| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08472060B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming system and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus including: an assignment portion that, when a plurality of dynamic reconfigurable processors (DRPs) execute image processes by a pipeline process mode based on a print job, assigns identification numbers identifying the DRPs to the DRPs based on the number of DRPs; and a change portion that changes an assignment process by the assignment portion, based on whether a DRP of a final stage in the DRPs is connected to an outputting portion, the outputting portion outputting the results of the image processes to an outside; wherein when the DRP of the final stage is connected to the outputting portion, the assignment portion calculates a maximum identification number based on the total of the number of DRPs, assigns the maximum identification number to the DRP of the final stage, and sequentially assigns values acquired by decreasing the maximum identification number to remaining DRPs. |
| US08472056B2 |
Printing system and printing apparatus terminal for efficient processing of printing content
A printing system includes a transmitting terminal, which transmits printable printing contents, and a printing apparatus terminal, which receives and prints the printing contents, which are connected to the printing system via an Internet protocol network. |
| US08472054B2 |
Information distribution apparatus, information distribution method, and computer program for distributing a setting value of a program based on a condition
A method for distributing information includes acquiring information indicating a condition for a setting value to be set to a program from an image forming apparatus, verifying whether the setting value satisfies a range of the setting value based on the acquired information, and distributing, if the setting value satisfies the condition, the setting value to the image forming apparatus. |
| US08472052B2 |
Image reader converting image data into a data format corresponding to an application program, image reading system with the reader and image reading method for the system
An image reader and an external terminal are connected to each other through a network. The image reader includes a reading unit, a reception section, a data conversion section, a transmission data generation section and a transmission section. The reading unit reads an image. The reception section receives terminal information from the external terminal. The data conversion section converts image data read by the reading unit into a predetermined data format based on the terminal information. The transmission data generation section adds additional information, which relates to processing of the converted image data, to the converted image data to generate transmission data. The transmission section transmits the transmission data to the external terminal. |
| US08472050B2 |
File transmission apparatus, method and file version management system
A file transmission apparatus (101) accepts a file transmission instruction for a transmission destination selected by a user from the transmission destination list, and transmits a check-out request for a file specified by information of the selected transmission destination to the server (102) without the intervention of the user, and transmits a check-in request for a file subjected to the check-out request to the server using an image file input from an image input unit without the intervention of the user, and updates the file stored in the database using the image file. The apparatus registers the image file in the server by transmitting a check-in request of the image file input from the image input device as a new file without the intervention of the user when a file is not specified by the information of the transmission destination selected by the user. |
| US08472047B2 |
Billing and printing system, image forming device, and job processing method for the image forming device
Under a contention between a copy job and a print job, it is possible that a general user misunderstands that the payment he has made for the copy job is mistakenly used on the print job requested by another user. One solution to avoid such undesirable possibility is to display information indicating that the billing process is correctly done. Yet, the general user may fail to notice the display. In view of this, a billing and printing system prevents occurrence of job contention as long as the balance of payment made by a general user remains. An MFP included in the system does not accept any print job if a balance of received payment remains, and does not accept any payment if there is a queued print job. |
| US08472044B2 |
Management apparatus and control method thereof
The data amount of department counters stored in a database is reduced. In department counter information, departments with their data not having been updated in a predetermined period are set as ineffective departments so as not to register these departments in the database. This allows a reduction of department counter data maintained in a central control device because only effective departments are registered in the database. The validity of effective department/ineffective department classification is determined by comparison with the value of charge counters acquired along with the department counters. |
| US08472043B2 |
Information processing apparatus and its control method for managing distributed processing
An information processing apparatus manages distributed processing by a plurality of devices which are connected to a computer network and have a power-saving mode. The apparatus includes a retriever, arranged to retrieve device information and operation states of the plurality of devices, and a selector, arranged to select target devices of the distributed processing based on at least one of the device information and operation states. |
| US08472041B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system and computer-readable storage medium performing first authentication when storing print data and performing second authentication when printing stored print data
An information processing apparatus receives from a client apparatus a print request including authentication information of a user, and a judging part judges whether a printing related to the print request is enabled using the authentication information, and a sending part sends to the client apparatus information indicating that printing is prohibited when the judging part judges that the printing is not enabled. A recording part records print data and print attribute information received from the client apparatus in a related manner with respect to the print request if the judging part judges that the printing is enabled, and a sending part sends the print data to an image forming apparatus in response to a request therefrom. |
| US08472039B2 |
Copy apparatus having a copy prevention function and a copy prevention method thereof
A copy apparatus having a copy prevention function. The copy apparatus includes a scan unit to scan an image, a pattern detection unit to detect patterns corresponding to pre-stored copy prevention patterns from among patterns in the scanned image, and a control unit to prevent the image from being printed if a ratio of the detected patterns is identical to a ratio of the copy prevention patterns. Accordingly, even though money which has been enlarged or reduced in size is copied, the money is not copied due to the location ratio of the patterns in the image. |
| US08472038B2 |
Image scanning apparatus and image processing apparatus including platen with document retaining parts
An image scanning apparatus includes: a platen; scanning unit configured to scan an image from the document placed on the platen; and document retaining parts provided at positions corresponding to at least two sides of the platen and configured to prevent the document from curling away from the platen. |
| US08472030B2 |
Surface profile measuring apparatus, method of measuring surface profile, and method of manufacturing optical element
A surface profile measuring apparatus includes a first image pickup device that obtains an interference pattern, an optical system that guides a measuring beam and a reference beam to the first image pickup device, a second image pickup device with which a distribution of light quantity of a beam from a light source traveling thereto avoiding the optical system is measured, and an arithmetic unit that calculates a profile of a target surface from the interference pattern. A distribution of light quantity of a beam from the light source transmitted through the optical system is measured with the first image pickup device. The profile of the target surface calculated by the arithmetic unit is corrected on the basis of the distributions of light quantity measured with the first and second image pickup devices. |
| US08472029B2 |
Methods for using a locator camera in a laser tracker
A method of steering a laser beam from an instrument toward a point on a retroreflector, including: intercepting with the retroreflector a cone of light from the instrument; obtaining a first image of retroreflected light on a photosensitive array and transmitting an electrical data signal in response; determining a position on the photosensitive array of the first image; calculating first and second angular increments to steer the laser beam to the point; rotating the first and second motors to intercept with the position detector the retroreflected laser beam and to place the laser beam at a preferred location on the position detector; measuring fifth and sixth angles with first and second angle transducers; measuring a distance with a distance meter; and determining three-dimensional coordinates of the point based at least in part on the fifth angle, the sixth angle, and the distance. |
| US08472027B2 |
Spectral interferometry method and apparatus
A spectral interferometry apparatus and method is provided to supply unambiguous profiles (A-scans free of mirror terms) of the reflectivity versus optical path difference and make difference between the positive and negative optical path difference or provide output in a selected interval of optical path differences. The apparatus comprises object optics that transfer a beam from an optical source to a target object (55) to produce an object beam and reference optics that produce a reference beam. Displacing means (57) are provided to produce a gap (g) between the object beam (41′) and the reference beam (42′). Optical spectrum dispersing means (7) such as a grating or a prism receive the two relatively displaced beams, and disperse their spectral content onto a reading element such as a CCD. The combination of the displacing means and the optical spectrum dispersing means creates an intrinsic optical delay between the wavetrains of the object beam and the reference beam which can be used with the optical path difference in the interferometer to generate a channelled spectrum for the optical path difference in the interferometer on the reading element. |
| US08472024B2 |
Automated soil measurement device
A system and a method are disclosed for combining a soil sample and extractant in a mixing chamber to produce a liquid extractant-soil mixture. A portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture is directed from the mixing chamber through a sample measurement chamber coupled to the mixing chamber. The sample measurement chamber is coupled to a light source so that light propagates from the light source through the portion of the liquid extractant-soil mixture to an optical detector which generates an attenuation spectrum indicating light received by the detector at different wavelengths. The sample measurement chamber may include an attenuation cell having a specified optical path between a first measurement window and a second measurement window and angular surface directing particulates in the liquid extractant-soil mixture away from the attenuation cell. |
| US08472018B2 |
Grating for multiple discrete wavelengths of Raman scattering
Systems and methods employ a layer having a pattern that provides multiple discrete guided mode resonances for respective couplings of separated wavelengths into the layer. Further, a structure including features shaped to enhance Raman scattering to produce light of the resonant wavelengths can be employed with the patterned layer. |
| US08472015B1 |
Fan beam resection using direct linear transform and singular value decomposition
A method of resection-based positioning of a rotating fan beam transmitter is provided. The fan beam is rotating about a single axis of rotation. The rotating fan beam is being detected in a detector space including a detector cluster further including a plurality of detectors. The single axis of rotation intersects a reference plane in the detector space at an arbitrary angle. The method comprises: (A) detecting the rotating fan beam by using a plurality of detectors; (B) processing a set of detection signals to obtain a set of time-strike tags; and (C) determining the axis of rotation of the rotating fan beam in the detector space by using the set of time-strike tags. At least minimum number of detectors is stricken by the rotating fan beam. Each stricken detector generates a detection signal having a time-strike tag corresponding to a timing coordinate of the strike by the rotating fan beam. |
| US08472013B2 |
Refractive index distribution measurement method and apparatus that measure transmission wavefronts of a test object immersed in different media having refractive index lower than that of the test object
A refractive index distribution measurement method includes the steps of measuring a first transmission wavefront of a test object by introducing reference light to the test object immersed in a first medium having a first refractive index lower than that of the test object by 0.01 or more, measuring a second transmission wavefront of the test object by introducing the reference light to the test object immersed in a second medium having a second refractive index lower than that of the test object by 0.01 or more and different from the first refractive index, and obtaining a refractive index distribution of the test object based on a measurement result of the first transmission wavefront and a measurement result of the second transmission wavefront. |
| US08472012B2 |
Apparatus having a first optical sensor making a first measurement to detect position and a second optical sensor making a second measurement
An apparatus measuring optical characteristics including position detection is disclosed. A processor is coupled to a display. A first optical sensor makes a first measurement, and a second optical sensor makes a second measurement. A source of illumination and the first optical sensor determine a minimal distance between the apparatus and an external object such that illumination emitted by the source is not received by the first optical sensor when the apparatus is less than the minimal distance from the external object. A position of the apparatus with respect to an object and an optical property of light received by the apparatus are determined. A transparent member with a thickness less than the minimal distance may provide illumination external to the apparatus and receive light from external to the apparatus. |
| US08472010B2 |
Actuator, positioning system and lithographic apparatus
Actuator for exerting a force and a torque on an object, wherein the actuator includes a first part that is movable with respect to a second part of the actuator in at least a first degree of freedom, wherein the object is mounted to the first part, wherein one of the parts is provided with a first electrical coil that is arranged to cooperate with a magnetizable portion of the other part and wherein a controller of the actuator is arranged to generate a first electrical current through the first electrical coil for generating a force between the parts, wherein the one of the parts is provided with a second electrical coil which is arranged to cooperated with a magnetizable portion of the other part, wherein the controller is further arranged to generate a second current through the second coil and the first current through the first electrical coil for exerting the force and torque between the parts so that the actuator is arranged to exert the force and the torque on the object with respect to the second part. |
| US08472005B2 |
Methodology for implementing enhanced optical lithography for hole patterning in semiconductor fabrication
System and method for enhancing optical lithography methodology for hole patterning in semiconductor fabrication are described. In one embodiment, a photolithography system comprises an illumination system for conditioning light from a light source, the illumination system producing a three-pore illumination pattern; a reticle comprising at least a portion of a pattern to be imaged onto a substrate, wherein the three-pore illumination pattern produced by the illumination system is projected through the reticle; and a projection lens disposed between the reticle and the substrate. |
| US08472004B2 |
Immersion photolithography scanner
An immersion photolithography system includes a lens system positioned to focus radiation emitted from the radiation source onto a workpiece or wafer on a stage. A liquid supply system provides liquid between the lens of the lens system closest to the wafer. A seal element encloses a volume of liquid which keeps the lower or wetted surface of the lens wet. The seal element may be located at a lens parking location adjacent to the stage. The system provides an improved way for keeping the lens wet between exposure processing. |
| US08471992B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix of rows and columns on a first substrate. A plurality of counter electrodes extend along the pixel electrodes in the row direction. Each of the counter electrodes includes a first counter electrode opposing to the plurality of pixel electrodes through a first insulating layer and a second counter electrode opposing to the first counter electrode through a second insulating layer. The first counter electrode is electrically connected with the second counter electrode through a contact hole formed in the second insulating layer. The wiring resistance of the second counter electrode is smaller than that of the first counter electrode. |
| US08471990B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure electrically connected to a scan line and a data line is provided. The pixel structure includes an active device and a pixel electrode, wherein the active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The pixel electrode has a plurality of strip-shaped slit groups. Each of the strip-shaped slit groups includes a plurality of strip-shaped slits whose extending directions are substantially parallel to each other, and contours of at least parts of the strip-shaped slits are non-isosceles trapezoids. |
| US08471987B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device has pixel electrodes including a transmissive pixel electrode and a reflective pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display device includes a TFT array substrate, an opposing substrate, a sealing material that bonds both substrates, an organic film formed on the TFT array substrate and having a thick film portion provided below the pixel electrode and a thin film portion provided outside the thick film portion, a columnar spacer formed on the opposing substrate and holding substrate gap between the both substrates, and a gap retaining pad formed in a region outside the display region and inside the sealing material to adjust the substrate gap outside the display region according to the substrate gap on the pixel electrode. The columnar spacer holds the substrate gap between both substrates over the gap retaining pad and over the pixel electrode. |
| US08471986B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus comprising an address line
An electro-optical device that includes scanning lines, data lines intersecting the corresponding scanning lines, pixels disposed at the intersections of the corresponding scanning lines and data lines, the pixels include color filters, and an address line that specifies a portion to be selected by the corresponding scanning line, the address line includes an address main line extending along the data lines and an address branch line extending from the address main line along the scanning lines. Among the pixels, pixels adjacent to each other across the address main line are set to be specific pixel groups, and among at least two of the specific pixel groups, the color arrangement of the color filters of one specific pixel group is different from the color arrangement of the color filters of another specific pixel group. |
| US08471983B2 |
Polarizing element and liquid crystal display device
A polarizing element is provided that can serve as a reflective polarizing element, can be produced with relative ease, and is not problematic in terms of strength. Further, the polarizing element can maintain the intensity and the propagation direction of the light that has passed through the polarizing element. Further, a liquid crystal display device is provided that can use light with improved efficiency with the use of the polarizing element. Specifically, the polarizing element includes a plurality of specifically angled, polygonal prisms on a surface of a substantially uniaxial sheet having an in-plane optical axis, and an optically transparent resin layer having a refractive index substantially the same as the fast-axis refractive index of the sheet, and that coats the prisms. |
| US08471982B2 |
System for display images
A system for displaying images including a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate having at least one sub-pixel, a first transparent electrode layer disposed over the first substrate in the sub-pixel, a second substrate having an inner surface corresponding to the first substrate, a second transparent electrode layer disposed over the inner surface corresponding to the sub-pixel, wherein the second transparent electrode layer has only one pattern thereon, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and the second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and the liquid crystal molecules are orthogonal to the first and the second substrates. |
| US08471981B2 |
Display apparatus and display set having the same
A display apparatus includes: a substrate including display areas and a non-display area disposed around edges of the display areas; gate lines disposed in the display areas; data lines disposed in the display areas and crossing the gate lines; pixels disposed in the display areas and connected to the gate lines and data lines; and a gate driver disposed in the peripheral area, between the display areas. The gate driver is connected to the gate lines, to output gate signals to the gate lines. |
| US08471979B2 |
Back light module and liquid crystal display device using the same
The present invention discloses a backlight module and a LCD using the same. Said backlight module comprises a light guide plate, a reflection sheet and a backplane, wherein said reflection sheet is arranged under the light guide plate; said backplane is arranged under the reflection sheet and partially supports the reflection sheet; and said reflection sheet is bent to form one or more supporting ribs for supporting the backplane to prevent the reflection sheet from drooping. The present invention solves the problem that the reflection sheet is affected by heat and then is easy to droop, by bending the reflection sheet of the backlight module to form the one or more supporting ribs for supporting the reflection sheet, and has the advantages of low cost and no negative influence on other components and system structure of the backlight module. |
| US08471975B2 |
Display device
Disclosed is a display device. A liquid crystal panel and a backlight assembly are fixed to a frame by using resin such as silicon, so that a slim and small-sized display device is realized. |
| US08471974B2 |
Array substrate, display panel having the same and method of manufacturing the same
An array substrate includes first and second gate lines, a data line, a pixel electrode, a shield electrode, a first driving transistor, a second driving transistor and a voltage-varying transistor. The pixel electrode has first and second pixel parts spaced apart from each other. The shield electrode covers a peripheral area of the pixel electrode. Each of the first and second driving transistors is electrically connected to the first and second pixel parts, respectively. The voltage-varying transistor includes a voltage-varying drain electrode having a shield-overlapping part overlapping the shield electrode. The voltage-varying transistor is electrically connected to the second gate line and the second pixel part. The voltage-varying drain electrode of the voltage-varying transistor overlaps the shield electrode to define a voltage-decreasing capacitor. The voltage difference between the first and second pixel parts of the pixel electrode may be increased. |
| US08471973B2 |
Pixel designs of improving the aperture ratio in an LCD
This invention in one aspect relates to a pixel structure. In one embodiment, the pixel structure includes a scan line formed on a substrate and a data line formed over the substrate defining a pixel area, a switch formed inside the pixel area on the substrate, a shielding electrode formed over the switch, a plane organic layer formed over the date line and the pixel area and having no overlapping with the shielding electrode, and a pixel electrode having a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, and formed over the shielding electrode and the plane organic layer in the pixel area, wherein the first portion is overlapped with the shielding electrode so as to define a storage capacitor therebetween, and the second portion overlays the plane organic layer and has no overlapping with the data line. |
| US08471971B2 |
Liquid crystal displays having color dots with embedded polarity regions
A multi-domain liquid crystal display is disclosed. The display includes embedded polarity regions within the color dots of the display. Specifically, the embedded polarity regions have a polarity that is different from the polarity of the color dot containing the embedded polarity region. This difference in polarity enhances the fringe fields of the color dot or in some situations may create additional fringe fields. The enhanced fringe fields or additional fringe fiends can more quickly restore liquid crystals to their proper position. |
| US08471970B2 |
Liquid crystal display and operation method thereof
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device to display moving and still images with superior image quality, comparable to common LCDs and to display memory images by a voltage lower than conventional electronic paper, and a method for operating the same. The liquid crystal display device comprises: a pair of electrode substrates facing each other; an orientation film of a polymer material on the pair of electrode substrates; a liquid crystal material between the pair of electrode substrates, wherein the liquid crystal display device displays an image by varying orientation of the liquid crystal material and a surfacial region of the orientation film, depending on temperature and voltage. |
| US08471956B2 |
Closure device for an image capture facility
A closure device for an image capture facility, such as a webcam or the like, integrated in a piece of equipment, includes at least one frame which is able to be fastened on the surface of the piece of equipment, and at least one closure, held so as to be adjustably movable on the frame via a mounting, which is able to be brought into a closed position covering the image capture facility or into an open position exposing the image capture facility. |
| US08471951B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method therefor
In an image capturing apparatus that carries out TV-AF type autofocus control by setting an AF frame on a predetermined object, for example a person's face, that is detected in an image, in a case in which a in-focus position search direction cannot be determined from an AF evaluation value, changes in the size of the region of the object are detected and focus detection is carried out by determining the in-focus position search direction based on the changes in the size of the region of the object. |
| US08471948B2 |
Camera module facilitating heat dissipation
A camera module includes a printed circuit board (PCB), an image sensor fixed to the PCB, a lens holder fixed to the PCB and covering the image sensor, a lens barrel coupled to the lens holder, and a lens received in the lens barrel. The lens holder includes an inner sensor cover and an outer sensor cover surrounding the inner sensor cover. The image sensor, the inner sensor cover, the lens barrel and the lens define an enclosed space. The inner sensor cover and the outer sensor cover define an intermediate space. The inner sensor cover defines an inner dissipation hole communicating the enclosed space with the intermediate space. The outer sensor cover defines an outer dissipation hole that communicates the intermediate space with the outside of the outer sensor cover. The inner dissipation hole and the outer dissipation hole are misaligned to prevent the ingress of light and dust. |
| US08471942B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
A solid-state image pickup device includes a voltage supply circuit configured to supply a voltage to load MOS transistors provided to vertical output lines and columnar signal-processing circuits. The voltage supply circuit includes a first amplifier circuit configured to amplify a predetermined voltage supplied to an input part thereof from a voltage generator and to output an amplified voltage to a voltage supply wire, and a sample-and-hold circuit including a sampling switch provided on a path between the voltage generator and the input part and a hold capacitor configured to hold the voltage sampled by the sampling switch. |
| US08471940B2 |
Pixel, pixel array, image sensor including the same and method for operating the image sensor
Disclosed are a pixel, a pixel array, an image sensor and a method for operating the image sensor. The pixel includes a photo-electro conversion unit; a first charge storage unit for storing charges converted by the photo-electro conversion unit; a first switching unit for transferring the charges from the photo-electro conversion unit to the first charge storage unit; a second charge storage unit for storing the charges converted by the photo-electro conversion unit; a second switching unit for transferring the charges from the photo-electro conversion unit to the second charge storage unit; a third switching unit for connecting the second charge storage unit with the first charge storage unit; and an output unit for outputting information about quantity of the charges stored in the first and second charge storage units. The light having the high intensity of illumination or the low intensity of illumination is sensed in the wide range. |
| US08471939B2 |
Image sensor having multiple sensing layers
An image sensor includes a first sensor layer having a first array of pixels and a second sensor layer having a second array of pixels. Each pixel of the first and second arrays has a photodetector for collecting charge in response to incident light, a charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism, and a transfer gate for selectively transferring charge from the photodetector to the charge-to-voltage mechanism. The first and second sensor layers each have a thicknesses to collect light with a first and second preselected ranges of wavelengths, respectively. A circuit layer is situated below the first sensor layer and has support circuitry for the pixels of the first and second sensor layers, and interlayer connectors are between the pixels of the first and second layers and the support circuitry. |
| US08471935B2 |
Imaging apparatus having an image correction function and method for controlling the same
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an object image, a selection unit configured to automatically select a sensitivity of the image sensor from a predetermined selectable range, and an image processing unit configured to execute correction processing in which a signal of an image captured by the image sensor which has the sensitivity selected by the selection unit is amplified. When the image processing unit is set to execute the correction processing, the selection unit sets an upper limit of the selectable range lower, compared with the upper limit thereof when the image processing unit is not set to execute the correction processing. |
| US08471934B2 |
Computer readable storage medium, image correction apparatus, and image correction method
An image correction apparatus includes a dark-pixel-region extracting unit that extracts a dark pixel region of image data photographed by a photographing unit, a dark-pixel-area calculating unit that calculates an area of the dark pixel region extracted by the dark-pixel-region extracting unit, a luminance-value-variance calculating unit that calculates variance of luminance values of pixels in the dark pixel region extracted by the dark-pixel-region extracting unit, and an image correction unit that corrects brightness of the image data in accordance with the area calculated by the dark-pixel-area calculating unit and in accordance with the variance of the luminance values calculated by the luminance-value-variance calculating unit. |
| US08471931B2 |
Video recording system
A video camera comprises an optic system 101, an image pickup element 102, a de-mosaicing (de-tessellating) process portion 103, frequency converter portions 104-106, a frame memory 124, parameter produce portions 125-127, noise reduction process portions 107-109, a frame memory 110, frequency converter portions 111-113, noise reduction process portions 114-116, frequency inverter portions 117-119, a brightness signal produce portion 120, a color difference produce portion 121, a coding process portion 122 and a recording medium 123. With the above-mentioned structures, it is possible to execute noise extraction depending on the characteristics of an input video signal, and also to obtain an effect of improving high S/N, but without producing deterioration of the picture quality, i.e., removing the noises of the picked up video, effectively. |
| US08471930B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image processing apparatus
Upon capturing an image, distances to subjects are measured. The captured image is divided into a plurality of different layers that each has a set distance interval, so that subjects which are located within the same distance range belong to the same layer. Furthermore, enlargement ratios are set for the plurality of divided layers to execute resizing processing, and the resized layers are composited, so that layers having shorter distances to a subject are overlaid as upper layers, thereby obtaining an image which is resized for respective distances to subjects. |
| US08471925B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus and file managing method performed therein
A digital image processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of calculations performed when a new image file satisfying a DCF standard generated for a captured image is edited, so as to reduce the time required for performing the edit, and a file managing method performed in the digital image processing apparatus. The digital image processing apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit which generates a file having a grouping attribute for a captured image and changes the grouping attribute of the file during a group edit of a selected file. |
| US08471919B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, method, and program with improved moving and still image handling
A video camera includes an image sensor for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a still image or a moving image, an operation accepting portion for accepting an operation by the user, and an image pickup control portion for, in response to the operation accepting portion accepting an operation of giving an instruction to pick up a moving image, controlling the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for still images and thereafter allowing the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for moving images, and for, in response to the operation accepting portion accepting an operation of giving an instruction to pick up a still image, controlling the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for still images. |
| US08471908B2 |
Three-dimensional mirror display system for a vehicle and method
A display system for a vehicle includes a first camera and a second camera adapted to be mounted to the vehicle. A mirror assembly is provided having a display screen and a view divider such as a parallax barrier. A controller is operatively connected to the cameras and to the display screen and is operable to cause the recorded images to appear as a single three-dimensional image when the images are viewed through the view divider. A method of providing an image of an object that is rearward of a vehicle is also provided. |
| US08471904B2 |
Hidden security techniques for wireless security devices
A security device transmits captured information wirelessly while transmitting checksums for the information via a power line. The security device may be a security camera, a badge reader, or the like. |
| US08471899B2 |
System and method for documenting patient procedures
The local surveillance sub-system recognizes that a patient medical procedure has or will soon commence by sensing the presence of a healthcare professional in or near the surveillance area, and in response, creates a separate patient medical procedure A/V file for the surveillance data that will be captured. A dedicated procedure remote may be provided for receiving manual interactions from HC professionals present for a procedure or, alternatively, the local surveillance sub-system may autonomously interact with a personal security token device possessed by the HC professional. A procedure data file is also created that holds all of the pertinent information concerning the procedure that is known by the local surveillance sub-system. The patient procedure surveillance A/V file is given a higher priority than ordinary surveillance data captured by the local surveillance sub-system and is then copied to a nonvolatile memory that is separate from the primary memory of the surveillance sub-system. The local surveillance sub-system captures surveillance A/V data that is copied to the nonvolatile memory until the system senses that the procedure has ended, when an end-of-procedure message is transmitted across the HCF distribution network. The corresponding patient medical procedure surveillance A/V file resides in a local nonvolatile memory until it can be downloaded to a central storage at the healthcare facility. |
| US08471897B2 |
Method and camera for the real-time acquisition of visual information from three-dimensional scenes
The invention relates to a method for calculating the focal stack associated with an object space from the plenoptic function thereof, using a sum transform along the length of constrained planes in discrete hypercubes, which allows the computing time to be considerably reduced. The invention also relates to a method for increasing the resolution of the focal stack obtained. In addition, the invention relates to two methods for the real-time recovery of the depths and moduli and phases of the complex amplitude of the wavefront respectively in each position of the surfaces of a three-dimensional scene and to a system adapted for carrying out the aforementioned methods. |
| US08471891B2 |
Video switching system and method
A video switching system detects speaking information of at least one speaker in a video conference according to a reference time. One participant is regarded as one speaker if the one participant speaks longer than the reference time. The video switching system determines a main speaker of the at least one speaker according to the speaking information of the at least one speaker. The video switching system calculates an image switching frequency, and determines whether to switch to a video image of the main speaker according to the image switching frequency. The video switching system calculates a response time if determining to switch to the video image of the main speaker, and adjusts the reference time according to the image switching frequency and the response time. |
| US08471889B1 |
Adjusting an image for video conference display
A video conferencing system contains one or more display adjusting components, whereby an object to be displayed can be adjusted to appropriately fit various sized display screens. A display adjusting component is contained within the sending client, which adjusts the image of the object to be appropriately displayed to one or more receiving clients. The receiving clients also contain a display adjusting component, which can further adjust the image of the object to be displayed, as necessary. The multimedia conferencing server of the video conferencing system also contains a display adjusting component, which negotiates parameters of the sending and receiving clients. Any of the display adjusting components can function alone, or in any combination together. A method, and computer readable media which contain computer readable instructions to perform a method, of adjusting an image for video conference display are also described. |
| US08471888B2 |
Methods and systems for mobile telepresence
Exemplary methods and systems relate to telepresence at mobile devices. Aspects comprise dynamic configuration of video provided from a server that intermediates between a mobile device and a telepresence system during a telepresence session. The server receives high definition video from the telepresence system and transcodes into a format that can indicated by the mobile device. The mobile device can dynamically update the format in response to real-time battery life and network interface status. A progressive reduction in bandwidth and power consumptive activities can be implemented. The device can implement face detection and face centering, front/back mobile device camera switching, and automatic contrast control and other video quality controls in an outgoing video stream. |
| US08471880B2 |
Method and device for marking a surface using controlled periodic nanostructures
A method for marking a surface by controlled periodic nanostructures includes: a step (500) of coding an item of information in the form of an image including values representative of the coded information and a step (506 to 514) of marking, dot by dot, an area of the surface with a polarized laser beam to form oriented nanostructures on or in the surface, by modulating the laser beam's polarization for each marking dot according to the value of a dot of the image. In embodiments, during the marking step, a pulsed laser is utilized with a duration of less than 10×10−12 seconds and an element of polarizing the light coming from the laser source and reaching the surface, designed to polarize the light according to a polarization axis that can vary according to a signal received by the polarization element, is utilized. |
| US08471876B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device
An organic electroluminescent display device includes a display panel that includes sub-pixels which include organic light emitting diodes, respectively, to display a frame image made by image data by every frame; a data drive IC that outputs data voltages to the sub-pixels, respectively, by every frame, wherein the data voltages correspond to the image data, respectively; a current detecting portion that detects a first panel current, and generates a first comparison value corresponding to the first panel current; a current estimating portion that estimates a second panel current from the image data of the frame and generates a second comparison value corresponding to the second panel current; and a brightness control portion that compares the first and second comparison values and adjusts a brightness of a frame image after the frame according to the comparison result. |
| US08471868B1 |
Projector and ultrasonic gesture-controlled communicator
System, methods, and computer-readable media for providing a gesture-controlled user interface in interacting with a communication device are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include a communication device that recognizes a gesture made by a person that has one or more transducers attached to their hand. The gesture is recognized by performing calculations on the sound waves received from the one or more transducers. In addition, the gesture may be recognized using a digital camera and image recognition techniques. In one embodiment, the gesture is recognized using an echolocation system that transmits ultrasonic waves and captures the waves reflected off the object making the gesture. In another embodiment, the gesture is made and interpreted in relation to a user interface that is projected from the communication device using a laser projector. |
| US08471866B2 |
User interface and method for identifying related information displayed in an ultrasound system
A user interface and method for identifying related information displayed in an ultrasound system are provided. A medical image display of the ultrasound system includes a first region configured to display a medical image having color coded portions and a second region configured to display non-image data related to the medical image displayed in the first region. The non-image data is color coded to associate the non-image data with the color coded portions of the medical image. |
| US08471865B2 |
System, method and apparatus for an edge-preserving smooth filter for low power architecture
Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method are described for an edge-preserving smooth filter for low power architecture. A weighted pixel sum may be determined based on a weight of a central pixel and a weight of one or more neighboring pixels. The weight sum for the central pixel may be set to a power of two. An output of the central pixel may be displayed based on the weight sum and the weighted pixel sum. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08471864B2 |
Image processor and image processing method employing a dither pattern having sub-dither patterns
An image processor includes a first dither data memory storing a first dither matrix, a second dither data memory storing a second dither matrix, a selecting unit selecting one of the first dither matrix and the second dither matrix, and a converting unit converting multi-value image data to binary data by comparing density of the multi-value image data to the threshold value set in corresponding element of the one of the first dither matrix and the second dither matrix selected by the selecting unit. The second dither matrix is configured of a plurality of sub-dither matrices. Each sub-dither matrix has a plurality of elements each assigned with a threshold value in a range from a maximum threshold value to a minimum threshold value. A set of threshold values from the minimum threshold value to a predetermined intermediate threshold value is assigned to elements in corresponding locations of each of the plurality of sub-dither matrices. |
| US08471862B2 |
Offset tiles in vector graphics
An efficient rendering method for processing computer graphics in tiles. First a frame of data, typically at least one polygon, is received for rendering. While rendering a polygon the tile for the polygon is assigned so that it minimizes the number of the tiles needed for processing the polygon. It is possible to compute an offset value between the static tiles and the assigned tiles. If the offset value is computed, the rendering into an actual screen may be based on that. |
| US08471861B2 |
Method and system for cost-efficient, high-resolution graphics/image display system
An image display system comprises a processor 10, a main memory 20 and a display panel 30, where the main memory 20 includes an uncompressed image area 24 for storing image data relating to an image and a compressed image area 26 for storing compressed image data. The processor is microcode-programmed, and executes, after changes have been made in the uncompressed image area, a special sequence of microcode words in a micro program memory 12 of the processor for compressing at least those parts of the uncompressed image area that are subject to changes. The microcode-compressed parts of the image data are then stored in the compressed image area 26 of the main memory. Compressed image data may then be fetched from the compressed image area 26 and decompressed for enabling generation of an appropriate image signal. The generated image signal can finally be applied to the display 30 for refreshing the image. |
| US08471855B2 |
Graphics-rendering apparatus
Graphics-rendering operation is performed by a procedure including: inputting a vector data group representing the shape of a graphic object to a vector data group management unit; inputting, to a rendering attribute data management unit, rendering attribute data representing information pertains to internal attributes of the graphic object; inputting resource information indicating a usage status into a resource information management unit; reading the managed vector data group from the vector data group management unit; computing a feature indicating the geometrical feature of the input graphic object by means of the feature computing unit; reading the computed graphic feature level and the resource information managed by the resource information management unit; effecting switching to generation of optimum rendering data; reading the vector data group managed by the vector data group management unit and the rendering attribute data managed by the rendering attribute data management unit; generating rendering data; reading the generated rendering data and the rendering attribute data managed by the rendering attribute data management unit; and performing rendering operation. |
| US08471852B1 |
Method and system for tessellation of subdivision surfaces
A method and system for performing adaptive tessellation of a subdivision surface. The method includes the step of accessing a model of a surface for subdivision processing. The model is converted to an intermediate form to facilitate subdivision processing. The intermediate form of the model is then tessellated. |
| US08471850B2 |
Image generating apparatus, method of generating image, program, and recording medium
The present application generates an image in which a contour line is drawn about a tuned object A in a virtual three-dimensional space when a part of the tuned object A is overlapped by another tuned object B that is located at a position closer to a virtual screen. When a line width of the tuned object A is greater than a line width of the tuned object B, the line width of a part of the tuned object A that is overlapped with the tuned object B is set as the line width of the tuned object B. On the other hand, when the line width of the tuned object A is less than the line width of the tuned object B, the line width of the part of the tuned object A that is overlapped is set as the original line width of the tuned object A. |
| US08471840B2 |
Display, method of driving display, and electronic device
A display includes a pixel array section having pixels in a matrix, each pixel including an electro-optical device, a writing transistor writing a video signal, a storage capacitor retaining the video signal, and a driving transistor driving the electro-optical device based upon the video signal; scan lines for respective rows of the unit providing a scanning signal to the writing transistor; power supply lines for respective rows of the unit selectively providing a first potential and a second potential, lower than the first potential, to a drain electrode of the driving transistor; and signal lines for respective columns of the unit selectively providing the video signal and a video signal reference potential to the writing transistor; wherein a potential setting period is provided from when the pixels are turned off until the first potential is provided to the power supply line. |
| US08471828B2 |
Touch sensitive IPS liquid crystal display
A touch sensitive in-plane switching (IPS) liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a liquid crystal layer, an active-matrix transistor layer with an electrode pair, a color filter substrate, and a sensing electrode layer. The sensing electrode layer may be disposed above or below the color filter substrate, and the sensing electrode layer may include two parts that are disposed above and below the color filter layer respectively. |
| US08471826B2 |
Method and device for position detection
The method and device for position detection are disclosed. Corresponding to a first touch related sensing information, a second touch related sensing information is acquired for determining at least one position. Each position is used separately for determining the position of a centroid according to the first touch related sensing information or the second touch related sensing information. |
| US08471824B2 |
Touch-screen user interface
A user interface for a touch-screen display of a dedicated handheld electronic book reader device is described. The user interface detects human gestures manifest as pressure being applied by a finger or stylus to regions on the touch-screen display. In one implementation, the touch-screen user interface enables a user to turn one or more pages in response to applying a force or pressure to the touch-screen display. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface is configured to bookmark a page temporarily by applying a pressure to the display, then allowing a user to turn pages to a new page, but reverting back to a previously-displayed page when the pressure is removed. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface identifies and filters electronic books based on book size and/or a time available to read a book. In another implementation, the touch-screen user interface converts text to speech in response to a user touching the touch-screen display. |
| US08471813B2 |
Handheld electronic device and function control method thereof
A handheld electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an electrode unit, a storage unit, and a processing unit. The electrode unit includes a main body defining an annular cavity, a plurality of electrode groups, and a conductive element arranged within the annular cavity, wherein each of the plurality of the electrode groups includes a pair of conductive sheets, which are partially received in the annular cavity and are spaced apart from each other. When the electronic device is rotated to be in different orientation, the conductive element connects different electrode groups and the conductive sheets of the one of the electrode groups are connected to each other via the conductive element. The processing unit determines the connected electrode groups and executes a function corresponding to the determined electrode group. A function control method of the handheld electronic device is also provided. |
| US08471812B2 |
Pointing and identification device
A pointing and identification device (PID) allows the user to point at objects in the real world, on television or movie screens, or otherwise not on the computer screen. The PID includes a digital camera and one or both of a laser and a reticle for aiming the digital camera. An image taken with the digital camera is transmitted to a computer or the like. |
| US08471807B2 |
Calibration of displays having spatially-variable backlight
A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from an illuminator comprising an array of individually-controllable light sources. The light sources and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity and frequency of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may be calibrated to compensate for differences in intensities of the light sources. |
| US08471806B2 |
Display panel drive circuit and display
In one embodiment of the present invention, a display panel drive circuit includes a plurality of circuit blocks each of which includes former circuits and latter circuits. In each of the circuit blocks in the display panel drive circuit, a signal is transmitted from the former circuits to the latter circuits. Further, the display panel drive circuit includes an inter-block shared wire which allows respective two of the circuit blocks adjacent to each other to be connected to each other. Furthermore, in the display panel drive circuit, the signal of the respective two of the circuit blocks adjacent to each other is transmitted in a time division manner, via the inter-block shared wire. This eliminates the need for an external memory or an arithmetic circuit, thereby making it possible to reduce the area of a circuit in a driver. |
| US08471802B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A small or middle-sized liquid crystal display employing a black insertion driving method overcomes the after-image or blurring of a moving picture by shifting the level of a voltage applied to a storage capacitor line within a predetermined period corresponding to about 20% to about 80% that lasts after image signals are applied to pixels until the next image signals are applied to the pixels by using two types of voltages that shift pixel voltages into a black display potential. |
| US08471800B2 |
Display device, liquid crystal display device, and method for manufacturing display device
A display device displays images with a plurality of signal lines and includes spare lines, each being arranged to be connectable to the signal lines so as to be used for recovery of the signal lines from disconnection. Each of the spare lines has constricted sections for cutting. With this arrangement, it is possible to easily and properly recover the signal lines from disconnection. |
| US08471795B2 |
Method of driving pixels and displaying images on a display device
A method for driving a pixel includes driving the pixel with a first gray level and a second gray level within a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period of a first frame period, respectively, driving the pixel with a third gray level and a fourth gray level within a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period of a second frame period, respectively, and adjusting the third gray level and the fourth grey level such that the luminance of the adjusted fourth grey level is similar to the luminance of the second grey level. |
| US08471794B2 |
Driving circuit for display apparatus, and method for controlling same
To obtain an amplifier circuit capable of realizing low power consumption and high-precision output. A controlling unit controls each switch of an offset correction circuit to select one capacitor associated with a voltage level of an input signal selected by an input signal selection unit, have an offset voltage of an operational amplifier generated according to the voltage level of the input signal stored by the selected capacitor, and correct an output of the operational amplifier by using the offset voltage held by the selected capacitor. |
| US08471792B2 |
Display device and driving method of the same
A display device includes a data line, a first and second pixel rows and a first and second gate control lines all formed on a substrate. The first pixel row includes a plurality of pixels each containing two neighboring first sub-pixel and second sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel is coupled to the data line, the second sub-pixel is coupled to the data line through the first sub-pixel. The second pixel row is neighboring with the first pixel row and includes a plurality of pixels each containing two neighboring third sub-pixel and fourth sub-pixel, the third sub-pixel is coupled to the data line, the fourth sub-pixel is coupled to the data line through the third sub-pixel. The first and second gate control lines respectively are for enabling the first and second sub-pixels and both are not used to enable the third and fourth sub-pixels. A driving method of gate control lines also is provided. |
| US08471791B2 |
Video and content controlled backlight
A display device includes a display panel; and a backlight panel provided below the display panel and defining a plurality of regions. A first array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided along a first direction, each LED of the first array being coupled to a first line. A driver is coupled to the first line to drive the LEDs coupled to the first line. A second array of LEDs is provided along a second direction, each LEDs of the second array being coupled to a second line. A lighting condition of the regions defined by the backlight panel is controlled by turning on or off the LEDs. |
| US08471785B2 |
Driving device, driving method and plasma display apparatus
A first ramp waveform (RW1) rising from a first potential (Vscn) to a second potential (Vscn+Vset) is applied to a plurality of scan electrodes (SCi) in a first period (t5 to t6), and a driving waveform dropping from a third potential (Ve1) to a fourth potential (0V) is applied to a plurality of sustain electrodes (SUi) before the first period (t5 to t6), and the plurality of sustain electrodes are held at the fourth potential (0V) in the first period (t5 to t6). At this time, a second ramp waveform (RW10) rising from a fifth potential (0 V) to a sixth potential (Vd) according to change of a potential of the first ramp waveform (RW1) is applied to a plurality of data electrodes (Dj) in a second period (t5 to t5a) that starts at a starting time point (t5) of the first period (t5 to t6) and is shorter than the first period (t5 to t6), thereby preventing generation of strong discharges between the plurality of data electrodes (Dj) and the plurality of scan electrodes (SCi). |
| US08471784B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving plasma display panel
This invention relates to a driving apparatus of a plasma display panel that is capable of being operated stable, regardless of temperature. A driving apparatus of a plasma display panel according to the present invention includes a panel having a scanning electrode for receiving a scanning pulse in an address period and an address electrode for receiving a date pulse synchronized with the scanning pulse in the address period; and a pulse width controller for changing the width of the scanning pulse when the panel is driven at a low temperature. |
| US08471780B2 |
Autonomous wireless antenna sensor system
Systems and methods are enclosed for processing antenna position information. The systems and methods involve positioning at least one sensor in proximity to an antenna for measuring alignment of the antenna; at a ground station in proximity to a tower holding the antenna, periodically receiving antenna alignment information from the at least one sensor; and transmitting the alignment information to a control station for determination whether the alignment of the antenna complies with antenna specifications. |
| US08471772B2 |
Space-filling miniature antennas
A novel geometry, the geometry of Space-Filling Curves (SFC) is defined in the present invention and it is used to shape a part of an antenna. By means of this novel technique, the size of the antenna can be reduced with respect to prior art, or alternatively, given a fixed size the antenna can operate at a lower frequency with respect to a conventional antenna of the same size. |
| US08471769B2 |
Antenna having planar conducting elements, one of which has a plurality of electromagnetic radiators and an open slot
An antenna includes a dielectric material having i) a first side opposite a second side, and ii) a conductive via therein. A first planar conducting element is on the first side of the dielectric material and has an electrical connection to the conductive via. A second planar conducting element is also on the first side of the dielectric material. A gap electrically isolates the first and second planar conducting elements from each other. An electrical microstrip feed line on the second side of the dielectric material electrically connects to the conductive via and has a route that extends from the conductive via, to across the gap, to under the second planar conducting element. The first planar conducting element has a plurality of electromagnetic radiators, each having dimensions that cause it to resonate over a range of frequencies that differs from a range of frequencies over which an adjacent radiator resonates. At least first and second of the radiators bound an open slot in the first planar conducting element. |
| US08471767B2 |
Radio frequency multilayer substrate and manufacturing method of radio frequency multilayer substrate
A radio frequency multilayer substrate which has a connection portion connecting a strip line and a microstrip line, of which connection portion improves VSWR, is provided. The high frequency multilayer substrate has a through-hole which electrically connects a central conductor of the strip line and a central conductor of the microstrip line. The high frequency multilayer substrate also has an insulating hole which does not have a conductor inside. The through-hole is connected with the insulating hole. A length of the conductor layer of the through-hole from the central conductor to an insulating hole is smaller than one half the distance from the central conductor to a 2nd ground conductor. The insulating hole can be formed by cutting the through-hole. |
| US08471765B2 |
Method and device to determine out of coverage for mobile devices
A method and a mobile device configured to obtain position information from a position broadcast system, the position broadcast system comprising a plurality of transmitters that each broadcast a respective signal containing position information for the respective transmitter. The method comprising: measuring signal strengths of signals from a plurality of the transmitters of the position broadcast system; and determining that the mobile device is out of range of the position broadcast system if the measured signals strengths satisfy at least one out of range criterion. |
| US08471760B2 |
Automotive radar with radio-frequency interference avoidance
An automotive radar system to determine a sweep pattern to be transmitted as an output radar waveform in a multiuser transmission environment is disclosed. The system includes: a receiver to receive noise signals; a signal generator to generate a plurality of different frequency sweep signals; a signal combiner to combine each frequency sweep signal with a received noise signal; an interference classifier to identify combined signals corresponding to one or more received noise signals including frequency chirp signals and to determine the respective noise levels of the identified combined signals corresponding to one or more received noise signals including frequency chirp signals; a selector to select a plurality of frequency sweep signals in dependence upon the noise levels determined by the interference classifier; and a control unit to determine a sweep pattern comprising the selected plurality of frequency sweep signals to be transmitted as an output radar waveform. |
| US08471758B2 |
Virtual aperture radar (VAR) imaging
Virtual Aperture Radar (VAR) imaging provides terminal phase radar imaging for an airborne weapon that can resolve multiple closely-spaced or highly correlated scatterers on a given target with a single pulse to provide an aimpoint update at a useful range to target without training data and without requiring a large aperture antenna. VAR imaging exploits the sparse, dominant-scatterer nature of man-made targets. The array manifold is constructed with a large number of basis functions that are parameterized by range or angle (or both) to target. The number of basis functions extends the capability to resolve scatterers beyond the Rayleigh resolution. However, this also makes the manifold underdetermined. A sparse reconstruction technique that places a sparsity constraint on the number of scatterers is used to solve the manifold to uniquely identify the ranges or angles to the scatterers on the target. These updates are passed to the weapon's guidance system, which in turn generates command signals to actuate aerodynamic surfaces such as fins or canards to steer the weapon to the target. |
| US08471756B2 |
RF circuit with improved antenna matching
In one embodiment, RF front-end circuit includes a tunable matching network having an input coupled to an RF interface port, a directional coupler with a first connection coupled to an RF input of a mixer, a second connection coupled to an RF signal generation port, and a third connection coupled to an output of the tunable matching network. The directional coupler is configured to direct a signal from the RF signal generation port to the tunable matching network and to direct a signal from the tunable matching network port to the RF port of the mixer. The RF front-end circuit also has a tunable matching network control unit coupled to the tunable matching network. The control unit is configured to optimize an impedance match between the RF interface port and the output of the tunable matching network. |
| US08471755B1 |
Dynamic biasing in switched capacitor stages using frame capacitors
A system and a method are disclosed for establishing the biasing point of a comparator in a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC) by transferring an electric charge from a series of capacitors in a switched-capacitor array into a frame capacitor. The frame capacitor is formed by a parasitic capacitance between the series of capacitors and a conductive metal frame that surrounds the capacitors. To induce the charge transfer, the conductive metal frame is connected to a clock signal, which alternately drives the frame between a supply voltage and ground. By using the frame capacitor instead of a separate power source to establish the biasing point, the current consumption of the SAR ADC is reduced. |
| US08471753B1 |
Pipelined analog-to-digital converter and method for converting analog signal to digital signal
A pipelined analog-to-digital converter with less power consumption is provided. In one embodiment, the pipelined analog-to-digital converter comprises a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage. The first stage receives a first stage input signal to derive a first stage output signal and a first residue. The second stage receives a second stage input signal to derive a second stage output signal and a second residue, wherein the second stage input signal corresponds to the first residue. The third stage receives a third stage input signal to derive a third stage output signal and a third residue, wherein the third stage input signal corresponds to the second residue. The first, second and third stages share an operational amplifier by utilizing at least three phases to control the operational amplifier. |
| US08471752B2 |
A/D conversion apparatus having an N-stage pulse circulating circuit
An A/D conversion apparatus includes an N-stage pulse circulating circuit including N (N is a natural number, N≧3) inverting circuits connected in a ring shape, the inverting circuits delaying an input pulse signal by a delay time corresponding to an amplitude of a separately input analog input signal, and outputting inverted pulse signals obtained by inverting the pulse signal, a counter unit that counts a number of circulations by which the pulse signal has circulated in the pulse circulating circuit within a predetermined time based on the inverted pulse signal output from one of the N inverting circuits, and a switching unit that switches an output destination of the inverted pulse signal, which is output from an inverting circuit of an Mth (M is an odd natural number, 1≦M≦N−1) stage of the pulse circulating circuit, according to a change in an operation environment. |
| US08471746B2 |
Digital-to-analog conversion with combined pulse modulators
A digital-to-analog converter includes first and second pulse modulators to generate first and second pulse modulated signals in response to first and second digital values, a third pulse modulator to generate a third pulse modulated signal in response to a third digital value, and a switch/filter circuit to generate an analog signal by combining the first and second pulse modulated signals in response to the third pulse modulated signal. The first and second pulse modulated signals may be low-pass filtered before being combined. In some embodiments, the third digital value may be incremented in a single direction between transitions of the first and second digital values. In some other embodiments, the third digital value may be incremented in opposite directions between alternating transitions of the first and second digital values. |
| US08471744B1 |
Reduced residual offset sigma delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with chopper timing at end of integrating phase before trailing edge
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) has a chopper-stabilized sigma-delta modulator (SDM). The SDM uses switched-capacitor integrators to sample, hold, and integrate an analog input in response to non-overlapping multi-phase clocks. Chopper multipliers are inserted on the inputs and outputs of an op amp in a first stage integrator. The chopper multipliers swap or pass through differential inputs in response to non-overlapping chopper clocks. A master clock operating at a frequency of the multi-phase clocks is divided down to trigger generation of the chopper clocks. Delay lines ensure that the edges of the chopper clocks occur before the edges of the multi-phase clocks. The chopper multipliers have already switched and are thus stable when multi-phase clocks change so charge injection at switches controlled by the multi-phase clocks is not immediately modulated by chopper multipliers. This clock timing increases the time available to respond to charge injection at switches improving linearity. |
| US08471742B2 |
Quantization device, radio-frequency receiver comprising such a device and quantization method
A device for continuous time quantization of an input signal, in order to supply a continuous time output signal that is quantized as two bits, the device including: an electronic circuit, designed to supply a first bit of the output signal called the sign bit which at any time takes a first value when the input signal is positive and a second value when the input signal is negative, and an envelope analysis circuit designed to supply a second bit of the output signal called the envelope variation bit which at any time takes a first value, called high value, when an envelope signal of the input signal is increasing, and a second value, called low value, when the envelope signal is decreasing. |
| US08471740B2 |
Reducing the effect of non-linear kick-back in switched capacitor networks
A method and device involve a circuit having a switched capacitor network that is switchably connected to an input signal. A randomly determined amount of dither is injected into a circuit having a switched capacitor network that is switchably connected to an input signal. After injecting the dither, at least one correlation value is determined. The correlation value(s) indicates a degree of correlation between the injected dither and an output of the circuit. Distortion caused by an amount of charge kicked back into the circuit when the switched capacitor network is reconnected to the input signal may then be reduced. The reduction is calculated as a function of the correlation value(s). |
| US08471738B2 |
Method for detecting errors of an A/D converter
A method for detecting errors of an A/D converter which is designed for converting an analog input signal into a digital output signal. The digital output signal represents a number z which results from an input value of the analog input signal when an A/D conversion is carried out. In the method, a value range for all possible numbers z is subdivided into subranges, and a value range for all possible input values is subdivided into subranges and an input value and a number z corresponding thereto are associated in each case with subranges which correspond to one another. In the method, a check is made to determine with which subrange an input value which is to be converted is associated, and with which subrange a number which is ascertained by the A/D converter is associated. An error is detected when the number and the input value are associated with subranges which do not correspond to one another. |
| US08471736B1 |
Automatic adjusting circuit and method for calibrating vernier time to digital converters
An automatically calibrating time to digital conversion circuit. The circuit includes a first circuit node for switchably receiving a first calibration signal and a second circuit node coupled with the first circuit node via a first delay path. A third circuit node for switchably receiving a second calibration signal the same as the first calibration signal is coupled with a fourth circuit node via a second delay path. A calibration portion has a third delay path switchably connected with the fourth circuit node and a fourth delay path switchably connected with the second circuit node. The calibration portion generates a delay adjustment signal for adjusting a time delay of the first delay path such that the first time delay combined with the fourth time delay equals the second time delay combined with the third time delay. The calibration portion is disconnected when calibration is not desired for conserving power. |
| US08471734B2 |
System and method for configuration of a controlling device to enable selection of media streams
A controlling device has a configurable key. An overlay, such as a sticker, is provided to the configurable key and includes an indicia representative of media content and machine readable data indicative of an identity of the media content represented by the indicia. A memory of the controlling device stores a correspondence between the configurable key and data indicative of a source of the media content. Upon activation of configured, configurable key, the controlling device uses select command codes from a library of command codes and the correspondence between the configurable key and the data indicative of the source of the media content to transmit one or more commands for causing one or more appliances to access the source of the media content. |
| US08471733B2 |
Two-wire connection to a key matrix in a mobile device
A first current is driven through a first current path from a first common node, through a key matrix, and to a second common node when a key is pressed. A first measurement of the first current path resistance is made. A second current is then driven through a second current path from the second common node, through the key matrix, and to the first common node. A second measurement of the second current path resistance is made. The first and second measurements are used to identify the key that was pressed. Each key corresponds to a unique pair of first and second measurement values. In one example, non-linear resistance circuits are disposed at the ends of the row and column conductors of the key matrix such that a row resistor in the first current path is measured independently of a column resistor in the second current path. |
| US08471727B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for displaying forecast weather products with actual and predicted ownship
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for displaying forecast weather products in relation to a planned flight path of an air vehicle. The method, apparatus and computer program product may display a representation of future weather conditions along with the planned flight path of the air vehicle and a representation of the anticipated location of the air vehicle during the time period during which the future weather forecast is valid in order to provide context for the future weather information. Additionally, the method, apparatus and computer program product may display the weather information as well as information regarding the time period during which the weather information is valid in a graphical manner that is intuitive to the crew of the air vehicle so as not to distract or otherwise increase the workload upon the crew. |
| US08471726B2 |
System and method for collision warning
A system and method for collision warning in a host vehicle including: detecting a collision risk between the host vehicle and an other user of the road with a detection means based on input from at least one sensor which detects at least one parameter related to the other user of the road with respect to the host vehicle; identifying possible options to avoid a collision between the host vehicle and the other user of the road based on input from the detection means, wherein possible options for the host vehicle to avoid a collision are identified as well as possible options for the other user of the road to avoid a collision are identified; calculating among the identified possible options at least one preferred avoidance action in order to avoid a collision between the host vehicle and the other user of the road; and if the at least one preferred avoidance action involves at least one possible option identified for the other user of the road, then generating a warning signal from the host vehicle in a direction towards the other user of the road in order to warn the other user of the road of the collision risk. |
| US08471724B2 |
Programming of a demand triggered service disconnect device from a threshold in amps
A first embodiment is an arrangement, such as a meter programming device, that includes a memory, a user interface, a communication interface, and a processing circuit. The user interface arrangement is configured to receive user input. The communication interface is configured to communicate with a corresponding communication interface on a utility meter. The processing circuit is configured by software stored in the memory to: receive a user input at the user interface identifying a disconnect threshold as a measure of current; generate a disconnect threshold value as a function of the user input and a service voltage; and provide the disconnect threshold value to the utility meter via the communication interface. |
| US08471723B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing communication from remote sites in a fixed meter reading network
A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting a transmission power level of a transceiver (12, 15) at a utility meter data origination site (10). A power level of transmission at the site transceiver (12, 15) is adjusted to an optimum level if an acknowledgement is not received from a network gateway (30) in response to data transmissions from the site transceiver (12, 15). Also, for each unsuccessful transmission period, the amount of metering data is increased in the next transmission period to make up for the failed communication tries. Upon establishing communication with the gateway (30), the site transceiver (12, 15) can receive commands from the gateway (30) that further adjust its power level of transmission to optimize reception at the gateway from a large plurality of utility meter data origination sites (10) within a geographical area served by the gateway (30). The gateway (30) communicates utility metering data through a wireless network (40), such as WIFI, GPRS, POE or CDMA to a data collection center (50) for data processing and billing operations. |
| US08471722B2 |
Direction indicator system, and electric wheelchair, walking stick, and game controller utilizing said direction indicator system
A direction indicator system includes: an electromagnetic drive actuator that has a moving part that can slide back and forth, side to side, and diagonally; and a drive controlling unit that controls the sliding direction of the moving part, based on direction indicating information that is supplied from the outside. |
| US08471721B2 |
Server rack having payload weighing function
A server rack includes a main body, an electronic scale, and an alarm. The main body is used for receiving a number of servers. The electronic scale includes a pressure sensor and a microcontroller. The main body presses on the pressure sensor so that the pressure sensor can measure the pressure from the main body to obtain a pressure signal. The microcontroller analyzes the pressure signal to calculating the total weight of the main body and the servers. The alarm stores a predetermined weight threshold, which is the total weight of the main body and the maximum servers that the main body can bear. The alarm also compares the measured total weight with the predetermined weight threshold. When the measured total weight is larger than the predetermined weight threshold, the alarm alarms. |
| US08471720B2 |
On-chip power supply monitoring using a network of modulators
An apparatus for monitoring at least supply voltage in an IC includes a plurality of monitor circuits distributed throughout the integrated circuit. Each of the monitor circuits is operative to receive the supply voltage, or a signal representative thereof, and to generate an output signal indicative of a comparison between the supply voltage and a reference voltage. The apparatus further includes a control circuit coupled to the plurality of monitor circuits. The control circuit is operative to receive the respective output signals from the plurality of monitor circuits and to generate an output of the apparatus which is a function of information conveyed in the respective output signals from the plurality of monitor circuits. |
| US08471719B2 |
Pressure control switch, method for using the same and alarm system using the same
The present disclosure relates to a pressure control switch. The pressure control switch includes a bistable resistance element. The bistable resistance element includes an organic, soft, low-conductivity matrix, and a plurality of high conductivity particles dispersed in the matrix. The bistable resistance element switches from a low resistance state to a high resistance state by receiving a pressure change applied to the bistable resistance element. The present disclosure also relates to a method for using the pressure control switch and an alarm system. |
| US08471717B2 |
Collective objects management system with object identification using addressable decoder units
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an address decoder with a unique system address which generates a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations. |
| US08471715B2 |
Disposable diaper with wireless alarm system
A disposable diaper with wireless alarm system includes a) a disposable diaper structure; b) a disposable diaper telltale conductive strip; c) an attachable, removable, reusable battery-powered sensor-transmitter device; and d) a wireless receiver with an alarm signal. Multiple diapers with different frequencies and optional disconnect sensors may be included and controlled by local or remote computer. |
| US08471713B2 |
Interference detector for patient monitor
A system is disclosed for detecting and calculating the level of ambient and/or environmental noise, such as electromagnetic interference generated by electric power lines, ambient lights, light dimmers, television or computer displays, power supplies or transformers, and medical equipment. In some embodiments, the system performs frequency analysis on the interference signal detected by light photodetectors and determines the power of the interference signal concentrated in the analyzed frequency bands. The worst-case interference level can be determined by selecting the maximum from the computed power values. In some embodiments, the determined interference signal power can be compared with the noise tolerance of a patient monitoring system configured to reliably and non-invasively detect physiological parameters of a user. The results of the comparison can be presented to the user audio-visually. In some embodiments, the system can be used to perform spot check measurements of electromagnetic interference. |
| US08471708B1 |
RFID tags and readers employing QT command to switch tag profiles
RFID readers transmit a Quiet Technology (QT) command to RFID tags causing at least one of the tags to transition between a private profile and a public profile. When a tag is inventoried in the private profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its private memory. When a tag is inventoried in the public profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its public memory, where the contents of the public memory may be a subset and/or modified version of the private memory contents, or entirely different altogether. The tag's profile can be switched again by another QT command from the reader, or following a loss of power at the tag. An access password and/or a short-range mechanism may be employed to allow only authorized readers to transition tag profiles or interrogate the private memory contents of tags in the public profile. |
| US08471707B2 |
Methods and arrangements for smart sensors
Generally, smart sensors, logic to process messages from smart sensors, and smart sensor systems are described herein. Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code to communicate events as messages via a messaging system to post the messages to a messaging account. The messaging system may be a texting service like Twitter™ that captures the messages and then re-broadcasts the messages, e.g., immediately as a tweet or a cellular text message. In some embodiments, the smart sensor comprises a communications module with a Twitter™ application program interface (API) on a communications platform with a software/hardware framework to interconnect with one or more pluggable monitors with sensors. In other embodiments, the communications module may be integrated with one or more monitors. Further embodiments comprise a smart-device, which can provide status updates and event notifications to a user. |
| US08471701B2 |
Asymmetric dynamic geo-fencing
Architecture that enables location based notifications (e.g., geo-fences) using standard polygons the capture of complex regions. As applied to geo-fencing, it extends geo-fencing beyond the mere representation of the virtual perimeter (fenced) area. More specifically, the architecture takes into consideration geographical and demographical features, such as the layout of the roads and streets, the types of available of transportation (e.g., car, bus, walk, biking, etc.), the traffic conditions, and the dynamic properties of a point of interest (POI) such as opening hours, total wait time, etc. More specifically, the architecture enables the dynamic modification of polygon geo-fence based on POI properties, dynamic modification of polygon geo-fence based on road/street layout, dynamic modification of polygon geo-fence based on means of transportation, dynamic modification of polygon geo-fence based on traffic conditions, dynamic modification of polygon geo-fence based on user's state, and dynamic recalculation of regions and directions tailored to user interests. |
| US08471700B1 |
Global positioning systems and methods for asset and infrastructure protection
Security systems may include sensing, networked communications, stealth, alarms, and countermeasures, any or all of which may adapt to threats. These systems may also include armor and barriers of concrete and/or steel. They can adapt to severity of threats, weather, and/or other situational aspects. They can anticipate at least some threats in order to obtain early warning and react more quickly to those threats. They can adapt by altering their configurations, including alterations in communication networking structures and methods, and changes in data-storage and processing duties at processing nodes. Defensive and/or offensive countermeasures can be employed to deter, confuse, trap, and/or disable terrorists. The systems are capable of self-maintenance, self-healing, and self-restoration as threats subside. The systems can include subsystems capable of autonomous operation. At least some of the systems and/or their subsystems are capable of allocating power among subsystems, and of regulating bandwidth utilizations. |
| US08471699B2 |
Method for monitoring the safety of travelers
A method is provided for monitoring the present location of a traveler at time t1, predicting a location at which the traveler is expected to arrive by time t2, and verifying the safety of the traveler. The safety verification is conducted if the traveler has not reached the expected location at time t2, if signal from the traveler is lost or if a message from the traveler is not received within a predetermined time period. In some embodiments of the present invention, verifying the safety of the traveler involves contacting the traveler at one or more telecommunications devices which the traveler is known to carry, contacting another person that is known to be accompanying the traveler, and if all else fails—alerting the local emergency response team. |
| US08471695B2 |
Tire air pressure monitoring device
A tire air pressure monitoring device for monitoring the air pressure of a tire on a vehicle having two or more tires, including an air pressure sensing device that senses air pressure information of the tire and is adapted to be mounted at a prescribed position on the tire so as to rotate with the tire, a transmitting device that transmits the sensed air pressure information, a rotary position sensing device that senses the rotary position of the air pressure sensing device as the tire rotates, a period of rotation calculating device that calculates the period of rotation of the tire, a period of rotation disruption sensing device that senses disruption in the period of rotation based on a change in the period, and a transmission control device that outputs commands to transmit the air pressure information to the transmitting device based on a disruption in the period of rotation. |
| US08471694B2 |
Tire condition acquisition device and tire condition monitoring system
A tire condition acquisition device located in a tire and that transmits at least tire internal air pressure information includes: a housing that allows outside air to enter in only through a ventilation hole; an air pressure detecting element disposed in the housing and that detects an air pressure of air that enters in through the ventilation hole, and converts the detected air pressure to an electric signal which is then output; and a transmission circuit disposed in the housing and that transmits the detected air pressure information via electromagnetic waves based on the electric signal output from the air pressure detecting element; wherein at least the ventilation hole and an area peripheral thereto are treated so as to be water repellent. |
| US08471689B2 |
Touch-sensitive motion device
A method of entering data to an electronic device is outlined using a modified touch-pad. The touch-pad is modified to include the addition of surface features, which provide distinguishable tactile feedback to the user allowing improved spatial resolution of the positioning of an object onto the surface of the touch-pad. In this manner the touch-pad allows the user to select from multiple positions across the surface of the touch-pad, the outcomes of each position being optionally different, such as alphanumeric character selection. |
| US08471686B2 |
Remote control apparatus with dialing scheme providing haptic sensations
A remote control apparatus that provides haptic sensations. The remote control apparatus includes a dial, a motor, a rotary encoder, an encoder counter, a control unit and a motor controller. The remote control apparatus further includes a storage unit, a movement detection unit and a display unit. When a user selects an icon displayed on the display unit by rotating the dial, the control unit interprets the user instruction through the rotary encoder and the encoder counter to control the motor to generate torque for causing a haptic sensation corresponding to the interpreted instruction via the motor controller. While the haptic sensation is conveyed to the user through the dial, the control unit controls an appliance to perform the interpreted instruction thereon. |
| US08471684B2 |
System and method for tracking items associated with read/writable tags
A method and system for tracking an item associated with a read/writable tag programmed with a current identifier. The system comprises a plurality of tag readers and a control entity configured to send to at least one of the tag readers a next identifier associated with the tag. Upon receipt of the next identifier, the at least one of the tag readers is configured to reprogram the tag with the next identifier when a presence of the tag is detected. The control entity may be further configured to identify each of the at least one of the tag readers as being a tag reader that the item has a potential to encounter. |
| US08471683B2 |
Multilane vehicle tracking system
A vehicle tracking system and method of tracking vehicles in multiple traffic lanes is disclosed. One system includes an RFID reader including a plurality of antenna ports. The system also includes a first antenna connected to a first antenna port of the plurality of antenna ports, the first antenna oriented toward a first lane of traffic. The system further includes a second antenna connected to the first antenna port and oriented toward a second lane of traffic. The system also includes a third antenna connected to a second antenna port of the plurality of antenna ports, the third antenna oriented toward the first lane of traffic. In some cases, the RFID reader is configured to detect the existence of a vehicle in a lane based on detection of an RFID device associated with the vehicle at two or more of the plurality of antenna ports. |
| US08471681B2 |
Transport and storage unit having an identification unit and a reading unit
A transportation and storage unit includes a transponder identification unit for distinguishing and identifying goods or other objects, a multiplicity of which may be disposed, transported and/or stored and/or handled on palettes or similar transport aids in so-called groups, bunches, units or bundles. A plurality of mutually-separated transponders are embedded in the transponder identification unit. The transponder identification unit surrounds the periphery of the transportation and storage unit. A reading unit for sensing a multiplicity of transportation and storage units is also provided. |
| US08471679B2 |
Electronic device including finger movement based musical tone generation and related methods
An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor and an audio output transducer. The electronic device may further include a controller cooperating with the finger biometric sensor for determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user's finger. The controller may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensor for causing the audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon movement of a user's finger relative to the finger biometric sensor. |
| US08471677B2 |
Barrier movement system including a combined keypad and voice responsive transmitter
A keypad transmitter for mounting outside a controlled area which may respond to the voice or other biometric indicia of users by transmitting validatable codes to a controller of a barrier movement system. The keypad may be used to send a validatable code or it may be used in a learning operation of the voice responsive portion. The voice responsive portion includes speaker dependent voice analysis for some functions and speaker independent voice analysis for other functions. |
| US08471676B1 |
Security door control system
A security door control system for managing the sequence of operation for security doors by controlling access between non-secure and secure areas. The system comprises a software logic installed on programmable logic controllers that operates the system by processing inputs from a plurality of local and remote sources and providing in real time individualized control signals to a plurality of fully automated security doors and multiple local and remote associated security door components. |
| US08471674B2 |
Shunt resistor and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a shunt resistor which has an excellent accuracy of current detection and a small temperature drift as well as a compact structure, and improves the operability. The shunt resistor is provided with a resistance body (11), a pair of main electrodes (12, 12) separated from the resistance body, and a pair of voltage detection electrodes (13, 13) separated from the main electrodes. The voltage detection electrodes (13) are provided and fixed between the resistance body (11) and the main electrodes (12). The voltage detection electrode (13) is provided with a detection terminal (13a) to be connected to a terminal of a voltage detection circuit. The resistance body (11) has a columnar shape. The voltage detection electrode (13) and main electrode (12) are fixed to both end faces of the resistance body (11) in the length direction, so that they are opposing each other. The components are bonded by diffusion boding, friction bonding, wax bonding, etc., after abutting the bonding surfaces with each other. |
| US08471671B2 |
Fuse and arc resistant end cap assembly therefor
Overcurrent protection fuses with end cap assemblies amenable to automated manufacturing techniques and providing arc burn through resistance when the fusible element opens therein. The end cap assemblies may include washers having arc resistant compositions and may include single or double end cap constructions. Fuse rejection features may be formed in one of the end caps and may create an empty space in the end cap when assembled to a fuse body. |
| US08471670B2 |
Fusible link unit
A fusible link unit includes a fuse busbar and a housing. The fuse busbar includes a first busbar having a first input connecting portion; a second busbar having a second input connecting portion; and a fusible element provided between the first busbar and the second busbar. The housing is provided with the fuse busbar. The fusible element is configured to melt down when a current of a predetermined value is conducted therethrough. The first input connecting portion and the second input connecting portion are formed into the same shape. The first and second input connecting portions are passed through inserting holes, which are provided on both end portions of the housing, and are projected outwards. The housing is formed symmetrical transversely. |
| US08471669B2 |
Disc-type coil
In a disc-type coil that enables assuring a sufficiently high value of a flowing current to increase an output and comprises: a discoid insulating substrate 1; a conductor pattern 2 that is provided on each of both surfaces of the insulating substrate 1 so that through hole lands 22 and 23 are position on the outer circumferential side and the inner circumferential side of the insulating substrate 1, and that is arranged to be alternately folded back on both the surfaces of the insulating substrate 1; and through holes that are formed in the insulating substrate 1 and connect the through hole lands 22 and 23 of the conductor pattern 2, the plurality of through holes 6 are aligned and arranged in a radial direction c in each through hole land 23 on the inner circumferential side. |
| US08471665B2 |
Magnetic element
A magnetic element including: a first magnetic core including a coil which is wound by a predetermined number of turns; a second magnetic core which includes the coil in the inside thereof and which is combined along the outer circumference of the first magnetic core; and a metal terminal which connects the coil and a mounting substrate, wherein the metal terminal includes a fixing portion for fixing the second magnetic core in a state of combining the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core. |
| US08471663B2 |
Combined winding structure and magnetic device
A combined winding structure is provided. The combined winding structure includes a plurality of winding wires each having a winding portion in a hollow column form, an anodic portion and a cathodic portion; the anodic portions and the cathodic portions are integrally extended from the winding portions respectively. The winding portions each have a surrounding dimension, and the surrounding dimensions are mutually different. The winding portion with the smaller surrounding dimension is located inside and surrounded by the winding portion with the larger surrounding dimension. With these arrangements, the combined winding structure can have a larger equivalent cross-sectional area and lower production costs. A magnetic device is also provided, which includes the aforesaid combined winding structure. |
| US08471662B2 |
Oil transformer insulation module
An oil transformer insulation module includes a plurality of disc-like insulation elements of identical type which are arranged flush one above another along a line, connected to one another and have in each case at least a similar outline contour. An insulation element includes a first flat layer and a second layer adjacent and predominantly parallel thereto. The first and second layers are composed of a mechanically strong, planar first insulation material. The first and second layers of the first insulation material are connected to and spaced apart from a third, corrugated layer arranged between the first and second layers and composed of a mechanically strong, planar second insulation material. The third layer has lateral edges and is corrugated in such a way that all the cavities formed by the corrugated form can be completely flooded with a liquid via the lateral edges of the insulation element. |
| US08471660B2 |
Assembly for magnetization of rare-earth permanent magnets
A superconducting magnetizer assembly includes a coil pack including an inner coil configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the inner coil, an outer coil being disposed about the inner coil and configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to an electric current supplied to the outer coil, a non-conductive end spacer disposed between an end winding of the inner coil and an end winding of the outer coil, and a container to house the inner and outer coils; and a yoke disposed proximate the coil pack being configured to constrain the first and second magnetic fields to reduce the strength of the first field at the end winding of the inner coil, wherein the yoke comprises an annular ring configured to at least partially envelop the coil pack. |
| US08471658B2 |
Magnetic switch for operating a circuit
A multilevel correlated magnetic system and method for using the same are described herein. A wide-range of devices including a retractable magnet assembly, a disengagement/engagement tool, a click on-click off device are described herein that may incorporate or interact with one or more of the multilevel correlated magnetic systems. |
| US08471656B2 |
Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay includes: an electromagnetic block a bobbin including collar parts at both ends of a coil winding part on which a coil is wound, an iron core and a yoke; a contact block including a fixed contact and a movable contact; a pair of partition walls provided in parallel with the axial direction of the coil, opposing each other with the coil sandwiched therebetween and abutting on both the collar parts of the bobbin; and a case that accommodates therein the electromagnet block, the contact block and the partition walls. Inner wall surfaces of the case abut on both the collar parts of the bobbin and the partition walls from a direction intersecting both a direction in which the pair of partition walls oppose and the axial direction of the bobbin. |
| US08471655B2 |
Piston trip reset lever
A device for transferring motion from a manual lever to a reset lever of a pressure trip mechanism in a molded case circuit breaker. The pressure trip mechanism is activated when hot gasses are released during an arc event and the resultant increase in pressure forces a piston in the mechanism to expand and thereby activate the breaker. In some interruption events, hot gasses, and occasionally fragments of molten metal, are responsible for marring the plastic piston surface of the pressure trip mechanism and prevent the mechanism from returning to its pre-interruption position even when it is biased to the pre-interruption position with a spring. A configuration disclosed herein provides for linking the motion of the hand-driven manual lever used to reset the breaker to the reset lever connected to the pressure trip mechanism in order to force the pressure trip mechanism to return to its pre-interruption position. |
| US08471652B2 |
Component that operates using acoustic waves and method for producing said component
An acoustic wave component includes a layer system having a piezoelectric layer and a first metal layer arranged on the piezoelectric layer, a first resonator having a first electrode in the first metal layer, where the first metal layer includes electrode structures periodically arranged in a direction of propagation of a wave through the acoustic wave component, and a second resonator coupled to the first resonator and electrically isolated from the first resonator. The layer system includes a waveguide for guiding a guided bulk acoustic wave in a lateral direction of the acoustic wave component. |
| US08471651B2 |
Microelectromechanical filter
A microelectromechanical filter is provided. The microelectromechanical filter includes an input electrode, an output electrode, one or several piezoelectric resonators, one or several high quality factor resonators, and one or several coupling beams. The input electrode and the output electrode are disposed on the piezoelectric resonators. The high quality factor resonator is silicon or of piezoelectric materials, and there is no metal electrode on top of the resonator. The coupling beam is connected between the piezoelectric resonator and the high quality factor resonator. The coupling beam transmits an acoustic wave among the resonators, and controls a bandwidth of filter. The microelectromechanical filter with low impedance and high quality factor fits the demand for next-generation communication systems. |
| US08471648B2 |
Signal dividing device
There is provided a signal dividing device (10) for use in a co-axial network used for distributing signals within the home, the signal dividing device (10) comprising an impedance transformer (12), a first (14) and a second (16) two-way signal splitter, each two-way signal splitter having an input, and first and second outputs. The output (22) of the impedance transformer is connected to the input of the first and the second signal splitter, the other port (20) of the impedance transformer being connected to earth. Resistive elements (32, 34) are connected between the outputs of the first and second signal splitters respectively. A diplex filter (40) may be connected at the input (18) of the impedance transformer (12). |
| US08471647B2 |
Power divider
In cases where a power divider is constructed by using a multilayer substrate, a power divider is obtained which is smaller in size and has a good reflection property. The power divider according to the present invention is provided with a multilayer dielectric substrate (1), strip conductor patterns (2a through 2c) formed on one surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate (1), and a ground conductor pattern (3) formed on the other surface of the multilayer dielectric substrate (1), wherein a transmission line is composed of the dielectric substrate (1), the strip conductor patterns (2a through 2c) and the ground conductor pattern (3), and the transmission line has its one end branched to form a plurality of branch lines (12a, 12b), with an isolation resistance (4) being formed between the branch lines. A first capacitance forming part comprising a first pillar conductor (6a) and a first capacitance forming conductor pattern (5a), both formed in an interior of the dielectric substrate (1), is formed at a branch point (13) of said transmission line. |
| US08471645B2 |
Balanced-unbalanced transformer
A balanced-unbalanced transformer includes: a balanced transmission line including paired transmission lines; an unbalanced transmission line; and two lead transmission lines connected to two neighboring end portions of four end portions of the paired transmission lines at a right angle to the paired transmission lines, wherein one of the two lead transmission lines has a first electrode face which faces the other of the two lead transmission lines, the other of the two lead transmission lines has a second electrode face which faces the one of the two lead transmission lines, and the first electrode face and the second electrode face are electrode faces of a capacitor. |
| US08471642B2 |
Resonant circuits
Embodiments of the invention relate to resonant circuits; particularly but not exclusively the embodiments relate to resonant circuits in RPID (radio frequency identification) responsive to a wide frequency range. A controllable electric resonator comprising an inductor coupled to a first capacitor to form a resonant circuit, the resonator further comprising a controllable element, a second capacitor controllable coupled across said first capacitor by said controllable element, and a control device to control said controllable element such that a total effective capacitance of said first and second capacitor varies over a duty cycle of an oscillatory signal on said resonator. |
| US08471640B2 |
Oscillators and methods of operating the same
Oscillators and methods of operating the oscillators are provided, the oscillators include an oscillating unit including at least one magnetic layer having a magnetization direction that varies according to at least one selected from the group consisting of an applied current, an applied voltage and an applied magnetic field. The oscillating unit is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a set frequency. The oscillators further include an output stage that provides an output signal by differentially amplifying the oscillation signal. |
| US08471637B2 |
Variable gain amplifier
The invention relates to a variable gain amplifier comprising a first attenuator (1) for receiving an input signal (rf_in) and for transmitting a first attenuated input signal to a first amplifier (2) for amplifying the first attenuated input signal and for generating a first amplified signal to a second attenuator (3) for attenuating the first amplified signal and for transmitting a second attenuated signal to a second amplifier (4) for amplifying the second attenuated signal and for generating an output signal (rf_out). The first attenuator (1) is supplied from a first supply voltage source (10). The second attenuator (3) is supplied from a second supply voltage source (30). The first amplifier (2) is supplied from a third supply voltage source (20), and the second amplifier (4) is supplied from a fourth supply voltage source (40). |
| US08471636B2 |
Differential pair with constant offset
A bias current is generated for an unbalanced differential pair that is proportional to the transconductance gain of the differential pair. When the transconductance gain varies (e.g., due to temperature variations), the bias current varies in proportion thereby maintaining a constant offset voltage. In some implementations, a voltage to current converter circuit generates the bias current from a constant reference voltage that is independent of temperature and voltage supply variations (e.g., a bandgap reference voltage). |
| US08471635B2 |
Bias circuit and amplifier providing constant output current for a range of common mode inputs
Bias circuits, amplifiers and methods are provided, such as those for providing bias signals over a range of common mode inputs for an amplifier to output a constant current. One example of a bias circuit is configured to generate a bias signal having a voltage magnitude according to a reference signal. The reference signal is indicative of a common mode input level of an input signal of the amplifier circuit and the bias circuit is further configured to adjust the bias signal over a range of common mode input levels. An amplifier receiving the bias signal is configured to generate an output signal in response to an input signal and drive an output current based on the voltage magnitude of the bias signal provided by the bias circuit. |
| US08471634B2 |
Method and apparatus of common mode compensation for voltage controlled delay circuits
An apparatus of common mode compensation for voltage controlled delay circuits and method are provided. In one implementation a method includes amplifying a differential input signal to generate a differential output signal using a differential pair of transistors biased by a tail current; changing the tail current by a first amount to change a circuit delay of the differential pair of transistors; generating a first compensation current and a second compensation current by using a current mirroring such that a sum of the first compensation current and the second compensation current is of a second amount that is substantially equal to the first amount; injecting the first compensation current into the first end of the differential output signal via a first coupling resistor; and injecting the second compensation current into the second end of the differential output signal via a second coupling resistor. |
| US08471629B2 |
Providing automatic power control for a power amplifier
A power control circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal from a power amplifier (PA) and generate a control signal to control a variable gain amplifier (VGA) coupled to an input to the PA based on the feedback signal. The power control circuit may include, in one embodiment, a mute circuit to generate a mute signal to be provided to the VGA when the control signal is less than a first level and a clamp circuit to clamp a control voltage used to generate the control signal from exceeding a threshold level. |
| US08471626B2 |
Start-up circuit to discharge EMI filter of power supplies
A start-up circuit to discharge EMI filter is developed for power saving. It includes a detection circuit detecting a power source for generating a sample signal. A sample circuit is coupled to the detection circuit for generating a reset signal in response to the sample signal. The reset signal is utilized for discharging a stored voltage of the EMI filter. |
| US08471624B2 |
Method for controlling the supply voltage for an integrated circuit and an apparatus with a voltage regulation module and an integrated circuit
The present invention relates to a method for controlling the supply voltage for an integrated circuit, which is connected to a voltage regulation module via a sense line, a voltage supply line and a bus wherein the supply voltage is provided by the voltage regulation module (10) via the voltage supply line. The supply voltage is composed of a reference voltage and a number of additional voltage levels. The reference voltage is defined by a voltage source and controlled by the integrated circuit via the bus, and the number of additional voltage levels is determined by the integrated circuit and send to the voltage regulation module via the sense line. Further the present invention relates to a corresponding apparatus with a voltage regulation module and an integrated circuit. |
| US08471616B2 |
Duty ratio correction circuit
A duty ratio correction circuit for correcting a duty ratio of a clock signal. The duty ratio correction circuit includes an asymmetry buffer that receives a clock signal and adjusts a duty ratio of the clock signal in response to control signals; a clock generating circuit that is connected to the asymmetry buffer and detects the duty ratio of the clock signal; and a controller that generates the control signals according to the duty ratio of the clock signal. An operation of the controller is recorded as a program on a computer-readable recording medium. |
| US08471614B2 |
Digital phase locked loop system and method
A phase locked loop control system includes a digital controlled oscillator (DCO) that is controlled by logic cells in response to comparison of the oscillator output with a reference clock related signal. Delay cell number adjustment, delay cell load adjustment and cycle control are operative to digitally control the DCO frequency to obtain wide frequency range and limited jitter. |
| US08471611B2 |
Fractional-N phase locked loop based on bang-bang detector
The present disclosure is directed to a fractional-N digital phase locked loop (DPLL) that replaces the conventionally used time-to-digital converter (TDC) based phase detector with a bang-bang phase detector (BBPD). Compared to the TDC based phase detector, the BBPD has an often superior resolution for the same or similar amount of power and/or area consumption. Therefore, replacing the TDC based phase detector with a BBPD can reduce, or even eliminate, the common problem of spurs being added to the output signal generated by the DPLL because of the limited resolution of the TDC based phase detector. This can allow the DPLL to be used for the most demanding applications, such as in generating local oscillator signals for down-converting and demodulating weak signals received by a communication device, such as a cellular phone. |
| US08471606B2 |
Driver circuit for a semiconductor power switch
A driver circuit for controlling a semiconductor power switch comprises a first power driver transistor and a second power driver transistor complementary to the first power driver transistor. Both power driver transistors have an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the semiconductor power switch. An input terminal of the second power driver transistor is connected to a half bridge circuit comprising a first pre-driver transistor and a second pre-driver transistor complementary to the first pre-driver transistor. Both first and second pre-driver transistors have an output terminal connected to the input terminal of the second power driver transistor. This provides fast switching times with low power consumption for the pre-driver transistors. |
| US08471604B2 |
Gate drive circuit and associated method
A method of driving a number of series connected active power semiconductor groups, wherein each of the active power semiconductor groups includes one or more gate oxide-isolated active power semiconductor devices. The method includes generating a current pulse, providing the current pulse to a primary portion of a transformer unit and in response thereto causing a number of reflected current pulses to be reflected at a secondary portion of the transformer unit, and transferring and latching each of the reflected current pulses to create a respective latched gate drive signal, and providing each respective latched gate drive signal to an associated one of the active power semiconductor groups for driving the one or more gate oxide-isolated active power semiconductor devices of the associated one of the active power semiconductor groups. Also, a gate drive circuit that implements the method. |
| US08471603B2 |
Current driver, electronic device and current driving method
The present invention provides a current driver for driving a current driven device. The current driver includes a driving circuit, configured to generate a driving current to drive the current driven device, and conduct or cut off a driving current path through which the driving current flows according to a voltage level of a driving control node, and an accelerating circuit, coupled to the driving control node of the driving circuit, configured to provide an accelerating current flowing through the driving control node to accelerate a voltage level transition at the driving control node during an activation period of the driving circuit, and automatically cut off the accelerating current when a voltage level of the driving control node reaches a specific level. |
| US08471602B2 |
Output driver and semiconductor apparatus having the same
An output driver includes: a pull-up signal generation unit configured to control a pulse width of first data and output a pull-up pre-drive signal; a pull-down signal generation unit configured to control a pulse width of second data and output a pull-down pre-drive signal; a pull-up pre-driver unit configured to receive the pull-up pre-drive signal and generate a pull-up main drive signal; a pull-down pre-driver unit configured to receive the pull-down pre-drive signal and generate a pull-down main drive signal; a pull-up main driver unit configured to charge an output node according to the pull-up main drive signal; and a pull-down main driver unit configured to discharge the output node according to the pull-down main drive signal. |
| US08471601B2 |
Single-ended to differential converter
A single-ended to differential converter is presented. The converter may be configured to convert full-swing single-ended signals to low-swing differential signals within a single-stage, thereby reducing signal distortion. The converter may include a passive network of resistive elements, for example resistors and/or metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices operating in a linear region. The converter may also allow for adjustable design parameters such as a common mode, differential amplitude, and an output swing. The adjustments may all be made within the single-stage of the converter. |
| US08471598B2 |
Magnetic logic device
The present disclosure provides for magnetic logic devices and methods of operating such a device. In one embodiment, the device includes a bottom electrode configured to receive a first input current and a second input current, a bottom magnetic layer disposed over the bottom electrode, a nonmagnetic layer disposed over the bottom magnetic layer, a top magnetic layer disposed over the nonmagnetic layer, and a top electrode disposed over the top magnetic layer, the top electrode and the bottom electrode configured to provide an output voltage which is dependent on the first and second input currents and which follows an AND gate logic or an OR gate logic. |
| US08471594B2 |
Apparatus and method for obtaining maximum value and minimum value in plurality of digital input signals
The present invention relates to a digital signal processing circuit, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for generating a maximum value or a minimum value used for designing the digital signal processing circuit. An apparatus for obtaining a maximum value or a minimum value from N digital input signals may include N×W bit processing elements to receive an input of W bits of each of the N digital input signals, W OR operators to receive an input of N operation values output from bit processing elements, and to perform an OR operation, respectively, and W inverters to invert an output value for each of the W OR operators. |
| US08471590B2 |
Calibrating resistance for integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a first ODT unit and an input buffer. The first ODT unit is configured to receive at least one pull-up code and at least one pull-down code for impedance matching of a first line through which data is transferred, and adjust a resistance value. The input buffer is configured to drive input data by buffering the data in response to a level of a reference voltage, wherein the driving of the input data is adjusted in response to the pull-up code and the pull-down code. |
| US08471582B2 |
Circuit for detecting tier-to-tier couplings in stacked integrated circuit devices
A first semiconductor tier has a first tier-to-tier connector for detecting a tier-to-tier coupling in a stacked integrated circuit (IC) device. A second semiconductor tier has a second tier-to-tier connector configured to electrically couple to the first tier-to-tier connector. A tier-to-tier detection circuit electrically couples to the second tier-to-tier connector. The tier-to-tier detection circuit generates an output signal indicative of an electrical coupling between the first semiconductor tier and the second semiconductor tier. |
| US08471581B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting defects in circuit pattern of substrate
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for inspecting defects in the circuit pattern of a substrate. The apparatus for inspecting defects in a circuit pattern of a substrate includes a pin probe configured to input a voltage while coming into contact with an inspection target circuit pattern of a substrate. A capacitor sensor is provided with a membrane electrode which is opposite a connection circuit pattern to be electrically connected to the inspection target circuit pattern in a non-contact manner, and is configured to detect both capacitance and capacitance variation, generated due to displacement of the membrane electrode attributable to electrostatic attractive force acting from the connection circuit pattern on the membrane electrode. A capacitance measurement unit is connected to the capacitor sensor and is configured to measure capacitance attributable to the displacement of the membrane electrode, which is input from the capacitor sensor. |
| US08471579B2 |
Method of measuring slider resistance of different types of row bar with a common tester
A method of measuring slider resistance of different types of row bar with a common tester comprises judging the type of the row bar, if the row bar is femto-type row bar, supplying a first voltage to the front pins, and supplying a second voltage that is unequal to the first voltage to the back pins, thereby obtaining resistances of the sliders; if the row bar is shunting-type row bar, supplying a third voltage to the front pins which contact the test pads, and supplying a fourth voltage that is unequal to the third voltage to the front pin that contacts the common test pad, thereby obtaining resistances of the sliders. The present invention can measure two different types of row bar with a same common tester, which can reduce the downtime of machine and the manpower, and prevent the probe card from being damaged without a frequent disassembly and switch. |
| US08471577B2 |
Lateral coupling enabled topside only dual-side testing of TSV die attached to package substrate
A method of topside only dual-side testing of an electronic assembly includes providing a singulated through substrate via (TSV) die flip chip attached to a die support including a package substrate. The TSVs on the TSV die extend from its frontside to contactable TSV tips on its bottomside. The TSVs on the frontside of the TSV die are coupled to embedded topside substrate pads on a top surface of the ML substrate. The die support includes lateral coupling paths between at least a portion of the embedded topside substrate pads and lateral topside pads on a topside surface of the die support lateral to the die area. The contactable TSV tips are contacted with probes to provide a first topside connection to the TSVs, and the lateral topside pads are contacted with probes to provide a second topside connection. Dual-side testing across the electronic assembly is performed using the first and second topside connections. |
| US08471576B2 |
Probe for a socket, socket for a semiconductor integrated circuit and electronic device
A socket for electrically connecting conductive patterns of a circuit board and electrodes of an integrated circuit, the socket includes a main body, a plurality of hollow probes that connect conductive patterns of the circuit board and electrodes of the integrated circuit, the plurality of hollow probes provided to the main body, and an outlet that discharges a refrigerating medium passing through each of the hollow probes, the outlet provided on a side of the main body. |
| US08471574B2 |
Method and device for detecting underperforming PV modules in a PV system by using disconnect switches
A measuring method for determining an output drop of a PV unit is provided. The PV unit is arranged within a photovoltaic system comprising a plurality of electrically parallel-connected PV units. Each PV unit can be removed from the parallel circuit by a switching device. Further, a total current measuring device for measuring the total current through all PV units of the parallel circuit is provided. The defective PV unit is determined in an evaluation unit by the connection and disconnection of a disconnect switch. |
| US08471572B2 |
Capacitive sensor to sense an electric field generated by a conductor
A capacitive sensor for detecting an electrical field generated by a live conductor comprises a source electrode (10), a screen element (20) and an electrical field sensor (30). Said source electrode (10) has a proximal portion (11) connected to the conductor (A) and a distal portion (12) placed inside the screen element (20). The electrical field sensor (30) is placed inside said screen element (20), and faces and is spaced apart from the distal portion (12) of said source electrode (10), in order to detect the electrical field emitted by said source electrode (10). |
| US08471571B2 |
Method for selecting an item of equipment and control unit enabling this method to be implemented
Home electronic automation equipment to be controlled is selected from among several predefined groups of equipment, via capacitive sensors which are disposed next to one another on a control unit. A predefined group of equipment is selected by activating individual capacitive sensors. At least one additional group of equipment is selected via a predetermined sequence for activating several of the same capacitive sensors, of which at least two capacitive sensors are non-adjacent sensors. |
| US08471569B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for measurement of the current through an inductive load
The invention provides a method and a circuit arrangement for measurement of the current through an inductive load L wherein the current is fed into the inductive load L with the aid of a full-bridge circuit. By way of example, full-bridge circuits such as these are used to feed a current in a pulse-width-modulated form into a winding of a direct-current, stepping or plunger coil motor. A respective measurement device (Ra, Rb) is provided for each half-bridge. In this case, a respective measurement device (Ra, Rb) is arranged between in each case one series circuit of switching elements and ground (VSS) or the supply voltage (VDD), respectively, at which a respective voltage is tapped off, which is a measure of the current through the respective measurement device. The device for measurement of the current has at least one switching device (S), by means of which one of the two inputs (e1, e2) of differential amplifier (D) can be selectively connected to ground (VSS) or to the supply voltage (VDD), or to one of the two measurement devices. |
| US08471564B2 |
System and method for recording the characteristic curves of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
The invention relates to a system for recording characteristic curves for a light-emitting diode arrangement (1) comprising at least one light-emitting diode (2). A control unit (4) is used to operate the light-emitting diode arrangement (1) and to record the diode current (8) and the voltage (9) on the light-emitting diode arrangement (1). The control unit (4) is also used to record a first current/voltage pair (P1) and a different second current/voltage pair (P2), at a first temperature of the light-emitting diode arrangement (1), and a third current/voltage pair (P3) and a different fourth current/voltage pair (P4), at a second temperature of the light-emitting diode arrangement (1). The invention also relates to a method for recording characteristic curves of a light-emitting diode arrangement. |
| US08471562B2 |
Multi-axial antenna and method for use in downhole tools
Embodiments of a multi-axial antenna system and system for measuring subsurface formations are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the multi-axial antenna system comprising at least two co-located coils wound around a torroidal-shaped bobbin. Each coil generates a magnetic field in a mutually orthogonal direction. Signals provided to the coils may be adjusted to simulate a tilted-coil antenna system. |
| US08471557B2 |
Integrated triaxial magnetometer of semiconductor material manufactured in MEMS technology
Two suspended masses are configured so as to be flowed by respective currents flowing in the magnetometer plane in mutually transversal directions and are capacitively coupled to lower electrodes. Mobile sensing electrodes are carried by the first suspended mass and are capacitively coupled to respective fixed sensing electrodes. The first suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction transversal to the plane in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a first horizontal direction. The second suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction transversal to the plane in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a second horizontal direction, and the first suspended mass is configured so as to be mobile in a direction parallel to the plane and transversal to the current flowing in the first suspended mass in presence of a magnetic field having a component in a vertical direction. |
| US08471555B2 |
Method for determining orientation of electromagnetic receivers
Method for determining receiver orientation angles in a controlled source electromagnetic survey, by analyzing the survey data. For a given survey receiver, two data subsets are selected. (43, 44). The two subsets may be from two offset ranges that are geometrically symmetrical relative to the receiver location. Alternatively, the second subset may be a computer simulation of actual survey data. In either instance, an orientation is assumed for the receiver (45), and that orientation is used to compare component data from the two subsets that can be expected to match if the assumed orientation angle(s) is (are) correct (46). The mismatch is ascertained, and the assumed orientation is adjusted (45) and the process is repeated. |
| US08471549B2 |
Power detector
A power detector circuit for measuring output power of an amplifier circuit includes a mirror amplification stage having mirror circuit components substantially similar and corresponding to original circuit components of an amplification stage of the amplifier circuit, and a power sensor circuit coupled to an output node of the mirror amplification stage. |
| US08471548B2 |
Power supply circuit configured to supply stabilized output voltage by avoiding offset voltage in error amplifier
A power supply circuit includes an output driver transistor, a buffer circuit, and an error amplification circuit. The buffer circuit includes a first transistor connected to an output terminal and a second transistor functioning as a load for the first transistor. The error amplification circuit includes a differential pair including a first pair of transistors, a current mirror circuit including a second pair of transistors, a constant current source supplying a current and driving the differential pair and the current mirror circuit, a third transistor connected between one of the differential pair and the current mirror circuit. The first and second transistor have the same polarity as the transistors constituting the current mirror circuit, and control terminals of the first and third transistors are connected at a first junction node that is connected to a second junction node between the one of the differential pair and the third transistor. |
| US08471547B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for inductive energy transfer
A circuit arrangement for the inductive transfer of energy is disclosed. The circuit arrangement includes an oscillator; a power supply for supplying the oscillator with energy and having a complex input resistance; and a device for detecting the inductive load of the oscillator and for modifying the complex input resistance of the power supply depending on the load of the oscillator. |
| US08471546B2 |
Time constant circuit, switch circuit, DC/DC converter, and display device
To provide a time constant circuit and the like capable of acquiring a characteristic of an output voltage that attenuates gradually after attenuating steeply, compared to a characteristic that attenuates monotonously. The time constant circuit includes: a series/parallel circuit formed by serially connecting a plurality of parallel circuits each formed with a resistance element and a capacitance element between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a voltage-dividing resistance element connected between a third terminal connected to the second terminal and a fourth terminal. A first parallel circuit is formed with a first resistance element and a first capacitance element, a second parallel circuit with a second resistance element and a second capacitance element, and an n-th parallel circuit with an n-th resistance element and an n-th capacitance element. Note that “n” is the number of the parallel circuits and it is an integer of 2 or larger. |
| US08471540B2 |
DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter performing pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control with a fixed ON time, having a control circuit performing PFM control of the ON time for a switch, including an error amplifier amplifying the difference between an output voltage and a target voltage, a voltage controlled oscillator increasing and decreasing in frequency and outputting an error signal, and a one-shot circuit generating the ON time based on a trigger signal output from the VCO, where ON time is linked to an input voltage and/or an output voltage. The switching frequency decreases under light loads and current consumption is reduced, and the switching frequency is made to be approximately constant under heavy loads. |
| US08471539B2 |
Low drop out voltage regulato
A low drop out (LDO) voltage regulator having an error amplifier, a power transistor, a first voltage division unit, a compensation control unit and a compensation bias current source is provided. The error amplifier generates a control voltage according to a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage. The power transistor generates an output voltage at a drain of the power transistor according to the control voltage. The first voltage division unit divides the output voltage to generate the feedback voltage. The compensation control unit generates a compensation control signal to the compensation bias current source according to the control voltage, the output voltage and a compensation bias, so as to make the compensation bias current source generate a compensation bias current, in which the compensation bias is inversely proportional to a supply voltage and ambient temperature. |
| US08471536B2 |
Switch controller for switching power supply and method thereof
A switch controller for switching power supply is coupled to an auxiliary winding of the switching power supply through a detecting resistor. The switch controller provides a detecting current passing through the detecting resistor for keeping the voltage level of a detecting signal transmitted by the detecting resistor higher than a predetermined voltage. In this way, the switch controller can avoid the latch-up phenomenon caused by receiving the detecting signal of the negative voltage level. In addition, the switch controller can detect the magnitude of an input voltage of the switching power supply by means of the detecting current, and accordingly control the operation of the switching power supply. |
| US08471534B2 |
Fault ride through switch for power generation system
A power generation system that includes a prime mover configured to generate mechanical energy. The power generation system also includes a power generator configured for generating electrical power from the mechanical energy received from the prime mover. The power generation system further includes a fault ride-through switch electrically coupled in series between the power generator and a power grid. The fault ride-through switch includes a first branch configured to carry the electrical power during normal operating conditions and includes an LC resonance circuit. The fault ride-through switch also includes a multiphase transformer configured for providing voltage phases of different polarities to the LC resonance circuit. The fault ride-through switch further includes a second branch coupled in parallel with the first branch and including a resistive element and an inductive element electrically coupled in series wherein the resistive element configured to absorb the electrical power during fault conditions. |
| US08471531B2 |
Estimated remaining life of a battery included in an uninterruptible power supply
An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) is provided with a backup power supply that has an adjustable reserve power level that is based on a user's input and/or is configured to notify a user if a battery included in the UPS needs to be replaced. In one embodiment of the present invention, the UPS (or a circuit included therein) estimates a remaining life (ERL) of the battery by considering various battery conditions, including, but not limited to, a predetermined battery life expectancy, whether the battery is being used to power a load, and battery temperature. If it is estimated that the ERL is low, or below a predetermined threshold, then the UPS (or a circuit included therein) is configured to notify a user that the battery needs to be replaced. |
| US08471530B2 |
Battery state monitoring circuit and battery device
Provided is a battery state monitoring circuit including: a charge/discharge control circuit for detecting and controlling a state of a secondary battery; an automatic recovery circuit; a temperature sensor circuit; and a comparator for comparing a voltage of an output terminal of the automatic recovery circuit and a voltage of the secondary battery, and outputting a signal indicative of a result of the comparison to the temperature sensor circuit, to control an operation of the temperature sensor circuit. The temperature sensor circuit operates only when the output of the automatic recovery circuit is larger, that is, only when a charger is connected between external terminals. |
| US08471528B2 |
Secondary battery controlling apparatus and controlling method
To provide a secondary battery controlling apparatus and a controlling method that can keep a storage amount of a secondary battery used for supply and demand control of a power system not close to 100% or 0%. The present invention is a power supply and demand controlling apparatus of a small-scaled power system 1 including distributed power supplies 31, 32, . . . 3n including a secondary battery and a controlling method, wherein the secondary battery controlling apparatus includes a power generation planning part 6 calculating a planned output value of the distributed power supply based on a past load power and output data including track record data of a power generation output, a planned storage amount estimating part 7 estimating a planned storage amount of the secondary battery from the planned output value of the secondary battery calculated at the power generation planning part, an actual output detecting part 8 measuring and detecting an actual output value of the secondary battery, an actual storage amount estimating part 9 estimating an actual storage amount from the actual output value of the secondary battery detected at the actual output detecting part, and a storage amount controlling part 10 controlling the actual storage amount back to the planned storage amount if there is a difference between the planned storage amount estimated at the planned storage amount estimating part and the actual storage amount estimated at the actual storage amount estimating part. |
| US08471524B2 |
Battery charging device and method for controlling charging thereof
The present invention is adapted for the field of power supply and provides a battery charging device and a method for controlling charging thereof, including: a charging circuit which has a charging current setting terminal for charging the battery according to charging current of the charging current setting terminal; a charging current control circuit which is connected with the charging current setting terminal and adjusts the charging current gradually according to equivalent resistance in the charging current control circuit; a general register circuit which is connected to the charging current control circuit and to control the equivalent resistance by setting value of a general register. In the present invention, a plurality of switching tubes and resistances are integrated into the charging current control circuit. The switching tubes is switched on or off by setting the value of the general register, thereby adjusting the existing charging current gradually and causing the voltage of the charging power source to descend/ascend smoothly. This provides a solution to the problem of equipment instability caused by the voltage fluctuation in the adjustment process of charging current in the existing technology. |
| US08471523B2 |
Charging/discharging device having concealed universal serial bus plug(s)
A charging/discharging device having at least one concealed universal serial bus (USB) plug has a housing having at least one plug hoe, and at least one retractable plug assembly mounted in the housing. Each of the at least one retractable plug assembly has a slidable second circuit board, a resilient element pushing the second circuit board toward a corresponding one of the plug hole of the housing, a USB plug mounted on the second circuit board and corresponding to the corresponding plug hole of the housing, and a locker mounted through and selectively engaging the second circuit board to prevent the second circuit board from sliding when the USB plug is stored in or protrudes out of the housing. Therefore, since the USB plug is able to be concealed in the housing, the USB plug is not damaged. |
| US08471521B2 |
Electric vehicle extended range hybrid battery pack system
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is only used as required by the state-of-charge (SOC) of the first battery pack or as a result of the user selecting an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles. The second battery pack may be used to charge the first battery pack or used in combination with the first battery pack to supply operational power to the electric vehicle. |
| US08471520B2 |
Managing renewable power generation
A power delivery rate from a renewable power source to a load is managed by determining, by processing circuitry, a change in a power generation rate, determining, by the processing circuitry, whether the change in the power generation rate exceeds a limit, and then, adjusting, by control circuitry, a power transfer rate to or from a power storage device, such that the adjusting is sufficient to prevent the power delivery rate from exceeding the limit. |
| US08471519B2 |
Control device and control method for AC motor
A voltage command generation unit generates a voltage command value, based on a current deviation relative to a current command value. A dq-axis voltage filter generates a voltage command value subjected to a filtering process for smoothing a change of the voltage command value in a time axis direction. Then, the voltage command value subjected to the filter processing is subjected to a voltage amplitude correcting process and a dq inverse transformation coordinate converting process, so that a phase voltage command for an AC motor is generated. Thus, it is possible to prevent both an amplitude and a phase of the voltage command for the AC motor from being changed rapidly even at a time of control mode switchover. |
| US08471517B2 |
Motor controlling apparatus and motor controlling method thereof
A motor controlling apparatus includes a control unit which sets a motor on standby for a predetermined time if an enable signal is applied and sets the motor to a default state by rotating the motor at least once for the next predetermined time. The apparatus includes a driver unit which generates a drive signal to control the motor and outputs the drive signal to the motor. Accordingly, a stepping out of the motor may be prevented. |
| US08471513B2 |
Rain sensor
During rain, including a light source (5) for radiating light such that the light is transmitted through a vehicle window (2), a light receiving element (6) for sensing an optical signal when the light radiated from the light source (5) is reflected from the raindrop fallen on the vehicle window (2) and performing a photoelectric transduction, and a receiver (9) for receiving the photoelectrically transduced signal from the light receiving element (6) and judging the level of rainfall. The light source (5) and the light receiving element (6) are inclined with respect to the surface of the vehicle window (2) such that the light of the light source (5) directly reflected from the vehicle window (2) exits to the outside of the light receiving element (6) and the light reflected from a raindrop (8) on the vehicle window (2) is received by the light receiving element (6) to operate a vehicle wiper. |
| US08471507B2 |
Electric power conversion system and electric power conversion device
According to the present invention, an electrical power conversion system includes: a motor; an inverter circuit that outputs three-phase (U-phase, V-phase, W-phase) alternating currents to the motor; a current sensor that detects each of the three-phase alternating currents; and a control circuit that controls the inverter circuit based on a torque command value and values detected by the current sensor, so that the three-phase alternating currents outputted from the inverter circuit are formed as sine waves; and wherein the control circuit includes: a current component extraction unit that, based on the values detected by the current sensor, for each phase, extracts current components superimposed upon each of three-phase alternating currents; and an AC current abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality of an AC current flowing to the motor, based on the phases of the current components for any two phases among the three-phase alternating currents. |
| US08471505B2 |
Device to synchronize the change of the driving mode of an electromagnetic load
A device for the change of the driving mode of an electromagnetic load from a first operating mode with pulse width modulation to a second operating mode that is linear by means of switching circuits. During a first operating mode, each of two outputs has a voltage value ranging from a first reference voltage to a second reference voltage. The device adapted to synchronize a change command signal from a first operating mode to a second operating mode of the electromagnetic load with the signal representative of the flow of current circulating within the load at substantially its average value and adapted to generate a first command signal in response to the synchronization. |
| US08471503B2 |
Vehicle door power assist
Vehicles equipped with sliding doors that undergo powered openings typically are prohibited from opening if the vehicle is in drive. Various modes of door operation are disclosed that safely enable powered operation of a vehicle sliding door regardless of the transmission state of the vehicle. |
| US08471498B2 |
Illumination device with electrical variable scattering element
A current limiting controller (100) for a light emitting diode (LED) driver automatically resets the LED driver to normal operation after elimination of a fault. The current limiting controller (100) includes a fault detector to detect a fault across a load (20, 40) that is being driven by the driver circuit (10, 30); a current limiter (130, 230) to limit the current supplied from the driver circuit (10, 30) to the load (20, 40) in response to the detected fault; and a reset circuit (120, 220, 320) to disable the current limiter (130, 230) upon expiration of a first time interval after the fault is detected, and to allow the current limiter (130, 230) again to limit the current supplied from the driver circuit (10, 30) to the load (20, 40) when the detected fault remains after a second time interval. |
| US08471494B2 |
LED white-light devices for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing fluorescent lighting devices
A white light LED-based lighting device configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing incandescent and fluorescent devices is provided. The white light LED-based lighting device comprises a group of solid state light emitting diodes, electronics to activate the light emitting diodes, and an encapsulating housing configured for direct form, fit, and function replacement of existing fluorescent devices. |
| US08471490B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for voltage conversion
A circuit arrangement (1) for voltage conversion comprises a forward branch (60) with a first load terminal (45) to which an electrical load (47) can be coupled and a feedback branch (61) with a sampling device (30). The electrical load (47) can be operated with pulse width modulation. A method for voltage conversion comprises the following steps: an electrical load (47) is supplied with energy using pulse width modulation. A feedback voltage (Vfb) that can be tapped at a terminal of the electrical load (47) is sampled in a first clock phase during which the electrical load (47) is supplied with energy. The voltage conversion is controlled as a function of the feedback voltage (Vfb). |
| US08471488B1 |
Reducing total harmonic distortion in a power factor corrected flyback switch mode power supply
Total harmonic distortion (THD) at the AC line input of a power factor corrected (PFC) flyback switch mode power supply (SMPS) is reduced by adding additional current injection to the current programming signal of a PFC controller during the period of the line cycle where the AC input current wave shape is most flattened, i.e., around the peak portion of the AC line voltage. The input current drawn by the PFC flyback SMPS will then more closely resemble a desired sinusoidal waveform. A voltage dependent non-linear resistance is coupled in parallel with the normal current injection resistor that supplies current to the PFC flyback controller multiplier input to inject appropriate values of additional current into the PFC flyback controller based upon the AC input voltage value(s) so as to better shape the AC input current to the desired sinusoidal waveform. |
| US08471487B2 |
Light emitting module driving circuit and related method
A light emitting module driver circuit utilized for driving a light emitting module includes a voltage dividing module, a short circuit detection module, and a driving module. A method of performing short circuit protection in the light emitting module driver circuit includes disabling the driving module during a dimming off cycle of the light emitting module driver circuit, enabling the voltage dividing module during the dimming off cycle, dividing a voltage of the light emitting module to generate a divided voltage during the dimming off cycle, and generating a short circuit protection signal according to the divided voltage during the dimming off cycle. |
| US08471483B2 |
Multi-channel LED driving system
A multi-channel LED driving system includes a power adapter, a rectifying and filtering unit, a plurality of LED strings, and a plurality of linear regulators, a CC/CV controller, an optically coupled isolator and a PWM controller. The CC/CV controller detects the conducting currents flowing though the LED strings and DC voltage source outputting from the rectifying and filtering unit, and provides voltage compensation of the power adaptor. In addition, the linear regulators slightly modulate the current difference between the LED strings to achieve current-sharing control, thus stabilize the illuminating brightness generating by the LED. |
| US08471482B2 |
Intelligent decorative displays with ambient electromagnetic field switching
A system and method of controlling self powered decorative devices using EMF emanating from, for example, a light string on a Christmas tree. The decorative devices sense the presence of EFM from the light string and actuate in response thereto and turn off when the field disappears, thereby saving energy. In an alternate embodiment, the EMF source is capable of modulation and the slave decorations are coded and tuned to specific EMF characteristics, such as frequency. The master EMF source transmits the EMF of different characteristic thereby causing the coded slave decorations to operate in a synchronized matter. The system may also be responsive to music or other inputs to create special decorative effects. |
| US08471476B2 |
Inductively coupled plasma flood gun using an immersed low inductance FR coil and multicusp magnetic arrangement
A device is disclosed for providing an inductively coupled radio frequency plasma flood gun. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the device is a plasma flood gun in an ion implantation system. The plasma flood gun may comprise a plasma chamber having one or more apertures; a gas source capable of supplying at least one gaseous substance to the plasma chamber; a single-turn coil disposed within the plasma chamber, and a power source coupled to the coil for inductively coupling radio frequency electrical power to excite the at least one gaseous substance in the plasma chamber to generate a plasma. The inner surface of the plasma chamber may be free of metal-containing material and the plasma may not be exposed to any metal-containing component within the plasma chamber. The plasma chamber may include a plurality of magnets for controlling the plasma. An exit aperture may be provided in the plasma chamber to enable negatively charged particles of the resulting plasma to engage an ion beam that is part of the associated ion implantation system. In one embodiment, magnets are disposed on opposite sides of the aperture and are used to manipulate the electrons of the plasma. |
| US08471472B2 |
UV enhancer for discharge lamp and manufacturing method thereof
Starting performance is improved by efficient UV-light irradiation, suppressing creeping discharge or atmospheric discharge at the outside of a glow discharge tube, and preventing cracks in a pinch seal portion even when an external force is exerted in the direction of bending a lead. In a discharge tube for emitting a UV-light, a light emitting chamber is formed on one side of a pinch seal portion for sealing an electrode assembly, and a lead protrusion port is formed on the opposite side thereof while pinching the seal portion, the lead protrusion port is formed as a sleeve having a predetermined gap relative to the lead, an external electrode disposed to the outside of the light emitting chamber includes a hold formed by bending fabrication of a metal plate. |
| US08471471B2 |
Electron injection-controlled microcavity plasma device and arrays
An embodiment of the invention is a microcavity plasma device that can be controlled by a low voltage electron emitter. The microcavity plasma device includes driving electrodes disposed proximate to a microcavity and arranged to contribute to generation of plasma in the microcavity upon application of a driving voltage. An electron emitter is arranged to emit electrons into the microcavity upon application of a control voltage. The electron emitter is an electron source having an insulator layer defining a tunneling region. The microplasma itself can serve as a second electrode necessary to energize the electron emitter. While a voltage comparable to previous microcavity plasma devices is still imposed across the microcavity plasma devices, control of the devices can be accomplished at high speeds and with a small voltage, e.g., about 5V to 30V in preferred embodiments. |
| US08471470B1 |
Radiation shielding
Apparatus and method using a gas discharge device for screening or shielding an object and/or person from electromagnetic (EM) radiation including radar, microwaves, X-rays, and/or gamma rays. The device comprises multiple gas discharge cells, each cell being within a gas-filled hollow shell. The shells are located in one or more single substrates. The gas may be selected to absorb radiation when the gas is in a non-discharge or discharge state. The shell may be composed of a radiation absorption material. In one embodiment, two or more single substrates are tiled and sealed together edge to edge. |
| US08471469B2 |
Plasma display panel (PDP)
A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) enabling optimization of a process to apply phosphor paste in order to achieve mass production using a jet nozzle method includes dummy areas structured to determine whether application conditions such as an ejecting pressure or the like are stable by measuring a depth of the applied layer after applying phosphor paste at a portion thereof in advance. The PDP includes: a first substrate and a second substrate opposing each other; address electrodes arranged on the first substrate; display electrodes arranged on the second substrate along a direction perpendicular to the address electrodes; barrier ribs arranged in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate to define a plurality of discharge cells, and phosphor layers arranged in each of the discharge cells. |
| US08471464B2 |
Integrated illumination apparatus and method of manufacturing same
One or more illumination panels (10) are hung by up-and-down cords (3). The up-and-down cords (3) have a function of hanging the illumination panels (10) and a function of supplying electric power to the illumination panels (10). Pulling a rod (7), which is a take-up tool causes the up-and-down cords (3) to be taken up and, at the same time, the bottom rail (4) and the illumination panels (10) are also raised. At this time, the up-and-down cords (3) are taken up into the head box (2). As such, when the bottom rail (4) is raised, the up-and-down cords (3) are taken up without bending. This makes it possible to distribute stress that may otherwise be concentrated locally on the up-and-down cords (3). As a result, the up-and-down cords (3) can be prevented from getting broken due to deterioration caused by concentration of stress on the up-and-down cords (3), which concentration is caused by bending etc. of the up-and-down cords (3). |
| US08471462B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a panel assembly, the panel assembly including an organic light emitting diode; a bezel, the bezel receiving the panel assembly; and a buffer member, the buffer member being attached to a side of the panel assembly and being between the panel assembly and the bezel, wherein the buffer member includes a first area and a second area, the first area having an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the second area. |
| US08471461B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and method for producing the same
An organic EL device includes an organic luminescent layer between an anode and a cathode. The organic luminescent layer comprises at least two host materials and a dopant which is a luminescent compound. The at least two host materials are identical to or substantially identical to each other in the energy value of LUMO, but on the other hand, are different from each other in the energy value of HOMO. Alternatively, the at least two host materials are identical to or substantially identical to each other in the energy value of HOMO, but on the other hand, are different from each other in the energy value of LUMO. According to the above constitution, the balance of mobility between the electrons and holes can be regulated to solve the above problem of the prior art. |
| US08471459B2 |
Fluorescent substance and light-emitting device employing the same
The fluorescent substance according to the embodiment is generally represented by (M1−xECx)aSibAlOcNd, and is a kind of the Sr2Si7Al3ON13 phosphors. The substance is in the form of crystals having a mean grain size of 20 to 100 μm, and the aspect ratio thereof is in the range of 2 to 4. This substance emits luminescence having a peak in the wavelength range of 580 to 660 nm when excited by light of 250 to 500 nm. The embodiment also provides a light-emitting device comprising this substance in combination with a light-emitting element and a green light-emitting fluorescent substance. |
| US08471452B2 |
Apparatus
An apparatus (200) for accelerating an ion beam comprising: a) a first electrode (202) having a proximal side and a distal side and having at least one aperture (201) therethrough, the wall of the aperture being shaped such that the radius of the aperture on the distal side of the first electrode is greater than that on the proximal side of the electrode; b) a second electrode (204) located such that it is adjacent to but spaced from the distal side of the first electrode and having at least one aperture therethrough; and c) a third electrode (206) located such that it is adjacent to and spaced from the second electrode and having at least one aperture therethrough, said at least one apertures in each electrode being aligned with corresponding apertures in the other electrodes; wherein the electrodes are arranged such that there is a potential difference between the first and second electrodes and a potential difference between the second and third electrodes. |
| US08471449B2 |
Attaching a precious metal component to spark plug electrode and spark plug having the same
Method for manufacturing a spark plug comprising an inner conductor, an insulator enclosing the inner conductor, a spark plug body enclosing the insulator, and two electrodes, the first electrode being a center electrode connected to the inner conductor in an electrically conductive manner, and the second electrode being a ground electrode connected to the spark plug body in an electrically conductive manner, with a separately prefabricated precious metal component positioned on one of the electrodes and connected to the electrode by way of resistance welding, and subsequently affixed by way of laser or electron beam welding, so that the precious metal component extends like a heel beyond the electrode surface next to the precious metal component. The precious metal component, a ball is shaped by stamping after resistance welding and before laser or electron beam welding, wherein at least one region of the ball protruding from the electrode surface is reshaped. |
| US08471447B2 |
Automotive headlamp having improved bright/dark cutoff
It is provided a lamp (12) for an automotive headlamp (10), comprising a filament coil (14) for emitting light (22) and a nominal alignment axis (32) for aligning the filament coil (14) such, that the filament coil (14) is positioned in the middle of an allowable tolerance box wherein the filament coil (14) is arranged shifted to the nominal alignment axis (32). Due to the shifted arrangement of the filament coil (14) the flexibility given by the allowable tolerance may be used for positioning the filament coil (14) such, that the projected image (18) of the filament coil (14) is projected nearer to the bright/dark-cutoff (40) without blinding oncoming traffic. |
| US08471446B2 |
Polarizer and organic electroluminescent device having the same
An organic electroluminescent device is disclosed. The organic electroluminescent device includes a window, a polarizer placed below the window, resin placed between the window and the polarizer, and having a refractive index similar to that of the window and the polarizer, and a self-emissive layer placed below the polarizer. The polarizer includes a polarization layer for polarizing light incident from the outside, a first wave plate for retarding the phase of the polarized incident light, and a second wave plate for retarding the phase of the incident light having passed through the first wave plate. |
| US08471442B2 |
Piezoelectric ceramic, method for producing same, and piezoelectric device
Disclosed is a piezoelectric ceramic which is characterized by containing [K1-xNax]1-yLiy[Nb1-z-wTazSbw]O3 (wherein x, y, z and w each represents a molar ratio and satisfies 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦1, 0≦w≦1) as the main phase and K3Nb3O6Si2O7 as a sub-phase, while containing, as an additive, a Cu compound in an amount of 0.02-5.0 mol in terms of CuO relative to 100 mol of the main phase. |
| US08471438B2 |
Actuator with sensor
An actuator with a sensor, including an actuator having electrodes and an ionic conduction layer, a sensor and a rigid body member provided in contact with the sensor. The actuator is connected to the sensor through the rigid body member such that the sensor is not deformed attending on deformation of the actuator. |
| US08471436B2 |
Piezoelectric element drive circuit and foreign substance removing apparatus
A piezoelectric element drive circuit for outputting a signal that drives a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element drive circuit including: a frequency signal generation unit that outputs a frequency signal whose frequency is altered discretely; a voltage-controlled oscillator that alters the frequency of an output signal based on an inputted voltage; a phase comparator that compares the phase of the output signal from the frequency signal generation unit and the phase of the output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator; and a loop filter that inputs, into the voltage-controlled oscillator, an output voltage that is altered based on alterations in an output signal from the phase comparator. The output signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator is the signal that drives the piezoelectric element. |
| US08471432B2 |
Magnetostrictive actuator
A magnetostrictive actuator comprises an assembly of at least two GMM rods (8, 9) spaced apart from each other on the same longitudinal axis, each rod being surrounded by a respective energising electromagnetic coil (10,11) 5 and being mounted between respective biasing permanent magnets (12, 13, 14), the assembly being mounted between mechanical pre-stressing means (20, 21) and a foot (3) adapted to couple the forces produced by the actuator into a surface. |
| US08471427B2 |
Motor magnetic pole assembly and motor manufacturing method using the same
A motor magnetic pole assembly includes a coil body, a base, and two conductive portions. The coil body has a central shaft in a center and connection ends at two ends respectively. The base includes a column and a first plate body, the coil body surrounds the column, and the central shaft is parallel with the column. The two conductive portions are respectively arranged on a surface of the first plate body and are spaced by a distance, and the two connection ends are electrically connected to the two conductive portions respectively. The base may further include a second plate body, such that the first plate body, the column and the second plate body form an H shape. Therefore, the motor magnetic pole assembly may be precisely and quickly placed on a circuit board through an automation process, thereby increasing a processing speed of a production line. |
| US08471425B2 |
Rotor-stator structures including boost magnet structures for magnetic regions having angled confronting surfaces in rotor assemblies
Various embodiments relate generally to electrodynamic machines and the like, and more particularly, to rotor assemblies and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines, including, but not limited to, outer rotor assemblies and/or inner rotor assemblies with a corresponding stator assembly. In some embodiments a rotor assembly can include magnetically permeable structures having confronting surfaces oriented at an angle to the axis of rotation. A group of magnetic structures can be interleaved with the magnetically permeable structures. The magnetically permeable structures can also include non-confronting surfaces adjacent to which boost magnets are disposed to enhance flux in a flux path passing through magnetic structures that are interleaved with magnetically permeable structures. Further, the rotor assemblies can include a flux conductor shield disposed adjacent to the boost magnets, the flux conductor shield configured to provide return flux paths. |
| US08471422B2 |
Apparatus for transferring torque magnetically
An apparatus for transferring torque magnetically with a primary rotary member and a secondary rotary member, wherein said rotary members are disc shaped and are sandwiched between one another. The primary rotary member has permanent magnets mounted radially on a disc, the secondary rotary member having disc geometry with electro conductive material arranged on it. The secondary rotary member also having magnetically permeable material. The new improvements herein have modified the earlier cylindrical design to that of a an alternative disk—plate/shape design utilizing the similar magnetic circuit that which overcomes some deficiencies/problems in the prior art, in that the prior art required more precision alignment of the electro-conductive rotor inside the magnetic can array and requires additional strength in the foundations of the machinery in order to maintain the air gap between the magnet can and the rotor assembly. |
| US08471420B2 |
Rotating electrical machine with terminal box and sealing member
A rotating electrical machine includes a stator including a coil, a case accommodating the stator and oil, an external connection terminal block arranged at an outer circumferential portion of the case and connecting the coil to an external device, a terminal box arranged at the outer circumferential portion and including a case connecting hole and an external connecting hole respectively in connection with an inner portion of the case and an external atmosphere, the terminal box accommodating the external connection terminal block, a coil wiring member connecting an end portion of the coil to the external connection terminal block by penetrating through the case connecting hole, an external device wiring member connecting the external connection terminal block to the external device by penetrating through the external connecting hole, and a case connecting hole sealing member fixed to the coil wiring member to seal the case connecting hole by fitting thereinto. |
| US08471418B2 |
Motorized equipment
A power module, a control board and a heat sink are provided on one axial side of a shaft of an electric motor, which consists of a motor case, a stator, a rotor, the shaft and the like. The power module is electrically connected with extraction lines, which extend from a coil wound around the stator, and supplies a drive current to the coil. The control board for controlling switching of the power module is provided on a motor case side of the power module. The heat sink is provided on a side of the control board opposite to the motor case. Thus, when setting of an output of the electric motor is changed, a body size of the heat sink can be changed without changing a positional relationship between the control board and the electric motor and a positional relationship between the power module and the electric motor. |
| US08471411B2 |
Wireless power feeder, wireless power transmission system, and table and table lamp using the same
Power is fed from a feeding coil to a receiving coil by magnetic resonance. A drive circuit outputs an IN signal generated by an oscillator as a DR signal to alternately turn ON/OFF switching transistors at a resonance frequency, whereby AC current is fed to the feeding coil, and then the AC current is fed from the feeding coil to the receiving coil. An enable signal generation circuit generates an EN signal at a frequency lower than the resonance frequency. The drive circuit outputs the DR signal only while the EN signal assumes a high level. Transmission power from a wireless feeder to a wireless receiver is controlled by adjusting the duty ratio of the EN signal. |
| US08471409B2 |
Power conversion circuit
The present invention discloses a power conversion circuit. A control module controls a pulse width modulation regulator to regulate a duty cycle of a DC-DC converter according to the direct current link voltage of the DC-DC converter and the output current and voltage of a renewable power supply. The control module also controls the pulse width modulation regulator to regulate a duty cycle of a DC-AC inverter according to the direct current link voltage of the DC-DC converter, output voltage of a utility power supply, and the output current and voltage of the renewable power supply. |
| US08471407B2 |
Spring-powered emergency electrical supply
An emergency power system for operation during loss of power on power mains comprises a spring-driven energy storage unit (ESU) and a generator. The ESU enters a generator mode responsive to a power outage state of a power sensor, during which mode unwinding of the spring drive powers the generator. After power is restored to the mains, a preferred embodiment automatically rewinds the spring using the generator as a motor. |
| US08471406B2 |
Controllable energy utilization system and associated method
A system includes an energy storage system capable of receiving electrical energy from an energy source and can supply electrical energy to a first load during a first period and to the first load during a second period. The first load differs in usage rate from the first period relative to the second period. A system controller maintains the energy storage system such that the energy storage system maintains a first amount of stored electrical energy during a first mode, and a second amount of electrical energy during a second mode. The system controller maintains the energy storage system in the first mode during a first portion of the first period, and in the second mode during a second portion of the first period. |
| US08471405B2 |
High efficiency standby power generation
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing standby power. A switching module adjusts an on-time and an off-time of one or more switches based on a feedback signal. The one or more switches are shared between a primary stage and a standby stage of a switched-mode power supply. A shutoff module interrupts electric power flowing to the primary stage in response to a standby signal having a standby state and allows electric power to flow to the primary stage in response to the standby signal having an on state. A feedback module provides the feedback signal to the switching module. The feedback module bases the feedback signal on an output of the primary stage in response to the standby signal having the on state. The feedback module bases the feedback signal on an output of the standby stage in response to the standby signal having the standby state. |
| US08471404B2 |
System and method for supporting high burst current in a current limited system
A current limited system for providing a burst current capability comprises a variable load having a first mode of operation requiring a first current level and a burst current mode of operation requiring a second current level. The second current level is greater than the first current level. A control processor provides control signals for the current limited system. A voltage source is connected to the variable load to provide a source current. The source current provides the variable load the first current level in the first mode of operation. A burst mode circuit provides the second current level to the variable load in the burst current mode of operation, responsive to the control signals from the control processor and the voltage source. |
| US08471403B2 |
Power supply arrangement of an elevator
The invention relates to a power supply arrangement of a transport system. The transport system comprises a motor for moving the transport appliance; a power supply circuit of the transport system, for supplying power between the power source of the transport system and the motor; a power controller of the energy storage, which power controller comprises at least one controllable switch; an energy storage, which is connected to the power supply circuit of the transport system via the power controller of the energy storage; and also a power control, which is fitted to control the aforementioned at least one controllable switch of the power controller of the energy storage, for adjusting at least one electrical magnitude relating to the power supply between the power supply circuit of the transport system and the energy storage. The power controller of the energy storage is fitted to discharge the aforementioned energy storage with a power limitation. |
| US08471401B2 |
Switch device for vehicle
A switch device for a vehicle including: a first switch that enables input by a rotation operation or a tilting operation; a second switch that enables input by a predetermined operation; an operation direction detector that detects the operation direction of the rotation direction of the first switch or the tilting operation of the first switch; and a controller that is capable of controlling an on-vehicle equipment in accordance with the input operations to the first switch and the second switch, wherein the controller, in the case of the second switch being located substantially on an extension of the operation direction of the first switch, prohibits execution of a control of the on-vehicle equipment in accordance with an input operation to the second switch until a predetermined time from after the operation direction of the first switch is detected by the operation direction detector elapses. |
| US08471397B2 |
Floating device for harnessing swell energy by lateral overflow
Floating device for harnessing swell energy by lateral overflow, said device being formed by hulls which converge in plan view and have a variable freeboard between which the waves propagate. The convergence produces a gradual increase in the height of the wave as it propagates between the hulls, which, together with the reduction in the freeboard from a particular section of said hulls, gives rise to the lateral overflow of the mass of water of the crest over their rails, which is collected in tanks which are at different heights (in accordance with the reduction in the freeboard) and are connected to the corresponding turbines. The angle of convergence between the hulls can be varied in order to be adapted to the sea state. The harnessing system is supplemented with a connecting closure ramp between the sterns of the hulls in order to collect the water which has previously not managed to overflow the structure. |
| US08471394B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with package-on-package and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an encapsulation system having a mold chase with a buffer layer attached thereto; forming a base integrated circuit package including: providing a base substrate, connecting an exposed interconnect to the base substrate, a portion of the exposed interconnect having the buffer layer attached thereon, mounting a base component over the base substrate, and forming a base encapsulation over the base substrate and the exposed interconnect using the encapsulation system; and releasing the encapsulation system providing the portion of the exposed interconnect exposed from the base encapsulation, the exposed interconnect having characteristics of the buffer layer removed. |
| US08471392B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and endoscope apparatus
An image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image pickup device chip including an image pickup device formed on a first principal surface thereof and an external terminal for the image pickup device formed on a second principal surface thereof; a wiring board including a distal end portion including a connection pad, a flexure portion flexed at an angle of no less than 90 degrees, and an extending portion, the wiring board including a wiring layer extending from the distal end portion to the extending portion via the flexure portion, the wiring board being kept within a space immediately above the second principal surface of the image pickup device chip; a bonding layer that joins the second principal surface of the image pickup device chip and the distal end portion of the wiring board; and a bonding wire that electrically connects the external terminal and the connection pad. |
| US08471389B2 |
Multiple selectable function integrated circuit module
An integrated circuit module has a common function known good integrated circuit die with selectable functions. The selectable functions arc selected during packaging of the known good integrated circuit die. The known good integrated circuit die is mounted to a second level substrate. The second level substrate has wiring connections to the input/output pads of the known good integrated circuit die that select desired input functions and output functions. Further, the wiring connections on the second level substrate provide signal paths to transfer signals to the desired input function and signals from the desired output function, and signals to and from the common functions. Also, the wiring connections form connections between the input/output pads and external circuitry. To select the desired input functions and the desired output functions, appropriate logic states are applied to input/output pads connected to a function selector to configure a functional operation of the integrated circuit module. The second level module substrate has connector pins to provide physical and electrical connections between the external circuitry and the wiring connections on the second level substrate. |
| US08471386B2 |
Junction body, semiconductor module, and manufacturing method for junction body
A junction body has a first member and a second member each of which is provided with a joining surface whose main component is copper. A solder member containing, in a tin-base solder material, a three-dimensional web structure whose main component is copper is provided between the first member and the second member. A copper-tin alloy whose average thickness is 2 μm or more but 20 μm or less is provided between the joining surfaces and the three-dimensional web structure. |
| US08471376B1 |
Integrated circuit packaging configurations
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a substrate, one of either a semiconductor die or an interposer disposed on the substrate, the semiconductor die or the interposer having a first surface attached to the substrate and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface, one or more interconnect structures formed on the second surface of the semiconductor die or the interposer, a mold compound formed to substantially encapsulate the semiconductor die or the interposer, and one or more vias formed in the mold compound to facilitate coupling the one or more interconnect structures with another component. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08471375B2 |
High-density fine line structure and method of manufacturing the same
A high-density fine line structure mainly includes: two boards with similar structures and a dielectric film for combing the two boards. Semiconductor devices respectively in two boards are opposite to each other after the two boards are combined. The two boards each include a fine line circuit, an insulated layer on the same surface, and the semiconductor device installed above the fine line circuit. The surface of the circuit, which is not covered by a solder mask, is made into a pad. The pad is filled with the tin balls for electrically connecting with another semiconductor device. Electroplating rather than the etching method is used for forming the fine line circuit layer, and a carrier and a metal barrier layer, which are needed during or at the end of the manufacturing process, are removed to increase the wiring density for realizing the object of high-density. |
| US08471374B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with L-shaped leadfingers
An integrated circuit package system includes a first integrated circuit die having die pads only adjacent a single edge of the first integrated circuit die, forming first L-shaped leadfingers adjacent the single edge, connecting the die pads and the first L-shaped leadfingers, and encapsulating the die pads and portions of the first L-shaped leadfingers to form a first package. |
| US08471353B2 |
Mesa photodiode and method for manufacturing the same
A mesa photodiode which includes a mesa, the side wall of the mesa (a light-receiving region mesa) and at least a shoulder portion of the mesa in an upper face of the mesa are continuously covered with a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type, a semi-insulating type, or an undoped type (an undoped InP layer, for example) that is grown on the side wall and the upper face of the mesa. In the semiconductor layer, a layer thickness D1 of a portion covering the side wall of the mesa is equal to or greater than 850 nm. |
| US08471350B2 |
Thin, very high transmittance, back-illuminated, silicon-on-saphire semiconductor substrates bonded to fused silica
A very high transmittance, back-illuminated, silicon-on-thin sapphire-on-fused silica wafer substrate design is presented for enabling high quantum efficiency and high resolution, silicon or silicon-germanium avalanche photodiode detector arrays with improved indirect optical crosstalk suppression. The wafer substrate incorporates a stacked antireflective bilayer between the sapphire and silicon, comprised of single crystal aluminum nitride (AlN) and non-stoichiometric, silicon rich, amorphous silicon nitride (a-SiNX<1.33), as well as a one quarter wavelength, magnesium fluoride (λ/4-MgF2) back-side antireflective layer which is bonded to a fused silica wafer. The fused silica provides mechanical support, allowing the sapphire to be thinned to optimal thickness below 50 μm, for improved optical transmittance and in conjunction with monolithic sapphire microlenses, suppression of indirect optical crosstalk from multiple reflections of APD emitted light. After solid-state device fabrication, the silicon can be coated with photoresist and the fused silica dissolved in buffered hydrogen fluoride (HF) to recover the thin Si—(AlN/a-SiNX<1.33)-sapphire-(MgF2). |
| US08471345B2 |
Biometric sensor assembly with integrated visual indicator
A biometric sensor assembly comprises a substrate to which is mounted a die containing sensor circuitry, at least one conductive bezel having a visual indicator region formed therein, and electrically connected to said die by way of said substrate, a light source, and a light-directing region directing light from the light source to the visual indicator region. The die, the light-directing region, and the bezel are encased in an encapsulation structure such that a portion of a surface of the die and the visual indication region are exposed or at most thinly covered by the encapsulation structure. The light-directing region directs light emitted by the light source within the encapsulation structure to the visual indicator region. Desired indicia in the visual indicator region may thereby be illuminated, while the die and bezel, and optionally the light source, are protected by the encapsulation structure. |
| US08471339B2 |
Semiconductor device and related method of fabrication
A semiconductor device comprises a device isolation pattern, an active region, a gate pattern, a first source/drain region, and a first barrier region. The device isolation pattern defines an active portion in a semiconductor substrate and the active portion comprises first and second sidewalls extending in a first direction and doped with a first conductive type dopant. The gate pattern extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to cross over the active portion. The first source/drain region and the first barrier region are disposed in the active portion at one side of the gate pattern. The first barrier region is disposed between the first source/drain region and the first sidewall and contacts the first sidewall. The first barrier region is doped with the first conductive type dopant and the first source/drain region is doped with a second conductive type dopant. |
| US08471337B2 |
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit is disclosed having a semiconductor component comprising a first p-type region and a first n-type region adjoining the first p-type region, which together form a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. A further n-type region adjoining the first p-type region or a further p-type region adjoining the first n-type region is provided, the first p-type or n-type region and the further n-type or p-type region adjoining the latter together forming a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage, the first pn junction and the further pn junction being connected or connectable to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component, on account of a current loading of the first pn junction, first of all the further pn junction breaks down. |
| US08471325B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a first memory portion and a second memory portion. The first electrode extends in a first direction and is provided on the substrate. The second electrode extends in a second direction crossing the first direction and is provided on the first electrode. The third electrode extends in a third direction crossing the second direction and is provided on the second electrode. The first memory portion is provided between the first and the second electrodes and has a first oxygen composition ratio and a first layer thickness. The second memory portion is provided between the second and the third electrodes and has at least one of a second oxygen composition ratio different from the first oxygen composition ratio and a second layer thickness different from the first layer thickness. |
| US08471324B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a memory device, and the memory device includes a substrate, two stacked gates, two spacers, an insulating layer, and a dielectric layer. The stacked gates having a gap therebetween are located on the substrate. The spacers having a pipe or a seam therebetween are respectively located at sidewalls of each of the stacked gates in the gap. The pipe or the seam is filled with the insulating layer. The dielectric layer is located on the substrate and covers the insulating layer and the stacked gates. |
| US08471321B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising capacitor and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device, having a memory cell region and a peripheral circuit region, includes an insulating film, having an upper surface, formed on a major surface of a semiconductor substrate to extend from the memory cell region to the peripheral circuit region. A capacitor lower electrode assembly is formed in the memory cell region to upwardly extend to substantially the same height as the upper surface of the insulating film on the major surface of the semiconductor substrate. Additionally, the lower electrode assembly includes first and second lower electrodes that are adjacent through the insulating film. A capacitor upper electrode is formed on the capacitor lower electrode through a dielectric film, to extend onto the upper surface of the insulating film. The capacitor lower electrode includes a capacitor lower electrode part having a top surface and a bottom surface. A semiconductor device organized as just described, permits implementation having a high density of integration while ensuring the capacitor exhibits high reliability and a constant capacitance. |
| US08471319B2 |
Semiconductor device having multilayered interelectrode insulating film
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed above the semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer formed above the gate insulating film; a multilayered interelectrode insulating film formed in a first region above an upper surface portion of the element isolation insulating film, a second region above a sidewall portion of the charge storage layer and a third region above an upper surface portion of the charge storage layer, the interelectrode insulating film including a stack of an upper silicon oxide film, a middle silicon nitride film, and a lower silicon oxide film; a control gate electrode formed above the interelectrode insulating film; wherein the middle silicon nitride film is thinner in the third region than in the second region and the upper silicon oxide film is thicker in the third region than in the second region. |
| US08471317B2 |
X-Y address type solid state image pickup device and method of producing the same
In an X-Y address type solid state image pickup device represented by a CMOS image sensor, a back side light reception type pixel structure is adopted in which a wiring layer is provided on one side of a silicon layer including photo-diodes formed therein, and visible light is taken in from the other side of the silicon layer, namely, from the side (back side) opposite to the wiring layer, wiring can be made without taking a light-receiving surface into account, and the degree of freedom in wiring for the pixels is enhanced. |
| US08471314B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method for producing same, and camera
A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, light being incident on the second surface side; a wiring layer disposed on the first surface side; a photodetector formed in the substrate and including a first region of a first conductivity type; a transfer gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the photodetector, the transfer gate transferring a signal charge accumulated in the photodetector; and at least one control gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and superposed on the photodetector, the control gate controlling the potential of the photodetector in the vicinity of the first surface. |
| US08471312B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera
Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element. |
| US08471311B2 |
Anti-reflective image sensor
An anti-reflective image sensor and method of fabrication are provided, the sensor including a substrate; first color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; second color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; third color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; a first layer disposed directly on the first, second and third color sensing pixels; a second layer disposed directly on the first layer overlying the first, second and third color sensing pixels; and a third layer disposed directly on portions of the second layer overlying at least one of the first or second color sensing pixels, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index, the second layer has a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index, and the third layer has a third refractive index greater than the second refractive index. |
| US08471304B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for micromechanical gas chemical sensing capacitor
A method for fabrication of capacitive environment sensors is provided in which the sensor elements are integrated in a CMOS structure with electronics through the use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication methods. Also provided are environment sensors fabricated, for example, by the method, and a measurement system using the environment sensors fabricated by the method. The described method includes etching away one of the metal layers in a CMOS chip to create a cavity. This cavity is then filled with an environment-sensitive dielectric material to form a sensing capacitor between plates formed by the metal adhesion layers or an array of contacts from other metal layers of the CMOS structure. This approach provides improved sensing capabilities in a system that is easily manufactured. |
| US08471301B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device having embedded recess regions arranged in light-receiving surface
A device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions, an interlayer insulating film arranged on the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions, a protective insulating film that is arranged in contact with the interlayer insulating film and has a refractive index different from that of the interlayer insulating film, recesses arranged in a light-receiving surface of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions, and embedded regions embedded in the recesses. When a wavelength of incident light to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions is denoted by λ and a refractive index of the embedded regions is denoted by n, a depth d of the recesses is represented by an expression d≧λ/4n. |
| US08471299B2 |
Layout and pad floor plan of power transistor for good performance of SPU and STOG
A power transistor for use in an audio application is laid out to minimize hot spots. Hot spots are created by non-uniform power dissipation or overly concentrated current densities. The source and drain pads are disposed relative to each other to facilitate uniform power dissipation. Interleaving metal fingers and upper metal layers are connected directly to lower metal layers in the absence of vias to improve current density distribution. This layout improves some fail detection tests by 17%. |
| US08471286B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a plurality of compound semiconductor layers, an electrode layer disposed under the light emitting structure, an electrode disposed on the light emitting structure, a conductive support member disposed under the electrode layer, a conductive layer disposed between the light emitting structure and the conductive support member, and an insulating layer disposed between the conductive support member and the light emitting structure, wherein the electrode layer is in contact with a first area of a lower surface of the light emitting structure and the conductive layer is in contact with a second area of the lower surface of the light emitting structure, and wherein the conductive layer includes a different material from the electrode layer. |
| US08471285B2 |
Light-emitting diode package including a cavity with a plurality of side-walls with different inclinations
An LED package including a lead-frame, at least an LED chip and an encapsulant is provided. The lead-frame has a roughened surface, the LED chip is disposed on the lead-frame and electrically connected to the lead-frame, and the roughened surface is suitable to scatter the light emitted from the LED chip. In addition, the encapsulant encapsulates the LED chip and a part of the lead-frame, and the rest part of the lead-frame is exposed out of the encapsulant. |
| US08471283B2 |
White LED lamp, backlight, light emitting device, display device and illumination device
A white LED lamp including: a conductive portion; a light emitting diode chip mounted on the conductive portion, for emitting a primary light having a peak wavelength of 360 nm to 420 nm; a transparent resin layer including a first hardened transparent resin, for sealing the light emitting diode chip; and a phosphor layer covering the transparent resin layer, the phosphor layer being formed by dispersing a phosphor powder into a second hardened transparent resin, and the phosphor powder receiving the primary light and radiating a secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light. An energy of the primary light contained in the radiated secondary light is 0.4 mW/lm or less. In the white LED lamp, a backlight, and an illumination device using the white LED lamp an amount of UV light to be contained in the released light and an amount of heat to be generated from the lamp are decreased to be small. |
| US08471279B2 |
Nano/micro-sized diode and method of preparing the same
A nano/micro-sized diode and a method of preparing the same, the diode including: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a diode layer that is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The diode layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is disposed on the first electrode and has a first surface that is electrically connected to the first electrode, and an opposing second surface that has a protrusion. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the second electrode and has a first surface having a recess that corresponds to the protrusion, and an opposing second surface that is electrically connected to the second electrode. |
| US08471278B2 |
Method for manufacturing an OLED or a blank for forming an OLED as well as such a blank or OLED
Method for manufacturing an organic light emitting device or a blank for forming therefrom an organic light emitting device as well as such a OLED or blank, the organic light emitting device having a light emitting area with two opposite first sides and two opposite second sides, the method comprising at least the following steps: providing a substrate; depositing and partly removing a layer of transparent conductive material on the substrate for forming parallel anode lines which extend between the first sides; depositing and partly removing at least one conductive layer for forming contacts which are connected anode lines; wherein a photoresist layer is deposited so that it fully extends over contacts adjacent the at least one second side except for at least one contact position per cathode line, via which an electric contact between a respective cathode line to be formed and a respective contact is established. |
| US08471276B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OLED display includes i) a plurality of pixels comprising a blue light emitting region, a green light emitting region, and a red light emitting region on a substrate and formed by stacking a lower electrode, an organic layer, and an upper electrode. In one embodiment, the blue and green light emitting regions are formed in a microcavity structure, and the red light emitting region is formed in a non-microcavity structure. |
| US08471274B2 |
LED light disposed on a flexible substrate and connected with a printed 3D conductor
An example includes subject matter (such as an apparatus) comprising a planar substrate including a first surface that is planar, at least one bare light emitting diode (“LED”) die coupled to the substrate and conductive ink electrically coupling the at least one bare LED die, wherein the conductive ink is disposed on the substrate and extends onto a surface of the LED that is out-of-plane from the first surface. |
| US08471272B2 |
Semiconductor device having a display portion
A plurality of rectangle semiconductor substrates are attached to a single mother glass substrate. A pixel structure is determined so that even if a gap or a an overlapping portion is generated in a boundary between a plurality of semiconductor substrates, a single-crystal semiconductor layer does not overlap with the gap or the overlapping portion. Two TFTs are located in a first unit cell including the first light emitting element, four TFTs are located in a second unit cell including the second light emitting element, and no TFT is located in a third unit cell including the third light emitting element. A boundary line is between the third unit cell and a fourth unit cell. |
| US08471268B2 |
Light emitting device
There is provided a light emitting device of a simpler structure, capable of ensuring a broad light emitting area and a high light emitting efficiency, while manufactured in a simplified and economically efficient process. The light emitting device including: a semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising at least one of a quantum well structure, a quantum dot and a quantum line; an insulating layer formed on the active layer; and a metal layer formed on the insulating layer. |
| US08471267B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for producing same
A semiconductor device of the present invention has a semiconductor element region 17 that is provided in part of a silicon carbide layer 3 and a guard-ring region 18 that is provided in another part of the silicon carbide layer 3 surrounding the semiconductor element region 17 when seen in a direction perpendicular to a principal surface of the silicon carbide layer 3. The semiconductor device includes: an interlayer insulation film 10 which is provided on the principal surface of the silicon carbide layer 3 in the semiconductor element region 17 and the guard-ring region 18, the interlayer insulation film 10 having a relative dielectric constant of 20 or more; a first protective insulation film 14 provided on the interlayer insulation film in the guard-ring region 18; and a second protective insulation film 15 provided on the first protective insulation film 14, wherein the first protective insulation film 14 has a linear expansion coefficient which is between a linear expansion coefficient of a material of the second protective insulation film 15 and a linear expansion coefficient of a material of the interlayer insulation film 10. |
| US08471266B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure and production method thereof
According to the present invention, an AlN crystal film seed layer having high crystallinity is combined with selective/lateral growth, whereby a Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure more enhanced in crystallinity can be obtained. The Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure of the present invention is a Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure where an AlN crystal film having a crystal grain boundary interval of 200 nm or more is formed as a seed layer on a C-plane sapphire substrate surface by a sputtering method and an underlying layer, an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer, each composed of a Group III nitride semiconductor, are further stacked, wherein regions in which the seed layer is present and is absent are formed on the C-plane sapphire substrate surface and/or regions capable of epitaxial growth and incapable of epitaxial growth are formed in the underlying layer. |
| US08471263B2 |
Information storage system which includes a bonded semiconductor structure
An information storage system includes a bonded semiconductor structure having a memory circuit region carried by an interconnect region. The memory circuit region includes a memory control device region having a vertically oriented memory control device. The memory circuit region includes a memory device region in communication with the memory control device region. The memory device region includes a memory device whose operation is controlled by the vertically oriented memory control device. |
| US08471259B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
Disclosed is a display device and an electronic apparatus incorporating the display device. The display device includes a transistor and a planarization film over the transistor. The planarization film has an opening where an edge portion is rounded. The display device further includes a first electrode over the planarization film and an organic resin film over the first electrode. The organic resin film also has an opening where an edge portion is rounded. The organic resin film is located in the opening of the planarization film. The first electrode and the transistor are electrically connected to each other through a conductive film. The first electrode is in contact with a top surface of the conductive film. Over the first electrode, a light-emitting member and a second electrode are provided. |
| US08471258B2 |
Display device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic device having the same
In a case where a p-channel thin film transistor is used as a thin film transistor that is electrically connected to a light-emitting element and drives the light-emitting element, a value of cutoff current of the p-channel thin film transistor is made lower than that of a p-channel thin film transistor of a driver circuit. Specifically, channel doping is selectively performed on a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor included in a pixel. |
| US08471256B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising a thin film transistor and wirings connected to the thin film transistor, in which the thin film transistor has a channel formation region in an oxide semiconductor layer, and a copper metal is used for at least one of a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate wiring, a source wiring, and a drain wiring. The extremely low off current of the transistor with the oxide semiconductor layer contributes to reduction in power consumption of the semiconductor device. Additionally, the use of the copper metal allows the combination of the semiconductor device with a display element to provide a display device with high display quality and negligible defects, which results from the low electrical resistance of the wirings and electrodes formed with the copper metal. |
| US08471249B2 |
Carbon field effect transistors having charged monolayers to reduce parasitic resistance
Carbon transistor devices having channels formed from carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes or graphene, and having charged monolayers to reduce parasitic resistance in un-gated regions of the channels, and methods for fabricating carbon transistor devices having charged monolayers to reduce parasitic resistance. For example, a carbon field effect transistor includes a channel comprising a carbon nanostructure formed on an insulating layer, a gate structure formed on the channel, a monolayer of DNA conformally covering the gate structure and a portion of the channel adjacent the gate structure, an insulating spacer conformally formed on the monolayer of DNA, and source and drain contacts connected by the channel. |
| US08471243B1 |
Photoactive devices with improved distribution of charge carriers, and methods of forming same
Radiation-emitting semiconductor devices include a first base region comprising an n-type III-V semiconductor material, a second base region comprising a p-type III-V semiconductor material, and a multi-quantum well structure disposed between the first base region and the second base region. The multi-quantum well structure includes at least three quantum well regions and at least two barrier regions. An electron hole energy barrier between a third of the quantum well regions and a second of the quantum well regions is less than an electron hole energy barrier between the second of the quantum well regions and a first of the quantum well regions. Methods of forming such devices include sequentially epitaxially depositing layers of such a multi-quantum well structure, and selecting a composition and configuration of the layers such that the electron hole energy barriers vary across the multi-quantum well structure. |
| US08471240B2 |
Semiconductor layer structure with superlattice
An optoelectronic component including a semiconductor layer structure, the semiconductor layer structure including a superlattice composed of stacked layers of III-V compound semiconductors of a first and at least one second type. Adjacent layers of different types in the superlattice differ in composition with respect to at least one element, at least two layers of the same type having a different content of the at least one element, the content of the at least one element is graded within a layer of the superlattice, and the layers of the superlattice contain dopants in predefined concentrations, with the superlattice comprising layers that are doped with different dopants. In this way, the electrical, optical and epitaxial properties of the superlattice can be adapted in the best possible manner to given requirements, particularly epitaxial constraints. |
| US08471236B2 |
Flat lower bottom electrode for phase change memory cell
A phase change memory cell having a flat lower bottom electrode and a method for fabricating the same. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over a substrate including an array of conductive contacts, patterning, a via having a low aspect ratio such that a depth of the via is less than a width thereof, to a contact surface of the substrate corresponding to each of the array of conductive contacts to be connected to access circuitry, etching the dielectric layer and depositing electrode material over the etched dielectric layer and within each via, and planarizing the electrode material to form a plurality of lower bottom electrodes on each of the conductive contacts. |
| US08471235B2 |
Nonvolatile memory element having a resistance variable layer and manufacturing method thereof
A nonvolatile memory element includes a substrate; a lower electrode layer and a resistive layer sequentially formed on the substrate; a resistance variable layer formed on the resistive layer; a wire layer formed above the lower electrode layer; an interlayer insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the wire layer and covering at least the lower electrode layer and the resistive layer, the interlayer insulating layer being provided with a contact hole extending from the wire layer to the resistance variable layer; and an upper electrode layer formed inside the contact hole such that the upper electrode layer is connected to the resistance variable layer and to the wire layer; resistance values of the resistance variable layer changing reversibly in response to electric pulses applied between the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer. |
| US08471231B2 |
Optical drop detector system featuring a plurality of light pulses for detecting a plurality of flows
The invention provides an optical drop detection system (10), for a low-flow metering device of the type having a drop generator 12, 24, (19), the system comprising at least one optical transmitter (26) which produces a plurality of light beam pulses (28) of microsecond duration and at millisecond intervals, and at least one optical receiver (33) positioned to register receipt of the light pulses (28) transmitted through the path of drops (18) generated by the drop generator (12, 24, 19) and to record the number of pulses which hit a given drop and which do not register on the receiver (32), the frequency and strength of the pulses being calibrated so that a single drop is impinged upon by a plurality of pulses, and further comprising automatic feed-back means for adjusting the parameters of interaction between the at least one optical transmitter (26) and the at least one optical receiver (32) to produce and maintain a predetermined minimum and a predetermined maximum number of hits per drop. |
| US08471227B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus in which a target material is irradiated with a laser beam and turned into plasma and extreme ultraviolet light is emitted from the plasma may include: a chamber in which the extreme ultraviolet light is generated; an electromagnetic field generation unit for generating at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field inside the chamber; and a cleaning unit for charging and separating debris adhered to an optical element inside the chamber. |
| US08471226B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source device and method for producing extreme ultraviolet light
An EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) light source device ionizes a target material in an ionizer, and supplies the ionized target material to a point of generating a plasma. This reduces the generation of debris. The ionizer simultaneously irradiates laser beams of plural wavelengths corresponding to the excited level of tin on a target material to ionize the target material. The ionized target material is extracted from the ionizer with a high voltage applied from an ion beam extractor, and accelerated and supplied to a plasma generation chamber. When driver laser beam is irradiated on the ionized target material, a plasma is generated, thereby emitting EUV radiation. |
| US08471224B2 |
Method for determining paths of particle beams through 3D tissue volumes
A path of a particle beam is determined through a 3D planning treatment volume (PTV), wherein the PTV includes a set of slices in a depth order, and each slice includes a set of locations. For each slice, the set of locations are grouped into a set of lines along a selected direction, wherein each line is a straight line and includes a starting location and an ending location, and each line is connected to one or two other lines, and the connecting connects two lines to either the starting location or the ending location of the lines to form a tour, and the tours are connected through the slices in the depth order to form the path of the particle beam. |
| US08471219B2 |
Substrates, systems and methods for analyzing materials
Substrates, systems and methods for analyzing materials that include waveguide arrays disposed upon or within the substrate such that evanescent fields emanating from the waveguides illuminate materials disposed upon or proximal to the surface of the substrate, permitting analysis of such materials. The substrates, systems and methods are used in a variety of analytical operations, including, inter alia, nucleic acid analysis, including hybridization and sequencing analyses, cellular analyses and other molecular analyses. |
| US08471213B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup system
An apparatus includes a detecting unit having pixels that converts radiation or light to electric signals; a drive circuit that drives the detecting unit; a read circuit that outputs the electric signals as image signals; a power supply unit that supplies voltages to the detecting unit, the drive circuit, and the read circuit; and a control unit that controls at least the drive circuit and the power supply unit. The control unit performs a first process of stopping the voltage supply operation to the detecting unit, with the voltage supply operations to the drive circuit and the read circuit maintained; a second process of driving the detecting unit; and a third process of stopping the voltage supply operations to the drive circuit and the read circuit. |
| US08471207B2 |
Method for the automatic inspection of a welding seam by means of heat flow thermography
In a method for the automatic inspection of a welding seam using heat flow thermography, a feature vector is established which represents a time course of a detected heat flow. The feature vector is used to determine, from a series of thermal images, a first characteristic thermal image, which corresponds to a minimum heat flow through an object to be examined, and a second characteristic thermal image, which corresponds to a maximum heat flow through the object, wherein a heat flow directly from an excitation source has already dissipated. A suitable thermal image is used from the series of thermal images to detect and evaluate the welding seam in relation to defects of various defect types, for each defect type, the characteristic thermal images being used as references to determine the respective suitable thermal image. |
| US08471205B2 |
Hybrid photodiode/APD focal plane array for solid state low light level imagers
A hybrid solid state imaging focal plane array (FPA) for night vision systems achieves a high dynamic range from deeply overcast starlight to full daylight by interleaving non-avalanche photodiode (NAP) pixels with APD pixels in a single imaging plane controlled by a common readout circuit. The APD pixels provide high performance at low light levels, while the NAP pixels provide unsaturated images in full daylight. The APD pixels can be Discrete. In low light the readout circuit can disable the NAP pixels and interpolate the NAP pixels using the APD signals. In daylight the readout circuit can do the opposite. The FPA can be digitally fused with sensors in a separate plane such as InGaAs APD's that detect wavelengths outside of the visible band. The NAP pixels can outnumber the APD pixels, for example by three-to-one. The APD's can be silicon for visible light, or InGaAs for SWIR light. |
| US08471204B2 |
Monolithic electro-optical polymer infrared focal plane array
In one embodiment, a dual-band focal plane array includes a readout circuit (ROIC), and a plurality of electro-optical (EO) polymer pixels for absorbing visible and/or short wave infrared (SWIR) radiation, each of the EO polymer pixels electrically coupled to the ROIC. The detector further includes a plurality of microbolometers for detecting long wave infrared (LWIR) radiation, each microbolometer electrically coupled to the ROIC via contact legs disposed between adjacent microbolometers and between adjacent EO polymer pixels. A method of fabricating a focal plane array is also provided. |
| US08471202B2 |
Method for producing a representation of an object by means of a particle beam, as well as a particle beam device for carrying out the method
A method for producing a representation of an object using a particle beam, as well as a particle beam device for carrying out the method are disclosed. The system described herein is based on the object of specifying the method and the particle beam device for producing a representation of an object such that images which are produced, in particular including FFT images, are as free as possible of artifacts which are not caused by the object to be examined. This is achieved in particular in that pixel lives, line flyback times and pixel pause times are varied in raster patterns. |
| US08471199B1 |
Portable mass spectrometer with atmospheric pressure interface
A portable mass spectrometer having an atmospheric pressure interface for introducing ions generated at ambient pressure gas conditions into a vacuum of the mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer has a vacuum chamber having at least one vacuum section and at least one gas inlet for directing the ambient pressure gas including the ions into the at least one vacuum section. The at least one gas inlet has a gas passage channel of a length L and a limiting cross section S with a ratio of L/S being less than 20,000 cm−1. The mass spectrometer has a radio frequency (RF) ion guide in the at least one vacuum section positioned for collecting the ions from the at least one gas inlet and transmitting the ions further to a mass analyzer for analyzing the ions transmitted from the ion guide. |
| US08471196B2 |
Photoelectric conversion apparatus and imaging system using the photoelectric conversion apparatus having an optical black pixel region with a light shielding film and a titanium film above a plug
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes an effective pixel region for outputting a signal according to light, and an optical black pixel region for outputting a reference signal, wherein, in the optical black pixel region, a plug is arranged in an insulating film, and a light shielding film is arranged above the plug and is connected to the plug, such that an upper surface of the plug and an upper surface of the insulating film form the same plane, and wherein, above or below the light shielding film, a titanium film of thickness 5 to 15 nm is arranged. |
| US08471195B2 |
Push button including a photosensor
With respect to a push button, a part of a depressing portion is detected by a photo sensor when the depressing portion urged upward by a spring is depressed and stroke of the depressed depressing portion reaches a predetermined distance. Thereby, switch between OFF and ON is carried out. Also, the push button includes a metal dome. Load of the spring works on the depressing portion when depressed. Further, when the stroke of the depressed depressing portion reaches a predetermined distance so as to switch between OFF and ON, the load of the spring and that of the metal dome integrally work on the depressing portion. |
| US08471193B2 |
Photodetection device for detecting low temporal coherence light, photodetection method, microscope and endoscope
There are provided a photodetection device, a photodetection method, a microscope and an endoscope, which are capable of heterodyne-detecting desired light to be detected with high sensitivity and high S/N ratio, among which the photodetection device includes: a local light generation unit (10) generating local light having a plurality of optical frequency components in an optical frequency band of light to be detected within a given period of time; a light combining unit (20) combining the local light generated from the local light generation unit (10) and the light to be detected; and a photoelectric conversion unit (30) photoelectrically-converting light output from the light combining unit (20) and generating a beat signal of the local light and the light to be detected, such that the light to be detected is heterodyne-detected based on an output of the photoelectric conversion unit (30). |
| US08471191B2 |
Optical navigation system having a filter-window to seal an enclosure thereof
An optical navigation system is provided to sense relative movement between the system and a surface. Generally, the system includes: (i) an illuminator having a light source to illuminate a portion of the surface; (ii) a detector to receive light reflected from the portion of the surface; and (iii) an enclosure enclosing the illuminator and the detector, the enclosure having a window covering the detector and through which light reflected from the portion of the surface is transmitted to the detector, the window being substantially transparent to at least one wavelength of light emitted by the light source. In certain embodiments, the window is a filter-window that is substantially non-transparent to light from other sources, such as ambient light, having shorter or longer wavelengths. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08471189B2 |
CMOS linear voltage/current dual-mode imager
A CMOS image sensor that is capable of both voltage- and current-mode operations selects the mode based on the position of mode switches. Each pixel on the imager has a single transistor acting as either source follower for voltage readout, or transconductor for current readout. The two modes share the same readout lines, but have their own correlated double sampling (CDS) units for noise suppression. A current-mode readout technique using a velocity-saturated short-channel transistor may be used to achieve high linearity. An image array may be formed as a mixture of 3 types of pixels with identical photodiodes and access switches. The readout transistors are optimally sized for their designated mode of operation. Alternatively, two readout transistors are provided per pixel, each individually optimized for the desired mode of operation. |
| US08471187B2 |
Two-stage solar concentrating system
An improved solar concentrating system (100) uses a two-stage arrangement of mirrors wherein the rays of the sun are reflected and concentrated to a point focus. The solar concentrator (100) may be used to increase the temperature of a substance such as metal, for use in a variety of applications including the melting of metals in a foundry furnace. The solar concentrating system (100) comprises at least two single-curved parabolic mirrors (10, 20) connected in an operable arrangement. The rays of the sun are reflected from a first single-curved parabolic mirror (10) to a second single-curved parabolic mirror (20). The plane of symmetry of the second single-curved parabolic mirror is arranged substantially orthogonal to the plane of symmetry of the first single-curved parabolic mirror thereby concentrating the rays of the sun to a point focus. |
| US08471182B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated application of hardfacing material to rolling cutters of hybrid-type earth boring drill bits, hybrid drill bits comprising such hardfaced steel-toothed cutting elements, and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to a system and method for automated or “robotic” application of hardfacing to the surface of a steel-toothed cutter of a standard earth-boring rock bit or a hybrid-type rock bit. In particular, the system incorporates a grounded adapter plate and chuck mounted to a robotic arm for grasping and manipulating a rock bit cutter, particularly a hybrid rock bit cutter, beneath an electrical or photonic energy welding source, such as a plasma arc welding torch manipulated by a positioner. In this configuration, the torch is positioned substantially vertically and oscillated along a horizontal axis as the cutter is manipulated relative along a target path for the distribution of hardfacing. Moving the cutter beneath the torch allows more areas of more teeth to be overlayed, and allows superior placement for operational feedback, such as automatic positioning and parameter correction. In the preferred embodiment, sensors provide data to the control system for identification, positioning, welding program selection, and welding program correction. The control system, aided by data from the sensors, manipulates the robotically held cutter while controlling the operation and oscillation of the torch. These systems and methods can be applied to hardfacing steel teeth of the rolling cutters of both standard tri-cone or di-cone type rolling cone bits, as well as to hybrid-type earth boring drill bits. |
| US08471180B2 |
Glow plug and method for connecting a pin made of functional ceramic to a metal sleeve
The invention relates to a glow plug comprising a housing in which an inner conductor is disposed, a metal sleeve which is inserted into the housing, and a ceramic glow pin which is disposed in the metal sleeve, wherein the two ends of the glow pin protrude from the metal sleeve and the rear end of the pin is connected to the inner conductor, and wherein the metal sleeve has a tapering section at the rear end, the section enclosing a tapering section of the glow pin. According to the invention, the glow pin is pressed into the metal sleeve. The invention further relates to a method for connecting a pin made of functional ceramic to a metal sleeve. |
| US08471173B2 |
Laser hybrid welding method and laser hybrid welding torch using a zinc and/or carbon and/or aluminum-containing rod
The invention relates to a method for welding coated sheet metal (3), which comprises at least one laser (13) and at least one shielded arc unit (5) and a rod feeding device (11) for a welding rod (12). The aim of the invention is to provide a method or a device of the aforementioned kind which allows fo˜ reducing or completely avoiding inclusions such as are e.g. caused by the evaporation of the coating of the metal sheet (3). For this purpose, a clamping device (6) is used for positioning the coated metal sheet (3) without substantial gaps between the individual sheets. A material having a zinc and/or carbon and/or aluminum content is used as the weld metal or welding rod (12). |
| US08471171B2 |
Cold air atmospheric pressure micro plasma jet application method and device
A microhollow cathode discharge assembly capable of generating a low temperature, atmospheric pressure plasma micro jet is disclosed. The microhollow assembly has at two electrodes: an anode and a cathode separated by a dielectric. A microhollow gas passage is disposed through the three layers, preferably in a taper such that the area at the anode is larger than the area at the cathode. When a potential is placed across the electrodes and a gas is directed through the gas passage into the anode and out the cathode, along the tapered direction, then a low temperature micro plasma jet can be created at atmospheric pressure. Selection of gas microhollow geometry and operational characteristics enable the application of the assembly to low temperature treatments, including the treatment of living tissue. |
| US08471169B2 |
Electrode for spot welding
Provided is an electrode (1) which has a double structure including Cu or a Cu alloy as an electrode body (2) and a core material (3) made of W, Mo, a W-based alloy, or a Mo-based alloy embedded in a surface of the electrode body (2) which is abutted against a material to be welded, the core material (3) being formed by using W, Mo, the W-based alloy, or the Mo-based alloy which is in the form of a fibrous structure extended by sintering, swaging, and annealing in an electrode axis direction, the fibrous structure having a horizontal cross-sectional average particle diameter of 50 μm or more and an aspect ratio of 1.5 or more. The electrode (1) can be used as an inexpensive electrode obtained by suppressing particle dropping/attrition and defects in electrodes for spot welding, in which heat and pressure are applied repeatedly, stably enhancing durability. |
| US08471168B2 |
Methods of treating metal articles and articles made therefrom
A method for treating a metal article can comprise: fusion welding a cladding onto an article comprising a surface and a compressive case depth processing the cladding. An average compression case depth, as measured from the cladding outer surface, can be greater than the cladding thickness. Also included herein are articles made from this method. |
| US08471155B2 |
Metal plugged substrates with no adhesive between metal and polyimide
In a method and apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device having a flexible tape substrate, a hole is punched in the flexible tape substrate. The flexible tape substrate includes a metal layer attached to a polyimide layer without an adhesive there between. A cover is placed on the metal layer to cap a base of the hole. A metal is deposited on the cover exposed at the base of the hole, the metal being used to form a bond with the metal layer. The metal being deposited causes the hole to be plugged up to a selective height. Upon removal of the cover, the metal may also be deposited on the metal layer to increase a thickness of the metal layer. |
| US08471150B2 |
High voltage device
The invention relates to a high voltage device for providing electrical insulation of a conductor extending through the device. The device includes a hollow insulator; a conductor extending through the hollow insulator; a field gradient decreasing arrangement including a condenser core and a voltage grading shield. The condenser core and the voltage grading shield are arranged around the conductor inside the hollow insulator in a manner so that the voltage grading shield is arranged around at least part of the condenser core. |
| US08471149B2 |
Shielded electrical cable and method of making the same
A shielded electrical cable that has a set of insulated inner conductors and a shield made of a plurality of insulated wires, arranged about said inner conductors. Each insulated wire of the shield has a conductive core coated by insulation which is fused together with the insulation of the neighboring wires. Also, said conductive cores of said plurality of insulated wires are brought into mutual electrical contact at a longitudinal interval of said twisted shielded pair. |
| US08471148B2 |
Longitudinal water barrier for electrical conductors
For a longitudinal water barrier a conductor is cut at the desired location as usual, the insulation is stripped and the corresponding leads are reconnected with one another in an electrically conductive manner. However, the following steps are taken for additional sealing: each lead end is applied to a soldering surface of a circuit board, wherein the soldering surfaces are separated from one another through slots in the circuit board; and, subsequently in particular a two step encasement with plastic material is performed over the entire connection portion. |
| US08471144B2 |
Adapter box for protection of the electrical connection of a photovoltaic module
An adapter box for the protection of the electrical connection of a photovoltaic module is attachable by form-fit to an electrical junction box of the photovoltaic module. At least one side of the adapter box comprises openings for inserting protective conduits in which cables run through for being connected to electrical connectors of the junction box, the adapter box further comprising at least one opening for said connectors. |
| US08471142B1 |
Solar energy systems using external reflectors
A solar energy concentrating system with high light collection efficiency includes a light concentrating unit, a light homogenizing unit and photovoltaic modules. The light concentrating unit includes a parabolic reflector and an ellipsoidal reflector which are coaxial and confocal. The light homogenizing unit includes an infrared filter and a hollow spherical reflector with a hole in its surface. When the system is under illumination, light is concentrated by the light concentrating unit through the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reflected by the inner surface of the spherical reflector onto the photovoltaic modules. The infrared filter covers the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reduces the heat in the photovoltaic modules under concentrated light. The combination of the parabolic reflector and the ellipsoidal reflector obtain highly concentrated light, and the hollow spherical reflector ensures light uniformity on the photovoltaic modules and light utilization efficiency. |
| US08471136B2 |
Two-stage musical instrument effects pedal
An effects pedal including a first stage configured to asymmetrically limit an input signal, and a second stage configured to symmetrically clip the asymmetrically limited signal. |
| US08471134B2 |
Bass drum pedal assembly of drum kit
The bass drum pedal assembly includes a first connector, mounted on a shaft driven by a drum pedal; a second connector, engaging with the first connector, and coupled to a universal joint which links a connecting rod; and a positioning mechanism, comprising a central positioning member, an elastic member and a pin. The elastic member is put around the central positioning member to make the central positioning member elastically slidably disposed in a central hole of the first connector. The pin is inserted into a through hole at a lateral side of the first connector to press the central positioning member and the elastic member so that the central positioning member is elastically inserted in central holes of the first connector and the second connector. |
| US08471128B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV547369
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV547369. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV547369, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV547369 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV547369 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV547369. |
| US08471127B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV344635
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV344635. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV344635, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV344635 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV344635 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV344635. |
| US08471124B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV448967
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV448967. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV448967, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV448967 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV448967 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV448967. |
| US08471122B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH248517
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH248517. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH248517, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH248517 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH248517. |
| US08471117B1 |
Inbred corn line XJH58
An inbred corn line, designated XJH58, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line XJH58, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line XJH58 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line XJH58 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line XJH58, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line XJH58 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08471115B1 |
Maize variety PHEJP
A novel maize variety designated PHEJP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHEJP with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHEJP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHEJP or a trait conversion of PHEJP with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHEJP, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHEJP and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08471114B2 |
Tomato line PSQ24-2212
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PX 02470002 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08471107B2 |
Soybeans having high germination rates and ultra-low raffinose and stachyose content
Soybean seeds having an ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype. Also disclosed is a mutant allele of soybean designated SG-ULRFO which results in an ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype. The present invention also relates to a soybean seed, a soybean plant and parts of a soybean plant and a soybean hybrid which comprises the mutant allele. Also disclosed are ultra-low raffinose and stachyose soybean seeds having unexpectedly increased germination rates when compared with soybean lines not having a low raffinose and stachyose seed content. Also disclosed are mutant RS3 and RS4 genes with polymorphisms which contribute to the ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype as described in the present invention. The present invention also relates for method of using the soybean seeds and plants of the present invention, to plants parts derived from the present invention, to methods of producing transgenic plants using the plants and seeds of the present invention. |
| US08471104B2 |
Pea line EX08240782
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated EX08240782. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line EX08240782, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line EX08240782 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line EX08240782, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants. |
| US08471103B2 |
Alfalfa variety 06N02PX
A novel alfalfa variety designated 06N02PX and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant that comprise crossing alfalfa variety 06N02PX with another alfalfa plant. Methods for producing an alfalfa plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 06N02PX through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the alfalfa seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Alfalfa seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing alfalfa variety 06N02PX or a trait conversion of 06N02PX with another alfalfa plant or population. Alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 06N02PX, methods for producing other alfalfa populations derived from alfalfa variety 06N02PX and the alfalfa populations and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08471097B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH182Y
A novel maize variety designated PH182Y and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH182Y with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH182Y through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH182Y or a locus conversion of PH182Y with another maize variety. |
| US08471095B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X05B900
A novel maize variety designated X05B900 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X05B900 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05B900 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05B900, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05B900. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05B900. |
| US08471093B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X08A133
A novel maize variety designated X08A133 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A133 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A133 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A133, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A133. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A133. |
| US08471092B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X13A405
A novel maize variety designated X13A405 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13A405 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13A405 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13A405, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13A405. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13A405. |
| US08471086B2 |
Process to control product selectivity
We provide a process for producing hydrocarbon products. The process includes operating a process unit comprising a liquid catalyst in a first mode, adjusting a molar ratio of olefin to HCl, and operating the process unit in a second mode. The first mode and the second mode are different, one being a distillate mode and the other being a lubricant mode. Increasing the molar ratio of olefin to HCl provides a higher amount of a lubricant. |
| US08471083B2 |
Process for the production of para-xylene
A reforming process using a medium pore zeolite under conditions to facilitate the conversion of C8 paraffinic compounds to para-xylene is provided. Para-xylene is produced at greater than thermodynamic equilibrium concentrations using the process. |
| US08471082B2 |
Process for converting methane to ethylene
A process for the production of ethylene, the process including: feeding hydrogen, a heavy solvent, a light solvent, and acetylene to a down-flow reactor comprising at least one reaction zone comprising a hydrogenation catalyst; concurrently in the down-flow reactor: contacting acetylene and hydrogen in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst to convert at least a portion of the acetylene to ethylene; boiling at least a portion of the light solvent from a liquid phase to a vapor phase; recovering a reactor effluent comprising heavy solvent, light solvent, and ethylene; condensing at least a portion of the light solvent in the vapor phase; recovering a solvent fraction comprising the heavy solvent and the light solvent; recovering a product fraction comprising ethylene. |
| US08471079B2 |
Production of fuel from co-processing multiple renewable feedstocks
A process for producing a fuel or fuel blending component from co-processing at least two different classes of renewable feedstocks, is presented. One feedstock comprises glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils while the other feedstock comprises biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source. |
| US08471075B2 |
Processes for making ethanol from acetic acid
A process for selective formation of ethanol from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of first metal, a silicaceous support, and at least one support modifier. Preferably, the first metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, titanium, zinc, chromium, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten. In addition the catalyst may comprise a second metal preferably selected from the group consisting of copper, molybdenum, tin, chromium, iron, cobalt, vanadium, tungsten, palladium, platinum, lanthanum, cerium, manganese, ruthenium, rhenium, gold, and nickel. |
| US08471072B2 |
Soy-based polyols
The invention provides processes for preparing soy-based oligomeric polyols or substituted oligomeric polyols, as well as urethane bioelasteromers comprising the oligomeric polyols or substituted oligomeric polyols. |
| US08471069B2 |
Mixed bed polymeric catalyst
A mixed bed polymeric catalyst, and use of that catalyst, comprising 10-90% by weight of a first catalyst having ion exchange resin loaded with metal of palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, copper, gold, and/or silver and 10-90% by weight of a second catalyst having strong acidic ion exchange resin devoid of metal, where the metal is uniformly distributed throughout a mixed bed. |
| US08471068B2 |
Process for the preparation of 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one using solid acid clay catalyst
Solid acid catalyst such as acid activated-Montmorillonite clay composite has been developed by modifying the Na-Montmorillonite clay with acid (HCl) treatment for different periods such as 5 minutes to about 4 hours and activating at about 120° C. for about 2 hours. Friedel Crafts alkylation reaction between phenol and 4-hydroxybutan-2-one in presence of the acid activated Montmorillonite clay catalysts exhibiting layered clay structures (basal spacing d001 ranging from about 10 to 13.5 Å), high surface area (250-400 m2/g), highly porous {micropores in the range 5 to 15 Å and mesopores in the range 30 to 80 Å}, average pore volume 0.2 to 0.65 cc/g, and surface acidity in the range 0.4-0.6 mmol/g; under constant stirring and at pressure of 1-15 bar, temperature 100-150° C. for a period of about 12-24 hours produces 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butan-2-one (Raspberry ketone) exhibiting conversion about 35-55% and high selectivity in the range 75-81%. |
| US08471060B2 |
Process and reactor for the thermoneutral conversion of ethanol to acetic acid
A process and reactor for the production of acetic acid comprising the steps of: passing a feed stream containing ethanol and water together with a predetermined feed rate of an oxygen containing atmosphere in presence of one or more catalysts being active in simultaneous non-oxidative and oxidative conversion of ethanol to a product stream with acetic acid; recovering from the product stream a stream of acetic acid; optionally recovering reactive derivatives of acetic acid and recycling these to step (a). |
| US08471056B2 |
Fluorinated compound, fluorinated polymer and fluorinated copolymer
To provide a fluorinated compound having an RF group with at most 6 carbon atoms, whereby a fluorinated polymer having a highly durable water/oil repellency can be produced, and an environmental load is little, and a fluorinated polymer and a fluorinated copolymer having a highly durable water/oil repellency and presenting little environmental load, obtainable by polymerizing such a fluorinated compound. A fluorinated compound represented by the following formula (I) and its polymer: CH2═C(M)COO(CH2)nPhCOO(CH2)mCrF2r+1 (I) (in the formula (I), M is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a halogen atom, n is an integer of from 0 to 2, Ph is a phenylene group, m is an integer of from 1 to 4, and r is an integer of from 1 to 6). |
| US08471053B2 |
Process and apparatus for production of cyanohydrin compound, and process for production of α-hydroxyester compound
A process according to the present invention for producing a cyanohydrin compound flow-reacts a carbonyl compound with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalyst, and can therefore reduce the residence time. This makes it possible to reduce the period of time over which the resulting cyanohydrin compound is exposed to an unreacted portion of the carbonyl compound. As a result, the resulting cyanohydrin compound can be prevented from reacting with the unreacted portion. This makes it possible to produce the cyanohydrin compound in good yield. That is, the process according to the present invention for producing a cyanohydrin compound produces a cyanohydrin compound in good yield from a carbonyl compound and hydrogen cyanide. |
| US08471050B2 |
Organometallic transition metal compound, catalyst system and preparation of polyolefins
The present invention relates to non-symmetrical organometallic transition metal compounds of the compound of the formula (I) where R8 and R9 are identical or different and each an substituted or unsubstituted organic radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, catalyst systems comprising at least one of the organometallic transition metal compounds of the present invention and a process for preparing polyolefins by polymerization or copolymerization of at least one olefin in the presence of one of the catalyst systems of the present invention. |
| US08471046B2 |
Method for producing chiral α,β-epoxy ketones
A process is claimed for the enantioselective epoxidation of α,β-unsaturated ketones, in which a compound of the general formula I, is reacted with an oxidizing agent to form α,β-epoxy ketones of the general formula II, in which R1, R2, R3 are as defined above. The α,β-epoxy ketones of the general formula II can be obtained in good yields and outstanding enantioselectivities from α,β-unsaturated ketones of the general formula I by epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a chiral catalyst, such as amino compounds and their acid addition salts. |
| US08471037B2 |
Derivatives having vinyl group and its use in electroluminescent element
The present invention relates to imidazole derivatives having vinyl group represented by general formula (I) which possess electron transporting character, have a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and high decomposition temperature (Td): wherein all symbols are defined as recited in the specification. The present invention also relates to a use of the imidazole derivatives having vinyl group as a guest emitter or electron transporter in luminescent elements. |
| US08471036B2 |
Rhodacyanine derivative and pharmaceutical composition for treating leishmaniasis
A rhodacyanine derivative represented by the following General Formula (1), wherein, in General Formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent an alkyl group which may be substituted; Y1 and Y2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, or a fluorine atom provided that Y1 and Y2 do not represent hydrogen atoms at the same time; and X represents a counter anion. A pharmaceutical composition for treating leishmaniasis including the rhodacyanine derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
| US08471035B1 |
Two-photon absorbing arylamine-endcapped and dialkylfluorene-bridged benzobisthiazole compounds with high oleophilicity
Two-photon absorbing arylamine-endcapped and dialkylfluorene-bridged benzobisthiazole-based compounds are provided. These two-photon absorbing benzobisthiazole-based compounds show high solubility in nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents (oleophilicity) and high two-photon properties, especially in the nanosecond domain of pulse-laser excitation. |
| US08471033B2 |
Method for producing an intermediate product of dabigatran etexilate
The invention relates to a process for preparing the compound of formula 1 a valuable intermediate product in the synthesis of the pharmaceutical active substance dabigatran etexilate. |
| US08471030B2 |
Purification of montelukast using simulated moving bed
This invention concerns generally with a process for purifying crude pharmaceutical compositions, wherein the crude pharmaceutical composition comprises a sodium salt of Montelukast and more particularly relates to a process for the production of pharmaceutically pure preparations of Montelukast sodium using simulated moving bed technology, without requiring an intermediate acid formation step to separate isomers and to remove impurities. |
| US08471028B2 |
Optically active cyclic alcohol compound
The present invention relates to a method for preparing an optically active cyclic alcohol compound represented by general formula [I]: [wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group for amino group, and * represents an asymmetric carbon atom.] which comprises a step of subjecting a cyclic ketone compound represented by general formula [II]: [wherein R has the same meaning as defined above.] to asymmetric reduction (A) in the presence of an optically active oxazaborolidine compound and a boron hydride compound, or (B) in the presence of an asymmetric transition metal complex obtained from a transition metal compound and an asymmetric ligand and a hydrogen donor, and relates to said compound. |
| US08471027B2 |
Adamantyl compounds
The invention relates to JNK inhibitors and corresponding methods, formulations, and compositions for inhibiting JNK and treating JNK-mediated disorders. The application discloses JNK inhibitors, as described below in Formula I: wherein the variables are as defined herein. The compounds and compositions disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of JNK and treat diseases associated with JNK activity. Disclosed are methods and formulations for inhibiting JNK and treating JNK-mediated disorders, and the like, with the compounds, and processes for making said compounds, and corresponding compositions, disclosed herein. |
| US08471026B2 |
Substituted hydroxamic acids and uses thereof
This invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R2a, R2b, X1, X2, and G have values as described in the specification, useful as inhibitors of HDAC6. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative, inflammatory, infectious, neurological or cardiovascular diseases or disorders. |
| US08471025B2 |
Crystalline forms of trans-7-oxo-6-(sulphooxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3,2,1]octane-2-carboxamide sodium salt
The present invention relates to novel crystalline forms of sodium salt of trans-7-oxo-6-(sulphooxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3,2,1]octane-2-carboxamide (e.g., NXL-104) thereof. The present invention relates to compositions comprising a crystalline form of sodium salt of trans-7-oxo-6-(sulphooxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3,2,1]octane-2-carboxamide (e.g., NXL-104) alone or in combination with an antibacterial agent (e.g., ceftaroline fosamil). Processes for the preparation of the crystalline forms and methods of treating bacterial infections by administering the crystalline forms alone or in combination with an antibacterial agent (e.g., ceftaroline fosamil) are also described. |
| US08471024B2 |
Tetrahydrofuropyridones
The present invention relates to Tetrahydrofuropyridones compounds useful as HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia and like conditions. |
| US08471022B2 |
Preparation and use of (R),(R)-2,2′-bis-methylnaltrexone
This invention relates to the synthesis of (R),(R)-2,2′-bis-MNTX, as shown in Formula (I), and related methods and products. |
| US08471020B2 |
Perylene-based semiconducting materials
The present invention provides a compound of formula The compound of formula (1) is suitable for use as semiconducting material, in particular in electronic devices. |
| US08471016B2 |
Process for the preparation of chiral beta amino carboxamide derivatives
The present invention provides a process for preparing a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the R-configuration, of formula (IA), or S-configuration of formula (IB), selectively over the other enantiomer. |
| US08471015B2 |
Process for producing a green fluorescent protein comprising coelenteramide or an analog thereof
A process for producing a green fluorescent protein, which comprises reacting a compound Represented by formula (4): when R3 represents (i) an alkyl having 1 to 7 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted with an alicyclic group, (ii) an alicyclic group or (iii) an arylalkyl having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, with an apoprotein of a calcium-binding photoprotein in the presence of a chelating agent, and producing the green fluorescent protein. |
| US08471013B2 |
Process for the preparation of substituted cyanophenoxy-pyrimidinyloxy-phenyl acrylate derivatives
The present invention provides a process for reacting between a phenol derivative and an aromatic substrate under phenolate forming conditions comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a phenol derivative with a base in a polar organic solvent to obtain a phenolate salt, wherein water is removed form the reaction mixture during the reaction, (b) adding the aromatic substrate to the reaction mixture obtained in step (a), (c) heating the reaction mixture of step (b) to a temperature in the range of 80° to 1300° C., preferably, 90° to 1000° C. for 2 to 7 hours to obtain a phenoxy substituted aromatic substrate, (d) removing the solvent from the mixture of step (c) and optionally further isolating an purifying the phenoxy substituted aromatic substrate. Optionally, the removal of water during step (a) is in conjunction with partial removal of the organic solvent. |
| US08471008B2 |
Material for organic electroluminescent element and organic electroluminescent element employing the same
A material for organic electroluminescence devices for use as a host material in combination with at least one phosphorescent metal complex, which comprises a compound having a specific heterocyclic structure, is described. Also described is an organic electroluminescence device having an anode, a cathode and an organic thin film layer having one or more layers. The organic thin film layer is interposed between the anode and cathode and has a light emitting layer containing a host material in combination with at least one phosphorescent metal complex. At least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the material for organic electroluminescence devices. The material for organic electroluminescence devices provides an organic electroluminescence device which has a high emitting efficiency, causes little pixel defects, is excellent in heat resistance, and show a long lifetime. |
| US08471006B2 |
Coupling agents for peptide synthesis
The present invention is directed to compounds of the formula: or salts thereof or N-oxides and their use in peptide synthesis. |
| US08471005B2 |
Pyrrolotriazines as ALK and JAK2 inhibitors
The present invention provides a compound of formula I or a salt form thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are as defined herein. The compound of formula I has ALK and/or JAK2 inhibitory activity, and may be used to treat proliferative disorders. |
| US08471004B2 |
Bicyclic compounds
The invention is concerned with novel bicyclic compounds of formula (I), wherein A, L, E, F, G, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, V, W and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are antagonists of CCR2 receptor, CCR5 receptor and/or CCR3 receptor and can be used as medicaments. |
| US08471003B2 |
Thermally inhibited polysaccharides and process of preparing
This invention relates to thermally inhibited polysaccharides and improved processes of preparing them, wherein the improvement is dehydrating the polysaccharides under increased pressure and/or increased effective oxygen concentrations to produce compositions of improved organoleptic properties, including color, flavor and odor. |
| US08471000B2 |
RNAi-mediated inhibition of HIF1A for treatment of ocular angiogenesis
RNA interference is provided for inhibition of HIF1A mRNA expression for treating patients with ocular angiogenesis, particularly for treating retinal edema, diabetic retinopathy, sequela associated with retinal ischemia, posterior segment neovascularization (PSNV), and neovascular glaucoma, and for treating patients at risk of developing such conditions. |
| US08470994B2 |
Class I anti-CEA antibodies and uses thereof
The present invention provides compositions and methods of use of humanized, chimeric or human Class I anti-CEA antibodies or fragments thereof, preferably comprising the light chain variable region CDR sequences SASSRVSYIH (SEQ ID NO:1); GTSTLAS (SEQ ID NO:2); and QQWSYNPPT (SEQ ID NO:3); and the heavy chain variable region CDR sequences DYYMS (SEQ ID NO:4); FIANKANGHTTDYSPSVKG (SEQ ID NO:5); and DMGIRWNFDV (SEQ ID NO:6). The Class I anti-CEA antibodies or fragments are useful for treating diseases, such as cancer, wherein the diseased cells express CEACAM5 and/or CEACAM6 antigens. The Class I anti-CEA antibodies or fragments are also of use for interfering with specific processes, such as metastasis, invasiveness and/or adhesion of cancer cells, or for enhancing sensitivity of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents and have favorable effects on the survival of subjects with cancer. |
| US08470991B2 |
Immunocytokine sequences and uses thereof
The invention provides a family of antibodies that specifically bind the human cell surface glycosphingolipid GD2. The antibodies comprise modified variable regions, more specially, modified framework regions, which reduce their immunogenicity when administered to a human. The antibodies may be coupled to a therapeutic agent and used in the treatment of cancer. |
| US08470990B2 |
Ribosome structure and protein synthesis inhibitors
The invention provides methods for producing high resolution crystals of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits as well as crystals produced by such methods. The invention also provides high resolution structures of ribosomal subunits either alone or in combination with protein synthesis inhibitors. The invention provides methods for identifying ribosome-related ligands and methods for designing ligands with specific ribosome-binding properties as well as ligands that may act as protein synthesis inhibitors. Thus, the methods and compositions of the invention may be used to produce ligands that are designed to specifically kill or inhibit the growth of any target organism. |
| US08470989B2 |
CTSP cancer-testis antigens
The invention relates to CTSP polypeptides and the nucleic acid molecules that encode them. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides and fragments thereof in methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases, such as cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to the discovery of a novel cancer/testis (CT) antigen, CTSP-1. |
| US08470985B2 |
Triazole compounds and methods of making and using the same
The present invention provides triazole macrocyclic compounds useful as therapeutic agents. More particularly, these compounds are useful as anti-infective, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and prokinetic agents. These compounds are represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1, R2, ect. Are defined in claim 1. |
| US08470984B2 |
Process for the preparation of morpholinyl anthracycline derivatives
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a morpholinyl anthracycline derivative in good yields and purity, including 3′-deamino-3″-4′-anhydro-[2″(S)-methoxy-3″(R)-hydroxy-4″-morpholinyl]doxorubicin (1). |
| US08470982B2 |
Solutions of anhydrous lanthanide salts and its preparation
The present invention relates to anhydrous solutions of MX3-Z LiA in a solvent, wherein M is a lanthanide including lanthanum, or yttrium or indium; z>0; and X and A are independently or both monovalent anions, preferably Cl, Br or I. The solution is readily prepared by dissolving or suspending MX3 or its hydrate and z equiv LiA in water or hydrophilic solvents, or mixtures thereof, removing the solvent under vacuum and dissolving the resulting powder in another solvent. The solution of MX3-Z LiA can advantageously be used e.g. in addition reactions of Grignard reagents to ketones and imines. Even the catalytic use of MX3-Z LiA is possible. |
| US08470979B2 |
Humanized antibody molecules specific for IL-31
The invention provides humanized mouse anti-human IL-31 antibodies and antibody fragments that are capable of binding IL-31 and thereby neutralizing, inhibiting, limiting, or reducing the proinflammatory or pro-pruritic effects of IL-31. |
| US08470972B2 |
Nonviral vectors for delivering polynucleotides to plants
Methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides are provided. One embodiment provides a non-viral vector comprising a recombinant polynucleotide-binding protein comprising a protein transduction domain operably linked to a targeting signal. Methods for modifying the genome of non-nuclear organelles are also provided. |
| US08470970B2 |
Mammalian sweet and amino acid heterodimeric taste receptors comprising T1R3 and T1R1
The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of sweet or amino acid taste receptors comprising T1R3 and T1R1, two heterologous G-protein coupled receptor polypeptides from the T1R family of sensory G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of sweet and amino acid taste receptors. |
| US08470946B1 |
Enhanced strength carbon nanotube yarns and sheets using infused and bonded nano-resins
Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns and sheets having enhanced mechanical strength using infused and bonded nano-resins. A CNT yarn or sheet is surface-activated to produce open bonds in the CNT walls prior to resin infusion. The CNT yarn or sheet is infused with a low viscosity nano-resin that penetrates spaces between individual CNTs and is cured to cross-link and chemically bond to the CNT walls, either directly or through a functional molecule, to bond the individual CNTs or ropes to each other. The nano-resin can comprise dicyclopentadiene having an uncured viscosity near that of water. The cross-linking process involves ring-opening metathesis polymerization and catalysis of the nano-resin in combination with a functionalizing material such as norbornene, to enhance bonding between the carbon and nano-resin. The process increases load capability, tensile strength, and elastic modulus of the yarns and sheets, for use as a structural component in composite materials. |
| US08470939B2 |
Preparation of polyethylene
A process for preparing a polyethylene in a multi-stage process is described. The process comprises pre-treating a Ziegler catalyst in a first stage in the presence of a 1-olefin/ethylene mixture or a 1-olefin to produce a LLDPE or VLDPE, which have the characteristics of a polymer prepared with a single-site catalyst, e.g. high levels of short-chain branching that are uniformly distributed. The contents of the first stage are then transferred to a second stage where an ethylene or an ethylene/1-olefin mixture is polymerized in the presence of the pre-treated catalyst to form a polyethylene with good processability. |
| US08470931B2 |
Adhesive film, production methods of shaped body
An adhesive film comprising a substrate and an adhesive layer on said substrate, said adhesive layer comprising: (A) a carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 25 C or lower, said carboxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate polymer having a percent number of repeating units of 4.0 to 25% based on the total number of repeating units of the (meth)acrylate polymer; and (B) an amino group-containing (meth)acrylate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 75 C or higher, said amino group-containing (meth)acrylate polymer having a percent number of amino group-containing repeating units of 3.5 to 15% based on the total number of repeating units of the (meth)acrylate polymer, wherein the ratio by weight of said component (A) to said component (B) is from 62:38 to 75:25. |
| US08470925B2 |
Aqueous emulsions of silicone resins
Aqueous emulsions of a silicone resin are disclosed that provide a solid silicone resineous coating upon removing water from a film of the emulsion. The silicone resin emulsions are useful for treating various substrates for imparting water resistance/repellence and improving wear/weather protective properties. In particular, they are useful for rendering mineral-based building materials water-resistant, and also as binders in paints. |
| US08470924B2 |
Color-pigmented paint composition having high covering powder, increased scratch resistance, and easy-to clean properties
The present invention is directed to a color-pigmented paint composition with high hiding power, comprising a solvent or a solvent mixture and a.) based on the total formulation, 1% to 80% by weight of a polysilazane of the formula (1) —(SiR′R″—NR′″)n− (1) and b.) based on the total formulation 1% to 15% by weight, particularly 2% to 8% by weight, of one or more pigments wherein R′, R″, and R″′ are alike or different and independently of one another are hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, aryl, vinyl or (trialkoxysilyl)alkyl radical, n being an integer and n having a magnitude such that the polysilazane has a number average molecular weight of 150 to 150 000 g/mol. |
| US08470922B2 |
Ethylene-vinyl alcohol based thermoplastic elastomers and vulcanizates
Ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) including a cured rubber dispersed therein and an EVOH-rubber compatibilizer. |
| US08470918B2 |
Epoxy resin composition and semiconductor device
There are provided an epoxy resin composition exhibiting less warpage after molding and during a solder treatment process as well as during a low temperature process of, for example, a temperature cycle test, and excellent in flame retardancy, solder crack resistance, and flowability; and a semiconductor device using the same. The epoxy resin composition used in the semiconductor device contains at least one type of epoxy resin (A) selected from a trifunctional epoxy resin and a tetrafunctional epoxy resin, a curing agent (B) having at least two hydroxyl groups per molecule, a compound (C) having at least two cyanate groups per molecule, and an inorganic filler (D), as essential components. |
| US08470915B2 |
Additive composition and thermoplastic compositions comprising the same
A thermoplastic additive composition comprises an acetal compound and at least one co-additive. The acetal compound can be the product of the reaction between an alditol or a C1 substituted alditol and a benzaldehyde. The co-additive can be a fatty acid amide compound, a fatty acid ester compound, and/or a fluoropolymer. A thermoplastic composition comprises a thermoplastic (e.g., one or more polyolefins) and an additive composition as described above. |
| US08470913B2 |
Thermosetting resin composition and cured product of the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermosetting resin composition having high heat resistance, high flame retardancy, good mechanical properties, and high dimensional stability. To achieve the object, there are provided a thermosetting resin composition containing a polyimide resin and a boron compound represented by general formula below and a cured product of the thermosetting resin composition. (R1's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R2's each independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Y represents a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound. R3's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Z represents a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound.) |
| US08470912B2 |
Granulated colorant and related art
A granulated colorant as a granulation product of a powdery nigrosine dye, that has a bulk density of 0.4 to 0.7 g/ml and a hardness of 1 to 20 N. A high-concentration master batch obtained by blending a granulated colorant and a thermoplastic resin, which comprises 25 to 100 parts by weight of a nigrosine dye in the granulated colorant per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin. A colored composition comprising a granulated colorant or high-concentration master batch and a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic elastomer. |
| US08470911B2 |
Process for coagulation of aqueous polymer dispersions
A process is proposed for coagulation of an aqueous polymer dispersion, which comprises, during or after the coagulation, converting the dissolved coagulation salt into an insoluble form. |
| US08470910B2 |
High gloss extended alkyd emulsion paints
This invention is an aqueous paint composition comprising an alkyd emulsion; a dispersion of organic extender particles, which particles comprise, when dry, one or more void; and one or more pigment. The aqueous paint composition provides high gloss decorative and protective coatings for various substrates, which coatings are extended with lower cost-in-use opaque polymer while still providing the high gloss performance of unextended alkyd emulsion paints. Also provided is a method for providing the high gloss coating. |
| US08470903B2 |
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene articles and methods of forming ultra high molecular weight polyethylene articles
The present invention generally provides implantable articles and methods of forming implantable articles from a crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) blend stabilized with Vitamin E. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be prepared by combining the UHMWPE material and vitamin E prior to irradiating the UHMWPE blend with electron beam radiation at a sufficient radiation dose rate to induce crosslinking. The crosslinked UHMWPE blend may be incorporated into a variety of implants, and in particular, into endoprosthetic joint replacements. |
| US08470902B2 |
Continuous pore elastomer and process for producing the same, and water-absorbing roller and swab
A continuous pore elastomer featured by being made of a polyurethane, having a three dimensional network pore structure of which skeletons have an average thickness of 20 μm or less and 80% or more of the skeletons have a thickness within the range of 2 to 20 μm, having an apparent density of 0.2 to 0.4 g/cm3, containing a surfactant with a HLB value of 8 or more, and being capable of absorbing water instantly;a process for producing the continuous pore elastomer, comprising a step of extracting out the pore generation agent from the molding with water; anda water-absorbing roller and a swab obtained by using the continuous pore elastomer. |
| US08470901B2 |
Organic aerogel and composition and method for manufacturing the organic aerogel
A composition for manufacturing an organic aerogel including at least one monomer having at least two substituted or unsubstituted acrylamide groups and a solvent is provided, along with an organic aerogel including a polymeric reaction product of the monomer or monomers. |
| US08470900B2 |
Porous polymer and synthetic method thereof
The present invention relates to a porous polymer and a synthetic method thereof. The porous polymer has the following general formula: wherein, the positions marked with the numeral 1-10 are C, CH, N, or CH with its H being substituted by methyl, ethyl, amido, carboxyl, methoxyl, hydroxyl, or ester group; the positions marked with letter a or b are C, N+, or B−. |
| US08470897B2 |
Devulcanization of rubber and other elastomers
A process for devulcanizing crosslinked elastomer particles comprising applying an alternating electric field to a composition comprising crosslinked elastomer particles under compression. The alternating electric field preferably has a frequency between 1 and 100 MHz and a voltage between 1000 and 10,000 V, and may be applied between an apparatus that continuously conveys the particles through the field. |
| US08470896B2 |
Acid block anion membrane
Acid block anionic selective polymeric membranes are provided of the type having a woven or non-woven cloth reinforcing structure. The polymer of the membrane is prepared by the process comprising copolymerizing components I, II, and III wherein I is an ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic or aromatic tertiary or quaternary amine monomer. II is a cross-linking monomer, and III is vinylbenzyl chloride. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a free radical polymerization initiator. Additionally, anionic exchange membranes of the type used in electrodialysis apparatus are disclosed and comprise a woven or nonwoven cloth that is impregnated with a copolymer comprising the reaction products of components I, II, and III. |
| US08470895B2 |
Polymer electrolyte membrane comprising alkylether graft chain and method of producing the same
A method of producing an electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell, including: performing radiation-induced graft polymerization of a vinyl monomer having a nucleophilic functional group selected from an acylvinyl ether derivative, a styrene derivative, and a methacrylic acid derivative, with a polymer substrate having a fluorine-containing polymer, an olefin-containing polymer, or an aromatic polymer; deprotecting an ester bond of a graft chain on the polymer substrate introduced by the radiation-induced graft polymerization; and introducing an alkylethersulfonic acid structure into the nucleophilic functional group of the graft chain thus deprotected, by use of an electrophilic reagent selected from cyclic sulfonic acid ester and alkylhalide sulfonate. |
| US08470893B2 |
Electrokinetically-altered fluids comprising charge-stabilized gas-containing nanostructures
Particular aspects provide compositions comprising an electrokinetically altered oxygenated aqueous fluid, wherein the oxygen in the fluid is present in an amount of at least 25 ppm. In certain aspects, the electrokinetically altered oxygenated aqueous fluid comprises electrokinetically modified or charged oxygen species present in an amount of at least 0.5 ppm. In certain aspects the electrokinetically altered oxygenated aqueous fluid comprises solvated electrons stabilized by molecular oxygen, and wherein the solvated electrons present in an amount of at least 0.01 ppm. In certain aspects, the fluid facilitates oxidation of pyrogallol to purpurogallin in the presence of horseradish peroxidase enzyme (HRP) in an amount above that afforded by a control pressure pot generated or fine-bubble generated aqueous fluid having an equivalent dissolved oxygen level, and wherein there is no hydrogen peroxide, or less than 0.1 ppm of hydrogen peroxide present in the electrokinetic oxygen-enriched aqueous fluid. |
| US08470888B2 |
Botryllamides and method of inhibiting PGP in a mammal afflicted with cancer
Disclosed are methods of enhancing the chemotherapeutic treatment of tumor cells, reducing resistance of a cancer cell to a chemotherapeutic agent, a method of inhibiting ABCG2, Pgp, or MRP1 in a mammal afflicted with cancer, and a method of increasing the bioavailability of an ABCG2 substrate drug in a mammal. The methods comprise administering effective amounts of certain compounds to the mammal, for example, a compound of the formula (I): Formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, X1, X2, X3, a, and b are as described herein. Uses of these compounds in the preparation of a medicament are also disclosed. Also disclosed are compounds of formula (II), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and uses thereof. |
| US08470887B2 |
Urea foam
Provided, among other things, is a delivery module for a non-greasy, water-based urea composition comprising: an aerosol delivery device; within the aerosol delivery device, the urea composition comprising 20% or more urea by weight, non-greasy lipophilic component(s), and a frothing agent, the urea composition having a viscosity low enough to support aerosol delivery, and the urea composition effective to form a foam upon propellant-driven aerosol delivery; and within the aerosol delivery device, a propellant. |
| US08470885B2 |
Composition and method for treatment of diabetes
The present invention relates to a method of treating an incretin related disease such as diabetes, obesity and the like by delivery of butyric acid, bile acid, long chain fatty acid, or glutamine to the colon by bypassing the upper digestive tract. |
| US08470884B2 |
Alkenyl naphthylacetic acids
The invention is concerned with the compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined in the detailed description and claims. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing and using the compounds of formula I as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. The compounds of formula I are antagonists or partial agonists at the CRTH2 receptor and may be useful in treating diseases and disorders associated with that receptor such as asthma. |
| US08470883B2 |
Preservative system and composition based on glycinate and hydroxyethyl sulfonate salt combination
A preservative system and a personal care composition containing that system is provided which includes the preservative combination of a C10-C24 acyl glycinate salt and a hydroxyethyl sulfonate salt. This preservative system is effective against gram negative bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. |
| US08470882B2 |
Amino acid salts of prostaglandins
The present invention is directed to novel amino acid prostaglandin salts and methods of making and using them. |
| US08470881B2 |
System for trapping flying insects with attractant lures
The present application discloses a system for trapping flying insects, a first chemical lure such as lactic acid, a salt of lactic acid, or combinations thereof, and a second chemical lure comprising a source of ammonia. The lures may be employed in particular geometric shapes contained in specifically designed housing to ensure an effective release rate over extended periods of time. |
| US08470878B2 |
Heterocyclic sulfonamide derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds have been demonstrated as inhibitors of MEK and therefore may be useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases like cancer and inflammation. |
| US08470872B2 |
Compounds with activity at estrogen receptors
Disclosed herein are compounds of Formula I as disclosed herein, methods of modulating the activity of an estrogen receptor and methods of treating a disorder associated with estrogen receptors. |
| US08470870B2 |
Solid forms of an anti-HIV phosphoindole compound
Solid forms comprising a compound useful in the treatment, prevention and management of various conditions and diseases are provided herein. In particular, provided herein are solid forms comprising (2-carbamoyl-5-chloro-1H-indol-3-yl)-[3-((E)-2-cyano-vinyl)-5-methyl-phenyl]-(R)-phosphinic acid methyl ester, including salts thereof, having utility for the treatment, prevention and management of conditions and disorders including, but not limited to, human immunodeficiency virus infection. |
| US08470865B2 |
Methods and compositions for increasing the anaerobic working capacity in tissues
Provided are compositions comprising beta-alanylhistidine peptides and/or beta-alanines, and methods for administering these peptides and amino acids. In one aspect, the compositions and methods cause an increase in the blood plasma concentrations of beta-alanine and/or creatine. |
| US08470864B2 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of overactive bladder
Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising oxybutynin or tolterodine, or a free base thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and pilocarpine, or a free base thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treating a patient suffering from overactive bladder comprising administering to the patient the above pharmaceutical composition. |
| US08470862B2 |
Treatment or prevention of hypotension and shock
A method for the prevention and treatment of hypotension and shock due to low peripheral resistance, comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a certain imidazole derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable ester or salt thereof, and a method for the treatment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a certain imidazole derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable ester or salt thereof. |
| US08470856B2 |
Anthranilamide compounds, process for their production and pesticides containing them
Anthranilamide compounds, a process for their production, and pesticides containing these compounds as active ingredients. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. |
| US08470855B2 |
Dual-use peptidase inhibitors as prodrugs for a therapy of inflammatory and other diseases
Compounds of the general formulae (1) and (2) A-B-D-B′-A′ (1) and A-B-D-E (2) in which A and A′ may be identical or different and are the residue in which X is S, O, CH2, CH2CH2, CH2O or CH2NH, and Y is H or CN, and * designates a chiral carbon atom preferably in S- or L-configuration; B and B′ may be identical or different and are an O, N or S containing or non-containing, unsubstituted or substituted, unbranched or branched alkylene residue, cycloalkylene residue, aralkylene residue, heterocycloalkylene residue, heteroarylalkylene residue, arylamidoalkylene residue, heteroarylamidoalkylene residue, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted arylene residue or heteroarylene residue having one or more five-, six- or seven-membered ring(s); D is —S—S— or —Se—Se—; and E is the group —CH2—CH(NH2)—R9 or —CH2—*CH(NH2)—R9 respectively in which R9 is an O, N or S containing or non-containing, unsubstituted or substituted, unbranched or branched alkyl residue, cycloalkyl residue, aralkyl residue, heterocycloalkyl residue, heteroarylalkyl residue, arylamidoalkyl residue, heteroarylamidoalkyl residue, unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted aryl residue or heteroaryl residue having one or more five-, six- or seven-membered ring(s) and * designates a chiral carbon atom preferably in the S- or L-configuration; or the acid addition salts thereof with organic and/or inorganic acids; as well as to the use of the compounds of the general formulae (1) and (2) in medicine. |
| US08470849B2 |
7-azaindole derivatives as selective 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitors
The present invention relates to 7-azaindole derivatives of formula I as selective inhibitors of the enzyme 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1) and the use of such compounds for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, glaucoma, osteoporosis, cognitive disorders, anxiety, depression, immune disorders, hypertension and other diseases and conditions. |
| US08470845B2 |
Analgesic and methods of treating pain
An analgesic which may be applied to wide variety of pain from various causes is disclosed. The analgesic comprises as an effective ingredient a specific morphinan derivative having a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group, such as compound 1: |
| US08470844B2 |
Imidazoacridinone derivative compounds and methods for their use
The present invention provides IA derivative compounds of the formula: where the variables are described herein. |
| US08470842B2 |
Hydrochloride salts of 8-[{1-(3,5-Bis-trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-ethoxy}-methyl]-8-phenyl-1,7-diaza-spiro[4.5]decan-2-one and preparation process therefor
Disclosed are hydrochloride and tosylate crystalline salt forms of (5S,8S)-8-[{(1R)-1-(3,5-Bis-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-ethoxy}-methyl]-8-phenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one, represented by Formula I and methods of preparing the same. |
| US08470840B2 |
Synergistic fungicidal compositions containing a 5-fluoropyrimidine derivative for fungal control in cereals
A fungicidal composition containing a fungicidally effective amount of a) a compound of Formula IA and/or IB and (b) at least one fungicide selected from the group consisting of epoxiconazole, prothioconazole, azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, penthiopyrad, isopyrazam, bixafen, boscalid, prochloraz, chlorothalanil, isobutyric acid (3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[(3-isobutyryloxymethoxy-4-methoxypyridine-2-carbonyl)-amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-[1,5]dioxonan-7-yl ester, and (5,8-difluoroquinazolin-4-yl)-{2-[2-fluoro-4-(4-trifluoromethylpyridin-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-ethyl}-amine provides synergistic control of selected fungi. |
| US08470837B2 |
MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitors
Compounds of the following formula are provided for use with MEK: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds; and methods of using the presently described compounds. |
| US08470832B2 |
Co-crystals
The present invention relates to co-crystals of cyprodinil or pyrimethanil and a co-crystal forming compound which has at least one organic acid functional group. In particular, the present invention relates to co-crystals of cyprodinil and benzoic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, pyrazine carboxylic acid, glycolic acid, levulinic acid, (2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid, hexanedioic acid, 4-(methylamino) benzoic acid, trimethyl acetic acid, pyruvic acid or 4-hydroxy-4′-biphenyl carboxylic acid. |
| US08470830B2 |
5-(heterocyclyl)alkyl-N-(arylsulfonyl)indole compounds and their use as 5-HT6 ligands
Compounds including 5-(Heterocyclyl)alkyl-N-(arylsulfonyl)indole, their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them and a process for the preparation of these compounds, their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. These compounds are useful in the treatment of various disorders that are related to 5-HT6 receptor functions. Specifically, the compounds of this invention are also useful in the treatment of various CNS disorders, hematological disorders, eating disorders, diseases associated with pain, respiratory diseases, genito-urological disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. |
| US08470827B2 |
3-aminocyclopentanecarboxamides as modulators of chemokine receptors
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: which are modulators of chemokine receptors. The compounds of the invention, and compositions thereof, are useful in the treatment of diseases related to chemokine receptor expression and/or activity. |
| US08470826B2 |
Episomal fusion gene
The present invention relates to an episomal structure expressing a functional oncogene, whereby said oncogene is a fusion gene of two chromosomal gene fragments. More specifically, the invention relates to a NUP214-ABL1 fusion product, important in the development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to methods to detect the fusion and to methods to prevent the oncogenic activity of said fusion product. |
| US08470824B2 |
Substituted naphto[2,3-f]quinoxaline-7,12-diones and pharmaceutical utility thereof
A heteroannelated anthraquinone derivative compound is provided. The heteroannelated anthraquinone derivative compound is represented by a formula (IV): wherein R4 is one selected from a group consisting of a hydryl group, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxyl group, a C1-C4 ketone group, a straight alkyl group with a branch substituted by a straight C1-C3 alkyl group, a halogen substituted C1-C4 alkyl group, and a C1-C4 alkoxyl group. |
| US08470821B2 |
PDE4B inhibitors and uses therefor
Compounds active on phosphodiesterase PDE4B are provided. Also provided herewith are compositions useful for treatment of PDE4B-mediated diseases or conditions, and methods for the use thereof. |
| US08470817B2 |
Compounds and methods for treatment of cancer
Compounds for treating, preventing or managing cancer are disclosed. Also provided are methods for using the compounds in treatment of various cancers. Also provided are methods of treatment using the compounds together with another chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, or immunotherapy. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the methods are also disclosed. |
| US08470813B2 |
Thiazoline and oxazoline derivatives and their methods of use
The invention relates to a series of thiazoline and oxazoline derivatives, compositions thereof, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds. |
| US08470809B2 |
Crystalline sodium salt of cephalosporin antibiotic
The present invention relates to novel polymorph of Ceftiofur sodium as a crystalline product. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of novel polymorphs of crystalline Ceftiofur sodium of formula (I). |
| US08470807B2 |
Antioxidant
Provided is an antioxidant which is highly safe, inhibits oxidation of a biological component, in particular, a lipid, and may be used as a drug, food or drink, a food additive, an external preparation for skin, or the like. The antioxidant contains a compound selected from a cyclolanostane compound and a lophenol compound as an active ingredient. |
| US08470804B2 |
11a, 12-derivatives of tetracycline compounds
11a,12-dehydrotetracycline compounds are described. |
| US08470797B2 |
Inducible small RNA expression constructs for targeted gene silencing
The invention relates to vectors for the inducible expression of RNA molecules in eukaryotic, particularly mammalian cells and transgenic animals. |
| US08470792B2 |
Compositions and methods for selective inhibition of VEGF
Disclosed herein are siRNA compositions and methods useful for inhibiting expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms. Such compositions and methods further involve siRNA capable of selectively targeting angiogenic VEGF isoforms while selectively sparing anti-angiogenic isoforms. Diseases which involve angiogenesis stimulated by overexpression of VEGF, such as diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration and many types of cancer, can be treated by administering small interfering RNAs as disclosed. |
| US08470791B2 |
RNA antagonist compounds for the inhibition of Apo-B100 expression
Short oligonucleotides directed against the Apo-B100 gene are provided for modulating the expression of Apo-B100. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Apo-B100 expression and for the treatment of diseases associated with Apo-B100 expression are provided. The oligonucleotides comprise deoxyribonucleosides and locked nucleic acids. |
| US08470788B2 |
Topical application of ivermectin for the treatment of dermatological conditions/afflictions
Dermatological conditions/afflictions such as rosacea, common acne, seborrheic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, acneform rashes, transient acantholytic dermatosis, and acne necrotica miliaris, most notably rosacea, are treated by topically applying onto the affected skin area of an individual in need of such treatment, a topical pharmaceutical composition which comprises a thus effective amount of ivermectin. |
| US08470783B2 |
Medicinal use of histone deacetylase inhibitor and method of evaluating antitumor effect thereof
A therapeutic agent for prostate cancer and malignant lymphoma containing FK228 or a salt thereof as an active ingredient, and a method for evaluating an antitumor effect of a histone deacetylase inhibitor which includes at least a step of treating a test cell with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, a step of measuring change in the expression amount of a specific gene in the test cell before and, after the treatment with the inhibitor, comparing the both expression amounts. |
| US08470781B2 |
Use of effectors of glutaminyl and glutamate cyclases
The present invention provides novel physiological substrates of mammalian glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5), new effectors of QC and the use of such effectors and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such effectors for the treatment of diseases that can be treated by modulation of QC-activity, e.g. diseases selected from the group consisting of duodenal cancer with or w/o Heliobacter pylori infections, colorectal cancer, Zolliger-Ellison syndrome, Familial British Dementia and Familial Danish Dementia. |
| US08470780B2 |
Methods and compositions related to targeting wounds, regenerating tissue, and tumors
Disclosed are compositions and methods useful for targeting regenerating tissue, wounds, and tumors. The compositions and methods are based on peptide sequences that selectively bind to and home to regenerating tissue, wound sites, and tumors in animals. The disclosed targeting is useful for delivering therapeutic and detectable agents to regenerating tissue, wound sites, and tumors in animals. |
| US08470779B2 |
Catecholamine regulated protein
A novel mammalian catecholamine-regulated protein called CRP40 is identified. This protein, and nucleic acid encoding same, is useful in methods of diagnosing and treating hypodopaminergic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease, multisystem atrophy, lewy body dementia, schizophrenia, and bipolar disease. |
| US08470778B2 |
VIP fragments and methods of use
The invention relates to composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) fragments, and the use of those compositions in the treatment of fibrosis, hypertension and other disorders. |
| US08470772B2 |
Leptin agonist and methods of use
Peptides are provided having leptin receptor agonist activity. The peptides are useful for treating obesity, insulin resistance, lipodystrophy and hypothalamic amenorrhea, anorexia-related infertility, among other diseases and conditions related to leptin deficiency and/or leptin resistance. |
| US08470770B2 |
Antimicrobial agents
New antimicrobial polymeric agents which are designed to exert antimicrobial activity while being stable, non-toxic and avoiding development of resistance thereto and a process of preparing same are disclosed. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing same and a method of treating medical conditions associated with pathological microorganisms, a medical device, an imaging probe and a food preservative utilizing same. |
| US08470764B2 |
Bacillus thuringiensis gene with coleopteran activity
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Coleoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. |
| US08470762B2 |
Fabric softening compositions comprising polymeric materials
Fabric softening compositions comprising polymeric materials capable of retaining volatile perfume ingredients are disclosed, as well as methods of softening fabrics. |
| US08470761B2 |
Laundry formulations and method of cleaning
Textiles are simultaneously cleaned and conditioned in aqueous laundry cleaning using detergent surfactant and non-ionic fatty amino-amide/ester fabric conditioner. The conditioner particularly includes compound(s) of the formulae (IIa), to (IId), (III), (IV) and/or (V): Formula R1—CO—NH—(CH2)n—NR2—(CH2)n—O2C—R1 and Formula R1—CO—NH—(CH2)n—NR2—(CH2)n—NHCO—R1. Formula (IIc) or formula (IId). R1, R2 and n are defined with R1 and/or R2 including fatty hydrocarbyl; formula [R4—(CH2)p]3—N. R4 is HO—, or R8CO2—; R6 is hydrocarbyl (including fatty hydrocarbyl); and p is 2 to 6; formula R7—N-[(AO)m—R8]2. R7, R8, AO and m are defined with R7 and/or R8 including fatty hydrocarbyl; formula (R1—CONH)q—R10. R1 as in formulae (Ia) or (Ib), R10 is polyalkyleneimine after removal of q primary amino groups; and q is at least 1, desirably at least 2. Detergent formulations may include builders, and may be formulated to be transparent particularly using substituent branched and/or unsaturated fatty hydrocarbyl non-ionic fabric conditioners. |
| US08470760B2 |
Colored speckles for use in granular detergents
This invention relates to non-bleeding, non-staining colored speckles for use in granular or powdered detergents such as laundry detergents and automatic dishwashing detergents. The colored speckles are comprised of a salt or salt-containing carrier and a coloring agent and are characterized as being substantially uniformly colored throughout the cross-sectional volume of the speckle. |
| US08470759B2 |
Liquid cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprising a polyhydroxy-alkanoate biodegradable abrasive
The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprising biodegradable abrasive cleaning particles. |
| US08470738B2 |
Pyridazinone compound and herbicide containing the same
There is provided a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is a C1-6 alkyl group or a (C1-6 alkyloxy)C1-6 alkyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group; G is a hydrogen atom etc.; Z1 is a C1-6 alkyl group or a C1-6 alkyloxy group; Z2 is a C3-8 cycloalkyl group, etc.; Z3 is a C1-6 alkyl group, etc.; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, which has an excellent weed controlling effect. |
| US08470737B2 |
Composition and method for treating injured woody plants, bushes and trees
The invention relates to a composition and method for treating a wound site of a woody plant or tree. The composition includes about 70% to 90% water by volume of the total composition and about 10% to 30% sodium metasilicate by volume of the total composition. The method includes the steps of preparing the composition and applying the composition to form a coating on the wound site. |
| US08470736B2 |
Turfgrass quality
The present invention relates to a method for improving turfgrass quality, by applying to the turfgrass a plant growth regulator and jasmonic acid, or a salt or ester thereof, and to a composition comprising the same. |
| US08470734B2 |
Thermosensitive recording material
A heat-sensitive recording material includes a paper web with recycled fibers and a heat-sensitive recording layer includes color formers and color acceptors. The amount of recycled fiber contained in the paper web is at least 70 percent by weight, and the heat-sensitive recording layer has, as color acceptor, at least 33⅓ percent by weight of N-(p-toluenesulphonyl)-N′-3-(p-toluenesulphonyloxyphenyl)urea in relation to the total content of color acceptors in the heat-sensitive recording layer. |
| US08470733B2 |
Direct thermal media and registration sensor system and method for use in a color thermal printer
Provided is a direct thermal media containing a regular repeating pattern of color-forming thermally-imageable stripes printed parallel to the print head element line and a system for using such direct thermal media in color direct thermal printers including an optical registration system optimized for use with this media and an image processing unit that monitors the position of the stripe pattern relative to the print head and synchronizes the start of the printing process. This direct thermal media together with the optical registration system and image processing unit comprise an operative system in that the design of the thermal media, the optical registration system and image processing unit used to control printing are optimized for use with each other. This system may be utilized, for example, in color thermal printers for documents, receipts, tags, tickets or labels. |
| US08470730B2 |
Process for producing catalyst
Disclosed is a method for producing a catalyst, in which physical properties of a dried material or a calcined material in a production process of the catalyst are stable and a change in at least one of a catalyst activity and a selectivity to a target product is small and hence reproducibility of the catalyst is excellent. The present invention is a method for producing a catalyst containing molybdenum, bismuth, and iron, which contains the steps of washing a surface of at least one device equipped in an apparatus for the production of catalyst, to which a solid matter adheres, with a basic solution, and producing the catalyst with the apparatus for the production of catalyst thus washed. |
| US08470724B2 |
Transparent polycrystalline material and production process for the same
Upon producing a transparent polycrystalline material, a suspension liquid (or slurry 1) is prepared, the suspension liquid being made by dispersing a raw-material powder in a solution, the raw-material powder including optically anisotropic single-crystalline particles to which a rare-earth element is added. A formed body is obtained from the suspension liquid by means of carrying out slip casting in a space with a magnetic field applied. On this occasion, while doing a temperature control so that the single-crystalline particles demonstrate predetermined magnetic anisotropy, one of static magnetic fields and rotary magnetic fields is selected in compliance with a direction of an axis of easy magnetization in the single-crystalline particles, and is then applied to them. A transparent polycrystalline material is obtained by sintering the formed body, the transparent polycrystalline material having a polycrystalline structure whose crystal orientation is controlled. In this calcination step, after subjecting the formed body to primary sintering at a temperature of 1,600-1,900 K, the resulting primarily-sintered body undergoes hot-isotropic-press sintering (or HIP processing) at a temperature of 1,600-1,900 K. |
| US08470716B2 |
Methods for forming semiconductor constructions, and methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to conductive material
The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl2 to remove the exposed silicon nitride, while not removing at least the majority of the metal nitride from the containers. In subsequent processing, the containers can be incorporated into capacitors. |
| US08470715B2 |
CD bias loading control with ARC layer open
A method for etching a line pattern in an etch layer disposed below an antireflective coating (ARC) layer below a patterned mask is provided. The method includes opening the ARC layer, in which an ARC opening gas comprising CF3I, a fluorocarbon (including hydrofluorocarbon) containing gas, and an oxygen containing gas are provided, a plasma is formed from the ARC opening gas to open the ARC layer, and providing the ARC opening gas is stopped. Line pattern features are etched into the etch layer through the opened ARC layer. |
| US08470714B1 |
Method of forming fin structures in integrated circuits
A method of forming fin structure in integrated circuit comprising the steps of forming a plurality of fin structures on a substrate, covering an insulating layer on said substrate, performing a planarization process to expose mask layers, performing a wet etching process to etch said insulating layer, thereby exposing a part of the sidewall of said mask layer, removing said mask layer, and performing a dry etching process to remove pad layer and a part of said insulating layer, thereby exposing the top surface and a part of sidewall of said fin structures. |
| US08470713B2 |
Nitride etch for improved spacer uniformity
A method of forming dielectric spacers including providing a substrate comprising a first region having a first plurality of gate structures and a second region having a second plurality of gate structures and at least one oxide containing material or a carbon containing material. Forming a nitride containing layer over the first region having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the nitride containing layer that is present in the second region. Forming dielectric spacers from the nitride containing layer on the first plurality the second plurality of gate structures. The at least one oxide containing material or carbon containing material accelerates etching in the second region so that the thickness of the dielectric spacers in the first region is substantially equal to the thickness of the dielectric spacers in the second region of the substrate. |
| US08470711B2 |
Tone inversion with partial underlayer etch for semiconductor device formation
A method for tone inversion for integrated circuit fabrication includes providing a substrate with an underlayer on top of the substrate; creating a first pattern, the first pattern being partially etched into a portion of the underlayer such that a remaining portion of the underlayer is protected and forms a second pattern, and such that the first pattern does not expose the substrate located underneath the underlayer; covering the first pattern with a layer of image reverse material (IRM); and etching the second pattern into the substrate. A structure for tone inversion for integrated circuit fabrication includes a substrate; a partially etched underlayer comprising a first pattern located over the substrate, the first pattern being partially etched into a portion of the underlayer such that a remaining portion of the underlayer is protected and forms a second pattern, and such that the first pattern does not expose the substrate located underneath the underlayer; and an image reversal material (IRM) layer located over the partially etched underlayer. |
| US08470707B2 |
Silicide method
A process for forming an integrated circuit with reduced sidewall spacers to enable improved silicide formation between minimum spaced transistor gates. A process for forming an integrated circuit with reduced sidewall spacers by first forming sidewall spacer by etching a sidewall dielectric and stopping on an etch stop layer, implanting source and drain dopants self aligned to the sidewall spacers, followed by removing a portion of the sidewall dielectric and removing the etch stop layer self aligned to the reduced sidewall spacers prior to forming silicide. |
| US08470706B2 |
Methods to mitigate plasma damage in organosilicate dielectrics
Methods of minimizing or eliminating plasma damage to low k and ultra low k organosilicate intermetal dielectric layers are provided. The reduction of the plasma damage is effected by interrupting the etch and strip process flow at a suitable point to add an inventive treatment which protects the intermetal dielectric layer from plasma damage during the plasma strip process. Reduction or elimination of a plasma damaged region in this manner also enables reduction of the line bias between a line pattern in a photoresist and a metal line formed therefrom, and changes in the line width of the line trench due to a wet clean after the reactive ion etch employed for formation of the line trench and a via cavity. The reduced line bias has a beneficial effect on electrical yields of a metal interconnect structure. |
| US08470703B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Methods of forming a semiconductor device include providing a substrate having an area including a source and a drain region of a transistor. A nickel (Ni) metal film is formed on the substrate area including the source and the drain region. A first heat-treatment process is performed including heating the substrate including the metal film from a first temperature to a second temperature at a first ramping rate and holding the substrate including the metal film at the second temperature for a first period of time. A second heat-treatment process is then performed including heating the substrate including the metal film from a third temperature to a fourth temperature at a second ramping rate and holding the substrate at the fourth temperature for a second period of time. The fourth temperature is different from the second temperature and the second period of time is different from the first period of time. The sequentially performed first and second heat-treatment processes convert the Ni metal layer on the source and drain regions into a NiSi layer on the source and drain regions and a NiSi2 layer between the NiSi layer and the source and drain regions. |
| US08470702B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for forming the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, which includes a junction region formed in an active area of a semiconductor substrate; a trench defining a buried gate predetermined area within the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode buried in an lower portion of the trench; an ion implantation region formed in a sidewall of the trench; and a capping insulation layer formed in an upper portion of the gate electrode. |
| US08470698B2 |
Method for growing p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal and p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal
In a method for growing a p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal on a SiC single crystal substrate, using a first solution in which C is dissolved in a melt of Si, a second solution is prepared by adding Al and N to the first solution such that an amount of Al added is larger than that of N added, and the p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal is grown on the SiC single crystal substrate from the second solution. A p-type SiC semiconductor single crystal is provided which is grown by the method as described above, and which contains 1×1020 cm−3 of Al and 2×1018 to 7×1018 cm−3 of N as impurities. |
| US08470697B2 |
Method of forming p-type compound semiconductor layer
A method of forming a p-type compound semiconductor layer includes increasing a temperature of a substrate loaded into a reaction chamber to a first temperature. A source gas of a Group III element, a source gas of a p-type impurity, and a source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen are supplied into the reaction chamber to grow the p-type compound semiconductor layer. Then, the supply of the source gas of the Group III element and the source gas of the p-type impurity is stopped and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to a second temperature. The supply of the source gas of nitrogen containing hydrogen is stopped and drawn out at the second temperature, and the temperature of the substrate is lowered to room temperature using a cooling gas. Accordingly, hydrogen is prevented from bonding to the p-type impurity in the p-type compound semiconductor layer. |
| US08470696B2 |
Laser mask and crystallization method using the same
A crystallization method using a mask includes providing a substrate having a semiconductor layer; positioning a mask over the substrate, the mask having first, second and third blocks, each block having a periodic pattern including a plurality of transmitting regions and a blocking region, the periodic pattern of the first block having a first position, the periodic pattern of the second block having a second position, the periodic pattern of the third block having a third position, the first, second and third positions being different from each other; and crystallizing the semiconductor layer by irradiating a laser beam through the mask. |
| US08470695B2 |
Method of manufacturing micromachine having spatial portion within
A semiconductor element of the electric circuit includes a semiconductor layer over a gate electrode. The semiconductor layer of the semiconductor element is formed of a layer including polycrystalline silicon which is obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon by heat treatment or laser irradiation, over a substrate. The obtained layer including polycrystalline silicon is also used for a structure layer such as a movable electrode of a structure body. Therefore, the structure body and the electric circuit for controlling the structure body can be formed over one substrate. As a result, a micromachine can be miniaturized. Further, assembly and packaging are unnecessary, so that manufacturing cost can be reduced. |
| US08470693B2 |
Method for manufacturing quantum dot
A silicon oxide film (2) comprising an amorphous phase is deposited on a substrate (1) (see a step (b)) by a plasma CVD method using an SiH4 gas and an N2O gas. Subsequently, a sample comprising the silicon oxide film (2)/the substrate (1) is set on an RTA apparatus. The sample (=the silicon oxide film (2)/the substrate (1)) is heat-treated (rapid heating and rapid cooling) (see a step (c)). In this case, a temperature raising rate is 200° C./s, and a temperature in heat treatment is 1000° C. |
| US08470692B2 |
Method and device for preparing compound semiconductor film
The present invention discloses a method and a device for preparing a compound semiconductor film. The method comprises the steps of: providing a substrate above at least an evaporation source in a vacuum condition; heating a source material contained in the evaporation source so that the source material is vapor-deposited on the substrate; and taking out the substrate under protection of an inert gas. The substrate may be rotated around an axis of a plane where the evaporation source is positioned, and the substrate is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the plane. The compound semi-conductive film thus prepared has a uniform thickness with a larger area. The method provides a simplified process and enhanced efficiency. |
| US08470684B2 |
Suppression of diffusion in epitaxial buried plate for deep trenches
Dopants of a first conductivity type are implanted into a top portion of a semiconductor substrate having a doping of the first conductivity type to increase the dopant concentration in the top portion, which is a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer. A semiconductor material layer having a doping of the second conductivity type, a buried insulator layer, and a top semiconductor layer are formed thereupon. Deep trenches having a narrow width have a bottom surface within the second-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, which functions as a buried plate. Deep trenches having a wider width are etched into the first-conductivity-type layer underneath, and can be used to form an isolation structure. The additional dopants in the first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer provide a counterdoping against downward diffusion of dopants of the second conductivity type to enhance electrical isolation. |
| US08470682B2 |
Methods and structures for increased thermal dissipation of thin film resistors
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming at least one trench in an insulator layer formed on a substrate. A distance between a bottom edge of the at least one trench and a top surface of a substrate is shorter than a distance between an uppermost surface of the insulator layer and the top surface of the substrate. The method also includes: forming a resistor on the insulator layer and extending into the at least one trench; forming a first contact in contact with the resistor; and forming a second contact in contact with the resistor such that current is configured to flow from the first contact to the second contact through a central portion of the resistor. |
| US08470678B2 |
Tensile stress enhancement of nitride film for stressed channel field effect transistor fabrication
A method for inducing a tensile stress in a channel of a field effect transistor (FET) includes forming a nitride film over the FET; forming a contact hole to the FET through the nitride film; and performing ultraviolet (UV) curing of the nitride film after forming the contact hole to the FET through the nitride film, wherein the UV cured nitride film induces the tensile stress in the channel of the FET. |
| US08470677B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Gate electrodes are formed in a high speed transistor forming region, a low leakage transistor forming region, and a medium voltage transistor forming region, respectively. Thereafter, a photoresist film covering the medium voltage transistor forming region is formed. Then, ions of an impurity are implanted into a semiconductor substrate while using the photoresist film and the gate electrodes as a mask, and p-type pocket regions, extension regions, and impurity regions are thereby formed. Subsequently, another photoresist film covering the high speed transistor forming region is formed. Then, ions of an impurity are implanted into the semiconductor substrate while using the other photoresist film and the gate electrodes as a mask, and impurity regions and extension regions are thereby formed. |
| US08470673B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device with buried bit line
A semiconductor device includes an active region having a sidewall, which has a sidewall step, a junction formed under a surface of the sidewall step, and a buried bit line configured to contact the junction. |
| US08470669B2 |
System and method for EEPROM architecture
A method for manufacturing an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) device includes providing a substrate and forming a gate oxide over the substrate. Also, the method includes providing a mask overlying the gate oxide layer, the mask defining a tunnel opening. The method additionally includes performing selective etching over the mask to form a tunnel oxide layer. The method includes forming a floating gate over the tunnel oxide layer and a selective gate over the gate oxide layer. The method includes angle doping a region of the substrate using the floating gate as a mask to obtain a first doped region. The method further includes forming a dielectric layer over the floating gate and a control gate over the dielectric layer. The method additionally includes angle doping a second region of the substrate using the selective gate as a mask to obtain a second doped region, wherein the first and second doped regions partially overlap. |
| US08470668B2 |
Method for forming pillar type capacitor of semiconductor device
An embodiment of the invention includes a pillar type capacitor where a pillar is formed over an upper portion of a storage node contact. A bottom electrode is formed over sidewalls of the pillar, and a dielectric film is formed over pillar and the bottom electrode. A top electrode is then formed over the upper portion of the dielectric film. |
| US08470665B2 |
Low leakage MIM capacitor
Capacitor structures for use in integrated circuits and methods of their manufacture. The capacitor structures include a bottom electrode, a top electrode and a dielectric layer interposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The capacitor structures further include a metal oxide buffer layer interposed between the dielectric layer and at least one of the bottom and top electrodes. Each metal oxide buffer layer acts to improve capacitance and reduce capacitor leakage. The capacitors are suited for use as memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits. |
| US08470662B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for making the same, wherein, according to the method, after the gate stack is formed, a buffer layer is formed on sidewalls of an PMOS gate stack, the buffer layer being formed of a porous low-k dielectric layer; and then, sidewall spacers and source/drain/halo regions, and source and drain regions are formed for the device; and finally, a high-temperature anneal is conducted in an oxygen environment such that the oxygen in the oxygen environment diffuse through the buffer layer into the high-k dielectric layer of the second gate stack. The present invention lowers threshold voltage of the PMOS device without affecting the threshold voltage of the NMOS device, avoids damages to the gate and substrate incurred by removing the PMOS sidewall spacer in a traditional process, and hereby effectively improves the overall performance of the device. |
| US08470658B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device, the method including preparing a first conductivity type substrate including a first conductivity type impurity such that the first conductivity type substrate has a first impurity concentration; forming a buried impurity layer using blank implant such that the buried impurity layer includes a first conductivity type impurity and has a second impurity concentration higher than the first impurity concentration; forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate having the buried impurity layer thereon; and forming semiconductor devices and a device isolation region in or on the epitaxial layer. |
| US08470657B1 |
Ion implantation method for semiconductor sidewalls
An ion implantation method for semiconductor sidewalls includes steps of: forming a trench on a substrate, and the trench having a lower reflecting layer and two sidewalls adjacent to a bottom section; performing a plasma doping procedure to sputter conductive ions to the lower reflecting layer and the conductive ions being rebounded from the lower reflecting layer to adhere to the sidewalls to respectively form an adhesion layer thereon; and performing an annealing procedure to diffuse the conductive ions of the adhesion layer into the substrate to form a conductive segment. Thus, without damaging the substrate, the conductive segment having a high conductive ion doping concentration is formed at a predetermined region to satisfy semiconductor design requirements. |
| US08470656B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a first transistor including a first source/drain region and a first sidewall spacer, and a second transistor including a second source/drain region and a second sidewall spacer, the first sidewall spacer has a first width and the second sidewall spacer has a second width wider than the first width, and the first source/drain region has a first area and the second source/drain region has a second area larger than the first area. |
| US08470655B1 |
Method for designing stressor pattern
A method for designing a stressor pattern is described, wherein the stressor pattern is used to form S/D regions of a second-type MOS transistor. A first distance between a boundary of the stressor pattern and a first active area of a first-type MOS transistor is derived. If the first distance is less than a safe distance, the stressor pattern is shrunk to make the first distance at least equal to the safe distance. |
| US08470654B2 |
Methods of forming an electrically conductive buried line and an electrical contact thereto and methods of forming a buried access line and an electrical contact thereto
A method of forming an electrically conductive buried line and an electrical contact thereto includes forming of a longitudinally elongated conductive line within a trench in substrate material. A longitudinal end part thereof within the trench is of spoon-like shape having a receptacle. The receptacle is filled with conductive material. Insulative material is formed over the conductive material that is within the receptacle. A contact opening is formed over the conductive material that is within the receptacle. Conductor material is formed in the contact opening in electrical connection with the second conductive material that is within the receptacle. Other method and device implementations are disclosed. |
| US08470644B2 |
Exposed die package for direct surface mounting
A method of forming an electronic assembly includes attaching a backside metal layer the bottomside of a semiconductor die. An area of the backside metal layer matches an area of the bottomside of the die. A die pad and leads are encapsulated within the molding material. The leads include an exposed portion that includes a bonding portion. A gap exposes the backside metal layer along a bottom surface of the package. Bond wires couple the pads on the topside of the die to the leads and the bonding portions. Packaged semiconductor device is soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB). The backside metal layer and the bonding portions of the leads are soldered substrate pads on said PCB. |
| US08470637B2 |
Method for fabricating a resistor for a resistance random access memory
A method for fabricating a resistor for a resistance random access memory (RRAM) includes: (a) forming a first electrode over a substrate; (b) forming a variable resistance layer of zirconium oxide on the first electrode under a working temperature, which ranges from 175° C. to 225° C.; and (c) forming a second electrode of Ti on the variable resistance layer. |
| US08470635B2 |
Keyhole-free sloped heater for phase change memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a phase change memory device. |
| US08470634B2 |
Method of manufacturing oxide thin film transistor
An oxide thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the oxide TFT are provided. The oxide thin film transistor (TFT) including: a gate; a channel formed to correspond to the gate, and a capping layer having a higher work function than the channel; a gate insulator disposed between the gate and the channel; and a source and drain respectively contacting either side of the capping layer and the channel and partially on a top surface of the capping layer. |
| US08470633B2 |
Circuit architecture on an organic base and related manufacturing method
A method comprises providing a bottom electrode, depositing, on the bottom electrode, an active material comprising a first structural portion having an absorption peak at a UV wavelength, wherein such first structural portion is photo-activatable at such wavelength and which is constituted by monomers or oligomers that, when irradiated at said wavelength, undergo a photo-polymerization and/or photo-cross-linking reaction, or constituted by a polymer that at a UV wavelength undergoes a photo-degradation reaction, and a second electrically active or activatable structural portion which is substantially transparent to such predetermined UV wavelength; exposing a portion of the active material, through a photomask, to UV radiation having such UV wavelength, with photo-activation of the exposed portion of such film; selectively removing either the exposed photo-activated portion or the non-exposed portion, with exposure of a respective portion of the bottom electrode; depositing a head electrode. |
| US08470632B2 |
Process for producing doped silicon layers, silicon layers obtainable by the process and use thereof
The present invention relates to a process for producing a doped silicon layer on a substrate, comprising the steps of (a) providing a liquid silane formulation and a substrate, (b) applying the liquid silane formulation to the substrate, (c) introducing electromagnetic and/or thermal energy to obtain an at least partly polymorphic silicon layer, (d) providing a liquid formulation which comprises at least one aluminum-containing metal complex, (e) applying this formulation to the silicon layer obtained after step (c) and then (f) heating the coating obtained after step (e) by introducing electromagnetic and/or thermal energy, which decomposes the formulation obtained after step (d) at least to metal and hydrogen, and then (g) cooling the coating obtained after step (f) to obtain an Al-doped or Al- and metal-doped silicon layer, to doped silicon layers obtainable by the process and to the use thereof for production of light-sensitive elements and electronic components. |
| US08470631B2 |
Method for manufacturing capped MEMS components
A simple and economical method for manufacturing very thin capped MEMS components. In the method, a large number of MEMS units are produced on a component wafer. A capping wafer is then mounted on the component wafer, so that each MEMS unit is provided with a capping structure. Finally, the MEMS units capped in this way are separated to form MEMS components. A diaphragm layer is formed in a surface of the capping wafer by using a surface micromechanical method to produce at least one cavern underneath the diaphragm layer, support points being formed that connect the diaphragm layer to the substrate underneath the cavern. The capping wafer structured in this way is mounted on the component wafer in flip chip technology, so that the MEMS units of the component wafer are capped by the diaphragm layer. The support points are then cut through in order to remove the substrate. |
| US08470630B2 |
Method for capping a MEMS wafer and MEMS wafer
The invention relates to a method for capping a MEMS wafer (1), in particular a sensor and/or actuator wafer, with at least one mechanical functional element (10). According to the invention, it is provided that the movable mechanical functional element (10) is fixed by means of a sacrificial layer (14), and that a cap layer (19) is applied to, in particular epitaxially grown onto, the sacrificial layer (14) and/or to at least one intermediate layer (17) applied to the sacrificial layer (14). The invention also relates to a capped MEMS wafer (1). |
| US08470628B2 |
Methods to fabricate silicide micromechanical device
A method is disclosed to fabricate an electro-mechanical device such as a MEMS or NEMS switch. The method includes providing a silicon layer disposed over an insulating layer that is disposed on a silicon substrate; releasing a portion of the silicon layer from the insulating layer so that it is at least partially suspended over a cavity in the insulating layer; depositing a metal (e.g., Pt) on at least one surface of at least the released portion of the silicon layer and, using a thermal process, fully siliciding at least the released portion of the silicon layer using the deposited metal. The method eliminates silicide-induced stress to the released Si member, as the entire Si member is silicided. Furthermore no conventional wet chemical etch is used after forming the fully silicided material thereby reducing a possibility of causing corrosion of the silicide and an increase in stiction. |
| US08470626B2 |
Method of fabricating light emitting diode
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of fabricating a light emitting diode (LED). According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method includes growing a first GaN-based semiconductor layer on a substrate at a first temperature by supplying a chamber with a nitride source gas and a first metal source gas, stopping the supply of the first metal source gas and maintaining the first temperature for a first time period after stopping the supply of the first metal source gas, decreasing the temperature of the substrate to the a second temperature after the first time period elapses, growing an active layer of the first GaN-based semiconductor layer at the second temperature by supplying the chamber with a second metal source gas. |
| US08470622B1 |
Method for manufacturing array substrate of transmissive liquid crystal display
A method for manufacturing an array substrate of a transmissive LCD includes: (1) providing a substrate; (2) forming a transparent electrode layer on the substrate and forming a first metal layer on the transparent electrode layer; (3) applying a first photo-masking operation to form a gate terminal and a pixel electrode; (4) forming an insulation layer on the gate terminal and the pixel electrode; (5) applying a second photo-masking operation to form a gate insulation layer on the insulation layer; (6) forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulation layer and forming a second metal layer on the semiconductor layer; and (7) applying a third photo-masking operation to form a channel layer on the semiconductor layer and also forming a drain terminal and a source terminal on the second metal layer, so as to form a thin-film transistor. |
| US08470621B2 |
Method for fabricating a flip-chip semiconductor optoelectronic device
A method for fabricating flip-chip semiconductor optoelectronic devices initially flip-chip bonds a semiconductor optoelectronic chip attached to an epitaxial substrate to a packaging substrate. The epitaxial substrate is then separated using lift-off technology. |
| US08470620B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same
A solid-state imaging device with a semiconductor substrate; a pixel formation region in the substrate and including a pixel made of a photoelectric conversion element; and an element isolation portion in the substrate and including an element isolation insulating layer and an impurity element isolation region. The element isolation insulating layer is positioned in a surface of the substrate. The impurity element isolation region is positioned under the element isolation insulating layer and within the substrate. The impurity element isolation region has at least a portion with a width that is narrower than that of the element isolation insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion element extends to a position under the element isolation insulating layer of the element isolation portion. |
| US08470618B2 |
Method of manufacturing a light-emitting diode having electrically active and passive portions
The disclosure relates to a making a matrix of III-V nitride, the matrix including at least an active first portion through which an electrical current passes and at least a passive second portion through which no electrical current passes, the matrix including at least a first zone forming a first quantum confinement region made of a III-V nitride, the first zone being positioned in the active first portion, and at least a second zone forming a second quantum confinement region made of III-V nitride, such that the second zone is positioned to the passive portion of the matrix. |
| US08470617B2 |
Composition including material, methods of depositing material, articles including same and systems for depositing material
Methods for depositing nanomaterial onto a substrate are disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions useful for depositing nanomaterial, methods of making devices including nanomaterials, and a system and devices useful for depositing nanomaterials. |
| US08470614B2 |
PECVD showerhead configuration for CMP uniformity and improved stress
A dielectric deposition tool for forming a silicon dioxide layer on a wafer with a TEOS showerhead which delivers a flow rate per unit area from an edge band of the showerhead that is at least twice a flow rate per unit area from a central region of the showerhead. The edge band extends at least one half inch from an outer edge of the showerhead up to one fourth of the diameter of the wafer. A process of forming an integrated circuit by forming a silicon dioxide layer on a wafer containing the integrated circuit using the dielectric deposition tool. The silicon dioxide layer is thicker under the edge band than under the central region. A subsequent CMP operation reduces the thickness difference between the wafer outer annulus and the wafer core by at least half. The silicon dioxide layer has a compressive stress between 125 and 225 MPa. |
| US08470613B2 |
Flexible packaging for chip-on-chip and package-on-package technologies
In one embodiment, a packaging solution for an application integrated circuit (IC) and one or more other ICs is provided. The packaging solution may support both chip-on-chip packaging of the application IC (in flip-chip connection to a package substrate) and other ICs (in non-flip chip orientation), and package-on-package packaging of the application IC and the other ICs. The package substrate may include a first set of pads proximate to the application IC to support chip-on-chip connection to the other ICs. The pads may be connected to conductors that extend underneath the application IC, to connect to the application IC. A second set of pads may be connected to package pins for package-on-package solutions. If the chip-on-chip solution proves reliable, support for the package-on-package solution may be eliminated and the package substrate may be reduced in size. |
| US08470611B2 |
Biologically self-assembled nanotubes
A method of a general biological approach to synthesizing compact nanotubes using a biological template is described. |
| US08470605B2 |
Optical reader for reading encoded microparticles
An optical reader for reading encoded microparticles. Each microparticle has an elongated body with an optically detectable code that extends along a longitudinal axis of the corresponding elongated body. The reader includes a plate that has a plurality of channels. The channels are configured to receive and align the microparticles so that the codes of the microparticles are in a common fixed orientation relative to each other. The reader also includes an illumination source for illuminating the microparticles on the plate. The codes in the microparticles reflect a portion of incident light and permit a portion of the incident light to pass through the microparticles thereby providing an output signal indicative of the code. The reader also includes a detection device that is configured to capture the output signal provided by the microparticles. |
| US08470597B2 |
Composite for thermo-sensitive cell-tissue transplanted scaffold and use thereof
A composite comprising a stem cell; a biodegradable layer, which can provide an environment for the stem cell to grow and to differentiate, and; a N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), which can polymerize with the biodegradable layer and possess the temperature-responsive character for easy stripping. The present invention further provides a method for treating a patient with a skin defect, consisting of (a) providing said patient with a composite consisting of a N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) layer polymerized with a biodegradable layer containing gelatin and a layer of polypropylene (PP) non-woven, wherein a bone marrow derived mononuclear cell with CD45 negative and glycophorin A negative is cultivating on the biodegradable layer; (b) covering said composite on the skin defect of the patient; and (c) treating the composite with water below 25° C. to strip off the layer of polypropylene (PP) non-woven. |
| US08470596B2 |
Primitive vascular progenitor cells and uses thereof
Described herein are isolated mammalian cells (progenitor cell biomarkers), referred to as primitive vascular progenitor cells (PVPC), which are present in and isolated from blood (e.g., peripheral blood) and useful as biomarkers of vascular remodeling in mammals (e.g., humans, rodents). |
| US08470594B2 |
Methods for identifying agents that affect the survival of motor neurons
Disclosed are embryonic stem cells and motor neurons derived from mice carrying transgenic alleles of the normal or mutant human SOD1 gene. Also disclosed are in vitro systems employing such SOD1 transgenic motor neurons for the study of neural degenerative disease. |
| US08470591B2 |
Kit of parts designed for implementing an antitumoral or antiviral treatment in a mammal
The present invention relates to a kit of parts comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a permease and a drug comprising one nucleobase moiety or a precursor thereof. The present invention further relates to a kit of parts comprising a precursor of a drug comprising a gene coding a permease and a nucleic acid sequence comprising a suicide gene. The present invention also relates to a vector comprising a gene coding a permease and a suicide gene. |
| US08470589B2 |
Multilayered cell culture apparatus
A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications. |
| US08470587B2 |
129Xe biosensors and their use
This invention relates to enzyme-sensitive biosensors and methods and kits using the same. Specifically, the invention relates to methods, systems and kits for the detection of enzymes using the chemical shift observed in an isotope complexed to the biosensor resulting from a change in the biosensor as the result of the enzyme's activity. |
| US08470585B2 |
Process for adenovirus purification from high cell density cultures
The invention provides methods for large-scale adenovirus purification from high cell density suspensions, using host cell DNA fragmentation and/or precipitation followed by a clarification step with tangential flow filtration. |
| US08470584B2 |
Apparatus and method for growing biological organisms for fuel and other purposes
A bioreactor apparatus in which a container has sidewalls, a floor and a ceiling defining a chamber that contains a slurry of water, nutrients and photosynthetic microorganisms. A plurality of optical fibers, each of which has a first end disposed outside the chamber and a second end in the mixture. A light collector spaced from the container has light incident on it and focuses the light onto the first ends of the plurality of optical fibers, thereby permitting the light to be conveyed into the mixture to promote photosynthesis. At least one nozzle is in fluid communication with a source of gas, such as exhaust gas from a fossil-fuel burning power plant containing carbon dioxide. The nozzle is disposed in the mixture beneath the second ends of the optical fibers for injecting the gas into the mixture. |
| US08470581B2 |
Reduction of carbon dioxide emission during isoprene production by fermentation
The present invention provides methods for increasing the amount of isoprene produced by cultured cells with only a minimal increase in carbon dioxide emitted, thereby resulting in process having a greater yield of isoprene relative to carbon dioxide. In addition, the present invention provides compositions that include the cultured cells or isoprene produced there from. |
| US08470580B2 |
Method for the selection of recombination clones comprising a sequence encoding an antidote protein to a toxic molecule
The present invention is related to a method for the selection of recombinant clones having integrated a gene of interest and a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional antidote protein to a toxic molecule, wherein said recombinant clones are the ones which survive following their integration into a host cell comprising in its genome a nucleotide sequence encoding said toxic molecule. The present invention is also related to a nucleic acid construct, a vector comprising said nucleic acid construct, a host cell and a cloning and/or sequencing kit for performing said method. |
| US08470574B2 |
L-succinylaminoacylase and process for producing L-amino acid using it
The present invention provides an L-aminoacylase which is able to produce L-tert-leucine being useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals.A protein which is characterized in being represented by any of the following (a) to (d): (a) a protein coded by a gene consisting of a nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 1; (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2; (c) a protein coded by a polynucleotide which hybridizes under a stringent condition with a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 1 and having an L-succinylaminoacylase activity; and (d) a protein which consists of an amino acid sequence where one or several amino acid (s) is/are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added in the protein consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2 and has an L-succinylaminoacylase activity. |