a light emitting diode including: an LED chip comprising a gallium nitride compound semiconductor containing indium and being capable of emitting a blue color light, and a phosphor capable of absorbing a part of the blue color light and emitting a light having longer wavelength than the blue color light, the blue color light and the light from the phosphor being mixed to make the white-color; a control unit for converting an input to pulse signals; and a driver receiving the pulse signals from the control unit to drive the LED chip, wherein the brightness of the white-color light from the light emitting diode is controlled by a width of the pulse signals. |
| US07855091B1 |
Excitation band-gap tuning of dopant based quantum dots with core-inner shell-outer shell
A composition and method for fabricating and tuning a dopant based core-shell semiconductor having a quantum dot core with an excitation band-gap are provided. A quantum dot core composed of an alloy of cadmium sulfide (CdS) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) as semi-conductor materials include a dopant of manganese (Mn) added to the core and an outer shell of zinc sulfide (ZnS). The dopant based core/shell quantum dot semiconductor of the present invention allows the fine tuning of an excitation band-gap, covering a wide range (from 2.4 eV to ˜4 eV). When doped with Mn, these alloy Qdots emit bright yellow/orange light. Tuning of the excitation band is accomplished by changing the alloy composition of the core. Based on photophysical studies a new core/shell/shell model is provided, in place of the traditional core/shell model. Due to the interfacial diffusion of the cations from the core and shell an intermediate alloy layer is formed providing an inner shell; this inner shell layer is the real host of the dopant ions. |
| US07855085B2 |
System and method for reducing shorting in memory cells
An MRAM device includes an array of magnetic memory cells having an upper conductive layer and a lower conductive layer separated by a barrier layer. To reduce the likelihood of electrical shorting across the barrier layers of the memory cells, spacers can be formed around the upper conductive layer and, after the layers of the magnetic memory cells have been etched, the memory cells can be oxidized to transform any conductive particles that are deposited along the sidewalls of the memory cells as byproducts of the etching process into nonconductive particles. Alternatively, the lower conductive layer can be repeatedly subjected to partial oxidation and partial etching steps such that only nonconductive particles can be thrown up along the sidewalls of the memory cells as byproducts of the etching process. |
| US07855082B1 |
Raman spectroscopic method for determining the ratio of 5-methoxy and 6-methoxy isomers of omeprazole
The present invention relates to a novel method to determine the ratio of 5-methoxy and 6-methoxy isomers of omeprazole present in a mixture thereof. The method uses different Raman scattering efficiency values for the 5-methoxy and 6-methoxy isomers. This is of importance since the two isomers have different stability in the solid state in bulk form and in admixture with pharmaceutical excipients. |
| US07855080B2 |
Fingerprint analysis for a plurality of oligonucleotides
The invention provides a method for evaluating the accuracy of an oligonucleotide sample, specifically a sample containing a variety of oligonucleotides of potentially varying size and sequence. The method provides a fingerprint that can be used to evaluate the accuracy of a multi-oligonucleotide sample whether or not the sample contains differing oligonucleotides that have the same or about the same molecular weight. |
| US07855079B2 |
Methods for assaying percentage of glycated hemoglobin
The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention. |
| US07855076B2 |
Use of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) and agents that affect the DDR1/collagen pathway
The disclosure provides methods of modulating the activity of DDR1. Methods for screening for agents that activate DDR1 are disclosed. Methods for inducing the maturation of immature macrophages and immature dendritic cells are also disclosed. In addition, methods for increasing neutrophil activation using a DDR1 activating agent, and methods for increasing leukocyte migration using a DDR1 activating agent, are provided. |
| US07855071B2 |
Synthetic genes and genetic constructs
The present invention relates generally to synthetic genes for modifying endogenous gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the present invention provides novel synthetic genes and genetic constructs which are capable of repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced thereto. |
| US07855070B2 |
Centimeter-scale, integrated diagnostics incubator for biological culturing
Disclosed are portable, disposable, centimeter-scale, integrated diagnostics incubators for use in biological culturing. An exemplary incubator comprises an optically accessible enclosure having a plurality of fluidic ports. A heating element is disposed within the enclosure that is coupled to an external heater controller. An autoclavable microfluidic perfusion chamber is disposed within the enclosure that comprises a cell culture life support chamber, an inlet port disposed in the perfusion chamber, a collection chamber in communication with the culture chamber, an outlet port coupled to the collection pool, and a perfusing substrate. An optically transparent, gas permeable membrane is attachable to the top of the perfusion chamber. The incubators have optical accessibility, forced flow fluidic control, temperature control, are portable and modular, and are inexpensively manufactured. The incubators permit in-the-field drug testing and culturing of biological tissues. |
| US07855069B2 |
Method and apparatus for the rapid disruption of cells or viruses using micro magnetic beads and laser
A method and apparatus for a rapid disruption of cells or viruses using micro magnetic beads and a laser are provided. According to the method and apparatus for a rapid disruption of cells or viruses using micro magnetic beads and a laser, cell lysis within 40 seconds is possible, the apparatus can be miniaturized using a laser diode, a DNA purification step can be directly performed after a disruption of cells or viruses, and a solution containing DNA can be transferred to a subsequent step after cell debris and beads to which inhibitors of a subsequent reaction are attached are removed with an electromagnet. In addition, by means of the cell lysis chip, an evaporation problem is solved, vibrations can be efficiently transferred to cells through magnetic beads, a microfluidics problem on a rough surface is solved by hydrophobically treating the inner surface of the chip, and the cell lysis chip can be applied to LOC. |
| US07855068B2 |
Methods and kits for detecting a target cell
The present invention concerns the identification of specific target cells in whole blood. The present invention discloses methods for detecting and optionally quantifying a target cell in untreated or substantially untreated whole blood. The present invention further discloses kits for detecting and optionally quantifying a target cell in untreated or substantially untreated whole blood. |
| US07855067B2 |
Microinjection equipment
To provide a microinjection equipment capable of fitting a micro needle to a manipulator etc. manipulating the micro needle in short time on the occasion of an injection operation. Included are a micro needle transporting device 12 detachably grasping a micro needle 10 filled with an introduction substance and disposed in a predetermined standby position and transporting the micro needle 10 to a predetermined ready-for-introducing position, a manipulator 14 grasping in the attachable/detachable manner the micro needle 10 disposed in the predetermined ready-for-introducing position and inserting and removing the tip of the micro needle 10 into and from an introduction target micro body 13, and an introduction substance discharging device 15 discharging the introduction substance in the micro needle 10 by applying a predetermined pressure to an interior of the micro needle 10 grasped by the manipulator 14. |
| US07855066B1 |
Methods for making Apo-2 ligand using divalent metal ions
Methods of making Apo-2 ligand and formulations of Apo-2 ligand using divalent metal ions are provided. Such divalent metal ions include zinc and cobalt which improve Apo-2 ligand trimer formation and stability. The crystal structure of Apo-2 ligand is also provided, along with Apo-2 ligand variant polypeptides identified using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. |
| US07855065B2 |
Mutant bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus
The present invention provides a mutant Bacillus bacterium capable of enhancing productivity of proteins or polypeptides, a recombinant microorganism produced by introducing genes encoding heterologous proteins or polypeptides into the mutant Bacillus bacterium, and a method for producing proteins or polypeptides by use of the recombinant microorganism. A mutant Bacillus bacterium which has, on the genome or plasmid thereof, DNA having a promoter sequence which is recognized and transcribed specifically during the sporulation stage and which is ligated to an upstream end of a sigA gene or a gene equivalent thereto, a recombinant microorganism produced by introducing genes encoding heterologous proteins or polypeptides into the mutant Bacillus bacterium, and a method for producing proteins or polypeptides by use of the recombinant microorganism. |
| US07855064B2 |
Antibiotic resistance free vaccines and methods for constructing and using same
The present invention provides Listeria strains that express a heterologous antigen and a metabolic enzyme, and methods of generating same. |
| US07855061B2 |
Fuel farm process for producing butanol
A process for producing butanol comprising the following three phases: (1) growing algae, (2) fermenting algae and (3) separating butanol. |
| US07855057B2 |
Protein splice variant/isoform discrimination and quantitative measurements thereof
The invention relates to methods, reagents and apparatus for detecting protein isoforms (e.g., those due to alternative splicing, or different disease protein isoforms or degradation products) in a sample, including using combinations of capture agents, each combination being unique to the splicing variant to be detected/measured. |
| US07855054B2 |
Multiplexed analyses of test samples
The present disclosure describes methods, devices, reagents, and kits for the detection of one or more target molecules that may be present in a test sample. The described methods, devices, kits, and reagents facilitate the detection and quantification of a non-nucleic acid target (e.g., a protein target) in a test sample by detecting and quantifying a nucleic acid (i.e., an aptamer). The methods described create a nucleic acid surrogate for a non nucleic acid target, thus allowing the wide variety of nucleic acid technologies, including amplification, to be applied to a broader range of desired targets, especially protein targets. The disclosure further describes aptamer constructs that facilitate the use of aptamers in a variety of analytical detection applications. |
| US07855050B2 |
Diagnosis of abnormal blood conditions based on polymorphisms in the glycoprotein VI gene
Methods of diagnosis of abnormal blood conditions associated with an increased risk of bleeding are described. Subjects homozygous or heterozygous for the GPVIb allele are at considered to be at increased risk of bleeding. Kits for carrying out the methods of diagnosis, and use of the methods and kits for determining the GPVI allelotype of subjects in need of surgery, with a low platelet count, with an acquired bleeding disorder, on blood thinning drugs, or of blood donors is also described. |
| US07855049B2 |
Inositol pyrophosphates determine exocytotic capacity
The invention provides reagents and methods for treating type II diabetes, as well as methods for identifying compounds for treating type II diabetes. |
| US07855048B1 |
Wafer assembly having a contrast enhancing top anti-reflecting coating and method of lithographic processing
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device using lithography. The method can include providing a wafer assembly having a layer to be processed disposed under a photo resist layer and illuminating the wafer assembly with an exposure dose transmitted through a birefringent material disposed between a final optical element of an imaging subsystem used to transmit the exposure dose and the photo resist layer. Also disclosed is a wafer assembly from which at least one semiconductor device can be fabricated. The wafer assembly can include a layer to be processed, a photo resist layer disposed over the layer to be processed and a contrast enhancing, birefringent top anti-reflecting coating (TARC). |
| US07855047B2 |
Reticle set, method for designing a reticle set, exposure monitoring method, inspection method for reticle set and manufacturing method for a semiconductor device
A reticle set, includes a first photomask having a circuit pattern provided with first and second openings provided adjacent to each other sandwiching a first opaque portion, and a monitor mark provided adjacent to the circuit pattern; and a second photomask having a trim pattern provided with a second opaque portion covering the first opaque portion in an area occupied by the circuit pattern and an extending portion connected to one end of the first opaque portion and extending outside the area when the second photomask is aligned with a pattern delineated on a substrate by the first photomask. |
| US07855042B2 |
Developer and image forming method
To provide a developer and an image forming method with each of which a high-resolution, high-definition image can be stably obtained over a long time period irrespective of an environment. The present invention provides a developer including at least: toner particles each containing at least a binder resin; and a composite inorganic fine powder, the developer being characterized in that: the composite inorganic fine powder has a peak at a Bragg angle (2θ±0.20 deg) of each of 32.20 deg, 25.80 deg, and 27.50 deg in a CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern; and the half width of the X-ray diffraction peak at a Bragg angle (2θ±0.20 deg) of 32.20 deg is 0.20 to 0.30 deg. |
| US07855041B2 |
Pigment preparation based on an azo pigment
The invention relates to a pigment preparation which contains the monoazo pigment of the formula (I) and 0.1% to 40%, preferably 0.5% to 25%, in particular 1.0% to 17.5% of a pigment dispersant, in relation to the weight of the monoazo pigment of the formula (I), which is composed of disazo compounds at least 30% of the diazo compounds forming an asymmetric disazo compound of the formula (II) Y-X-A-X-Z (II), in which A is biphenylene, 3,3′-dichlorobiphenylene, 3,3′-dimethoxybiphenylene, 3,3′-dimethylbiphenylene or 2,2′-dichloro-3,3′-dimethoxybiphenylene; X is a group —NH—CO—CH(COCH3)—N═N—, —N═N—CH(COCH3)—CO—NH—or —N═N—; Y is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, pyrazolin-5-on-4-yl, 1-phenyl-Pyrazolin -5-on-4-Lyl, 2-hydroxynaphth-1-yl or 2-hydroxy-3-(phenylamino-carbonyl) naphth-1-yl, the substituents being C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, nitro, halogen or C1-C4 alkoxycarbonyl, and have the meaning of Y, and the compounds being further substituted with a sulfonic acid group present as an ammonium salt. Y stands for substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, pyrazolin-5-on-4-yl, 1-phenyl-pyrazolin-5-on-4-yl, 2-hydroxynaphth-1-yl or 2-hydroxy-3-(phenylaminocarbonyl)naphth-1-yl, the substituents being C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, nitro, halogen or C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl and having the meaning of Y, and the compounds being further substituted with a sulphonic acid group present as an ammonium salt. |
| US07855037B2 |
Photomask having a test pattern that includes separate features for different printed critical dimensions to correlate magnitude and direction of defocus
A photomask having a test pattern is provided for detecting focus variation in a lithographic process. A photomask having a test pattern is adapted to print test features with critical dimensions that can be measured and analyzed to determine magnitude and direction of defocus from a best focus position of an exposure tool during the lithographic process. |
| US07855035B2 |
Exposure mask, manufacturing method of electronic device, and checking method of exposure mask
According to the present invention, provided is a method of manufacturing a electronic device including forming a film over a substrate, performing a photoresist over the film, performing a first exposure by using an exposure mask which includes a scribe region and a inspection mark formed in a first side of the scribe region, and performing a second exposure so that a region that is exposed to the first side in the first exposure is exposed to a second side of the scribe region which is opposite to the first side, wherein, in the second exposure, an exposure light is incident on a region where the inspection mark is projected in the first exposure. |
| US07855030B2 |
Inhibitor for prevention of braze migration in solid oxide fuel cells
During manufacture of an SOFC assembly, an inhibitor is included to prevent migration of silver braze during subsequent use of the SOFC assembly. The inhibitor may take any of several forms, either individually or in combination. Inhibitors comprehended by the present invention include, but are not limited to: a) a mechanical barrier that can be printed or dispensed onto one or more SOFC stack elements around the braze areas to prevent mechanically-driven migration; b) an electrically insulating feature in the electrolyte or interlayer over the electrolyte layer in the seal margins to prevent electrical potential-driven migration; and 3) chemical modification of the braze itself as by addition of an alloying metal such as palladium. |
| US07855029B2 |
Fuel cell module
A fuel cell module includes an anode flow board, a cathode board, an intermediate adhesive layer, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including a membrane edge, and a leak-proof adhesive layer mounted on the membrane edge, thereby preventing contact between the intermediate adhesive layer and the membrane edge. The adhesive ability of the leak-proof adhesive layer to the membrane edge is higher than that of the intermediate adhesive layer to the membrane edge. Therefore, the methanol leakage from the membrane can be avoided. |
| US07855027B2 |
Methods and apparatus for breath alcohol testing
A fuel cell assembly includes a fuel cell, a fuel cell housing, and a diaphragm. The fuel cell housing includes an endwall and an inlet port extending through said endwall. The inlet port is for admitting a breath sample into the housing. The diaphragm is coupled within the housing such that a cavity is defined between the housing and the diaphragm. The fuel cell is positioned within the cavity and is substantially concentrically aligned with respect to the inlet port. |
| US07855022B2 |
Fuel system with improved fuel cell shutdown
A fuel cell system having a fuel cell with an anode and a cathode wherein both the cathode and anode each have a flow path with an inflow and outflow. A gaseous source containing oxygen is connected to the inflow of the cathode flow path while a gaseous fuel source is connected to the inflow of the anode flow path. Upon shutdown of the fuel cell, a control system reduces the stoichiometric ratio at the anode to less than or equal to one to thereby deplete the oxygen from the gas at the cathode. A normally closed valve is fluidly connected between the cathode outflow and the anode inflow. The control system opens the valve upon shutdown of the fuel cell to thereby purge the fuel from the anode flow path with the oxygen depleted outflow from the cathode flow path. |
| US07855010B2 |
Medical device battery pack
A system and method provides a status indicator to a battery pack of a medical device. The battery pack includes a power supply capable of being connected to the medical device. The battery pack also includes an indicator to automatically indicate a status of at least a portion of at least one of the battery pack and the medical device. For example, the indicator can indicate a status of the power supply. |
| US07855009B2 |
Sandwich cathode electrochemical cell with wound electrode assembly
A new design for a cathode having a configuration of: SVO/first current collector/CFx/second current collector/SVO is described. The two cathode current collectors are vertically aligned one on top of the other in a middle region or zone of the cathode. This coincides to where a winding mandrel will be positioned to form a wound electrode assembly with an anode. The overlapping region of the two current collectors helps balance the expansion forces of the exemplary SVO and CFx active material layers. This, in turn, helps maintain a planar cathode that is more amenable to downstream processing. The use of two current collectors on opposite sides of an intermediate cathode active material also provides for enhanced reliability when cathodes are wound from the center as they lend structural integrity to outer portions of the wind. |
| US07855006B2 |
Fluid manager including electrical contacts and a battery including the same
A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve. |
| US07855002B2 |
Magnetic disk substrate and magnetic recording medium thereof
The present invention relates to a magnetic disk substrate, in which an amplitude Wa of a waviness on a surface measured by using an interferometer for a versatile disk at a measuring wave-length of 5.0 mm is within the range of 0.1 nm to 0.5 nm, an average amplitude Wb of a microwaviness generated on the waviness measured by using a microscopy for three-dimensional surface-structural analysis at a measuring wave-length of 30 μm to 200 μm is 0.3 nm or less, and a value calculated by dividing the average amplitude Wb of the microwaviness by the amplitude Wa of the waviness is 0.6 or more. |
| US07854999B2 |
Organoelectroluminescent compound and organoelectroluminescent device employing the same
Provided are a cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and an organoelectroluminescent device employing the same. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is easy to prepare and excellent in solubility, color purity, color stability, and thermal stability. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is useful as a material for forming an organic layer, in particular, an emitting layer, in an organoelectroluminescent device, and as an organic dye or an electronic material such as a nonlinear optical material. |
| US07854995B1 |
High density dual helical gear
The present invention relates to a low cost technique for manufacturing dual helical gears, such as herringbone gears, from powder metals. The dual helical gears made by this technique are of high density (greater than 92% of theoretical density) and offer superior strength. The present invention more specifically discloses a forged metal herringbone gear which is comprised of a body and a plurality of teeth wherein the metal has a density of greater than 92% of theoretical and wherein the grain in the teeth is one range higher on the ASTM E 112 grain size chart than the grain in the body of the gear. |
| US07854994B2 |
Barrier film
A barrier composition which is injection mouldable and able to be made into a transparent film or incorporated (by co-extrusion and/or lamination) into multi-layer film products, the composition on dry basis: a) from 45 to 90% by weight of a starch and/or a modified starch selected from starches modified by reaction with a hydroxyl alkyl group, an acetate or a dicarboxylic acid anhydride or a grafting polymer; b) from 4 to 12% by weight of a water soluble polymer selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, and copolymers of ethylene and vinylalcohol which have a melting point compatible with the molten state of the starch components c) from 5 to 45% by weight of a non-crystallising mixture of sorbitol and at least one other plasticizer selected from glycerol, maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, glycerol trioleate, epoxidised linseed or soybean oil, tributyl citrate, acetyl tri-ethyl citrate, glyceryl triacetate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate; polyethylene oxide or polyethylene glycol; d) from 0.3 to 2.5% by weight of a C12-22 fatty acid or salt; e) from 0.25% to 3% of an emulsifier system having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance value between 2 and 10. The barrier film may be co-injection moulded with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polylactic acid (PLA) for blow moulding into beverage bottles, with polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) or biodegradable polymers for high gas-barrier containers or closures, or may be co-extruded with polyethylene, polypropylene or polylactic acid for thin film packaging applications or for blow-moulded containers. |
| US07854984B2 |
Wear-resistant decorative laminates
A decorative laminate having improved scratch and abrasion resistance is provided. In one embodiment, the decorate laminate includes a substrate or core, a decorative sheet on the substrate, and an overlay sheet on the decorative sheet. The overlay sheet is coated on both major surfaces to provide scratch and abrasion resistance to the laminate. The coating on the interior facing surface contains mineral particles having a particle size of from between about 10-30 microns. The coating on the exterior facing surface contains a mixture of first mineral particles having a particle size of from between about 3-8 microns and second mineral particles having a particle size of less than about 1.0 micron. The first mineral particles are preferably alumina particles, and the second mineral particles are preferably sol gel process alumina particles. |
| US07854981B2 |
Mounting mat for mounting an exhaust gas catalytic converter
The invention relates to a mounting mat for mounting an exhaust gas catalytic converter, which is used for purifying motor vehicle exhaust gases, in a catalytic converter housing. The mounting mat has at least three plies and is mechanically compacted by seams (6) that absorb tensile stresses. The seams (6) are made with a sewing thread (7) whose temperature resistance is lower than the temperature of the mounting mat (5) when the exhaust gas catalytic converter is in operation. According to the invention, an elastically compressible nonwoven (3) made of crimped metal filaments is placed between two outer plies (1, 1′) made of mineral fibers (2). |
| US07854980B2 |
Formaldehyde-free mineral fibre insulation product
A packaged mineral fibre insulating material has: a) a Recovered Thickness of at least 95% nominal thickness; and b) an Ordinary Parting Strength of at least 95 g/g; and c) a Weathered Parting Strength of at least 75 g/g the material comprising mineral fibres and an organic, formaldehyde free binder in a quantity of less than 15% by weight, preferably less than 10% by weight, said binder having been applied to the fibres of the insulating material in liquid form at pH of greater than 5. |
| US07854975B2 |
Joined body and manufacturing method for the same
A joined body includes a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, and a joining layer which contains soft metal, and joins the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member to each other by being thermally compressed at a joining temperature lower than a solidus of the soft metal. |
| US07854972B2 |
Ornament and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an ornament comprising a spherical body (D) with a through-hole (10) and a hanging wire member (6) inserted into the through-hole (10). The through-hole (10) is formed by connecting through a first hole (1) and a second hole (2) that are drilled toward the center (S) of the spherical body (P), respectively from right-left symmetrical positions in the upper half section (U) of the spherical body (D). A curved surface (5) is formed by cutting off the vertical type (4) of the inclined angle formed by the first hole (1) and the second hole (2) in the through-hole (10). |
| US07854967B2 |
Method for pre-sealing faying surfaces of components and faying surfaces pre-sealed thereby
A method for preparing and treating the surfaces of structural components, such as structural aircraft wing and fuselage skin panels, spar, spar assemblies, ribs, stiffeners, hinges, doors, etc., and the mechanical components attached to these aforementioned structural components, with a semi-permeable, corrosion-inhibiting organic coating. The method being particularly applicable for the improved sealing process of the faying surfaces of these aircraft components. |
| US07854966B2 |
Coating process for fatigue critical components
A coating process for fatigue critical components is provided. The coating process comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a first modulus of elasticity, depositing a layer of a material having a second modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity onto the substrate, and depositing a coating over the material layer. |
| US07854965B2 |
Method of forming images or decorations on a support body
The present invention relates to a method of forming images or decorations on a support comprising the following steps in sequence: arranging at least one support; applying at least one coloring material onto at least one surface of said support; coating said at least one surface with at least one protecting compound; causing said protecting compound to harden thereby forming an uninterrupted fixing and protecting layer for said at least one coloring material. |
| US07854960B2 |
Method of manufacturing an optical device, a method of manufacturing a color filter and a method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence device
In one embodiment of the present invention, an optical device is manufactured by printing a pixel, wherein said method includes deciding plural discharging positions inside each pixel of the optical device, arranging these plural discharging positions on different positions in lateral direction of the pixel respectively, specifying each of the plural nozzles by a natural number n counted sequentially from the end of the ink jet head, defining a surplus as b when dividing the natural number n with the repetitive number a (b is an integer satisfying: 0≦b≦a−1), corresponding the surplus b to each of the plural nozzles, repeating a unit step of discharging an ink from nozzles corresponding to the surplus b, finding “discharge coefficient” by measuring unevenness of ink discharging and changing the number of times of ink discharging. |
| US07854957B2 |
Systems and methods for producing a medical device
A machine and process useful for processing a delicate workpiece, e.g., an implantable medical device, includes a carrier having a mandrel and wheels. The work piece is positioned on the mandrel, which is free to roll by gravity on rails which cooperate with the wheels to self-align the travel of the carrier. The carrier can move the workpieces through a series of processing steps by gravity feed and without human intervention. A laterally movable carriage receives the rolling carriers and moves the carrier for processing, and returns the carrier to the rails to again roll by gravity to another processing substation for additional processing. An elevator, which can including processing units itself, is positioned along the rails to receive carriers and raise them so they can continue to roll for further processing. |
| US07854946B1 |
Anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV compositions and methods of use
The metabolic fingerprint and anti-inflammatory activity and anti-HIV activity of H. gentianoides is disclosed. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis shows that H. gentianoides contains a family of compounds, including some not previously observed in other Hypericum species. H. gentianoides extracts and fractions from these extracts reduce prostaglandin E2 synthesis in mammalian macrophages and inhibit HIV in infected HeLa cells. The present invention provides extracts and fractions thereof from H. gentianoides for use in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment or inhibition of inflammation, prostaglandin E-mediated disease, disorder or condition, a cyclooxygenase-mediated disease, disorder or condition, or an HIV infection. |
| US07854938B2 |
Preparation-at-use device comprising pre-formed hydrogel product
Disclosed is a preparation-at-use device comprising: (1) a pre-formed hydrogel component packaged in a first compartment; the pre-formed hydrogel component comprising a gelling agent and a solvent; and (2) a benefit component packaged in a second compartment; the benefit component comprising at least one compound that is unstable when contacted with the pre-formed hydrogel component; wherein the first and second compartments are separately packaged prior to use, and wherein the device comprises means for contacting the pre-formed hydrogel component and benefit component upon use. |
| US07854934B2 |
Glycoconjugates, glycoamino acids, intermediates thereto, and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel glycosides and glycoconjugates, glycoamino acids, and methods for the synthesis thereof. In another aspect, the present invention provides novel clustered glycopeptides and methods for the synthesis thereof. In still another aspect, the present invention provides methods for the treatment of cancer, preferably for the prevention of recurrence of cancer, and methods for inducing antibodies in a subject, comprising administering to a subject in need, an effective amount of any of the inventive glycopeptides as disclosed herein, either in conjugated form or unconjugated and in combination with a suitable immunogenic carrier. |
| US07854932B2 |
Immunogenic compositions comprising progastrin and uses thereof
The present invention is drawn to immunotherapeutic methods to treat tumors/cancers that produce progastrin ectopically or are dependent on progastrin for their growth. Disclosed herein are immunogenic compositions comprising agents that target progastrin, agents that target the progastrin receptor, annexin II, or both. Such a composition may be administered in combination with chemotherapy or to an individual who had been previously subjected to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The cancers that may be treated using such a composition may include but are not limited to colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer or pancreatic cancer. |
| US07854929B2 |
Method for treating lateral epicondylitis using collagenase
Methods for treatment by collagenase injections are provided, which are effective in dissolving and lysing a collagenase septa network to treat carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis and lateral epicondylitis conditions. The methods treat such conditions by injecting or otherwise delivering purified collagenase to the afflicted region of the patient, as well as use of collagenase for manufacture of a medicament for such conditions. |
| US07854927B2 |
Methods and compositions for the dietary management of autoimmune disorders
The present invention describes the use of lactic acid bacteria, particularly lactic acid producing members of the genus Bacillus, in treating digestive-related immune disorders by downregulating of cytokines and by inhibiting pathogenic or deleterious microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Specific formulations of Bacillus coagulans for various immune disorders are elaborated. |
| US07854923B2 |
Biopolymer system for tissue sealing
A tissue sealant for use in surgical and medical procedures for sealing the tissues of a living mammal is provided. The tissue sealant comprises a hydrogel which is formed by gelation of a premix disposed on the tissue to be sealed. The premix comprises alkylated chitosan or a gelatin, and a polybasic carboxylic acid or an oxidized polysaccharide, in an aqueous medium. The premix can also include a dehydrating reagent, a carboxyl activating reagent, or both. A specific use of the tissue sealant is in the repair of the dura mater after brain surgery to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The tissue sealant may include a therapeutic or protective agent such as an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug. |
| US07854922B2 |
Skin preparation for external use characterized by containing sugar derivative of α, α-trehalose
The present invention has an object to provide an external dermatological formulation having satisfactory blood flow-promoting effect, antiinflammatory effect, antibacterial effect, moisturizing effect, whitening effect, UV-absorbing effect, UV-scattering effect, antioxidant effect, hair growing effect, hair nourishing effect, emusifying effect, astringent effect, wrinkle-reducing effect, cell-activating effect and/or transdermal absorption-promoting effect with a satisfactory safety and skin feeling; The object is solved by providing an external dermatological formulation comprising a saccharide derivative of α,α-trehalose and one or more members selected from substances having any one of blood flow-promoting effect, antiinflammatory effect, antibacterial effect, moisturizing effect, whitening effect, UV-absorbing effect, UV-scattering effect, antioxidant effect, hair growing efect, hair nourishing effect, emulsifying effect, astringent effect, wrinkle-reducing effect, cell-activating effect and transdermal absorption-promoting effect. |
| US07854919B2 |
Multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
The invention provides compositions and methods for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. |
| US07854916B2 |
Process for preparing barium titanate
The present invention relates to a hydrothermal synthesis for preparing barium titanate powder as the essential material for a multi-layer ceramic capacitor. The object of the invention is to prepare barium titanate powder having high purity, particle size of submicron order, uniform particle distribution and excellent crystallinity, by reacting hydrous titanic acid compound prepared via sulfuric acid process with crystalline titanium oxide and barium hydroxide, as the starting material, at a temperature between 60° C. and 300° C. under a pressure between 5 Kgf/cm2 and 50 Kgf/cm2. The process for preparing barium titanate according to the present invention provides barium titanate powder having Ba/Ti molar ratio of 1.000±0.002 and high purity by applying calcination under reductive condition to the solid product obtained from hydrous titanic acid compound prepared via sulfuric acid process with crystalline titanium oxide and barium hydroxide, as the starting substances, to convert barium sulfate, which was produced from residual sulfide in the raw material, to barium titanate. |
| US07854912B1 |
High strength Zr (Hf or Ti)-Ta-B ceramics
The crystal structure of three compositions of matter has been determined to be iso-structural with FeB ortho-rhombic (space group Pnma). The crystalline structures are: Ti0.5Ta0.5B, Zr0.5Ta0.5B and Hf0.5Ta0.5B. A process for preparing ceramics is disclosed. Molded ceramics including the compositions of matter are useful for applications such as rocket nozzles, leading edges on hypersonic missiles, engine parts and other applications requiring a structural component to operate at temperatures of 1600° C. to 2400° C. |
| US07854911B2 |
Method of removing sulfur dioxide from a flue gas stream
A method of removing SOx from a flue gas stream including SOx includes providing a source of trona and injecting the trona as a dry sorbent into the flue gas stream. The temperature of the flue gas is at an elevated temperature greater than 400° F., preferably between about 600° F. and about 900° F. The trona is maintained in contact with the flue gas for a time sufficient to react a portion of the trona with a portion of the SOx to reduce the concentration of the SO2 and/or SO3 in the flue gas stream. |
| US07854908B2 |
Method and apparatus for the recovery of molybdenum from spent catalysts
This invention relates to an apparatus and process that utilizes high-temperature oxidation and sublimation techniques for the recovery of molybdenum from spent catalysts or other feedstocks that contain molybdenum. A preferred embodiment uses a counter-rotating vortex reactor and a cyclonic entrained-flow reactor to rapidly heat and oxidize the spent catalyst feedstock, such as carbon, sulfur, and molybdenum compounds, at temperatures in the range of about 2100° F. to 2900° F., resulting in a gas-solid stream containing molybdenum trioxide vapor. A high-temperature cyclone separator is utilized to separate the residue from this stream before this stream is rapidly quenched to a temperature sufficient to effect the condensation of solid molybdenum trioxide without condensing arsenic or phosphoric oxides. The condensed molybdenum trioxide material is separated from this stream by passing through a high-temperature filtration system. The remaining gaseous stream is then ducted to suitable unit operations for possible further material reclamation and entailed pollution control prior to its final discharge to the atmosphere. |
| US07854905B2 |
Holding material for pollution control element and pollution control apparatus
A holding material (2) for mounting a pollution control element (1) in a pollution control apparatus (10) that provides for a high friction coefficient with the casing (4) and/or the pollution control element and can hold the pollution control element with good stability. The holding material comprises a fiber material (e.g., in the form of a mat) having a thickness and being provided with a friction layer (3) comprising inorganic colloidal particles (5) on an outer peripheral surface and/or an inner peripheral surface of the fiber material. |
| US07854904B2 |
Mounting mat for a catalytic converter
The present invention provides a mounting mat (30) for mounting a pollution control monolith (20) in a pollution control device (10). The mounting mat has a bulk density of 0.12 to 0.3 g/cm3 and comprises (i) a layer of chopped magnesium aluminium silicate glass fibers and (ii) a layer of ceramic fibers obtainable from a sol-gel process. Preferably, the layer of chopped magnesium aluminium silicate glass fibers and the layer of ceramic fibers define opposite major surfaces of the mat. The present invention further provides a pollution control device (10), comprising a pollution control monolith (20) arranged in a metallic casing (11) with the mounting mat (30) disposed between the metallic casing (11) and pollution control monolith (20). |
| US07854903B2 |
Reaction chamber system for processing samples
The invention relates to a reaction chamber system (10, 70) for processing samples, comprising a reaction chamber (12), a sample carrier (26) arranged at least in the reaction chamber (12). When in operation, said sample carrier can be displaced in relation to the reaction chamber (12) by means of a drive device (30) which is coupled to the sample carrier (26). The reaction chamber system also comprises heating means (50) for warming the samples. The invention is characterized in that the heating means (50, 54) are arranged on the sample carrier (26) and can be displaced with the sample carrier (26) when in operation. |
| US07854899B2 |
Template methods and devices for preparing sample arrays
A method for preparing a microarray that includes placing at least one template over a first surface of the recipient block, wherein the template defines an array of openings and the recipient block has a plurality of receptacle holes, such that the array of openings are aligned with the plurality of receptacle holes. A needle or punch that contains a sample is inserted through the openings of the template. The sample then is inserted into the receptacle hole in the recipient block. A device is also disclosed that includes a platform defining (i) a first surface, and (ii) a first region configured to retain at least one recipient block; and a raised template defining an array of openings, secured to the first surface of the platform and positioned above the first region configured to retain the recipient block. |
| US07854896B2 |
Closed system storage plates
The present invention is a closed system storage plate that includes a specimen collection plate having a plurality of wells for storing specimens and a cover that is sealably secured to the specimen collection plate. The cover has a thermoplastic elastomer membrane that provides pierceable access by a probe to each well interior and self-seals upon removal of the probe. |
| US07854895B2 |
Fluid sample collection system and method
A fluid sample collection system includes a vial, a plunger and a fluid sample collection device having an absorbent for absorbing and retaining a fluid sample therein. The plunger includes an elongated handle portion and a plunger head portion detachably connected to the handle portion. The plunger also includes a splash guard supported on the handle portion. During the sample collection process, the saturated absorbent from the sample collection device is placed into the vial and the plunger is then advanced toward a closed end of the vial to express the fluid sample from the absorbent. The plunger head portion is retained within the vial with the absorbent in a generally compressed state and the handle portion is detached and removed from the vial. |
| US07854893B2 |
Analysis device and an analysis apparatus using the analysis device
An analysis device comprises a separation chamber for separating a sample solution into a solution component and a solid component, a holding channel, a mixing chamber connected to the holding channel, an overflow channel connected between the holding channel and the separation chamber, a sample overflow chamber into which the sample solution remaining in the separation chamber is discharged, and a joint channel connecting the separation chamber and the sample overflow chamber. After the separated solution component fills the overflow channel with priority, the separated solid component is transferred to the holding channel via the overflow channel, and a predetermined amount of the solid component is measured. The solid component in the holding channel is transferred to the mixing chamber by a centrifugal force, and simultaneously, the sample solution remaining in the separation chamber is discharged to the sample overflow chamber by the siphon effect of the joint channel. |
| US07854892B2 |
Specimen-transport module
A specimen-transport module adapted for use with each of a plurality of specimen-processing instruments of a multi-instrument clinical workcell. Such module is adapted to transport individual racks of specimen-containers relative to a specimen-aspiration probe of an associated instrument in a workcell, as well as to transfer selected racks of specimen-containers to an adjacent and identical specimen-transport module associated with another clinical instrument of the workcell. Since the same transport system is used to both present specimens for aspiration and to transfer specimens between instruments, there is no need for two independent conveyances as is characteristic of the prior art. Preferably, the specimen-transport module includes a magnetic X/Y transport system that operates beneath a rack-supporting surface to advance racks in mutually perpendicular directions across a supporting surface via magnetic forces. |
| US07854890B2 |
Analytical tool, analytical tool pack, cartridge including plurality of packs, method of making analytical tool pack, analyzer, and mechanism for taking out object
The present invention relates to an analytical tool pack (1) including an analytical tool (13) accommodated in one or between a plurality of sealing sheets (12a, 12b). The analytical tool pack (1) includes a stopper portion (146) for holding the analytical tool (13) with the analytical tool (13) caused to project from the sealing sheets (12a, 12b). Preferably, the analytical tool pack (1) further comprises a base film (14) bonded to the sealing sheets (12a, 12b). For example, the stopper portion (146) comprises the bonded portion of the sealing sheets (12a, 12b) and the base film (14). The present invention further relates to an analyzer which uses the analytical tool pack (1). The analyzer comprises an opening mechanism for making a cut (15) in the analytical tool pack (1), and a pushing mechanism for moving the analytical tool (13) relative to the sealing sheets (12a, 12b) to cause the analytical tool (13) to project through the cut (15). |
| US07854886B2 |
Production method for metal matrix composite material
A method of producing an aluminum matrix composite material is described that comprises the steps of: mixing an aluminum powder and a ceramic powder to prepare a mixed powder; providing a lower casing made of aluminum and formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape having an open top, and a closing member made of aluminum and formed in a shape adapted to hermetically close the open top of the lower casing; packing the mixed powder into the lower casing; closing the open top of the lower casing filled with the mixed powder, by the closing member, to prepare a pre-rolling assembly having the mixed powder hermetically sealed therein; preheating the pre-rolling assembly; and rolling the preheated assembly to obtain the aluminum matrix composite material, where the aluminum matrix composite material includes a pair of metal plates having the mixed powder therebetween. |
| US07854884B2 |
Method and installation for producing a hot rolled strip from austenitic rust-resistant steels
An installation for producing hot-rolled strip from austenitic stainless steels; including a continuous casting machine and a rolling mill with a temperature adjustment system and a cooling system for cooling the rolling stock. The temperature adjustment system includes an installation having a furnace for preheating the cast slab to =1,150° C. and an installation for intensive heating including an inductive heating zone for adjustment of the run-in temperature of the cast slab into the finishing train of the rolling mill to above 1,150° C., for establishing a final rolling temperature to carry out the heat treatment by direct exploitation of the rolling heat. The cooling system includes a device for quenching the rolling stock to below 600° C. The temperature adjustment system includes only a first descaling system between the preheating installation and the intensive heating installation. |
| US07854883B2 |
System for cooling shape-rolled rails
A system for cooling a hot rail of rail steel to a fine perlitic or ferritic or perlitic/ferritic structure has a plurality of separate cooling modules with independently adjustable cooling parameters. The rail is guided downstream through the modules of the cooling stretch and through intermediate zones between the modules so as to cool the surface of the rail in each of the modules and to subject the rail to destressing or stress relief between the modules. Sensors in each of the intermediate zones detect the actual surface temperature of the rail in the respective zones, and a controller connected to the modules and to the sensors varies the cooling parameters of the cooling modules in dependence on the detected temperatures in the respective upstream zones to ensure a defined temperature in the rail that lies above a critical temperature at which bainitic structure components are formed. |
| US07854881B2 |
Method and apparatus for an extruded ceramic biosoluble fiber substrate
A porous ceramic substrate is disclosed that is fabricated from biosoluble ceramic fibers. Porosity and permeability of the substrate is provided by intertangled biosoluble fibers, that can be formed into a honeycomb form substrate through an extrusion process. The fibrous structure is formed from mixing biosoluble fibers with additives that include a bonding agent, and a fluid to provide an extrudable mixture. The structure is sintered at a temperature that exceeds the glass formation temperature of the bonding agent, but less than the maximum operational limits of the biosoluble fiber, to form a structure that has sufficient strength and porosity to provide for filtration and/or as a catalytic host. |
| US07854880B2 |
Polylactic acid molding and process for producing the same
A polylactic acid formed article and a production process therefor. A resin composition for the formed article comprises polylactic acid having an optical purity of not lower than 90% and a residual lactide amount of 0.1 to 0.6% by mass, and 1 to 25% by mass of a crystal nucleus agent. The formed article is characterized in that a difference (|ΔHm|−|ΔHc|) between the absolute value of a crystal fusion heat amount ΔHm as measured at a heat-up rate of 20° C./min by means of a differential scanning calorimeter and the absolute value of a heat-up crystallization heat amount ΔHc generated by heat-up crystallization is not lower than 25 J/g, and has a crystallinity of not lower than 35% as determined by X-ray measurement and a crystallization speed of not lower than 0.05 min−1 at 130° C. |
| US07854876B2 |
Apparatus and methods for modular preform mold system
Apparatus and methods for a preform mold system include multiple preform core side modules having preform mold cores, a core side clamp plate connectable to a moving platen of an injection mold machine and operable to receive the preform core modules, multiple preform cavity side modules having preform mold cavities, each of the preform cavity side modules operable to matingly engage a respective core side module to form multiple preform molds having a respective preform design, and multiple ejector housing assemblies for connecting the core side modules to an ejector platen of the mold machine, each of the ejector housing assemblies corresponding to a respective core side module. The preform mold system may also include a manifold and valve gate assembly connectable to a stationary platen of an injection mold machine and operable to receive the cavity side modules and place the mold cavities in fluid communication with an injector of the mold machine to control the injection of fluidized plastic in a uniform flow into the preform molds, simultaneously. |
| US07854874B2 |
Apparatus and methods for forming hat stiffened composite parts using thermally expansive tooling cauls
An apparatus and methods for forming a composite part are provided. A method for forming a composite part may include placing initial composite material on a base tool, placing a tooling mandrel on the composite material, placing additional composite material over the tooling mandrel, covering at least a portion of the composite material that overlays the tooling mandrel with a composite forming tool, heating the composite material to at least partially cure the composite material, and permitting a first portion of the composite forming tool to change size during the heating of the composite material to a greater degree than a second portion of the composite forming tool. In this regard, the second portion of the composite forming tool is closer to the base tool than the first portion of the composite forming tool. A composite forming tool is also provided that permits differential expansion of different portions of the tool. |
| US07854873B2 |
Imprint stamp comprising cyclic olefin copolymer
A method is provided for transferring a pattern from a template (1) to an object (12) in an imprint process, using a two-step process. The first step includes contacting a pattern of the template surface with a polymer material comprising one or more Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COCs), to produce a flexible polymer replica having a structured surface with an inverse of the pattern of the template surface. In a second step, after releasing the flexible polymer replica from the template, the inverse pattern of the flexible polymer replica is pressed into a resist layer on a substrate, to imprint a replica of the pattern of the template surface in therein. |
| US07854872B2 |
Solution casting method for producing polymer film and suction roller used therefor
A suction roller (65) is used as a drive roller for feeding a film in a solution casting method. The suction roller (65) has a surface (65a) on which a plurality of circular suction holes (91) is formed. The suction hole (91) has a diameter of 4 mm and a chamfered edge. The width of chamfer is 10% in ratio to the diameter of the hole. The surface (65a) is hardened by chrome plating so as to have a hardness of 900 in Vicars hardness. A roller temperature controller (100) is provided near the suction roller (65) to control the surface temperature of the roller by the air supply. The surface temperature of the suction roller (65) is about 10° C. higher than temperature of the film (61)immediately before contacting to the suction roller (65). |
| US07854868B2 |
Mold protecting system and method for protecting an injection molding system
A mold protecting system for an injection molding machine includes a voltage source, a controller, a first mold, a second mold, a fixed platen, and a movable platen. The first mold is fixed to the movable platen. The second mold is fixed to the fixed platen. The controller from the voltage source to charge the first and second molds, and detects the capacitance between the first and second molds when the distance between the first and second molds equals a pre-set value. If the capacitance between the first and second molds is greater than a reference value, the controller controls the movable platen to stop moving. |
| US07854866B2 |
Thermal curing methods and systems for forming contact lenses
Contact lens curing systems and methods are described. A contact lens curing system includes an oven that has a plurality of curing zones a mold advancement system for moving the contact lens mold assemblies between the plurality of zones and a controlled atmosphere within the curing zones that provides a substantially chemically inert environment in which contact lens precursor materials can be polymerized in contact lens mold assemblies located in the curing zones. Methods of producing contact lenses include curing contact lens precursor materials in contact lens mold assemblies in the lens curing system. As an example, an oven for curing contact precursor materials in molds the curing process being done in an inert atmosphere, includes a plurality of heating zones, such as three heating zones 106, 107, 108 or two heating zones 307, 308 and a mold advancement system for moving the molds between the plurality of zones, wherein a first zone and second zone of the plurality of zones are maintained at different temperatures 106, 107 or 307, 308. |
| US07854864B2 |
Method for manufacturing an optical film having a convexoconcave structure
A manufacturing method of an optical film provided with a convexoconcave structure, comprises the steps of: coating a resin solution including a first resin solved by a solvent onto an endless or roll-like mold provided with a convexoconcave structure, and forming a resin solution layer on the mold; laminating a film substrate onto the resin solution layer to make a laminated film before the solvent in the resin solution layer is completely dried, the film substrate including a second resin, which is capable of absorbing the solvent or is soluble by the solvent; and peeling the laminated film from the mold before the solvent in the laminated film is completely dried. |
| US07854858B2 |
UV curable liquid pre-polymer, and liquid crystal display device using the same and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid-crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, and a plurality of pixel areas formed on the first substrate, where each pixel area has red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel areas. Red, green and blue color filter layers are disposed on the red, green and blue sub-pixel areas, respectively, and an overcoat layer is disposed over the red, green and blue color filter layers, where a portion of the overcoat layer forms a white color filter layer in the white sub-pixel area. The overcoat layer is formed from a UV-curable liquid pre-polymer material, which includes monomers each having a mono-functional group, and at least a di-functional group or a tri-functional group. |
| US07854851B2 |
Method for treatment of effluents using pulsed electric fields and solid/liquid separation
This invention discloses the treatment of effluents in which a flow of the said effluents is subjected to a pulsed electric field that modifies physicochemical and biologic characteristics of the medium, this modification being used during a solid/liquid separation operation, of the settlement or membrane filtration type. The solid/liquid separation operation (13, 14, 15) and the application of a pulsed electric field (12) are operations carried out at different locations along the effluent flow. The pulsed electric field has voltage value, current value, pulse repetition frequency and voltage front shape characteristics chosen such that the required effluent treatment can be achieved as a function of the locations at which these membrane filtration operations are carried out and a pulsed electric field is applied. |
| US07854849B2 |
Compact multiphase inline bulk water separation method and system for hydrocarbon production
A method and apparatus for inline, controlled water separation from a multiphase hydrocarbon production stream. The method includes the steps of directing the multiphase hydrocarbon production stream to a gas/liquid separator in order to separate into a gas stream and a liquid stream. The level of liquid in the gas/liquid separator is monitored and controlled. The liquid stream removed from the gas/liquid separator is directed to an enlarged pipe section in order to separate into an oil portion and a water portion. The level of the oil portion in the enlarged pipe section is monitored and controlled. The water portion from the enlarged pipe section is directed to a liquid-liquid cyclone centrifugal separator in order to separate into a water stream and a hydrocarbon concentrated stream. The water stream from the liquid cyclone centrifugal separator is directed to at least one de-oiling hydrocyclone separator. The oily water stream is directed back to the production stream for further processing and the water stream is delivered for disposal. |
| US07854848B2 |
Portable water treatment apparatus and methods
Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods that can be used to receive a volume of potable water from a source and to treat the volume of water so as to improve the perceived or actual aesthetic quality of the water, and to thereafter contain the treated water such that it can be used or consumed. In general, the apparatus comprises a container capable of receiving a volume of water, and a capture element within the container that is capable of removing at least a portion of such substances in the water as may be perceived as impacting water quality. The capture element comprises sorbent media that is capable of removing at least some portion of such undesirable substances, and that may comprise, for example, activated carbon and the like. |
| US07854847B2 |
Process of purifying wood pulp with caustic-borate solution and recovering the purifying chemical
Systems and methods for purifying wood pulp by caustic-borate extraction. The systems and method include a method for recovering both the caustic and borate compounds from the resultant hemicaustic effluent, so that they may be recycled and re-used. Efficient recovery of these components is enabled by a nanofiltration system that has one or more alkali-resistant nanofiltration membranes. |
| US07854845B2 |
Biological fluid filtration apparatus
Biological fluid filtration systems including biological fluid filtration devices capable of filtering blood or blood products, including the removal of leukocytes from the blood or blood product. Each system includes a mechanism to automatically drain the biological fluid upstream of the biological fluid filtration media disposed in the biological fluid filtration device. Both single sided and double sided biological fluid filtration devices are disclosed, including double sided biological fluid filtration devices with a solid partition wall with a first independent fluid flow path on one side of the partition wall, and a second independent fluid flow path on the other side of the partition wall. Draining mechanisms include vent filtration devices, diaphragm draining devices, and biological fluid filtration devices that include an integral diaphragm. The biological fluid filtration devices include low hold-up volume filter underdrains that purge in excess of 95% of the initial air in the device before liquid begins to flow from the outlet, thereby allowing the devices to be used in bed side applications. Variable surface area biological fluid filtration devices are disclosed that further reduce hold-up volume. |
| US07854838B2 |
Debris cage
A debris cage is disclosed. The debris cage may include multiple panels, each having a plurality of opening. Each of the panels may be fastened together to form an enclosed structure having a substantially cylindrical portion integral with a conical or dome-like portion at a terminating end of the enclosed structure. Each of the panels may have various shaped openings facilitating the flow of fluid while potentially impeding debris from passing through the debris cage. |
| US07854836B2 |
Process for improving and recuperating waste, heavy and extra heavy hydrocarbons
A process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste, water and solvent; and feeding the first product to a separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided. |
| US07854832B2 |
Signal processing device and control unit
An input terminal is electrically connected to a contact point. An anti-corrosion current supplying section is operable to supply an anti-corrosion current to the contact point through the input terminal so as to remove corrosion in the contact point. A series resistor is electrically interposed between the input terminal of the signal processing circuit and the contact point. The anti-corrosion current is supplied to the contact point through the series resistor. |
| US07854830B2 |
System and method for electroplating metal components
A system and a method for electroplating a plurality of turbine blades, comprising providing a rotatable gear for each blade, operatively connecting a mount assembly for each gear, slidably placing an electric charge on the blades. |
| US07854826B2 |
Carbon nanotube biosensors with aptamers as molecular recognition elements and method for sensing target material using the same
The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube transistor biosensor with aptamers and a method for detecting a target material using the same, more particularly to a carbon nanotube transistor biosensor recognizing the target material, i.e., a specific molecule (such as a protein, a peptide, an amino acid, and an organic/inorganic compound) by using DNA aptamers and a method for screening a target material using the same. In the biosensor of the present invention, the aptamers binding specifically to a particular protein are adsorbed on a carbon nanotube constituting the channel domain of carbon nanotube transistor to easily detect/identify a particular protein via the electric conductivity of carbon nanotube that varies if the particular protein is exposed to corresponding aptamers. |
| US07854825B2 |
Symmetical double contact electro-winning
A symmetrical double-double contact mechanism for an electro-deposition mechanism. Using a base insulator, a cap block insulator is formed to support four series of electrodes of two different types (anode and cathode). Because of the contact mechanism employed, redundant contacts are provided so that should a short occur, alternative electrical pathways are available to maintain operation of the affected cathode or anode. |
| US07854821B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus includes a heat transfer gas supply mechanism to supply a heat transfer gas through a supply passage into a portion between a worktable and a substrate to improve thermal conductivity between therebetween. Under the control of a control section, the pressure inside the supply passage is measured to obtain a pressure measurement value while the substrate is placed on the worktable. Then, a preparatory flow rate of the heat transfer gas to be supplied through the supply passage into the portion between the worktable and substrate is determined, in accordance with the pressure difference between the pressure measurement value and a pressure reference value, prior to a main process to be performed on the substrate. Then, the heat transfer gas is supplied through the supply passage into the portion between the worktable and substrate at the preparatory flow rate, prior to the main process. |
| US07854820B2 |
Upper electrode backing member with particle reducing features
Components of a plasma processing apparatus includes a backing member with gas passages attached to an upper electrode with gas passages. To compensate for the differences in coefficient of thermal expansion between the metallic backing member and upper electrode, the gas passages are positioned and sized such that they are misaligned at ambient temperature and substantially concentric at an elevated processing temperature. Non-uniform shear stresses can be generated in the elastomeric bonding material, due to the thermal expansion. Shear stresses can either be accommodated by applying an elastomeric bonding material of varying thickness or using a backing member comprising of multiple pieces. |
| US07854818B2 |
Jewelry tag
A jewelry tag has a label with a printable side and an adhesive side. An elongated shank extends from the label and is adapted to attach the label to a jewelry article. A substantially clear flap also extends from the label and is configured to laminate at least a portion of the label. |
| US07854814B2 |
Method for forming a laminated window that can exhibit a variable level of adhesion
A method for forming a laminated window having one or more interlayers that can exhibit a variable level of adhesion is disclosed. The method includes: a) assembling a cast between two plies that make up the laminated window; b) filling the cast with a reaction mixture for forming a polymer material; c) adding at least one first silane comprising an isocyanate functional silane and at least one second silane comprising an epoxy silane to the reaction mixture; and d) curing the reaction mixture. |
| US07854813B2 |
Method of manufacturing a non-woven fabric
A method for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric, wherein a layer of nonwoven fabric is made up of a fiber mixture of at least two different types of fibers is formed. The single nonwoven fabric layer is solidified. The solidified single nonwoven fabric layer is then subjected to heat treatment subject to the condition that shrinkage of at least one of the types of fibers is activated. |
| US07854802B2 |
Surfactant package for well treatment and method using same
A surfactant blend for servicing wells includes a first non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of between about 10 and about 15; a second non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of between about 2 and about 6; and an anionic surfactant. |
| US07854801B2 |
Uses of high mullite index calcined kaolin
Disclosed are methods of making calcined kaolin having a high mullite content involving heating to certain temperatures. Also disclosed are systems for making the calcined kaolin having a high mullite content and polymer composites containing the calcined kaolin having a high mullite content. The present calcined kaolin having a high mullite content is particularly useful in making polymer composites. The polymer composites may be used in electrical cable. |
| US07854800B2 |
Alkanolamine-stabilized dispersed rosin sizing agents and their preparation
This invention teaches the stabilization a dispersion of rosin using an alkanolamine salt of the rosin. The stabilized dispersion is used as a sizing agent in papermaking processes. |
| US07854791B2 |
Method and means for simultaneously generating an aqueous froth and numerous micro-droplets for use in filtering a contaminated air stream
A method and apparatus are provided for improving the efficiency of an aqueous froth filter. An array of saturated mesh assemblies interacts with an incoming contaminated air stream. As the air stream flows through the saturated mesh assemblies, an aqueous froth is generated immediately downstream of each mesh assembly. As the bubbles of the froth move downstream towards the next saturated mesh assembly, the velocity of the air stream causes at least some of the bubbles to burst. The bursting bubbles rupture into hundreds or thousands of micro-droplets. The micro-droplets are used together with the aqueous froth to coalesce with or otherwise bind with contaminants in the air stream. An optional feature is that massive particles greater than three microns in diameter are removed by inertial impaction, whereby those heavy particles collide with the walls of serpentine shaped vanes of a mist eliminator. The method and apparatus are capable of filtering chemical and biological warfare agents out of an air stream. The invention is also useful in removing contaminants from industrial air streams. |
| US07854789B1 |
System and process for controlling pollutant emissions in a cement production facility
A system and method for controlling pollutant emissions in a cement manufacturing facility. The system comprises first and second particulate control devices in series and a sorbent supply provided downstream of the first particulate control device. Exhaust process gas from the pyroprocessing unit of the cement manufacturing facility is conveyed through the first particulate control device in order to remove at least a portion of the kiln dust within the exhaust process gas to form a de-dusted exhaust process gas. The kiln dust removed from the exhaust process gas may then be recycled back to the pyroprocessing unit for use in the kiln feed. The sorbent supply injects a sorbent for capturing pollutants into the de-dusted exhaust process gas upstream of the second particulate control device to form a treated gas. The spent sorbent containing the captured pollutants is removed from the treated gas within the second particulate control device to form a cleansed exhaust process gas. |
| US07854788B2 |
Filter membrane
A filter membrane includes a substrate, a polymer layer provided on the substrate and a plurality of filter openings each having a width of from about 2 nanometers to about 5 nanometers provided in the polymer layer. A method of controlling pore size of a filter membrane and a method of decontaminating a filter membrane are also disclosed. |
| US07854787B2 |
Method of removing coating from coated magnesium alloy product, method of making recycled magnesium alloy and method of recycling coating
A method is provided for removing a coating from a coated magnesium alloy product. The method includes a first treatment step of immersing the coated magnesium alloy product in a first alkaline solution, and a second treatment step of immersing the magnesium alloy product, which has undergone the first treatment step, in a second alkaline solution or in an acid solution. The second alkaline solution is different from the first alkaline solution. |
| US07854786B2 |
Reduction process and plant
Reduction process and relative plant for the production of metallic iron by means of the direct reduction of iron ore, in which a reduction shaft is connected to a source of reducing gas obtained from the gasification of coal. The process advantageously comprises a step in which a portion or all of the synthesis gas entering the plant circuit is processed to separate the methane from the rest of the components of said synthesis gas. The advantageous management of the extracted methane enables the entire reduction process to be optimized, making the efficiency of the process independent of the methane content in the original synthesis gas and making it possible to control the carbon content of the product more accurately and more easily. |
| US07854781B2 |
Mount for air filter and bezel assembly
A mount for a bezel/air filter assembly for use in mounting the bezel/air filter assembly directly to the rack or cabinet in which electrical equipment is mounted or contained. The mount is affixed to the rack or cabinet rather than to the electrical equipment mounted or contained in the rack or cabinet, making use of the normally unused frontal area along the rail forming the front of the rack or cabinet, maximizing air flow to the equipment mounted in the rack or contained in the cabinet and allowing greater packaging density. Also, by using the rack or cabinet (rather than the equipment) as a support element, the mount is substantially stronger than if the mount was affixed to the chassis. |
| US07854776B2 |
Reactor including a plurality of substrates to form a reactor main body portion and an envelope portion
A reactor causing reaction of a reactant includes a plurality of substrates provided with top and bottom substrates having provided therein recessed portions for forming closely sealed regions and a plurality of intermediate substrates having provided therein at least openings that communicate with each other, a reactor main body portion including a reaction unit at which the intermediate substrates are formed to be laminated and joined with each other and a reaction flow channel reactant flows formed therein, and an envelope portion which houses the reactor main body portion therein except one end side thereof, via a closely sealed space formed by sandwiching the laminated intermediate substrates between the top and the bottom substrates and by communicating the opening and the closely sealed region on the substrates, and including a support portion which supports the reactor main body portion via the one end side of the reactor main body portion. |
| US07854773B2 |
Method of producing an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
There is disclosed an electrode plate for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which comprises a collector and an active material layer provided on at least one side of the collector, in which the active material layer has one or more slits. Such an electrode plate can facilitate infiltration of a liquid electrolyte even when wound at high density and can have high stability of quality. There is also disclosed a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with high capacity and high quality, which is constructed using the above-mentioned electrode plate. |
| US07854769B2 |
Method and instrumentation for performing minimally invasive hip arthroplasty
A method of implanting a modular hip stem implant having a stem portion and a body portion into a medullary canal of a patient's femur utilizing a two-incision technique. The stem portion is inserted through an anterior incision and the body portion is inserted through a posterior incision where they are interconnected in vivo. The modular hip stem implant is then driven into the medullary canal with force applied through either of the two incisions. |
| US07854768B2 |
Shoulder arthroplasty system
An implant system for total shoulder arthroplasties, hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties including a humeral stem having an enlarged head portion with interfaces adapted to removably receive various modular interchangeable components, such as articulating liners, spacers, and adapter inserts. The humeral stem functions as a universal platform that may be used in either conventional or “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties, as well as hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and may remain implanted in place during a revision in which the implant system is converted between the foregoing configurations, for example. |
| US07854766B2 |
Artificial total lumbar disc for unilateral safe and simple posterior placement in the lumbar spine, and removable bifunctional screw which drives vertical sliding expansile plate expansion, and interplate widening, and angled traction spikes
A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates. |
| US07854765B2 |
Electronically controlled artificial intervertebral disc with motor assisted actuation systems
An electronically assisted artificial vertebral disc having an upper disc plate and a lower disc plate is disclosed. An actuator imparts movement to at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. A control device controls the actuator and the amount of movement between the disc plates. The actuator includes a plurality of either linear actuators or rotary actuators that are driven by electric motors in response to the control device. The control device includes at least a first sensor for detecting the position of the actuator and at least a second sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower disc plates. The control device also preferably includes a microprocessor that calculates the desired positions of the upper and lower disc plates and provides a control signal to the actuator to drive the upper and lower disc plates to their desired positions. |
| US07854763B2 |
Intraparietal aortic valve reinforcement device and reinforced aortic valve
An intraparietal reinforcement device (1) for use in a biological prosthesis (10), as well as a biological prosthesis (10) provided with a device of this type, is particularly suitable for use within the organic tissue of the biological prosthesis (10), and for reinforcing the structure of the prosthesis so that it retains its shape once implanted. |
| US07854760B2 |
Medical devices including metallic films
Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. The medical device can include a composite cover formed of a deposited metallic film and one or more polymer layers. The polymer layers contribute to mechanical or biological properties of the endoprosthesis. |
| US07854759B2 |
Prosthetic flow modifying device
An implantable flow modifying device and a method of modifying flow through a lumen are provided. The flow modifying device includes a flexible member configured for permitting fluid flow through the body lumen in a first direction at a first rate and for restricting fluid flow through the body lumen in a second direction at a second rate. The flexible member includes a passageway defined by a sheath of biocompatible material, the passageway having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is sized and shaped to at least partially restrict fluid flow in the first direction and capable of at least partially collapsing in response to fluid flow in the second direction. The second end portion is adapted to seal with a wall of the body lumen. A diameter of a first opening defined in the first end portion is smaller than a diameter of a second opening defined in the second end portion. |
| US07854752B2 |
System and method for dynamic skeletal stabilization
There is disclosed a system and method for dynamic stabilization which provides for distraction of the inter-vertebral space while still allowing a patient a substantial range of motion. In one embodiment, an inter-vertebral dynamic brace is used to maintain proper distraction. The dynamic brace is designed to allow the vertebrae to which it is attached to move through their natural arc, maintaining the correct instantaneous center of rotation. An adjustable tensioning device is used to maintain the proper distraction and compression forces to restore and maintain proper kinematics, while allowing the dynamic brace to move through an arc centered with respect to the center of rotation of the portion of the spine between the vertebrae. In one embodiment, a method is provided for adjusting the dynamic brace both with respect to the center of rotation of the vertebrae in both the flexion/extension axis and in the superior/inferior axis. |
| US07854750B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing a suture
The present invention provides a method of securing a suture. The method includes providing a retainer having first and second sections. The first section has a central post, and the second section has a central bore dimensioned to receive the central post. The method also includes moving a suture through a passage in the first section, wrapping the suture around the central post, and moving the suture through a channel of the second section. The method further includes interconnecting the first and second sections with the central post positioned in the central bore and with the suture disposed between the first and second sections. Moreover, the method includes bonding the first and second sections together to secure the suture relative to the retainer. |
| US07854749B2 |
Surgical gripper
A surgical gripper includes a gripping section opened/closed to grip an object to be gripped and an operation section which opens/closes the gripping section, wherein the gripping section is configured to be opened/closed by the operation section to take a gripping mode of gripping the object to be gripped so that treatment is performed by the object to be gripped, an adjusting mode of gripping the object to be gripped by a gripping force lower than that of the gripping mode so that an arrangement of the object to be gripped is adjusted while the object to be gripped is held, and a releasing mode of releasing the object to be gripped. |
| US07854739B2 |
Clip apparatus for ligaturing living tissue
A clip apparatus for ligaturing a living tissue includes a clip unit provided removably at a distal end of an insertion part inserted into a forceps channel of an endoscope, and an operating part for the unit, extending in an passage of the insertion part. The unit has a clip holder in an opening of the passage and a passage for elastically opening/closing of a clip, an engaging portion to be opened elastically around the passage when the holder projects from the passage, and longitudinally engaged with the distal end of the insertion part, and a structure preventing excessive opening of the engaging portion when a member connected to the clip and the operating part and moving in the passage is broken at a breakable portion by a pulling force from the operating part. |
| US07854734B2 |
Control system and process for application of energy to airway walls and other mediums
The present invention includes a system for delivering energy to an airway wall of a lung comprising an energy delivering apparatus and a PID controller having one or more variable gain factors which are rest after energy deliver has begun. The energy delivering apparatus may include a flexible elongated member and a distal expandable basket having at least one electrode for transferring energy to the airway wall and at least one temperature sensor for measuring temperature. The PID controller determines a new power set point base on an error between a preset temperature and the measured temperature. The algorithm can be Pi+1=Pi+G(αei+βei−1+γei−2) where α, β and γ are preset values and α is from 1 to 2; β is from −1 to −2; and γ is from −0.5 to 0-5. In another variation, the controller is configured to shut down if various measured parameters are exceeded such as, for example, energy, impedance, temperature, temperature differences, activation time and combinations thereof. Methods for treating a target medium using a PID algorithm are also provided. |
| US07854732B2 |
Fluid medication delivery device
A fluid delivery device is provided for transdermal delivery of fluid medications to patients. The device can comprise a thin envelope which is applied to a patient's skin. The envelope can comprise at least one diffusion layer coupled to at least one impermeable layer such that at least one chamber can exist therebetween. Other embodiments can include internal diffusion layers, and thus can possess additional chambers, as well. The impermeable layer can comprise a top surface of the device. A valve positioned in the impermeable layer can facilitate filling the device with fluid, as well as connection of the device to external fluid sources such as an intravenous bag, pump, or other external fluid delivery system. The diffusion layer can comprise a coiled wire member to control the rate of fluid flow from the device to the patient's skin. |
| US07854729B2 |
Supply chain method and apparatus for sealing and unsealing a vacuum draw path
This application teaches a disposal chain and a supply chain system for sealing and unsealing a vacuum draw path embodying a thrust handle capable of imparting assembly and disassembly thrust forces said system conferring the potential of reducing the amount solid waste mass contributed to the waste stream. |