Document Document Title
US08023589B2 Wireless MIMO transmitter with antenna and tone precoding blocks
Various wireless precoding systems and methods are presented. In some embodiments, a wireless transmitter comprises an antenna precoding block, a transform block, and multiple transmit antennas. The antenna precoding block receives frequency coefficients from multiple data streams and distributes the frequency coefficients across multiple transmit signals in accordance with frequency-dependent matrices. The transform block transforms the precoded frequency coefficients into multiple time domain transmit signals to be transmitted by the multiple antennas. The frequency coefficients from multiple data streams may be partitioned into tone groups, and all the frequency coefficients from a given tone group may be redistributed in accordance with a single matrix for that tone group. In some implementations, the frequency coefficients within a tone group for a given data stream may also be precoded. In some alternative embodiments, tone group precoding may be employed in a single channel system.
US08023587B2 Device and method for pre-distorting a base-band digital signal
A device and method for pre-distorting a base-band digital signal. The device includes an adaptive parameter calculation unit and a pre-distorter. The adaptive parameter calculation unit is adapted to calculate nonlinear filter parameters in accordance with samples of a base-band digital signal and a feedback signal of a radio frequency channel, and output a calculation result to the pre-distorter. The pre-distorter is adapted to store and update the nonlinear filter parameters, perform power statistics of the base-band digital signal, select nonlinear filter parameters corresponding to a result of the power statistics, pre-distort the base-band digital signal, and output the pre-distorted base-band digital signal. With the method, the non-linearity of a power amplifier may be improved, different non-linearity inverse models may be selected according to different input signals and power amplifier characteristics, and the efficiency of a base station transmitter may be improved.
US08023584B2 Selectable-tap equalizer
A signaling circuit having a selectable-tap equalizer. The signaling circuit includes a buffer, a select circuit and an equalizing circuit. The buffer is used to store a plurality of data values that correspond to data signals transmitted on a signaling path during a first time interval. The select circuit is coupled to the buffer to select a subset of data values from the plurality of data values according to a select value. The equalizing circuit is coupled to receive the subset of data values from the select circuit and is adapted to adjust, according to the subset of data values, a signal level that corresponds to a data signal transmitted on the signaling path during a second time interval.
US08023578B2 Two-stage low-complexity max-log bit-level LLR calculator and method
A demodulator and demodulation method includes a bit/symbol hard demodulator configured to obtain hard bit or symbol information from a received signal. At least one lookup table is configured to reference coefficients for computation of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) from the hard bit or symbol information. A log-likelihood ratio calculation module is configured to compute bit-level LLRs from the coefficients and the received signal.
US08023575B2 Approach for spectrum analysis in a receiver
A wireless communications apparatus that it is useable as a spectrum analyzer and as a wireless receiver. The wireless communications apparatus has a radio circuit that is configured to receive EM radiation. Signal processing logic receives signals from the radio circuit based on the EM radiation. The signal processing logic has a receiver operational mode that processes the signals in accordance with a communication protocol and outputs data encoded in the signals to a host processor. The signal processing logic has a spectrum analyzer operational mode that generates frequency domain data and passes the frequency domain data to the host processor. The frequency domain data describe strength versus frequency of the EM radiation. The host processes the data in accordance with the configuration currently in use. Therefore, the wireless communications apparatus operates as a receiver in one operational mode and as a real-time spectrum analyzer in another operational mode.
US08023571B2 Impulse ultra-wideband radio communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing an impulse ultra-wideband communications system which combines the technique of transmitted reference (TR) with a code-sifted reference scheme that separates the reference and the data pulses with a sequence of codes such as a subset of Walsh codes. The combination of the two techniques in ultra-wideband (UWB) radio systems removes the wideband delay elements required by conventional TR UWB systems. The invention provides a system with no analog carriers and lower complexities than other UWB systems, and which has better performances, higher tolerance to nonlinearity, and larger capacities.
US08023569B2 Methods and systems for block-based residual upsampling
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for block-based residual upsampling. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for residual upsampling for spatially scalable video coding.
US08023565B2 Picture processing apparatus, semiconductor integrated circuit, and method for controlling a picture memory
A picture processing apparatus includes a decoder configured to decode encoded data to generate a decoded picture. A picture memory has a plurality of banks each containing a plurality of pages to which row addresses are assigned, and is configured to store the decoded picture. A bank selector is configured to divide the decoded picture into a plurality of blocks, and to select a page of a different bank as a write location for a block adjacent in at least one of either a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. A write controller is configured to write pixel data of pixels occupying even lines of each of the blocks, and pixel data of pixels occupying odd lines of each of the blocks in a column address direction of each of the page in an alternating manner.
US08023560B2 Apparatus and method for processing 3d video based on MPEG-4 object descriptor information
The present invention relates to three-dimensional video processing apparatus and method using MPEG-4 object descriptor information and structures. The three-dimensional video processing apparatus and method that can support a three-dimensional video service smoothly to thereby provide a sense of reality and a cubic effect in an MPEG-4-based system by suggesting a three-dimensional video object descriptor structure and providing to a client an object descriptor, which includes information on kind of three-dimensional video, number of viewpoints, number of media streams and a plurality of display methods; and a method thereof.
US08023558B2 Method and apparatus for measuring the input frequency response of a digital receiver
A frequency response measurement circuit includes a generation circuit operative to provide an input signal having a voltage and programmable frequency characteristics in response to a frequency control signal. A decision circuit is coupled to the generation circuit and is operative to sample the input signal at predetermined intervals in response to a sampling clock signal and determine the amplitude characteristics of the input signal relative to a variable threshold signal. A control circuit is coupled to the decision circuit, and is operative to determine the frequency response characteristics of the input signal at varying frequencies and threshold voltages in response to the frequency control signal.
US08023556B2 Autonomously generating ramp profiles in a transceiver
In one implementation, a method includes receiving control information in a transceiver from a baseband processor and computing ramp values in the transceiver based on the control information. The ramp values may be computed in a signal generator of the transceiver such as an algorithmic generator. Depending on mode of operation, the ramp values may be provided to a power amplifier or a gain block of the transceiver.
US08023554B2 Method and system for single antenna receiver system for WCDMA
Aspects of a method and system for a single antenna receiver system for W-CDMA are provided and may comprise computing channel estimates based on received multipath signals. Timing correction signals indicating a location of the received multipath signals may be generated and the received multipath signals may be combined based on the computed channel estimates and/or the generated timing reference signals. The multipath signals may be combined as a signal cluster. Circuitry may be provided that computes channel estimates based on at least one of a plurality of received multipath signals, and generates timing reference signals indicating a location of at least one of the plurality of received multipath signals. Circuitry may also be provided that combines at least a portion of the plurality of received multipath signals based on at least a portion of the computed channel estimates and/or the generated timing reference signals.
US08023553B2 Circuits for generating delayed high frequency clock signals used in spread-spectrum clocking
A method of generating a spread-spectrum clock signal includes delaying a high frequency clock signal to provide a plurality of delayed high frequency clock signals selected among to provide a spread-spectrum clock signal for a synchronous system.
US08023546B2 Semiconductor laser with integrated contact and waveguide
A semiconductor light-emitting device has, in place of a traditional separate cladding layer and contact structure, a non-epitaxial contact and waveguide layer. The non-epitaxial contact and waveguide layer is formed of a conductive material and such that it has a recess therein and over the injection region. Air filling the region together with appropriate choice of material for the non-epitaxial contact and waveguide layer creates desired lateral waveguiding. Metallic silver in one choice for this material. The recess may also be filled with a low-loss material having a refractive index higher than that of the material forming the non-epitaxial contact and waveguide layer. Transparent conductive oxides (e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide (ZnO), etc.), appropriate metal (e.g., gold), or a composite comprising a conductive oxide and a metal, provide low absorption in the UV and near-IR wavelengths of interest, and are thus good candidate materials for within the recess.
US08023545B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
In a semiconductor light emitting device having a conductive semiconductor substrate on which at least the following layers are stacked in the order listed below: a first clad layer; an active layer which includes at least one highly strained quantum well layer having a compressive strain amount of not less than 1% with respect to the conductive semiconductor substrate; and a second clad layer, a strain buffer layer adjacently formed on the active layer and includes a layer having a compressive strain amount not greater than the strain amount of the active layer is further provided.
US08023542B2 High energy laser thermal management
Methods and systems are disclosed for cooling a laser, such as a high average power (HAP) solid state laser (SSL). A coolant that has been heated from previous use can be conditioned by transferring heat from the coolant to a phase change medium. The conditioned coolant can then be re-used to cool the laser. In this manner, a low cost, lightweight, compact cooling system that generates comparatively quiescent flow at comparatively high flow rates can be provided.
US08023541B2 Optical transmission circuit
An optical transmission circuit includes a light emitting device (10) having different temperature characteristics at low temperature and high temperature (e.g., a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser), differential switch transistors (M1, M2) for driving the light emitting device (10), the differential switch transistors having sources connected to each other and drains connected to the light emitting device (10) and a power supply, respectively, a bias current source (11) for causing a bias current to flow, a modulated current source (12) for causing a modulated current to flow, and a temperature compensation current source (20) for controlling currents of the bias current source (11) and the modulated current source (12) so as to compensate for both temperature characteristics at low temperature and temperature characteristics at high temperature of the light emitting device (10).
US08023538B2 Ultra-high power parametric amplifier system at high repetition rates
Embodiments of parametric chirped pulse amplifiers seeded with a single pulse source which is subsequently split into a signal arm and a pump arm with appropriate signal and pump conditioning stages are disclosed, which advantageously improve the utility of high average power and/or high energy ultrafast amplification systems. In various embodiments, at least one of the signal or the pump conditioning stages is non-linear, allowing for a great range of seed sources to be utilized. Chirped pulse amplification in the pump conditioning stage may be used to simplify the parametric amplification of pulses with pulse widths of the order of 10 fs. The parametric pump can include coherently combined fiber arrays, hybrid fiber solid-state amplifiers, and/or cryogenically cooled solid-state amplifiers to increase or optimize the energy extraction of high average powers.
US08023536B1 Weapon system and method for beam containment and beamwalk maintenance utilizing optical fibers
A weapon system includes a weapon system illuminator laser system and one or more optical fibers. The weapon system illuminator laser system can produce one or more illuminator laser beams to illuminate at least one object outside the weapon system without destroying the object. The weapon system illuminator laser system is located at a first location within the weapon system. The object, or a second object associated with the object, is to be destroyed or damaged by energy. The one or more optical fibers are configured to transport the one or more illuminator laser beams from the first location to a second location within the weapon system. The one or more optical fibers can provide beam containment and beamwalk maintenance in the presence of mechanical or thermal disturbances. The one or more optical fibers and the weapon system illuminator laser system can withstand mechanical or thermal disturbances.
US08023534B2 Signal processor latency measurement
Systems and methods that measure the delay (latency) through a digital processor or circuit. A waveform generator outputs a primary (chirp) signal to the digital circuit, along with an auxiliary pulse signal to a delay circuit. The auxiliary signal corresponds to a sample of the primary signal that is input to and output from the digital circuit. A clock circuit provides input and output clock signals to the digital circuit and delay circuit. Clocked outputs of the digital circuit and delay circuit are input to an analyzer. The time delay between the auxiliary signals and delayed auxiliary signals are measured by a time measurement circuit. The analyzer processes the outputs of the processor and delay circuit and the time delay (reference time) using an analysis routine to determine the latency of the digital circuit. The analyzer collects data containing primary signals during a data collection time period, and determines the latency of the digital circuit by adding the data collection time to the reference time and subtracting the time between the start of data collection and the delayed auxiliary signal.
US08023532B2 Variable bit rate communication system
A method for communication over a communication channel includes processing input data, which is accepted at a first variable bit rate, so as to produce output data that is encoded with a Forward Error Correction (FEC) code and has a second bit rate that matches an available bit rate of the communication channel. The output data is transmitted over the communication channel at the available bit rate. The output data is received from the communication channel and decoded so as to reconstruct the input data.
US08023528B2 Method for resolving mutex contention in a network system
A method of resolving mutex contention within a network interface unit which includes providing a plurality of memory access channels, and moving a thread via at least one of the plurality of memory access channels, the plurality of memory access channels allowing moving of the thread while avoiding mutex contention when moving the thread via the at least one of the plurality of memory access channels is disclosed.
US08023526B2 Adaptive channel prediction apparatus and method for performing uplink pre-equalization depending on downlink channel variation in OFDM/TDD mobile communication system
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for changing a channel prediction depending on the degree of downlink channel variation in predicting an uplink channel for uplink pre-equalization. N number of Doppler frequency ranges are set according to downlink channel variation degrees, and uplink channel prediction schemes corresponding to the respective Doppler frequency ranges are established. A Doppler frequency is measured from a signal received over a downlink channel, and the Doppler frequency range, within which the measured Doppler frequency is included, is determined from among the Doppler frequency ranges. The channel prediction scheme established corresponding to the determined Doppler frequency is selected, and the uplink pre-equalization is performed by using the selected channel prediction scheme. This enables uplink pre-equalization that is suitable for a channel varying with a terminal's moving speed or other channel environments.
US08023523B2 Communications systems
In a multi user communication system, subcarriers are allocated to subchannels using a quality measurement for each subchannel. An initial sub carrier is allocated to each subchannel, and a quality metric measured. Subsequent subcarriers are allocated in dependence upon the quality measurement for each subchannel. The subchannel with the lowest quality measurement receives the first allocation, and the subchannel with the highest quality measurement receives the last allocation. The subsequent allocation is repeated, following a re-sort of the subchannel quality measurements, until all of the subcarriers are allocated.
US08023520B2 Signaling packet
The disclosed embodiments relate to a signaling packet that includes an indication that the packet is not part of a data transmission. The signaling packet may also include a specific value that is adapted to signal a condition. The indication may be purposely set to indicate that the signaling packet is not part of the data transmission to facilitate examination of the specific value by a receiver of the signaling packet.
US08023519B2 Dense mode coding scheme
A lookup table for searching for a longest prefix match for a key is disclosed. The lookup table provides a match for a key in a single search cycle. The number of matches stored in the lookup table is maximized by storing each match in only one location in the lookup table. The binary tree is divided into a plurality of levels and each level has a plurality of subtrees. A subtree descriptor stored for a subtree includes a field for each node in the subtree. The state of the field indicates whether an entry for the node is stored in the table. The bit vector allows indexing of the single match stored for the key.
US08023517B2 System and method for improving network performance and security by controlling topology information
A system for optimizing the performance of a network. In an illustrative embodiment, the system includes a memory containing one or more data structures data structures. A first module determines transit-only information. A second module selectively omits the transit-only information from the one or more data structures. In a more specific embodiment, the one or more data structures include one or more tables. The transit-only information includes interface Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with network interfaces that are transit-only interfaces. The route information may include network topology information. The one or more tables may include a network topology table. Plural routers positioned in the network incorporate one or more instances of the system. The routers may employ one or more routing protocols, such as include Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) or Routing Information Protocol (RIP).
US08023513B2 System and method for reducing overhead in a wireless network
A method for reducing overhead includes concatenating a plurality of packets into a single jumbo packet. Each packet of the plurality of packets comprises a header. The method also includes identifying a base header from among the plurality of headers. The method further includes determining a plurality of hamming distances that are each associated with a respective packet of the plurality of packets other than the base header and are indicative of a number of differences between the respective header and another header of the plurality of headers. The method further includes determining a plurality of encoded values that are each associated with a respective packet of the plurality of packets other than the base header and determined based on a difference between the respective header and at least one other header. The method additionally includes generating, and transmitting via a wireless connection, a jumbo header comprising the base header, the plurality of hamming distances, and the plurality of encoded values.
US08023509B2 Communication terminal and retransmission request method
A multicast communication system in which a receiving node which has detected a packet loss can make a retransmission request without applying a high load to a transmitting node, all receiving nodes, and the band of the entire network. The transmitting node transmits an explicit multicast data packet including an address list including a plurality of destination addresses and a bitmap indicating whether the data packet has been delivered to the respective destination addresses, to a plurality of the receiving nodes. The receiving node which has detected the packet loss checks an address list and bitmap of another data packet received and selects a receiving node to which the another data packet has been delivered as a retransmission requester. The receiving node which has detected the packet loss creates a unicast retransmission request packet with the selected receiving node as the destination and transmits it to the selected receiving node.
US08023508B2 Apparatus and Method to suppress packet header information in a wireless communication system
Data packets transmitted over a wireless network are suppressed by hardware at the transmitting end and expanded on the receiving end. This conserves bandwidth as well as reduces the processing resource requirements in both the subscriber station and the base station. An extended header element is added to a data packet that is to be transmitted over the wireless network. The extended header element contains an index that is used along with an identifier to access a rule. The rule is used to determine which bytes are to be suppressed at the transmitter and expanded at the receiver.
US08023506B2 Method and provider edge device for advertising and processing pseudo-wire information
The present invention discloses a method for advertising and processing pseudo-wire (PW) information, which comprises: the sending provider edge (PE) device using two or more methods to group PWs, identifying the group identifier assigned to each PW with each grouping method, and sending all group identifiers of each PW to the receiving PE device; the sending PE device sending to the receiving PE device the notification message that carries information identifying the affected PW group, and the receiving PE device identifying the PWs belonging to the affected PW group according to the received notification. The present invention also discloses the sending and receiving PE devices for advertising and processing PW information. The method and the devices of the present invention can support grouping PWs with more than one method, allowing for flexible use of PW group-based messaging and message processing.
US08023501B1 Techniques for self-organizing activity-diffusion-based wireless sensor network
Methods and wireless sensor nodes for aggregation-driven topology formation in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) are provided. A method for aggregation-driven topology formation in a WSN includes aggregating sensor data by one or more first sensor nodes, sending, by each of the one or more first sensor nodes, at least one activity diffusion message to each of at least one neighboring node of one or more second sensor nodes, wherein each activity diffusion message includes an activity diffusion weight, receiving, by each of the one or more second sensor nodes, respective of the at least one activity diffusion message from at least one neighboring node of the one or more first sensor nodes, accumulating, by each of the one or more second sensor nodes, activity diffusion weights included in the at least one activity diffusion message received from the at least one neighboring node of the one or more first sensor nodes, sending, by each of the one or more first sensor nodes, the aggregated data to at least one of the at least one neighboring node of the one or more second sensor nodes, and receiving, by the at least one of the at least one neighboring node of the one or more second sensor nodes, the aggregated data from respective of the one or more first sensor nodes.
US08023498B2 Controlling access to a destination in a data processing network
A method and system of controlling access to a destination (17, 23, 24) in a data processing network where the destination is limited to a fixed number of requesters responds to a new request (50) for access from a given requestor (20) by determining whether the fixed number would be exceeded. If the fixed number would not be exceeded (51), the new request is granted by connecting (52) the given requester to the destination. If the fixed number would be exceeded, the liveness of the or each current connection to a respective requester is tested (55). If the liveness test succeeds, the new request is rejected but if the liveness test fails, the new request is granted (52).
US08023496B2 System and a method for constructing and deconstructing data packets
A system for constructing and deconstructing data packets is disclosed, wherein the system is operable to support a number of different coding formats. The system comprises a processor means operatively coupled to a processor bus. A packet processing data path is attached to the processor bus as a slave via a bus interface means. The packet processing data path comprises a number, n, of blocks, where n is an integer. Respective blocks comprise configuration registers operable to provide information on what operation the blocks should perform for the current packet field being processed. The bus interface means comprises a first register operable to control a bus of Update Enable signals, which bus is also connected to the n blocks. The bus interface means also comprises a second register operable to control a Mode signal, which is also connected to the n blocks.
US08023494B2 Communication service continuation system, communication service continuation method, and program thereof
In a mobile terminal in which a communication service is being executed, communication networks can be switched without causing a loss of communication data while maintaining the execution of the communication service. In a server which provides a communication service via communication networks provided in parallel and a mobile terminal which obtains the communication service using one of the communication networks, the mobile terminal activates another communication network in parallel while maintaining execution of the communication service to thereby transmit pieces of information having the same content, generated by copying, through the respective communication networks, and switches the one communication network being used to the other communication network.
US08023491B2 Mobile radio communication system
A mobile radio communication system having a mobile radio communication network and a mobile radio subscriber appliance, wherein a unit in the network layer of the core network of the mobile radio communication network is configured to transmit to the mobile radio subscriber appliance a first message, based on an occurrence of a predetermined event, with a request for a statement which describes at least one radio characteristic of the mobile radio subscriber appliance.
US08023486B2 Multicell joint detection method in slotted code division multiple access system
The present invention is directed to a multicell joint detection method, it deals against the interference between same frequency neighboring cell's signals in slotted CDMA system, and provides a joint detection method based on the multicell structure information. The method includes the steps of: using channel estimation of multi-set of codes to obtain channel estimation results of each neighboring cell; grouping each neighboring cell's code channel, including grouping based on the code channel's cell, grouping based on the code channnel's power or amplitude intensity, grouping based on the code channel's pertinence, and mixed grouping based on the above methods; making use of the channel estimation result and the result of code channel grouping to process the joint detection and output the detection data. This method makes full use of the structure information of each multicells signal, and efficiently restrains the multiple-access interference of the same frequency neighboring cell. This method can be used in slotted CDMA system or wireless communicataion system with similar signal structure.
US08023482B2 Dynamic rate limiting in wireless mesh networks
A dynamic rate limiting mechanism for wireless mesh networks. In particular implementations, a method comprising monitoring one or more clients associated with a wireless mesh network and the respective hop counts of the clients to a root mesh node of the wireless mesh network; determining, responsive to one or more events, a client data rate for one or more clients of the wireless mesh network based on the number of current clients and the respective hop counts of the current clients; and applying the client data rate to the wireless mesh network.
US08023478B2 System and method for securing mesh access points in a wireless mesh network, including rapid roaming
An authentication method in a mesh AP including using standard IEEE 802.11i mechanisms between the mesh AP and an authenticator for authenticating the mesh AP to become a child mesh AP with a secure layer-2 link to a first parent mesh AP that has a secure tunnel to a Controller, including, after a layer-2 link between the child mesh AP and the first parent mesh AP is secured, undergoing a join exchange for form a secure tunnel between the child mesh AP and the Controller. Further, a fast roaming method for re-establishing a secure layer-2 link with a new parent mesh AP including, while the mesh AP is a child mesh AP to the first parent mesh AP and has a secure layer-2 link to the first parent mesh AP, caching key information and wireless mesh network identity information, and using the cached information to establish a secure layer-2 link with a new parent mesh AP without having to undergo a 4-way authentication. Further, while the mesh AP is a child mesh AP to the first parent mesh AP, has a secure layer-2 link to the first parent mesh AP, and has a secure tunnel to the Controller, caching session information on the secure tunnel, and using the cached information to re establish the secure tunnel with the Controller, the secure tunnel now via the new mesh AP.
US08023468B2 Methods, device and system for access point facilitated fast handoff
Methods, devices and system for access point facilitated fast handoff are provided. Each access point (AP) in a wireless local area network is provided with a primary interface and a secondary interface wherein the primary interface performs normal communication with user terminals and broadcasts standard beacon frames on its working channel, and the secondary interface broadcasts extended beacon frames on working channels of neighbor APs sequentially. The extended beacon frame includes at least information of BSSID, SSID, working channel and the like of the primary interface of the corresponding AP. The user terminal may receive the standard beacons from the serving AP it is communicating with and the extended beacons from the neighbor APs, and according to the two kinds of beacons, the terminal may calculate the signal quality with the primary interface of the serving AP and the signal qualities with the neighbor APs at the current position. By an algorithm of comparing the signal qualities of the best neighbor AP and the serving AP, the terminal may accurately and quickly determine whether to perform handoff with minimized cost.
US08023466B2 Soft handoff in OFDMA system
The soft handoff in an OFDMA system. If the pilot signal strength for a base station exceeds the defined threshold, the base station is added to an active set list. Subcarriers in a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are divided and allocated into subchannels. The OFDM symbols are divided and multiplexed. A soft handoff zone with a first dimension of the subchannels and a second dimension of the divided and multiplexed OFDM symbols is defined. The soft handoff zone have subcarriers with a subchannel definition, for example, an identical permutation.
US08023464B2 Dormant handoff in a packet data network
Mobile unassisted dormant handoff in a wireless communication system supporting packet data communications. While in a dormant mode, a mobile node may change packet zones, wherein different packet zones are serviced by at least one different infrastructure element, without identifying the change to the system. The change in packet zone does not necessarily trigger establishment of a communication path for the mobile node until there is packet data ready for communication. In one embodiment, mobile assistance is adapted to the system, and is disabled at the mobile node by an indication in a system parameter message transmitted by the system and received by the mobile node.
US08023462B2 Graph-based method for dynamic fractional frequency reuse
A method allocates frequency subchannels in an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) network including a set of base stations and a set of mobile stations for each base station. A graph of nodes and edges is constructed, in which the nodes represent the mobile stations in the network, and the edges connecting the nodes represent subchannel allocation constraints to be satisfied for the mobile stations represented by the nodes. The nodes are colored with colors selected from a set of colors such that subchannel allocation constraints of a pair of nodes connected by one of the edges are satisfied. The subchannels are allocated to the mobile stations according to the colors of the corresponding the nodes.
US08023461B2 Method and apparatus for sharing uplink state flag (USF) with multiple uplink temporary block flows (TBFs)
A method and an apparatus are described for increasing the flexibility of uplink resource allocation for a mobile station (MS) (100), that is backwards compatible with earlier standards that provide only a single data flow per MS. The method includes steps of (A) associating an allocated uplink resource (an Uplink State Flag (USF)) with one or more Temporary Block Flows (TBFs) for a Packet Data Channel (PDCH), and not with a MS per se (although a given USF is associated with only a single MS); and (B) using a Temporary Flow Identity (TFI) for identifying a TBF, where a TFI may be unique to a PDCH and, if not, is unique with respect to the MS on a PDCH (and hence with respect to the USF). The result is that the MS is enabled to send any of its TBFs on allocated resources of the same PDCH. An uplink resource may be allocated to the MS dynamically using the Uplink State Flag (USF) or by using a fixed allocation. A total of n Radio Bearers are associated with a single TBF, where n≧1.
US08023458B2 Method and apparatus for wideband conferencing
A method and apparatus for wideband voice and optional data conferencing over a telecommunications network channel between at least two wideband communications devices. An exemplary method comprises establishing an audio link, verifying wideband capability between the at least two wideband communications devices, training modems of the at least two wideband communications device to line conditions, and adjusting the telecommunications connection line conditions between the communications devices. Once a wideband connection has been established, audio and data may be simultaneously exchanged.
US08023457B2 Feedback reduction for MIMO precoded system by exploiting channel correlation
In a closed-loop wireless communication system, a codebook-based precoding feedback compression mechanism is provided to remove redundancy from the precoding feedback that is caused by channel correlation in time and frequency. Redundancy due to temporal correlation of the transmission channel is removed by sending precoding feedback only if there is a change in the precoder state for the channel to the receiver. Redundancy due to frequency correlation is removed by run length encoding the precoding feedback, thereby compressing the precoding feedback prior in the frequency domain. By compressing the precoding feedback, the average rate of precoder feedback is reduced.
US08023455B2 Scheduling in multi-cell multi-carrier wireless systems
Transmission is scheduled in a multi-cell multi-carrier wireless network. Assignments are determined for subcarriers by determining marginal gains for receivers, determining a receiver and an associated base station corresponding to a highest marginal gain, and assigning the receiver to the base station. These steps may be iteratively repeated until each of the receivers is assigned to a base station. The subcarriers are then allocated to the receivers by selecting the receiver with the highest gain. Alternatively, assignments are determined for subcarriers by determining a maximum additional queue size reduction, determining an assignment for each of the subcarriers, determining a receiver associated with a base station that has the determined maximum additional queue size reduction, assigning the receiver to the base station, and allocating the subcarriers to the receivers in the base stations.
US08023454B2 Apparatus and method for enhanced UM RLC data handling
An unacknowledged mode (UM) radio link control (RLC) entity receives RLC protocol data units (PDUs) delivered through one or more logical channels and re-orders the received PDUs by referring to their sequence numbers and by using a receive window and a timer to minimize delivery delay time, to reduce missing PDUs received from each logical channel, and to process the PDUs by avoiding duplicate PDUs.
US08023451B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for identifying radio network service availability
Apparatus, and an associated method, for identifying availability of services in a radio network of a radio communication system. A system information message is generated at the radio access network that identifies the service availability of the radio network, such as by indicating the communication services supported by the network. The system information message, once generated, is communicated upon a broadcast control channel, or other appropriate channel, and delivered to a mobile node. The mobile node detects the system information message and determines the availability of services of the radio network therefrom. Selection of whether to register with the network is made responsive to whether the network supports the communication service that the mobile node intends to initiate.
US08023450B2 Method for scheduling uplink transmissions from user equipments by a base station determining a measure of a quality of service, and corresponding base station, user equipment and communication system
A method of transmitting data packets in an uplink from a plurality of source user equipments to a base station, the data packets being for onward transmission to a plurality of destination user equipments, is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of determining a measure of a quality of service from the base station to a destination user equipment, and scheduling uplink transmissions from the source user equipments to the base station in dependence on the measure of a quality of service.
US08023445B2 Relay system and method in a communication system
Provided are a relaying method and system in a communication system having a BS, a MS for communicating with the BS, and an RS for relaying signals between the BS and the MS, in which the RS receives a first pilot sequence from the BS, replaces the first pilot sequence with a second pilot sequence, and transmits the second pilot sequence to the MS. Here, a partial cross correlation between the first and second pilot sequences is always ‘0’.
US08023442B2 Discontinuous reception method and apparatus of user equipment in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for DRX of a UE in a mobile communication system are provided, in which the UE receives setting information from a network, the setting information including a first DRX cycle length and a second DRX cycle length for a predetermined data service. Upon generation of uplink data, the UE transitions to a downloading phase in which active periods are set according to the first DRX cycle length.
US08023438B2 Analog signal path modeling for self-interference cancellation
Described herein is a device that includes at least one radio frequency transmitter; at least one radio frequency receiver; a copy block configurable to output a digital representation of a currently transmitted signal and a model having a representation of at least analog circuitry of the at least one radio frequency transmitter and analog circuitry of the at least one radio frequency receiver, as well as possibly one or more antennas. The model generates, in response to the digital representation of the currently transmitted signal, a self-interference compensation signal to compensate, in the digital domain, a signal that is received simultaneously with the currently transmitted signal. Also described are corresponding apparatus, methods, computer program instructions stored in a memory medium, and an integrated circuit embodiment.
US08023437B1 Methods, systems and program products for a distributed communications configuration
One example embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for communicating streaming data between a plurality of users participating in a real-time communications event over a packet based data network. One example method comprises steps of a source identifying a first sink corresponding to a request, the request including at least a method and method parameters, the source using a sink data repository to determine a first sink address corresponding to the first sink, and the source communicating the request to the first sink at the first sink address. Additional steps include a resource executing the method using the parameters and the resource communicating a response to the source following execution of the method.
US08023436B2 Multi-rate, multi-port, gigabit serdes transceiver
A multi-port SERDES transceiver includes multiple parallel ports and serial ports, and includes the flexibility to connect any one of the parallel ports to another parallel port or to a serial port, or both. Furthermore, the multi-port transceiver chip can connect any one of serial ports to another serial port or to one of the parallel ports. The substrate layout of the multi-port SERDES transceiver chip is configured so that the parallel ports and the serial ports are on the outer perimeter of the substrate. A logic core is at the center of the substrate, where the logic core operates the serial and parallel data ports, and the bus that connects the data ports. The bus can be described as a “ring” structure (or donut “structure”) around the logic core, and is configured between the logic core and the data ports. The ring structure of the bus provides efficient communication between the logic core and the various data ports.
US08023428B2 Method and apparatus for QoS improvement with packet voice transmission over wireless LANs
A method for improving packetized speech transmitted over a wireless LAN is disclosed. Speech packets transmitted over the wireless LAN are monitored for errors. Any of the speech packets found to have errors are replaced with synthesized speech packets. The synthesized speech packets may be created from a vocal tract model generated from the received speech packets during periods of time when there are no errors.
US08023423B2 Automated policy generation for mobile communication networks
A solution to the problem of automated policy generation for mobile ad hoc networks includes an optimization-based, utility-driven approach aimed at generating optimal policies with respect to the given network objectives. The combination of optimization heuristics and network simulation is used to solve the problem. Specifically, the problem of automated generation of network management policies based on available network plans and related information is solved by converting the policy generation into the following optimization problem: given network information and objectives as input, generate optimal policies as output. The optimization process is guided by a utility function based on performance evaluation criteria reflecting the network objectives.
US08023422B2 Dual core crosspoint system
A dual core crosspoint system includes a differential signal core for receiving N differential input channels with common mode voltage removed and providing m differential output channels with m output stages associated with the m output channels; and a common mode core for receiving N common mode voltage input channels derived from the N differential input channels and providing m common mode voltage output channels simultaneously with the m differential output channels.
US08023421B2 Method and apparatus for the assessment and optimization of network traffic
A system for the assessment of network performance criteria, and applying this criteria to the classification of network addresses into appropriate ranges, using these ranges to consolidate performance measurements for the associated addresses, and applying these metrics toward the optimization of the network towards performance or policy objectives.
US08023419B2 Remote monitoring of real-time internet protocol media streams
In one embodiment, a packet filter (or “trap”) is installed on one or more interfaces of a router, switch (intermediary) or other node in an IP network that identifies multimedia packets for a particular media stream. A packet replicator (or “cloner”) duplicates the identified packets allowing the original packets to continue through the IP network. A forwarder (“tunneler”) encapsulates and sends the cloned media packets to a central facility where the tunneled media stream is further analyzed.
US08023417B2 Failover mechanisms in RDMA operations
In remote direct memory access transfers in a multinode data processing system in which the nodes communicate with one another through communication adapters coupled to a switch or network, failures in the nodes or in the communication adapters can produce the phenomenon known as trickle traffic, which is data that has been received from the switch or from the network that is stale but which may have all the signatures of a valid packet data. The present invention addresses the trickle traffic problem in two situations: node failure and adapter failure. In the node failure situation randomly generated keys are used to reestablish connections to the adapter while providing a mechanism for the recognition of stale packets. In the adapter failure situation, a round robin context allocation approach is used with adapter state contexts being provided with state information which helps to identify stale packets.
US08023416B2 Module for testing electromagnetic compatibility of a high-speed ethernet interface onboard an aircraft
A module to test electromagnetic compatibility of at least one high speed Ethernet interface onboard an aircraft. The module includes a cable less than 1 meter long, the ends of which are fitted with two aircraft contacts, two standard connectors compatible with standard test equipment, and a mechanism simulating attenuation of a test cable.
US08023415B2 Measuring and monitoring QoS in service differentiated wireless networks
A wireless network (100) includes a plurality of wireless stations (QSTAs) (102) and an access point (QAP) (101). The QAP, or one or more of the QSTAs, or both, are adapted to measure delay data, or queue data, or both, per one or more traffic type. A method of wireless communication is also described.
US08023406B2 Route reflector for a communication system
A method, system and apparatus for routing of data transmitted from a mobile electronic device to a first host of a plurality of hosts in a communication network using a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is provided. It is determined that the first host has failed via receipt of BGP rerouted data at least one network element, the BGP rerouted data originally intended for the first host. A negative acknowledgement (NACK) is transmitted to the mobile electronic device from the at least one network element, the NACK enabled to trigger the mobile electronic device to transmit data that was to be transmitted to the first host to another of the plurality of hosts and wherein the NACK is identifiable by the mobile electronic device as having been transmitted by the at least one network element.
US08023400B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving and relaying signal in a communication system using DOFDM/DOFDMA
A signal transmission apparatus in a Double Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DOFDM)/Double Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (DOFMA) communication system generates a first signal by performing row-wised Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) on M sub-samples for each of N sub-carriers, generates a second signal by performing column-wised OFDM on the first signal generated for each of the N sub-carriers, and transmits the second signal to a signal reception apparatus. Here, N denotes a number of sub-carriers used in the DOFDM/DOFDMA communication system, and M denotes an integer greater than or equal to 1.
US08023398B2 Using a single FHT to decode access-based handoff probes from multiple users
Aspects describe a Fast Hadamard Transform that is common to multiple mobile devices. A scrambled sequence produced by the Fast Hadamard Transform can be utilized to decode access-based handoff probes from multiple terminals within a wireless communications system. A Walsh Sequence can be scrambled with a common random sequence to produce a scrambled sequence. At least a portion of the scrambled sequence is included in an access probe.
US08023396B2 Adaptive modulation for fixed wireless link in cable transmission system
In one embodiment of a communications network, the predetermined encoding scheme and symbol constellation configurations are chosen so that the range in channel qualities that the encoding scheme and symbol constellation configurations are designed to be utilized within overlap with each other. This overlapping provides hysteresis, which reduces the frequency with which a subscriber must alter encoding scheme and symbol constellations. Reducing the frequency of changing encoding scheme and/or symbol constellation eliminates the communication overhead associated with these changes and increases throughput by enabling the subscriber to spend more time transmitting data.
US08023394B2 Optical data recording medium and method of manufacturing the same
A method is provided for manufacturing an optical data recording medium including a plurality of data recording layers each having a user data recording region and a BCA formation region positioned at an inner position than the data recording region. The method includes: forming a first data recording layer out of the plurality of data recording layers on a first substrate; forming a second data recording layer out of the plurality of data recording layers on a second substrate; forming a BCA pattern within the BCA formation region of the second data recording layer to record burst cut data; and bonding the first and second substrates after the BCA pattern is formed.
US08023390B2 Optical head and optical disk device
An interference type optical head and an optical disk device that can easily adjust an optical path length difference of a couple of lights, ensure higher signal amplification effect, and are suitable for reduction in size are provided in order to improve a regeneration signal quality with amplification of signal in the case where reflectivity of each layer must be lowered and relative noise for the signal increases because read speed is high in a multilayer optical disk. In view of essentially improving an S/N ratio of the regeneration signal in high-speed rotation of a multilayer disk, a plurality of interference phases are generated and an optical system for differential calculation has been reduced in size with an angular selective polarization conversion element in the optical disk device for amplifying the signal with interference of the light not radiated to the disk with the reflected light from the disk. Moreover, adjustment of reflection mirror angle of the reference light is no longer required by using a corner cube prism as the reference light reflection mirror and highly accurate signal detection can also be realized with a simplified structure.
US08023388B2 Objective lens, optical pickup apparatus, and optical information recording reproducing apparatus
An objective lens includes a first optical path difference providing structure in which a first basic structure and a second basic structure are overlapped together, and a second optical path difference providing structure in which a third basic structure, a fourth basic structure, and a fifth basic structure are overlapped together. The first and third basic structures emit diffracted light fluxes with the same diffraction order having the maximum light amount. The second and fourth basic structures emit diffracted light fluxes with the same diffraction order having the maximum light amount. The fifth basic structure emits 0th-order diffracted light fluxes with the maximum light amount, for the first light flux, emits 0th-order diffracted light fluxes with the maximum light amount, for the second light flux, and emits Gth-order diffracted light fluxes with the maximum light amount, for the third light flux, where G is an integer excluding zero.
US08023384B2 Computer program product for controlling an apparatus for accessing dual-path optical recording media
A dual-path optical recording medium and an apparatus for accessing such are disclosed. The dual-path optical recording medium includes a substrate, an intermediate recording layer, a holographic recording layer and a dichronic mirror layer. The intermediate recording layer is a rewritable data storage layer with a relatively low storage capacity. The holographic recording layer is a write-once data storage layer with a relatively high storage capacity. The dichronic mirror layer is located between the holographic recording layer and the intermediate recording layer. The apparatus for accessing the dual-path optical recording medium includes a first light module capable of generating a first laser light, and a second light module capable of generating a second laser light.
US08023382B2 Information reproduction apparatus and information reproduction method
A small size circuit reproducing data with low error rate even when a signal includes a non-linear distortion is desired. In such a circuit, the Viterbi method is performed. In the Viterbi method, branch metrics are calculated based on a difference of a sampled reproduction signal and a predetermined expectation values. Path metrics are calculated from the branch metrics. Paths among the plurality of paths having the calculated path metrics and merging at a same state are compared with one another. Based on the magnitude of the compared path metrics, survivor path is selected. In the circuit, for the path metrics of paths merging at a same state, offset corresponding to a determination result until a merging point is added to the paths for the comparison for determining the survivor path from the plurality of merging paths.
US08023381B2 Information reproducing apparatus and method, and computer program
An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: an offset adding device (19-1, 19-2) for adding a first offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, to a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal to which the first offset value is added; an offset subtracting device (19-2, 19-3) for subtracting a second offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, from the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the second offset value is subtracted.
US08023376B2 Fast disc recognition by elimination of calibrations
A method and a device for fast disc recognition for use in read/write performances when an optical disc is connected to an optical drive, including the provision of a set S of parameters for safe data transfer between the drive and the disc, the direct calibration during a disc recognition step only of those parameters out of said set S in need of a direct calibration, the start of a read/write data transfer sequence after said disc recognition step is finalized and the calibration of the remaining parameters at first after or during one or more data transfer read/write sequences.
US08023370B2 Apparatus and method for converting groove/land polarity upon groove/land track change on optical medium
An apparatus for converting a groove/land polarity on an optical medium, comprises a physical identification (PID) detector for detecting a first PID value from a first sector, a sector information unit for providing an information which includes a second PID value indicative of either a second sector or at least one reference groove/land changing point, a sector counter for counting a first value whose an initiation is set by the sector information unit based on the information and/or by the PID detector based on the first PID value, and a comparing unit for determining at least one oncoming groove/land changing points, when the first value approaches a second value predetermined in or generated by the sector information unit according to the information.
US08023367B2 Objective lens actuator and disc drive employing the objective lens actuator
An object lens actuator can improve workability and operate with high reliability by prevention of damage to the object lens actuator and a disc and sticking of a moving part caused by an excessive movement of the moving part. In a disc drive employing the object lens actuation, stable writing/reading operation is implemented by always keeping a focal point of an object lens at a predetermined track of a recording surface of the disc even when being under the action of external perturbations such as a vertical deviation or a radial deviation of the disc, resulting in improved reliability. A solder-flux adhesion prevention gadget is provided between a substrate and a stopper receiving face, which may include a stepped stage, a partition protruding from the surface of the lens holder, or alternatively a combination of them arranged in order in the range.
US08023364B2 Hand position detecting device and hand position control method
A solar panel determines whether or not a wristwatch is in darkness. When the darkness has continued for a predetermined time period, e.g., for 61-70 minutes, it is determined that the wristwatch is not in use and set in a sleep state. Out of seconds, center and hour hands, at least the seconds hand is rotated to a reference position (00-second position) and stopped, and positions of the center and hour hands are detected. Therefore, power consumption during can be reduced when the wristwatch is not in use.
US08023352B2 Semiconductor storage device
In a 4F2 memory cell designed using an SGT as a vertical transistor, a bit line has a high resistance because it is comprised of a diffusion layer underneath a pillar-shaped silicon layer, which causes a problem of slowdown in memory operation speed. The present invention provides a semiconductor storage device comprising an SGT-based 4F2 memory cell, wherein a bit line-backing cell having the same structure as that of a memory cell is inserted into a memory cell array to allow a first bit line composed of a diffusion layer to be backed with a low-resistance second bit line through the bit line backing cell, so as to provide a substantially low-resistance bit line, while suppressing an increase in area of the memory cell array.
US08023345B2 Iteratively writing contents to memory locations using a statistical model
Systems, methods, and devices for iteratively writing contents to memory locations are provided. A statistical model is used to determine a sequence of pulses to write desired contents to a memory location. The contents can be expressed as a resistance value in a range to store one or more bits in a memory cell. For phase change memory, an adaptive reset pulse and one or more annealing pulses are selected based on a desired resistance range. Reading the resistance value of the memory cell can provide feedback to determine adjustments in an overall pulse application strategy. The statistical model and a look up table can be used to select and modify pulses. Adaptively updating the statistical model and look up table may reduce the number of looping iterations to shift the resistance value of the memory cell into the desired resistance range.
US08023344B2 Data retention kill function
Various data protection techniques are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided. The memory device may initiate a security measure upon occurrence of one or more triggering events. The one or more triggering events may include receipt of a command signal. Various additional methods, devices, and systems are also provided.
US08023341B2 Method and apparatus for address allotting and verification in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a CAM cell array that stores the operation setting information as to the semiconductor device, a controller that controls read and write of the CAM cell array, a row decoder, and a column decoder. With this structure, different row addresses are allocated to respective functions of the operation setting information. Accordingly, stress is not caused in the CAM cell array of the unselected functions at the time of programming.
US08023339B2 Pipe latch circuit and semiconductor memory device using the same
A pipe latch circuit comprises a reset signal generating unit which receives a read-write flag signal and a read period signal and generates a reset signal, wherein the reset signal is enabled upon entry into a write operation or after all data are outputted to an outside upon read operation, an input/output control signal generating unit which generates a plurality of input control signals and output control signals in response to a read strobe signal and a clock signal, and is reset in response to the reset signal, and a pipe latch unit which latches inputted data in response to the input control signals and outputs the latched data in response to the output control signals.
US08023333B2 Reading method for MLC memory and reading circuit using the same
A reading method for a multi-level cell (MLC) memory includes the following steps. A number of word line voltages are sequentially provided to an MLC memory cell. A number of bit line voltages corresponding to the word line voltages are sequentially provided to the MLC memory cell. One of the word line voltages is higher than another one of the word line voltages, and one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the one of the word line voltages is lower than another one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the another one of the word line voltages.
US08023331B2 Semiconductor memory device including stacked gate having charge accumulation layer and control gate and method of writing data to semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation of selecting any one of the word lines, of applying a first voltage to selected one of the word lines, and of applying a second voltage to unselected one of the word lines, to write data to selected one of the memory cells connected to the selected one of the word lines. The control circuit, while the driver circuit is repeating the programming operation, steps up the first voltage and keeps the second voltage constant until the first voltage reaches a first threshold. The control circuit steps up the second voltage after the first voltage has reached the first threshold.
US08023330B2 Method of erasing a nonvolatile memory device
In a method of erasing a nonvolatile memory device, an erase operation is performed on memory cells of a selected block. A first soft program operation is performed on the cells on which the erase operation has been performed. The erase operation and the first soft program operation are repeatedly performed by increasing an erase voltage by a first step voltage until a threshold voltage of the memory cells becomes lower than a first erase verify voltage. When the threshold voltage of the memory cells becomes lower than the first erase verify voltage, a second soft program operation is performed. The second soft program operation is repeatedly performed by increasing a soft program voltage by a second step voltage until a cell is programmed to have a soft program verify voltage.
US08023329B2 Reducing effects of program disturb in a memory device
A selected word line that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with an initial programming voltage. The unselected word lines that are adjacent to the selected word line are biased at an initial Vpass. As the quantity of program/erase cycles on the memory device increases, the programming voltage required to successfully program the cells decreases incrementally. Vpass tracks the decrease of the programming voltage.
US08023327B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A memory device including a NAND string with multiple memory cells connected in series, one end of the NAND string being coupled to a bit line via a first select gate transistor while the other end is coupled to a source line via a second select gate transistor, wherein the device has a data read mode performed under the bias condition of: a selected cell is applied with a read voltage; and unselected cells are applied with read pass voltages, and wherein in the data read mode, one of the unselected cells adjacent to one of the first and second select gate transistor is applied with a first read pass voltage while the other unselected cells are applied with a second read pass voltage lower than the first read pass voltage.
US08023326B2 Trap-charge non-volatile switch connector for programmable logic
A nonvolatile trap charge storage cell selects a logic interconnect transistor uses in programmable logic applications, such as FPGA. The nonvolatile trap charge element is an insulator located under a control gate and above an oxide on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The preferred embodiment is an integrated device comprising a word gate portion sandwiched between two nonvolatile trap charge storage portions, wherein the integrated device is connected between a high bias, a low bias and an output. The output is formed by a diffusion connecting to the channel directly under the word gate portion. The program state of the two storage portions determines whether the high bias or the low bias is coupled to a logic interconnect transistor connected to the output diffusion.
US08023325B2 Semiconductor memory having electrically erasable and programmable semiconductor memory cells
An electrically alterable non-volatile multi-level memory device and a method of operating such a device, which includes setting a status of at least one of the memory cells to one state selected from a plurality of states including at least first to fourth level states, in response to information to be stored in the one memory cell, and reading the status of the memory cell to determine whether the read out status corresponds to one of the first to fourth level states by utilizing a first reference level set between the second and third level states, a second reference level set between the first and second level states and a third reference level set between the third and fourth level states.
US08023322B2 Non-volatile memory and method with reduced neighboring field errors
A memory device and a method thereof allow programming and sensing a plurality of memory cells in parallel in order to minimize errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells and to improve performance. The memory device and method have the plurality of memory cells linked by the same word line and a read/write circuit is coupled to each memory cells in a contiguous manner. Thus, a memory cell and its neighbors are programmed together and the field environment for each memory cell relative to its neighbors during programming and subsequent reading is less varying. This improves performance and reduces errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells, as compared to conventional architectures and methods in which cells on even columns are programmed independently of cells in odd columns.
US08023319B2 Phase change memory
The phase change memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of local conductor lines connected to the plurality of memory banks, at least one global conductor line connected to the plurality of local conductor lines, and at least one repair control circuit configured to selectively replace at least one of the at least one global conductor line with at least one redundant global conductor line and configured to selectively replace at least one of the plurality of local conductor lines with at least one redundant local conductor line.
US08023314B2 Dynamic memory word line driver scheme
A circuit which accurately controls the word line (pass transistor gate) driving voltage to a voltage which is both controlled and is not significantly greater than is needed to drive the word line. The circuit eliminates the need for a double-boot-strapping circuit, and ensures that no voltages exceed that necessary to fully turn on a memory cell access transistor. Voltages in excess of that which would reduce reliability are avoided, and accurate driving voltages are obtained. A DRAM includes word lines, memory cells having enable inputs connected to the word lines, a gate receiving word line selecting signals at first logic levels Vss and Vdd, and for providing a select signal at levels Vss and Vdd, a high voltage supply source Vpp which is higher in voltage than Vdd, a circuit for translating the select signals at levels Vss and Vdd to levels Vss and Vpp and for applying it directly to the word lines whereby an above Vdd voltage level word line is achieved without the use of double boot-strap circuits.
US08023308B1 Non-volatile memory circuit using ferroelectric capacitor storage element
A non-volatile memory cell and related system utilize ferroelectric capacitors as data storage elements. Circuitry is provided for writing to a single ferroelectric capacitor storage element, as well as to dual storage elements operating inversely. The storage elements are read by use of a sense amplifier in a configuration which automatically restores the original data states, thereby eliminating the need for a subsequent restore operation. Memory systems are described which include circuitry for driving bit lines, word lines and drive lines to accomplish both the write and read operations.
US08023307B1 Peripheral signal handling in extensible three dimensional circuits
A method for handling peripheral signals in an extensible three dimensional circuit includes forming an extensible three dimensional circuit with a plurality of stacked crossbar arrays and at least one class of traveling lines which travel vertically and laterally through the circuit. The method also includes alternating the traveling direction of bundles of traveling lines such that there are a substantially equal number of undriven lines and underutilized lines which exit out of a given side of the circuit and creating loopback traces which connect the undriven traveling lines and the underutilized traveling lines to form driven traveling lines with a full complement of memory elements and eliminate addressing gaps within the circuit.
US08023306B2 Electronic and optoelectronic devices with quantum dot films
Optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit an array of conductive regions; and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a method of forming a nanocrystalline film includes fabricating a plurality of nanocrystals having a plurality of first ligands attached to their outer surfaces; exchanging the first ligands for second ligands of different chemical composition than the first ligands; forming a film of the ligand-exchanged nanocrystals; removing the second ligands; and fusing the cores of adjacent nanocrystals in the film to form an electrical network of fused nanocrystals. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused.
US08023305B2 High density planar magnetic domain wall memory apparatus
A magnetic domain wall memory apparatus with write/read capability includes a plurality of coplanar shift register structures each comprising an elongated track formed from a ferromagnetic material having a plurality of magnetic domains therein, the shift register structures further having a plurality of discontinuities therein to facilitate domain wall location; a magnetic read element associated with each of the shift register structures; and a magnetic write element associated with each of the shift register structures, the magnetic write element further comprising a single write wire having a longitudinal axis substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the coplanar shift register structures.
US08023297B2 High efficiency photovoltaic inverter
A photovoltaic (PV) inverter includes a single DC to AC converter configured to operate solely in a buck mode for PV array voltage levels greater than a connected power grid instantaneous voltage plus converter margin, and further configured to operate solely in a boost mode for PV array voltage levels plus margin less than the connected power grid instantaneous voltage, such that the PV inverter generates a rectified sine wave current in response to the available PV array power, and further such that the PV inverter generates a utility grid current in response to the rectified sine wave current.
US08023296B2 High voltage, high speed, high pulse repetition rate pulse generator
A high voltage, high speed, and high repetition rate pulse generator solves the high pulse repetition rate limitations associated with RF power amplifiers. The pulse generator employs resonant techniques to provide current limiting features that allow for continued high voltage, high speed, and high repetition pulse rate operation of the pulse generator without impairment of the pulse generator during both short circuit and open circuit load conditions.
US08023295B1 Direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) generation
In one embodiment, a power converter system comprises an input terminal operable to connect to a DC power source and an output terminal at which an output voltage can be provided. An active clamped forward converter is operable to provide forward power flow from the DC power source to the output terminal. A flyback converter is operable to provide backward power flow from the output terminal to the DC power source. The active clamped forward converter and the flyback converter cooperate to generate a rectified sinusoidal waveform at the output terminal.
US08023291B2 Voltage detecting circuit and switching power source apparatus
A voltage detecting circuit to perform voltage detection by introducing a voltage from a detection node, comprises: a first resistance, a second resistance, and a first switching element, connected in series with each other from the detection node to reference electric potential in order; and a detection circuit for performing a detection operation of a voltage by receiving input of the voltage from a node between the first resistance and the second resistance, wherein a control voltage generated on the basis of the voltage at the detection node is supplied to a control terminal of the first switching element, and the first switching element is turned on when the voltage at the detection node is large, and the first switching element is turned off when the voltage at the detection node is small.
US08023290B2 High efficiency power converter
A power converter nearly losslessly delivers energy and recovers energy from capacitors associated with controlled rectifiers in a secondary winding circuit, each controlled rectifier having a parallel uncontrolled rectifier. First and second primary switches in series with first and second primary windings, respectively, are turned on for a fixed duty cycle, each for approximately one half of the switching cycle. Switched transition times are short relative to the on-state and off-state times of the controlled rectifiers. The control inputs to the controlled rectifiers are cross-coupled from opposite secondary transformer windings.
US08023287B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes: a board having a first connector; a housing in which the board is disposed and which has a work opening for allowing external work for the board; and a cable which has an end reaching the board by passing through a path within the housing and has a second connector to be mated with the first connector and disposed at the end. The electronic device further includes a cable holding section provided at an inner wall of the housing and having a slit whose width is smaller than a size of the second connector. The cable holding section holds the cable so that a part of the cable reaches the work opening.
US08023285B2 Chip card holder
A chip card holder for a portable electronic device includes a body member and a cover member pivotally connected thereto. The body member defines a receiving groove for a chip card. The cover member includes a contact portion, a latching portion, and a connecting portion. The contact portion is pivotally connected to the body member and contacts the chip card. The latching portion latches to the body member. The connecting portion includes a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion. The first sheet portion connects to the second sheet portion, forming a gap therebetween. The contact portion connects to the first sheet portion, outside the gap. The latching portion connects to the second sheet portion, inside the gap.
US08023283B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a main body and a supporting stand. The main body defines a sliding groove. The supporting stand includes a fixed bracket assembled in the sliding groove of the main body, and a rotatable bracket rotatably connected to the fixed bracket. The fixed bracket defines a receiving groove. The rotatable bracket is received in the receiving groove of the fixed bracket at a first state, and the rotatable bracket is rotated out from the receiving groove of the fixed bracket at a second state to support the portable electronic device to stand on a flat surface.
US08023280B2 Communication circuit for driving a plurality of devices
A system and method is provided for transmitting a signal to a plurality of slave devices (e.g., memory devices, etc.) via a communication circuit having a plurality of segments that are substantially equal in length and/or impedance. Specifically, according to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic system includes a processor, a plurality of memory devices, and a communication circuit (i.e., a bus) having a central node and a plurality of segments. Specifically, the plurality of segments are used to connect the plurality of devices (e.g., the processor, the plurality of memory devices) to the central node. For example, the processor is connected to the central node via a primary segment, the first memory device (M0) is connected to the central node via a first segment, etc. In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of segments are substantially equal in length. In other words, the central node is substantially electrically-equidistant from each memory device. In another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of segments have substantially equal impedances. By arranging the plurality of memory devices in this manner (e.g., substantially electrically-equidistant from the central node, etc.), a well behaved signal can be received at each memory device.
US08023275B2 Interface retention and support apparatus and method of use
An information handling system includes a printed circuit board and an extension card. The printed circuit board includes a first expansion terminal. The extension card includes a first coupling interface, a retention mechanism, and an access terminal. The first coupling interface is operable to engage the first expansion terminal. The retention mechanism is operable to be coupled to at least a first exterior portion of the first expansion terminal to secure the first coupling interface to the first expansion terminal. The access terminal is operably coupled to the first coupling interface, and the access terminal is electrically coupled the first expansion terminal to access terminal.
US08023271B2 Sealed expansion module
Improved Sealed Expansion Module is an enclosure for housing electronics, such as circuit boards, POTS/VDSL cables having connectors, a fiber cable having a connector and a power cable having a connector. The preferred embodiment of Improved Sealed Expansion Module is comprised of at least some of the following: an enclosure having two internally undivided chambers (upper and lower), an access hatch attached with captive fasteners to the lower chamber of the enclosure, circuit boards located in the upper chamber of the enclosure, a surge protector and POTS/VDSL, fiber and power cables with connectors within the lower chamber of the enclosure, and a plurality of openings on the bottom of the lower chamber for POTS/VDSL interconnection cables, fiber interconnection cables, power interconnection cables at customer sites.
US08023265B2 Heat dissipation device and centrifugal fan thereof
A centrifugal fan includes a plurality of blades, a housing for receiving the blades therein and an air guiding mechanism. The housing includes a top wall and a sidewall around the top wall. The sidewall defines a first air outlet and a second air outlet adjacent and perpendicular to the first air outlet. The air guiding mechanism is located between the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The air guiding mechanism includes an air guiding wall parallel to the second air outlet and an air partition wall extending inwardly from the air guiding wall towards the blades. The first air outlet is defined between the air partition wall and the sidewall. The second air outlet is defined between the air guiding wall and the sidewall of the housing.
US08023263B2 Latch for securing a hardware component into a component bay
A latch apparatus and method to facilitate leveraged insertion of a component into a component bay to an interfaced position, securing of the component in the component bay when the component interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the component from its interfaced position for removal of the component from the component bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the component housing to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the component bay for leveraged insertion and removal. One latch apparatus comprises a frame adapted to be secured to a proximal end of a component housing, a handle pivotally secured to the frame, and an extendable arm slidably secured to a distal end of the handle and biased toward an extended position, wherein the distal end of the extendable arm has a distally extending latch key for engaging a slot in the component bay.
US08023261B2 Electronic device assembly
Apparatus and methods for assembling an electronic device and components thereof are provided. The electronic device may include a housing and a cover inserted into an opening in the housing. The electronic device may also include a first assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a first end, and a second assembly that may be inserted into the housing through a second end. The electronic device may also include end cap assemblies. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include an input mechanism coupled to the housing and a plate coupled to the housing. In some embodiments, a connector of the electronic device may be mounted on a circuit board by inserting a fixture into the connector, mounting the connector to a portion of the circuit board, removing the fixture from the connector, and separating the portion of the circuit board from another portion of the circuit board.
US08023259B2 Hard disk securing apparatus
The invention discloses a hard disk securing apparatus including an upper housing, a lower housing, and a securing module. The lower housing is fixed in an electronic apparatus and includes a block part. An accommodation space is formed between the upper housing and the lower housing and used for accommodating a hard disk of the electronic apparatus. The securing module is disposed on the upper housing, and includes a ring-shape elastic body and a clasp member extending from the ring-shape elastic body. The clasp member detachably clasps the block part of the lower housing.
US08023257B2 Slide mechanism for slide-type portable electronic device
A slide mechanism includes a main plate, a slide plate and a driving device, the slide plate slidably engages with the main plate, the driving device for driving the slide plate slide relative to the main plate includes a driving mechanism and a control module electronically connecting the driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is positioned between the main plate and the slide plate, the slide plate slide relative to the main plate by the driving mechanism, which is controlled by the control module. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device applying the slide mechanism.
US08023253B1 Enclosure and operable storage system
An enclosure and operable storage system for efficiently utilizing a toy, literature item, or other novelty item in conjunction with a personal computer. The enclosure and operable storage system generally includes an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is comprised of a portable configuration and playful configuration, or comprised of a book. A computer system including a memory device, at least one network adapter, and optionally a processing unit are positioned within the enclosure. At least one virtual application or virtual operating system is installed upon the memory device to be run by the processing unit of the host computer. Additionally, at least one external peripheral connector is connected to the computer system to connect to at least one peripheral device of a host computer.
US08023248B2 Electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric layer 30 formed with an attraction and fix face onto which a plate member 10 is attracted and fixed, wherein the attraction and fix face of the dielectric layer 30 is formed with a plurality of projection parts 32 each with only a tip face abutting the plate member 10 formed as a flat face by grinding and formed with a coolant gas flow path 36 where a coolant gas flows is opened to the flat face of each of the projection parts 32.
US08023245B2 Lightning strike mitigation for aircraft
A lightning mitigation system for use on an aircraft employs parasitic capacitance associated with a motor/generator to dissipate voltage provided as a result of a lightning strike. The motor/generator includes a set of windings defined by an outer periphery and a case that surrounds the set of windings. A parasitic capacitance is defined by the airgap separating the windings of the motor/generator from the case. A motor controller is electrically connected to the set of windings and includes a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes an equivalent capacitance that is selected based on the parasitic capacitance associated with the motor/generator such that a lightning strike results in a large portion of the voltage being dissipated by the parasitic capacitance of the motor/generator.
US08023238B2 Universal trip unit
A universal trip unit for use with a circuit breaker apparatus is provided and includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a personality module of the circuit breaker apparatus and to thereby receive key breaker personality parameters that relate to operational characteristics of the circuit breaker apparatus, and a controller. The controller includes a memory on which a universal register, previously stored key parameters and the received key breaker personality parameters are stored, the controller being configured to control the communication unit to receive the key breaker personality parameters in accordance with information determined from the universal register, and components to execute trip protection when at least one of a current and a voltage Within the circuit breaker apparatus exceeds a respective predetermined threshold as defined by the previously stored key parameters and the received key breaker personality parameters.
US08023236B2 Precision ground fault detection for aircraft human body protection
A power supply system for use with a component comprises at least three phases of power supply, with each of said three phases passing through a solid state power controller having an on/off switch. Each of the phases of power pass through a current sense transformer. A ground fault circuit receives an outlet from the current sense transformer. The ground fault circuit includes an analog filter connected into a digital processor. An output of the digital processor is operable to control the switches on the solid state power controllers. The three phases distribute power to the component when the switch on their associated solid state power converter is on.
US08023235B2 Multifunctional residential circuit breaker
An electrical fault detection device for use in a branch of a power circuit that utilizes signals from an AC line current sensor coupled to an electrical distribution line having a primary and neutral lines, a line high-frequency sensor coupled to the electrical distribution line, a differential current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines, and a ground fault current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines. A signal conditioner receives the signals outputted by AC current line current sensor, the line high frequency sensor, the differential current sensor and the ground fault current sensor and generates a signal indicative of the load current associated with a branch of the power circuit. Output of the signal conditioner is sampled and processed by a processing resource. The processing resource has stored therein data representing a plurality of time-versus-current curves that define a plurality of regions in which tripping may or may not occur. One region has time data and current data that define a time-duration for a particular current magnitude for which no tripping will occur. Another region has time data and current data that define a time-duration of a particular current magnitude for which tripping will occur. Processing resource processes sampled signal to determine the region to which the processed time data and current data correspond, and generates a signal to initiate tripping if the sampled signal yields a time duration for a particular current magnitude that corresponds to a region for which tripping must occur.
US08023233B2 Tunneling magnetic sensing element including free magnetic layer and IrMn protective layer disposed thereon and method for manufacturing the same
A tunneling magnetic sensing element includes a pinned magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is pinned in one direction, an insulating barrier layer disposed on the pinned magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer whose magnetization direction varies in response to an external magnetic field disposed on the insulating barrier layer, and a first protective layer composed of iridium-manganese (IrMn) disposed on the free magnetic layer. Consequently, a high rate of change in resistance is obtained and the magnetostriction of the free magnetic layer is low, compared with a tunneling magnetic sensing element which is not provided with a first protective layer.
US08023232B2 Film and method for producing nano-particles for magnetoresistive device
A method of generating a thin film for use in a spin valve of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor having a nano-constricted spacer is provided. The bottom portion of the spin valve is deposited up to the pinned layer, a deposition chamber is provided, and the spacer layer is sputtered thereon. A main ion beam generates ions onto a composite surface including magnetic chips and insulator material. Simultaneously, an assisted ion beam provides ions directly to the substrate, thus improving the softness of the free layer and smoothness of the spacer layer. Neutralizers are also provided to prevent ion repulsion and improve ion beam focus. As a result, a thin film spacer can be formed, and the nano-constricted MR spin valve having low free layer coercivity and low interlayer coupling between the free layer and pinned layer is formed.
US08023224B2 Apparatus to prevent sticking of spindle motor and hard disk drive having the same
A hard disk drive includes a base, a cover coupled to an upper portion of the base to accommodate a plurality of parts between the cover and the base, a spindle motor including a FDB (fluid dynamic bearing) having an FDB fixing portion fixed to the base and an FDB rotation portion partially inserted in an inside of the FDB fixing portion and which rotates with respect to the FDB fixing portion, a hub to support a disk, having an end portion coupled to the FDB rotation portion, and which rotates with the FDB rotation portion and a power generation portion to generate power to rotate the hub, and an anti-stick portion provided with at least one of the cover and the spindle motor and which prevents the FDB rotation portion from being restricted as the FDB rotation portion partially contacts the FDB fixing portion by an impact applied to the spindle motor when the disk rotates.
US08023222B2 Information storage device and computer product
According to one embodiment, an information storage device includes a recording/reproducing head, a positioning controller, a position detector, a storage module, and a position error detector. The position detector detects the position of the recording/reproducing head. The storage module stores servo control filters. The position error detector generates a new position error signal from a target position and the position of the recording/reproducing head when the positioning controller performs positioning control with control current obtained from a position error signal having passed through each servo control filter. Upon occurrence of a recording/reproducing error, learning to calculate a vibration amount from the position of the recording/reproducing head is sequentially performed for the servo control filters for a predetermined time. The positioning controller performs the positioning control with control current obtained from the position error signal having passed through one of the servo control filters where the vibration amount is smallest.
US08023220B2 Method for writing servo data to a disk and disk drive configured to write servo data utilizing the method
A method for writing servo sector sets that include a plurality of separate servo sectors on a disk so that servo sectors are present at same circumferential positions but different radial positions. The method includes reading a first servo sector set in a track with a read element such that the track includes first, second and third servo sector sets. The method also includes writing the third servo sector set with a write element at a different radial position from the read element with positional control and timing control using the first servo sector set while skipping the second servo sector set if all servo sectors of the first servo sector set are non-defective. Moreover, the method includes using positional control and timing control using the second servo sector set in the writing of the third servo sector set if the first servo sector set includes a defective servo sector.
US08023214B2 Rework method and apparatus of magnetic record medium, information
A reproducing method of reproducing magnetic information written in each of bits of a recording medium using a magnetic head having a reading element configured to measure external magnetic field intensity includes moving, measuring and specifying steps. In the moving step, the magnetic head moves to a position where the reading element covers two bits, one bit having known magnetic information, the other bit being adjacent to the one bit and having unknown magnetic information. In the measuring step, the reading element measures magnetic field intensity coming from the recording medium. In the specifying step, magnetic information of the bit having the unknown magnetic information is specified based on the magnetic field intensity measured in the measuring step and magnetic information of the bit having the known magnetic information.
US08023213B2 Patterned medium inspection method and inspection device
A defect inspection method and device for a perpendicular magnetic recording medium that has discrete recording tracks and grooves between recording tracks, including DC demagnetizing the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, detecting a reproduced signal from the perpendicular magnetic recording medium after the DC demagnetizing, removing output fluctuation components caused by the grooves from the reproduced signal using a filter with a prescribed cutoff frequency and separating a peak output of the reproduced signal, comparing the peak output with a prescribed reference signal, and identifying a location where the peak output exceeds the reference signal as a defect location. The method further includes performing an envelope-detection on the reproduced signal, detecting a pre-format region in the perpendicular magnetic recording medium using the envelope-detection result, masking the detected pre-format region, and detecting the defect location in a region outside the masked pre-format region in the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
US08023209B2 Method of manufacturing light source device and the light source device
A method of manufacturing a light source device includes: preparing a holder for a semiconductor laser and a coupling lens having a first side confronting the semiconductor laser and a second side opposite to the first side, a photopolymerizable resin being provided on the holder at least at a location between the coupling lens and the holder; locating a light source for emitting a curing light for curing the photopolymerizable resin on an opposite side of the semiconductor laser with respect to the coupling lens, a reflecting member being provided on an opposite side of the light source with respect to the coupling lens; and curing the photopolymerizable resin by irradiating the curing light from the light source directly on a part of the photopolymerizable resin, and also on another remaining part of the photopolymerizable resin by reflecting the curing light on the reflecting member irradiating the curing light.
US08023199B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens has a plurality of lens units including, in order from its object side to image side, a first lens unit having a negative refracting power composed of two lens elements including a biconcave negative lens and a positive lens, and a second lens unit having a positive refracting power composed of four lens elements including a positive lens and a negative lens. During zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, a distance between the lens units changes, and the second lens unit moves toward the object side. The zoom lens has an aperture stop that moves integrally with the second lens during the zooming and satisfies a specific condition.
US08023188B2 Method of transforming a light beam, optical film for performing the method, and display device having the optical film
In a method of transforming light, an optical film for performing the method and a display device having the optical film, an optical film includes an anisotropic film, an isotropic film, a λ/4 phase difference film and a λ/2 phase difference film. The anisotropic film having a first refractive index with respect to a first ray and a second refractive index with respect to a second ray. A refractive index of the isotropic film is substantially identical to the first refractive index. The λ/4 phase difference film delays wavelengths of the first and second rays by about λ/4. The λ/2 phase difference film delays the wavelength of the second ray by about λ/2.
US08023186B2 Screen
A screen that reflects light from a projection apparatus to present a projected image includes: a screen substrate; and a plurality of spherical microlenses disposed on the front side of the screen substrate, wherein the microlenses are arranged along a predetermined first direction on the screen substrate to form lens rows, and adjacent microlenses in each of the lens rows have different radii of curvature.
US08023184B2 Device and method for high-intensity uniform illumination with minimal light reflection for use in microscopes
A device for high-intensity uniform illumination with minimal light reflection for use in reflective-type microscopes has a light source with a uniform emission and the following components, arranged in succession in the emission direction: a lens combination with a short focal length, the focal length of the lens combination being adjusted in such a way that the light source is projected to infinity; a rectangular diaphragm aperture, which is located on the rear focal plane of the lens combination, the Fourier plane of the lens combination being situated on the plane; an additional lens with a focal length, through which the rectangular diaphragm aperture is projected onto the intermediate image plane of the microscope; and a circular diaphragm, onto which the light source is projected in sharp focus and which is located on the rear focal plane of the additional lens.
US08023183B1 All-reflective wide-field-of-view telescope with beneficial distortion correction
A wide-field-of-view (WFOV) optical system includes a negative optical-power primary mirror configured to receive and reflect light from an image scene; a low optical-power secondary mirror configured to receive and reflect light from the primary mirror; a negative optical-power tertiary mirror configured to receive and reflect light from the secondary mirror; and a positive optical-power quaternary mirror configured to receive and reflect light from the tertiary mirror. The primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary mirrors are configured to maintain an effective focal length (EFL) at edges of the field of view (FOV) of the optical system to be at least equal to a center of the FOV of the optical system so that a spatial resolution of the optical system essentially remains constant across the FOV.
US08023182B2 Device for collecting flux of electromagnetic radiation in the extreme ultraviolet
Device for collecting a flux of electromagnetic radiation in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emitted by a source, including a main, first collector stage, with a concave collector mirror placed in front of the source at a distance of greater than 250 mm and pierced by a central hole, and a convex mirror placed behind the concave mirror level with the source and pierced by a central hole, and at least a second collector stage with a concave collector mirror placed in front of the stage and pierced by a central hole and a convex mirror placed behind the concave mirror.
US08023180B2 Fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical crystals and their growth and applications
A fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical single crystal is represented by a molecular formula of MBe2BO3F2, wherein M is Rb or Cs. The crystal can be grown by the flux method comprising the steps of mixing a fluoroberyllium borate compound and a flux in proportion, heating the mixture up to 750-800° C., keeping at this temperature and then cooling it to the temperature of 2-10° C. above the saturating point to obtain a fluoroberyllium borate solution at high temperature; putting the seed crystal fixed on the end of a crystal hanging bar into the fluoroberyllium borate solution at high temperature, rotating the crystal hanging bar, cooling the melt solution to its saturating point, then cooling it again slowly, pulling the obtained crystal out of the solution surface, cooling it to room temperature, then obtaining the present fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical crystal. The crystal has nonlinear optical effect, broad transmittance wave and UV cut-off edge at 150 nm; neither deliquesces nor dissolves in dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute nitric acid; and has good chemical stability. The present crystal is applicable to the need of harmonic generations in the UV range and can be used to make nonlinear optical devices, achieve the output device for the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth harmonic generations of Nd:YAG laser. They can be also used in harmonic generation devices of other laser wavelength and to generate coherent light with wavelength at or less than 266 nm.
US08023179B2 Enhanced continuum generation in nonlinear bulk optic materials
In accordance with the present invention, a bulk optic material (for example, silica) is processed to form a spatially microstructured element, such as a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure. An ultra-short laser pulse source is used as an input signal that is applied to the bulk optic PBG structure to generate an enhanced continuum output. The PBG structure may comprise any type of one-, two- or three-dimensional grating structure, where the selected structure will dictate the type(s) of enhancement(s) that are present in the generated continuum—generally in the form of a broadened continuum and/or the inclusion of one or peaks in the continuum. The use of a relatively small-dimensioned bulk material allows for the continuum to be generated without the need for any type of optical confinement (waveguide). In one embodiment, the bulk PBG structure may be is subjected to one or more additional processes (such as UV exposure, electromagnetic field application, etc.) to modify the nonlinearity of the bulk optic material, in one case resulting in the reduction of the inherent chromatic dispersion and enhancement of the generated continuum.
US08023178B2 Line-like laser beam flux irradiating apparatus
A line-like (line) laser beam flux irradiating apparatus includes a laser source which emits a divergent laser beam flux, a conversion lens which converts the divergent laser beam flux to a parallel laser beam flux, a first lens which forms a first line-like laser beam flux, a second lens which forms a second line-like laser beam flux intersecting the first line-like laser beam flux, and a reflective optical system having a first reflective surface which reflects the parallel laser beam flux toward the first lens and a second reflective surface which reflects the parallel laser beam flux toward the second lens. The parallel laser beam flux is simultaneously guided to the first and second reflective surfaces so as to form a cross-wise line-like laser beam flux on the same plane by the cooperation of the first line-like laser beam flux and the second line-like laser beam flux.
US08023176B2 Multicolor display optical composition, optical device, and display method of optical device
The present invention provides a multicolor display optical composition comprising a dispersion medium, a periodic structure having a porous structure inside communicated with the outside, and mobile particles contained in the dispersion medium so as to be movable and having a volume average primary particle diameter from 1 nm to 80 nm in a dispersion state in the dispersion medium, a volume average particle diameter of coagulated particles of 100 nm or larger in optical coagulation state by stimulation application, and having a refractive index different from that of the dispersion medium by 0.1 or more, wherein the mobile particles show no coloration in the dispersion state when the particles are dispersed in the dispersion medium and show white coloration with a predetermined whiteness value or higher in the coagulation state when the particles are coagulated, an optical device, and a display method of the optical device.
US08023171B2 Devices containing compositions comprising cathodically coloring electrochromic polymers and binder polymers
Electrically active, cathodically coloring electrochromic polymers are blended with a non-electrochromic, non-electrically conductive binder polymer to provide an electrochomic composition with greatly enhanced performance in an electrochromic device over time. It is also found that blending an electrochromic polymer with a non-coloring electroactive material allows for greater design in preparing electrochromic devices as it enables the use of a higher amount of typically low coloring anodic materials due to increased need for charge balancing.
US08023170B1 Total internal reflection modulator
A total internal reflection (TIR) modulator includes a member comprising an electro-optic material; a plurality of first electrode sets; a plurality of second electrode sets; and a first set of electrical conductors, each electrical conductor in the first set of electrical conductors being coupled to one of the second electrode sets wherein the electrodes in each second electrode set are arranged in an interdigitated relationship with the electrodes in one of the first electrode sets; and each of the first electrode sets comprises a first electrode, the first electrodes being arranged in an interdigitated relationship with the electrical conductors in the first set of electrical conductors.
US08023169B2 Apparatus and method of dual-mode display
One embodiment includes display comprising a light modulator configured to display a portion of an image such as a reflective light modulator, a light emitter configured to display the portion of the image and a circuit configured to selectively provide signals to at least one of the light modulator and the light emitter indicative of the portion of the image. In one such embodiment, an active matrix provides a simple, efficient drive for such devices. Other embodiments methods of making and driving such devices.
US08023160B2 Encoding message data in a cover contone image via halftone dot orientation
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for encoding/decoding data in a cover contone image via halftone dot orientation modulation. Arrays of halftone threshold values are used to determine a desired orientation, e.g. 0/90°+/−45° for a given single data value of the original message to be embedded. Message data is embedded as a function of halftone dot orientation. Detection modeling of the print-scan process enables the determination of dot orientation from the image scan via statistically motivated image moments. A probabilistic model of the print-scan channel conditions received moments on input orientation. Density values of the received moments are used to determine dot orientation for each halftone cell. The embedded data is retrieved based on the determined orientations. The present method is applicable to areas of data embedding, document security, and the like.
US08023159B2 Marking images of text with speckle patterns for theft deterrence
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for embedding an identifying pattern of visible speckles into the digitized image of each page of a document. A speckle is a cluster of black or white pixels. Speckles are printed as black speckles on the white paper, or conversely, as areas of missing black removed from the black text characters, called white speckles. The collective pattern of all embedded black and white speckles on a single document page is called a specklemark. A specklemark can survive contrast manipulations on photocopiers and binary rasterization done by fax scanning prior to data transmission. The random pattern of the black and white speckles visible in the digitized image of a document page can be detected automatically, and by systematically matching the detected pattern with those known to have been embedded into marked copies of a document page, a specific document copy can be identified. Methods for composing, embedding and detecting specklemarks are the subject of this patent.
US08023155B2 Imaging system with quality audit capability
In connection with the digitization of documents, a process and system wherein an automated quality control function operates to automatically determine the quality of an image according to predetermined characteristics and their associated values. According to this novel system and process, if an image fails to meet specified quality criteria it may be marked as such and that information as well as other information concerning the image will be made available during archival and thereafter including during a retrieval operation.
US08023154B2 Image output system for outputting image based on information of number of dots to be formed in predetermined area
The image output system of the invention collects a preset number of adjacent pixels to one pixel group to divide a number of pixels constituting an image into multiple pixel groups and specifies a pixel group tone value as a representative tone value of each pixel group. The image output system refers to a conversion table to generate dot number data of each pixel group. The conversion table stores dot number data, which represents number of dots to be created in one pixel group, in relation to a combination of a pixel group classification number allocated to each pixel group and the specified pixel group tone value of the pixel group. The image output system then refers to a priority order of pixels representing potentials of dot creation in respective pixels of one pixel group, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in each pixel group according to the generated dot number data of the pixel group, and actually creates dots according to the determined positions of the dot-on pixels. The dot number data does not include information on the positions of the dot-on pixels and has a small data volume, thus enabling high-speed data transfer. The dot number data is readily obtained by simply referring to the conversion table. This leads to high-speed output of high-quality image data. The technique of the invention thus enables easy and high-speed output of a high-quality image.
US08023151B2 High-image-quality halftone process
An image processing method involves processing image data indicative of an image represented with a prescribed number of input tones by each of pixel groups composed of a plurality of print pixels, and generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of the print pixels to be formed on a print medium. The method includes preparing a first conversion table and a second conversion table, determining the pixel group tone value in response to the input tone value corresponding to the pixel group, converting the determined pixel group tone value into the code values for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the first conversion table, decoding the acquired code value into the output dot arrangement for each of the pixel groups, by referring the second conversion table, and outputting the dot data in response to the output dot arrangement.
US08023146B2 Print control device, information processing device, method of print control device, method of information processing device and computer program
A print control device connects via a network to an information processing device that sends an instruction and data thereto. The print control device includes: a receiver for receiving from the information processing device editing information created by an editing application which edits data layout indicating printable data; and a controller for controlling the data layout based on editing information received by the receiver, wherein said data layout is displayed on an operation part of the print control device so that a user of the print control device selects one of the data to be printed by the print control device.
US08023139B2 Image processing apparatus, method of controlling image processing apparatus, and program
An image processing apparatus for transmitting input image data to another image processing apparatus and causing the other image processing apparatus to process the image data. The image processing apparatus transmits a request to acquire first restriction information about a user in using the image processing apparatus in accordance with input of authentication information to specify the user. A request to acquire second restriction information about the user in using the other image processing apparatus is transmitted in accordance with the input. The user's login to the image processing apparatus is completed in accordance with acquisition of the first restriction information regardless of acquisition of the second restriction information.
US08023137B2 Image forming system, image forming apparatus, user interface device, extended user interface compatibility confirming method, document scanning method and setting value managing method
An extended user interface compatibility confirming method has the steps of: (a) connecting an image forming apparatus and an extended user interface device to a network, the extended user interface device having an extended operation panel and sending a web service request from the extended operation panel to the image forming apparatus to perform an image forming function corresponding to the web service request; (b) requesting manufacturer information of the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus with SNMP protocol by the extended user interface device, and receiving the manufacturer information from the image forming apparatus by the extended user interface device; and (c) sending a web service request compatible with the manufacturer information to the image forming apparatus by the extended user interface device to inquire whether or not the image forming apparatus is capable of using the extended user interface device.
US08023134B2 System, method and production tickets for print management
Disclosed herein is a method of preparing production tickets that involves selecting order data from at least a first data field in an ordering system, feeding the selected order data to a workflow management system, and generating a production ticket for a print production job using at least a portion of the selected order data to name the print production job. One embodiment employs a join identifier to include several related files on the same production ticket. Corresponding configuration tools and workflow management systems also are disclosed.
US08023133B2 Image forming job managing apparatus, method of same, and program for same
An image forming job management apparatus includes a virtual job assignment unit, a real job assignment unit, and a schedule managing unit. The virtual job assignment unit assigns an image forming job for forming images to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. The real job assignment unit assigns an image forming job for forming images to a single image forming apparatus. The schedule managing unit manages image forming jobs according to a schedule. The schedule is generated by assigning each of the image forming jobs to at least one image forming apparatus using either the virtual job assignment unit or the real job assignment unit.
US08023127B2 Generating background image information for copy prohibition and copy prohibition release
An image processing apparatus includes a background image generation section and a combining section. The background image generation section generates a background image, which represents (i) background information containing copy prohibition information indicating copy is prohibited and (ii) copy prohibition release information indicating a condition to release copy prohibition, by predetermined patterns. The combining section combines a target image to be formed and the background image generated by the background image generation section to generate a composite image and that outputs the composite image to a formation section that forms an image on a recording medium. When generating the background image, the background image generation section arranges the pattern of the copy prohibition release information in an end region of the recording medium.
US08023125B2 Image forming apparatus having temporary storage for management information
To remove effects on the access of the hard disk drive apparatus (HDD), caused by the shock at a time where the user pulls out the paper tray, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus error detection unit for detecting the removal and occurrence of errors requiring the intervention of the user, an information storage unit for bringing the pickup unit near the rotating recording medium to record and reproduce information, and a memory control unit for stopping access to the information storage unit from a time where the error is detected by the apparatus error detection unit until a time where removal of the error is detected.
US08023124B2 Printing apparatus and printing method
A printer includes a print document receiving unit that receives document data, a document analysis unit that generates output document data from the document data, a print mode determination unit that selects a print mode to be executed by the document analysis unit, a layout processing unit that processes the output document data, and a print execution unit that executes printing. The document analysis unit has a serial print mode, a batch print mode, and a partial serial print mode. The print mode determination unit switches the print modes according to a streamable attribute value or a memory usage.
US08023122B2 Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure.
US08023118B2 Analyzer for absorption spectrometry of impurity concentration contained in liquid using exciting light
The concentration of impurities contained in ultrapure water or press water can be efficiently analyzed with high precision. A portion of a liquid to be measured is introduced into an absorption spectrometric portion from a predetermined line. The liquid is irradiated with exciting light from an exciting light irradiation system, and a measurement object region in which a photothermal effect of the impurities in the liquid is produced by the irradiation is irradiated with measuring light from a measuring light irradiation system. A change in phase of the measuring light is detected by a predetermined optical system and a photodetector, and the impurity concentration in the liquid is determined on the basis of the change in phase.
US08023114B2 Target substance detecting device, target substance detecting method using the same, and detecting apparatus and kit therefor
A target substance detecting device, which is a device that has a substrate, a structure disposed on a substrate surface in isolation using a metal, and a target substance trapping substance disposed on the structure, and which is for detecting a target substance using localized plasmon resonance, characterized in that the above-mentioned structure is constructed by stacking at least two metal layers, sandwiching a non-conductive layer between the metal layers.
US08023111B2 Surface inspection apparatus
A semiconductor wafer inspection apparatus for inspecting an outer circumference edge part of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus has a camera lens arranged facing an outer circumference edge part of a semiconductor wafer, an imaging surface arranged facing an outer circumference end face of a semiconductor wafer via the camera lens, a mirror forming an image of a first outer circumference bevel surface of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the camera lens, a mirror forming an image of a second outer circumference bevel surface of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the camera lens, a correction lens forming an image of an outer circumference end face of the semiconductor wafer on the imaging surface via the center part of the camera lens, and an illumination light guide lamp part illuminating the surfaces. With use of the apparatus the first outer circumference bevel surface and second outer circumference bevel surface become brighter compared with the outer circumference end face.
US08023107B2 System and method for transitioning from a missile warning system to a fine tracking system in a directional infrared countermeasures system
A method for transitioning a target from a missile warning system to a fine tracking system in a directional countermeasures system includes capturing at least one image within a field of view of the missile warning system. The method further includes identifying a threat from the captured image or images and identifying features surrounding the threat. These features are registered with the threat and image within a field of view of the fine tracking system is captured. The registered features are used to identify a location of a threat within this captured image.
US08023106B2 Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Positional information of a wafer stage in a Z-axis direction and a tilt direction with respect to the XY plane (for example, a θy direction) is measured, using a surface position measurement system, such as, for example, a Z head and the like, and the wafer stage is driven based on the measurement results.At the same time, positional information of the wafer stage is measured using an interferometer system such as, for example, a Z interferometer. When abnormality of the surface position measurement system is detected or when the wafer stage moves off from a measurement area of the surface position measurement system, drive control is switched to a drive control based on the measurement results of the interferometer system. Accordingly, the wafer stage can be driven continuously even at the time of abnormality generation in the surface position measurement system.
US08023105B2 Compact projection exposure device and associated exposure process performed by the device for exposing film-shaped tape to form circuit patterns
The present invention relates to provide a projection exposure device having a small volume, thereby not occupying a large installation space. The projection exposure device is configured to transfer patterns formed on a mask to a surface of film-shaped tape on an upright exposure stage by projecting the patterns onto the surface using light. This projection exposure device includes a transfer mechanism for feeding the tape to the exposure stage vertically, and a projection optical mechanism for irradiating the surface of the tape with the light. The projection optical mechanism is composed of Dyson optics located opposite the transfer mechanism across the exposure stage, and has an optical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the exposure stage.
US08023103B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
The present invention provides an exposure method which illuminates each of patterns, to be subjected to double exposure, on entire surfaces thereof in optimal illumination conditions respectively, and which performs the exposure with high throughput. Upon transferring a pattern of a reticle onto a wafer by the scanning exposure method, first and second pattern areas are formed in advance on the reticle to be adjacent in the scanning direction, and when the first and second pattern areas simultaneously pass across a field of a projection optical system, the first pattern area is illuminated in a first illumination condition by using a first illumination slit of which width in the scanning direction is gradually narrowed, and the second pattern area is illuminated in a second illumination condition by using a second illumination slit of which width in the scanning direction is gradually widened, to thereby expose the wafer.
US08023096B2 Manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display panel, and a liquid crystal dripping device used therefor
A manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal dripping device for the liquid crystal dripping and panel pasting method, by which residual moisture, gas constituents, and foreign substances mixed in the liquid crystal can be removed assuredly, and an occurrence of display fault can be suppressed, and can also improve display quality and a yield of the liquid crystal display panel, is provided. In this manufacturing method, prior to drip the liquid crystal on the substrate, pre-treatments, which combines suitably vacuum treatment which removes residual moisture and gas constituents from the liquid crystal maintaining the liquid crystal in a reduced pressure environment, filtration treatment which removes foreign substances from the liquid crystal, and heat treatment which heats the liquid crystal as required for carrying out distributed removal of the organic substances, are performed.
US08023095B2 Manufacturing method of liquid crystal display
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: forming a sealant on a first panel; dropping liquid crystal on the first panel to form a plurality of liquid crystal dots; assembling a second panel with the first panel, wherein the first and the second panels have a striped array of pixel areas, each stripe extending in a first direction, and a first distance in the first direction between the liquid crystal dots is equal to or smaller than a second distance in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction between the liquid crystal dots.
US08023094B2 Monochromatic liquid crystal display with high contrast ratio
An STN liquid crystal display, wherein a twist angle of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is 155° to 210°, and a first angle between a polarizing axis direction of the first polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the first transparent substrate and a second angle between a polarizing axis direction of the second polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the second transparent substrate are each larger than 0° and smaller than 90°, and a sum of the first and second angles is 90°±7°. The STN liquid crystal display is provided having a high contrast ratio and good characteristics of viewing angle.
US08023090B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A gate-in-panel type liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates spaced apart from and facing each other, the first and second substrates including a display area and a non-display area; gate lines, data lines, thin film transistors and pixel electrodes in the display area on the first substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other to define pixel regions, the thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and the data lines, the pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors; gate pads and data pads in the non-display area on the first substrate, the gate pads and the data pads receiving direct current (DC) signals and alternating current (AC) signals; gate link lines connected to the gate pads and including first gate link lines and second gate link lines, the first gate link lines transmitting the DC signals and disposed to be adjacent to and parallel to each other, the second gate link lines transmitting the AC signals and disposed to be adjacent to and parallel to each other; connection lines connected to the gate link lines; gate circuit blocks connected to the connection lines, the gate circuit blocks generating gate signals using the DC signals and the AC signals and providing the gate signals to the gate lines; and a seal pattern between the first and second substrates and overlapping the gate link lines.
US08023089B2 Delta type pixel array and display panel using the same
A pixel array and a display panel with the pixel array are provided. The number of the scan lines used in the pixel array is reduced to half, while the number of data lines is doubled because every two sub-pixel rows correspond to one scan line in the pixel array. The wire impedances between the data lines and the pixel array are thus made the same. The aperture ratio of each sub-pixel is thereby increased and the size of the TFT in each sub-pixel is also reduced. The complexity in the wire arrangement of the pixel array is accordingly lowered to improve the transmittance of the display panel and make the frame resolution of the display panel more even.
US08023088B2 Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device
A manufacturing method for a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device of fringe field switching (FFS) or the like mode whereby pixel electrodes and a common electrode are disposed opposing each other on a planarization layer with an insulator interposed, includes a step whereby a planarization layer 18 is formed that has openings formed therein at the positions where contact holes 21a are to be formed in the surface of a passivation layer 17, and the portions of such planarization layer at the periphery of the display area are removed, followed by a step whereby the exposed portions of the passivation layer 17 are removed using a fluorine etching gas. By employing such method, the size of the contact hole 21a mouths can be rendered smaller, and also the number of manufacturing processes can be reduced, compared to the related art.
US08023086B2 Pad structure of liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof
A pad structure of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The pad structure of the LCD device includes: a bottom electrode formed with a predetermined area at one edge side of each of signal lines formed on an array substrate; an insulation layer formed over the bottom electrode; a contact hole for exposing the bottom electrode, the contact hole formed as a predetermined portion of the insulation layer is etched; and a terminal electrode formed over the contact hole, thereby being connected with the bottom electrode, wherein the bottom electrode is formed in a dual structure including an aluminum alloy layer using AlNd and a molybdenum (Mo) layer and a thickness of the Mo layer is greater than at least about one quarter of the thickness of the aluminum alloy layer formed beneath the Mo layer.
US08023082B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate which is placed nearer to a viewer than the first substrate, and which faces a viewer side of the first substrate; a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; an upper polarization plate which is placed nearer to the viewer than the second substrate, and which faces a viewer side of the second substrate; and a transparent resin plate which is placed nearer to the viewer than the upper polarization plate, and which is attached to a viewer side of the upper polarization plate with one of an adhesive material and a bonding material, the transparent resin plate includes a transparent oxide film on a face that faces the upper polarization plate, and the transparent resin plate is in close contact with the adhesive material or the bonding material through the transparent oxide film.
US08023080B2 High transmittance brightness enhanced optical element for LCD by wholly coating process
A high transmittance brightness enhanced optical element for backlight modules and liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The brightness enhanced polarizing optical element comprises a reflective polarizer film, a phase retardation film, and a polarization enhancement film. The reflective polarizer film provides a function of selectively reflecting right-handness circularly polarized light or left-handness circularly polarized light and will transmit the other one of them. The one was selectively reflected will be recombined with the light source or the backlight and re-direct toward the reflective polarizer. The portions of the reflective light will be recombined with the fresh light from the light source as above and the processes repeatedly. As a result, almost all of the light transmit the reflective polarizer and in the same circular polarization. The light is then transmitted the phase retardation film and converted to a polarized light with another optical axis.
US08023078B2 Transflective LCD device
A transflective LCD device includes an array substrate and a color filter. The substrate includes a plurality gate lines, a plurality of common lines, and a plurality of data lines substantially crossing the gate lines to define a plurality of sub-pixel regions. Each sub-pixel region has a reflective area and a transmissive area. Two of the reflective area of two adjacent sub-pixel regions in the same column are juxtaposed to each other. The color filter has a plurality of sub-pixel regions respectively aligned with the sub-pixel regions of the array substrate. The color filter includes an insulating layer disposed on the reflective area of a respective sub-pixel region. An LC layer is disposed between the array substrate and the color filter.
US08023076B2 Transflective liquid crystal and manufacturing method thereof
The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the first substrate and including a plurality of transparent electrodes and a plurality of reflective electrodes formed on portions of the transparent electrodes, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a plurality of organic insulator patterns formed in regions corresponding to the reflective electrodes. The planar shape of the organic insulator patterns for adjusting cell gaps of the liquid crystal display in the transmissive regions and the reflective regions may be adjusted such that the liquid crystals formed using drop injection may be dispersed rapidly and a uniformly to maintain uniform cell gap and prevent staining of the display.
US08023073B2 Color filter display panel, thin film transistor array panel, liquid crystal display thereof, and method thereof
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes forming only a λ/4 plate between a polarizer and a display panel and setting a direction of an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the λ/4 plate, so that the LCD can have a smaller thickness and its fabrication cost can be reduced while having better or the same characteristics than an LCD using both λ/2 and λ/4 plates. In addition, in an ECB mode backlit LCD, transmittance, contrast ratio, and viewing angles can be enhanced by attaching both the λ/4 or λ/2 plate and allowing the absorption axis of the polarizer and the slow axis of the λ/4 and λ/2 plates to have predetermined angle relationships.
US08023066B2 One-piece backlight module and liquid crystal display device using same
An exemplary one-piece backlight module (200) includes a brightness enhancement unit (240); and a light emitting unit (260) including a first electrode layer (261), a second electrode layer (264), and a light emitting layer (262) between the first and second electrode layers. The brightness enhancement unit and the light emitting unit are stacked one above the other. A liquid crystal display device using the backlight module is also provided.
US08023064B2 Liquid crystal display device having a flexible seal member pressed in a vertical direction to expand in an in-plane direction
A LCD device includes a backlight unit, a shield front, and a display panel disposed between the backlight unit and the display panel. A flexible seal member is provided on the mounting surface of the backlight unit. After attachment of the shield front onto the mounting surface, the flexible seal member is deformed to press the edge surface of the display panel in the in-plane direction of the display panel.
US08023062B2 Image display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided which includes a display panel, a signal board for processing an image signal used in an image display, and a power source board for supplying power from a power source to the signal board and the display panel. The signal board and the power source board are disposed in a horizontal direction relative to the display panel, and a projection portion, being disposed higher above a surface of the power source board than a circuit element of the power source board and not being connected with a member opposing to a mounting side of the circuit element, is provided on the surface of the power source board where the circuit element is mounted.
US08023061B2 Display system
A display system includes a housing member which has space therein, a plurality of light source units which are placed in the space, a diffusion member which is disposed on the light source units, a liquid crystal display panel which is disposed on the diffusion member, an infrared camera unit which is interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the diffusion member and photograph a front region of the liquid crystal display panel, and a plurality of infrared light sources which emit infrared light to the front region of the liquid crystal display panel.
US08023060B2 Flexible display
A flexible display including a flexible display panel and a flexible hollow supporting structure is provided. The flexible display panel has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The flexible hollow supporting structure is integrated with the flexible display panel and extends from the first end to the second end of the flexible display panel. In addition, a supporting medium can be infused into the flexible hollow supporting structure so as to stretch and support the flexible display panel.
US08023058B2 Panel assembly for display device, display device including the same, and repairing method for display device
A panel assembly for a display device and a display device having the panel assembly are provided. The panel assembly for a display device includes a display region including a plurality of pixels and most of display signal lines connected to the pixels, a plurality of repair lines disposed in a shape of a ring in a peripheral region outside of the display region, and first to third auxiliary repair lines disposed in the peripheral region in parallel to data lines. An additional auxiliary repair line is provided at a right side of each of the data driving IC regions. By doing so, occurrence of disconnection and success in repairing the disconnected data lines of a display penal which is mounted in a COG scheme is tested by using a TCP type of test unit, so that it is possible to greatly reduce production costs involved in the COG type test unit.
US08023057B2 Thin film transistor array panel used for liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing a TFT array panel is presented. The method includes: forming a gate line and a gate electrode on a substrate with a first mask; depositing an insulation layer on the gate line and on the gate electrode; depositing a semiconductor layer; depositing an n+ amorphous silicon layer; forming a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode on the substrate with a second mask; removing the exposed portion of the n+ amorphous silicon layer; forming a passivation film on the semiconductor layer, the n+ amorphous silicon layer, the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode by using a third mask such that a portion of the drain electrode and the semiconductor layer is exposed; removing the exposed portion of the semiconductor layer; and forming a pixel electrode connected to the exposed portion of the drain electrode by using a fourth mask.
US08023056B2 Active matrix substrate, display device, and television receiver
An active matrix substrate including, in each pixel area, a transistor, a pixel electrode (17), a conductive member (18) functioning as one of electrodes of a storage capacitor, a drain lead-out (7) electrode connected to a drain electrode of the transistor, and overlapping with the conductive member (18), and a contact hole for connecting the drain lead-out electrode (7) to the pixel electrode (17), includes a gate insulating film (40) covering a gate electrode of each transistor, the gate insulating film including a first thickness portion (41) overlapping with at least part of the contact hole, and a second thickness portion (42) formed adjacent to the first thickness portion, and overlapping with the drain lead-out electrode, the first thickness portion (41) having a greater thickness than the second thickness portion (42). This makes it possible to provide the active matrix substrate in which a short-circuit between the conductive member functioning as one of the electrodes of the storage capacitor, and the drain lead-out electrode (or the pixel electrode) is successfully prevented.
US08023047B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data
A digital broadcast receiver is presented. The digital broadcast receiver includes a tuner for receiving a DTV signal, a known data detector for detecting position information of the known data sequences from the DTV signal, an equalizer for compensating a channel distortion of the DTV signal according to at least one of the detected position information of the known data sequences, a first decoder for turbo-decoding, via a block unit, mobile service data in the channel distortion compensated DTV signal, and a second decoder for generating a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame including the turbo-decoded mobile service data and for correcting at least one error of the generated RS frame by performing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) decoding and RS decoding on the generated RS frame.
US08023044B2 Image display device restricting operation while information screen is displayed, image displaying method and medium storing program thereof
An image display device includes an operation unit having a plurality of operating members configured to input operation data indicative of content of a user's operation; an operation data storage unit configured to store the operation data; an application process execution unit configured to execute a predetermined application process based on the operation data; an information screen display operation detection unit configured to detect a predetermined information screen display operation; an information screen display unit configured to display an information screen in a display unit when the information screen display operation detection unit detects information screen display operation; and an operation invalidation flag storage unit configured to store an operation invalidation flag in a manner in which it corresponds to a part or all of the operation data when the operation data satisfies a predetermined condition during the information screen is displayed.
US08023043B2 Device for updating component of application software in digital broadcasting signal receiver and method thereof
A device for updating component of application software in a digital broadcasting signal receiver and a method thereof. A storage section stores executing data for executing application software that produces a user interface of the digital signal receiver. A program specific information/service information extracting section extracts program specific information/service information (PSI/SI) from a received digital broadcasting signal. An updating data extracting section extracts updating information for partially updating the application software from the program specific information/service information, and extracts updating data for updating the application software from the digital broadcasting signal according to the updating information in order to update the executing data stored in the storage section to the extracted updating data. An application software section updates and executes the application software according the updated executing data. Therefore, time and resources required to update application software are saved.
US08023040B2 Electronic device having multiple camera modules
An exemplary electronic device includes a lower housing having a mounting panel, a first camera module mounted to the mounting panel, a sliding member mounted to the lower housing, a second camera module mounted to the sliding member, and two hinge assemblies fixed to the sliding member. The first camera module is configured to be covered by the sliding member. The second camera module is configured to be covered by the mounting panel. The hinge assemblies are configured to make the sliding member slidable relative to the lower housing to expose the first camera module and the second camera module out from the sliding member and the mounting panel, respectively, and enable the sliding member rotatably relative to the lower housing.
US08023035B2 Auto-focusing apparatus and image pickup apparatus including the same
An auto-focusing apparatus and an image pickup apparatus reliably achieving a focal state in accordance with a recording format are provided. In each apparatus, auto-focus adjustment is implemented by modifying a process of generating an AF evaluation value indicating a sharpness of an image, in accordance with an image-taking mode (a recording type).
US08023034B2 Imaging apparatus and method of controlling imaging apparatus for determining exposure based on intenisty signals from color filter pixels or infrared pixels
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device provided with a plurality of arranged light-sensitive devices each having sensitivity to light in a range from a visible region to an infrared region; a first filter for transmitting light in the visible region to a first part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; a second filter for transmitting light in the infrared region to a second part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; and a signal processing section for changing a ratio between an electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device and an electrical signal converted by the second part light-sensitive device used as an electrical signal used for deciding exposure in accordance with intensity of the electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device.
US08023033B2 Viewfinder and imaging apparatus
A viewfinder includes: a main unit to be detachably attached to a camera body; and a display unit including a display portion on which a picture to be imaged at the camera body side; wherein the display portion includes a supporting member, a display panel including a display surface, a first connecting mechanism configured to connect the main unit and the supporting member so as to rotate, and a second connecting mechanism configured to connect the supporting member and the display panel so as to swing between a laid state in which the display panel is laid on the supporting member and a standing state in which the display panel stands from the supporting member; wherein the first connecting mechanism is configured such that the supporting member can rotate within a range of at least not less than 180 degrees on the main unit.
US08023032B2 Image display method, program, and image display apparatus
A table is allocated indexes corresponding to display positions on a monitor screen, respectively, and data indicating an unexposed part at each of the display positions is stored in each index of the table. Focal position information is acquired from Exif header information on image data of an image, and a location of one of the indexes in the table at which no image data is registered is searched in an ascending order of the indexes. According to the table, the images are arranged so that the focal position of each image differs from the unexposed part at the display position of the image.
US08023031B2 Image pickup apparatus with display apparatus, and display control method for display apparatus
In an image pickup apparatus having a display unit that displays an image, an operation member to which a plurality of functions are assigned, and a detection unit that detects touching to the operation member, a display control for the display unit judges with use of the detection unit whether the operation member is touched, and controls, if touching to the operation member is detected, to display on the display unit the functions assigned to the operation member in an operational state of the image pickup apparatus when the touching to the operation member is detected.
US08023026B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus for overcoming effects of power fluctuations
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel section having two-dimensionally arranged pixels, each having a photoelectric conversion means, a memory means, a transfer means, a first reset means for resetting the memory means, a second reset means for resetting the photoelectric conversion means, and a read means for reading the photoelectric conversion signal of the memory means; and a controller for effecting a control so that, after passage of a predetermined time subsequently to the rendering of a concurrent reset by the second reset means on the photoelectric conversion means of all pixels, a transfer of the photoelectric conversion signal is concurrently effected by the transfer means to the memory means of all pixels, and the reading by the read means is temporarily halted at least at one or the other of timings of a start and a release of the concurrent reset by the second reset means.
US08023024B2 Solid-state imaging element having image signal overflow path
Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse φVn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows.
US08023022B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising: a pixel section including a matrix having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including photoelectric conversion means, a storage section, transfer means, amplification means, and reset means, on a column basis, an output signal line whose one end is coupled to a constant-current source, and in which the area carrying thereon the matrix of the pixels includes a light-shielding area, a read area, and a transition area disposed between the light-shielding area and the read area; and control means for performing control to keep the potential difference between the one end and the other end of the constant-current source in a range with which the constant-current source can be operated by using the pixel signal to be output to the output signal line at the time of resetting the pixel of the transition area, when outputting the pixel signal corresponding to the incident light from the pixel of the read area.
US08023021B2 High efficiency CMOS image sensor pixel employing dynamic voltage supply
A global shutter compatible pixel circuit comprising a reset gate (RG) transistor is provided in which a dynamic voltage is applied to the drain of the reset gate transistor in order to reduce a floating diffusion (FD) leakage therethrough during signal hold time. The drain voltage of the reset gate transistor is held at a lower voltage than a circuit supply voltage to minimize the off-state leakage through the RG transistor, thus reducing the change in the voltage at the floating diffusion during the signal hold time. In addition, a design structure for such a circuit providing a dynamic voltage to the drain of a reset gate of a pixel circuit is also provided.
US08023014B2 Method and apparatus for compensating image sensor lens shading
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for compensating the lens shading phenomenon in image sensor. The invention first stores an inputted compensation reference value, identifies a center pixel using digital image signals received sequentially in correspondence to each pixel from a sensor, generates analysis data corresponding to each pixel, generates and stores block compensation values for blocks grouped according to the distance from the center pixel, calculates the distance from a compensation target pixel to the center pixel, calculates a compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel using the block compensation value corresponding to the distance, and generates for output correction pixel data by aggregating analysis data and the compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel. Thus, the invention allows the maintaining of colors as close as possible to the original through the respective compensation of RGB which takes into consideration the respective characteristics of the color filters and through the respective compensation of gain and level for the disparity in transmissivity according to position.
US08023008B2 Imaging device
An imaging apparatus capable of preventing redeposition of dust on an imaging device to efficiently achieve dust removal. The imaging apparatus includes a driving device vibrating the imaging device, a posture detecting device detecting a posture of the imaging apparatus, and a controller allowing the imaging device to be vibrated on the condition that the detected posture of the imaging apparatus is a predetermined posture to remove dust deposited on the imaging device. For example, the imaging device is vibrated on the condition that the posture of the imaging apparatus is a normal posture. Alternatively, the imaging device is vibrated so long as it is determined that an opening for lens mounting in a body of the apparatus is pointed down and a photographic lens is not mounted.
US08023000B2 Image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, image pickup method, and image processing method
The present invention, which transforms multiple images so that positions of corresponding points will coincide between the images and composites the images with the corresponding points matched, provides an image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, image pickup method, and image processing method which make it possible to obtain an intended all-in-focus image or blur-emphasized image even if there is camera shake or subject movement.
US08022999B2 Deviation detector, deviation corrector and imaging device
The correction amounts of respective correction units 37 of first and second shake correction amount deriving units 38, 39 are alternately employed in every short period composed of a time shorter than a period up to a timing at which it is contemplated that the output from a first HPF 31 is approximately stabilized after a switch S1 is turned on, and the signals of shake correction amounts, which are obtained by subjecting the outputs from first integration units 35 to a correction of the correction amounts, are alternately employed as drive signals to be output to the X-axis and Y-axis actuators 27, 28. With this arrangement, a shake correction amount deriving unit, which is operated later than a shake correction amount deriving unit operated just before it, can derive a shake correction amount based on a state in which a first HPF 31 has a smaller output error.
US08022998B2 Imaging apparatus and imaging method
Exposed images from a CCD are each captured to Surfaces A, B and C in an SDRAM in a repeated sequence from A, B to C, and the latest image among the images thus captured is displayed. While an image on Surface B is being transferred, an image on Surface A is used as the image to be displayed. The next exposure is started, and images to be displayed are switched, at the same timing as the transfer is started. An image to be displayed on an LCD monitor is stopped from being updated when camera shake compensating device starts to be released from the mechanical holding. The next switching of images and the transfer of an exposed image from the CCD to the SDRAM are prohibited. When the release of the mechanical holding is completed, the next exposed image is transferred from the CCD to the SDARM. Updating is permitted for displaying the image which is transferred to the SDRAM on a display device. A conversion is made from the mechanical holding to the electrical holding without causing a sense of inconvenience due to a blur of an image or the like to be displayed when the holding is released.
US08022997B2 Information processing device and computer readable recording medium
An information processing device that is connected to a projecting device that projects an annotation image input from an external terminal a projection area including an object and a background, and is connected to an image capture device that captures an image of the projection area including the object and the background, includes: a detecting unit that detects movement of the object from an image captured by the image capture device; an extracting unit that extracts a changed region that is caused in the captured image by the movement of the object; and a processing unit that performs processing on at least one of the captured image and the annotation image, when the annotation image exists in the changed region.
US08022995B2 Image pickup apparatus with an inclination guide display
An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.
US08022989B2 Method and apparatus for controlling data delivery with user-maintained modes
Communication is carried out using devices with user-maintained modes that enable synchronous content sharing and communication. Each user-maintained mode enables a lightweight interface for positioning content in a conversation by initiating and terminating data transmission through user produced feedback to create a shared conversational experience.
US08022983B2 Borehole imaging system for conductive and resistive drilling fluids
A borehole imaging tool for use in a wellbore penetrating an earth formation includes a pad hingedly connected to a collar, a sensor array carried by the pad, and an urging assembly in connection between the pad and the collar for extending the pad toward a wall of the wellbore. The imaging tool is compatible with both oil-based and water-based drilling fluids.
US08022981B2 Apparatus and method for automatically controlling power of video appliance
Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically controlling power of a video appliance. The apparatus for automatically controlling power of a video appliance includes an image input unit for capturing a viewer's posture, a posture detection unit for detecting posture information from the image captured by the image input unit, a horizontal-level calculation unit for calculating a horizontal level by using the posture information detected by the posture detection unit and comparing the calculated horizontal level with a preset reference horizontal level, an alert-sound output unit for outputting an alert sound corresponding to the horizontal level compared by the horizontal-level calculation unit; and a power-signal transceiver unit for outputting a power-off signal to the video appliance corresponding to the horizontal level compared by the horizontal-level calculation unit. Accordingly, upright posture of viewers watching the video appliance can be ensured since a viewer's posture is detected and power of the video appliance is automatically controlled according to the detected posture.
US08022980B2 System and method for displaying an image stream
A system and method may display an image stream, where an original image stream may be divided into two or more subset images streams, each subset image stream being displayed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. Post processing may be used to fuse images shown simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. The images may be collected from an ingestible capsule traversing the GI tract.
US08022979B2 Endoscope system
The endoscope system of the present invention includes: an endoscope that has an image pickup device that picks up an observation image of a test object; an image display unit that converts image pickup signals that have been sent from the image pickup device into images and then displays these images; a first mounting portion that is provided in an operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted; and a second mounting portion that is provided in the operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted in a different position from that of the first mounting portion.
US08022975B2 Line head and image forming apparatus using the same
A line head includes a positive lens system having two lenses, image-side and object-side lens arrays, a light emitter array on an object side of the positive lens system, and an aperture plate that forms an aperture diaphragm. Where the row number of lenses arrayed in a second direction is ‘m’, a gap between effective regions of two image-side lenses adjacent to each other in a first direction is ‘α’, an image-side angle of aperture is ‘θi’, a width of light-emitting elements images in the first direction is ‘Wi’, a focal length of the image-side lens is ‘f2’ and a distance from an image-side principal plane of the image-side lens to an image surface is ‘Si’, the following conditions are satisfied: f2≦(mWi−α)/(2θi), Wi≧2Siθi/(m−1)+α/(m−1).
US08022974B2 Exposure device, image forming apparatus and computer readable medium storing program for exposure control
An exposure device includes plural light emitting elements that light in turn for exposure, plural driving elements that drive each of the light emitting elements and a time changing member that changes one time period of a switching signal to switch light emitting elements driven by the driving elements among the plurality of light emitting elements in turn from a reference time, depending on an image forming speed, wherein the time changing member changes the one time period from the reference time for some of the light emitting elements during one main scan, and maintains the one time period as the reference time for the remaining light emitting elements.
US08022972B2 Automatic coarseness setting method in video display apparatus
An automatic coarseness setting method in a video display apparatus is provided. According to the automatic coarseness setting method, when an automatic adjustment command is input or when a new mode video signal is received to the video display apparatus, a pixel clock of an input video signal is detected, and a coarseness value is automatically set based on the detected pixel clock. Accordingly, it is possible to provide optimum video display using a coarseness value most suitable for the input video signal.
US08022971B2 Data driver, organic light emitting display, and method of driving the same
A data driver, including a first digital-to-analog converter configured to select two reference voltages of a plurality of reference voltages depending on upper bits of data, and a second digital-to-analog converter configured to divide the two reference voltages into a plurality of voltages and supply any one voltage of the two reference voltages and the divided voltages to an output terminal as a data signal depending on lower bits of the data, wherein the second digital-to-analog converter is configured to supply an intermediate gray scale voltage to the output terminal prior to supplying the data signal, the intermediate gray scale voltage having a voltage between the two reference voltages.
US08022970B2 Image processing result display apparatus, image processing result display method, and program for implementing the method
An image processing result display apparatus that is capable of carrying out smooth scrolling. A scrolling direction that will be designated by an operator is predicted based on image data displayed on an LCD. Image data positioned in the predicted scrolling direction is pre-read from an external storage device. Image data is generated by carrying out predetermined image processing on the pre-read image data and is stored in a main memory. A portion of image data displayable on the LCD is read from the image data stored in the external storage device or in the main memory. If image data positioned in the scrolling direction designated by the operator is stored in the main memory, the image data is read from the main memory, and image data positioned in the scrolling direction designated by the operator is generated based on the read image data, and the generated image data is displayed on the LCD.
US08022963B2 Method, system and software product for color image encoding
The present invention relates to the compression of color image data. A combination of hard decision pixel mapping and soft decision pixel mapping is used to jointly address both quantization distortion and compression rate while maintaining low computational complexity and compatibility with standard decoders, such as, for example, the GIF/PNG decoder.
US08022962B2 Image processing program and image processing apparatus
A game apparatus includes a computer, and the computer reads rendering data from a rendering buffer, and displays a virtual three-dimensional image by utilizing color data and a depth value for each pixel which are included in the rendering data. When a photographing instruction is input, a focused position is detected on the basis of operation information. The computer calculates a difference between a depth value of each pixel included in the rendering data and a depth value of the focused position to generate color data which is subjected to blur processing with respect to blurring objective pixels, and writes the color data in the calculation buffer for each pixel. The computer generates a display image data including a blurred image on the basis of the color data of each pixel stored in the calculation buffer.
US08022961B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
The system control section 50 displays the entire original image as a display image, or scrolls a display image with a part of the original image being the display image, depending on relationship between the aspect ratios of the original image and the display area.
US08022960B2 Dynamic configurable texture cache for multi-texturing
Techniques for dynamically configuring a texture cache are disclosed. During a texture mapping process of a three-dimensional (3D) graphics pipeline, if the batch is for single texture mapping, the texture cache is configured as a n-way set-associative texture cache. However, if the batch is for multi-texture mapping the n-way set-associated texture cache is divided into at n/M-way set-associative sub-caches where n and M are integers greater than 1 and n is divisible by M.
US08022958B2 Indexes of graphics processing objects in graphics processing unit commands
This disclosure describes techniques of loading batch commands into a graphics processing unit (GPU). As described herein, a GPU driver for the GPU identifies one or more graphics processing objects to be used by the GPU in order to render a batch of graphics primitives. The GPU driver may insert indexes associated with the identified graphics processing objects into a batch command. The GPU driver may then issue the batch command to the GPU. The GPU may use the indexes in the batch command to retrieve the graphics processing objects from memory. After retrieving the graphics processing objects from memory, the GPU may use the graphics processing objects to render the batch of graphics primitives.
US08022956B2 Settings control in devices comprising at least two graphics processors
In a device comprising at least two graphics processors, a determination is made that the device has switched from a first or current graphics processor to a second or target graphics processor. At least a portion of settings corresponding to the first graphics processor are identified for application to the second graphics processor, and settings of the second graphics processor are updated based on these transferable settings. The transferable settings may be identified based on a change indicator(s) that signals which settings corresponding to the first graphics processor have been changed. Where necessary, certain ones of the transferable settings may have a translation or transformation applied thereto. Subsequent transitions in the active graphics processor may cause a similar transfer of settings to occur. In one embodiment, transitions between graphics processors may be caused by a change in power condition of the device.
US08022954B2 Programmable light beam shape altering device using separate programmable micromirrors for each primary color
Three-digital micromirror devices (“DMD”) are used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMDs each receive a primary color and selectively reflects some light of that color, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follow the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
US08022953B2 Dimensions and computer aided modeling
An object to be dimensioned may have such a small dimension that the dimension text will not fit within a space defined by extension lines. A dimensioning method is provided that exaggerates extension lines (24) of small dimensions so that the dimension text will fit within the space the dimension line has between the extensions lines although the dimension itself is not changed.
US08022949B2 System and method for generating curvature adapted isosurface based on delaunay triangulation
Provided are a system and method for extracting a curvature adapted mesh from a three dimensional implicit function data. The system includes an initial mesh generation module, a curvature geometry module, a space division module, and a final mesh extraction module. The initial mesh generation module generates an initial mesh by receiving implicit function data. The curvature geometry module receives the initial mesh from the initial mesh generation module, calculates a directional curvature of a curved surface, generates a Delaunay vertex set used for Delaunay triangulation, and recalculates an implicit function. The space division module generates Delaunay triangulation information by performing Delaunay triangulation based on the generated Delaunay vertex set from the curvature geometry module, and the final mesh extraction module receives the generated Delaunay triangulation information from the space division module and the three dimensional implicit function data updated at the curvature geometry module, and extracts a final mesh the received three dimensional implicit function data.
US08022946B2 Wipe pattern generation apparatus
A wipe pattern generation apparatus that can generate wipe patterns of various shapes at high speed and moreover can be miniaturized. is provided.A wipe pattern generation apparatus 100 includes a sin θ generation section 101 for calculating sin θ from input angle information θ; a multiplier 103 for multiplying the calculation result of sin θ by a first coefficient; a cos θ generation section 102 for calculating cos θ from the angle information θ; a multiplier 104 for multiplying the calculation result of cos θ by a second coefficient; a multiplier 106 for multiplying the result of adding output of the multiplier 103 and output of the multiplier 104 by a third coefficient and outputting as the reciprocal of the distance from the polar coordinate center to an arbitrary line on a display screen; a multiplier 107 for multiplying output of the multiplier 106 by distance information r; and a comparator 108 for making a comparison between output of the multiplier 107 and a fourth coefficient, and generates wipe pattern output data 110 from the angle information θ and the distance information r.
US08022943B2 Controller arrangement for an optical sensing pen
Provided is a controller arrangement for an optical sensing pen having a nib. The controller arrangement is configured to operatively sense location data by sensing location tags on a page of printed media, and to calculate an orientation of the pen and a nib-to-tag distance. The controller arrangement includes an infrared (IR) illumination LED and image sensor assembly configured to transmit IR light onto, and receive IR light reflected from, respectively, the page of printed media. The controller arrangement also includes a force sensing infrared LED and photodiode assembly configured to detect when the nib contacts the page so that the sensor assembly is only activated when the nib is in contact with said page, and an accelerometer configured to allow the controller to sense motion without reference to the location tags. The controller arrangement further includes a transceiver and antenna assembly, and a processor arranged in signal communication with, and configured to control, the sensor assembly, the photodiode assembly, the accelerometer and antenna assembly to operatively calculate the orientation of the pen and the nib-to-tag distance, and to transmit the location data to a computing system.
US08022942B2 Dynamic projected user interface
A dynamic projected user interface device is disclosed, that includes a projector, a projection controller, and an imaging sensor. The projection controller is configured to receive instructions from a computing device, and to provide display images via the projector onto display surfaces. The display images are indicative of a first set of input controls when the computing device is in a first operating context, and a second set of input controls when the computing device is in a second operating context. The imaging sensor is configured to optically detect physical contacts with the one or more display surfaces.
US08022938B2 Control apparatus and method for input screens
A control apparatus for input screens includes a display unit, a switch portion and a control unit including a microcomputer. If one of a menu switch of the switch portion and a plurality of dummy switches included in a screen displayed by the display unit is operated, the microcomputer causes the display unit to display a new screen including a plurality of dummy switches. The microcomputer estimates a time period required for the operator to watch a screen to operate the dummy switch, depending on the displayed screen (the number of dummy switches). If the sum of estimated time periods exceeds a reference time period, the microcomputer nullifies operation of the dummy switch to prevent the screen from being switched. After the lapse of a predetermined time period, the microcomputer cancels the nullification of the operation of the dummy switch.
US08022937B2 Surface and cordless transducer system
A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).
US08022936B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
The image display apparatus includes an image data acquiring section for acquiring image data, an image display section having a plurality of substantially sheet-like image display mediums bundled and integrated for displaying images by using the obtained image data, an image display mode setting device for setting an image display mode in displaying an image on an image display screen of each of the plurality of image display mediums and an image display adjusting section for adjusting a display image according to the set image display. The image display method bundles and integrates a plurality of substantially sheet-like image display mediums for displaying images by using image data and sets an image display mode indicative of a display mode of an image on each of the image display mediums. The apparatus and method make it possible to comfortably appreciate the digital images with ease.
US08022930B2 Ergonomic input device
An ergonomic mouse is described. A computer mouse may include a position tracking engine and a housing to encapsulate the position tracking engine. The housing may have a bottom portion with a substantially flat surface and an aperture for the position tracking engine. The housing may also have a top portion having a convex portion with a convex curved surface and a first concave portion with a first concave curved surface to receive a human thumb. The first concave portion may have an orientation relative to the bottom portion to cause a substantially neutral wrist deviation when a user grips the top portion.
US08022920B2 Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display includes: a first shift register which is electrically coupled with a clock line, a negative clock line, and an initial drive line; a first NAND gate which is electrically coupled with the initial drive line, a first light emitting control line which is an output line of the first shift register, and a first clock line; a second NAND gate which is electrically coupled with the initial drive line, the first light emitting control line, and a second clock line; a first pixel part which is electrically coupled with a first scan line which is an output line of the first NAND gate; a second pixel part which is electrically coupled with a second scan line which is an output line of the second NAND gate; a third pixel part which is electrically coupled with the first scan line; and a fourth pixel part which is electrically coupled with the second scan line.
US08022918B2 Gate switch apparatus for amorphous silicon LCD
A gate switch apparatus of a-Si LCDs is provided. The gate switch apparatus is suitable for switching a plurality of sub gate lines and disposed in two rim spaces of a display to make a-Si TFT switch with less impedance. According to a switch driving timing, a plurality of sub gate lines are able to share a single gate line, which saves cost and reduces the difficulty in the manufacturing process.
US08022913B2 Instant-on heater
A heater, used in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) pixel array that uses a common voltage polysilicon line to supply heat to the pixel elements, instead of using active control transistor input lines, such as gate input lines. The approach permits the display to be activated during the warm-up process.
US08022908B2 Display apparatus
After a look-up table applies γ correction to each of R, G, and B signals, a multiplier multiplies a γ corrected signal by a gain. An adder adds an offset to an output of the multiplier and supplies a resultant gain/offset corrected signal to a display panel. Memories store entropy coded correction data, which can be expanded by corresponding expansion circuits and supplied to the multiplier and the adder, respectively.
US08022906B2 Driver for use in a flat panel display adapted to drive segment lines using a current
A driver for use in a flat panel display, the driver adapted to drive segment lines by using a current, the current being generated by referring to a reference current outputted from a reference current source, the driver includes a driving block selector for selecting a reference current driving block to be activated according to a reference current value with respect to the reference current; and a plurality of reference current driving blocks for transferring the reference current value to a part where the segment lines are driven.
US08022901B2 Current control driver and display device
In a current control driver that drives an active matrix device, a write current can be set larger and unevenness in currents can be reduced between elements receiving the currents. In the current control driver having an element circuit for each of the elements comprising a converting unit for converting an applied current into a voltage, a retaining unit for retaining the voltage converted by the converting unit, and a driving unit that converts the voltage retained by the retaining unit into an output current and supplies the output current, the converting unit is shared between two or more of the element circuits and a switch located between the shared converting units connects two or more of the converting units to one of the elements during a current supply period for the element.
US08022900B2 OLED display
An OLED display includes a pixel having a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, a third sub-pixel, and a fourth sub-pixel, each of which displays a different color, a gate line for transmitting gate signals to the pixel, a data line for transmitting data signals to the pixel, a first driving voltage line that transmits a driving voltage to the pixel and is substantially parallel to the data line, and a second driving voltage line that is connected to the first driving voltage line and is substantially parallel to the gate line.
US08022892B2 Apparatus for driving a plurality of display units using common driving circuits
In an apparatus for driving a plurality of display units in a mobile electronic apparatus, each including a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan line and a plurality of pixels each provided at one of the data lines and one of the scan lines, at least one of a common data driver circuit and a common scan driver circuit is provided. The common data driver circuit includes a plurality of first switch groups, each first switch group being connected to the data lines of one of the display units for driving the data lines of the one of the display units. The common scan driver circuit includes a plurality of second switch groups, each second switch group being connected to the scan lines of one of the display units for driving the scan lines of the one of the display units.
US08022891B2 Radio communication system
A radio communication receiver which includes an antenna array having at least two antennas to provide antenna diversity. The receiver is for receiving signals containing orthogonally coded data sub-streams derived from a source data stream. The receiver also has receiver circuitry, coupled to the antenna array, having a detection stage to detect the data sub-streams and a combiner stage for combining the detected data sub-streams to recover the source data stream. Each antenna has an electrically insulative core of solid material having a dielectric constant greater than 5. Each antenna also has a three-dimensional antenna element structure disposed on or adjacent the outer surface of the core.
US08022890B2 Miniaturized quadrifilar helix antenna
A quadrifilar helix antenna used to transmit and receive wireless signals may include a number of inductively loaded antenna elements. The antenna elements may be helically wound around a cylindrical structure.
US08022889B2 Antenna impedance modulation method
A method for modulating the impedance of an antenna circuit supplying pump signals to a charge pump comprising at least one first pump stage and one last pump stage, the last pump stage supplying a continuous voltage. The output of the first pump stage is short-circuited by means of a switch and the last pump stage goes on pumping electric charges and supplying the continuous voltage. Application in particular to RFID passive transponders.
US08022888B2 Antenna device
An antenna device includes a first radiator receiving a first feed signal, a second radiator spaced apart from the first radiator at a predetermined distance and capacitively coupled with the first radiator, a feed line connected to a feed terminal of the first radiator, and a phase shifter diverging from the feed line, connected to a feed terminal of the second radiator, and supplying a second feed signal having a predetermined phase difference with the first feed signal to the second radiator.
US08022887B1 Planar antenna
An antenna is disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a driver comprising a folded dipole and an integral balun coupled to the folded dipole.
US08022886B2 Crossed dual tag apparatus and system using crossed dual tag apparatus
A crossed dual tag includes two tags each of which comprises, on one plane, a dipole antenna formed with conductors, a feeding part to which an IC chip is connected at the center of the dipole antenna, and a loop-shaped inductance part that is formed between the dipoles of the dipole antenna and connected to the dipoles of the dipole antenna in parallel with respect to the feeding part. The two tags are crossed at right angles, and stacked to contact as closely as possible so that the loops of the inductance parts overlap as wide as possible. A reader/writer of an RFID system sequentially switches the surface of a circular polarized wave of a wireless signal between forward and backward directions, and reads information written to a user memory area from the tag that responds more strongly.
US08022879B2 Antenna structure for wireless communication device
An antenna structure for a wireless communication device including a substrate having a first surface that supports an electronic component and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The antenna structure includes a first surface pattern formed on the first surface of the substrate. A second surface pattern is formed on the second surface of the substrate. The second surface pattern is at least partially separated from the first surface pattern in a direction perpendicular to a thicknesswise direction of the substrate.
US08022875B2 Indoor localization system and method
An indoor localization method is implemented using an indoor localization system that includes beacons deployed in an indoor space and transmitting localization signals, and a radio badge for receiving the localization signals. The indoor localization method includes forming signal vectors from the localization signals received by the radio badge at each of predetermined locations in the indoor space, and generating a signal ID value from the signal vectors for each beacon from which the radio badge has received the localization signals. During a tracking phase, signal vectors are formed from the localization signals received by the radio badge at a current location. If the number of the signal ID values is smaller than the number of the signal vectors, the sum of the signal distances is normalized by the number of the signal ID values. An estimated position of the radio badge is obtained using the signal vectors and the signal ID values.
US08022874B2 Method and system for detecting signal sources in a surveillance space
A respective electromagnetic parameter and spatial disposition of an unknown number of signal sources in a surveillance space simultaneously bombarded by multiple signals are determined by receiving multiple signals at each of a plurality of widebeam, wideband antennas equally spaced apart in a linear array. Respective antenna signals are simultaneously sampled to generate a two-dimensional array of values. A two-dimensional Fourier transform is computed whose peaks satisfy one or more predetermined criteria, each peak being indicative of a signal source in the surveillance space, whereby the location of the peak in the Fourier transform Fjk indicates the frequency and the azimuth of the respective signal source and the amplitude of the peak indicates the amplitude of the signal source. When implemented using two mutually perpendicular arrays of receiving antennas, an additional Fourier transform of the two-dimensional Fourier transform generates, for each identified emitter, independent azimuth and elevation angles.
US08022869B2 Apparatus and method for cross-correlation spur mitigation
An apparatus and method for cross-correlation spur mitigation comprising choosing from a plurality of peak measurements, a first peak measurement with a first carrier-to-noise density estimate and a first Doppler offset measurement, and a second peak measurement with a second carrier-to-noise density estimate and a second Doppler offset measurement to form a pair; calculating a carrier-to-noise density difference based on the first carrier-to-noise density estimate and the second carrier-to-noise density estimate; calculating a Doppler difference based on the first Doppler offset measurement and the second Doppler offset measurement; comparing the carrier-to-noise density difference to a carrier-to-noise density threshold; and comparing the Doppler difference to at least one Doppler threshold.
US08022866B2 Method and system for doppler estimation
Aspects of a method and system for Doppler estimation may include generating, in a GNSS receiver operating in a duty-cycle mode, a plurality of lag-m products that may be based on a plurality of correlation coefficients corresponding to one or more received signals, wherein the plurality of correlation coefficients may be generated during an active period of the duty-cycle mode of operation. A Doppler frequency may be estimated based on the plurality of lag-m products. The GNSS receiver may be compliant with one or more standards comprising GALILEO, GLONASS, IRNSS, and BEIDOU. The active period of the duty-cycle mode may be chosen arbitrarily from a range of 1% to 99%.
US08022865B2 Terminal device, positioning method, and recording medium
A terminal device includes a plurality of search channel sections which search for a positioning satellite, a candidate reception frequency calculation section which calculates a candidate reception frequency of a first acquisition target satellite by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a first accumulation time, a candidate frequency confirmation section which confirms reliability of the candidate reception frequency by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a second accumulation time longer than the first accumulation time, a final frequency calculation section which calculates a final frequency by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a third accumulation time longer than the second accumulation time, and a first difference calculation section which calculates a difference between an estimated synchronization frequency corresponding to each first acquisition target satellite and the final frequency.
US08022859B2 Systems and methods for using nexrad information to verify weather radar information
Systems and methods distinguish weather radar returns from terrain radar returns. An exemplary embodiment receives a radar return from a weather radar system on board an installation vehicle, receives ground-based weather radar information, compares a location of the radar return received from the onboard weather radar system with a corresponding location in the received ground-based, and determines that the radar return received from the onboard weather radar system is a weather radar return when a location in the received ground-based weather radar information indicates a presence of weather at the location of the radar return.
US08022858B2 Radar detection method and apparatus using the same
A method for detecting radar signal comprises the steps of: receiving a signal by a receiver, wherein the strength of the received signal is controlled within a range; sampling the received signal so as to obtain a plurality of sampling values; dividing the sampling values into a plurality of segments; summing up the absolute values of the sampling values in each segment; and determining that the received signal includes radar signals if at least one summation is greater than a threshold.
US08022854B2 Thermometer code transcoding and encoding methods and systems
Examples of systems and methods are provided for generating an output signal having an output code having less number of bits compared to an input signal having a thermometer code representation. The system may partition the input code bits into non-overlapping clusters. The system may generate a control signal for each of the clusters based on, at least in part, a logical OR operation over all bits in a corresponding one of the clusters. The system may determine a transition cluster comprising a 1/0 transition in the input code bits. The system may determine output code bits based on, at least in part, an input code bit pattern in the transition cluster and an identity of the transition cluster.
US08022852B2 Digital-analog converter circuit
This invention provides a digital-analog converter circuit capable of appropriately correcting the optical characteristics of the liquid crystals according to the change in design or the preference of the user, and achieving goals of miniaturization, cost-lowering, as well as wide design suitability. The digital-analog converter circuit includes a storage device for storing a voltage characteristic curve, a modulating device for generating a frequency signal in accordance with a data from the voltage characteristic curve stored in the storage device in response to a selected data, a variable resistance device connected between a first power source and a second power source, in which the resistance value of the variable resistance device is changed in accordance with the frequency signal from the modulating device, a holding device for holding a voltage generated at the variable resistance device, and an output device for outputting the voltage to a desired output end.
US08022851B2 DAC with data independent common mode dynamics
A current-steered DAC has first and second differential outputs for providing an analog output signal under control of a digital input signal. In operational use of the DAC, the output signal has a differential component, which is representative of the digital input signal, and also has a first common-mode component. The DAC has circuitry operative to add an extra common-mode component to both the first and second differential outputs so as to make a sum of the first common-mode component and the extra common-mode component substantially independent of a state change of the digital input signal.
US08022848B2 Dedicated sample and hold modules
A method and system for sampling values. Multiple values are sampled concurrently. One of the values is stored while another one of the values is converted to a corresponding digital value by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Subsequently, the stored value is made available to the ADC.
US08022844B2 Marine vessel monitoring system
The marine vessel monitoring system of the present invention enables marine vessel owners to monitor their vessels when they are unable or unavailable to personally do so. The system of the present invention provides an efficient method for inspecting and repairing a designated marine vessel at periodic intervals and for reporting the results of such inspections and repairs to the vessel's owner in a timely manner for the owner's review and consideration.
US08022843B2 Wireless aircraft sensor network
A method and apparatus in a sensor network in an aircraft for collecting data about the aircraft. The sensor network in the aircraft collects the data about the aircraft. The sensor network comprises a set of wireless sensors attached to a first set of locations for the aircraft, a set of wireless routers attached to a second set of locations for the aircraft, and a set of gateways connected to an aircraft data processing system. The set of wireless routers is capable of receiving the data in wireless signals transmitted by the set of wireless sensors. The set of gateways is capable of receiving data in the wireless signals from the set of wireless routers to form received data and is capable of transmitting the received data into the aircraft data processing system.
US08022842B2 Optical system and element for detecting ice and water
An optical system for detecting ice and water on the surface of an aircraft includes an elongated transparent optical element having first and second end portions. A light source and light detector are disposed in one end of the optical element and a reflective surface is disposed in the opposite end portion. The reflective surface defines a critical angle and reflects light from the light source to the light detector when the critical angle is in contact with air and refracts the light toward the external environment when the reflective surface is in contact with ice or water. The system may also incorporate an optical element wherein the reflective surface includes a continuous array of convex elements extending outwardly from and across one end of the optical element and wherein each of the convex elements defines a critical angle.
US08022841B2 System and method for ascription of foreign object debris detected on airport travel surfaces to foreign object sources
A system for detection of foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface and ascription of the foreign objects present on the aircraft travel surface to foreign object sources, the system including a foreign object detection subsystem operative to detect foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface, a potential foreign object source identifier subsystem operative to indicate the presence of potential foreign object sources at or near the aircraft travel surface and a foreign object to foreign object source correlator operative to receive inputs from the foreign object detection subsystem and from the foreign object source identifier subsystem indicating at least a time relationship between sensed presence of the potential foreign object sources on the aircraft travel surface and detection of the foreign objects and to provide an ascription output indicating the origin of at least some of the foreign objects detected by the foreign object detection subsystem.
US08022840B2 Telemetry transmitter optimization using time domain reflectometry
A method for enhancing downhole telemetry performance comprising enhancing a signal in order to offset signal-to-noise ratio reduction with increasing measured depth, wherein the signal is modified at specified measured depths which are inferred from acoustic wave velocity determination.
US08022838B2 Logging system, method of logging an earth formation and method of producing a hydrocarbon fluid
A logging system for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation. A tubular conduit is provided extending from surface into the wellbore, as well as a surface communication and control device located at the surface. A telemetry device located inside the wellbore is capable of sending and receiving signals to and/or from the surface communication and control device, the signals representing commands and/or data. Also provided is a logging tool string that is capable of passing from a position within the conduit to a position outside the conduit at a lower end part thereof and capable of being suspended by the conduit in said position outside the conduit. Communication of the commands and/or data between the logging tool string and the telemetry device is established using a communication interface between the logging tool string and the telemetry device.
US08022834B2 Occupant detection system
An occupant detection system for a vehicle includes an antenna arrangement of a capacitance-based occupant detection device in particular provided beneath the seat surface of a vehicle seat for the generation of a first occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person based on a radiation of predetermined minimum strength starting from the antenna arrangement and passing through the person, based on at least one switch arrangement of a weight-based occupant detection device which is provided beneath the seat surface of the vehicle seat and can be actuated in dependence on the pressure acting on it in order to generate a second occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person, in particular an adult, as well as a controller that generates an occupation detection signal in the event that both the first occupation signal of the capacitance-based occupant detection device and the second occupation signal of the weight-based occupant detection device are present and which generates an error signal in the event that only the second occupation signal of the weight-based occupant detection device of the two occupation signals is present.
US08022833B2 Method operating wireless device according to power state
A method of operating a wireless memory device is provided. In the method, the wireless memory device detects the power state of a power supply source in response to a power measurement command received from a host and controls data transmission/reception based on the measured power state.
US08022825B2 Multi-mode RFID tag architecture
A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.
US08022813B2 Method of inventorizing a plurality of data carriers
In a method of inventorizing a plurality of data carriers (2) with the aid of a communication station (1) communicating in a contact-free way with the data carriers (2), a set (TS(1), TS(2), . . . TS(N), TS(N+1), . . . (TS(K)) of transmission parameters, preferably of time slots (TS) is available, which set comprises a first subset (TS(1) . . . TS(N)) and a second subset (TS(N+1) . . . (TS(K)) wherein inventorizing procedures (MP1, MP2, MP3, . . . ) are performed consecutively and wherein uninventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) for the purpose of inventorization only using transmission parameters contained in the first subset and wherein already inventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) only using transmission parameters contained in the second subset.
US08022807B2 Alarm system with two-way voice
Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system.
US08022803B2 Transformer
The present invention provides a transformer capable of driving a plurality of lamps with one transformer by increasing the number of outer bobbins wrapping an outer circumferential surface of an inner bobbin wound by a coil and the number of output terminals by winding other coils around the outer bobbins.
US08022802B2 Sensor for high voltage environment
Sensor for measuring electrical parameters in a high voltage environment comprising a high voltage side (4) for connection to high voltage conductors, a low voltage side (6) for connection to low voltage power supply and measurement signal control circuitry, a measurement signal circuit (16), and a power supply circuit (14), and at least one isolating transformer (18, 20) for transmission of electrical power supply and/or measurement signals between the low voltage side and the high voltage side. The isolating transformer comprises at least a first and a second transformer core (28), a transformer coil (33) on a circuit board around a branch (27) of the transformer core on the high voltage side and a transformer coil (32) on a circuit board around a branch (29) of the transformer core on the low voltage side, the isolating transformer further comprising an intermediate coil (36) encircling at least one branch of each said at least two transformer cores.
US08022801B2 Coil unit and electronic instrument
A coil unit includes a planar air-core coil that has an air-core section, a printed circuit board that is disposed on a transmission side of the planar air-core coil, and a magnetic sheet that is disposed on a non-transmission side of the planar air-core coil opposite to the transmission side. The planar air-core coil includes a lead line connected to an inner end of the planar air-core coil over the transmission side, and the printed circuit board includes a receiving section that receives the lead line.
US08022798B2 Coil with superconductive windings cooled without cryogenic fluids
A coil comprises a set of windings with a generally annular shape and formed by a plurality of series-connected partial windings made of a superconductor with a high critical temperature, in which these partial windings are arranged next to each other in stratified form, and at least one cooling sheet which is made of thermally conductive material and arranged in contact with this set of windings and which is designed to be connected in a thermally conductive manner to a cryogenic cooling system.
US08022796B2 Contactless switch
A contactless switch includes an angularly and/or axially adjustable rotor, by which at least one main magnet is directly or indirectly adjustable. The magnetic field of the at least one main magnet influences at least two magnetic field sensors, which issue signals that correlate with a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field, and/or an alteration in the magnetic field strength and/or a polarization of the magnetic field.
US08022793B2 Sandwich vehicle structure having integrated electromagnetic radiation pathways
A sandwich vehicle structure may allow for confined propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the sandwich vehicle structure. The sandwich vehicle structure may include at least one upper conducting plate, at least one lower conducting plate, and a core extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core may comprise a core medium, and a plurality of spaced apart core members embedded in the core medium and extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core medium and the core members may allow for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the core.
US08022792B2 TM mode evanescent waveguide filter
Waveguide filters utilizing the TM modes in an evanescent waveguide are provided. The Q of such filters surpasses any evanescent, dual and triple mode filters in propagating or evanescent waveguides. The waveguide filter in accordance with the present invention features a small size, as well as ease and simplicity in its manufacture when compared with conventional filters. Filters of exceptionally high Q and very low loss, when compared to conventional filters, can be obtained by employing TM modes in an evanescent waveguide. The TM mode evanescent filter has a higher Q than either the evanescent TE mode standard filter of a single mode propagating waveguide (TM or TE) or even the dual or triple mode filters in evanescent or propagating waveguides.
US08022790B2 Composite right/left-handed line device
A composite right/left-handed line device includes plural electrodes, plural dielectric substances and plural magnetic substances. The plurality of electrodes each include a pair of electrode plates, and a connection piece connected to the pair of electrode plates. The plurality of electrodes are disposed at regular intervals in a thickness direction between a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals. The plurality of dielectric substances are interposed between opposite surfaces of the pairs of electrode plates of adjacent two of the electrodes. The plurality of magnetic substances are disposed adjacently to the dielectric substances, respectively. The plurality of magnetic substances are interposed between opposite surfaces of the connection pieces of adjacent two of the electrodes.
US08022785B2 Step attenuator circuit with improved insertion loss
A step attenuator circuit is mounted on a printed circuit board and has a highpass filter network passing high frequency signals and a lowpass filter network passing low frequency signals. The lowpass network presents a high shunt reactance to the high frequency signals. The lowpass network includes an attenuator network. The attenuator network attenuates the low frequency signals by a specified amount. Parasitic capacitance exists between the highpass network and the attenuator network, causing an amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals to be absorbed by the attenuator network. A first capacitive circuit is used to compensate for parasitic capacitance. The first compensation circuit is connected across the attenuator network and is coupled to the parasitic capacitance. Consequently, the amount of electrical energy from the high frequency signals absorbed by the attenuator network is reduced, and, as a result, the insertion loss of the step attenuator is reduced.
US08022777B2 Ovenized crystal oscillator assembly
An oscillator assembly including an oscillator seated on a pad of thermally conductive material formed on the surface of a printed circuit board and covered by a lid defining an oven for the oscillator. In one embodiment, a plurality of heaters are located on different sides of the oscillator and at least partially seated on the pad for evenly transferring heat to the pad and the oscillator. In one embodiment, the oscillator is a temperature compensated crystal oscillator and an integrated amplifier controller circuit on the printed circuit board integrates at least one operational amplifier for controlling the heater(s) and one or more transistors for providing heat to the oven. A canopy seated on the pad and covering the oscillator can be used for transferring heat more evenly to the oscillator. A cavity in the bottom of the printed circuit board defines an insulative air pocket.
US08022772B2 Cascode amplifier with protection circuitry
A cascode amplifier with protection circuitry is described. In one exemplary design, the amplifier includes multiple branches coupled in parallel, with at least one branch being switchable between “on” and “off” states. Each switchable branch includes a gain transistor coupled to a cascode transistor. The gain transistor amplifies an input signal and provides an amplified signal in the on state and does not amplify the input signal in the off state. The cascode transistor buffers the amplified signal and provides an output signal in the on state. The output signal swing may be split between the gain transistor and the cascode transistor in both the on and off states with the protection circuitry. Each transistor may then observe a fraction of the voltage swing. The voltage splitting in the off state may be achieved by floating the gain transistor and shorting the gate and source of the cascode transistor.
US08022768B1 Doherty amplifier and method for operation thereof
An amplifier having a Doherty-type architecture and a method for operation thereof are provided. The amplifier comprises a main amplifier path comprising a main amplifier, an auxiliary amplifier path comprising an auxiliary amplifier, and an signal preparation unit configured to develop a main amplifier input signal for the main amplifier path and an auxiliary amplifier input signal for the auxiliary amplifier path based on an amplifier input that is to be amplified and a transition threshold associated with the amplifier input. By driving the main and auxiliary amplifiers as a function of the transition threshold, the gain of the Doherty-type amplifier may be increased.
US08022767B2 High-speed, multi-stage class AB amplifiers
A multi-stage Class AB amplifier system includes a first Class AB amplifier circuit configured to receive an input signal. A bias circuit is configured to receive an output of the first Class AB amplifier circuit. A second Class AB amplifier circuit is in communication with the bias circuit. The second Class AB amplifier circuit is configured to generate an output signal. A current mirror circuit is arranged between the first Class AB amplifier circuit and the bias circuit. A common-mode feedback circuit is configured to generate a feedback signal based on the output signal.
US08022766B2 CMOS power amplifiers having integrated one-time programmable (OTP) memories
CMOS power amplifiers (PAs) are disclosed having one or more integrated one-time programming (OTP) memories that are utilized to control at least in part operation of the CMOS PAs. The integrated OTP memories within the CMOS power amplifiers (PAs) allow adjustments, such as one-time factory trimming, of CMOS PA integrated circuits to optimize or improve performance. With this capability, for example, the tuning and biasing of stages within a multi-stage amplifier within a CMOS PA can be measured during factory test and adjusted by setting one or more bits in the OTP memories, as desired. Further, the operation of other circuitry within the PA can also be controlled at least in part with parameter settings stored in the OTP memories.
US08022765B1 Source follower with gain compensation, and circuits and methods for source follower gain error compensation
Circuits and methods for compensating for an input-dependent gain error in a buffer and/or amplifier circuit, including applying a dynamic current to the input transistor. Circuits generally include a dynamic current supply coupled to a terminal of the input transistor, the dynamic current supply providing a compensating current. The compensating current can have a magnitude equal to the output impedance of the input transistor times a magnitude of the output voltage. The compensating current can be provided via a current mirror, or directly to a terminal of the input transistor. Methods generally include regulating variations in the current through the input transistor by sinking or sourcing a static current and a dynamic current at a terminal of the input transistor. The dynamic current can be regulated in response to a variation in the input signal.
US08022764B2 Differential amplifier
A differential amplifier unit and a feedback unit are provided. The differential amplifier unit includes first and second transistors and first to fourth loads. Each of the first and second transistors is provided with a current input end, a current output end connected to a lower potential power source and a control end. The first and second loads are cascade connected between a higher potential power source and the current input end of the first transistor. The third and fourth loads are cascade connected between the higher potential power source and the current input end of the second transistor. The feedback unit generates first and second feedback currents based on first and second output voltages. The feedback unit inputs the first and second feedback currents to a third node connecting the first and second loads and a fourth node connecting the third and fourth loads.
US08022763B2 Amplifier failure detection apparatus
An amplifier failure detection apparatus for a radio transmitter that has a function for compensating for amplifier distortion of the radio transmitter and a function for determining amplifier failure has occurred by detecting that the gain of an amplifier has dropped a set level or more, in which: a gain-detection unit detects the gain of the amplifier; an alarm-detection-level-generation unit, which has a table for storing alarm-detection levels that correspond to input-amplitude levels, generates an alarm-detection level that corresponds to an input-amplitude level; and a comparison unit compares the gain detected by the gain-detection unit with the alarm-detection level, and generates an alarm based on the comparison results.
US08022762B2 Multi-stage CMOS power amplifier
There is provided a multi-stage CMOS power amplifier including: a driver amplifier having differential output terminals, inverting differential signals input through first and second input terminals and outputting the respective inverted signals through the differential output terminals; a transformer for power matching having a primary coil connected between the differential output terminals of the driver amplifier and a secondary coil coupled with the primary coil using electromagnetic induction, having a predetermined turns ratio to the primary coil, and connected to a direct current (DC) tuning voltage terminal; and a power amplifier power-amplifying differential signals passing through one end and the other end of the secondary coil of the transformer and outputting the respective power-amplified differential signals through first and second output terminals.
US08022760B2 3-way Doherty amplifier with minimum output network
A 3-way Doherty amplifier has an amplifier input and an amplifier output. The amplifier has a main stage, a first peak stage and a second peak stage. The amplifier has an input network connecting the amplifier input to the inputs of the stages, and an output network connecting the stages to the amplifier output. The output network implements a phase shift of 90° between the output of the main stage and the amplifier output; a phase shift of 180° between the output of the first peak stage and the amplifier output; and a phase shift of 90° between the third output and the amplifier output.
US08022757B2 Class D power amplifier
A class D power amplifier includes: a signal input terminal for receiving an analog signal; an analog signal processing unit for amplifying the analog signal; an integrating circuit for integrating the analog signal received from analog signal processing unit; a PWM circuit for providing pulse width modulation to an integration signal received from the integrating circuit, and outputting a resulting pulse width modulation signal having a duty ratio falling within a first duty ratio range; a duty ratio adjusting circuit for adjusting the pulse width modulation signal, received from the PWM circuit, to have a pulse width falling within a second duty ratio range narrower than the first duty ratio range; a first driver and a second driver each for processing the pulse width modulation signal received from the duty ratio adjusting circuit; and power transistors.
US08022747B2 System for substrate potential regulation during power-up in integrated circuits
An integrated circuit with body-bias inputs coordinated by a switch at initial power application. A switch coupled to the N-well bias and P-type substrate bias lines of an integrated circuit selectively couples the substrate to ground or the substrate bias supply, depending upon the state of the bias supply lines. During power-up and the initial application of the N-well bias, the substrate is coupled to ground to prevent a leakage induce rise in the substrate potential. Upon sensing the presence of the substrate bias potential on the substrate bias line, the switch couples the substrate to the substrate bias line instead of ground. In another embodiment, a switch indirectly senses the availability of the substrate bias potential by sensing a charge pump enable signal.
US08022737B2 Electronic device and delay circuit thereof
A delay circuit is used for receiving an input signal from a signal source. The delay circuit includes a delay unit, a switch unit, and a generator. The switch unit is used for receiving a voltage from a power supply and selectively transmitting the voltage to the delay unit according to the input signal. The generator is coupled to the power supply for generating an output signal. The output signal is equivalent to the input signal that is delayed for a predetermined time period. Wherein the delay unit is used for generating an electrical signal according to the voltage and transmitting the electrical signal to the generator. The delay unit includes an adjustable capacitor coupled between ground and an interconnection of the switch unit and the generator. An electronic device including the delay circuit is also provided.
US08022726B2 Multi-level signaling
A control circuit generates an output based on the first signal and the second signal by encoding the output to be a multi-state signal having at least three states. A magnitude of the multi-state signal generated by the controller varies depending on binary states of the first signal and the second signal. The controller utilizes the output (i.e., the multi-state signal) to control a switching circuit. A driver circuit receives the output generated by the control circuit. In one embodiment, the multi-state signal has more than two different logic states. The driver decodes the multi-state signal for generating signals to control switches in the switching circuit. One signal generated by the driver circuit is a pulse width modulation signal; another signal generated by the driver circuit is an enable/disable signal.
US08022715B2 Automated sensor specific calibration through sensor parameter download
A sensor system for measuring a clearance parameter between a stationary component and a rotating component of a rotating machine is provided. The system includes a clearance sensor to output a clearance measurement signal. A sensor memory is attached to the sensor for storing a first sensor information. A second sensor information is stored in a electronics interface memory. The first and the second sensor information are read and the clearance sensor is matched with a respective plurality of calibration data by an electronic interface based on the first and the second sensor information.
US08022709B2 Method and apparatus for determining circular characteristic
A method and a system for determining a circular characteristic for distance protection of a three-phase electric line, the system comprising means for detecting a fault on the electric line, means for identifying a faulted phase or phases of the electric line, means for determining, at a measuring point, a first fault loop impedance by using voltage(s) of the faulted phase(s), a second fault loop impedance by using a polarization voltage and a third fault loop impedance by using predetermined line parameters, and means for determining a radius and midpoint of the circular characteristic.
US08022703B1 Method for rapid detecting tumor
The present invention provides a method for rapid detecting tumor. Moreover, this invention uses only the T1−1 value as a parameter to distinguish tumor from normal tissue, and the accuracy of this detection is highly reliable.
US08022702B2 MR imaging with an RF pulse producing reduced magnetization transfer
A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.
US08022700B2 Method and apparatus for view ordering of magnetic resonance imaging data for dynamic studies
A method for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data for a three-dimensional (3D) dynamic study includes partitioning a ky-kz plane with a plurality of views into an inner region and a plurality of outer regions. The inner region includes a set of views in a central region of the ky-kz plane and each outer region includes a plurality of views outside of the central region of the ky-kz plane. The method also includes partitioning each outer region into a plurality of radial fan beam segments, defining a first view ordering for the inner region and defining a second view ordering for each outer region. Once the ky-kz plane is partitioned and the view orderings are defined, MR data is acquired for the set of views in the inner region and for all of the views in each of the outer regions in an alternating acquisition order where the set of views in the inner region are acquired more frequently than the views in each of the outer regions. At least one MR image is generated based on the acquired MR data.
US08022699B2 Method and apparatus for acquiring a magnetic resonance image of tissue containing iron oxide
In a method and apparatus for acquisition of a magnetic resonance (MR) image of tissue containing iron oxide particles frequency-selective inversion of the longitudinal magnetization in the tissue is done before acquisition of the MR image, and acquisition of the MR image is done at a zero crossing of the longitudinal magnetization. For water portions of the tissue, multiple inversion pulses that invert the longitudinal magnetization of the water portions are radiated into the tissue. For fat portions of the tissue, multiple inversion pulses are radiated into the tissue that invert longitudinal magnetization of the fat portions. The inversion pulses for the respective tissue portions individually exhibit a fixed time interval from one another.
US08022696B2 Magnetic field sensing element having magnetic nanoparticles
A magnetic field sensing element includes a pair of electrodes; a dielectric polymer layer separating the electrodes; and a network of magnetic nanoparticles in the insulating layer forming a current flow path between the electrodes; where the network of magnetic nanoparticles includes_at least one magnetic tunnel junction involving two neighbouring nanoparticles of different coercivity.
US08022695B2 Rotation angle detection device
A rotation angle detection device includes a rotary body rotating in linked motion with a steering wheel; a detector rotating in linked motion with the rotary body; a magnetic detection element placed on a wiring board and detecting magnetism of a magnet placed at the detector; a control part for detecting a rotation angle of the rotary body based on a detection signal from the magnetic detection element; and a holder latched onto the wiring board and rotatably holding the detector.
US08022692B2 Direction detection sensor
A sensor responsive to movement of a detection target includes a magnetic field transducer operative to provide a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the detection target, a peak detector for tracking positive and negative peaks of the magnetic field signal to generate a tracking signal, and a comparator having a first input responsive to the magnetic field signal, a second input responsive to an input signal related to the tracking signal, and an output at which is provided an output signal comprising first pulses having a first pulse width when the detection target moves in a first direction and second pulses having a second pulse width when the detection target moves in a second direction.
US08022690B2 Intelligent electronic device for providing broadband internet access
An intelligent electronic device for monitoring and determining an amount of electrical power usage by a consumer, or end user, and for providing broadband Internet access to the consumer. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor coupled to an electric circuit configured for measuring at least one power parameter of the electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter coupled to the at least one sensor configured for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and calculating energy consumption in the electrical circuit; and a gateway configured for receiving data transmissions imposed on the electrical circuit and for demodulating the imposed data transmission for providing data communications.
US08022688B2 RF power detector
Real power delivered to a load in an RF transmit path is measured. Measuring the real power includes supplying a first voltage from a first side of a passive network disposed between the power amplifier and the load, supplying a second voltage from a second side of the passive network; and using the first and second voltages and a phase delayed voltage to determine the real power delivered to the load. A voltage difference between the first and second voltages is determined and multiplied by the phase shifted voltage. A low pass filter is then applied to the output of the multiplier to provide an indication of the real power consumed by the load. The indication of real power consumed may then be used to control the power amplifier.
US08022687B2 Secum-trahenz method, especially for a network analyzer, for measurement of a device
The invention relates to a method for measuring objects for measurement, by means of a network analyzer with several measurement ports, at least one signal generator, for stimulating the object for measurement and at least one local oscillator, for measurement of the signal transmitted or reflected from the object for measurement by the superposition principle. According to the invention, on a frequency change, only the frequency of the local oscillator or the frequency of the signal generator is changed but not the frequency of the local oscillator and the signal generator simultaneously.
US08022683B2 Powering a power supply integrated circuit with sense current
A power control system and method senses input and/or output voltages of a power supply using sense currents in order for an integrated circuit (IC) switch state controller to generate a control signal to control a switch of the power control system. By sensing sense currents, the power control system can eliminate at least one sense resistor used in a voltage sense system. The sense current(s) can be used to provide power and sensing to the switch state controller. In at least one embodiment, the sense current(s) provide power to the switch state controller when auxiliary IC power is unavailable or diminished, such as during start-up of the IC. In at least one embodiment, the IC draws more sense current from an input of the power control system than the output of the power control system to, for example, minimize impact on the output voltage of the power supply.
US08022680B2 Switching DC-DC converter with adaptive-minimum-on-time control and method of adaptively controlling minimum-on-time of a switching DC-DC converter
A power converter includes a power switch adapted to receive an input power from an external power source and to generate an output power, and an adaptive oscillator adapted to output an adaptive minimum-on signal of the power switch in response to a change in measured magnitude of at least one of the input power and the output power.
US08022676B2 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a power supply circuit configured to supply, to a battery, a first charge current for a quick charge and a second charge current for a normal charge smaller than the first charge current, the first charge current and the second charge current being generated from a power from the external power supply, and a controller configured to supply the first charge current to the battery to perform a quick charge when a difference value between a first voltage value of the external power supply wherein the power supply circuit supplies a third charge current smaller than the second charge current to the battery and a second voltage value of the external power supply wherein the power supply circuit does not supply the charge current to the battery is smaller than a threshold.
US08022674B2 State of charge control method and systems for vehicles
State of charge control for electric and hybrid vehicles. In one embodiment, a battery may be electrically connected to an electric motor to propel a vehicle. In such an embodiment, during vehicle operation a state of charge of the battery may fluctuate within a given state of charge range and may be regulated to a target state of charge. Such target state of charge may be set below the midpoint of the state of charge range. As the vehicle operates various devices may be controlled to regulate the state of charge to the target. In particular, an electric motor may be employed to lower the state of charge and an internal combustion engine may be employed to raise the state of charge. In other embodiments, regenerative braking, solar power or the like may be employed to raise the state of charge from at or below the target state of charge to the upper state of charge limit.
US08022671B2 Battery under-voltage protection
A battery includes a cell and a battery management unit coupled to the cell. The battery management unit is operable to determine whether a battery controller is operating when the cell is coupled to an information handling system that includes the battery controller. In response to determining that the battery controller is not operating, the battery management unit is operable to determine whether the cell comprises a battery voltage that is below a predetermined voltage level.
US08022666B2 Electric public transit system
The present invention relates to an electric public transit system, comprising electric driven buses with a cassette battery set and bus-mounted control system, a charge station and a loading and unloading apparatus. When said bus needs change the cassette battery set, said loading and unloading apparatus takes said cassette battery set from said bus and then replace with a charged cassette battery set. Both said charge station and said loading and unloading apparatus are equipped with their control systems, respectively, which can intercommunicate with said bus-mounted control system. In the present invention, the cassette battery sets are charged during power consumption valleys of the power grid, and therefore, the transit system can save energy and benefit the environment. Additionally it is also fast and accurate for loading and unloading the cassette battery set in the system of the present invention, which can also guarantee the bus operating online continuously and greatly enhance the usage ratio of the bus.
US08022662B2 Power supply for battery powered devices
An auxiliary power supply (150) includes an auxiliary battery (152), power supply circuitry (154), and a connector (108b). The power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output which provides electrical energy for powering the electrical circuitry (102) of a battery powered device (100) and for recharging a battery (104) associated therewith. In one embodiment, the power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output current which is a function of the charge state of the auxiliary battery (152) and a load current presented by the electrical circuitry (102).
US08022659B2 Control apparatus for AC rotary machine and control method for AC rotary machine
A control apparatus for a rotary machine, comprising a variable-voltage variable frequency (VVVF) inverter for driving the rotary machine, a voltage detector for detecting a DC voltage at the inverter's input, current detectors for detecting phase currents of the rotary machine, an inverter-electric-power command unit for determining an inverter-electric-power command value, an actual-inverter-electric-power calculation unit for calculating an actual inverter-electric-power value, a secondary-magnetic-flux command calculation unit for calculating a secondary-magnetic-flux command value, a predetermined-secondary-magnetic-flux command unit for outputting a predetermined secondary-magnetic-flux command value, and a secondary-magnetic-flux command changeover unit for selecting either one of the secondary-magnetic-flux command value and the predetermined secondary-magnetic-flux command value as a secondary-magnetic-flux command value which is used to control the rotary machine.
US08022655B2 Robot control system comprising a portable operating device with safety equipement
A robot controller including a control unit and a portable device (TPU) for teaching and manually operating the robot. The TPU includes safety equipment, a safety TPU-part having a first communication unit and a main TPU-part having a third communication unit. The control unit includes a safety control part having a second communication unit and a main control part having a forth communication unit. The first and second communication units form a first communication channel for transferring data from the TPU to the control unit. The third and fourth communication units form a second communication channel for transferring data between the TPU and the control unit. Each of the main TPU-part, safety TPU-part, main control part, and safety control part includes a processor for generating and/or handling the data. Each communication unit is connected to a network and forms a node in the network.
US08022648B2 Motor driving circuit
A motor driving circuit for full-wave single-phase driving a motor includes a position detection unit, a turn-on signal generation unit, and switching devices that define an H-bridge circuit. The turn-on signal generation unit includes a differential amplifier arranged to produce a trapezoid wave signal, and a square wave generation circuit arranged to produce a square wave signal, wherein the trapezoid and the square wave signals are respectively supplied to control terminals of lower switching devices in the H-bridge circuit. Further, one of the lower switching devices is turned on and off according to a voltage level of the square wave signal, and the remaining lower switching device is turned on and off when a voltage of the trapezoid wave signal becomes higher than an operation voltage of the remaining lower switching device, wherein a non-conducting interval is provided for the motor coil according to the operation voltage.
US08022646B1 Method and apparatus for spindle motor control
Information indicative of the placement of spindle motor components may be obtained and used to provide a correction to one or more BEMF-derived attributes used to control the spindle speed. In some implementations, first and second signals indicative of BEMF of different stator windings may be used to determine a speed-related characteristic. The speed related characteristic may be used to determine an error amount, which may be used to determine a correction factor to control the speed of the spindle motor.
US08022645B2 Circuit configuration with an end stage for switching an inductive load
A circuit configuration includes an output stage having at least one inductive load and a switching transistor configuration for switching the at least one inductive load. A supply voltage has a first supply potential and a second supply potential for feeding the supply voltage to the output stage. A registering device registers a particular instance when a potential at a specific circuit node of the output stage is outside a potential range defined by the first and second supply potentials.
US08022643B2 Lighting network control system and control method
The present invention relates to a lighting network control system and the corresponding control method. The control system consists of controllers, routers and illuminators connected via the serial connecting signal wires. The controller stores the control images and pictures. It transmits the serial control signal to routers and illuminators. The illuminators read in turn the serial control signal to extract the specific segment and transmit the rest to next device. A router reads in turn the specific segment from the control signal for its own stage. According to the requirements of the control signal, it transmits the control signal to different lighting network branches that connect with it. In the present invention, independent control to individual illuminator in the lighting network is implemented with comparatively lower cost. Arbitrary addition or reduction of illuminator(s) causes no affection to the entire system but to modify the signal data in the controller(s).
US08022638B2 LCD backlight inverter
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) backlight inverter. The LCD backlight inverter includes a lamp open detection unit outputting a first open detection voltage for a preset time period when it is determined that a predetermined lamp is open, based on a current voltage corresponding to the current of the predetermined lamp of a plurality of lamps, a first open determination unit outputting an open detection signal when the first open detection voltage is input, a second open determination unit outputting a protection signal when it is determined that all of the plurality of lamps are open based on detection voltages of the plurality of lamps, a temporary protection determination unit outputting a frequency change signal when both the open detection signal and the protection signal are input, and an operating frequency control unit changing an operating frequency to a preset protective frequency according to the frequency change.
US08022628B2 Plasma display panel incorporating a hydrogen-absorbing material
A plasma display panel has a front substrate including a plurality of display electrode pairs, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer, and a rear substrate including a plurality of data electrodes, a barrier rib, and a phosphor layer. The front substrate and rear substrate face each other so that the display electrode pairs and the data electrodes intersect, and a hydrogen-absorbing material containing palladium is disposed inside the plasma display panel.
US08022619B2 Top-emitting, electroluminescent component with at least one organic layer
In order to improve the decoupling efficiency in a top-emitting OLED a top-emitting electroluminescent component (100) is suggested comprising a substrate, a first electrode (120) nearest to the substrate, a second electrode (14) located at a distance from the substrate, and at least one light-emitting organic layer (130) arranged between both electrodes, the emitted light being transmitted through the second electrode. The component in accordance with the invention is distinguished by an additional layer (150) facing away from the at least one organic layer is arranged on the side of the second electrode, which additional layer comprises optically effective light-emitting heterogeneities (151, 152, 153), especially in the form of scatter centers, the degree of transmission of the additional layer of the emitted light being greater than 0.6. This additional layer can be applied by various wet-chemical processes and vacuum methods, the inhomogeneities being introduced into and/or applied onto the decoupling additional layer during or after the application process. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for producing such a component.
US08022616B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus that has high (or improved) contrast and/or impact resistance. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; an organic light emitting device on the substrate to display an image; a sealing member on the organic light emitting device; a semitransparent film on a surface of the sealing member facing away from the organic light emitting device to transmit a portion of external light and to reflect another portion of the external light; a passivation film on the semitransparent film to protect the semitransparent film; and a transmissive black layer between the sealing member and the organic light emitting device to increase contrast, wherein the semitransparent film has a refractive index greater than that of the passivation film.
US08022610B2 Electronic device containing carbon nanotubes
An electronic device including a pair of electrodes disposed on a substrate and carbon nanotubes electrically connecting the electrodes. A method for manufacturing this device in which the electrodes are disposed on the substrate and the nanotubes are prepared to electrically connect the electrodes.
US08022609B2 Thermal field emission cathode
A thermal field emission cathode which is employed in an electron microscope, a critical dimension examine tool, an electron beam lithograph machine, an electron beam tester and other electron beam related systems as an electron source is disclosed. Embodiments disclose changing coating shape, coating position and shorten emitter length to extend the lifetime of the field emission cathode.
US08022608B2 Electron-emitting device, electron-emitting apparatus, electron source, image display device and information display/reproduction apparatus
By applying a drive voltage Vf [V] between first and second conductive films, when electrons are emitted by the first conductive film, an equipotential line of 0.5 Vf [V] is inclined toward the first conductive film, rather than toward the second conductive film, in the vicinity of the electron emitting portion of the first conductive film, in a cross section extending across the electron emitting portion and the portion of the second conductive film located nearest the electron emitting portion. The present invention improves electron emission efficiency.
US08022605B2 Electrical multi-layer component
A piezoelectric multi-layer component is described herein. The component includes a plurality of ceramic layers, and one or more electrode layer. The one or more electrode layer has a material structure that is different than the plurality of ceramic layers and is configured to at least partially block a propagation in a longitudinal direction of pressure waves acting on the piezoelectric multi-layer component.
US08022604B2 (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition containing 30-50 mol% Ta and piezoelectric/electrorestrictive device containing the same
The invention provides a (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition capable of being sintered at a low temperature and providing good electric field-induced strain at the time of high electric field application at a temperature for practical use. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition has an ABO3 type composition formula wherein lithium, sodium, and potassium are contained as first elements; niobium and tantalum are contained as second elements; oxygen (O) is contained as a third element; A/B ratio is higher than 1; and the ratio of the number of Ta atoms to the total number of atoms of the second elements is 10 mol % or more and 50 mol % or less, and comprises a perovskite type oxide wherein the first elements are A site composing elements and the second elements are B site composing elements.
US08022600B2 Piezoelectric power generating mechanism with spring material
Oscillators (101a and 101b) are attached to a spring material (100) whose both ends (105a and 105b) are held, and piezoelectric elements (103a, 103b, and 106) are attached to the spring material or the oscillators. Assuming that an axis parallel to an axis connecting the both ends of the spring material is a Y-axis, an axis parallel to a plane including the Y-axis and the oscillators and orthogonal to the Y-axis is an X-axis, and an axis orthogonal to the Y-axis and the X-axis is a Z-axis, the oscillators are asymmetric with respect to a plane including the Y-axis and the Z-axis. Consequently, when acceleration is applied, torsional vibrations act on the spring material. When the torsional rigidity of the spring material is set to be low, the resonant frequency of the torsional vibrations can be reduced. Since the both ends of the spring material are held, the spring material is bent in a small amount. Therefore, it is possible to realize a downsized piezoelectric power generating mechanism with a low resonant frequency.
US08022591B2 Flux screen for generators
A flux screen is provided for shielding a generator stator core from the magnetic field generated by end windings of the stator, wherein the flux screen comprises a frontside to be at least indirectly facing the end windings of the generator and a backside to be at least indirectly facing the stator core of the generator, and wherein the backside is provided with channels and/or grooves and/or pits.
US08022588B2 Single-phase 2-pole electric motor in which main windings and auxiliary windings are mutually offset by other than 90 degrees and mounted in different size slots
It is an object to obtain a highly efficient and low-cost single-phase motor by producing the motor in a form that allows a proper material layout, with securing a magnetic path of a coreback of a stator iron core. A stator iron core 1 formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets and provided with N slots, where N/2 is odd, a part of which are large slots 4 and others are small slots 3 having a shallower depth in a radial direction; a main winding 6 of 2-pole single-phase concentric winding arrangement inserted to the large slots 4 or the small slots 3; and an auxiliary winding 7 of 2-pole single-phase concentric winding arrangement inserted to the large slots 4 or the small slots 3 and arranged at a location which is dislocated by other than 90 degrees in electrical angle from the main winding 6 are included, and among the N slots, slots of which the occupying rate of winding is made smaller than others by arranging the auxiliary winding 7 at a location which is dislocated by other than 90 degrees in electrical angle from the main winding 6 are made the small slots 3, and other slots are made the large slots 4.
US08022586B2 Electric machine having rotor and stator configurations
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electric machine comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator has at least one stator pole with a first leg and a second leg. The rotor has at least one rotor pole. The rotor rotates relate to the stator. The at least one rotor is configured to rotate between the first leg and the second leg of the at least one stator pole.
US08022585B2 In-vehicle AC generator having an enclosed regulator holding unit
There is provided an in-vehicle AC generator having a regulator assembly that is mounted in the bracket of the AC generator. The regulator holding unit provided in the regulator assembly has a containing portion in which at least the whole periphery of an opening is surrounded by a wall member; a circuit unit of the regulator is inserted into the containing portion through the opening; the heat sink for the regulator is held by the containing portion in such a way that the peripheral portion thereof is adhered to the wall member that surrounds the whole periphery of the opening, and closes the opening; and the containing portion is provided with a resin filled in the vicinity of the contained circuit unit.
US08022583B2 Direct current drive motor
A direct current drive motor with a stator core, an end insulator, and a coil winding forming a stator, and a housing, a magnetic yoke shell, and multiple magnetic tiles, forming a rotor. The magnetic yoke shell and the magnetic tiles are disposed on the housing. Multiple teeth protrude from a side wall of the stator core. A slot is formed between two adjacent teeth. The coil winding is disposed in the slot and wraps around the tooth.
US08022582B2 Liquid cooled permanent magnet rotor
A permanent magnet rotor for an electrical generator includes a rotor shaft and a rotor core mounted coaxially upon the rotor shaft. The rotor core defines a plurality of longitudinal core passages which include a segment of a rotor cooling circuit, and further includes a permanent magnet outer core component mounted on an inner core component and including a plurality of permanent magnets. A cooling liquid containment mechanism for the permanent magnet rotor includes a first liquid containment cover coupled to the inner core component and a second liquid containment cover coupled to the inner core component. The liquid containment covers are configured to contain cooling liquid passed from an inlet segment of the rotor cooling circuit defined by the rotor shaft into the plurality of longitudinal core passages, and thenceforth into an outlet segment of the rotor cooling circuit also defined by the rotor shaft. The liquid containment covers are mounted on the inner core component at locations radially inward of a cylindrical outer surface thereof.
US08022577B2 Three-way and four-way switching circuit
A three-way or four-way switching circuit for lighting, and the like, is described. One three-way switch is replaced with an electronic switch. Both legs of the switching circuit are powered all the time and current is sensed in the legs to determine when one of the three-way or four-way switches has been switched. This information is used to turn the light on and off.
US08022569B2 Systems and methods for discharging bus voltage using semiconductor devices
Systems and methods are provided for discharging a high-voltage bus using semiconductor devices. A discharge system for a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail comprises a first semiconductor device coupled to a first voltage rail and a second semiconductor device coupled between the first semiconductor device and a second voltage rail. A control circuit is coupled to the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. In response to a discharge condition, the control circuit is configured to activate the first semiconductor device and gradually activate the second semiconductor device, such that the energy potential between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail is gradually dissipated through the semiconductor devices.
US08022568B2 Grip actuated vehicle control system
Grip actuated control system to provide operational control of vehicle functions at a gripping surface of handlebar equipped vehicles. The system can be provided as original equipment and as an aftermarket addition or replacement for existent vehicle controls. The system includes one or more grip controls positioned adjacent a user's fingertips in a grip or glove assembly which are in communication with a control module. The control module is connected to existent or provided vehicle wiring and thus to respective operational equipment such that user actuation of a grip control induces the control module to provide a corresponding output to activate/deactivate or regulate the operation of the respective vehicle equipment. Communication between the grip controls and control module can be wireless for increased flexibility in installation and placement of the module on the vehicle. Combinations, sequences, and relative timing of the grip controls can provide numerous distinct control functions.
US08022565B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a wind turbine
A control system for a wind turbine, the control system having at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and a first controller. The first controller is configured to calculate an operating limit of the wind turbine based on the measured operating condition and to adjust the operating limit based on a limiting condition of a component of the wind turbine.
US08022562B2 Cycloconverter generator
In a cycloconverter generator, AC power required by the load is detected and a desired speed of the engine is determined based on the required AC power, operation of an actuator is controlled such that the engine speed becomes equal to the desired engine speed, and the required AC power is generated by turning on switching elements (thyristors) such that a number of the phase signal within one period of frequency of the AC power, becomes equal to a number determined by the desired engine speed, thereby preventing undesirable increase in fuel consumption and noise by operating the engine at a speed corresponding to required AC power and enabling to generate stable AC power even when the engine speed changes abruptly.
US08022558B2 Semiconductor package with ribbon with metal layers
A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip and a ribbon. The ribbon includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer is welded to the first chip and the second metal layer is attached to the second chip.
US08022556B2 Electrical component having a reduced substrate area
An electrical component includes a substrate, component structures on the substrate, and solder metal platings electrically connected to the component structures. The substrate is electrically and mechanically connected in a flip chip arrangement to a carrier via connections formed by solder bumps. The solder bumps mate to the solder metal platings. At least one of the solder bumps is on a first solder metal plating. The first solder metal plating has first and second dimensions, where the first dimension is larger than the second dimension.
US08022553B2 Mounting substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A mounting substrate and a method of manufacturing the mounting substrate. The mounting substrate can include an insulation layer, a bonding pad buried in one side of the insulation layer in correspondence with a mounting position of a chip, and a circuit pattern electrically connected to the bonding pad. By utilizing certain embodiments of the invention, the process for stacking a solder resist layer can be omitted, as the bonding pads can be implemented in a form recessed from the surface of the insulation layer. In this way, the manufacturing process can be simplified and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Since the surface of the mounting-substrate on which to mount a chip can be kept flat without any protuberances, the occurrence of voids in the underfill can be minimized. This is correlated to obtaining a high degree of reliability, and leads to a greater likelihood of successful mounting.
US08022552B2 Integrated circuit and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes forming a metal trace having a thickness of between 5μm and 27 μm over a semiconductor substrate, and forming a passivation layer on the metal trace, wherein the passivation layer includes a layer of silicon nitride on the metal trace and a layer of silicon oxide on the layer of silicon nitride, or includes a layer of silicon oxynitride on the metal trace and a layer of silicon oxide on the layer of silicon oxynitride.
US08022551B2 Solder composition for electronic devices
Each of junctions formed between a semiconductor device and a substrate comprises metal balls of Cu, or other materials and compounds of Sn and the metal balls, and the metal balls are bonded together by the compounds.
US08022550B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
Interconnections are formed over an interlayer insulating film which covers MISFETQ1 formed on the principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, while dummy interconnections are disposed in a region spaced from such interconnections. Dummy interconnections are disposed also in a scribing area. Dummy interconnections are not formed at the peripheries of a bonding pad and a marker. In addition, a gate electrode of a MISFET and a dummy gate interconnection formed of the same layer are disposed. Furthermore, dummy regions are disposed in a shallow trench element-isolation region. After such dummy members are disposed, an insulating film is planarized by the CMP method.
US08022549B2 Standard cell and semiconductor device including the same
This invention prevents a break in a signal wire disposed between wire ends due to attenuation and improves production yields of devices. In a standard cell, a first signal wire extends in a first direction. Second and third signal wires extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and are facing each other across the first signal wire. The second and third signal wires have the widths larger than the width of the first signal wire.
US08022543B2 Underbump metallurgy for enhanced electromigration resistance
A first metallic diffusion barrier layer is formed on a last level metal plate exposed in an opening of a passivation layer. Optionally, a metallic adhesion promotion layer is formed on the first metallic diffusion barrier layer. An elemental metal conductive layer is formed on the metallic adhesion promotion layer, which provides a highly conductive structure that distributes current uniformly due to the higher electrical conductivity of the material than the layers above or below. A stack of the second metallic diffusion barrier layer and a wetting promotion layer is formed, on which a C4 ball is bonded. The elemental metal conductive layer distributes the current uniformly within the underbump metallurgy structure, which induces a more uniform current distribution in the C4 ball and enhanced electromigration resistance of the C4 ball.
US08022541B2 Au-Ag based alloy wire for semiconductor package
A gold-silver based wire for a semiconductor package has high humidity reliability as well as high dry reliability. The wire includes a first additive ingredient that contains 5˜15 wt % of at least one kind of elements from among first group elements composed of palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) added to a gold (Au)-silver (Ag) based alloy that contains 10˜40 wt % of Ag added to Au.
US08022539B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with increased connectivity and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead frame having contact pads and connection leads; coupling a base integrated circuit to the contact pads; coupling a chip interconnect between the base integrated circuit, the connection leads, the contact pads, or a combination thereof; molding a package body on the connection leads, the base integrated circuit, and the chip interconnects, including having the contact pads exposed; and forming a bottom surface on the package body including forming the connection leads to be coplanar with the bottom surface.
US08022535B2 Systems, devices, and methods for semiconductor device temperature management
Devices, systems, and methods for semiconductor die temperature management are described and discussed herein. An IC device is described that includes at least one intra-die cooling structure. In an embodiment, the IC device includes a semiconductor die formed of integral device layers and further includes at least one coolant reservoir and at least one coolant channel. In an embodiment, the at least one coolant reservoir and at least one coolant channel are disposed wholly within the semiconductor die. In various embodiments, at least one coolant reservoir and at least one coolant channel are constructed and arranged to circulate coolant fluid in proximity to at least one IC device structure in order to decrease and or normalize an operating temperature of the IC device. In other embodiments, systems and methods for designing and/or fabricating IC die that include at least one intra-die cooling structure are provided herein.
US08022534B2 Semiconductor package using an active type heat-spreading element
A semiconductor package includes a carrier, a chip, a stiffener, a heat spreader and an active type heat-spreading element. The chip and the stiffener are disposed on the carrier. The heat spreader is disposed on the stiffener and includes a through opening. The active type heat-spreading element is disposed on the chip and located in the through opening.
US08022532B2 Interposer and semiconductor device
An interposer and a semiconductor device including the interposer, which can prevent thermal warpage of an insulative substrate. The interposer is provided with a semiconductor chip in a semiconductor device and may be disposed between the semiconductor chip and a mount board. The interposer includes: a substrate of an insulative resin; an island on one surface of the substrate to be bonded to a rear surface of the chip; a thermal pad on the other surface opposite the one surface opposed to the island with the intervention of the substrate; and a thermal via extending through the substrate from the one surface to the other surface to thermally connect the island to the thermal pad.
US08022531B2 Integrated circuit package system using heat slug
An integrated circuit package system includes a substrate having an integrated circuit die thereon; a heat slug having a tie bar, the tie bar having characteristics of singulation from an adjacent heat slug; and an encapsulant molded on the substrate, the heat slug, and the integrated circuit die includes the encapsulant which fills all of the space between the integrated circuit die and the heat slug.
US08022529B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a through electrode excellent in performance as for an electrode and manufacturing stability is provided. There is provided a through electrode composed of a conductive small diameter plug and a conductive large diameter plug on a semiconductor device. A cross sectional area of the small diameter plug is made larger than a cross sectional area and a diameter of a connection plug, and is made smaller than a cross sectional area and a diameter of the large diameter plug. In addition, a protruding portion formed in such a way that the small diameter plug is projected from the silicon substrate is put into an upper face of the large diameter plug. Further, an upper face of the small diameter plug is connected to a first interconnect.
US08022527B2 Edge connect wafer level stacking
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a stacked microelectronic package is provided which may include a plurality of subassemblies, e.g., a first subassembly and a second subassembly underlying the first subassembly. A front face of the second subassembly may confront the rear face of the first subassembly. Each of the first and second subassemblies may include a plurality of front contacts exposed at the front face, at least one edge and a plurality of front traces extending about the respective at least one edge. The second subassembly may have a plurality of rear contacts exposed at the rear face. The second subassembly may also have a plurality of rear traces extending from the rear contacts about the at least one edge. The rear traces may extend to at least some of the plurality of front contacts of at least one of the first or second subassemblies.
US08022524B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a wiring board having: plural stacked insulating layers; test pads and external connection pads which are disposed on a face of the plural stacked insulating layers located on the side opposite to that where another wiring board is connected; first wiring patterns which electrically connect internal connection pads with the test pads; and second wiring patterns which electrically connect semiconductor element mounting pads with the external connection pads. The external connection pads are placed on the inner side of the test pads.
US08022522B1 Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package is provided and methods for bonding wires in the semiconductor package. In one implementation, the semiconductor package includes a lead frame including a first die pad and a second die pad; each die pad is supported by one or more supports and isolated from another; at least first and second dice, a first die being disposed on the first die pad and a second die being disposed on the second die pad; wire bonds in communication with the first and second dice; and an encapsulant adapted to encapsulate the die pads, the dice, the lead frame and the wire bonds.
US08022518B2 Semiconductor device having a sealing body and partially exposed conductors
A novel semiconductor device high in both heat dissipating property and connection reliability in mounting is to be provided. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip, a resin sealing member for sealing the semiconductor chip, a first conductive member connected to a first electrode formed on a first main surface of the semiconductor chip, and a second conductive member connected to a second electrode formed on a second main surface opposite to the first main surface of the semiconductor chip, the first conductive member being exposed from a first main surface of the resin sealing member, and the second conductive member being exposed from a second main surface opposite to the first main surface of the resin sealing member and also from side faces of the resin sealing member.
US08022514B2 Integrated circuit package system with leadfinger support
An integrated circuit package system including forming a leadframe having a lead with a leadfinger support of a predetermined height, and attaching an integrated circuit die with an electrical interconnect at a predetermined collapse height determined by the predetermined height of the leadfinger support.
US08022513B2 Packaging substrate structure with electronic components embedded in a cavity of a metal block and method for fabricating the same
A packaging substrate structure with electronic components embedded therein and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The packaging substrate structure comprises a core board with a wiring layer on the two opposite surfaces thereof; a first built-up structure disposed on at least one surface of the core board and having a cavity to expose the surface of the core board; an electronic component disposed in the cavity and having an active surface and an inactive surface, where the active surface has pluralities of electrode pads and the inactive surface faces the surface of the core board; and a solder mask disposed on the surfaces of the first built-up structure and the electronic component, where the solder mask has pluralities of first openings to expose the electrode pads of the electronic component. Accordingly, the packaging substrate disclosed by the present invention can efficiently enhance electrical performance and product reliability.
US08022511B2 Semiconductor device packages with electromagnetic interference shielding
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes: (1) a substrate unit; (2) a grounding element disposed adjacent to a periphery of the substrate unit and extending upwardly from an upper surface of the substrate unit; (3) a semiconductor device disposed adjacent to the upper surface; (4) a package body disposed adjacent to the upper surface and covering the semiconductor device and the grounding element; and (5) an EMI shield disposed adjacent to exterior surfaces of the package body and electrically connected to a lateral surface of the grounding element. A lateral surface of the package body is substantially aligned with a lateral surface of the substrate unit. The grounding element corresponds to a remnant of a conductive bump, and provides an electrical pathway to ground electromagnetic emissions incident upon the EMI shield.
US08022508B2 Semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor wafer 10 has a plurality of semiconductor chip areas 10a and a scribe area 10b, each of the semiconductor chip areas 10a having semiconductor elements and electrode pads (electrode portions) 16a electrically connected to the respective semiconductor elements, the scribe area 10b having monitor elements and electrode pads (electrode portions) 16b electrically connected to the monitor elements, wherein projecting electrodes 18 are selectively formed only on the respective electrode pads 16a in the semiconductor chip areas 10a by electroless plating. Thus, for example, the electrode pads 16b are covered with an insulating film 14.
US08022503B2 Anti-fusse structure and method of fabricating the same
An anti-fuse structure and a method of fabricating the same are described. The anti-fuse structure is disposed over a substrate having at least one device and a copper layer therein. The anti-fuse structure includes a bottom conductive layer, an insulating layer and a top conductive layer. The bottom conductive layer is disposed over and electrically connected with the copper layer. The insulating layer is conformally disposed over the bottom conductive layer covering a corner or a downward turning portion of the bottom conductive layer to form a turning portion of the insulating layer. The top conductive layer is conformally disposed over the insulting layer covering the turning portion of the insulating layer.
US08022502B2 Nonvolatile memory element, manufacturing method thereof, and nonvolatile semiconductor apparatus using the nonvolatile memory element
A nonvolatile memory element comprises a first electrode layer (103), a second electrode (107), and a resistance variable layer (106) which is disposed between the first electrode layer (103) and the second electrode layer (107), a resistance value of the resistance variable layer varying reversibly according to electric signals having different polarities which are applied between the electrodes (103), (107), wherein the resistance variable layer (106) has a first region comprising a first oxygen-deficient tantalum oxide having a composition represented by TaOx (0
US08022501B2 Semiconductor device and method for isolating the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for isolating the same. The semiconductor device includes: a silicon substrate provided with a trench including at least one silicon pillar at a bottom portion of the trench, wherein the silicon pillar become sidewalls of micro trenches; and a device isolation layer selectively and partially filled into the plurality of micro trenches.
US08022498B1 Electrostatic discharge management apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods may include managing electrostatic discharge events by using a semiconductor device having a non-aligned gate to implement a snap-back voltage protection mechanism. Such devices may be formed by doping a semiconductor substrate to form a first conductive region as a well, forming one of a source region and a drain region in the well, depositing a layer of polysilicon on the substrate to establish a gating area that does not overlap the one of the source region and the drain region, and forming an integrated circuit supported by the substrate to couple to the one of the source region and the drain region to provide snap-back voltage operation at a node between the integrated circuit and the source or drain region. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08022497B2 Semiconductor device comprising insulating film
A semiconductor device capable of preventing an interlayer dielectric film from deterioration resulting from a liquid such as a chemical solution penetrating into the interlayer dielectric film and recovering the interlayer dielectric film from deterioration with a prescribed gas is obtained. This semiconductor device comprises a first insulating film formed on a substrate and a first gas-liquid separation film, formed on at least a part of the surface of the first insulating film, composed of a material hardly permeable by a liquid and easily permeable by a gas.
US08022495B2 PIN diode structure with zinc diffusion region
A PIN photodiode having a substrate, a first type electrode layer disposed on the substrate, a first layer of intrinsic material disposed over a portion of the first-type electrode layer, and a first type window layer disposed over the intrinsic layer. An island shaped region of intrinsic material is disposed over the window layer and a dielectric layer is disposed over the island region and at least the peripheral portion of said island shaped region whereby an opening is formed in the island shaped region. A dopant is diffused through the opening so as to form a PN junction that extends into the first layer of intrinsic material.
US08022494B2 Photodetector and manufacturing method thereof
A lateral photodiode, with improved response speed, includes a semiconductor substrate having active regions, and a p-type region and an n-type region arranged parallel to the surface of the substrate. The active regions are an n-layer and a p-layer respectively, and stacked in the thickness direction of the substrate to form a p-n junction. In addition, a barrier layer, for preventing movement of carriers from the substrate toward the active region, is provided on the side of the active regions toward the substrate.
US08022486B2 CMOS semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a p-channel MOS transistor provided on the semiconductor substrate, the p-channel MOS transistor comprising a first gate dielectric film including Hf, a second gate dielectric film provided on the first gate dielectric film and including aluminum oxide, and a first metal silicide gate electrode provided on the second gate dielectric film.
US08022479B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor film provided on the insulating film. The semiconductor substrate includes a region of a first current path including at least one diode, the semiconductor film includes a region of a second current path including at least one diode, the first current path and the second current path are connected in parallel to each other, the region of the first current path includes at least part of an area directly below the region of the second current path, and the first current path has a higher resistance than the second current path.
US08022476B2 Semiconductor device having vertical and horizontal type gates and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device having both vertical and horizontal type gates and a method for fabricating the same for obtaining high integration of the semiconductor device and integration with other devices while also maximizing the breakdown voltage and operational speed and preventing damage to the semiconductor device.
US08022473B2 Semiconductor device having reduced sub-threshold leakage
A semiconductor device fabricated in the semiconductor substrate includes a FinFET transistor having opposed source and drain pillars, and a fin interposed between the source and drain pillars. A cavity is formed in the semiconductor substrate extending at least partially between the fin and the semiconductor substrate. The cavity may be formed within a shallow trench isolation structure, and it may also extend at least partially between the semiconductor substrate and one or both of the pillars. The cavities increase the impedance between the semiconductor substrate and the fin and/or pillars to decrease the sub-threshold leakage of the FinFET transistor.
US08022472B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor layer, a trench formed by digging the semiconductor layer from the surface thereof, a gate insulating film formed on the inner surface of the trench, and a gate electrode made of silicon embedded in the trench through the gate insulating film. The gate electrode has a high-conductivity portion formed to cover the gate insulating film with a relatively high conductivity and a low-conductivity portion formed on a region inside the high-conductivity portion with a relatively low conductivity.
US08022471B2 Trench metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with low gate to drain coupled charges (Qgd) structures
A trenched semiconductor power device includes a plurality of trenched gates surrounded by source regions near a top surface of a semiconductor substrate encompassed in body regions. The trenched semiconductor power device further comprises tilt-angle implanted body dopant regions surrounding a lower portion of trench sidewalls for reducing a gate-to-drain coupling charges Qgd between the trenched gates and a drain disposed at a bottom of the semiconductor substrate. The trenched semiconductor power device further includes a source dopant region disposed below a bottom surface of the trenched gates for functioning as a current path between the drain to the source for preventing a resistance increase caused by the body dopant regions surrounding the lower portions of the trench sidewalls.
US08022467B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating layer, charge storage layers, element isolation insulating films, and a second insulating layer formed on the charge storage layers and the element isolation insulating films and including a stacked structure of a first silicon nitride film, first silicon oxide film, intermediate insulating film and second silicon oxide film. The first silicon nitride film has a nitrogen concentration of not less than 21×1015 atoms/cm2. Each element isolation insulating film includes a high-temperature oxide film formed along lower side surfaces of the charge storage layers between the charge storage layers and a coating type insulating film. The first silicon nitride film is formed on an upper surface of the high-temperature oxide film in upper surfaces of the element isolation insulating films and not on the upper surface of the coating type insulating film.
US08022465B2 Low hydrogen concentration charge-trapping layer structures for non-volatile memory
Memory cells comprising: a semiconductor substrate having at least two source/drain regions separated by a channel region; a charge-trapping structure disposed above the channel region; and a gate disposed above the charge-trapping structure; wherein the charge-trapping structure comprises a bottom insulating layer, a first charge-trapping layer, and a second charge-trapping layer, wherein an interface between the bottom insulating layer and the substrate has a hydrogen concentration of less than about 3×1011/cm−2, and methods for forming such memory cells.
US08022459B2 Metal source and drain transistor having high dielectric constant gate insulator
The invention is directed to a device for regulating the flow of electric current with high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and a source and/or drain forming a Schottky contact or Schottky-like region with a substrate and its fabrication method. In one aspect, the gate insulating layer has a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of silicon. In another aspect, the current regulating device may be a MOSFET device, optionally a planar P-type or N-type MOSFET, having any orientation. In another aspect, the source and/or drain may consist partially or fully of a silicide.
US08022457B2 Semiconductor memory device having vertical channel transistor and method for fabricating the same
Channels of two transistors are vertically formed on portions of two opposite side surfaces of one active region, and gate electrodes are vertically formed on a device isolation layer contacting the channels of the active region. A common bit line contact plug is formed in the central portions of the active region, two storage node contact plugs are formed on both sides of the bit line contact plug, and an insulating spacer is formed on a side surface of the bit line contact plug. A word line, a bit line, and a capacitor are sequentially stacked on the semiconductor substrate, like a conventional semiconductor memory device. Thus, effective space arrangement of a memory cell is possible such that a 4F2 structure is constituted, and a conventional line and contact forming process can be applied such that highly integrated semiconductor memory device is readily fabricated.
US08022456B2 Checkerboarded high-voltage vertical transistor layout
In one embodiment, a transistor fabricated on a semiconductor die includes a first section of transistor segments disposed in a first area of the semiconductor die, and a second section of transistor segments disposed in a second area of the semiconductor die adjacent the first area. Each of the transistor segments in the first and second sections includes a pillar of a semiconductor material that extends in a vertical direction. First and second dielectric regions are disposed on opposite sides of the pillar. First and second field plates are respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions. Outer field plates of transistor segments adjoining first and second sections are either separated or partially merged.
US08022440B2 Compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A compound semiconductor epitaxial substrate having a pseudomorphic high electron mobility field effect transistor structure including an InGaAs layer as a strained channel layer and an AlGaAs layer containing n type impurities as a front side electron-donating layer, wherein said substrate contains an InGaP layer in an orderly state on the front side of the above described InGaAs layer as the strained channel layer.
US08022439B2 Semiconductor device comprising gate electrode surrounding entire circumference of channel region and method for manufacturing the same
Two first semiconductor layers are on a silicon substrate at a given distance from each other. Two second semiconductor layers are on the respective first semiconductor layers and includes a material different from a material of the first semiconductor layers. A first channel region is formed like a wire between the two second semiconductor layers. A first insulating layer is around the first channel region. A second insulating film is on each of opposite side surfaces of the two first semiconductor layers. A third insulating film is on each of opposite side surfaces of the two second semiconductor layers. A gate electrode is on the first, second, and third insulating films. Film thickness of the second insulating film is larger than film thickness of the first insulating film.
US08022436B2 Light emitting diode, production method thereof and lamp
A light emitting diode includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer formed on the substrate, a first electrode formed on an upper surface of the compound semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed on the substrate or a semiconductor layer which is exposed by removing at least a portion of the compound semiconductor layer. The first electrode includes a wiring electrode provided on the compound semiconductor layer in contact therewith, an ohmic electrode provided on the compound semiconductor layer in contact therewith, a translucent electrode formed over the compound semiconductor layer to cover the wiring electrode and the ohmic electrode, and a bonding pad electrode connected to the wiring electrode, at least a portion of the bonding pad electrode being exposed from an opening of the translucent electrode to the exterior.
US08022430B2 Nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device
A nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device comprising a holding electrode partially formed on a first main surface of a semiconductor laminate including nitride-based compound semiconductor layers including at an emission layer. A method of fabricating a nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, comprising steps of forming a semiconductor laminate by stacking nitride-based compound semiconductor layers at least partially on a substrate to include an emission layer, forming a holding electrode partially on a main surface of the semiconductor laminate located oppositely to the substrate and removing the substrate. Thus, a nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device having high external luminous efficiency with no wafer breakage or cracking and a method of fabricating the same can be proposed.
US08022428B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer under the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer under the active layer, a second electrode layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer, and a transmissive conductive layer at least one part between the second conductive semiconductor layer and the second electrode layer.
US08022423B2 Standing transparent mirrorless light emitting diode
An (Al, Ga, In)N light emitting diode (LED) in which multi-directional light can be extracted from one or more surfaces of the LED before entering a shaped optical element and subsequently being extracted to air. In particular, the (Al, Ga, In)N and transparent contact layers (such as ITO or ZnO) are embedded in or combined with a shaped optical element comprising an epoxy, glass, silicon or other material molded into an inverted cone shape, wherein most of the light entering the inverted cone shape lies within a critical angle and is extracted. In addition, the present invention stands the LED on end, i.e., rotates the position of the LED within the shaped optical element by approximately 90° as compared to a conventional LED, in order to extract light more effectively from the LED. The present invention also minimizes internal reflections within the LED by eliminating mirrors and/or mirrored surfaces, in order to minimize re-absorption of the LED's light by the emitting layer (or the active layer) of the LED. To assist in minimizing internal reflections, transparent electrodes, such as ITO or ZnO, may be used. Surface roughening by patterning or anisotropically etching (i.e., creating microcones) may also assist in light extraction, as well as minimizing internal reflections.
US08022419B2 Flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device, method for manufacturing flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device, printed circuit board for flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device, mounting structure for flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device, and light-emitting diode lamp
A flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device having a positive electrode and a negative electrode similar in electrode area and capable of preventing the misalignment of the light-emitting device by utilizing the self alignment effect in manufacturing a light-emitting diode lamp and a printed circuit board for the flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device are provided. Furthermore, adopted are a flip-chip type semiconductor light-emitting device 1 which is provided with a negative electrode pad and a positive electrode pad formed on the side opposite the transparent substrate side of the semiconductor layer, wherein each of the electrode pads is formed in the same shape as each other and a printed circuit board for the light-emitting device has a pair of the electrode patterns which are formed in the same shape as each other. Still furthermore, a soldering film is included in each of the electrode pads.
US08022418B2 Composite semiconductor device, LED print head that employs the composite semiconductor device, and image forming apparatus that employs the LED print head
A composite semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor thin films and a substrate on which the semiconductor thin films are attached. Each semiconductor thin film includes a plurality of semiconductor elements. Each semiconductor element includes a first contact region and a second contact region. The first contact region is connected to a first electrode, and the second contact region is connected to a second electrode. The semiconductor thin film is attached to a substrate such that the plurality of semiconductor elements are aligned in a row, and such that the first contact region and the second contact region are in the row of light emitting elements.
US08022414B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing the same
The silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a trench formed from a surface of a drift layer of a first conductivity type formed on a substrate of the first conductivity type, and a deep layer of a second conductivity type located at a position in the drift layer beneath the bottom portion of the trench. The deep layer is formed at a certain distance from base regions of the second conductivity type formed on the drift layer so as to have a width wider than the width of the bottom portion of the trench, and surround both the corner portions of the bottom portion of the trench.
US08022412B2 Epitaxial structure having low defect density
An epitaxial structure having a low defect density includes: a base layer; a first epitaxial layer having a plurality of concentrated defect groups, and an epitaxial surface that has a plurality of first recesses corresponding in position to the concentrated defect groups, the sizes of the first recesses being close to each other; and a plurality of defect-termination blocks respectively and filling the first recesses and having polished surfaces. The defect-termination blocks are made of a material which is different in removal rate from that of the first epitaxial layer. The polished surfaces are substantially flush with the epitaxial surface so that the first epitaxial layer has a substantially planarized crystal growth surface
US08022411B2 Thin-film transistor display panel and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) display panel having improved electrical properties that can be fabricated time-effectively and a method of fabricating the TFT display panel. The TFT display panel includes: gate wirings which are formed on an insulating substrate; oxide active layer patterns which are formed on the gate wirings; data wirings which are formed on the oxide active layer patterns to cross the gate wirings; a passivation layer which is formed on the oxide active layer patterns and the data wirings and is made of silicon nitride (SiNx); and a pixel electrode which is formed on the passivation layer.
US08022410B2 Thin film transistors
A thin film transistor includes a layer structure having a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer and a channel layer. A source line may contact the channel layer, and may extend along a direction crossing over the gate electrode. The source line may partially overlap the gate electrode so that both sides of the source line overlapping the gate electrode may be entirely positioned between both sides of the gate electrode. A drain line may make contact with the channel layer and may be spaced apart from the source line by a channel length. The drain line may have a structure symmetrical to that of the source line. Overlap areas among the gate electrode, the source line and the drain line may be reduced, so that the thin film transistor may ensure a high cut-off frequency.
US08022405B2 Light-emitting device
It is an object to provide a light-emitting device including a thin film transistor with high electric characteristics and high reliability, and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device with high productivity. As for a light-emitting device including an inverted staggered thin film transistor of a channel stop type, the inverted staggered thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode, a microcrystalline semiconductor film including a channel formation region over the gate insulating film, a buffer layer over the microcrystalline semiconductor film, a channel protective layer which is provided over the buffer layer so as to overlap with the channel formation region of the microcrystalline semiconductor film, a source region and a drain region over the channel protective layer and the buffer layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode over the source region and the drain region.
US08022400B2 Organic thin film transistor, method of fabricating the same and organic light emitting diode display device having the same
An organic thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the same, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device having the same. The organic thin film transistor includes a substrate, a buffer layer disposed on the substrate, a gate electrode disposed on the buffer layer, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, an organic semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, source and drain electrodes disposed on the gate insulating layer and electrically connected with the organic semiconductor layer, and a passivation layer formed of a polymer composite and disposed on the organic semiconductor layer.
US08022398B2 Thin film transistor, method of forming the same and flat panel display device having the same
A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of forming the same and a flat panel display device having the same are disclosed. The TFT includes a buffer layer and a semiconductor layer which are sequentially disposed on a substrate, a gate pattern including an insulating pattern and a gate electrode pattern which are sequentially disposed on the semiconductor layer, source and drain regions defining a portion of the semiconductor layer below the gate pattern as a channel area, formed by doping the semiconductor layer disposed at both sides of the gate pattern with impurities, and extending from both sides of the channel area, a passivation layer which covers the entire surface of the substrate having the gate pattern, a first metal electrode which penetrates a portion of the passivation layer disposed on the source area and a portion of the source region below the portion of the passivation layer to be electrically connected with the source region, and a second metal electrode which penetrates a portion of the passivation layer disposed on the drain area and a portion of the drain region below the portion of the passivation layer to be electrically connected with the drain region. According to the present invention, a metal is infiltrated into source and drain regions to disperse an electric current when a TFT operates, and thus charge mobility is improved, and damage of a drain region caused by the excessive current density is prevented, leading to the long lifespan and excellent performance.
US08022396B2 Semiconductor device including an insulating layer resistant to a photolithography process, electronic device, and electronic equipment
A semiconductor device includes: an organic semiconductor layer made of an organic semiconductor material; a gate electrode for applying an electric field to the organic semiconductor layer; a first insulating layer insulating the gate electrode from the organic semiconductor layer; and a second insulating layer. The organic semiconductor layer is located between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, and the second insulating layer is composed of a polymer having a fluorene skeleton.
US08022391B2 Photodetectors and photovoltaics based on semiconductor nanocrystals
A composite material is described. The composite material comprises semiconductor nanocrystals, and organic molecules that passivate the surfaces of the semiconductor nanocrystals. One or more properties of the organic molecules facilitate the transfer of charge between the semiconductor nanocrystals. A semiconductor material is described that comprises p-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of electrons in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of holes. A semiconductor material is described that comprises n-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of holes in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of electrons.
US08022386B2 Vertical topology light emitting device
In a vertical topology light emitting device, an adhesion layer or adhesion structure is provided between one of the electrodes and the metal contact pad associated with that electrode. The vertical topology light emitting device further comprises a support layer, a reflective structure, which also serves as the other electrode, over the support layer, and a semiconductor device including an n-type GaN-based layer, an active layer and a p-type GaN-based layer. In certain embodiments, the adhesion layer, or adhesion structure, may comprise two layers, for example, a Cr layer and an Au layer. In other embodiments, the vertical topology device may comprise an adhesion layer, or structure, between the reflective structure and the support structure.
US08022384B2 Optimized solid electrolyte for programmable metallization cell devices and structures
A microelectronic programmable structure suitable for storing information and array including the structure and methods of forming and programming the structure are disclosed. The programmable structure generally includes an ion conductor and a plurality of electrodes. Electrical properties of the structure may be altered by applying energy to the structure, and thus information may be stored using the structure.
US08022377B2 Method and apparatus for excimer curing
An apparatus for An apparatus for generating excimer radiation is provided. The apparatus includes a housing having a housing wall. An electrode is configured within the housing. A tubular body is around the electrode. The tubular body includes an outer wall and an inner wall. At least one inert gas is between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the housing wall and the electrode are configured to excite the inert gas to illuminate an excimer light for curing.
US08022373B2 Observing apparatus
An observing apparatus includes: a photographic unit that takes a region where cells are present as an observation object region based upon a macro image captured at low magnification of an interior of a cell culture vessel, and photographs the cells in the observation object region; an illuminating unit that irradiates light upon the cells only during photography by the photographic unit; and an output unit that outputs a fluorescent image photographed by the photographic unit while irradiating light only during photography by the illuminating unit. A recognition section recognizes at least one observation object region, within the macro image, in which cells are present. A selection unit selects a tiling mode or a random mode. A controller points an objective lens at an observation object region in which the recognition unit has recognized that cells are present.
US08022371B2 Cathode having electron production and focusing grooves, ion source and related method
A cathode having electron production and focusing grooves for an ion source of an ion implanter system, the ion source and a related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cathode includes a working surface having a plurality of electron production and focusing grooves positioned therein. A repeller of the ion source may be similarly structured.
US08022369B2 Ultra thin neutron detector, method for manufacturing the neutron detector and neutron imaging apparatus
A detector (100) for detecting neutrons includes a neutron reactive material (102) adapted to interact with neutrons to be detected and release ionizing radiation reaction products in relation to the interactions with neutrons. The detector also includes a first semiconductor element (101) being coupled with the neutron reactive material (102) and adapted to interact with the ionizing radiation reaction products and provide electrical charges proportional to the energy of the ionizing radiation reaction products. In addition electrodes are arranged in connection with the first semiconductor element (101) for providing charge collecting areas (106) for collecting the electrical charges and to provide electrically readable signal proportional to the collected electrical charges. The thickness of the first semiconductor element (101) is adapted to be electrically and/or physically so thin that it is essentially/practically transparent for incident photons, such as background gamma photons.
US08022367B2 Multipoint sensing system
A self-powered energy harvesting unit/controller receives motion data from one or more self-powered sensors via low power wire. The energy harvesting unit sends signals wirelessly to a system to perform certain functions as a result of received motion signals or the absence of such motion signals.
US08022365B2 Charged particle beam equipments, and charged particle beam microscope
In an electron microscope to which a phase retrieval method is applied, an image size determined by a pixel size p of a diffraction pattern, a camera length L, and a wavelength λ of an illumination beam is allowed to have a certain relation with an illumination area on a specimen. Further, a beam illumination area or a scanning area of a deflector when a magnified image is observed is set by an illumination adjustment system, so that an image size when the magnified image is used for the phase retrieval method is allowed to have a certain relation with the image size determined by the pixel size of the diffraction pattern, the camera length, and the wavelength of the illumination beam. Accordingly, the information of the diffraction pattern is substantially equal to an object image to be reconstructed.
US08022363B2 Ion trap mass spectrometer
While applying a square wave voltage to the ion electrode (21) so that ions already captured in the ion trap (20) do not disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is temporarily increased at the timing when the ions generated in response to the short time irradiation of a laser light reach the ion inlet (25). This decreases the Mathieu parameter qz, and the potential well becomes shallow, which makes it easy for ions to enter the ion trap (20). Although the ions that have been already captured become more likely to disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is decreased before they deviate from the stable orbit. Thus, the dispersion of the ions can also be avoided. Accordingly, while the number of captured ions is not decreased, new ions are further added, and thereby the amount of ions can be increased. By performing a mass separation and detection after that, the signal intensity in one mass analysis can be increased. Thereby, the number of repetition of the mass analysis for summing up the mass profiles can be decreased, and the signal intensity can be increased while decreasing the measuring time.
US08022360B2 Gas pre-concentrator for detection apparatus
IMS apparatus has a preconcentrator in an inlet passage. A pressure pulser connected to the interior of a housing applies small alternating negative and positive pressure pulses to the housing so that air is drawn in and out of the inlet passage in a “panting” fashion. This causes analyte to be adsorbed by the preconcentrator but does not allow analyte to enter sufficiently to be ionized and detected. After a time sufficient to accumulate a detectable amount of analyte on the preconcentrator the apparatus switches to a desorb phase. The preconcentrator is heated to desorb the analyte, and the pressure pulser produces a larger negative pulse sufficient to draw the liberated analyte far enough into the reaction region for ionization and detection.
US08022359B2 Measuring the mobility of mass selected ions
In an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS), the ion current from a suitable ion source is modulated with an analog modulation having a smooth modulation function, whose instantaneous frequency varies with time over a wide frequency range. The modulated ion current is continuously fed through a mobility drift region into the mass spectrometer, where the temporally varying ion current profile of at least one ion species is measured. The mobility spectrum of the ion species is then generated by correlating its ion current time profile with the modulation function.
US08022357B2 Systems and methods for generating calibration maps for non-pixelated gamma detectors
A method for calibrating a non-pixelated gamma camera is provided, wherein the method includes determining a linearity map and a uniformity map of a reference isotope; and determining a linearity map and uniformity map of another isotope. Delta maps are calculated based on the maps of the reference isotope and the maps of the other isotope. During recalibration, new maps of the reference isotope are determined, thereby enabling new maps of the other isotope to be created based on the delta maps.
US08022353B2 Seed counting and frequency measurement apparatus and method
An improved device for measuring the count and frequency of seeds in a stream of seeds is described. The device is useful for measuring the frequency and accuracy of seed planting devices. A seed counting system can include an imaging region, an image sensing device, and a lens between the imaging region and the image sensing device. An optical distance extender between the imaging region and the lens, creates an effective optical distance between the imaging region and the lens that is substantially greater than the physical distance between the imaging region and the lens, thereby providing a substantial depth of field.
US08022351B2 Single photon detection with self-quenching multiplication
A photoelectronic device and an avalanche self-quenching process for a photoelectronic device are described. The photoelectronic device comprises a nanoscale semiconductor multiplication region and a nanoscale doped semiconductor quenching structure including a depletion region and an undepletion region. The photoelectronic device can act as a single photon detector or a single carrier multiplier. The avalanche self-quenching process allows electrical field reduction in the multiplication region by movement of the multiplication carriers, thus quenching the avalanche.
US08022349B2 Linear sensor array for an optical spectroscopy device and methods of use thereof
Time-resolved analysis of a spectrum is performed by illuminating a one-dimensional array of charge-transfer device light-sensitive pixel cells and periodically non-destructively copying charges in the light-sensitive cells to respective storage cells (“row storage registers”) co-located with the light-sensitive cells in an integrated circuit. Information about the charges stored in at least some of the storage cells is provided to a component external to the integrated circuit.
US08022339B2 Electric cartridge type heater
The electric cartridge type heater has a continuous central fitting hole (2) for receiving a cylindrical body to be healed in a gap-free manner, an inner metal jacket (1), an outer metal jacket (3) and a healing conductor wound on the circumference of a coil form (8), which is inserted in an annular chamber (4). The coil form has a cylinder wall with holes (10) or ducts (11/1) for receiving ends (12, 13, 15, 16) of the heating wire winding (9). The connecting conductors (18, 19) are led radially to the outside through an opening (20, 20/1) of the outer metal jacket (3) in an axial area which is located away from the two axial ends of the annular chamber (4) and is located between two heating wire windings (9/1, 9/2) or two winding sections (9a, 9b) of the same heating wire winding (9).
US08022337B2 Ignitor plug assembly
An improved ignitor plug for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber and a smart fuel supply system for ignitor plug applications.
US08022336B2 Method and an apparatus for controlling glow plugs in a diesel engine, particularly for motor-vehicles
A method is provided for controlling a glow plug (GP) associated with a cylinder chamber of a Diesel engine. The method includes, but is not limited to the steps of driving in an on-off manner in a period of time an electronic switch (M) connected essentially in series with the glow plug (GP) between the terminals of a d.c. voltage supply (B), sensing the voltage (V) across the glow plug (GP) and the current (I) flowing through the glow plug (GP) and performing a voltage closed loop control for controlling the temperature of the glow plug (GP). The method further includes, but is not limited to the steps of calculating a normalized current error (εI) as a function of said sensed current (I), calculating a normalized voltage error (εV) as a function of said sensed voltage (V), calculating a weight function (K) as a function of predetermined parameters (α, β, n) and calculating a global error (ε) as a function of said normalized current error (εI), normalized voltage error (εV) and weight function (K). Finally, the method includes, but is not limited to the step of combining the voltage closed loop control with a current closed loop control according to the value of said global error (ε).
US08022332B2 Laser processing device
A laser condensing optical system of the present invention includes a laser beam source which emits a laser beam, a condensing optical system which is arranged between the laser beam source and a medium and condenses the laser beam in the medium, and a laser divergence point moving unit which can move the position of a laser divergence point of the laser beam along an optical axis of the laser beam in accordance with the refractive index of the medium in which the laser beam is desired to be condensed and the distance from a surface of the medium to a position where the beam is desired to be condensed.
US08022330B2 Method and device for welding structural components
A method and device are provided for welding structural parts, preferably of a gas turbine, especially of an aircraft engine. A structural component is laser-welded by means of at least one laser source, the one or more laser sources being operated in a pulsed mode. Pulse duration and/or pulse shape and/or output of the one or more laser sources are adjusted in a variable manner. The wire advance of the welding wire is controlled subject to the pulses of the one or more laser sources.
US08022326B2 Push switch
A push switch includes an upper movable contact, a lower movable contact, a center fixed contact, an intermediate fixed contact, and a peripheral fixed contact. The lower movable contact includes an annular portion, and four legs extending from the annular portion. One of the four legs is placed on a peripheral fixed contact. The upper movable contact faces the center fixed contact through a circular hole in the annular portion of the lower movable contact via a space between the upper movable contact and the center fixed contact. Two legs out of the four legs are located away from each other by an angular interval smaller than 90 degrees with respect to the center of the annular portion. Upon being pressed, the actuator activates two combinations of switch contacts, one combination including the movable contacts and the intermediate fixed contact and the other combination including the movable contacts and the center fixed contact, providing the push switch with a small size.
US08022323B2 Switch apparatus
The present invention aims at achieving the object of keeping a contact housing portion liquid tight sealed and to improve the durability of a switch apparatus. A switch apparatus according to the present embodiment includes: a switch case 3 including a contact housing portion 25 therein and a shaft hole 27; a rod 5 whose outer flange portion 33 is capable of axially abutting on and engaging with a periphery portion 121a of a detecting plate; a first return spring 37 biasing the rod 5 in the direction opposite to protruding direction; a fixed contact 9 in the switch case 3 and a movable contact 7 which can reciprocally move between a position touching the fixed contact 9 and a non-touching position; a diaphragm 11 separating the shaft hole 27 from the contact housing portion 25 and being formed of rubber; a movable base 39 supporting the movable contact 7 and abutting on the diaphragm 11; a second return spring 2 bringing the movable contact 7 into contact with the fixed contact 9; and a retention member 13 interposed between the diaphragm 11 and the rod 5, including an abutting portion 41 for abutting on the rod 5, and axially movably, but not rotatably supported with respect to the switch case 3.
US08022322B2 Key switch arrangement excellent in waterproofing property
A key switch arrangement is able to prevent liquid such as water from entering a membrane sheet and staying therein. The key switch arrangement includes a waterproof sheet arranged above the membrane sheet, a first fixing member arranged in above the waterproof sheet and having a first projection protruding on the side of the waterproof sheet, and a second fixing member arranged below the membrane sheet and having a second projection protruding on the side of the membrane sheet. In the waterproof sheet and the second projection, holes are formed to which the first projection enters, while in the membrane sheet, a hole is formed to which the second projection enters so as to adhere the waterproof sheet closely to the second projection.
US08022320B2 Lever engagement type electric power source circuit breaker
This invention provides a lever engagement type electric power source circuit breaker in which a connector is not easily deformed and terminals and fuses accommodated inside are not exposed outside. The invention is lever engagement type electric power source circuit breaker includes a service plug including a service plug housing having a plurality of first connector terminals on a first side of the service plug housing, a metal cover covering a second side of the service plug housing opposing to the first side and including a main body, a boss integrally formed on the periphery of the main body, an electric power source side connector including a plurality of second connector terminals to be connected to the first connector terminals and a shaft, and a lever including a cam groove to be engaged with the boss and pivotably supported by the shaft. When the lever is operated to rotate, the service plug and the electric power source side connector are engaged with each other and then the first and the second connector terminals are electrically connected.
US08022319B2 Handle operator linkage with sealing means
The present invention relates generally to linkage means. More particularly, the invention encompasses a handle operator linkage with sealing means. The present invention is also directed to a novel linkage for controlling switches or breakers, and more particularly to a linkage for use as a double throw switch for controlling two switches or breakers mounted in the same enclosure so that only one switch can be ON at any given time, and the second switch would automatically be in an OFF state.
US08022317B2 Digitizer system
An X-Y digitizer system is described for embedding within a host device, such as a tablet PC, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant or the like. The digitizer is configurable so that it can detect and track the position of different types of position indicator. The digitizer also includes novel digitizer windings and novel excitation circuitry for energizing the windings.
US08022315B2 Extension tube for concrete floor boxes
An extension tube for an electrical floor box that includes a first section and a second section. Each section has a curved wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a top portion, a bottom portion and first and second side edges. The bottom portion is offset radially outwardly from the top portion by a ledge and the side edges have connecting mechanisms which join the two sections together to form the extension tube. The extension tube includes a top portion and a belled bottom portion which are formed so that the top portion of one extension tube can be inserted into the bottom portion of another extension tube.
US08022313B2 Circuit board with electromagnetic bandgap adjacent or overlapping differential signals
A circuit board includes a plurality of differential signal line pairs, and a plurality of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) patterns, each configured to be disposed to overlap the plurality of differential signal line pairs, wherein the EBG patterns are electrically insulated from the differential signal line pairs.
US08022311B2 Printed circuit board for improving tolerance of embedded capacitors, and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are a printed circuit board for improving the tolerance of embedded capacitors and a method of manufacturing the same. The printed circuit board having embedded capacitors is manufactured by transferring and embedding a circuit layer having a lower electrode formed through an additive process into a resin insulating layer, and thereby is minimized in the circuit tolerance conventionally caused by an etching process to thus be applied to capacitors for RF matching.
US08022310B2 Multilayer wiring board
The present invention provides a multilayer wiring board in which warpage during reflow soldering can be reduced even if there is no sufficient space for disposing a dummy pattern or if a dummy pattern cannot be disposed. A difference between the ratios of copper remaining in wiring layers causes a difference between the amounts of thermal expansion of the wiring layers. The fiber bundle content of at least one resin base material layer is made different from that of the other resin base material layers, to cause a difference between the amounts of thermal expansion of the resin base material layers. This difference between the amounts of thermal expansion of the resin base material layers is used to cancel the difference between the amounts of thermal expansion of the wiring layers. Thus, warpage of the board during reflow soldering is reduced.
US08022304B2 Grommet
A grommet providing triple sealing feature when mounted in an opening of a panel is disclosed. When the panel into which the grommet is mounted is between a compartment exposed to ambient conditions and a passenger compartment, a seal minimizes water, fumes, dust, and noise from entering into the passenger compartment. The triple seal, according to an embodiment, provides higher sealing forces than shown previously. The disclosed grommet can be engaged with a flat, non-flanged panel as well as a panel having a flange near the opening. The disclosed grommet has multiple longitudinal slits sawed through a tubular portion of the grommet through which the wiring harness is threaded. The cuts allow a subset of wires to be splayed out from the grommet at a different routing than the remainder of the wires in the wiring harness bundle.
US08022303B2 Feed-through and bushing
A feed-through for feeding electric power to a submerged pump installed in a tank for cryogenic liquefied gases such as (LNG) liquefied natural gas and (LPG) liquefied propane gas. In the feed-through, a bushing made of an insulating material is inserted in the bushing insertion hole of a flange, and a conductor is inserted in the hollow part of the bushing. A gap between the flange and each end of the bushing insertion hole and a gap between each end of the bushing and the conductor are sealed airtight by seal members. A through-hole is formed in the wall of the bushing, and a space part communicating with the through-hole is formed in the flange. The pressure in the space part of the flange is detected by a pressure detector.
US08022302B2 Telecommunications wire having a channeled dielectric insulator and methods for manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates generally to a telecommunications wire including an electrical conductor and a dielectric insulator surrounding the electrical conductor. The dielectric insulator defines a plurality of channels defining void space containing a material having a low dielectric constant such as air. The channels each run along a length of the electrical conductor. The channels are configured to lower an overall dielectric constant of the dielectric insulator while maintaining desirable mechanical properties such as crush resistance.
US08022295B2 Photoelectric conversion devices
Materials for photoelectric conversion devices, consisting of polyacene derivatives represented by general formula (I) below; and photoelectric conversion devices made by using the materials. The materials for photoelectric conversion devices have excellent workability and productivity, exhibit low toxicity, are easily flexibilized, and have high photoelectric conversion efficiencies. In the formula, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are independent from each other, either the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms, or the like. n is an integer of 1 or more.
US08022294B2 Dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device
The present invention relates to a photoelectric conversion device sensitized by supporting a methine based dye represented by the following formula (1): (in the above formula, n represents an integer of 0 to 7; X and Y each represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue and the like. In addition, X and Y may combine together to form an optionally substituted ring. A1, A2 and A3 represent each independently an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue and the like. In addition, when n is other than 0, a plural number of A1 and/or A2 and/or A3 may form an optionally substituted ring. The benzene ring “a” may have substituent selected from a halogen atom, an amide group, a hydroxyl group, a cyano group and the like); on a thin film of oxide semiconductor fine particles provided on a substrate, and has features that the device can be manufactured at low cost and has high conversion efficiency.
US08022293B2 Dye-sensitized photoelectic conversion devices
The present invention relates to photoelectric conversion devices, characterized by using oxide semiconductor particles sensitized with a methine dye represented by the Formula (1):(KA 1) (in the Formula (1), m represents 1 to 4; n1 represents 1 to 7; p1 represents 1 to 4; X1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic residue, an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbon residue, a cyano group, a phosphoric acid group, a sulfonic acid group, or a carboxyl group, a carbonamide group, and the like; L1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic residue and the like; A1 and A2 each independently represent an optionally substituted aromatic residue, a hydroxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, a cyano group, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like; the ring a1 has 1 or a plurality of halogen atoms, amide groups, hydroxyl groups, cyano groups, nitro groups, alkoxy groups, acyl groups and the like.), and solar cells made by using the same. The devices and the cells are characterized by relatively low cost, high stability, and high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
US08022292B2 Photovoltaic device employing a resonator cavity
A photovoltaic device utilizing a gain means and an amplification means to intake and convert incident light/photons to greater intensities of highly coherent and monochromatic photons whereby said photons are passed to a resonating means and absorption means, allowing for said photons to be absorbed with increased conversion efficiency.
US08022291B2 Method of making front electrode of photovoltaic device having etched surface and corresponding photovoltaic device
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a photovoltaic (PV) device including an electrode such as a front electrode/contact, and a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode has a textured (e.g., etched) surface that faces the photovoltaic semiconductor film of the PV device. The front electrode has a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film having first and second layers (continuous or discontinuous) of the same material (e.g., zinc oxide, zinc aluminum oxide, indium-tin-oxide, or tin oxide), where the first TCO layer is sputter-deposited using a ceramic sputtering target(s) and the second TCO layer of the same material is sputter-deposited using a metallic or substantially metallic sputtering target(s). This allows the better quality TCO of the film, deposited more slowly via the ceramic target(s), to be formed using the ceramic target and the lesser quality TCO of the film to be deposited more quickly and cost effectively via the metallic target(s). After the etching, most or all of the better quality ceramic-deposited TCO remains whereas much of the lesser quality metallic-deposited TCO of the film was removed during the etching process.
US08022289B2 Harmonic sound generator and a method for producing harmonic sound
A first harmonic sound generating unit 1 generates a first harmonic sound signal as a product of a multiplication of a signal of a specific frequency and a signal including frequency components of odd multiples of a music signal. Then, frequency components of non-integer multiples shifted back and forth in the specific frequency from the odd multiples are generated based on the first harmonic sound signal. A full-wave rectifying unit 21 rectifies the first harmonic sound signal to generate a second harmonic sound signal including frequency components of even multiples. An adding unit 4 adds the first harmonic sound signal and the second harmonic sound signal, and then adds the additional value to the music signal.
US08022288B2 Musical instrument
A musical device is disclosed that performs a variety of user defined or user controlled activities. These activities include but are not limited to producing musical notes, determining, influencing or changing the sound, quality, voice, volume or other characteristics of a note, activating and coordinating the replay of stored loops, recording, editing and playing user created pieces previously produced and controlling peripheral devices such as lighting. The musical device uses a combination of strings and frets to locate notes on a fingerboard that a user may activate. As a result, the invention includes a system to generate a sound corresponding to a note selected and activated according to preselected parameters such as the voice (e.g., trumpet, violin). A user's intent to play a particular note can be confirmed by a system of sensors corresponding to each note position.
US08022281B2 Shell for drum and drum using the same
A shell for drum according to the present invention includes a laminated plywood-panel including a plurality of single-panels having different densities, the plurality of single-panels being jointed in decreasing order of density from a center portion in a thick direction of the laminated plywood-panel toward an outermost portion and an innermost portion, such that a single-panel having a highest density is arranged at the center portion, and single-panels having lowest densities are arranged at the outermost portion and the innermost portion.
US08022275B2 Maize promoter active in silk and pericarp tissues
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a tissue-preferred maize promoter. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequence disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the tissue-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.
US08022273B2 Nucleotide sequences and polypeptides encoded thereby useful for modifying plant characteristics
Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood).
US08022272B2 Expression cassettes for transgenic expression of nucleic acids
The invention relates to expression cassettes and vectors, which contain vegetable constitutive promoters and to the use of these expression cassettes or vectors for the transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences preferably selection markers in organisms, preferably in plants. The invention also relates to transgenic plants that have been transformed using these expression cassettes or vectors, to cultures, parts or propagation products derived from these plants, and to the use of these plants for producing food and animal feed agents, seeds, pharmaceuticals, or fine chemicals.
US08022269B2 Altered metabolism
The present invention relates to methods for increasing the yield of a compound produced by an organism. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for increasing the total or soluble carbohydrate content or sweetness or increasing the content of an endogenous carbohydrate of a plant tissue by producing a sugar-metabolizing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an endogenous sugar (one that is normally produced in the plant) to an alien sugar (one that is not normally produced in the plant at the same developmental stage). The invention also relates to plants and plant parts that produce a sugar-metabolizing enzyme to yield an alien sugar, with the consequence of higher total fermentable carbohydrate content, and to fermentable carbohydrates and other products derived therefrom.
US08022266B2 Method of treating a wound utilizing suction
A therapeutic device for promoting the healing of a wound in a mammal is disclosed. An exemplary device comprises a permeable structure having a plurality of depressions formed in a surface thereof. In use, the surface having the depressions is disposed adjacent a surface of the wound. A method of treating a wound comprises the steps of providing a permeable structure comprising a plurality of randomly disposed fibers and having i) a plurality of wound surface contact elements disposed between end portions of the structure, and ii) a plurality of voids defined by the contact elements; and applying the permeable structure to at least one surface of the wound.
US08022259B2 Slurry hydroconversion of biorenewable feedstocks
A method for hydroconversion of a combined feed of at least one low value petroleum derived hydrocarbon and at least one biorenewable feedstock in a hydroconversion reaction zone in the presence of a hydroconversion catalyst at hydroconversion reaction conditions for a period of time sufficient to form a hydroconversion reaction product.
US08022258B2 Process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons
The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons wherein a feed is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating step and isomerised in an isomerisation step, and a feed comprising fresh feed containing more than 5 wt % of free fatty acids and at least one diluting agent is hydrotreated at a reaction temperature of 200-400° C., in a hydrotreating reactor in the presence of catalyst, and the ratio of the diluting agent/fresh feed is 5-30:1.
US08022256B2 Hydroformylation of butenes comprising isobutylene
Mixed butene streams containing butene-1 and isobutylene and optionally butene-2 are hydroformylated under conditions that hydroformylates all the monomers to yield a mixture of valeraldehydes. Higher temperatures and/or longer residence times and/or higher partial pressure of carbon monoxide than in conventional processes are used to ensure hydroformylation of all the monomers.
US08022251B2 Iminium salts and methods of preparing electron deficient olefins using such novel iminium salts
This invention relates to novel iminium salts, which may be in the form of ionic liquids, and a process for producing electron deficient olefins, such as 2-cyanoacrylates, using such an iminium salt, for instance in the form of an ionic liquid.
US08022250B2 1-phenylalkanecarboxylic acid derivatives for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
1-Phenylalkanecarboxylic acid derivatives, the processes for the preparation thereof and the use thereof in the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
US08022249B2 Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders
Compounds useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed. wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen or —(CH2)gOH wherein g is 0, 1 or 2; R4 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound of formula I by a ring carbon; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.
US08022242B2 Process for preparing alkali metal or alkaline earth metal tricyanomethanides
The present invention relates to a process for preparing highly pure alkali metal or alkaline earth metal tricyanomethanides.
US08022241B2 Processes for producing carbonic ester and producing polycarbonate
A process for producing a carbonic ester, characterized in that an aromatic monohydroxy compound or an aliphatic monohydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst using a compound having a carbonate bond as a reaction solvent. A process for producing a polycarbonate, characterized in that an aromatic dihydroxy compound or an aliphatic dihydroxy compound is subjected to oxidative carbonylation with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a palladium catalyst using a compound having a carbonate bond as a reaction solvent is also described. The carbonic ester can be produced with a higher yield and at a higher reaction rate and, also, a polycarbonate having a higher molecular weight as compared with the conventional method can be produced with a higher yield and at a higher reaction rate.
US08022239B2 Mechanism-based inactivators of autotaxin
A novel class of compounds to inactivate autotaxin enzymes is provided. Such compounds include mono- and di-fluoromethylphenyl C12-C18 phosphodiesters and exhibit reactivity with autotaxin to ultimately reduce the size of the reactive sites thereon to prevent conversion of lysophosphatidyl choline to lysophophatidic acid. Furthermore, such compounds are non-cytotoxic, and can be incorporated within delivery forms for human ingestion. As such, these compounds accord an excellent manner of potentially reducing generation of certain cancers attributable to the presence of naturally occurring autotaxin within the human body. Methods of producing such novel compounds are encompassed within this invention as well as methods of inactivating autotaxin to certain degrees therewith.
US08022237B2 Method for forming reactive silane esters for use in an imaging member
A process or method for forming silane esters that is substantially free of oligomers. The process includes reacting an anhydrous salt of a carboxylic acid with a silane in a two phase reaction system. The silane comprises a halo-alkyl substituent. The two phase reaction system comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the second solvent is a solvent that is substantially non-miscible in the first solvent. An imaging member produced utilizing the silane esters so formed are also produced herein.
US08022235B2 Compositions of phospholipid ether boronic acids and esters and methods for their synthesis and use
The present invention discloses boronic acids and esters of phospholipid ether analogs and methods for their synthesis and use. The boronic acids and esters of phospholipid ether analogs described herein can be used in treating cancer and in particular can be used in conjunction with radiation therapy, such as external beam radiation therapy and neutron capture therapy to specifically target and kill cancer cells.
US08022233B2 Process for producing glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate and composition containing the product
An efficient process for producing glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate useful as a reactive diluent is provided. When glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate is produced by reacting allyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate with hydrogen peroxide, a solution in which allyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate is dissolved in an aliphatic ester as a solvent is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a crystalline titanosilicate catalyst. Thus, a production process of glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, which is small in degradation of purity and yield due to generation of peroxides or the like, and products thereof are provided.
US08022232B2 Method for manufacture of escitalopram
This patent discloses a method for resolution of 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile as a racemic or non-racemic enantiomer mixture into its isolated enantiomers, said method comprising the step of fractionally crystallizing 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4′-fluorophenyl)-1-hydroxybutyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-benzonitrile as a salt with the (+)-(S,S)- or (−)-(R,R)-enantiomer of O,O′-di-p-toluoyl-tartaric acid in a solvent system comprising 1-propanol, ethanol or acetonitrile.
US08022229B2 Process for the preparation of alkyl 5-(dicarboximido) levulinate and alkyl 4-oxo-pentenoate
A method of manufacturing esters of dicarboxyimidolevulinic acid and alkyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate. This method includes two reaction steps, wherein the first step of said two reaction steps is a bromination of alkyl-levulinate, to obtain alkyl-(3 and 5)-bromolevulinate, and the second step of said two reaction steps is a synthesis of esters of dicarboxyimidolevulinic acid and alkyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate, by reacting the alkyl-(3 and 5)-bromolevulinate obtained in said first step with dicarboxyimide anion.
US08022227B2 Method of synthesizing 1H-indazole compounds
A method is provided for synthesizing 1H-indazole compounds in which aromatic carbonyl compounds are reacted with a nitrogen source to form oximes which are then converted to 1H-indazoles.
US08022224B2 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl bisphenyl derivatives for use in the treatment of endocrine-dependent tumors
There is provided a compound of Formula I wherein R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently selected from H and —Y—R8; wherein each R8 is independently selected from —OH, hydrocarbyl groups, oxyhydrocarbyl groups, cyano (—CN), nitro (—NO2), H-bond acceptors, and halogens; wherein at least one of R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 is —Y—R8 wherein R8 is selected from substituted and unsubstituted heterocyclic rings and amino substituted phenyl groups, wherein X is a bond or a linker group; wherein Y is an optional linker group; and wherein ring A is optionally further substituted; wherein R9 is selected from H, —OH and —OSO2NR1R2; wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl; wherein (a) X is a bond and at least one of R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 is —Y—R8; OR (b) R9 is —OSO2NR1R2 or —OH and four of R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are H and one of R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 is —Y—R8. These compounds inhibit steroid sulphatase and aromatase activity and are useful in the treatment of endocrine-dependent tumors.
US08022220B2 Process for production of piperidine derivatives
The present invention discloses a process for preparing the piperidine derivative compound 4-[4-[4-hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid of formula comprising the sequential steps of: (1) reacting 4-bromo-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene with 4-chlorobutyryl chloride to provide 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene; (2) hydrolyzing said 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene to provide 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid; (3) reacting said 4-(4-chloro-1 -oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid with methanol to provide methyl 4-(4-chloro-1 -oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; (4) reacting said methyl 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate with 4-(α,α-diphenyl)piperidinemethanol to provide methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-oxobutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; (5) reducing said methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-oxobutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate to provide methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; and (6) hydrolyzing said methyl 4-[4-[4 -(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate to provide said 4-[4-[4-hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid.
US08022217B2 Compounds suitable as modulators of HDL
Disclosed herein in the embodiments of the present invention are the compounds suitable as modulators of HDL having general formula (1), novel intermediates involved in their synthesis, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process of preparing compounds of general formula (1), their tautomeric forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and novel intermediates involved in their synthesis.
US08022215B2 Fused pyridone M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators
The present invention is directed to fused pyridone compounds of formula (I) (I) that are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US08022206B2 Furo[3,2-C]pyridines
Furo[3,2-c]Pyridine and Thieno[3,2-c]pyridine compounds of Formula I, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, preparation, intermediates, pharmaceutical compositions, and use, such as in disease treatment, including cancers, including conditions in which EMT is involved, including conditions mediated by protein kinase activity such as RON and/or MET.
US08022201B2 Process for preparing amides from ketoximes
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing amides. In particular, the process is directed to a process performable on the industrial scale, in which a ketoxime can be converted to a cyclic or acyclic amide by means of a Beckmann rearrangement using 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine as a catalyst in a nonpolar organic solvent.
US08022200B2 Process for the preparation of liquid, storage-stable organic isocyanates of low color number containing carbodiimide and/or uretonimine groups
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of liquid, storage-stable isocyanate mixtures which are characterized by a low color number and which contain carbodiimide (CD) and/or uretonimine (UI) groups. This invention also relates to the isocyanate mixtures obtained by this process, to their use for the preparation of blends with further isocyanates, and to the preparation of prepolymers containing isocyanate groups and of polyurethane plastics, preferably polyurethane foams from these isocyanate mixtures.
US08022196B2 Polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing
This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding polypeptides involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. The invention also relates to construction of a recombinant DNA construct encoding all or a portion of the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels in a transformed host cell of the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing.
US08022192B2 Process for production of glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivative
The present invention relates to a method for preparing the glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivatives which are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity or the like. A glucopyranosyloxypyrazole derivative can be easily and efficiently prepared by allowing a benzylpyrazole derivative represented by the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 may be the same or different, for example each of them is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, arylmethyloxy group or the like, R6 is an alkyl group, for example R7 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, arylmethyloxy group or the like, to react with a compound represented by the general formula: wherein as an example, PG1 is a pivaloyl group or the like, as an example, X1 is a bromine atom or the like, therefore the present invention is extremely useful as a method for preparing pharmaceutical compounds.
US08022190B2 Immuno-molecules containing viral proteins, compositions thereof and methods of using
An immuno-molecule which comprises a soluble human MHC class I effector domain; and an antibody targeting domain which is linked to the soluble human MHC class I effector domain, methods of making same and uses thereof.
US08022189B2 Isolated antibodies against biologically active leptin-related peptides
The present invention relates to methods and compositions containing novel leptin peptides, preferably for the modulation of body mass (i.e., weight), more specifically for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications in homeostasis of body weight and adipose tissue mass.
US08022185B2 IFBM's to promote the specific attachment of target analytes to the surface of orthopedic implants
The present invention provides an improved coating for surfaces of medical implants. The coating comprises at least one interfacial biomaterial (IFBM) which is comprised of at least one binding module that binds to the surface of an implant or implant-related material (“implant module”) and at least one binding module that selectively binds to a target analyte or that is designed to have a desired effect (“analyte module”). The modules are connected by a linker. In some embodiments, the IFBM coating acts to promote the recognition and attachment of target analytes to surface of the device. The IFBM coating improves the performance of implanted medical devices, for example, by promoting osteointegration of the implant.
US08022182B2 Truncated BAFF receptors
The disclosure provides a non-naturally occurring BAFF-R glycoprotein having a deletion in the extracellular domain which results in an altered O-linked glycosylation pattern. The disclosure also provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating B-cell- and T-cell-mediated disorders.
US08022178B2 Modified self-assembling peptides
The present invention provides a self-assembling peptide comprising: (a) a first amino acid domain that mediates self-assembly, wherein the domain comprises alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids that are complementary and structurally compatible and self-assemble into a macroscopic structure when present in unmodified form; and (b) a second amino acid domain that does not mediate self-assembly in isolated form, wherein the second amino acid domain comprises at least one minimal biologically active sequence. Such self-assembling peptides are described herein as “modified self-assemblingpeptides.” The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits and matrices comprising a modified self-assembling peptide, and methods of using and making such compositions, kits and matrices.
US08022176B2 FAS peptide mimetics and uses thereof
Exocyclic peptide mimetics that disable Fas were developed. A three dimensional model of the Fas receptor-ligand complex was constructed and structurally predicted regions of the receptor that were relevant to binding ligand were used to create constrained peptide mimetics. Exocyclic anti-Fas peptide mimetics were identified that block Fas receptor-ligand interactions, and modulate Fas biological activity both in vitro and in vivo. The mimetics are useful, e.g., for treating Fas-related pathologies.
US08022174B2 C-type lectin transmembrane antigen expressed in human prostate cancer and uses therof
A novel gene (designated PC-LECTIN) that is highly overexpressed in prostate cancer and its encoded protein is described. PC-LECTIN in normal human tissues is restricted to testis, but is highly expressed in prostate cancer. Consequently, PC-LECTIN provides a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target for prostate cancer.
US08022163B2 Internal mold release agent for production of polythiourethane optical material
Disclosed is an internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials, which is obtained by mixing an acidic phosphate ester compound and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ga, Bi, Al and Zr. The internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials contains the metal in an amount of 0.01 to 20 weight %.
US08022162B2 Organosiloxane compositions
A method of making a diluted organopolysiloxane polymer comprising the steps of:— (i) preparing an organopolysiloxane polymer by polymerizing cyclic organopolysiloxane monomer(s) in the presence of an organic diluent material, a suitable catalyst and an end-blocking agent; and (ii) Where required quenching the polymerization process; wherein the diluent material is substantially retained within the resulting diluted organopolysiloxane.
US08022161B2 Perfluoropolyether-organopolysiloxane copolymer and a surface treatment composition comprising the same
A perfluoropolyether-polyorganosiloxane copolymer comprising at least one perfluoropolyether block, at least one polyorganosiloxane block which may has a silalkylene group, and two monovalent groups represented by the following formula (1), each one at both ends of the copolymer, wherein X is a hydrolyzable group, R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, y is an integer of from 1 to 5, and a is an integer of 2 or 3, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight, reduced to polystyrene, of from 7,000 to 25,000.
US08022159B2 Terminating compounds, polymers, and their uses in rubber compositions and tires
The invention includes terminating compounds, polymers, rubber compositions and tires. The terminating compounds can provide terminating groups on the polymer. Polymers can be homopolymers, copolymers and terpolymers, and can include repeat units provided from conjugated diene monomers. Rubber compositions can be made from the polymers, and tires and various parts of tires can be made from those rubber compositions.
US08022157B2 Light sensitive initiator integrated polydimethylsiloxane
Disclosed herein is a surface functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and methods for making the same. The surface functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) disclosed herein is applicable in the general field of microfluidics, bioMEMS (bio-microelectromechanical systems), soft lithography and other related biotechnology fields.
US08022153B2 System and process for production of polyethylene and polypropylene
A method for producing a polyethylene or polypropylene polymer, or co-polymer thereof, comprises contacting a monomer-containing medium with polymerization catalyst particles in at least one high shear mixing device to form a nanodispersion, wherein the particles have a mean diameter less than 1 micron. The monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, and combinations thereof. The method further includes subjecting the nanodispersion to polymerization conditions comprising pressure in the range of about 203 kPa to about 6080 kPa (about 2 atm to about 60 atm) and temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 230° C., whereby at least a portion of the monomer is polymerized. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
US08022150B2 Polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane block polymers, a process for preparing them and their use as defoamers in aqueous dispersions
The invention relates to the polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane block polymers of general formula (I) C—B—(AB)a—C1 (I), wherein A=a polyoxyalkylene block of the general formula —(CnH2nO)b—, B=a polysiloxane block of the general formula —(SiR2—O)c—, C, C1=the same or different alkoxypolyoxyalkylene groups of the general formula Z—O—[CH2—CH(R1)O]d—, R=the same or different C1-4 alkyl groups or phenyl groups, with the proviso that at least 90% of the groups R are methyl groups, R1=the same or different hydrogen, C1-12 alkyl groups or phenyl groups, Z=an alkyl, alkylene, aryl or alkylaryl group, a=1 to 20, preferably 2 to 10, b=an average value of 10 to 130, preferably 20 to 100, c=3 to 100, preferably 10 to 80, d=independently is in the range of C/C1 values of 2 to 20, preferably 2 to 12, with the proviso that the average value is in the range of 2 to <15, preferably 2 to 12, especially 5 to 10, and d is preferably unequal b, n=2 to 12 having an average value of 2.7 to 4.0. The invention also relates to a method for producing said block polymers and to their use in antifoaming agents in aqueous dispersions.
US08022148B2 Polypropylene resin composition and film made thereof
A polypropylene resin composition that has a melt flow rate of 1.5 (g/10 minutes) or more and is obtainable by melt-kneading 94 to 98 parts by weight of (A) a propylene copolymer that comprises a polymer portion being obtainable by polymerizing monomers containing propylene as the major component and having an intrinsic viscosity of 2.0 (dL/g) or more and a copolymer portion being obtainable by copolymerizing propylene and ethylene, 2 to 6 parts by weight of (B) an ethylene polymer having a density of 0.920 g/cm3 or more, and (C) an organic peroxide, provided that the total weight of the propylene copolymer (A) and the ethylene polymer (B).
US08022146B2 Copolymers of para-alpha dimethylstyrene and thermoplastic compositions
A thermoplastic copolymer prepared from acrylonitrile and para-alpha-dimethylstyrene via bulk or solution polymerization has an improved heat distortion temperature and can be used together with graft copolymers and further components for the preparation of thermoplastic moldings.
US08022144B2 Propylene-based elastomeric composition
The present invention includes a polyolefin elastomeric composition comprising a propylene-based elastomer having at least seventy five weight percent units derived from propylene, the propylene-based elastomer exhibiting a heat of fusion of from 1 to 35 Joules/gram, a weight average molecular weight of from 5400 to 875000 g/mol, and a permanent set of less than 40%; and a homogeneous ethylene-alpha olefin interpolymer having a molecular weight distribution of less than 3.5, a density from 0.885 to 0.915 g/ml, and a heat of fusion of from 65 to 125 Joules/gram, wherein the ratio of the propylene-based elastomer to the homogeneous ethylene-alpha olefin interpolymer is from 97:3 to 80:20, and wherein the composition exhibits a heat of fusion from 2 to 55 Joules/gram, and a 2% secant flexural modulus of less than 69 MPa.
US08022141B2 Golf ball and method of manufacture
In a golf ball composed of a core and a cover having a plurality of layers that encloses the core, at least a first layer of the cover is formed primarily of a heated mixture of (A) a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or a metal ion neutralization product of an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer, (B) at least one type of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer and/or olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester copolymer having the same content of unsaturated carboxylic acid as component A, and (C) a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer; and at least one other cover layer adjoining the at least first cover layer is formed primarily of a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer. Because the golf ball is made using a cover stock having a good heat resistance, good moldability, good paint film adhesion and good adhesion to adjoining layers, it has an excellent rebound, an excellent feel when hit, and is more resistant to a decline in durability to impact.
US08022138B2 Polyurethane-urea polymers derived from cyclohexane dimethanol
Aqueous polyurethane dispersion are disclosed where the dispersions contain from 5 to 70 weight percent polyurethane solids wherein the solids are obtained from at least one isocyanate terminated prepolymer prepared by reacting (a) a polyol or polyol blend having a mean average equivalent weight of 200 to 2,000; and (b) at least one polyisocyanate where the prepolymer is dispersed in water; optionally in the presence of (c) one or more stabilizers; or (d) one or more amine chain extenders or both; wherein the prepolymers have an isocyanate (NCO) content of from 2 to 40 weight percent and the polyol or polyol blend (a) contains at least 15 weight percent of a polyester based on a polycarboxylic acid or lactone component and a glycol component, wherein the glycol component contains isomers of 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (1,3-/1,4-CHDM) where the ratio of the 1,3-/1,4-isomers is from 35:65 to 65:35.
US08022133B2 Co-additive compositions and methods for applying co-additive compositions into nucleated polymer compounds
It is possible to improve significantly the optical performance of diacetal or DBS-based nucleating or clarifying agents using a co-additive. Haze is a measure of the lack of clarity in a thermoplastic or plastic material. A low level of haze is usually quite desirable, and nucleating/clarifying agents are designed to reduce the degree of haze in a plastic or thermoplastic material. A co-additive may be used in connection with a nucleating/clarifying agents in a polymer or copolymer to achieve even greater results in terms of improved clarity (reduced haze), or in terms of a higher crystallization temperature (Tc) of the polymer. A method for reducing haze in polymer articles using a co-additive composition in addition to nucleating and clarifying agents is disclosed.
US08022131B2 Water-based inks for ink-jet printing
The present invention relates to a water-based ink for ink-jet printing which not only satisfies a high optical density but also exhibits excellent high lighter-fastness and gloss; and a water dispersion used for the water-based ink. There are provided a water dispersion for ink-jet printing containing (A) a self-dispersible pigment, (B) self-emulsifiable polymer particles containing a constitutional unit derived from a salt-forming group-containing monomer, and (C) emulsion polymer particles; and a water-based ink containing the water dispersion.
US08022130B2 Adhesive and sealant systems
Adhesive and sealant systems based on epoxy resins, polyurethane, silane-terminated polymers, silicones, unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, acrylates, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ether, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyvinyl acetates, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polysulfide, polyethylene, polypropylene, fluorinated hydrocarbons, polyamides, saturated polyesters and copolyesters, phenol-formaldehyde resins, cresol-/resorcinol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins, polyimides, polybenzimidazoles, polysulfones, which contain 1 wt. % to 15 wt. % of a compacted, hydrophobic pyrogenic silica.
US08022128B2 Thermoplastic elastomer composition
A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprises (A) about 25 to about 55 parts by weight of a block terpolymer including an aromatic vinyl compound and an alkene compound; (B) about 20 to about 50 parts by weight of a paraffin oil; (C) about 5 to about 15 parts by weight of a polyolefin resin; (D) about 5 to about 20 parts by weight of an inorganic additive; and (E) about 3 to about 15 parts by weight of a polyphenylene ether. The thermoplastic elastomer composition can have excellent physical properties, such as flexibility (or resilience), surface hardness, and restoring force at high temperatures.
US08022124B2 Process for preparation of ethylene polymers for blown films
Process for preparation of ethylene homopolymers or copolymers, comprising the steps of a) polymerization of ethylene or of ethylene with one or more other 1-olefins in the presence of a chromium catalyst at temperatures of from 20 to 200° C. and at pressures of from 0.1 to 20 MPa, where the chromium catalyst can be prepared via application of one or more chromium compounds to a silicate support and subsequent thermal activation under oxidative conditions at temperatures of from 620 to 900° C.; b) mixing of the polyethylene in the melt in the presence of from 1000 to 2000 ppm of an antioxidant comprising at least one sterically hindered phenol and comprising at least one phosphite in a mixing ratio of from 1:5 to 5:1, with specific energy input of at least 0.17 kWh/kg.
US08022123B2 Method for manufacturing and dispersing nanoparticles in thermoplastics
Clays and organoclays which are treated with resorcinol diphosphate and/or bisphenol diphosphate as general nanoparticle particle dispersants and replacements for quaternary amines. The two compounds are used as self activating and self dispersing nanoparticles by localizing themselves on the particle surface in a polymer matrix and acting as a nanoparticle dispersants in general, as well as resulting in exfoliation of clays. The exfoliate clays may be used in polymers in lieu of other organic treatments.
US08022118B2 Drag reduction of asphaltenic crude oils
A system for reducing pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of asphaltenic crude oil through a conduit. The crude oil has a high asphaltene content and/or a low API gravity. Such reduction in pressure drop is achieved by treating the asphaltenic crude oil with a high molecular weight drag reducing polymer that can have a solubility parameter within about 20 percent of the solubility parameter of the heavy crude oil. The drag reducing polymer can also comprise the residues of monomers having at least one heteroatom.
US08022109B2 Product filtration system for slurry reactors
A filter system for use in a three-phase slurry reactor is provided. The filter system comprises one or more bundles of a plurality of filter elements for separating liquid from a mixture of liquid and solids contained in the reactor. Each filter bundle is connected to a product transfer conduit transporting separated liquid to a location outside of and downstream from the reactor. The transfer conduit is provided with means for backflushing the filter bundle and guard filter means.
US08022107B2 Fluorinated polyoxyalkylene glycol diester surfactants
A fluorinated polyoxyalkylene glycol diester surfactant of formula 1 B—X—COCH2O—[—CpH2pO—]n—CH2CO—X—Ra  (1) wherein B is M or Ra, M is an ionizable hydrogen, ammonium, alkali metal, or alkaline earth metal, p is from about 2 to about 4, n is from about 5 to about 43, X is O, S, or SCH2CH2O, Ra is Rf(CH2CF2)d—(CgH2g)—; Rf[OCF2CF2]r(CgH2g)—; Rf(CH2)h[(CF2CF2)i(CH2CH2)j]k-; or RfOY—; Y is CFHCF2O(CH2CH2O)v-(CgH2g)—; CFHCF2O(CwH2w)—; or CF(CF3)CONH—(CgH2g)—; each Rf is independently CcF(2c+1) wherein c is 1 to about 6; d is 1 to about 3; g is 1 to about 4; or 1; r is 1 to about 4; h is 1 to about 6; i, j, and k are each independently 1, 2, or 3, or a mixture thereof; provided that the total number of carbon atoms in Rf(CH2)h[(CF2CF2)i(CH2CH2)j]k— is from about 8 to about 22; v is 1 to about 4; and w is from about 2 to about 12.
US08022106B2 Tranexamic acid formulations
Disclosed are modified release oral tranexamic acid formulations and methods of treatment therewith.
US08022103B2 Ester prodrugs of prostratin and related phorbol compounds
Ester prodrugs of phorbol compounds for the treatment of viral infections, neoplastic diseases, inflammatory reactions, and use as analgesics, wherein the phorbol compounds are derivatized with a -x-o-c(o)-R′ group linked to the 6-carbon of the phorbol residue.
US08022100B2 Whitening agents for cellulosic substrates
This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.
US08022099B2 N-benzyl pyrrolidine derivatives
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, n, and o are as defined herein or to a pharmaceutically active salt, a racemic mixture, an enantiomer, an optical isomer or a tautomeric form thereof. The present compounds are high potential NK-3 receptor antagonists for the treatment of depression, pain, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
US08022098B2 Deuterated aminocyclohexyl ether compounds and processes for preparing same
This invention is directed to deuterated aminocyclohexyl ether compounds and processes for preparing same and methods of using same.
US08022095B2 Methods of treating headaches using 5-HT agonists in combination with long-acting NSAIDs
The invention is directed to methods and compositions that can be used in the treatment of headaches. In particular, methods and compositions are described involving the combination of a long-acting NSAID and a 5-HT1B/1D agonist.
US08022093B2 Polymorphs of eltrombopag and eltrombopag salts and processes for preparation thereof
New polymorphs of Eltrombopag and Eltrombopag ethanolamine salt have been obtained and characterized. These polymorphs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are useful, for example, in treating conditions leading to thrombocytopenia.
US08022089B2 Isoxazoline-substituted benzamide compound and pesticide
An isoxazoline-substituted benzamide compound of formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein A1, A2 and A3 independently of one another are carbon atom or nitrogen atom, G is benzene ring, etc., X is halogen atom, C1-C6haloalkyl, etc., Y is halogen atm, C1-C6alkyl, etc., R1 is C1-C12alkyl arbitrarily substituted with R16, C3-C12alkenyl, arbitrarily substituted with R16 is oxygen atom or sulfur atom, —N(R20)R19, etc., R2 is hydrogen atom, C1-C4alkoxy C1-C6alkyl, etc., R3 is C1-C6haloalkyl, etc., R16 is halogen atom, cyano, phenyl substituted with (Z)p1, D-1 to D-60, E-1 to E-49, etc., R19 is phenyl, phenyl substituted with (Z)p1, etc., R20 is hydrogen atom, C1-C6alkyl, etc., Z is halogen atom, nitro, C1-C4alkoxy, etc., D-1 to D-60 are 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic rings, E-1 to E-49 are 5- or 6-membered saturated heterocyclic rings, m is an integer of 0 to 5, n is an integer of 0 to 4, p1 is an integer of 1 to 5. The pesticide containing these compounds.
US08022088B2 Substituted bicyclic and tricyclic thrombin receptor antagonists
Substituted bicyclic and tricyclic modified himbacine derivative of the formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of said compound wherein represents an optional double bond and wherein En, Fn, Gn, Zn, Jn, X, R3, R9, R10, R11, R32, R33, B and Het are herein defined are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a method of treating diseases associated with thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure, and cancer by administering said compounds. Combination therapy with other agents is also claimed.
US08022085B2 Pyrazolo-pyridinone and pyrazolo-pyrazinone compounds as P38 modulators and methods of use thereof
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases, including inflammation and related conditions. The compounds have a general Formula I wherein A1, A2, B, R1, R2, R4, R5, R6 and Z are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of Formula I, uses of such compounds and compositions for treatment of P38 map kinase mediated diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain and other inflammatory disorders, as well as intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of Formula I.
US08022084B2 Polymorphic forms of a GABAA agonist
The present invention is directed to novel polymorphic forms of the compound 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol hydrate (gaboxadol monohydrate). The invention is further concerned with pharmaceutical compositions containing the polymorphic forms as an active ingredient, methods for treatment of disorders susceptible to amelioration by GABAA receptor agonism with the polymorphic forms, and processes for the preparation of the polymorphic forms.
US08022081B2 Naphthyl substituted azabicyclo derivatives and their use as monomine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors
This invention relates to novel naphthyl substituted azabicyclo derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.