Document Document Title
US08582401B2 Library device including a tapered shape insertion release part, method of taking out data cartridge, and method of receiving the data cartridge
A cell (300) includes a cartridge lock (306) at its opening for securing a data cartridge (100) in the cell by locking. A picker mechanism (500) includes a picker arm (521) and an ejection release part (522) for releasing locking realized by the cartridge lock (306). When the data cartridge (100) is to be inserted into the cell (300), the cartridge lock (306) is caused to retract as far as a position at which locking is released by a tapered surface (101) that is provided on the data cartridge (100); and when the data cartridge (100) is to be ejected from the cell (300), cartridge lock (306) is released by the ejection release part (522) at the same time that picker arm (521) engages engagement hole (102).
US08582400B2 Data library apparatus
A data library apparatus capable of changing the mounting positions of disks on the basis of information recorded in the disks and the access histories of the disks. Disks expected to be accessed next are mounted in advance on data recording/reproducing devices, on slots nearer to the data recording/reproducing devices, or on a disk carrying device, etc. In addition, disks relevant to currently active disks are mounted on positions so that the optical disk carrying device can bring out the relevant disks at a time without being moved, and hereby the time necessary for disk access in the data library apparatus can be reduced.
US08582397B2 Creating, directing and steering regions of intensity of wave propagation in inhomogeneous media
Known time reversal methods consist of three steps which may be listed as (i) the recording of signals and (ii) the time reversing of the recorded signals, and (iii) the transmission of the time-reversed signals. The first and third steps of the above process are retained, but the second step is modified. The empirical signal is transformed to fit mathematical forms taught by the mathematics of singularity and catastrophe theory that ensure a structural stability to the waveforms that will be received, when the time reversed signals are transmitted again. This structural stability ensures robustness of the waveform and the predominant direction of the flux of energy of the waveform, and improves controllability of the location of the high magnitude regions of the energy flux despite limited knowledge of the exact properties of the medium. Applications to drug delivery in the brain, and geophysical applications are envisaged.
US08582393B2 Method and apparatus for controlling temperature of an acoustic transducer
Embodiments relate to monitoring the temperature of a transducer and controlling the temperature as a function of adjusting one or more characteristics of the transducer.
US08582390B2 Wordline voltage transfer apparatus, systems, and methods
The apparatus and systems described herein may comprise a plurality of memory cells coupled to a local wordline, and a wordline drive circuit that includes a regulator coupled to a plurality of pass transistors and a string driver. The regulator may comprise a regulator transistor having a threshold voltage that is substantially the same as the threshold voltage of the string driver during memory cell program operations. In some embodiments, the regulator may comprise a cascode-connected pair of transistors. Methods of manufacturing and operating the apparatus and systems are also described.
US08582388B1 Serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) capable of preventing data loss
A serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module device includes a power circuit, a storage chip, a control chip connected to the storage chip, and a detecting chip storing a preset voltage. The detecting chip includes a detecting pin connected to a power circuit through a first resistor and grounded through a second resistor, a ground pin grounded, a voltage pin connected to the power circuit, the control chip, and the storage chip, and an output pin connected to the storage chip. The detecting chip compares an output voltage of the power circuit detected by the detecting pin with the preset voltage, to output a control signal through the output pin to the control chip in response to the detected voltage being less than the preset voltage, to signal the control chip to control the storage chip to store data.
US08582383B2 Semiconductor memory device with hidden refresh and method for controlling the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having plural memory cells that require a refresh operation when retaining data; a read/write control unit that performs read-access or write-access of memory cell address specified for the memory cell array based on instructions from the outside; a refresh control unit that performs hidden-refresh of memory cells without control from the outside; and a schedule control unit that makes the refresh control unit perform hidden-refresh after the read/write control unit read-accesses the memory cell array, and that also makes the refresh control unit perform hidden-refresh before the read/write access control unit performs write-access.
US08582376B2 Timing adjustment circuit for a memory interface and method of adjusting timing for memory interface
According to one embodiment, a timing adjustment circuit for a memory interface is presented. The circuit is provided with a gate circuit, an original gate signal generation circuit, a high impedance prevention unit, an impedance control unit and a gate leveling circuit. The gate circuit performs gating of a data strobe signal outputted from a memory. The original gate signal generation circuit generates an original gate signal based on information of a read latency and a burst length. The high impedance prevention unit to prevent the data strobe signal from being in a high impedance state. The impedance control unit controls execution and release of operation of the high impedance prevention unit. The gate leveling circuit outputs a timing adjusted gate signal to the gate circuit based on the original gate signal and the data strobe signal.
US08582372B2 NAND flash memory having multiple cell substrates
A NAND flash memory bank having a plurality of bitlines of a memory array connected to a page buffer, where NAND cell strings connected to the same bitline are formed in at least two well sectors. At least one well sector can be selectively coupled to an erase voltage during an erase operation, such that unselected well sectors are inhibited from receiving the erase voltage. When the area of the well sectors decrease, a corresponding decrease in the capacitance of each well sector results. Accordingly, higher speed erasing of the NAND flash memory cells relative to a single well memory bank is obtained when the charge pump circuit drive capacity remains unchanged. Alternately, a constant erase speed corresponding to a single well memory bank is obtained by matching a well segment having a specific area to a charge pump with reduced drive capacity. A reduced drive capacity charge pump will occupy less semiconductor chip area, thereby reducing cost.
US08582370B2 Storage unit for occupant detection system
A storage unit for an occupant detection system detecting an occupant based on a magnitude correlation between a detection load value obtained by a load sensor and a threshold value, the storage unit includes a first ROM storing either one of the threshold value and a threshold value specific information for identifying the threshold value, the first ROM being rewritable and a second ROM storing information except for either one of the threshold value and the threshold value specific information, a rewriting of the second ROM being more difficult than a rewriting of the first ROM.
US08582365B2 Nonvolatile memory devices, memory systems and methods of performing read operations
Within a non-volatile memory device, a read operation directed to a nonvolatile memory cell having a positive threshold voltage applies a positive read voltage to a selected word line and a first control signal to a page buffer connected to a selected bit line, but if the memory cell has a negative threshold voltage the read operation applies a negative read voltage to the selected word line and a second control signal to the page buffer different from the first control signal.
US08582359B2 Dual-port semiconductor memory and first-in first-out (FIFO) memory having electrically floating body transistor
Multi-port semiconductor memory cells including a common floating body region configured to be charged to a level indicative of a memory state of the memory cell. The multi-port semiconductor memory cells include a plurality of gates and conductive regions interfacing with said floating body region. Arrays of memory cells and method of operating said memory arrays are disclosed for making a memory device.
US08582357B2 Reducing effects of program disturb in a memory device
The programming disturb effects in a semiconductor non-volatile memory device can be mitigated by biasing unselected memory cells with a negative voltage while a well containing the memory cells receives a positive voltage. A selected memory cell in the well can be biased with a negative voltage while the well is at the positive voltage then the selected memory cell bias transitions to a positive programming voltage when the well returns to a ground potential.
US08582353B2 Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell configured to store or output data in a magneto-resistance device in response to a write current applied to a bit line and a source line. A voltage detector is configured to sense potentials loaded in the bit line and the source line. A write current controller configured to control activation of a write control signal in response to an output of the voltage detector, and a write driver configured to control amounts of write current applied to the memory cell according to the activation of the write control signal.
US08582352B2 Methods and apparatus for FinFET SRAM cells
Methods and apparatus for providing finFET SRAM cells. An SRAM cell structure is provided including a central N-well region and a first and a second P-well region on opposing sides of the central N-well region, having an area ratio of the N-well region to the P-well regions between 80-120%, the SRAM cell structure further includes at least one p-type transistor formed in the N-well region and having a gate electrode comprising a gate and a gate dielectric over a p-type transistor active area in the N-well region; and at least one n-type transistor formed in each of the first and second P-well regions and each n-type transistor having a gate electrode comprising a gate and a gate dielectric over an n-type transistor active area in the respective P-well region. Methods for operating the SRAM cell structures are disclosed.
US08582350B2 Capacitor-less memory cell, device, system and method of making same
A capacitor-less memory cell, memory device, system and process of forming the capacitor-less memory cell includes forming the memory cell in an active area of a substantially physically isolated portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A pass transistor is formed on the active area for coupling with a word line. The capacitor-less memory cell further includes a read/write enable transistor vertically configured along at least one vertical side of the active area and operable during a reading of a logic state with the logic state being stored as charge in a floating body area of the active area, causing different determinable threshold voltages for the pass transistor.
US08582340B2 Word line and power conductor within a metal layer of a memory cell
A memory cell 6 includes a M3 metal layer which incorporate continuous word lines 12 and power conductors formed of a plurality of separate power line sections 14 running parallel to the word lines. Interstitial gaps between the separate power line sections are larger in size than the power line sections themselves. The power line sections are disposed in a staggered arrangement either side of the word lines.
US08582338B1 Ternary content addressable memory cell having single transistor pull-down stack
Ternary CAM cells are disclosed that include a compare circuit that includes a discharge path having a single pull-down transistor coupled between the match line and ground potential.
US08582334B2 Semiconductor device, power converter and method for controlling the power converter
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which includes: a semiconductor element 200 including a first metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor 200a and a second metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor 200b which is connected in parallel with the first metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor; and a control section which controls the operation of the semiconductor element. The control section controls the semiconductor element so that in a forward direction mode, current flows in a forward direction through the first and second metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors but that in a reverse direction mode, current flows in the reverse direction through the first metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor but does not flow through the second metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor.
US08582333B2 Integration of switched capacitor networks for power delivery
Switched capacitor networks for power delivery to packaged integrated circuits. In certain embodiments, the switched capacitor network is employed in place of at least one stage of a cascaded buck converter for power delivery. In accordance with particular embodiments of the present invention, a two-stage power delivery network comprising both switched capacitor stage and a buck regulator stage deliver power to a microprocessor or other packaged integrated circuit (IC). In further embodiments, a switched capacitor stage is implemented with a series switch module comprising low voltage MOS transistors that is then integrated onto a package of at least one IC to be powered. In certain embodiments, a switched capacitor stage is implemented with capacitors formed on a motherboard, embedded into an IC package or integrated into a series switch module.
US08582332B2 Dual output DC-DC charge pump regulator
An apparatus includes a first switch coupled to a first voltage reference and a second switch coupled to a second voltage reference. A third switch is coupled to a first terminal of a first capacitor and a first terminal of a second capacitor. A fourth switch is coupled to a second terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the second capacitor. A fifth switch is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and a first terminal of a third capacitor. A sixth switch is coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminal of the third capacitor. The first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch are controlled to maintain a first voltage level at a first output and a second voltage level at a second output.
US08582330B2 High voltage and frequency distributed power system
A switching power supply transmits power between a single front end including electromagnetic interference filtering and power factor correction circuits to an output end at a high voltage and high frequency from which any desired DC voltage or waveform may be readily and directly derived with high efficiency in order to reduce size and weight of components including transformers at the output end and allow greater variety of connection wiring of reduced weight and volume to be used. The high frequency is limited at the low frequency end by the frequency at which significant power can be transferred through, for example, a ferrite core or other transformer of sufficiently low volume to accommodate closely spaced loads or power converters and at the high frequency end by the wavelength in the connection wiring such that 1/10 wavelength is greater than one thousand feet. Branches of the power distribution system which are not desired to be in use can be operated at zero power and be brought back on line within milliseconds, when needed. Power distribution among respective branches of the power distribution system can be controlled by varying the high frequency of power transmission and appropriate filtering.
US08582328B2 Power supply circuit and method thereof
In a normal mode, the power supply is fed back in a close loop, but in a power saving mode, the power supply is fed back in an open loop. When it is detected that the power supply is continuously fed back in the open loop and in a substantially zero output status, the power supply circuit enters a power down status. If the back-stage circuit needs power supply again, then the feedback is switched to the close loop and the power supply circuit enters the normal mode.
US08582326B2 Switching power supply apparatus
A resonance-type power supply is provided in which no short circuit occurs and driving is performed with a constant switching period by performing switching control using a change of magnetic flux of a magnetic component as a trigger. When the change of magnetic flux of the transformer is detected, the first switching control signal is caused to transition to the Hi level. The detection voltage signal is A/D-converted, a first on-time is determined from the level thereof, and a second on-time is calculated by subtracting the first on-time from the constant switching period. When the first switching control signal is caused to transition to the Low level based on the first on-time, the change of magnetic flux of the transformer is detected, and the second switching control signal is caused to transition to the Hi level and is caused to transition to the Low level after the second on-time has elapsed.
US08582322B2 Power reduction of a power supply unit at light loading or no loading
A power supply unit includes a switching power converter responsive to a control signal to switch a power switch thereof to provide an output voltage and an output current for a load. To reduce light-load or no-load power consumption of the power supply unit, the power supply unit repeats a process of stopping switching the power switch and recovering switching the power switch for a period of time once the output voltage decreases to be lower than a reference voltage.
US08582320B2 Self-excited switching power supply circuit
There is provided a self-excited switching power supply circuit. A cycle control capacitor is charged with a flyback voltage generated in a feedback winding of a transformer during OFF operation period in which an exciting current does not flow in a primary winding of the transformer. An OFF control capacitor the charging speed of which changes ON operation period is charged with the charging voltage of the cycle control capacitor during the ON operation period in which an exciting current flows in the primary winding. The charging voltage of the cycle control capacitor is changed with a periodic cycle Tc sufficiently longer than an oscillation cycle To to make the oscillation cycle To of continuous oscillating operation variable based on the periodic cycle Tc. As a result, the frequency of a harmonic is distributed.
US08582319B2 Control arrangement for a resonant mode power converter
A resonant mode converter includes a PFC power converter having an input coupled to receive an input voltage. An LLC power converter is cascaded with the PFC power converter. The LLC power converter includes a transformer coupled to generate an output of the resonant mode converter. A feedback circuit is coupled to generate a first current representative of the output of the resonant mode converter. A control unit includes a current limiting circuit coupled to receive the first current and a second current generated in response to a reference voltage. The current limiting circuit is coupled to limit the first current in response to the second current. The control unit further includes an oscillator coupled to generate a control signal having a control frequency in response to the first current. The resonant mode converter output is controlled in response to the control frequency.
US08582312B2 Electronic circuit board and power line communication apparatus using it
A highly reliable electronic circuit board for suppressing propagation of noise and a power line communication apparatus using it are provided. An electronic circuit board of the invention is connected to a different electronic circuit board and including a first board having a first face and a second face opposed to the first face and a second board having a third face and a fourth face opposed to the third face. The electronic circuit board includes a first circuit mounted on one end of the first face for performing analog signal processing; a second circuit mounted on another end of the first face for performing digital signal processing; a junction layer provided between the second face and the third face for jointing the first board and the second board; a built-in electronic component built into the junction layer; a connection part mounted on the fourth face and to be connected to the different electronic circuit board; and a first conducting path for electrically connecting the second circuit and the connection part, wherein the connection part is mounted at a position overlapping projection projecting the second circuit onto the fourth face from a vertical direction relative to the first face.
US08582310B2 Electronic apparatus having circuit board
An electronic apparatus includes: a circuit board that is disposed inside a case that is formed by coupling first and second case halves, the circuit board being interposed between first and second boss portions; first and second conductive members that are disposed between a gap formed between the first boss portion and the circuit board; a third conductive member that is disposed between the first boss portion and the first conductive member and between the first boss portion and the second conductive member to electrically connect the first conductive member to the second conductive member; and a measurement circuit that is electrically connected to a first wiring and a second wiring, which are respectively connected to the first conductive member and the second conductive member, and measures an electrical characteristic value of at least one of the first conductive member and the second conductive member.
US08582309B2 Panel fixing structure and information processor
A panel fixing structure, which removably fixes a panel to a square opening provided in a housing, so as to cover a circumference of one or a plurality of interface terminal portions provided inside the housing, includes a square panel surface having a terminal opening in accordance with a shape and a position of the interface terminal portion and four engagement protrusions each having a spring property, each of the four engagement protrusions protruding in an insertion direction of the opening along an edge portion of each of four sides of the panel surface, the engagement protrusions being formed to have a space in each of four corner portions of the panel surface.
US08582308B2 Method of making an electronic circuit device
A method of making an electronic circuit device includes placing a circuit board in a cavity of a mold such that one side of the circuit board is held in close contact with an inner surface of the cavity, and encapsulating the circuit board in a casing by filling the cavity with a resin material. The one side of the circuit board is exposed to one side of an outer surface of the casing to define part of the one side of the outer surface of the casing. The method further includes thinning the casing by machining the entire one side of the outer surface of the casing.
US08582306B2 Modular component chassis coupling system
A modular component chassis coupling system includes a chassis having a first component coupling feature and a second component coupling feature located on opposite sides of a housing. A modular component includes a first chassis coupling feature and a second chassis coupling feature. A first handle is coupled to the first chassis coupling feature that is operable to engage the first component coupling feature to move the first handle into a coupling position and, once in the coupling position, the first handle is moved into a securing position to secure the modular component in the housing. A second handle is coupled to the second chassis coupling feature and is operable to engage the second component coupling feature to move the second handle into a coupling position and, once in the coupling position, the second handle is moved into a securing position to secure the modular component in the housing.
US08582300B2 Holding device for hard disk drive
A holding device includes a loading frame and two mounting plates. The loading frame includes a base portion for loading an HDD and a pair of sidewalls perpendicularly extending from the base portion. The sidewalls are parallel to each other. Each sidewall includes two sliding ribs substantially perpendicularly extending from a surface thereof away from the other sidewall. The two mounting plates are opposite to each other. Each mounting plate includes two guiding rails substantially perpendicularly extending from a surface thereof toward the other mounting plate. The two sliding ribs of each sidewall are configured to be slid into the two guiding rails of a corresponding mounting plate.
US08582295B2 Electronic system
An electronic system includes an electronic device and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the device. The heat exchanger includes a flow duct for receiving a fluid, at least a portion of the flow duct being arranged in thermal communication with the device. The system further includes a pump associated with the flow duct and a Venturi tube for reducing the pressure of the fluid in the portion of the flow duct to a value less than the pressure external to the duct, to minimize any leakage of the fluid onto the device in the event the portion of the flow duct develops a leak.
US08582288B2 Retaining mechanism and an electronic device having the same
A retaining mechanism, used for retaining an electronic component including a support bracket having an end part formed with an engaging hole, includes a mounting block having a mounting hole for receiving the end part of the support bracket, and a through hole communicating with the mounting hole. A seat body covers the mounting block, and has a bolt hole communicating with and disposed above the through hole, and a limiting slot communicating with one side of the bolt hole. A locking bolt includes a shank disposed slidably in the bolt hole, and a stopper block connected transversely to the bottom portion and slidable upward and downward along the limiting slot. The shank has a bottom portion adapted to engage releasably the engaging hole when the through hole is aligned with the engaging hole.
US08582282B2 Display apparatus
Disclosed with are a display apparatus. The apparatus includes a display module; a front panel disposed on a front of the display module; a first supporting member including a plurality of surfaces formed in directions perpendicular to each other, a first surface of the plurality of surfaces being fixed to the front panel and a second surface being fixed to the display module; and a bezel formed on an outer edge region of the display apparatus to surround a edge of the front panel.
US08582280B2 Foldable keyboard for portable computer
A foldable keyboard for a portable computer includes a keyboard body which comprises two keyboard pieces hinge-coupled by a hinge unit in order to be unfolded in a direction parallel to a keyboard plane. Another embodiment of the invention is a foldable keyboard, which includes: a guide unit at which a long hole is formed along its length; and a keyboard body which comprises two keyboard pieces hinge-coupled to the guide unit by a hinge unit. The keyboard pieces can be unfolded in a direction parallel to a keyboard plane into its extended state. As the keyboard pieces unfold, the hinge unit slides along the long hole as the keyboard edges, which are facing each other, are stuck together. Thus, the two keyboard pieces are hinge-coupled to each other to reverse their vertical and horizontal directions as the keyboard body is extended.
US08582276B2 Capacitor structure
A capacitor structure including a dielectric material layer and at least two metal layers is provided. The metal layers are disposed at intervals in the dielectric material layer. Each of the metal layers includes a zigzaging electrode, a first finger-shaped electrode and a second finger-shaped electrode. The zigzaging electrode forms a plurality of first concave parts disposed at one side of the zigzaging electrode and a plurality of second concave parts disposed at the other side of the zigzaging electrode. The first finger-shaped electrode includes a plurality of first extension parts. The first extension parts are respectively disposed in the first concave parts. The second finger-shaped electrode includes a plurality of second extension parts. The second extension parts are respectively disposed in the second concave parts. The zigzaging electrode in each of the metal layers is electrically coupled to the first and second finger-shaped electrodes of adjacent metal layers.
US08582274B2 Tray for transporting wafers and method for fixing wafers onto the tray
A tray for transporting a wafer is herein provided, which can control the temperature of the wafer upon the processing thereof, and which can easily fix the wafer without reducing the effective area on the surface of the wafer and without requiring much time for the adhesion of the wafer thereto and without requiring any post-treatment after the wafer is detached from or attached to the tray. The tray 302 is one which comprises a base body consisting of an insulating material and an electrostatic chuck electrode 306 embedded in the base body, wherein the terminal at a load-dispatching or power supply portion for energizing the electrostatic chuck electrode is a spring-type terminal 305a, the spring-type terminal is so designed that the tip of the same can come in touch with the electrostatic chuck electrode, and further the tray is so designed that a sealing member 305b is provided at the periphery of the load-dispatching portion so that any heat-exchanging medium never passes around the contact portion or area between the tip of the spring-type terminal and the electrostatic chuck electrode and that the tray can thus fixe the wafer S thereto through the electrostatic chucking. Thus, the wafer is fixed to this wafer-transporting tray by the action of the electrostatic chucking.
US08582273B2 Surge absorbing circuit and electric device using the same
A surge absorbing circuit capable of absorbing surge stably without affecting a signal on a signal line even in the case of a high frequency signal, and an electronic device using the surge absorbing circuit. The surge absorbing circuit includes at least one surge suppression circuit, the at least one surge suppression circuit including, with respect to the same signal line at least: a power supply; a diode connected between the signal line and the power supply; and a power supply line for connecting the diode and the power supply to each other. In each of the at least one surge suppression circuit, a direction of the diode and a voltage of the power supply with respect to the signal line are determined so that the diode is reversely biased.
US08582272B2 Protection circuit for protecting light-emitting diodes of laser emitter and protection method
A protection circuit for protecting light-emitting diodes of a laser emitter is provided. The laser emitter includes a first LED for reading multimedia data stored in a first media and a second LED for reading multimedia data stored in a second media. Cathodes of the first LED and the second LED are grounded, and anodes of the first LED and the second LED are connected with soldering tin. The protection circuit includes a first protection element with a first breakdown voltage and a second protection element with a second breakdown voltage. One end of each of the first protection element and the second protection element is grounded. When the circuit is connected to the laser emitter, residual ends of the first protection element and the second protection element are respectively connected to the anodes of the first LED and the second LED.
US08582267B2 System and method to limit in-rush current
An in-rush current limiting system has a fast response time so that it can be used with power supplies that turn on and off rapidly. The system dissipates very little power during the normal mode of operation. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by connecting a regulator in series with a load capacitance and in parallel with the system load.
US08582258B1 Electrostatic discharge protection circuit for integrated circuits
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for an integrated circuit (IC) that provides ESD protection during an ESD event is disclosed. The electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection component and a second electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection component coupled in series to the first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection component. A snapback holding voltage of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit is greater than the operating voltage of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit and a snapback trigger voltage of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit is lower than an oxide breakdown voltage of said integrated circuit.
US08582257B2 Ultra-low sensitivity ground fault circuit interrupter
An ultra-low sensitivity ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device and a method for manufacturing the device is disclosed. The GFCI device detects an unbalanced current between line and return conductors that results from an unintended path to ground. The GFCI device disconnects the current source when a leakage current is detected. The GFCI device includes a current transformer that has its core wrapped with the line and return conductors. The line and return conductors are secured around the core in a fixed position. During manufacture of the GFCI device an amplifier of the GFCI can be adjusted so that the GFCI device disconnects the current source when a leakage current exceeds a desired level.
US08582255B2 Core-saturated superconductive fault current limiter and control method of the fault current limiter
A core-saturated superconductive fault current limiter and a control method of the fault current limiter. The fault current limiter includes a superconductive magnet (2), a core (4), an AC winding (5), a cryostat system, a monitor system (7) and a DC control system (6). The output of the DC control system (6) is connected to the two terminals of the superconductive magnet (2). The DC control system (6) is also connected to the monitor system (7). The core (4) has an unequal section core structure. The control method includes: controlling the current which is flowing through the superconductive magnet (2) for limiting the fault current in the power net (1) in the case of a short circuit fault event.
US08582246B2 Individually adjusting a position of an access head element on a head assembly
A tape storage device includes a head assembly having plural access head elements to access data on respective data tracks on a storage tape. A controller, responsive to information contained in at least one of the data tracks, is provided to individually adjust a lateral position of at least one of the access head elements independently of at least one other head element.
US08582244B2 Flexure and head suspension with flexure
A flexure has a metal base plate, an insulating layer formed on the metal base plate, a wiring pattern formed on the insulating layer, a read-write head connected to a first end of the wiring pattern, and terminals for external connection that are adjacent to each other and are connected to a second end of the wiring pattern. The flexure includes a hole formed through the insulating layer in the vicinity of respective one of the adjacent terminals and an exposed part being a part of the metal base plate that is exposed through the hole to the terminals. A distance between the respective one of the adjacent terminals and the exposed part exposed through the hole in the vicinity thereof is shorter than a distance between the adjacent terminals.
US08582243B2 Suspension with supporting pieces, head gimbal assembly and disk drive unit with the same
A suspension for a HGA comprises a flexure having a suspension tongue arranged for supporting a slider, which comprising a stainless steel layer and a dielectric layer formed thereon. The dielectric layer has a top surface and bottom surface, a plurality of bonding pads are formed on the top surface at a leading portion of the suspension tongue and arranged for connecting with the slider, and at least two separate supporting pieces are formed on the bottom surface and located at a corresponding position with the bonding pads, thereby releasing stress generated on the bonding pads. The invention also discloses a HGA and a disk drive unit with the same. The invention can release the stress generated on the bonding pads of the suspension, reduce the temperature impact to the suspension, and in turn, reduce thermal crown change of the slider, thereby improving the reading and writing performance.
US08582241B1 Method and system for providing a magnetic transducer having a high moment bilayer magnetic seed layer for a trailing shield
A method and system for providing a magnetic read transducer is described. The magnetic recording transducer includes a write pole, a nonmagnetic gap, a magnetic seed layer, a trailing shield and coil(s) that energize the write pole. The write pole is configured to write to a media. The nonmagnetic gap is between the write pole and the magnetic seed layer. The magnetic seed layer includes a high moment layer and a magnetic buffer layer. The high moment layer is between the nonmagnetic gap and the magnetic buffer layer. The high moment layer has a saturation magnetization greater than 2.3 T and a first corrosion potential. The magnetic buffer layer has a second corrosion potential less than the first corrosion potential. The magnetic seed layer is between the trailing shield and the nonmagnetic gap layer. The magnetic buffer layer is between the trailing shield and the high moment layer.
US08582238B1 Systems and methods for providing perpendicular magnetic writers having gradient magnetic moment side shields
Systems and methods for providing perpendicular magnetic writers having gradient magnetic moment side shields are provided. In one case, the system includes a pole having a leading edge and trailing edge, a leading shield positioned closer to the leading edge than the trailing edge, the leading shield having a leading shield moment, a trailing shield positioned closer to the trailing edge than the leading edge, the trailing shield having a trailing shield moment greater than the leading shield moment, and a side shield positioned along side of the pole, the side shield including a gradient magnetic moment progressing from a first side shield moment to a second side shield moment, where the first side shield moment is about equal to the leading shield moment, and where the second side shield moment is about equal to the trailing shield moment and positioned closer to the trailing shield than the leading shield.
US08582232B2 Heat assisted spindle motor
A hard disk drive with a spindle motor that rotates a disk. When the disk drive is exposed to low temperatures a current can be provided to the spindle motor to heat the motor. For example, a DC current can be provided to the spindle motor. The current flowing through the spindle motor coil generates heat. The current can be provided for a predetermined time interval to sufficiently heat the spindle motor so that the fluid bearings of the motor can operate. The current is terminated and then an AC current is provided to the spindle motor to cause motor rotation.
US08582230B2 Hard disk drive, method for estimating back electromotive force, and method for controlling velocity of head
According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive includes a head, a voice coil motor, a driving circuit, an identification unit, a storage unit, and an estimation unit. The head is configured to perform write/read of information to a storage medium. The voice coil motor is configured to move the head. The driving circuit is configured to drive the voice coil motor, based on a command signal. The identification unit is configured to identify at least one parameter of a discrete-time model. The discrete-time model represents a transfer function from the command signal to a voltage drop quantity by an inductance of a coil of the voice coil motor. The storage unit is configured to store the parameter. The estimation unit is configured to estimate a back electromotive force of the coil, based on the discrete-time model including the parameter.
US08582229B1 Pushpin assembly
A pushpin assembly for a spiral track writer is provided. The pushpin assembly includes a body, a bushing, and a pushpin. The body mounts on a pushpin arm of a spiral track writer. A cavity is defined in the body and extends between a first opening and a second opening of the body. The bushing slide fits within the cavity such that an inner wall of the cavity surrounds the bushing. The bushing surrounds a shaft portion of the pushpin. A tip portion of the pushpin extends through the first opening and engages an actuator arm of a headstack assembly of a hard disk drive for writing spiral tracks onto a media disk. A longitudinal force greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold exerted on the tip portion results in the bushing and the pushpin being displaced in a longitudinal direction relative to the body.
US08582224B1 System and method for off-track write prevention and data recovery in multiple head optical tape drives
In an optical tape drive having optical heads for writing data in tracks on an optical tape, each track having an off-track threshold, a system and method are disclosed for off-track write prevention. The system includes multiple actuators, each actuator configured to control a position of an associated optical heads. The system also includes a controller configured to determine a position of each of the optical heads relative to an associated track on the optical tape and to prevent, in response to an event causing an optical heads to have a position outside the off-track threshold of the associated track, only that optical head from writing data to the optical tape and to buffer a stream of data for that optical head for later processing.
US08582221B2 Lens module having a square lens
A lens module includes a holder defining a cavity and a barrel retained within the cavity, and includes a first optical axis X aligned with an imaginary axis of the cavity, a frame defining a through hole and comprising several blocking portions, and a square lens possessing a second optical axis Y. The frame is coupled to the holder, and an imaginary axis of the through hole is aligned with the axis of the cavity. The square lens is connected to the frame and includes four side surfaces abutting the several blocking portions, which precisely aligns the second optical axis Y with the imaginary axis of the through hole.
US08582218B2 Endoscope for oblique viewing
An endoscope for oblique viewing including an image pickup device, a front lens group having a positive refractive power, a prism disposed on the CCD side of the front lens group, and a rear lens group disposed on the CCD side of the prism and having a positive refractive power.
US08582215B2 Photographing optical lens assembly
This invention provides a photographing optical lens assembly, from an object side to an image side in order, comprising a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power, a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, both the two surfaces of the fourth lens thereof being aspheric. And an aperture stop is positioned between the first element and the second lens element. There are four lens elements with refractive power in the lens assembly.
US08582214B2 Lens module and camera device having the same
The present disclosure relates to a lens module, the module including a first lens having a positive (+) refractive power and capable of moving for zooming operation; a second lens having a negative (−) refractive power; a third lens having a positive (+) refractive power and having an inflection point at an image surface; and a fourth lens having a negative (−) refractive power.
US08582211B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens has a plurality of lens units including, in order from its object side to image side, a first lens unit having a negative refracting power composed of two lens elements including a biconcave negative lens and a positive lens, and a second lens unit having a positive refracting power composed of four lens elements including a positive lens and a negative lens. During zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, a distance between the lens units changes, and the second lens unit moves toward the object side. The zoom lens has an aperture stop that moves integrally with the second lens during the zooming and satisfies a specific condition.
US08582210B2 Lens and method for producing lens
A lens includes a transparent member, wherein the transparent member contains a plurality of polymers formed from organic monomers; the transparent member has a refractive index distribution due to the plurality of polymers; and particles having a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the transparent member are dispersed in the transparent member.
US08582206B2 Laser-scanning virtual image display
A virtual-image projector comprises a laser configured to form a narrow beam, first and second dilation optics, first and second redirection optics each having a diffraction grating, and a controller. The first dilation optic is arranged to receive the narrow beam and to project a one-dimensionally dilated beam into the second dilation optic. The second dilation optic is arranged to receive the one-dimensionally dilated beam and project a two-dimensionally dilated beam. The first and second redirection optics are each operatively coupled to a transducer. The first redirection optic is arranged to direct the narrow beam into the first dilation optic at a first entry angle. The second redirection optic is configured to direct the one-dimensionally dilated beam into the second dilation optic at a second entry angle. The controller is configured to bias the transducers to vary the first and second entry angles.
US08582204B2 Optical film and method for manufacturing the same, antiglare film, polarizer with optical layer, and display apparatus
An antiglare film includes a base member and an optical layer provided on the base member, and the optical layer has an irregular shape on a surface thereof. The irregular shape is obtained by applying a coating material containing fine particles and a resin onto the base member, distributing the fine particles densely in some portions and sparsely in other portions by convection that occurs in the coating material, and curing the coating material. The resin contains 3% by weight or more and 20% by weight or less of a polymer, the average particle diameter of the fine particles is 2 μm or more and 8 μm or less, and the average film thickness of the optical layer is 8 μm or more and 18 μm or less.
US08582201B2 Inexpensive variable rep-rate source for high-energy, ultrafast lasers
System for converting relatively long pulses from rep-rate variable ultrafast optical sources to shorter, high-energy pulses suitable for sources in high-energy ultrafast lasers. Fibers with positive group velocity dispersion (GVD) and self phase modulation are advantageously employed with the optical sources. These systems take advantage of the need for higher pulse energies at lower repetition rates so that such sources can be cost effective.
US08582199B2 Electrophoretic composition, microcapsule and electrophoretic display device
Disclosed is an electrophoretic composition including a dye, a non-water-soluble dispersion medium, and charged particles, wherein the dye includes in a molecule thereof at least two color forming moieties including a first color forming moiety and a second color forming moiety, the first color forming moiety having a maximum absorption wavelength that is the shortest maximum absorption wavelength among the at least two color forming moieties, the second color forming moiety having a maximum absorption wavelength that is the longest maximum absorption wavelength among the at least two color forming moieties, a difference between the maximum absorption wavelength of the first color forming moiety and the maximum absorption wavelength of the second color forming moiety being from 50 nm to 400 nm, and the first color forming moiety and the second color forming moiety being bonded through a covalent bond.
US08582198B2 Information display panel
In an information display system panel, color filters each having respective colors are arranged to an outer surface of a transparent substrate at an observation side having a refractive index n and a thickness d, in such a manner that an overlap area between the color filter and the pixel is set in a range of 50%-100% with respect to an area of the pixel, so that a portion between adjacent color filters having different colors, which is perpendicular to a tilt visual direction, is spaced at either one of an upper and lower sides and a right and left sides of the color filter; and a relation between a visual filed displacement I indicated by following formula (1), which is generated when the image displayed by the display media is viewed as a reflected light refracted at 45° with respect to a surface of the color filter, and LS and DS denoting a pixel pitch and a pixel space along a visual direction respectively, satisfies I≦0.5×(DS+LS); I=d×[sin2 θ/(n2−sin2 θ)]1/2 θ=45°  formula (1). According to the invention, an information display panel which can prevent a color mixture with the adjacent pixel when viewed at a slant angle and can perform a color display having an excellent color reproducibility can be obtained.
US08582197B2 Process for preparing a display panel
This application is directed to processes for preparing electrophoretic displays and semi-finished display panels comprising display cells prepared from the microcup and top-sealing technologies. The semi-finished display panel comprises an array of display cells sandwiched between two temporary substrate layers, between a temporary substrate layer and a conductor layer or between a temporary substrate layer and a permanent substrate layer, wherein said display cells are filled with an electrophoretic fluid and top-sealed with a polymeric sealing layer formed from a top-sealing composition which is being hardened while on top of the electrophoretic fluid.
US08582192B2 Polarizing photochromic articles
Provided are photochromic articles that include a substrate, a primer layer that includes a first photochromic compound, and a photochromic-dichroic layer over the primer layer that includes a photochromic-dichroic compound. The first photochromic compound and the photochromic-dichroic compound each are selected such that the photochromic-dichroic compound has an absorbance of less than or equal to 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying first photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to such photochromic articles that further include a topcoat layer over the photochromic-dichroic layer. The topcoat layer can include a second photochromic compound that has an absorbance of less than 0.1 at the wavelength of peak absorbance of the underlying photochromic-dichroic compound. The photochromic articles provide, for example, a combination of linear polarizing properties, and reduced percent transmittance when in a colored or darkened state, such as when exposed to actinic light.
US08582185B2 Image reader and correction process for read image
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image reader comprises a plurality of light receiving elements configured to receive light from an object to be read and to convert the light into image signals. The image reader further comprises means for determining a distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements at a plurality of different positions of the object. Moreover the image reader comprises means for selecting at least one correction process portion based at least on the distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements. The image reader comprises means for applying the at least one selected correction process to the image signal.
US08582179B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system for adjusting a density of a formed image based on measured densities of a prescribed test image
An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a density sensor that measures the image formed on the sheet and outputs a measured value corresponding to a density of the image; a conversion data storing section that stores plural conversion data showing relationship between the measured value outputted from the density sensor and the image density, for each sheet type and each screen for an image; a conversion data selection section that selects at least one conversion data from the plural conversion data stored in the conversion data storing section; and a density adjustment section that adjusts a density for an image formed by the image forming section based on a measured value acquired by measuring a prescribed image formed on a sheet and on the conversion data selected by the conversion data selection section.
US08582177B2 Image forming apparatus and display method thereof
An image forming apparatus 100 includes: an image forming part 6, a liquid crystal display part 11, a storage device 92 storing a program for displaying a setting screen at the liquid crystal display part 11; an input part 1 receiving, for example, a setting made for a setting item; and a help key KH for displaying a help screen at the display part. When the help key KH has been pressed in the setting by the called program, the display part 11, before processing is performed for a referenced setting item as the setting item for which the help screen has been referenced, displays a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the processing may be performed at the current setting for the referenced setting item.
US08582174B2 Multifunction apparatus with a print preparation operation
A multifunction apparatus includes: an execution request acceptance section that accepts a request for executing a function; a determination section that determines whether or not the execution request is a function involving printing operation when the execution request acceptance section receives the execution request; and an execution section that performs print preparation operation when the determination section determines that the execution request does not correspond to the function involving printing operation.
US08582171B2 Method and apparatus for printing labels for medical applications
Provided is a method and apparatus for generating a label for use in a medical application. Label content specified by a user that is to be applied to a surface of the label is received. The label content, which includes a machine-generated character, is printed on demand onto the surface of the label. The label bearing the label content is dispensed in a condition suitable for use in the sterile environment.
US08582169B2 Print controlling device for reducing the effects of partitions marks on image quality in divisional printing
A print controlling device includes an acquiring unit, a dividing unit, a first determining unit, and a print data generating unit. The acquiring unit acquires data representing an original image larger than a recording sheet. The dividing unit divides the original image data into image data that represent divisional images having a same size as the recording sheet. A border side has a partition line segments defined between image and margin regions of the divisional image. The original image consists of image regions of the divisional images. The image region represents part of the original image and has a colorant area to be printed with a colorant. The first determining unit determines, if the colorant area abuts a border side, whether a partition line segment abuts the colorant area based on the divisional image data. The print data generating unit generates print data by modifying the divisiona image data
US08582168B2 Image processing apparatus and processing method thereof
An image processing apparatus stores pixel data of an input image in a storage apparatus after performing resolution conversion encoding, and performs a pixel interpolation process after reading out the pixel data stored in the storage apparatus and performing resolution conversion decoding. The image processing apparatus determines, when resolution conversion encoding the pixel data of the input image, whether a resolution of the pixel data will decrease due to the pixel interpolation process, based on attribute information indicating an attribute of the pixel data, and performs processing to decrease the resolution of the pixel data in the resolution conversion encoding, if it is determined that the resolution will decrease.
US08582167B2 Print control apparatus, program, and print control method with reduced recording agent consumption
When a plurality of test copies of an identical image are required, print data of the first page is created from the same image that is used in regular printing and is test-printed; the second and following pages are test-printed using a simplified image that is created by extracting only contour portions of the image.
US08582161B2 Image forming apparatus, and computer program product for image forming provided with managing log of a time designated print job
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit; a data saving unit; a drawing data generating unit; a log storage unit that stores a processing log; an image forming unit; and a data management unit. The data management unit, when the print job is analyzed as a time designated print job; causes the data generating unit to generate the drawing data; causes the data saving unit to save the drawing data; that, when analyzed printing being enabled at the designated print time, causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on the drawing data and causes the log storage unit to store therein a processing log; and that, when printing is analyzed as disabled at the designated print time, performs processing corresponding to a print disabled state preset and causes the log storage unit to store therein a processing log about the processing.
US08582160B2 Printing system, control method thereof, and storage medium
A printing system includes a host computer and a printer. The host computer includes a CPU that requests to the printer a storing job list of storing jobs and determines a plurality of jobs to be collectively printed and a printing order of the plurality of jobs from the received storing job list. The CPU then creates a job list based on the determination and transmits the job list to the printer. The printer includes a CPU that stores the storing jobs, acquires the storing job list according to the request, and transmits the storing job list to the host computer. The printer further includes a printing unit that prints the storing jobs corresponding to the job list.
US08582159B2 Control device for controlling light source element and image forming apparatus with control device built therein
Provided is a control device for controlling a light source element configured to irradiate light for reading an image on a document including: a drive portion configured to selectively apply a first drive voltage and a second drive voltage lower than the first drive voltage to the light source element; a detector configured to detect a light quantity of reflected light of the light irradiated to the image; and a control portion configured to control the drive portion and switch between applications of the first drive voltage and the second drive voltage, wherein the control portion controls the drive portion based on a threshold period set in relation to an elapsed period from an application time of the first drive voltage and a threshold light quantity set in relation to the light quantity of the reflected light.
US08582156B2 Printing system control using multiple metadata packets
A method of controlling a digital printing system that uses multiple metadata packets is provided. A controller including a metadata channel is provided. Information in a first metadata packet that is associated with an initial point of interest of a media is provided by a primary metadata packet creation unit. The first metadata packet is inserted into the metadata channel of the controller. A second metadata packet including new information associated with a new point of interest of the media is created using a secondary metadata creation unit. The second metadata packet with the new formation is inserted into the metadata channel of the controller based on the location of the new point of interest of the media.
US08582154B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and server
An image forming apparatus includes a first image data storage unit that (i) stores user identification information and image data in association with each other, (ii) acquires, upon reception of a leaving signal regarding a specific user from an entering/leaving information management device that manages entering/leaving of a user with respect to an area in which the image forming apparatus is installed, the image data having a security level equal to or higher than a first predetermined level associated with the user identification information of the specific user stored in the first image data storage unit, (iii) saves the acquired image data to a server, and (iv) erases the original image data from the first image data storage unit.
US08582151B2 Mutualistic engine controller having customer replaceable unit communication
A printing device includes at least one printing engine that comprises customer replaceable units. At least one engine controller is operatively connected to the printing engine, and the engine controller uses software to control operations of the printing engine. At least one non-volatile memory is operatively connected to the engine controller. The non-volatile memory stores values used by the engine controller to control operations of the printing engine. Additionally, at least one adapter card is operatively connected to the non-volatile memory and to the customer replaceable units. The customer replaceable units each comprise a memory unit. The adapter card reads incoming print jobs before the print jobs are delivered to the controller and the adapter card accumulates and stores statistics relating to print jobs within the memory unit of the customer replaceable units. The adapter card passes the incoming print jobs to the controller in an unaltered manner.
US08582145B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a switching unit to switch images output to the display apparatus, a storage unit to store image specifying information to specify the multiple images to be printed and the number of copies information specifying the number of copies to be printed, and an output unit to sequentially output the images specified with the image specifying information to the display apparatus, are provided, and if a switching operation is performed when the number of copies information is set as two or more copies of an image displayed, output of the next image specified with the image specifying information is performed without following the number of copies information.
US08582140B2 Communication system and communication apparatus building the system
Facsimile image data received from a normal facsimile apparatus connected to a general telephone network can be transmitted as an e-mail to the e-mail address of a computer network such as a LAN or the like designated by the source facsimile apparatus. An apparatus has a LAN I/F (6-14) for connecting to the LAN, and a line I/F (6-6) for connecting to the public telephone network. Upon reception of a remote instruction from the public telephone network, a CPU (6-3) converts received facsimile image data into e-mail data, and transmits the converted e-mail data to the e-mail address designated by the received remote instruction.
US08582139B2 Driver upgrading
Methods, systems, and arrangements enable the maintenance of driver settings when upgrading from an old driver having a first name to a new driver having a second different name. In certain described implementations, a driver upgrade is effectuated by first ascertaining driver settings for a peripheral and then upgrading a driver for the peripheral to an upgraded driver by replacing the former with the latter. After driver replacement, the driver settings for the peripheral are reestablished despite that the driver replacement entails changing driver names. Exemplary implementations may be directed to updating printer drivers in Microsoft Windows® operating system environments. Exemplary implementations may also include driver upgrading using an installation utility or driver upgrading using a new driver.
US08582135B2 Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a storage unit configured to store print data which is received from a host, a generation unit configured to read the print data which is stored in the storage unit and generate an intermediate code, and an image forming unit configured to form an image according to the intermediate code which is generated by the generation unit. The image forming apparatus also has a restriction unit that is configured not to restrict execution of a specific print function if a processing unit configured to process the print data by interactively communicating with the host is not installed in the image forming apparatus, and is configured to restrict execution of the specific print function if the processing unit configured to process the print data by interactively communicating with the host is installed in the image forming apparatus.
US08582133B2 Cable label forming apparatus, tape printing apparatus, method of forming cable label for cable label forming apparatus and program
Provided herein is a cable label forming apparatus having an edit screen display device, a selection candidate display instructing device, and a selection candidate display device. The selection candidate display device displays a last selected candidate among the plurality of selection candidates on a priority basis in a normal edit screen when displaying the plurality of selection candidates is instructed, and displays a specific candidate among the plurality of selection candidates on a priority basis in a cable label forming edit screen when displaying the plurality of selection candidates is instructed.
US08582128B2 Image-formation control device, image-formation control method, and computer program product
A device includes: a receiver receiving a displacement of an image formation target area in a sub-scanning direction from a reference position on a continuous form with side portions having holes and with a page boundary per a length; a calculator calculating marker lengths of markers marking upper and lower ends of a page of the continuous form based on the displacement, a shortest distance to the holes from the page boundary, and a reference length for when the displacement is not specified for the markers; another calculator calculating start positions of the markers based on the displacement, the distance, the reference length, and a length of the target area in the sub-scanning direction; and a controller performing, with respect to an apparatus, control of the image formation of the markers in the side portions from the start positions over the marker lengths.
US08582126B2 Support method for simulating a printing operation
A design support method of verifying control on a device of an image forming apparatus registers, in a storage device, trigger information for specifying a content of control to be executed when a start condition for switching the control state of the device is satisfied (S1002). The apparatus then registers, in the storage device, the allowable range of the state change of the device due to control switched when the start condition is satisfied (S1003). The apparatus then verifies whether the state change of the device due to the control switched when the start condition is satisfied falls outside the allowable range, by referring to the operation state of the device which is input through an input unit, and the trigger information registered in the storage device (S1004).
US08582125B2 Variable support structure and media sheet separator
In one embodiment, a structure comprises a pliable sheet and first and second stationary supports extending along and supporting the sheet. The supports are oriented relative to one another such that a distance between the supports at one part of the sheet is greater than a distance between the supports at another part of the sheet. In another embodiment, a sheet media input structure comprises a sheet media supporting surface and a media sheet separator downstream from the supporting surface along a media path that extends from the supporting surface to and along the separator. The separator is configured to separate a top sheet on the stack from a next-to-top sheet in the stack by resisting the movement of sheets along the media path and the degree of resistance varies along the length of the separator.
US08582122B2 Polishing monitoring method, polishing method, and polishing monitoring apparatus
A method accurately monitors the progress of polishing and accurately detects the polishing end point. The method includes directing light to the substrate during polishing of the substrate, receiving reflected light from the substrate, measuring an intensity of the reflected light at each wavelength, and producing a spectrum indicating a relationship between intensity and wavelength from measured values of the intensity. The method also includes calculating an amount of change in the spectrum per predetermined time, integrating the amount of change in the spectrum with respect to polishing time to obtain an amount of cumulative change in the spectrum, and monitoring the progress of polishing of the substrate based on the amount of cumulative change in the spectrum.
US08582119B2 Large scale metrology apparatus and method
A metrology system that uses a plurality of photo-detecting targets positioned on the objects to be assembled, a plurality of rotating photo-emitting heads, a master signal generator that generates a reference RF signal, and a signal processor that determines the position of each of the targets from signals generated by each target in response to the photo-emitting heads. During operation, the reference RF signal is broadcast to the rotating photo-emitting heads and the photo-detecting targets. The RF signal is used to determine the azimuth of the heads relative to a zero reference position to a high degree of accuracy.
US08582116B2 Recording sheet surface detection apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for detecting surface conditions of a recording sheet on which an image is formed, includes a light source configured to emit a first light beam and a second light beam, an image capture device configured to capture a first image of a surface of the recording sheet illuminated with the first light beam and a second image of the surface of the recording sheet illuminated with the second light beam. A first straight line including a ray in a center of the first light beam and a second straight line including a ray in a center of the second light beam intersect with each other, when each straight line is projected onto the surface of the recording sheet, and a detection device configured to detect information about the unevenness on the surface of the recording sheet based on the first image and the second image.
US08582107B2 Method and system for detecting the level of anesthesia agent in an anesthesia vaporizer
A method of detecting a level of anesthesia agent in an anesthesia vaporizer is disclosed. The anesthesia agent forms a column of liquid within an external indicator; the method projects a beam of light into the external indicator. The method further receives the beam of light after the beam of light has traveled through the column of liquid, and detects when the level of anesthesia agent drops below a predetermined level.
US08582105B1 Method and apparatus for leak detection in H2Se furnace
A method for detecting leaks during high temperature selenization of Cu—In—Ga metal precursor films comprises positioning a light source on one side of a transparent reaction chamber or aligned with a window in an opaque reaction chamber. The method further comprises positioning a detector opposite the light source and detecting an intensity of light from the light source. Leaks in the seals of the reaction chamber will result in the formation of an opaque film on the walls of the reaction chamber. A decrease in the intensity of light incident on the detector will indicate the presence of the leak. A second method comprises measuring the reflection of the light source off of the reaction chamber wall or a window in the reaction chamber. An change in the reflected light will indicate a leak in the seals of the reaction chamber.
US08582103B2 Bulbless spectrometer
The present invention creates a spectrometer (1; 1′) for measuring the concentration of at least one analyte in a fluid sample (2; 2′), with a light source (3; 3′) to generate a light beam (4; 4′), with a photosensor (5; 5′) to receive the light beam (4; 4′), and with a measurement length (6; 6′), in which the fluid sample (2; 2′) can be placed, in the beam path of the light beam (4; 4′), the measurement length (6; 6′) being provided in changeable form.
US08582102B2 TFT-LCD array substrate, method and apparatus for detecting size or alignment deviation of multilayer patterns
An embodiment provides a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) array substrate comprising a substrate and multilayer array patterns formed on the substrate, and a detecting mark, which is used to detect the size or alignment deviation of one array pattern among the multilayer array patterns and provided in a region of the substrate where the multilayer array patterns are not provided. The detecting mark comprises a detecting area and a detecting pattern which is provided in the same layer as the array pattern to be detected, the detecting pattern is located within the detecting area, and the detecting pattern has transmissivity or reflectivity different from that of the remaining area in the detecting area other than the detecting pattern.
US08582094B1 Systems and methods for inspecting specimens including specimens that have a substantially rough uppermost layer
Systems and methods for inspecting a specimen are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct light to the specimen at an oblique angle of incidence. The light is polarized in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of incidence. The system also includes a detection subsystem configured to detect light scattered from the specimen. The detected light is polarized in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of scattering. In addition, the system includes a processor configured to detect defects on the specimen using signals generated by the detection subsystem. In one embodiment, such a system may be configured to detect defects having a size that is less than half of a wavelength of the light directed to the specimen.
US08582091B2 Vision-based headlamp aiming
A method for accurately aiming vehicle headlamps, with apparatus for practicing the method. A vision system, including a digital camera, is positioned in front of a headlamp, in communication with a control device. The control device employs pattern recognition to identify the optical axis indicia within the headlamp, and based on the identified location of that indicia, the control system accurately aligns a beamsetter with the optical axis of the headlamp.
US08582088B2 Authentication apparatus and methods
Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.
US08582087B2 Laser radar projection with object feature detection and ranging
A laser projection system is disclosed. The system includes a laser projector that projects a light beam to the surface of an object and scans that projected light beam over at least a portion of the surface, wherein a portion of the projected beam is diffusely reflected from the surface back to the system. The system further includes an optical signal detector that receives the feedback light beam and converts it to an image signal, a light suppression means for suppressing unwanted light from entering the optical signal detector, and a computer for producing a measurement of the distance from the projector to the object surface, and controlling the system to buck the laser projector into a coordinate system of the object using three or more features on the object, wherein at least one of the three or more features serves as a targetless fiducial point.
US08582083B2 Effective light source shape database generation method, optical image calculation method, recording medium, exposure method, and device fabrication method
The present invention provides a method of generating a database of effective light source shapes including a generation step of generating an initial database representing an effective light source shapes corresponding to a plurality of conditions settable for an illumination optical system, a measurement step of setting an arbitrary condition for the illumination optical system, and measuring an effective light source shape, a calculation step of calculating a difference amount between an effective light source shape when each of the plurality of conditions is set for the illumination optical system and the effective light source shape included in the initial database, and a correction step of correcting the effective light source shapes included in the initial database using the difference amounts and compiling the corrected effective light source shapes into an actual database.
US08582082B2 Method and lithographic apparatus for measuring and acquiring height data relating to a substrate surface
A lithographic apparatus includes a level sensor for use in positioning a target portion of the substrate with respect to a focal plane of the projection system, a pair of actuators, configured to move a substrate table of the lithographic apparatus, and a controller for moving the substrate relative to the level sensor by controlling the actuators. The controller combines motions of the first and second actuators to produce a combined movement having a speed higher than a maximum speed of at least one of the actuators individually.
US08582081B2 Device for the low-deformation replaceable mounting of an optical element
The invention relates to a device for the low-deformation replaceable mounting of an optical element, in particular a closure plate of an objective of a projection exposure system for microlithography for the production of semiconductor components, in a mount (12). The optical element is connected to the mount (12) at least partly via an adhesive connection. This is located between the adjacent circumferential walls of mount (12) and optical element. The mount (12) is provided with at least three support feet (14) distributed over the circumference, by means of which the optical element is mounted laterally and axially. The mount (12) is connected to the housing of the objective in an at least approximately deformation-decoupled manner via three mount bearing points (15).
US08582071B2 Display panel and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a display panel is provided. The method includes steps of: disposing a seal on a first substrate, in which a first side of the seal connects in approximately perpendicular to a second side of the seal and has at least one liquid crystal inlet; forming at least one block on the first substrate and between the liquid crystal inlet and the connection of the first side and the second side of the seal, in which there is a space between the block and the first side of the seal when the block is formed; and pressing a second substrate against the first substrate having the seal and the block thereon, such that the block adjoins the first side of the seal after the second substrate is pressed.
US08582069B2 Liquid crystal device and projection-type display apparatus
A liquid crystal device and a projection-type display apparatus provided with the liquid crystal device are provided in which it is possible to prevent an electrochemical corrosion reaction from occurring in the course of a process. An aluminum film constituting a first terminal and a first electrode for inter-substrate connection formed to be electrically separated (insulated) from each other on one face side of a first substrate of the liquid crystal device, an ITO film constituting a dummy pixel electrode and a second electrode of inter-substrate connection, a common electrode (second substrate side electrode) formed on a second substrate are electrically connected by an inter-substrate connection member provided between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08582067B2 Array substrate, liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
An array substrate is provided. The array substrate comprises a base substrate, a plurality of pixel units are provided on the base substrate in a matrix form, a common electrode and a pixel electrode are provided in each of the pixel units, the common electrode is connected with a common electrode line and the pixel electrode is connected with a data line through a switching element. The pixel units in the matrix form comprise a first pixel unit and a second pixel unit. When polarities of voltage difference between the pixel electrode and the common electrode in the first pixel unit is identical to that in the second pixel unit, the direction of an electric field formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and for driving liquid crystal molecules to display at a gray level in the first pixel unit is opposite to that in the second pixel unit.
US08582066B2 Liquid crystal display device having a plurality of slip electrode portions with curved portions that are overlapped by a plurality of openings
Provided is a liquid crystal display device that includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two substrates, one of which includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode, where the electrode that is disposed closer to the liquid crystal layer has a stripe pattern that includes a plurality of slip electrode portions, and each of the plurality of slip electrode portions includes a curved portion at which each of the plurality of the slip electrode portions changes a stretching direction, and where the other electrode has a solid flat shape provided with a plurality of openings at locations that overlap with the curved portions of the plurality of slip electrode portions, the plurality of openings being provided in a manner that makes the opening in one curved portion independent and that allows only a convex outline segment of the slip electrode portion to run through an area of the opening.
US08582064B2 Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is an MVA type liquid crystal display device (LCD 100A) forming four domains in which liquid crystal molecules fall in different directions that are about 90° apart. The MVA type liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, which pixels are horizontally long pixels having longer sides extending in the row direction. Each pixel includes two first electrodes (21a and 21b) arranged side by side along the row direction. Preferably, at least one of the two first electrodes (21a and 21b) has a first corner section including a first edge that is parallel to the row direction and a second edge that is parallel to the column direction, and the first substrate further includes an electrode layer (16c) overlapping at least a portion of the first edge or the second edge of the first corner section. According to the present invention, display quality deterioration caused by disturbed alignment of liquid crystal molecules occurring near the edges of the pixel electrodes can be suppressed.
US08582063B2 Optical toy
Disclosed is a toy comprising polarizing filters and birefringent film cut into shapes used to make temporary colorful birefringent designs. The birefringent film (or, alternatively, the polarizing filter) is coated with non-water soluble, non-hygroscopic low-tack or ultra-low-tack adhesive so that changeable designs can be assembled on the polarizing filter and viewed through polarized spectacles or a polarizing filter. The polarizing filters are retained in rings that can be nested and rotated in relation to each other, or movably attached to each other with magnetic attachments. An embodiment is also disclosed which makes use of the polarized light emitted from certain LCD display devices so that they can be used as a work surface to make changeable birefringent designs. Such an implementation may also use applications executed by or stored on the device to provide design outlines.
US08582062B2 2D/3D switchable display
A 2D/3D switchable display, including a display unit adapted to display an image, and a lens unit on the display unit, wherein the lens unit includes a first lens substrate on the display unit and including a first electrode array including a plurality of first electrodes that are spaced apart from each other, a second lens substrate on the first lens substrate and including a second electrode array including a plurality of second electrodes that are spaced apart from each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the first lens substrate and the second lens substrate.
US08582054B2 Display with focused illumination
Some implementations include a liquid crystal display with focused illumination. For example, a light source emitting a plurality of discrete colors may be focused onto a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of pixels and each pixel may have regions corresponding to the colors emitted by the light source. Light of each color can be focused onto the regions of the pixels corresponding to that color.
US08582049B2 Foldable display apparatus
A foldable display apparatus includes a bendable display panel which folds with respect to a folding axis. The display panel includes a plurality of display devices and a window layer. Each of the display devices includes a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of color elements having different colors from each other. A plurality of color elements of a same color is linearly arranged in a direct line direction which is non-parallel to the folding axis. The window layer includes a soft material part including a soft material in a folding part of the display panel, and a protective window part other than the soft material part. The protective window part protects the display part of the plurality of display devices.
US08582047B2 Display device and window manufacturing method for the display device
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display device includes a body, a display part disposed inside of the body, and configured to display information, a first window disposed on a front surface of the display part and maintaining a distance from the body and the display part, and a second window provided between the body and the first window.
US08582044B2 Liquid crystal display and repairing method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel and a second pixel, and each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode, a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, and a voltage-changing capacitor, wherein a first source electrode on the first switching element and a second source electrode on the second switching element from the first pixel are connected to a data line, the first source electrode and the second source electrode of the second pixel are disconnected from the plurality of data lines, and the two terminals of the voltage-changing capacitor of the second pixel are shorted to each other.
US08582041B2 Liquid crystal display device having a lens array being arranged the extending direction of the longitudinal axis of the lens
Moirés due to interference between two liquid crystal display panels in a display device which achieves three-dimensional displaying by using two liquid crystal display panels is to be prevented. By disposing a lenticular lens array between an upper liquid crystal display panel and a lower liquid crystal display panel, moirés and image blurs are prevented. This configuration can prevent the luminance levels and contrast of images from dropping.
US08582036B2 Remote control apparatus and communication system
Disclosed herein is a remote control apparatus for communicating with an electric apparatus by radio communication, including: a plurality of operation keys; a transmission/reception section for transferring a signal to and from the electric apparatus by the radio communication; and a control section having at least a power control function for controlling the power of the remote control apparatus; the control section controlling the transmission/reception section to a normal power state until a predetermined period of time elapses after a signal is inputted thereto by an input of any of the operation keys to enable transfer of a signal from the electric apparatus by the transmission/reception section, the control section controlling the transmission/reception section to a low power consumption state after the predetermined period of time elapses.
US08582032B2 Motion detection for interlaced video
Motion detection in interlaced video fields, as useful in de-interlacing, includes spatial-temporal maximum filtering, temporal IIR filtering dependent upon spatial-temporal variance, and spatial variance dependent moving-still interpolation blending factor.
US08582031B2 System and method of transmission and display of progressive video with hints for interlaced display
Systems and methods that transmit and display progressive video with hints for interlaced display are provided. The systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems. In one embodiment, a system or a method encodes video by following the native frame rate of the source material and, if desirable, embeds hint information for interlaced display into the coded bitstream. Presentation times for coded pictures may be generated using the hint information. The hint information may be used or ignored.
US08582029B2 Picture signal processing unit, image display unit, and picture signal processing method
A picture signal processing unit having a first and a second double rate conversion section, a storage section, and a quadruple rate conversion section is provided. The first double rate conversion section inserts a first interpolation frame between a couple of successive original frames to output the original frames and the first interpolation frames. The second double rate conversion section generates a second and a third interpolation frames and allocates the second and the third interpolation frames between the couple of successive original frames to output the second and the third interpolation frames. The storage section stores the original frame and the first to the third interpolation frames. The quadruple rate conversion section sequentially reads out the original frame and the first to the third interpolation frames from the storage section in a quadruple rate to output the original frame and the first to the third interpolation frames.
US08582026B2 Mobile terminal
The present invention provides a mobile terminal including a terminal body having a camera, and a liquid crystal panel partitioned into a screen display region disposed with liquid crystal to display a screen, and a control region disposed with a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal, wherein the liquid crystal panel is formed such that at least part of the control region is removed, and the camera is disposed adjacent to a removal portion formed by the removal.
US08582024B2 Dome camera
A dome camera (1) includes a lens unit (5) having an adjustable lens focal point, a dome cover (4) for covering the lens unit (5), and a pseudo-cover (7) having optically equivalent characteristics to those of the dome cover (4). The pseudo-cover (7) is capable of rotating around a rotation axis which is set at the lens unit (5) from a lens focal point adjusting position which is set on an optical axis of the lens unit (5) toward a retraction position which is back from the optical axis of the lens unit (5). At the time of lens focal point adjustment work, the lens focal point is adjusted while the pseudo-cover (7) is set at the lens focal point adjusting position. When the lens focal point adjustment work ends, the pseudo-cover (7) is rotated to the retraction position to retract from the optical axis of the lens unit (5), and the dome cover (4) is put over the lens unit (5). Thus, there is provided a dome camera capable of improving the workability of the lens focal point adjustment work with a simple and inexpensive configuration.
US08582023B2 Electronic device with a storage case and lid which is openable/closable and lockable with storage case
An electronic device capable of generating a click force when a lid member is operated to be opened or closed, without increasing the number of parts. The electronic device includes a storage case formed with a first shaft hole in which a pivot shaft of a battery lid is positioned when the battery lid is locked with the storage case and a second shaft hole in which the pivot shaft is positioned when the battery lid is released from locking with the storage case. A hook portion of the storage case is disposed to face a space extending between the first and second shaft holes, and pivoted in a direction to expand the space when the pivot shaft is moved between the first and second shaft holes than when the pivot shaft is positioned in the first or second shaft hole.
US08582022B2 Optical module, wafer scale package, and method for manufacturing those
An optical module for an electro-optical device with a functional element, in particular for a camera device, and to an electro-optical device with such a module. The optical module includes a lens substrate portion with at least one lens element, and a spacer. The spacer serves to keep the lens substrate at a well defined axial distance from a base substrate portion of the fully assembled electro-optical device. In order to ensure improved performance of the functional element, an EMC shield is provided. The spacer is at least in parts electrically conductive and thus forms the EMC shield or a part thereof. A method of manufacturing a plurality of such modules on a wafer scale is also provided.
US08582020B2 Imaging apparatus with a camera body whereon an interchangeable lens can be removably mounted
Providing an imaging apparatus wherein dust does not easily adhere to the imaging portion. The apparatus comprising an imaging portion provided with an image pickup device, a first housing holding the imaging portion, a protective cover disposed a photographic object side, a second housing holding the cover and provided with a mount structure, to attachably and removably mount interchangeable lenses at the photographic object side, and wherein an airtight space is formed by at least one of the first and the second housings, the imaging portion, and the cover.
US08582016B2 Photographing apparatus and focus detecting method using the same
A photographing apparatus capable of automatic detection of a focus of a subject and a method thereof are disclosed. The photographing apparatus includes a control unit for detecting the focus of the subject using images of the subject acquired with a moveable lens being in different positions so as to allow the detection of the focus of the subject automatically and nearly simultaneously with the photographing the subject without using a separate AF module that requires light separation and/or separate dedicated focus image sensor.
US08582013B2 Refractive index distributed optical element and image sensor including the refractive index distributed optical element
A refractive index distributed optical element having a refractive index varying within a plane, including a positive refractive index distributed portion having a positive refractive index varying within the plane and a negative refractive index distributed portion having a negative refractive index varying within the plane. The absolute values of the refractive indexes of the positive refractive index distributed portion and the negative refractive index distributed portion decrease toward a region between the positive refractive index distributed portion and the negative refractive index distributed portion.
US08582005B2 Method, apparatus and system providing adjustment of pixel defect map
A method, apparatus and system that allows for the identification of defective pixels, for example, defective pixel clusters, in an imager device. The method, apparatus and system determine, during use of the imager device, that a pixel defect, e.g., cluster defect, exists and accurately maps the location of the defective pixel. By analyzing more than one frame of an image, the method increases the accuracy of the defect mapping, which is used to improve the quality of the resulting image data.
US08582002B2 Imaging method and imaging apparatus
An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used.
US08581996B2 Imaging device
This invention provide an imaging device includes: a still image obtaining unit which obtains a plurality of still images; an omnifocal image generation unit which combines the still images, and generates the omnifocal image; a focal position control unit which obtains a focusing position of at least a part of the omnifocal image from height shape data, and controls the focal position so that the focal position of the frame image substantially coincides with the focusing position; a feature quantity extraction unit which extracts feature quantity from the frame image and the omnifocal image or a reference image; a relative position determination unit which determines a relative position between the frame image and the reference image; and a live image display unit which updates a display position of the frame image, and displays a moving picture image on the omnifocal image.
US08581987B1 Systems and methods for evaluating video quality
System and methods are provided for evaluating quality of a video sequence. For example, a video sequence including one or more image frames is received, the video sequence being associated with a video processing system. A frame quality factor for each image frame in the video sequence is generated based on a comparison between the image frame and a reference image frame. A fluctuation value and a weight value of the image frames are generated, the fluctuation value of the image frames indicating a variation of the frame quality factors of the image frames, the weight value of the image frames being determined based on an average of the frame quality factors of the image frames. A video quality factor is output based on the frame quality factors of the image frames, the fluctuation value of the image frames, and the weight value of the image frames.
US08581986B2 Method and apparatus for measuring the focus performance of a camera and lens combination
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for measuring the focus performance of a camera and lens combination. One embodiment of a test target for measuring a focus performance of a camera and lens combination includes a target body, the target body displaying a pattern including: a primary pattern covering a portion of the target body and a secondary pattern superimposed over a portion of the primary pattern, the secondary pattern being aligned along an edge of the target body. The test target also includes a ruler positioned adjacent to the edge of the target body, a ruler positioned adjacent to the edge of the target body, such that the secondary pattern directly abuts a zero line of the ruler.
US08581983B2 Vehicle interior classification system and method
A vehicle interior classification system and method determines a classification relating to the interior of the vehicle, such as the occupancy status of a vehicle seat or the state of alertness of a vehicle driver, from one or more images of an appropriate portion of the interior of the vehicle acquired with an image capture device. The acquired images may be processed to limit the dynamic range of the images to obtain a resultant image that includes one or more regions of interest which are less than the total field of view of the image capture device. The resultant images are processed to extract information about features in the image. The set of coefficients produced with suchprocessing can be reduced to a subset of the total number of coefficients, the members of the subset being selected for their ability to discriminate between the classifications defined for the system.
US08581982B1 Infrared camera vehicle integration systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed in accordance with some embodiments for integrating an infrared camera system into a vehicle's lighting component. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a lighting component for a vehicle includes a housing; an infrared camera disposed within the housing; a light source disposed within the housing and disposed at least partially around the infrared camera; and a lens coupled to the housing and adapted to allow infrared radiation to pass through and be received by the infrared camera and to allow light provided by the light source to be transmitted through the lens. Furthermore, one or more infrared cameras may be integrated into a vehicle to provide various capabilities, such as for example stereoscopic infrared imaging, multi-spectral stereoscopic imaging (e.g., using infrared and visible wavelengths or various infrared wavelengths for multi-color infrared imaging), and/or provide various fields of view (e.g., foveal imaging).
US08581978B2 Geodetic apparatus and method for controlling the same
A geodetic apparatus for performing measurements using a target and a method for controlling the geodetic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a detector for measuring a position of the target relative to a sighting axis of the apparatus, a light emitter for outputting to an outside of the geodetic apparatus a first cone of light having a first wavelength and a second cone of light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a controller connected to both the detector and the light emitter. The first cone of light overlaps with the second cone of light at the distance of one meter from the apparatus by at least 30%. The controller is configured to control the light emitter based on the detected position of the target to output at least one of the first cone of light and the second cone of light.
US08581975B2 Infrared defect detection system and method for the evaluation of powdermetallic compacts
A pulsed thermography defect detection apparatus including active and passive infrared (IR) thermography for non-destructive testing (NDT) of powdermetallic (P/M) components for on-line and off-line inspection.
US08581974B2 Systems and methods for presence detection
Systems and methods are provided for presence detection using an image system. The image system may be a camera that is integrated into an electronic device. In some embodiments, the image system can accommodate multiple operating modes of the electronic device. For example, when the electronic device is operating in a normal power mode, control circuitry of the image system can detect when a user has left and is no longer using the electronic device. When the electronic device is operating in a power saving mode, the control circuitry can detect user presence (e.g., when a user has come back to the electronic device). In some embodiments, the control circuitry can adjust for both gradual and sudden light changes.
US08581973B2 Endoscopic diagnosis support method, endoscopic diagnosis support apparatus and endoscopic diagnosis support program
Provided are an endoscopic diagnosis support method, an endoscopic diagnosis support apparatus, and an endoscopic diagnosis support program, all of which are capable of extracting an image picking up a bleeding region easily and accurately from among a large number of endoscopic images picked up by an endoscope observation apparatus by calculating a tone from a color signal of each of plural image zones obtained by dividing the endoscopic image; and discerning an image zone including a bleeding region by judging a difference among each of the plural image zones based on a tone of the calculated each image zone in the endoscopic diagnosis support apparatus for supporting an endoscopic diagnosis performed based on an endoscopic image picked up by an endoscope observation apparatus.
US08581971B2 Endoscope system
The endoscope system of the present invention includes: an endoscope that has an image pickup device that picks up an observation image of a test object; an image display unit that converts image pickup signals that have been sent from the image pickup device into images and then displays these images; a first mounting portion that is provided in an operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted; and a second mounting portion that is provided in the operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted in a different position from that of the first mounting portion.
US08581965B2 Means and facility for 3D imaging
A means for 3D imaging takes two plane pictures of an object in different angles and respectively projects the correspondent images of the object toward users' eyes. Accordingly, the visual data would be transmitted to user's brain and integrated to construct a solid vision. A facility for 3D imaging comprises a multiple image projector consisting of a displaying unit installed on a refracting unit. Wherein, the displaying unit performs a plurality of images, and the refracting unit adopts an optical unit. Thereby, image beams generated by the displaying unit would travel through the refracting unit and deflect by a certain angle. Accordingly, the images shot from two different angles would be respectively projected into user's eyes, and a solid vision could be constructed.
US08581963B2 Video mode hidden autofocus
A method and system for hiding objectionable frames during autofocusing are disclosed. A personal electronic device such as a cameral telephone can have two cameras that have overlapping fields of view. One camera can provide imaging. The other camera can facilitate autofocusing in a manner wherein images produced thereby are not viewed by a user. Because the autofocus frames are hidden, the user is not distracted or annoying thereby.
US08581962B2 Techniques and apparatus for two camera, and two display media for producing 3-D imaging for television broadcast, motion picture, home movie and digital still pictures
Utilizing two cameras as image sources, and two displays for visual presentation, it is possible to render still or moving pictures that can be viewed stereographically. Using special adapters and techniques, this dual-picture approach allows the viewer to see images in three-dimension space. By following simple set-up procedures and limitations imposed by human vision, three-dimensional images can be produced in any digital or analog media, or combinations of these two. These techniques can be applied to print media as well.
US08581961B2 Stereoscopic panoramic video capture system using surface identification and distance registration technique
A method of interpolating images from original images are disclosed. Interpolation of images is based on the captured images, normal vector of the image segment plane and distance between the camera and the original image. Image segment groups retrieved are selected in order to discard and select only the image segment groups that meet criteria. Further processing of applying a shape change, merging the interpolated images and smoothing of the merged images provide interpolated images for viewing at angle of a virtual camera.
US08581958B2 Methods and systems for establishing video conferences using portable electronic devices
Methods and systems for using portable electronic devices in video conferences are disclosed. In one aspect, a method receives each remote participant's audio data stream and at least one video stream over a network and arranges the video streams in a data structure that describes the location of each video stream's associated viewing area within a virtual meeting space. The method blends audio streams into a combined audio of the remote participants. The method presents at least one viewing area on the portable device display to be viewed by the local participant, and changes the at least one viewing area to be presented on the portable device display based on cues provided by the operator.
US08581956B2 Methods and systems for communicating focus of attention in a video conference
Methods and systems for communicating each participant's focus of attention in a video conference are described. In one aspect, a method for communicating where each participant's attention is focused in a video conference includes receiving each remote participant's video and audio streams and focus of attention data, based on the remote participant's head location. The at least one remote participant's video streams are presented in separate viewing areas of the local participant's display. The viewing areas presenting the remote participants are modified to indicate to the local participant each remote participant's focus of attention, based on the focus of attention data.
US08581955B2 Apparatus and method for remote control between mobile communication terminals
An apparatus and method in a mobile terminal support remote control with other mobile terminals. A video call is connected between the mobile terminal with a corresponding terminal. A remote control request message is transmitted through a control channel to the corresponding terminal. A remote control acceptance message is received through the control channel from the corresponding terminal. And a control message including control data that corresponds to a user input is transmitted through the control channel to the corresponding terminal.
US08581948B2 Information processing apparatus, laser radiation device, render information generating method, control system, recording medium, and render information storage device
An information processing apparatus for generating render information of an image includes a storage for storing shape information of strokes forming the image; an information acquiring unit for acquiring the shape information of strokes from the storage; a thickness acquiring unit for acquiring thickness information of the image; a stroke generator for generating a number of parallel strokes that are each parallel to an original stroke, and to specify intervals between the parallel strokes, wherein the number and the intervals correspond to the thickness information; a length adjusting unit for adjusting a length of a first parallel stroke parallel to a first original stroke and/or a length of a second parallel stroke parallel to a second original stroke that is connected to the first original stroke; and a render information generator for registering, in the render information, the shape information of the parallel stroke whose length has been adjusted.
US08581945B2 Light emitting diode array including apertures, line printer head, and method of manufacturing the light emitting diode array
A light emitting diode array including apertures, a line printer head using the light emitting diode array, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting diode array. The light emitting diode array includes the apertures that are formed in a substrate and restrict tunnels of light emitted from a plurality of light emitting diodes. Also, a lens that refracts the light transmitted through the plurality of apertures is included.
US08581942B2 Backlight unit for liquid crystal display device and driving method of the same
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a reflection plate, a light guide plate over the reflection plate, the light guide plate having n grooves at a lower surface and including (n+1) areas divided by the grooves, wherein n is a natural number, a first LED assembly disposed at a first side surface of the light guide plate, the first LED assembly including (n+1) LED packages, each of which has at least one LED, wherein the LED packages of the first LED assembly correspond to the areas, respectively, and are separately driven, and a plurality of optical sheets over the light guide plate.
US08581939B2 Terminal device with display function
A display controller executes a comparison mode if a display state is switched to a second display state after one of multiple files is selected from a list of thumbnail images in a first display state. In the comparison mode, the display controller displays a magnified image of the selected file on a first display area at a size suitable for the number of magnified images displayed on the first display area at that time. Accordingly, a desired image can easily be selected from stored images in a terminal device with a display function such as a cell phone.
US08581938B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program for magnifying a screen and moving a displayed content
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: an input position detecting unit for detecting a position of an operator positioned on an operation input unit; a direction detecting unit for detecting a moving direction of the operator based on time change of the position of the detected operator; a magnification change unit for changing a magnification of a screen in accordance with a number of the operator detected by the input position detecting unit; and a display content moving unit for moving a content displayed on the screen along the moving direction of the operator detected by the direction detecting unit.
US08581937B2 Seam-based reduction and expansion of images using partial solution matrix dependent on dynamic programming access pattern
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for resizing images using seam carving techniques may include generation of a partial solution matrix by at least partially isolating dependencies between sub-problems of a dynamic programming problem corresponding to its solution within different regions of an input image. The number and/or shape of the isolated (or partially isolated) sub-problems may be dependent on the access pattern used by a dynamic programming operation to identify seams in the input image. Multiple sub-problems may be processed independently and in parallel on respective processor core(s) or threads thereof to generate the partial solution matrix. The partial solution matrix may then be processed to identify one or more low-cost seams of the input image. The methods may be implemented as stand-alone applications or as program instructions implementing components of a graphics application, executable by a CPU and/or GPU configured for parallel processing.
US08581935B2 Orientation-following display apparatus, orientation-following display method, and orientation-following display program
A display device has a screen that can be positioned in arbitrary postures including a reference posture relative to a space having a reference horizontal orientation. The screen has an xyz orthogonal coordinate system, and the posture of the screen in the space is defined by z-x-z Euler angles α, β, and γ of the xyz orthogonal coordinate system. The screen displays an image to enable recognition of the reference horizontal orientation of the space. A control device derives a specific parameter α+γ as an angle by which the image is rotated so that the reference horizontal orientation recognized from the image follows the reference horizontal orientation of the space when the image is displayed on the screen at arbitrary postures.
US08581934B2 Rendering apparatus and method
A rendering apparatus and method are provided. A plurality of nodes of interface data are described using the plurality of nodes connected hierarchically and indicate a plurality of selectable items that are analyzed, and the interface data is rendered based on a result of the analysis. Consequently, a creator of interface data to be rendered can expect a time-to-market reduction when creating interface data described in a standardized format.
US08581933B2 System and method for displaying a rotated image in a display device
A method controls display of an image by dividing a source image into a plurality of M×N blocks of pixels, selecting a first one of the blocks, and transferring the pixels in the first block from a source memory to a display memory, the pixels in the first block transferred based on orientation change information. The selecting and transferring steps are then repeated to transfer pixels in remaining ones of the blocks to the display memory. Each block corresponds to only a portion of the source image, where any given portion represents less than a full line of pixels in the source image.
US08581932B2 Image display system
An image display system including: an image acquisition section that acquires a specific number of images of an imaging subject by imaging with an imaging section from different respective imaging positions; a detection section that detects regions of attention expressing specific loci of attention in each of the specific number of images acquired by the image acquisition section; and a selection section that selects, from combinations of the images, a combination of images for display as images on a display section, the combination of images having a minimum number of images having all of the loci of attention expressed by the regions of attention detected by the detection section in the specific number of images.
US08581925B2 Method of correcting data and liquid crystal display using the same
A data correcting method is disclosed to implement an optimum picture quality according to surrounding conditions. The data correcting method includes: converting the input data into XYZ color space data; converting the XYZ color space data into JCh color space data by applying a reference illuminance parameter to a CIECAM02 forward algorithm; inversely converting the JCh color space data into the XYZ color space data by the illuminance by sequentially applying a plurality of illuminance parameters different from the reference illuminance, to a CIECAM02 backward algorithm; inversely converting the inversely converted XYZ color space data into an RGB color space to produce correction data of each illuminance; and making a look-up table by mapping the produced correction data of each illuminance to the input data.
US08581918B2 Method and system for efficiently organizing data in memory
A method and system for efficiently organizing data in memory is provided. Exemplary aspects of the invention may include storing linear data and block data in more than one DRAM device and accessing the data with one read/write access cycle. Common control signals may be used to control the DRAM devices and the address lines used to address each DRAM device may be independent from one another. The data read from the DRAM devices may be reordered to make the data more suitable for processing by applications.
US08581911B2 Training system and methods for dynamically injecting expression information into an animated facial mesh
A system and method for modifying facial animations to include expression and microexpression information is disclosed. Particularly, a system and method for applying actor-generated expression data to a facial animation, either in realtime or in storage is disclosed. Present embodiments may also be incorporated into a larger training program, designed to train users to recognize various expressions and microexpressions.
US08581908B2 Graphics-rendering apparatus
A graphic object is rendered by means of managing a processing sequence and data, both of which pertain to a vector to be processed included in a vector data group to become inputs; extracting data pertaining to data to be processed from the vector data group which are to become inputs, in accordance with management information; computing sequence of processing of the extracted vector data; notifying management of a target point to be processed and completion of processing of a target vector, through use of the computed processing sequence information; determining whether or not fill-in of the target point to be processed is enabled, on the basis of management information about the target point to be processed, to thus compute fill-in information; and rendering a graphic object through use of the computed fill-in information.
US08581907B2 Set visualizations
Techniques for visualizing sets are described. Arbitrary subsets of data elements are represented by corresponding graphic lines. The data elements in a set are connected up sequentially by a corresponding graphic line, the graphic line passing through each data element once with minimal or no self-overlapping. The graphic lines may be curved, for instance in the form of spline segments interconnecting nodes that represent the respective subsets. Each line may have a different color. Data elements not belonging to a subset may still be represented by a nodes but are not connected with any of the graphic lines, thus it can be seen which data elements belong to which sets, if any.
US08581905B2 Interactive three dimensional displays on handheld devices
Techniques are disclosed for rendering an anamorphic projection of 3D scene geometry on a handheld device using a correct asymmetric perspective geometry projection. Once pose of the handheld device is determined, a relative eye position may be inferred when the device is tilted away from an initial or default pose, based on data supplied by accelerometers. Thus, embodiments of the invention result in a holographic style display without the need for glasses or external sensing attachments.
US08581904B2 Three-dimensional display of specifications in a scalable feed forward network
Technologies are described herein for generating a three-dimensional display. Some technologies are adapted to retrieve a model defining a feed-forward network related to a development process. The technologies generate a first three-dimensional shape representing each internal product according to the model. The technologies also generate a second three-dimensional shape representing each dependency of each internal product corresponding to each first three-dimensional shape. The technologies further generate a third three-dimensional shape representing each component of each dependency corresponding to each second three-dimensional shape.
US08581900B2 Computing transitions between captured driving runs
Various embodiments provide a global approach for computing transitions between captured runs through an intersection. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a transition algorithm receives as input various runs that have been captured through an intersection and an input path through the intersection. The transition algorithm processes its inputs and provides, as an output, a set of points and data such as a direction associated with each of the points. The set of points includes points from different captured runs. The output set of points and associated data indicate which images to obtain from a database and which field of view to create a simulated turn for the user.
US08581899B2 Display medium and display device
A display medium includes a pair of substrates, a dispersion medium sealed between the pair of substrates, a migrating particle group dispersed in the dispersion medium, and a surface layer provided on at least one of the facing surfaces of the pair of substrates and including a polymer compound that is a copolymer containing the following constitutional unit (A) and constitutional unit (B), X represents a group containing a silicone chain, Ra1 and Ra2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Rb2 represents an organic group containing a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, n1 and n2 each represent mol % of the constitutional unit relative to the whole copolymer and satisfy 0
US08581895B2 Data driver, display apparatus and driving method thereof
A data driver includes data lines, data voltage output parts that output data voltages to the data lines, and a data voltage sharing part connected to the data lines. The data voltage sharing part connects output terminals of two or more of the data voltage output parts to each other to charge-share the data voltages therebetween.
US08581894B2 Output circuit, data driver and display device
An output circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit, an output amplifier circuit, a control circuit. The third power supply voltage is intermediate between the first and second power supply voltages. The differential amplifier circuit includes, between the first and second power supplies, a differential input stage, first and second current mirror and first and second junction circuits. The output amplifier circuit includes first and second transistors connected between the first and third power supplies. The control circuit includes a third transistor connected between the output of the second current mirror and an end of the second junction circuit and supplied with a bias signal having a voltage in accordance with the third power supply voltage.
US08581892B2 Optical position detecting device and display device with position detecting function
An optical position detecting device includes: a plurality of detection light source sections which emits a detection light; a light source driving section which turns on a part of the plurality of detection light source sections in a first period, and turns on the other part thereof in a second period; a first light detecting section which detects the detection light reflected by a object; a second light detecting section which has a sensitivity peak in a wavelength band which is different from that of the first light detecting section and detects the detection light reflected by the object; and a position detecting section which detects the position of the object on the basis of the intensity of the detection light in the first light detecting section and the intensity of the detection light in the second light detecting section in the first and second periods.
US08581890B2 Liquid crystal display, flat display and gate driving method thereof
In a liquid crystal display, a flat display and a gate driving method thereof, the flat display comprises first and second pixel rows, first to third gate lines and a gate driving circuit. The first gate line is for determining whether to turn on a portion of pixels in the first pixel row, the second gate line is for determining whether to turn on another portion of pixels in the first pixel row, and the third gate line is for determining whether to turn on a portion of the pixels in the second pixel row. The gate driving circuit is for providing first to third gate driving pulses to the first to third gate lines. The first and second gate driving pulses do not overlap with each other, and the third gate driving pulse partially overlaps with one of the first and second gate driving pulses.
US08581885B2 Writing device, display sheet, and electronic device
A writing device for displaying an image on a display layer having a containing portion in which electrophoretic particles are contained, includes: a casing; a power supply provided in the casing; an electrode portion which is provided in the casing and is electrically connected to the power supply; and a conductive portion which is provided in the casing and is electrically connected to the power supply, wherein display of the image is performed by electrically connecting the electrode portion to the display layer so that the conductive portion is electrically connected to the display layer.
US08581881B2 Driven shield for capacitive to touchpads
A conductive shield that is disposed near the sensor, wherein a signal is driven on the shield that is similar to the signal induced on the sensor, thereby reducing stray capacitances and protecting the sensor from external noise sources, and resulting in a stronger signal reaching the sensor.
US08581878B2 Method for mitigating pooling mura on liquid crystal display apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus
A method for mitigating pooling mura on LCD apparatus and a LCD apparatus are provided. The method is adapted for a LCD apparatus having a plurality of pixels. The LCD apparatus is for displaying frames according to a received original display data, and each of at least a part of the pixels comprises two pixel electrodes to drive a plurality of liquid crystal molecules between the two pixel electrodes. The method comprises changing a corresponding portion of the original display data so as to rotate at least a part of the liquid crystal molecules between the two pixel electrodes of the pressed pixel toward a natural angle; and maintaining another corresponding portion of the original display data. The natural angle is a finally-presented tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules between the corresponding two pixel electrodes having substantially no potential difference therebetween.
US08581876B1 Stand alone active storage unit for memory devices
An active, portable, stand alone memory device storage unit, comprising a housing containing a plurality of memory device receptacles, a touch sensitive display screen, and a programmed processor circuit coupled to the plurality of receptacles and the touch sensitive display. The unit provides access to each memory device installed in a receptacle to determine its identity, contents, capacity occupied, etc. and enables viewing the data stored on a memory device or transferring portions of the data from one device memory device to another, either inside or outside the storage unit, all without connecting the storage unit to a computer.
US08581875B2 Touch panel, display, and manufacturing method of touch panel
A touch panel including a substrate, at least one first sensing series and at least one second sensing series is provided. The first sensing series is disposed on the substrate and extends along a first direction. The first sensing series includes several first sensing pads and at least one first bridge line. The first bridge line connects two adjacent first sensing pads, and a material of the first bridge line differs from a material of the first sensing pads. The second sensing series is disposed on the substrate and extends along a second direction. The first direction is different from the second direction. The second sensing series includes several second sensing pads and at least one second bridge line. The second bridge line connects two adjacent second sensing pads.
US08581871B2 Narrow frame touch input sheet, manufacturing method of same, and conductive sheet used in narrow frame touch input sheet
A narrow frame touch input sheet, and a conductive sheet used in the narrow frame touch input sheet, are suitable for a capacitive touch sensor having a narrow frame and two layers of transparent conductive film patterns. The conductive sheet includes one or more transparent base sheets stacked into a layer, transparent conductive films, light-excluding conductive electrode films, and first resist layers, which are layered sequentially on the uppermost and lowermost surfaces thereof. The first resist layers are exposed simultaneously on both surfaces, and after development, the transparent and light-excluding conductive electrode films are simultaneously etched, the first resist layers are stripped away, then second resist layers are formed as coating on the both surfaces in an outer edge portion, so that the light-excluding conductive electrode films are etched only in the central window portions. Thus, circuit patterns of the transparent conductive films are exposed.
US08581869B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a display section, a contact detection section which is provided on a surface at an opposite side of the display section, and an operation control section which decides, when a predetermined operation input is performed based on a detection result obtained by the contact detection section, not to execute predetermined operation processing corresponding to at least a part of the operation input to the contact detection section.
US08581867B2 Touch sensor device
A touch sensor device is provided. The touch sensor device includes a touch panel including a plurality of touch mark-keys indicating a position touched by a touch object, a plurality of first touch pads disposed at positions corresponding to the plurality of touch mark-keys of the touch panel and generating touch information of the touch object as a first electrical signal, a plurality of second touch pads disposed between the plurality of first touch pads and generating touch information of a conductive material on the touch object as a second electrical signal, and a touch sensing unit receiving the first electrical signal, outputting a plurality of sensing signals to allow an electronic device to perform predetermined operations corresponding to the touched touch mark-keys, and determining whether the touch of the touch object is a normal one using the first and second electrical signals.
US08581866B2 User input device and electronic apparatus including the same
A user input device and electronic apparatus are provided. The user input device includes a first substrate on which first electrodes are formed; a second substrate disposed to be spaced apart from the first substrate, and on which second electrodes are formed; an electro-rheological fluid contained in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; and one or more lighting keypad units disposed on the second substrate. Each of the lighting keypad unit includes one or more key symbols which are different from one another. The electronic apparatus includes one or more user input devices.
US08581864B2 Information processing device, operation input method and operation input program
Disclosed herein is an information processing device including a contact detection unit configured to detect a contact operation for an operation surface, an approach detection unit configured to detect an approach operation for the operation surface, and a control unit configured to recognize the contact operation and the approach operation as a series of operation inputs when the contact operation and the approach operation are continuously detected.
US08581863B2 Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display panel in which coordinate detection electrodes are formed on a first substrate and protruding contact portions are formed on a second substrate as a touch panel function includes a conversion circuit formed therein. The conversion circuit subjects information indicative of whether the protruding contact portions are in contact with the coordinate detection electrodes to parallel/serial conversion to output the converted information to the coordinate detection circuit.
US08581859B2 Display device
There is provided a device with a part or a whole of a housing thereof having flexibility. The device includes a display unit; a detection unit that detects a bent portion of the display device; and a display switching unit that switches display content of the display unit according to a position and a bent level of the bent portion of the display device detected by the detection unit.
US08581844B2 Switching between a first operational mode and a second operational mode using a natural motion gesture
A mobile device is operative to change from a first operational mode to a second or third operational mode based on a user's natural motion gesture. The first operational mode may include a voice input mode in which a user provides a voice input to the mobile device. After providing the voice input to the mobile device, the user then makes a natural motion gesture and a determination is made as to whether the natural motion gesture places the mobile device in the second or third operational mode. The second operational mode includes an augmented reality display mode in which the mobile device displays images recorded from a camera overlaid with computer-generated images corresponding to results output in response to the voice input. The third operational mode includes a reading display mode in which the mobile device displays, without augmented reality, results output in response to the voice input.
US08581841B2 3D pointing device with up-down-left-right mode switching and integrated swipe detector
A 3D pointing device for use with a content delivery system is provided. The pointing device can operate in one of at least one of two modes: a first 3D or scrolling mode, and a second non-3D mode that can also be referred to as an up-down-left-right (UDLR) mode. The pointing device can include one or more directional sensors, to provide orientation and movement information. For either of the at least two modes, an optical finger navigation module is provided that can detect movement of a user's finger or object across its screen, and provides a predetermined threshold that must be exceeded before movement information is generated from the OFN module. The pointing device can generate scroll and UDLR commands based on the information from the orientation and movement sensors, as well as the OFN module, or can provide the information from the orientation and movement sensors to a user interface that can generate the appropriate scrolling or UDLR commands for use by the content delivery system.
US08581840B2 Multi-touch measure comparison
A system may include presentation of a visualization comprising a plurality of elements, detection of a first user input received at a first location of the visualization, presentation of a first indicator connecting the first location with a third location of the visualization, presentation of a first value of a measure, the first value associated with one of the plurality of elements located at least partially at the first location, detection of a second user input received at a third location of the visualization, presentation of a second indicator connecting the third location with the second location of the visualization, presentation of a second value of the measure, the second value associated with one of the plurality of elements located at least partially at the second location, determination of a composite value based on the first value and the second value, and presentation of the composite value at a fourth location of the visualization.
US08581839B2 Display device and display method
A display device and the like which can provide an image showing the status of the past presentation more flexibly is provided. A display device includes an image generating section generating an instruction image which reflects an instruction content based on presentation data obtained by relating image data showing a displayed image to display time data showing a display time of the displayed image and based on instruction information showing the instruction content, a display section displaying the instruction image, and an updating section updating the presentation data based on the instruction, and the image generating section generates a reproduction target time specifying image including a time region which changes as time passes and a specifying region which moves on the time region according to an instruction position and shows a reproduction target time, and the display section displays the reproduction target time specifying image.
US08581835B2 Electro-optical device, method for driving electro-optical device, control circuit and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a pixel circuit, and a driving circuit. The pixel circuit includes a driving transistor, a first capacitive element, an electro-optical element, and a switch. The driving circuit controls the switch to be turned off, varies a potential such that the driving transistor is turned on, during a first period, sets a potential at a control terminal to a compensation initial value by controlling the switch to be turned on, during a second period, supplies a grayscale potential corresponding to a designated grayscale, varies a driving potential such that the driving transistor is turned on, during a third period, and varies a voltage between the control terminal and a first terminal with the passage of time, during a fourth period.
US08581834B2 Electro-optical device
An electro-optical device includes: a display section that has a plurality of pixels; a control value acquisition section that acquires an initial value of a control value c which is used when an image is displayed on the display section; a calculation section that decreases the control value c whenever the image of the display section is rewritten; and a control section that selects one driving method from a plurality of driving methods on the basis of the control value c and rewrites the image of the display section by using the selected driving method.
US08581832B2 Illumination device having user-controllable light sequencing circuitry configured to select a light sequencing mode
An illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources, light sequencing circuitry coupled to the light sources, a light guide structure for directing light from the plurality of light sources over a surface of a display screen to be illuminated, and a user interface for providing control input to the light sequencing circuitry. The light sequencing circuitry comprises a logic state machine responsive to the control input to select one of a plurality of available sequencing modes for the plurality of light sources, a code generator operative to generate output signals controlling respective ones of the light sources responsive to the selected one of the sequencing modes, and timing circuitry for defining timing intervals for processing of the control input by the logic state machine to determine the selected one of the sequencing modes and for generation of the corresponding output signals by the code generator.
US08581826B2 Dynamic backlight adaptation with reduced flicker
Embodiments of a system that includes one or more integrated circuits are described. During operation, the system receives a video image, that when displayed, includes a picture portion and the non-picture portion, where the non-picture portion has a first brightness value. Then, the system scales the non-picture portion to have a second brightness value that is greater than the first brightness value to reduce user-perceived changes in the video image associated with backlighting of a display that displays the video image.
US08581824B2 Hybrid digital to analog converter, source driver, and liquid crystal display device
A hybrid digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a first digital to analog converting unit (DACU) and a second DAC unit. The first DAC unit provides an analog voltage corresponding to Q-bit upper data of P-bit gray data, in response to a plurality of gamma voltages, where P is a natural number equal to or greater than 10 and Q is a natural number less than 10. The second DAC unit provides an analog current having a magnitude according to each bit level of R-bit lower data of the P-bit gray data, based on a rated current generated from a reference voltage, where R is a natural number corresponding to P-Q.
US08581823B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a driving method can produce reduced direct current image sticking and flicker. An LCD panel for the LCD device has liquid crystal cells having a common same color in each horizontal line and has columns of liquid crystal cells having a repeating sequence of color, a timing controller for generating a polarity control signal such that the polarity control signal is varied at intervals of one frame period, a data driving circuit supplying data voltages to the data lines in response to the polarity control signal, and a gate driving circuit supplying scan pulses to the gate lines. The liquid crystal cells include first liquid crystal cell groups supplied with data voltages having polarities inverted from polarities the previous frame period, and second liquid crystal cell groups supplied with data voltages having polarities identical to the polarities supplied in the previous frame period.
US08581820B2 Signal driving circuit of liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A signal driving circuit of a liquid crystal display device includes a column driver for converting video data input into analog signals and applying said analog signals to pixels of a liquid crystal panel, a gamma voltage circuit for applying a plurality of signal voltages to the column driver and an external voltage supplying unit for generating and adjusting signal voltages and a common voltage applied to the gamma voltage circuit and the common electrode, respectively.
US08581819B2 Apparatus and method for driving liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a first data line, a second data line, a gate line, a pixel electrode and a reset electrode on the first substrate, the first data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, and a common electrode on the second substrate, during a first period of a frame, the pixel electrode and the reset electrode generating a horizontal electric field with respect to the substrates, and during a second period of the frame the common electrode and the pixel and reset electrodes generating a vertical electric field with respect to the substrates.
US08581818B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
To increase the frequency of input of image signals, a pixel portion of a liquid crystal display device is divided into a plurality of regions, and input of image signals is controlled in each of the plurality of regions. As a result, a plurality of scan lines can be selected at the same time in the liquid crystal display device. That is, in the liquid crystal display device, image signals can be simultaneously supplied to pixels placed in a plurality of rows, among pixels arranged in matrix. Thus, the frequency of input of an image signal to each pixel can be increased without change in response speed of a transistor or the like included in the liquid crystal display device.
US08581816B2 Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of gate lines which includes a first gate line, a transformation gate line, and a second gate line; a data line; and a pixel, wherein the pixel includes a first liquid crystal capacitor which includes a first sub-pixel electrode and a common electrode and a second liquid crystal capacitor which includes a second sub-pixel electrode and a common electrode; a first switching element connected to the first gate line, the data line, and the first sub-pixel electrode; a second switching element connected to the first gate line, the data line, and the second sub-pixel electrode; a third switching element connected to the transformation gate line and the second switching element; a transformation capacitor which includes a first terminal connected to the second gate line and a second terminal connected to the third switching element; and a first period where a gate-on voltage Von is applied to the first gate line and a second period where the gate-on voltage Von is applied to the transformation gate line do not overlap each other and, a gate-off voltage Voff is applied to the second gate line during the second period.
US08581814B2 Method for driving pixels of a display panel
A method for driving pixels of a display panel is provided. The display panel includes a first gate line coupled to a gate of a first-switch transistor, wherein a source of the first-switch transistor is coupled to a liquid crystal capacitor and a first-storage capacitor. The liquid crystal capacitor includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode. A terminal of the first-storage capacitor is coupled to a second gate line. First, a first modulation signal is provided to the common electrode. Next, the first-switch transistor is turned on by the first gate line. Next, a second modulation signal is provided to the second gate line after the first-switch transistor is turned on. Wherein, the second modulation signal enables a second-switch transistor coupled to the second gate line to operate in the cut-off region. And the first and second modulation signals are in phase.
US08581810B2 Methods and circuits for self-calibrating controller
The present invention relates to circuits and methods for controlling one or more LEDs or LED drivers. The circuit comprises a programmable decentralized controller coupled to one or more detectors, wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect one or more measurable parameters of one or more LEDs or LED drivers. The controller is configured to receive information from the one or more detectors related to the one or more measurable parameters. The controller is also configured to adjust one or more controllable parameters until one or more detectors indicate that one or more measurable parameters in one of the LEDs or LED drivers meet a reference condition. The controller is configured to then set one or more of the controllable parameters to operate at a value relative to the value of the controllable parameters at which the reference condition was met.
US08581809B2 OLED luminance degradation compensation
A system and method are disclosed for determining a pixel capacitance. The pixel capacitance is correlated to a pixel age to determine a current correction factor used for compensating the pixel drive current to account for luminance degradation of the pixel that results from the pixel aging.
US08581808B2 Pixel driving circuit of electro-luminescent display device and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a method for properly controlling the drive current when driving an Active Matrix OLED (AMOLED) in order to prevent the brightness from being changed due to temperature changes in a panel or the performance deterioration of the OLED. The present invention comprises: an OLED (organic light emitting diode) panel that displays an image; pixel driving circuit including: a drive current control unit that outputs a current control signal corresponding to a detected current supplied to the OLED panel; and a comparator that compares the current control signal with a power supply voltage and outputs a bias voltage; and a transistor that receives the power supply voltage and that supplies a drive current to the OLED panel corresponding to the bias voltage.
US08581807B2 Display device and pixel circuit driving method achieving driving transistor threshold voltage correction
Disclosed herein is a display device including a pixel array section having pixel circuits arranged in a form of a matrix, the pixel circuits each including a driving transistor for generating a driving current, an electrooptic element connected to an output terminal of the driving transistor, a storage capacitor for retaining information corresponding to signal amplitude of a video signal, and a sampling transistor for writing the information corresponding to the signal amplitude to the storage capacitor; a vertical scanning section configured to generate a vertical scanning pulse for vertical scanning of the pixel circuits; a horizontal scanning section configured to supply the video signal to the pixel circuits so as to coincide with the vertical scanning in the vertical scanning section; and a driving signal constancy achieving circuit for holding the driving current constant.
US08581789B2 Active self-reconfigurable multimode antenna system
A self-reconfigurable multimode antenna system where loading conditions of sensors are analyzed and used to generate control signals to dynamically reconfigure an antenna for improved performance. One or multiple sensors can be coupled to the antenna to dynamically change the radiating structure. One or multiple sensors can be coupled to the input or matching section of the antenna to improve or alter the impedance match of the antenna. An algorithm to relate loading effects of sensors to dynamically adjust the antenna is described.
US08581788B2 Antennas for electronic devices
A removable antenna and a resilient antenna are provided for an electronic device such as a laptop computer. An antenna resonating element is mounted within the antenna. Flexible coupling structures are used to physically and removably attach the antenna to the electronic device. The flexible coupling structures couple the antenna resonating element to circuitry in the electronic device. The coupling structures may allow the antenna to break away from the electronic device without causing damage. A user may extend the antenna by rotating the removable antenna to its extended position. The electronic device may have an antenna receptacle that holds the resilient antenna in a stowed position and that allows the resilient antenna to flex to an extended position. A user may extend the resilient antenna by removing the resilient antenna from the antenna receptacle and flexing the antenna into its extended position.
US08581786B2 Antenna connector of mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal includes a main member and a moving member movably joined to the main member. An antenna connector connects and disconnects an antenna to a PCB according to a movement of the moving member. The antenna connector includes: a rail provided in one of the second member and the first member; a connection member moveable along the rail, the connection member being electrically conductive; and a holder to support the connection member on the rail and to which a first cable extending from one of the antenna and the PCB is connected; and a terminal, disposed adjacent to the rail, of a second cable extending from the other of the antenna and the PCB.
US08581781B2 Interferometric methods and systems
An interferometer estimates at least one interferometric parameter of one or more signals emitted from a source. The interferometer has an array of antennas and at least one phase detector configured to determine a plurality of phase measurements of the one or more source signals. A combined estimator processes the plurality of phase measurements to provide estimates of at least one sought parameter, representing the at least one interferometric parameter, and at least one noise parameter associated with the plurality of phase measurements. A postprocessor processes estimates of the at least one sought parameter based on at least one noise parameter received from the combined estimator to improve an estimate of the at least one interferometric parameter. The combined estimator is configurable to produce a maximum likelihood estimate of the at least one sought parameter using at least one noise parameter calculated based on the plurality of phase measurements.
US08581779B2 Method and apparatus for validating a position in a satellite positioning system using range-rate measurements
Method and apparatus for validating an initial position in a satellite positioning system using range-rate measurements is described. In one example, range-rate measurements are obtained at the remote receiver with respect to a plurality of satellites. Expected range-rates are computed with respect to the plurality of satellites using the initial position. Single differences are computed using the range-rate measurements. Expected single differences are computed using the expected range-rates. Single difference residuals are computed between the single differences and the expected single differences. The single difference residuals are compared to a threshold. The initial position may be deemed valid if the absolute value of each of the single difference residuals is less than or equal to the threshold. A valid initial position may be used to fix the pseudorange integers.
US08581776B2 Radar system
Provided is a radar system which calculates a track of a detected object and can determine whether or not the track is accurate. The radar system includes: a radar section for emitting an electromagnetic wave to an object and receiving a reflected wave reflected from the object to detect position information of the object; a track calculation section for calculating, periodically at a first cycle, a track along which the object moves, on the basis of the position information obtained from the radar section; a first speed calculation section for calculating a first speed at which the object moves, on the basis of pieces of the position information at two different time points having a time interval which is longer than the first cycle; and a track determination section for determining whether or not the track is accurate, on the basis of at least the first speed.
US08581773B1 Dual frequency transmitter
In embodiments a system to generate a dual frequency, circularly polarized beam of rotating electromagnetic radiation comprises a first radiation source to generate a first radiation beam at a first frequency, a second radiation source to generate a second radiation beam at a second frequency, different from the first frequency, and a tee. In some embodiments the tee receives the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam, outputs a third radiation beam which represents a sum of the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam, and outputs a fourth radiation beam which represents a difference between the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam, wherein the third radiation beam and the fourth radiation beam are separated by a ninety-degree phase shift. The system further comprises a combiner to combine the third and fourth beams to produce an output beam. Other embodiments may be described.
US08581771B2 Scene illuminator
A system is disclosed to identify authorized EO devices and unauthorized EO devices within a scene. The system hampers the operation of the unauthorized EO devices detected within the scene.
US08581759B2 Vernier phase to digital converter for a rotary traveling wave oscillator
A phase to digital conversion circuit with improved resolution for a rotary traveling wave oscillator. The phase to digital conversion circuit connects with a closed loop transmission line via a plurality of signal lines or nodes distributed along the transmission line. As an oscillating signal propagates around the transmission line, a time waveform of the signal at each of the plurality of signal lines is transmitted to a corresponding plurality of latches. Upon a triggering condition, the plurality of latches simultaneously samples the signals from the plurality of signal lines. At least two reference clock signals are switchably coupled with the plurality of latches latch for triggering the plurality of latches based on an edge transition in each of the reference clock signals compared with an edge transition in each of the signals from the plurality of taps.
US08581755B2 Multiple word data bus inversion
A data encoding scheme for transmission of data from one circuit to another circuit considers the Hamming Weight of combined multiple words to determine whether to invert or not invert an individual word to be transmitted. The multi-word data encoding scheme performs DBI encoding with data inversion conducted based on the total HW in the combined multiple words. The decision to invert or not invert each of the multiple words is made based on the sum of the individual Hamming Weights of each of the words. Such encoding has the advantage that SSO noise is dramatically reduced when the encoded data has a large number of words transmitted from one circuit to another circuit over a wide parallel bus.
US08581754B2 Encoding and decoding to reduce switching of flash memory transistors
Methods of encoding data to and decoding data from flash memory devices are provided. User data having an unknown ratio of 1's to 0's is received. The user data is utilized in generating transformed data that has a predictable ratio of 1's to 0's. The transformed data is stored to flash memory. The transformed data is illustratively generate by either applying an “exclusive or” function to the user data or by converting the user data into a number having a greater number of bits.
US08581752B2 Systems and methods for compression of logical data objects for storage
A compression system configured to compress logical data objects into one or more accommodation blocks with a predefined size, and a method of operating thereof are provided. The compression system includes a compression engine capable of compressing input data with the help of sequential encoding one or more input strings and a counter operatively coupled to the compression engine. The counter is configured to keep its ongoing value indicative of a number of input bytes in one or more strings successfully encoded into a given accommodation block; and, responsive to unsuccessful compression of a string into the given accommodation block, to provide the compression engine with information indicative of starting point in the input stream for encoding into the next accommodation block, thus giving rise to a “start indication.”
US08581748B1 System, device, and method for generating an ILS-based highway-in-the-sky
A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method are disclosed for generating an ILS-based highway-in-the-sky (“HITS”). The system is comprised of an image data generator configured to receive navigation data, ILS deviation data, and navigation reference data from applicable data sources, where the navigation data is representative of ownship position, the ILS deviation data is representative of localizer and glide slope deviation, and navigation reference data is representative of data corresponding to an ILS approach of a runway; determine two instantaneous waypoints as a function of the received data; generate image data representative of a HITS, where the proximal and distal ends of the HITS are based upon the two instantaneous waypoints; and provide the image data to a display unit, whereby the HITS is presented on the screen of a display unit.
US08581747B2 Pedestrian support system
Disclosed is a pedestrian support system that supports the movement of a pedestrian through the use of tags. This pedestrian support system comprises: a plurality of tags having an information storage unit and that are placed on a cable that extends over a traveled path; a guide device that is held by a pedestrian that is traveling along a sidewalk and that is capable of non-contact communication with the tags, and a central control device, comprising a database in which tag map information is recorded, that uses that tag map information to creates path information having tag IDs that are in the order of tags that are located along a path from a starting location to a destination location and directly or indirectly sets that path information in the guide device. The guide device reads the tag IDs from the tags, compares the read tag IDs with the tag IDs in the path information to identify the location on the path where the pedestrian is walking, and provides information such as advancement direction to support the movement of the pedestrian.
US08581744B2 Traffic information warning systems and methods
A driver alert apparatus and related systems. The driver alert apparatus includes a controller and a wireless receiver connected to the controller and configured to receive data from a transmitter. The driver alert apparatus includes an at least partially transparent packaging containing the controller and receiver. The driver alert apparatus includes a speaker and visual indicator connected to be controlled by the controller, such that the speaker and visual indicator are controllably activated by the controller based on the received data.
US08581743B2 Method and system for automated power meter infrastructure
A system for extending the Smart Meter's range to connect to Home Area Networks for energy monitoring and demand response in a variety of locations. The system has a data concentrator with a wireless communicating module configured to transmit and receive information at one or more first frequencies ranging up to 2.4 GHz, and a power-line module configured to transmit and receive information at one or more frequencies ranging from about 100 to 30 MHz. The data concentrator receives power information from one or more Smart Meters and convert the wireless signal to a power-line carrier signal over the existing all three phases of the AC wiring. The system also includes a wireless and power-line carrier bridge that converts the power-line carrier signal back to a wireless signal to connect to various Home Area Network (HAN) devices such as programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), smart appliances and in-home displays (IHDs).
US08581740B2 Method and apparatus for communicating signals to an instrument in a wellbore
A method for communicating a signal to an instrument in a wellbore includes axially accelerating the instrument in a preselected pattern of acceleration. The predetermined pattern corresponds to the signal to be communicated. The axial acceleration of the instrument is detected, and the signal is decoded from the detected axial acceleration. A signal detection system for an instrument in a wellbore includes an accelerometer oriented along a longitudinal axis of the instrument and means for comparing measurements made by the accelerometer to at least one predetermined pattern.
US08581738B2 Assembling method, monitoring method, and augmented reality system used for indicating correct connection of parts
An augmented reality system and an assembling method are provided for assembling a first set-up component to a second set-up component under the assistance of an augmented reality system. The augmented realty system may capture a first part of a marker and a second part of the marker associated with the respective component. The augmented realty system may capture a variable marker associated with one of the components. The augmented realty system may capture a first marker and a second marker associated with the respective component. The augmented reality system can recognize the location and/or status of the markers and thus decide whether the connection between the first and second set-up component is established correctly or not.
US08581737B2 Method and apparatus for automatically disarming a security system
A security system comprises a system control panel for arming and disarming the security system. A door sensing unit comprises a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver interconnected with the system control panel over a network. The first RF transceiver is mounted proximate to a door that defines at least a portion of a perimeter around an area to be monitored by the security system. The first RF transceiver has an RF detection field proximate to the door. A disarm device comprises a second RF transceiver that automatically transmits a disarm device packet. The first RF transceiver receives the disarm device packet when the second RF transceiver is within the RF detection field. The first RF transceiver sends a disarm message to the system control panel over the network to disarm the security system based on at least the disarm device packet.
US08581736B2 Assessing structural repair integrity
A strain measurement device to assess the integrity of a structural repair to a surface comprises a detector, a processor, and a memory module coupled to the processor. The memory module comprises logic instructions stored in a computer readable medium which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to use the detector to obtain a first strain measurement from an external strain indicator, use the detector to obtain a second strain measurement from the measurement sensor after at least one stress test is applied to the structural repair, and generate a signal when a difference between the first strain measurement and the second strain measurement exceeds a threshold.
US08581729B2 Gateway radio frequency identification tag system
A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08581726B2 Two-stage universal security hard tag and method for attaching and detaching
A security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, a first portion of an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, a second portion of the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF), benefit denial (e.g., ink-filled or dye-filled capsules) elements or any combination thereof. Because the security tag is not removed from the article at the point-of-sale, the security element is deactivatable. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism. Thus, the security tag combines the qualities of being non-ferrous, light-weight, low cost, deactivatable, secure, visually-deterring, and installable in two stages to the article it is meant to protect.
US08581725B2 Position change sensing anti-theft device
Position change sensing apparatus including at least one audio signal transducer for emitting audio signals and receiving audio signals and computer software embodied in a medium readable by the apparatus and having anti-theft functionality including learning functionality and theft-prevention functionality.
US08581724B2 Dynamic information projection for a wall sensor
An implementation of a system, device and method for projecting a visual indicator against a surface is provided. A display projection system in a handheld sensor device (e.g. a handheld wall scanner) projects a static or computer-controlled dynamic pattern of light onto a surface being scanned to indicate a specific feature, such as existence of solid structures of wood, metal or plastic, electric or magnetic fields, or a disturbance of a field. The projected light may be controlled by a computer via an aperture to allow flexibility in what is projected, such as icons, lines, graphics, characters and colors.
US08581723B2 Fault detection using phase comparison
A system for communicating information between a detection device and a wireless device is provided. The system generally includes a detection device adapted to monitor a condition related to a power system. A radio interface unit is in communication with the detection device via a communication member. A wireless device is further provided which is in radio communication with the radio interface unit such that the detection device communicates information to the wireless device through a radio interface unit. The system's components are further adapted to endure harsh conditions (e.g., prolonged exposure to water).
US08581722B2 Apparatus, system, and method for automated item tracking
Disclosed is an automated item tracking method, comprising the steps of reading an RFID signal, obtaining a reported position of an RFID signal generator, measuring the strength of the read RFID signal, creating a read profile, obtaining a physical package profile, comparing the read profile to the physical package profile, and generating a weighted read profile to estimate an actual position of the RFID signal generator by comparing the weighted read profile with the physical package profile.
US08581718B2 Motor vehicle
The invention relates to a motor vehicle which includes a display for presenting a list of entries, wherein an entry has an associated function of the motor vehicle, and wherein the motor vehicle comprises a rotary knob which is associated with the display, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation and which can be rotated through a prescribed angle of rotation in order to move a marker from one entry to an entry which is adjacent thereto.
US08581714B2 Method and apparatus for generating vehicle vibration to alert vehicle user of warning
A drive torque modulation is generated in response to an unintentional lane departure or traffic/obstacle intervention in an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV). At least one of propulsion and braking of the vehicle is controlled via a motor of the vehicle in accordance with the torque modulation. Vehicle oscillation is generated through the torque modulation to let the driver be aware of the impending dangerous driving situation.
US08581712B2 Methods and systems related to establishing geo-fence boundaries
Establishing geo-fence Boundaries. At least some embodiments involve detecting a vehicle has been in a collision, establishing a geo-fence boundary for the vehicle responsive to the detecting, monitoring a movement of the vehicle with respect to the geo-fence boundary, and issuing an alert if movement of the vehicle outside the geo-fence boundary is indicative of improperly departing a scene of the collision.
US08581709B2 Modular pillbox system
A modular pillbox that includes a base unit and a plurality of modules that can be interchangeably coupled to the base unit. The base unit includes a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall, openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments, one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments, and an opening in a front portion of the base unit. The plurality of modules includes a cover plate that couples to the base unit and covers the opening, and various electronic packages that removable couple to the base unit and cover the opening. An interactive electronic pillbox that includes the platform or base unit and an electronics package includes data entry, data display, data transmitting and data processing functions which allow for interactive healthcare management by individuals and healthcare personnel directly or remotely. Form a remote location a healthcare provider can monitor, manage, evaluate and maintain a periodic record of the healthcare of a user of the electronic interactive pillbox.
US08581707B2 Methods and apparatus for identifying and categorizing distributed devices
Systems for identifying and categorizing distributed devices, e.g., lighting fixtures and thermostats, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a user (200) sends a low power discovery message to devices (201) using a portable programming tool (100). The devices (201) within range respond with identification information. The portable programming tool (100) organizes the responses by proximity and sends a “flash” message to the device with the closest perceived proximity. That device responds with a visual or audible signal (202), allowing the user (200) to determine whether that device is the one intended for selection. If so, the user initiates a store routine in which identification information, including category information, is stored in one or more locations, such as, the selected device (201), the portable programming tool (100), and/or a central or local controller (1100). The identification and categorization can, for example, be used to automate load shedding and to reduce energy consumption.
US08581704B2 Battery assisted tag and RFID system
Embodiments of the present invention provide for RFID systems that employ a plurality of battery assisted semi-passive and semi-active RFID tags with optimized system operation. The RFID tags feature receivers operating with multiple dynamic range states with square law mode for improved sensitivity, and part time active transmit in the tag to supplement its backscatter transmitter and thus support system operation taking full advantage of the sensitivity of the tag. In certain embodiments of the invention, tag sensitivity and reliability are further enhanced by the use pseudo-random sequence based receiver training and frame synchronizing.
US08581697B2 Apparatuses for noninvasive determination of in vivo alcohol concentration using raman spectroscopy
Methods and apparatuses for the determination of an attribute of the tissue of an individual use non-invasive Raman spectroscopy. For example, the alcohol concentration in the blood or tissue of an individual can be determined non-invasively. A portion of the tissue is illuminated with light, the light propagates into the tissue where it is Raman scattered within the tissue. The Raman scattered light is then detected and can be combined with a model relating Raman spectra to alcohol concentration in order to determine the alcohol concentration in the blood or tissue of the individual. Correction techniques can be used to reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from Raman scattering from the alcohol in the tissue. Other biologic information can be used in combination with the Raman spectral properties to aid in the determination of alcohol concentration, for example age of the individual, height of the individual, weight of the individual, medical history of the individual and his/her family, ethnicity, skin melanin content, or a combination thereof. The method and apparatus can be highly optimized to provide reproducible and, preferably, uniform radiance of the tissue, low tissue sampling error, depth targeting of the tissue layers or sample locations that contain the attribute of interest, efficient collection of Raman spectra from the tissue, high optical throughput, high photometric accuracy, large dynamic range, excellent thermal stability, effective calibration maintenance, effective calibration transfer, built-in quality control, and ease-of-use.
US08581690B2 Electromechanical lock
An electromechanical lock includes a user interface configured to receive input from a user, the user interface activating operating power for the lock; a memory configured to store access tables, the access tables including information on the keys allowed to open the lock; and an electronic circuitry configured to modify the access tables on the basis of the insertions of an associate master key and an end function key into the lock, the insertion of the associated master key initializing a programming mode and the insertion of an end function key causing the lock to exit the programming mode.
US08581669B2 Vibrator element, vibrator, oscillator, and electronic apparatus
A vibrator element includes a base section, vibration arms, and excitation electrodes provided to the respective vibration arms, the excitation electrodes each include a first electrode disposed on a principal surface side of the vibration arm, a second electrode disposed so as to be opposed to the first electrode, and a piezoelectric body extending between the first electrode and the second electrode, and ITO is used as at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08581665B2 Doherty amplifier
A Doherty amplifier includes: an input distributor; a coupler; a plurality of Doherty circuit connected between the input distributor and the coupler; wherein each of Doherty circuits has a carrier amplifier, a peaking amplifier, a distributor distributing a input signal to the carrier amplifier and the peaking amplifier, and a combiner that transforms an output impedance of the carrier amplifier and combines outputs of the carrier amplifier and the peaking amplifier.
US08581661B2 Audio programmable gain amplifier with automatic reconfiguration
A reconfigurable amplifier comprising a first operational amplifier having two inputs and an output. A second operational amplifier having two inputs and an output. A plurality of switches coupled to the two inputs and the output of the first operational amplifier and the two inputs and the output of the second operational amplifier, wherein a first configuration of the plurality of switches causes the first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier to operate as an inverting differential input amplifier, and wherein a second configuration of the plurality of switches causes the first operational amplifier and the second operational amplifier to operate as a non-inverting differential input instrumentation amplifier.
US08581658B2 Charge pump
A charge pump circuit comprises a first node, a second node, and at least one capacitance stage coupled between the first node and the second node. Capacitance stages of the at least one capacitance stage are coupled in series. A capacitance stage of the at least one capacitance stage includes a capacitive device and a voltage limiter coupled in parallel with the capacitor. The voltage limiter is configured to limit a voltage dropped across the capacitor. The capacitive device and the voltage limiter are configured such that a first current flowing through a first branch having the voltage limiter is more than a second current flowing through a second branch having the capacitive device.
US08581654B2 Method of compensating clock skew, clock skew compensating circuit for realizing the method, and input/output system including the clock skew compensating circuit
A method of compensating clock skew may include generating (2M+1) detected values by applying (2M+1) delay clock signals to (2M+1) pieces of delay data, wherein M is a natural number, determining a dominant logic value based on a comparison of a number of logic high detected values and a number of logic low detected values from among the (2M+1) detected values, determining a median delay time based on a number of the (2M+1) detected values having the dominant logic value, and adjusting a phase of a clock signal using the median delay time.
US08581652B2 Flip-flop circuit, semiconductor device and electronic apparatus
A flip-flop circuit (FF 10) of the present invention includes master latch circuits (LAT 11 and LAT 12), slave latch circuits (LAT 13 and LAT 14), C-element circuits (CE 11, CE 12, CE 13, and CE 14), and inverter circuits (INV 11, INV 12, INV 13, and INV 14). The inverter circuits (INV 11 and INV 12) are interconnected to each other between the C-element circuit (CE 11) and the C-element circuit (CE 12). The inverter circuits (INV 13 and INV 14) are interconnected to each other between the C-element circuit (CE 13) and the C-element circuit (CE 14).
US08581651B2 Duty cycle based phase interpolators and methods for use
Duty cycle based phase interpolators, and methods for implementing duty cycle based phase interpolators are disclosed. One such phase interpolator includes a first pulse width modulator configured to generate a first duty cycle signal, and a second pulse width modulator configured to generate a second duty cycle signal. The phase interpolator further includes a logic unit configured to merge the first duty cycle signal and the second duty cycle signal to produce a periodic digital signal with a controllable phase depending on the first and second duty cycle signals.
US08581650B2 Duty cycle correction circuit and delay locked loop circuit including the same
A duty cycle correction circuit includes: a duty cycle correction unit configured to correct a duty cycle of an input clock signal according to a duty cycle correction code and generate an output clock signal; a duty cycle detection section configured to detect a duty cycle of the output clock signal and generate an up-down signal; a noise detection signal generation section configured to detect a variation of the up-down signal and generate the noise detection signal; and a duty cycle correction control unit configured to generate the duty cycle correction code in response to the noise detection signal and the up-down signal.
US08581647B2 System and method of stabilizing charge pump node voltage levels
A method includes tracking a tuning voltage at a first circuit coupled to a first drain node of a first supply of a charge pump. The method also includes tracking the tuning voltage at a second circuit coupled to a second drain node of a second supply of the charge pump. The method further includes stabilizing a first voltage of the first drain node and a second voltage of the second drain node responsive to the tuning voltage.
US08581646B2 Charge pump circuit
A charge pump circuit includes a switching circuit for providing a charge and discharge current, and a control circuit for controlling the switching circuit. The switching circuit includes a first switch for controlling the charging speed. The control circuit generates a signal for controlling the first switch based on the pulse width of the input signal. The charge pump circuit of the present invention quickens the locking time of the phase locked loop.
US08581644B2 System and method providing bandwidth adjustment in integral path of phase locked loop circuitry
A system incorporating and method of operating phase locked loop circuitry. In one embodiment, having programmable circuitry for adjustment of loop dynamics, a VCO has a first input terminal for selecting phase and frequency characteristics of an output signal and an output terminal on which the output signal is provided. A detector generates first VCO input signals indicative of phase and frequency differences between the VCO output signal and a reference signal. Circuitry digitizes the first VCO input signals and generates an integral path input signal therefrom. Slow integral path circuitry comprising, a first transistor device and a programmable low pass filter: receives the integral path input signal, and provides a low pass filtered version of the integral path input signal to control conduction through the first transistor device and provide a first adjustment signal for adjustment of the frequency of the VCO output signal.
US08581643B1 Phase-lock loop-based clocking system, methods and apparatus
In part, the invention relates to an optical coherence tomography system that includes one or more phased-locked loop circuits. In one embodiment, the phased-locked loop circuit includes a phase detector, a loop filter, and a voltage controlled oscillator wherein the phased-locked loop circuit is configured to generate a sample clock. The optical coherence tomography system can include an analog to digital converter having a sample clock input, an interferometric signal input, and a sample data output, the analog to digital converter configured to receive the sample clock and sample OCT data in response thereto. In one embodiment, the phased-locked loop circuit is configured to lock on a first signal in less than or equal to about 1 microseconds.
US08581641B2 Power-up signal generation circuit
A power-up signal generation circuit includes: a first section signal generation unit configured to sense a level of an external voltage and a level of an internal voltage and generate a first section signal; a second section signal generation unit configured to output a second section signal by buffering the first section signal when the internal voltage is lowered to below a minimum level; and a selective output unit configured to output the first section signal as a power-up signal, wherein the selective output unit outputs the second section signal as the power-up signal when a power-up section is ended and a mode register setting operation is performed.
US08581639B2 Differential output circuit
A differential output circuit is controlled according to its mode of operation. While in the first mode, the differential output circuit controls a current flow through a variable current source according to an impedance of the variable current source, and while in the second mode, the differential output circuit compares a voltage at a monitored node and a reference voltage and controls the current flow through the variable current source to make the voltage at the monitored node to be equal to the reference voltage.
US08581623B2 Lookup table, semiconductor integrated circuit, method for making lookup table and method for making semiconductor integrated circuit
A lookup table includes a single via layer having 2N via insertion portions corresponding to 2N input patterns provided from N input terminals; and a via inserted into at least one of the via insertion portions, the via connecting the input terminal and an output terminal.
US08581622B1 Semiconductor device
To suppress power consumption and enhance signal quality as compared with the case where first and second semiconductor elements are terminated only by on-chip input termination resistor circuits. A first semiconductor element with a switching function and a second semiconductor element with a switching function are connected to each other with a substrate interconnection, and a resistor element is connected in parallel with the substrate interconnection. The resistor element is placed at an arbitrary position or a branch point on the signal interconnection.
US08581621B2 Semiconductor memory device, memory controller and memory system having on die termination and on die termination controlling method
A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory chip including a first on die termination (ODT) unit electrically connected to a first pad, the first pad being connected to a first terminal to receive a first signal, and a second memory chip including a second ODT unit electrically connected to a second pad, the second pad being connected to the first terminal to receive the first signal, the first ODT unit being configured to turn on/off according to a memory operation, the second ODT unit being configured to turn off regardless of the memory operation, and the first and second ODT units are switchable.
US08581620B2 Semiconductor device including data output circuit supporting pre-emphasis operation
A semiconductor device includes a code generator configured to generate a supplementary code with a value changing in response to a variation of an impedance code, a main driver configured to receive an output data and drive the received output data to a data output pad, wherein a driving force of the main driver is controlled according to the impedance code, and an auxiliary driver configured to receive the output data and drive the received output data to the data output pad, wherein a driving force of the auxiliary driver is controlled according to the supplementary code.
US08581615B2 Method for checking alignment accuracy of thin film transistor including performing a close/open circuit test
A method for checking alignment accuracy of a thin film transistor includes providing a substrate, forming a first conductive layer on the substrate, performing a first patterning process to form a gate electrode of a thin film transistor and a first terminal and a second terminal of a testing device, forming a first insulating layer covering the first terminal, the second terminal and the gate electrode on the substrate, forming a contact hole substantially corresponding to the first terminal and the second terminal in the first insulating layer, forming a pixel electrode and a connecting electrode of the testing device in the first contact hole, and performing a close/open circuit test. When the first terminal, the connecting electrode and the second terminal construct a close circuit, alignment accuracy is confirmed. When the first terminal, the connecting electrode and the second terminal construct an open circuit, alignment inaccuracy is confirmed.
US08581614B2 Parking structure memory-module tester that moves test motherboards along a highway for remote loading/unloading
A parking-structure test system has motherboards that test memory modules. The motherboards are not stationary but are placed inside movable trays that move along conveyors. An unloader removes tested memory modules from test sockets on the motherboards, and a loader inserts untested memory modules into the motherboards using a robotic arm. A conveyor carries the motherboards from the loader to a parking and testing structure. An elevator raises or lowers the motherboards to different parking levels in the parking and testing structure. The motherboards move from the elevator to test stations on the parking level. A retractable connector from the test station makes contact with a motherboard connector to power up the motherboard, which then tests the memory modules. Test results are communicated from the test station to a host controller, which instructs the loader-unloader to sort the tested memory modules once the motherboard returns via the elevator and conveyors.
US08581612B2 Probe card and test apparatus including the same
A probe card and a test apparatus including the probe card for improving test reliability. The probe card may include a first input terminal Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) switch that connects a first input terminal and a first input probe pin, wherein the first input terminal MEMS switch comprises a control portion that receives an operation signal and a connection portion that connects the first input terminal and the first input probe pin. The probe card may further include a first output terminal MEMS switch that connects a first output terminal and a first output probe pin, wherein the first output terminal MEMS switch comprises a control portion that receives the operation signal and a connection portion that connects the first output terminal and the first output probe pin.
US08581611B2 Oscilloscope probe
Disclosed is a probe (21) for an oscilloscope (24) comprising a multi-stage transistor amplifier (26) which is used as an impedance transformer and the output of which is connected to the oscilloscope (24). An electronic switching device (27) that can be remote-controlled by means of the oscilloscope (24) is assigned to the input (Vin) of the amplifier (26). Said electronic switching device (27) allows frame potential or a reference voltage to be alternatively connected to the amplifier input (Vin) instead of the measuring-circuit voltage of the measuring tip (22) such that the direct voltage offset is measured when the amplifier input (Vin) is connected to frame while the gain error in the oscilloscope (24) is measured when the reference voltage is applied, and said direct voltage offset or gain error is adequately taken into account when the measuring-circuit voltage in the oscilloscope is evaluated.
US08581610B2 Method of designing an application specific probe card test system
A method is provided for design and programming of a probe card with an on-board programmable controller in a wafer test system. Consideration of introduction of the programmable controller is included in a CAD wafer layout and probe card design process. The CAD design is further loaded into the programmable controller, such as an FPGA to program it: (1) to control direction of signals to particular ICs, even during the test process (2) to generate test vector signals to provide to the ICs, and (3) to receive test signals and process test results from the received signals. In some embodiments, burn-in only testing is provided to limit test system circuitry needed so that with a programmable controller on the probe card, text equipment external to the probe card can be eliminated or significantly reduced from conventional test equipment.
US08581609B2 Shielded antenna for system test of a non-contact voltage detector
A system and method of conducting a full system test on a non-contact voltage detector while simultaneously shielding the voltage detector's antenna from stray electric fields is disclosed. When a user runs the self-test, an alternating current generator capacitively couples to the antenna through an antenna shielding to detect any breaks in the antenna. The coupled signal is amplified and filtered by the voltage detector's electronics, and triggers an indicator if the voltage detector is fully operative.
US08581606B2 Test point structure for RF calibration and test of printed circuit board and method thereof
A point structure for RF calibration and testing of a PCB is provided. The point structure includes a test pad, an antenna connection pad, and a device mounting pad. The test pad is connected to a circuit unit of the PCB, and a ground pad is connected with a ground of the PCB. A contact probe apparatus for performing RF calibration and testing is connected to the test pad and the ground pad. The antenna connection pad is connected to an antenna unit. The device mounting pad is connected with the test pad and the antenna connection pad. An antenna device is mounted on the device mounting pad. The test pad, the ground pad, the antenna connection pad, and the device mounting pad are separated from one another. Since the point structure can replace an RF switch, a circuit area on the PCB may be reduced, a mounting space may be secured, and a manufacturing cost may be reduced.
US08581601B2 Rotation angle sensor or length sensor
A rotation angle sensor with two or more oscillators which comprises, in each case, striplines fixed on a dielectric support, as sensor elements, such that the oscillators are arrayed in a curve, for angle measurement, or they are arrayed in a straight line, for position measurement. One or more actuating elements, for example eddy-current actuating elements, are passed over the curve or the line to cause relative movement. The striplines are shaped so that the one or more actuating elements (B1, B2) cover more than one oscillator.
US08581590B2 Quadrature endorectal coils and interface devices therefor
An intracavity probe for use with an MR system allows images and spectra of internal anatomical structures to be obtained. The intracavity probe houses within its balloon-type enclosure a single-element quadrature coil sensitive to both the vertical and horizontal components of the MR signal. The quadrature coil by means of its output line is designed to plug into a dedicated interface device with which to interface the quadrature coil with the MR system. Drive capacitors within the coil in conjunction with the electrical length of the output line and phase shifting networks within the interface device enable complete decoupling of the quadrature coil from the transmit fields generated by the MR system. Preamplifier, power splitting and combining networks within the interface device process voltage signals representative of the horizontal and vertical components of the MR signal and enable them to be conveyed to the input port(s) of the MR system.
US08581589B2 System and method for variable mode-mixing in magnetic resonance imaging
The present invention provides a system and method for using a hardware-based compression of signals acquired with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. This allows a first multi-channel MR signal to be compressed to a second multi-channel MR signal having fewer channels than the first MR signal. This system and method reduces the number of RF receivers needed to achieve the sensitivity encoding benefits associated with highly parallel detection in MRI. Furthermore, the system and method reduces bottlenecks connection an MRI system's RF receiver and reconstruction computer and reduces the computational burden of image reconstruction.
US08581581B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and a strain correction unit. The imaging unit is configured to acquire frames of diffusion weighted image data corresponding to different b-values by diffusion weighted imaging with applying MPG pulses corresponding to the different b-values of which application axes are same. The strain correction unit is configured to calculate a strain correction coefficient for diffusion weighted image data to be a target of a strain correction based on diffusion weighted image data corresponding to a b-value different from a b-value corresponding to the diffusion weighted image data to be the target of the strain correction among the frames of the diffusion weighted image data to generate image data after the strain correction by the strain correction of the diffusion weighted image data to be the target of the strain correction using the calculated strain correction coefficient.
US08581579B2 Magneto electric sensor with injected up-conversion or down-conversion
A method includes generating an electrical signal representing a magnetic field using a magnetic field sensor having alternating layers of magneto-strictive material and piezo-electric material. The method also includes performing up-conversion or down-conversion so that the electrical signal representing the magnetic field has a higher or lower frequency than a frequency of the magnetic field. The up-conversion or down-conversion is performed before the magnetic field is converted into the electrical signal. The up-conversion or down-conversion could be performed by repeatedly sensitizing and desensitizing the magnetic field sensor. This could be done using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, an electromagnet without a permanent magnet, or a movable permanent magnet. The up-conversion or down-conversion could also be performed by chopping the magnetic field. The chopping could involve intermittently shielding the magnetic field sensor from the magnetic field or moving the magnetic field sensor with respect to the magnetic field.
US08581576B2 Rotation angle detection device
A rotation angle detection device of the present invention includes: a support body; a rotating body that can rotate with respect to the support body about a rotation axis and move in a rotation axis direction; a rotation angle detection unit that has a magnet attached to either of the support body and the rotating body, and a magnetic sensor attached to the other of the support body and the rotating body and facing the magnet in the rotation axis direction, and that detects a rotation angle of the rotating body on the basis of an output signal of the magnetic sensor; and a position detection unit that detects that the rotating body is positioned at a detection position in which a distance between the magnet and the magnetic sensor in the rotation axis direction becomes a predetermined detection distance. The rotation angle detection unit reads the output signal of the magnetic sensor and determines the rotation angle of the rotating body with respect to the support body from the output signal when the position detection unit detects that the rotating body is positioned at the detection position.
US08581574B2 Logarithmic mean-square power detector
A mean square power detector in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a gain or attenuation circuit comprising a plurality of gain or attenuation elements arranged for generating a plurality of amplified or attenuated versions of a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The mean square power detector also includes a plurality of mean square detectors coupled to the gain or attenuation circuit. Each of the mean square detectors receives a different one of the plurality of amplified or attenuated versions of the RF input signal. Each of the plurality of mean square detectors generates an output signal representative of the mean square power of the RF input signal for a different input signal level range. A summing element is coupled to the plurality of mean square detectors for combining the output signals of the plurality of mean square detectors to generate a signal representative of the mean square or root mean square of the RF input signal.
US08581572B2 Photovoltaic test apparatus
An apparatus for testing photovoltaic cells wherein an array of light sources are provided. The light sources can have a collimating lens. In addition, one or more feedback circuits can be provided which monitor and maintain one or more of the light sources.
US08581570B2 Frequency error detection apparatus
Embodiments are provided: a known signal extraction circuit a distributing arrangement circuit which distributes a known signal in a fixed section; a frequency conversion circuit which causes the distributed output to be a frequency-domain signal; a delay detection circuit which determines an amount of phase variation between adjacent frequency components in the frequency-domain signal; a distributing arrangement circuit which distributes a signal of the same sequence as the known signal described above in a fixed section; a frequency conversion circuit which causes the distributed output to be a frequency-domain signal; a delay detection circuit which determines an amount of phase variation between adjacent frequency components in the frequency-domain signal; a correlation operation circuit which obtains a correlation value between two delay detection outputs; and a peak detection circuit which detects one or more high power peaks among the correlation values and obtain frequency difference from a reference value.
US08581566B2 Power supply controller having analog to digital converter
A power supply control method of performing a feedback control of an output voltage based on a deviation signal for a standard voltage value serving as a target value for the output voltage and a digital signal generated by analog/digital (A/D) conversion of the output voltage, the method includes selecting a range of the reference voltage for the A/D conversion based on the digital signal in a power supply startup period, and selecting a range of the reference voltage for the A/D conversion based on the deviation signal or a signal corresponding to the deviation signal in a steady state period.
US08581564B2 Switching power supply apparatus
A switching power supply apparatus includes: an output transistor to generate an output voltage from an input voltage based on an ON/OFF control of the output transistor; a reference voltage generating unit to generate a reference voltage; a ripple injection unit to inject a ripple component into the reference voltage to generate a ripple reference voltage; a comparator to compare a feedback voltage with the ripple reference voltage to generate a comparison signal; and a switching controller to perform the ON/OFF control of the output transistor based on the comparison signal.
US08581561B2 DC-DC boost converter circuit with an output stabilization circuit and method for driving the same
Disclosed herein are a DC-DC boost converter circuit, which is capable of preventing power loss and stabilizing switching elements by implementing soft switching and improving efficiency by adding a charge pumping function, and a method for driving the same. The DC-DC boost converter circuit, in which an inductor and an output diode are connected in series and an output capacitor and a load are connected to an output port of the output diode in parallel, includes an output stabilization circuit in which first and second switching elements, a transformer, a plurality of boost capacitors, and a plurality of diodes are connected in series/parallel between the inductor and the output diode.
US08581559B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for a homopolar generator charger with integral rechargeable battery
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a homopolar generator charger with an integral rechargeable battery. A method is provided for converting rotational kinetic energy to electrical energy for charging one or more battery cells. The method can include rotating, by a shaft, a rotor in a magnetic flux field to generate current, wherein the rotor comprises an electrically conductive portion having an inner diameter conductive connection surface and an outer diameter conductive connection surface, and wherein a voltage potential is induced between the inner and outer diameter connection surfaces upon rotation in the magnetic flux field. The method can also include selectively coupling the generated current from the rotating rotor to terminals of the one or more battery cells.
US08581558B2 Control device for vehicle AC generator
A control device for a vehicle AC generator, in which a part can be shared even when electrical configuration positions of field coils of rotors of generators are different, is obtained. Switching elements connected in series to the field coil in order to control a field current; and a control signal processing unit, in which information as to whether the field coil is connected to the high potential side or connected to the low potential side is inputted, one of the high potential side terminal and the low potential side terminal is selected on the basis of the inputted information, a control signal is outputted, and ON/OFF control of the switching element is performed to control the field current of the field coil, are provided.
US08581556B2 Protection circuit and battery pack having current varying circuit to vary current flowing through power terminal
A protection circuit includes a detector to detect an overcharging or an excessive discharging of a battery, from a voltage of a power terminal coupled to the battery, a controller to generate a control signal to stop the charging or the discharging of the battery when a detection of the overcharging or the excessive discharging is continuously detected by the detector for a predetermined time, and a current varying circuit to vary a current flowing through the power terminal only for a certain time when the detector detects the overcharging or the excessive discharging of the battery.
US08581551B2 Power storage apparatus
A power storage apparatus includes a main power line, a first battery rack connected to an output terminal of the main power line at a first distance from the output terminal, a second battery rack connected to an output terminal of the main power line at a second distance from the output terminal, the second distance being different from the first distance, and a load resistor connected between the second battery rack and the main power line, the load resistor having a resistance that adjusts an impedance difference between the first battery rack and the second battery rack, the impedance difference resulting from a difference between the first distance and the second distance.
US08581550B2 Method and apparatus for identifying types of energy sources used to charge a battery
A method and apparatus for identifying different types of energy sources used to charge a battery by receiving energy from at least one of the different types of energy sources at input terminals, identifying the type of energy source, and selecting a mode for charging the battery based on the type of energy source identified. A method and apparatus for protecting against certain energy sources used to charge a battery is also disclosed.
US08581545B2 Power exchange system
A power exchange system for exchanging power between a power supply system of an installation and a battery of a vehicle includes an installation-side charger/discharger, a vehicle-side charger/discharger coupled to the installation-side charger/discharger to exchange the power, and a vehicle-side controller having a determination section and a setting section. The determination section determines whether the installation is equipped with an installation-side controller that controls power distribution in the power supply system. The setting section sets one of the installation-side controller and the vehicle-side controller as a power command center based on a result of determination by the determination section. The power command center commands one of the installation-side charger/discharger and the vehicle-side charger/discharger to charge/discharge the battery based on information of the battery and information of the power supply system.
US08581540B2 Method for installing actuation mechanism for extending and retracting retractable room for recreational vehicle
A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts.
US08581534B2 Method and motor driving circuit for adjusting rotational speed of motor
A method for adjusting rotational speed of a motor is also disclosed. The method includes determining whether an input voltage of the motor enters into a predetermined voltage range; generating a pulse width modulation signal when the input voltage of the motor enters into the predetermined voltage range; and driving the motor to rotate according to the pulse width modulation signal.
US08581532B2 Control method for frequency converter
A motor drive and a method in connection with a motor drive including a frequency converter are provided. The motor of the drive is connected to a load, and the motor is controlled with the frequency controller. The method includes the steps of converting changes in electrical quantities of the motor caused by actions affecting the load into observations representing the changes, selecting control symbols on the basis of matching of the sequences of observations with a set of valid patterns, and controlling the converter based on the selected symbols.
US08581529B2 Vibration motor driving apparatus using a serial interface
A vibration motor driving apparatus using a serial interface comprises a serial interface part for receiving an effect command (effect digital data or effect generating command digital data) from a main processor upon occurrence of an event, a unit for generating a clock when the effect command is received from the serial interface unit, a vibration motor driving signal generating unit including an effect data generating part for outputting effect data having a resonance frequency of a vibration motor on the basis of the effect command received from the serial interface unit and the clock received from the clock generating unit, and a D/A converting part for converting the effect data into a vibration motor driving signal, and the vibration motor which vibrates in accordance with the vibration motor driving signal to generate a haptic rhythm.
US08581527B2 Mechanism for converting rotary motion into linear motion and lifting device
There is provided a mechanism for converting rotary motion into linear motion in which high positioning accuracy can be obtained in mutual conversion between rotary motion and linear motion. The mechanism includes a plurality of rollers having a roller annular groove member and a pair of thrust bearings, a thrust bearing portion that is convex shaped and is held between the pair of thrust bearings on an outer surface of an end of the roller shaft, a step surface that is disposed on an inner surface of the roller annular groove member and facing to the thrust bearing portion putting one of the pair of thrust bearing in between, a thrust facing member that is in mesh with an inner surface of the roller annular groove member and is facing to the thrust bearing portion putting the other one of the pair of thrust bearing in between.
US08581510B2 Discharge lamp lighting apparatus
In order to suppress a peak of an excessive current and suppress a variation in a resonance voltage of a resonator, which are likely to occur immediately after a discharge lamp starts lighting, in a case where a high-frequency current continuously flows asymmetrically with respect to a zero current instead of flowing symmetrically on positive and negative sides immediately after the lighting since electrodes of the discharge lamp are not evenly warmed, the resonance voltage and the high-frequency current are finely adjusted in a resonance voltage and high-frequency current setting method including setting a drive frequency of an inverter circuit and varying output from a down-converter.
US08581503B1 Method of forming an LED control circuit and structure therefor
In one embodiment, an LED control circuit is configured to form an LED current for operating an LED light source and configured to form a bias current for a dummy load. The LED control circuit is configured to terminate the bias current responsively to detecting the LED current.
US08581498B1 Control of bleed current in drivers for dimmable lighting devices
Methods and apparati for controlling bleed current (IBLEED) in a driver circuit (20) for a lighting device (23). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of coupling a dimmer (21) to an input of the driver circuit (20), and forcing the bleed current (IBLEED) to be inversely proportional to the time-averaged voltage (VLEDP) at said lighting device (23). The dimmer (21) consumes power even when the lighting device (23) is not emitting light.
US08581494B2 Discharge lamp for GDS with an axial magnetic field
A glow discharge spectrometer discharge lamp includes: a lamp body having a vacuum enclosure connected to pump elements and to injector elements for injecting an inert gas into the enclosure; a hollow cylindrical first electrode of longitudinal axis X-X′; a second electrode for receiving a sample for analysis and for holding the sample facing one end of the cylindrical electrode; electric field generator including an applicator for applying to the terminals of the electrodes an electric field that is continuous, pulsed, radiofrequency, or hybrid, and suitable for generating a glow discharge plasma in the presence of the gas; coupler elements for coupling the discharge lamp to a spectrometer suitable for measuring at least one component of the plasma; and magnetic field generator elements for generating a magnetic field having field lines oriented along the axis X-X′, the magnetic field being uniform in orientation and in intensity over an area of the sample that is not less than the inside area of the hollow cylindrical electrode as projected along the direction X-X′.
US08581492B2 Electric incandescent lamp for vehicle headlights with new filament geometry
A filament coil for an incandescent lamp assembly is provided. The filament coil includes a helical winding extending generally along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The filament coil further includes a winding having a first pitch ratio at the first and second ends, and a different, second pitch ratio along an intermediate portion located between the first and second ends.
US08581490B2 Light-emitting diode die packages and illumination apparatuses using same
The present invention relates to an LED die package, which has a light-emitting diode die having a sapphire layer, a first doped layer doped with a p- or n-type dopant, and a second doped layer doped with a different dopant from that doped in the first doped layer. A surface of the sapphire layer opposite to the surface on which the first doped layer is disposed is formed with generally inverted-pyramidal-shaped recesses and overlaid with a phosphor powder layer. Each of the first and the second doped layers has an electrode-forming surface formed with an electrode, on which an insulation layer is disposed and formed with exposure holes for exposing the electrodes. The exposure holes are each filled with an electrically conductive linker.
US08581488B2 White light-emitting semiconductor devices
A white light-emitting semiconductor device having improved reproducibility of bright red. The device outputs light having a blue component, a green component, and a red component. Each of the light components (blue, green, and red) consists of a light-emitting semiconductor element and/or a phosphor that absorbs light emitted by a light-emitting semiconductor element and emits light through wavelength conversion. The outputted light has a spectrum which has a maximum wavelength in the range of 615-645 nm, and the intensity at a wavelength of 580 nm of the outputted light, which has been normalized with respect to luminous flux, is 80-100% of the intensity at a wavelength of 580 nm of standard light for color rendering evaluation, which has been normalized with respect to luminous flux.
US08581484B2 Liquid metal ion gun
A liquid metal ion gun 3 includes a liquid metal ion source 31 and a beam limiting aperture 33. The liquid metal ion source 31 includes a reservoir 36 and an emitter 35. The reservoir 36 is made of tungsten (W) and holds liquid metal gallium (Ga). The emitter 35 is made of W. The beam limiting aperture 33 is formed with a liquid metal member 44 made of Ga placed on a base 46 made of W, has an opening 41 that enables an ion beam 2 extracted from the liquid metal ion source 31 to pass therethrough, and limits the diameter of the ion beam 2. The beam limiting aperture 33 has a groove structure 45 that causes the liquid metal 44 to gather into a region located around the opening 41. The lifetime of the beam limiting aperture can be increased, and an emission can be maintained stable for a long time period and reproducibly restored to a stable state.
US08581479B2 Light-emittng device having a resin to control directivity to enhance luminous efficiency
A light-emitting device includes a first lead frame, a light-emitting element fixed to the first lead frame, and a second lead frame electrically connected via a metal wire to the light-emitting element. In addition, the light-emitting device includes a resin that covers the first lead frame, the light-emitting element, and the second lead frame, and functions as a transmission medium for light emitted from the light-emitting element. The resin has a side surface which is perpendicular to the face to which the light-emitting element has been fixed, and an upper surface. The resin surfaces are configured so that the angle of incidence of a portion of the light emitted from the light-emitting element to the side surfaces is larger than a critical angle needed for total reflection of the light incident on the side surfaces.
US08581477B2 Piezoelectric film element using (Na,K,Li)NbO3
A piezoelectric film element is provided, which is capable of improving piezoelectric properties, having on a substrate at least a lower electrode, a lead-free piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode, wherein at least the lower electrode out of the lower electrode and the upper electrode has a crystal structure of a cubic crystal system, a tetragonal crystal system, an orthorhombic crystal system, a hexagonal crystal system, a monoclinic crystal system, a triclinic crystal system, a trigonal crystal system, or has a composition in which one of these crystals exists or two or more of them coexist, and crystal axes of the crystal structure are preferentially oriented to a specific axis smaller than or equal to two axes of these crystals, and a ratio c/a′ is set in a range of 0.992 or more and 0.999 or less, which is the ratio of a crystal lattice spacing c in a direction of a normal line to the substrate surface, with respect to a crystal lattice spacing a′ whose inclination angle from the substrate surface is in a range of 10° or more and 30° or less.
US08581475B2 Generating device using piezoelectric energy harvester
Provided is a power generating apparatus using piezoelectric elements, which can increase an amount of electricity generated in the piezoelectric elements and can extend the life of the piezoelectric elements. The power generating apparatus includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements; a main body in which the piezoelectric elements are received and fixed, with spaced apart from one another, so as to protect the piezoelectric elements; a piezoelectric element support reciprocatingly installed in the main body to support the piezoelectric elements such that the piezoelectric elements are deformed by a reciprocating motion of the piezoelectric element support; a driving unit provided in the main body to operate the piezoelectric element support; and a power transmission unit connecting the driving unit to the piezoelectric element support, such that the piezoelectric element support is reciprocated by a driving force of the driving unit.
US08581474B2 Device and method for calculating at least one of a force and an acceleration of an object
A method for generating electrical power from an acceleration of an object is provided. The method including: vibrating a mass-spring unit upon an acceleration of an object; transmitting a force resulting from the acceleration from the mass-spring unit to the one or more piezoelectric elements; converting the vibration of the mass-spring unit to an electrical energy; and calculating at least one of the force and acceleration based on an output of the one or more piezoelectric elements.
US08581471B2 Piezoelectric fan and cooling device
A piezoelectric element is attached to a vibrating plate. By expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element, the vibrating plate is bent. The vibrating plate includes removed regions on both sides of a portion to which the piezoelectric element is attached. The vibrating plate includes a plurality of the blades provided at one end thereof. By bending the vibrating plate, the blades swing. The blades are bent toward grooves between heat dissipating fins of a heat sink. The other end of the vibrating plate is fixed with screws to an upper portion of the heat sink with a supporting plate disposed therebetween such that the each of the blades are located in a groove between the heat dissipating fins of the heat sink and the removed regions are located over the grooves between the heat dissipating fins.
US08581470B2 Electrode comb, micromechanical component, and method for producing an electrode comb or a micromechanical component
An electrode comb for a micromechanical component includes at least one electrode finger for which a first electrode finger subunit with a first central longitudinal axis and a second electrode finger subunit with a second central longitudinal axis are defined. The second central longitudinal axis are defined is inclined in relation to the first central longitudinal axis about a bend angle not equal to 0° and not equal to 180°.
US08581467B2 Stator including a cage coil
A stator comprises: a stator core having a plurality of slots; and a cage coil formed of a rectangular combined conductor that is wound by a plurality of turns. The combined conductor includes: a first conductor formed in a continuous zig-zag pattern; a second conductor formed in a continuous zig-zag pattern, the first and second conductors being combined to overlap one on the other with a displacement of one pitch; conductor in-slot portions overlapped and mounted in each of the slots of the stator core; conductor connecting portions placed circumferentially on the outside of the slots; and conductor stepped portions connecting the conductor in-slot portions and the conductor connecting portions.
US08581464B2 Segmented rotor
The present application provides a segmented rotor. The segmented rotor may include a center wheel, a number of rotor support segments positioned about the center wheel, and a number of active rotor components positioned about each of the rotor support segments.
US08581461B2 Energy transforming apparatus
An energy transforming apparatus has a controllable magnetic power gathering device and a transforming device to transform the non-continuous kinetic energy into electrical power to store in the power storage assembly. The controllable magnetic power gathering device has a non-continuous moved or linear reciprocating moved input end, a continuous rotating output end and a controllable energy-adjusting end, etc, to transform the impulse momentum into the continuous kinetic energy with the differential motion and using the non-contacting magnetic wheel transmission assembly to protect the overload effect. The transforming device has an energy transforming assembly, a circuit adjustment assembly and a power storage assembly. The circuit adjustment assembly is electrically connected with the energy transforming assembly to control the energy transforming assembly to transform the kinetic energy into electrical power. Accordingly, the energy transforming apparatus can transform non-continuous kinetic energy into continuous movement and further into electric power.
US08581455B2 Electric machine—evaporative cooling
An electric machine (10;100) comprises a rotor (14a), preferably having permanent magnets (24a,b), although other field generation means are available, and a stator (12). The stator has coils (22) wound on stator bars (16) for interaction with the magnetic field of the rotor across an air gap (26a,b) defined between them. The rotor (14) comprises a housing (54) of a chamber (70) containing refrigerant (82). The rotor housing (54) has heat dissipating fins (96) accessible by the open environment whereby air movement relative to the housing caused at least by rotation of the rotor absorbs heat from the fins. The machine may be an axial flux machine, the coils being wound on bars that are disposed circumferentially spaced around a fixed axle of the machine forming a rotational axis (80) of the rotor. The machine may be a wheel motor for a vehicle, wherein the wheel is mounted directly on the rotor housing (14).
US08581454B2 Handheld device with thermal padding
A handheld device comprises a housing, a motor, and a thermally conductive pad disposed in a space between the motor and the housing. Heat generated by the motor can be conducted by the thermal pad to the housing or to an internal fluid passage generally extending the length of the motor. In some embodiments, the thermal pad is configured to maintain the temperature of the housing in accordance with industry guidelines.
US08581452B2 Motor for high temperature applications
A high temperature motor has a stator with poles formed by wire windings, and a rotor with magnetic poles on a rotor shaft positioned coaxially within the stator. The stator and rotor are built up from stacks of magnetic-alloy laminations. The stator windings are made of high temperature magnet wire insulated with a vitreous enamel film, and the wire windings are bonded together with ceramic binder. A thin-walled cylinder is positioned coaxially between the rotor and the stator to prevent debris from the stator windings from reaching the rotor. The stator windings are wound on wire spools made of ceramic, thereby avoiding need for mica insulation and epoxy/adhesive. The stator and rotor are encased in a stator housing with rear and front end caps, and rear and front bearings for the rotor shaft are mounted on external sides of the end caps to keep debris from the motor migrating into the bearings' races.
US08581449B2 Portable power source to provide power to an electronic device via an interface
A portable power source is configured for use with an electronic device. The portable power source cooperates and communicates with the electronic device via a peripheral bus to which the electronic device is attachable. The portable power source includes circuitry to process a power request signal from the electronic device to determine whether a device connected to a bus interface of the portable power source is requesting power from the portable power source.
US08581448B2 Control device of power supply circuit
An ECU executes a program including a step of turning on an SMRP and an A-SMRP if an ignition switch is turned on; a step of detecting voltage values VB(1) and VB(2) of running batteries when VH is detected and if VH is higher than 180 V; a step of detecting that SMRP connected to the running battery is welded, if VB(1) is higher than 150 V; and a step of detecting that A-SMRB connected to the running battery is welded, if VB(2) is higher than 150 V.
US08581447B2 Method and device for operating a circuit arrangement
A current measurement apparatus includes first and second switches connected in parallel and operating in different current ranges, coupled to a processor which measures current and a controller which activates one or the other switch depending on the measured current.
US08581446B2 Method and apparatus for removal of harmonic noise
An apparatus for removing harmonic noise from a power transmission line transmitting electricity at a primary frequency includes a filter and a controller coupled to the sensor and to an actuator-generator. The filter separates electricity at a harmonic of a primary frequency from the electrical signal transmitted by the power transmission line. The controller is configured to modulate consumption of electricity from the power transmission line. The consumption is controlled by electrical actuation of the actuator-generator, such that the electrical actuation of the actuator-generator causes consumption of electricity from the power transmission line at a harmonic of the primary frequency. The actuator-generator is coupled to an elastically deformable component, such that electrical actuation of the actuator-generator generates tension in the elastically deformable component.
US08581444B2 Wireless power feeder, wireless power transmission system, and table and table lamp using the same
Power is fed from a feeding coil L2 to a receiving coil L3 by magnetic resonance. A VCO alternately turns ON/OFF switching transistors Q1 and Q2 at a drive frequency fo, whereby AC current is fed to the feeding coil L2, and then the AC current is fed from the feeding coil L2 to the receiving coil L3. A phase detection circuit detects a phase difference between the current phase and voltage phase, and the VCO adjusts the drive frequency fo such that the phase difference becomes zero. In a current phase detection circuit and a voltage phase detection circuit, detection values of the current and voltage phases can be changed, respectively and intentionally.
US08581443B2 Circuit arrangement and method for inductive energy transfer
A method and a circuit arrangement for the inductive transfer of energy with an oscillator and a device to detect the inductive load of the oscillator, and to modify a damping element in the oscillator depending on the load of said oscillator.
US08581440B2 Adaptive phase offset controller for multi-channel switching power converter
An adaptive phase offset controller for use with a switching power converter having first and second channels. The controller includes a discriminator which detects a ‘critical condition’ in which a switching signal for the first channel transitions during a critical time interval so as to give rise to crosstalk that can corrupt the operation of the second channel's control circuit. When the discriminator detects a critical condition, a phase offset circuit offsets the phase of the first channel's switching signals, such that subsequent transitions occur outside of the critical time interval. A second discriminator and phase offset circuit are preferably employed to detect critical conditions which can give rise to crosstalk that can corrupt the operation of the first channel's control circuit.
US08581438B2 Providing power to powered device having multiple power supply inputs
A system for providing power to a load, having first and second power supply inputs respectively responsive to first and second input signals from first and second power supply sources to supply power to the load. For example, the first power supply input may be configured for supplying the load with power received from a communication link, such as an Ethernet link, and the second power supply input may be configured for supplying the load with power from an auxiliary power source. A power converter is provided to produce an output signal for supplying power to the load in response to the second input signal. The power converter is controlled to produce the output signal in accordance with a value of the first input signal.
US08581436B2 Off-mains switch and a control box for electrically driven articles of furniture
An off-mains switch (14) and a control box (15) for electrically adjustable articles of furniture, such as beds, chairs or tables, which automatically interrupt the connection to the power supply when the article of furniture is not adjusted, such that this will not constantly be under the mains voltage. These off-main switches require a multi-part cable which is rigid and thick. In the present structure (14, 15) a single two-part cable (13) is sufficient, as the off-mains switch (14) is configured such that the control signals between control unit/control box (15) and the off-mains switch are transmitted through a mains cable (13). A standard cable having two conductors is then sufficient. This means in turn that standard plugs may be used, and thus that the cable (13) may be connected to the power supply via an ordinary plug. Since, hereby, the off-mains switch may appear as a separate unit, production and logistics are facilitated.
US08581428B2 Wind turbine comprising insulation monitoring system
The present invention concerns a wind turbine comprising a generator, a controller and a measurement equipment connected to the generator, the measurement equipment being adapted to measuring at least one quality parameter indicating the quality of generator insulation of the generator, and the measurement equipment being adapted to transmitting the at least one quality parameter to the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to evaluate the at least one quality parameter according to a quality criterion and set up an alarm signal in accordance with the evaluation. Further, the invention relates to a method for upgrading a wind turbine.
US08581425B2 Systems and methods involving electrical start and power generation
A power generation system includes a prime mover, a generator mechanically connected to the prime mover, the generator including a field winding portion and an armature winding portion, a direct current bus node, a first variable frequency drive having an input electrically connected to the bus node and an output electrically connected to the armature winding portion, and an inverter having an input electrically connected to the bus node and an output electrically connected to the field winding portion.
US08581421B2 Semiconductor package manufacturing method and semiconductor package
According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor package manufacturing method utilizing a support body in which a first layer is stacked on a second layer, the method including: a first step of forming an opening in the first layer to expose the second layer therethrough; a second step of arranging a semiconductor chip on the second layer through the opening; a third step of forming a resin portion on the first layer to cover the semiconductor chip; and a fourth step of forming a wiring structure on the resin portion so as to be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip.
US08581420B2 Under-bump metallization (UBM) structure and method of forming the same
An under-bump metallization (UBM) structure in a semiconductor device includes a copper layer, a nickel layer, and a Cu—Ni—Sn intermetallic compound (IMC) layer between the copper layer and the nickel layer.
US08581417B2 Semiconductor device stack with bonding layer and wire retaining member
In a semiconductor device of the present invention, a second semiconductor chip is stacked on a first semiconductor chip having a plurality of bonding pads in its central region, with a bonding layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of wires respectively connected to the plurality of bonding pads of the first semiconductor chip are led out to the outside over a peripheral edge of the first semiconductor chip by passing through a space between the first and second semiconductor chips. A retaining member for retaining at least a subset of the plurality of wires is provided in a region on the first semiconductor chip including a middle point between the bonding pads and the peripheral edge of the first semiconductor chip by using a material different from the bonding layer so that the subset of the wires is positioned generally at a center of the spacing between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip.
US08581415B2 Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
For simplifying the dual-damascene formation steps of a multilevel Cu interconnect, a formation step of an antireflective film below a photoresist film is omitted. Described specifically, an interlayer insulating film is dry etched with a photoresist film formed thereover as a mask, and interconnect trenches are formed by terminating etching at the surface of a stopper film formed in the interlayer insulating film. The stopper film is made of an SiCN film having a low optical reflectance, thereby causing it to serve as an antireflective film when the photoresist film is exposed.
US08581412B2 Semiconductor device comprising an electromagnetic waveguide
A semiconductor device includes a substrate. On at least one face of that substrate, integrated circuits are formed. At least one electromagnetic waveguide is also included, that waveguide including two metal plates that are placed on either side of at least one part of the thickness of the substrate and are located facing each other. Two longitudinal walls are placed facing each other and are formed by metal vias made in holes passing through the substrate in its thickness direction. The metal vias electrically connect the two metal plates.
US08581410B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Even when a stiffener is omitted, the semiconductor device which can prevent the generation of twist and distortion of a wiring substrate is obtained. As for a semiconductor device which has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip by which the flip chip bond was made to the wiring substrate, and a heat spreader adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor chip, and which omitted the stiffener for reinforcing a wiring substrate and maintaining the surface smoothness of a heat spreader, a wiring substrate has a plurality of insulating substrates in which a through hole whose diameter differs, respectively was formed, and each insulating substrate contains a glass cloth.
US08581406B1 Flip chip mounted monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) structure
A MMIC flip chip mounted to a circuit board having an underfill material disposed between the MMIC and the circuit board and a barrier structure for preventing the underfill material from being disposed under an electronic device of the MMIC while providing a cavity under the electronic device.
US08581404B2 Structure of gold bumps and gold conductors on one IC die and methods of manufacturing the structures
A method for fabricating multiple metal layers includes the following steps. An electronic component is provided with multiple contact points. A first metal layer is deposited over said electronic component. A first mask layer is deposited over said first metal layer. A second metal layer is deposited over said first metal layer exposed by an opening in said first mask layer. Said first mask layer is removed. A second mask layer is deposited over said second metal layer. A third metal layer is deposited over said second metal layer exposed by an opening in said second mask layer. Said second mask layer is removed. Said first metal layer not covered by said second metal layer is removed.
US08581402B2 Molded chip interposer structure and methods
Apparatus and methods for providing a molded chip interposer structure and assembly. A molded chip structure having at least two integrated circuit dies disposed within a mold compound is provided having the die bond pads on the bottom surface; and solder bumps are formed in the openings of a dielectric layer on the bottom surface, the solder bumps forming connections to the bond pads. An interposer having a die side surface and a board side surface is provided having bump lands receiving the solder bumps of the molded chip structure on the die side of the interposer. An underfill layer is formed between the die side of the interposer and the bottom surface of the molded chip structure surrounding the solder bumps. Methods for forming the molded chip interposer structure are disclosed.
US08581401B2 Mechanisms for forming copper pillar bumps using patterned anodes
This disclosure relates to a bump structure on a substrate including a copper layer, wherein the copper layer fills an opening created in a dielectric layer and a polymer layer. The bump structure further includes an under-bump-metallurgy (UBM) layer lines the opening and the copper layer is deposited over the UBM layer. The bump structure further includes a surface of the copper layer facing away from the substrate is curved. This disclosure also relates to two bump structures with different heights on a substrate where a thickness of the first bump structure is different than a thickness of the second bump structure. This disclosure also relates to a semiconductor device including a bump structure.
US08581399B2 Metal bump structure
A semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface and a plurality of metal bumps on the major surface. Each of the plurality of metal bumps comprises a metal via on the major surface and a metal pillar on the metal via having an overlay offset between the metal pillar and metal via. A first metal bump of the metal bumps has a first overlay offset and a second metal bump of the metal bumps farther than the first metal bump to a centroid of the substrate has a second overlay offset greater than the first overlay offset.
US08581397B2 Substrate for semiconductor package with improved bumping of chip bumps and contact pads and semiconductor package having the same
The present invention relates to a substrate for a semiconductor package and a semiconductor package having the same. A substrate for a semiconductor package includes a substrate body; a contact pad group including a plurality of contact pads parallely arranged at a determined interval on a surface of the substrate body; dummy contact pads arranged at both sides of the contact pad group, respectively; and solder resist patterns covering the substrate body and having openings exposing the dummy contact pads and the contact pad group. When bumping the semiconductor chip having the bumps to the solders arranged on the contact pads formed on the substrate, the bumping defect caused due to different volumes of each solder can be prevented.
US08581394B2 Semiconductor package module and electric circuit assembly with the same
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor package module. The semiconductor package module includes a circuit substrate having an external connection pattern; electronic components mounted on the circuit substrate; a molding structure having a structure surrounding the circuit substrate so as to seal the electronic components from the external environment; and an external connection structure of which one portion is connected to the external connection pattern and the other portion is exposed to the outside of the molding structure.
US08581384B2 Semiconductor package structure
A semiconductor package structure comprises a lead frame, at least one chip, a molding compound and an anti-conduction film. The lead frame comprises a plurality of leads, each of the leads comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion comprises a first upper surface and a first lower surface, and the second end portion comprises a second upper surface and a second lower surface. The chip comprises a plurality of bumps electrically connected with the lead frame. The chip and the leads are covered with the molding compound. The first lower surface of each of the first end portions and the second lower surface of each of the second end portions are exposed by the molding compound. The first lower surface of the first end portion of each of the leads is covered with the anti-conduction film.
US08581382B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with leadframe and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a paddle having an indented planar surface intersecting an outwardly extending planar surface at an angle of approximately 135 degrees plus 25 degrees or minus 5 degrees; mounting an integrated circuit over the paddle; and forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit and under the extension void free.
US08581381B2 Integrated circuit (IC) package stacking and IC packages formed by same
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit (IC) package vertical interconnection are described herein. In an aspect of the invention, an IC package includes an IC die with contact pads. The IC package also includes interconnect members which are coupled to the die at the contact pads. An encapsulating material encapsulates the IC die and the interconnect members such that a contact surface of each interconnect member is accessible at a surface of the encapsulating material. A second IC package is coupled to the first IC package through the plurality of interconnect members of the first IC package. In an example, solder balls attached to a bottom of the second IC package are coupled to the contact surfaces of the interconnect members to couple the first IC package and the second IC package.
US08581378B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Terminals (2b, 2c) are divided into two along a common boundary, coatings (10, 11) most suitable for two conductive bonding materials (5, 6) to be used are exposed on the terminals (2b, 2c), the most suitable one of the coatings (10, 11) is selected, and the corresponding conductive bonding material (5, 6) is bonded onto the coating. Thus it is possible to improve the reliability of bonding and easily reduce a bonding resistance while suppressing a decrease in the reliability of a semiconductor element 3.
US08581375B2 Leadframe-based mold array package heat spreader and fabrication method therefor
A heat spreader frame is provided including: heat spreaders having upper surfaces; a peripheral frame surrounding the heat spreaders; spreaders, the peripheral frame having stand-off legs; tie bars having upper surfaces and a pin identifier at an end portion of the tie bars, the heat spreaders connected to one another and to the peripheral frame by the tie bars, the width of the stand-off legs wider than widths of the tie bars; at least portions of the upper surfaces of the tie bars being thinned to reduce heights of the tie bars; the upper surfaces of the heat spreader in an elevated position supported by the peripheral frame; and the heat spreaders and the tie bars covered by an package molding compound exposing the upper surface of the heat spreaders and one surface of the pin identifier coplanar to the upper surfaces of the heat spreaders.
US08581371B2 Connection element for a semiconductor component and method for producing the same
A connection element is arranged on a connection area of a semiconductor component. The connection element includes at least one bonding wire portion fixed on the connection area. The connection area is covered by an electrically conductive material, the fixed bonding wire portion being surrounded or embedded by the electrically conductive material.
US08581370B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming prefabricated EMI shielding frame with cavities containing penetrable material over semiconductor die
A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die mounted to a temporary carrier. A prefabricated shielding frame has a plate and integrated bodies extending from the plate. The bodies define a plurality of cavities in the shielding frame. A penetrable material is deposited in the cavities of the shielding frame. The shielding frame is mounted over the semiconductor die such that the penetrable material encapsulates the die. The carrier is removed. An interconnect structure is formed over the die, shielding frame, and penetrable material. The bodies of the shielding frame are electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The shielding frame is singulated through the bodies or through the plate and penetrable material to separate the die. TIM is formed over the die adjacent to the plate of the shielding frame. A heat sink is mounted over the plate of the shielding frame.
US08581368B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device, semiconductor chip, and semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor wafer having a plurality of interconnect layers, includes a plurality of chip-composing portions, a dicing region separating the chip-composing portions from each other, and a plurality of inter-chip interconnects formed in the dicing region and electrically connecting adjacent ones of the chip-composing portions, wherein each of the inter-chip interconnects has a width of an intermediate portion narrower than widths of connection end portions connected to the adjacent ones of the chip-composing portions.
US08581366B2 Method and system for forming conductive bumping with copper interconnection
A method for making an integrated circuit system with one or more copper interconnects that are conductively connected with a substrate includes depositing and patterning a first dielectric layer to form a first via and filling the first via through the first dielectric layer with a copper material. The method further includes depositing and patterning a second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer to form a second via, and forming a diffusion barrier layer. Moreover, the method includes depositing and patterning a photoresist layer on the diffusion barrier layer, and at least partially filling the second via with a metal material. The metal material is conductively connected to the copper material through the diffusion barrier layer. The method further includes removing the photoresist and the diffusion barrier layer not covering by the metal material.
US08581365B2 Bipolar junction transistor with layout controlled base and associated methods of manufacturing
The present technology discloses a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device integrated into a semiconductor substrate. The BJT device comprises a collector, a base and an emitter. The collector is of a first doping type on the substrate; the base is of a second doping type in the collector from the top surface of the semiconductor device and the base has a base depth; and the emitter is of a first doping type in the base from the top surface of the semiconductor device. The base depth is controlled by adjusting a layout width in forming the base.
US08581364B2 Resistance memory devices and methods of forming the same
Provided are resistance memory devices and methods of forming the same. The resistance memory devices include a first electrode and a second electrode on a substrate, a transition metal oxide layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte layer interposed between the second electrode and the transition metal oxide layer, and conductive bridges having one end that is electrically connected to the second electrode on the electrolyte.
US08581363B2 Phase-change memory device including a vertically-stacked capacitor and a method of the same
A phase change memory device includes a vertically-stacked capacitor structure having large capacitance and small area. The phase change memory device includes a phase change memory structure, and the vertically-stacked capacitor structure electrically connected to the phase change memory structure and comprising a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are stacked and electrically connected in parallel to each other.
US08581362B2 Wireless communication devices with in-package integrated passive components
Embodiments of the present disclosure can be used to both reduce the size and cost and improve the performance and power consumption of next generation wireless communication devices. In particular, embodiments enable board and semiconductor substrate area savings by using the fabrication package (which encapsulates the semiconductor substrate) as a design element in the design of next generation wireless communication devices. Specifically, embodiments use the substrate of the fabrication package to integrate into it components of the wireless radio transceiver (which are conventionally integrated into the semiconductor substrate) and other discrete components of the communication device (which are conventionally placed on the board of the device). As such, reduced board and semiconductor area can be realized.
US08581359B2 Schottky barrier diode
A Schottky barrier diode includes a GaN freestanding substrate having a front surface, a GaN epitaxial layer deposited on the front surface, and an insulation layer deposited on the GaN epitaxial layer at a front surface and having an opening. Furthermore, the Schottky barrier diode also includes an electrode. The electrode is configured by a Schottky electrode provided in the opening in contact with the GaN epitaxial layer, and a field plate electrode connected to the Schottky electrode and also overlapping the insulation layer. The GaN freestanding substrate has a dislocation density of at most 1×108 cm−2.
US08581358B2 Photoelectric conversion device and manufacturing method
A photoelectric conversion device is provided which is capable of improving the light condensation efficiency without substantially decreasing the sensitivity. The photoelectric conversion device has a first pattern provided above an element isolation region formed between adjacent two photoelectric conversion elements, a second pattern provided above the element isolation region and above the first pattern, and microlenses provided above the photoelectric conversion elements with the first and the second patterns provided therebetween. The photoelectric conversion device further has convex-shaped interlayer lenses in optical paths between the photoelectric conversion elements and the microlenses, the peak of each convex shape projecting in the direction from the electro-optical element to the microlens.
US08581356B2 Semiconductor structures for biasing devices
Semiconductor structures with high impedances for use in biasing for applying voltage bias to part of a device. The semiconductor structure comprises a continuous structure having a plurality of regions of a first semiconductor type (n type or p type) material arranged alternately with at least one region of the opposite type. The structure may be formed from polysilicon and may also include a plurality of intrinsic regions arranged between the n and p type regions. The structure forms a composite diode and provides a high impedance.
US08581353B2 Multi-layer gate dielectric
A transistor gate dielectric including a first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant and a second dielectric material having a second dielectric constant different from the first dielectric constant.
US08581352B2 Electronic devices including barium strontium titanium oxide films
Apparatus and methods of forming the apparatus include a dielectric layer containing barium strontium titanium oxide layer, an erbium-doped barium strontium titanium oxide layer, or a combination thereof. Embodiments of methods of fabricating such dielectric layers provide dielectric layers for use in a variety of devices. Embodiments include forming barium strontium titanium oxide film using atomic layer deposition. Embodiments include forming erbium-doped barium strontium titanium oxide film using atomic layer deposition.
US08581350B2 Field effect transistor and semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing same
Current drive efficiency is deteriorated in the conventional FET. The FET 20 includes an electrode film 24a provided over the semiconductor substrate 10 and a stressor film 24b that is provided on the electrode film 24a and constitutes a gate electrode 24 together with the electrode film 24a. Each of the electrode film 24a and the stressor film 24b is composed of a metal, a metallic nitride or a metallic silicide. The stressor film 24b is capable of exhibiting a compressive stress over the semiconductor substrate 10.
US08581345B2 Charge-balance power device comprising columnar structures and having reduced resistance, and method and system of same
An embodiment of a charge-balance power device formed in an epitaxial layer having a first conductivity type and housing at least two columns of a second conductivity type, which extend through the epitaxial layer. A first and a second surface region of the second conductivity type extend along the surface of the epitaxial layer on top of, and in contact with, a respective one of the columns, and a second and a third surface region of the first conductivity type extends within the first and the second surface region, respectively, facing the surface of the epitaxial layer. The columns extend at a distance from each other and are arranged staggered to one another with respect to a first direction and partially facing one another with respect to a second direction transversal to the first direction.
US08581339B2 Structure of NPN-BJT for improving punch through between collector and emitter
A bipolar junction transistor and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. The bipolar junction transistor includes a well region, an emitter electrode, a base electrode, a collector electrode, and a conductive layer. The emitter electrode, the base electrode and the collector electrode are separated from each other by the well region. The conductive layer is on the well region between the base electrode and the collector electrode.
US08581335B2 Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A first AlGaN layer formed over a substrate, a second AlGaN layer formed over the first AlGaN layer, an electron transit layer formed over the second AlGaN layer, and an electron supply layer formed over the electron transit layer are provided. A relationship of “0≦x1
US08581334B2 Via structures and semiconductor devices having the via structures
A via structure may include a first conductive pattern, a buffer pattern, and a second conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern may be on an inner wall of a first substrate and the inner wall may define a via hole passing at least partially through the first substrate. The buffer pattern may be on the first conductive pattern and the buffer pattern may partially fill the via hole. The second conductive pattern may be on a top surface of the buffer pattern in the via hole.
US08581331B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a charge storage layer on a first insulating film, a second insulating film which is provided on the charge storage layer, formed of layers, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating film. The second insulating film includes a bottom layer (A) provided just above the charge storage layer, a top layer (C) provided just below the control gate electrode, and a middle layer (B) provided between the bottom layer (A) and the top layer (C). The middle layer (B) has higher barrier height and lower dielectric constant than both the bottom layer (A) and the top layer (C). The average coordination number of the middle layer (B) is smaller than both the average coordination number of the top layer (C) and the average coordination number of the bottom layer (A).
US08581329B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first stacked body, a memory film, a first channel body, a second stacked body, a gate insulating film and a second channel body. A step part is formed between a side face of the select gate and the second insulating layer. A film thickness of a portion covering the step part of the second channel body is thicker than a film thickness of a portion provided between the second insulating layers of the second channel body.
US08581325B2 Semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
This semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of tunnel insulator films formed on the substrate along a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a plurality of charge accumulation layers formed on the tunnel insulator films, respectively, a plurality of element isolation regions formed on the substrate, the element isolation regions including a plurality of trenches formed along the first direction between the tunnel insulator films, a plurality of element isolation films filled in the trenches, a plurality of inter-poly insulator films formed over the element isolation regions and on the upper and side surfaces of the charge accumulation layers along the second direction in a stripe shape, a plurality of air gaps formed between the element isolation films filled in the trenches and the inter-poly insulator films and a plurality of control gate electrodes formed on the inter-poly insulator films.
US08581324B2 Area-efficient electrically erasable programmable memory cell
Electrically erasable programmable “read-only” memory (EEPROM) cells in an integrated circuit, and formed by a single polysilicon level. The EEPROM cell consists of a coupling capacitor and a combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor. The capacitance of the coupling capacitor is much larger than that of the tunneling capacitor. In one embodiment, field oxide isolation structures isolate the devices from one another; a lightly-doped region at the source of the read transistor improves breakdown voltage performance. In another embodiment, trench isolation structures and a buried oxide layer surround the well regions at which the coupling capacitor and combined read transistor and tunneling capacitor are formed.
US08581323B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing same
A memory string is formed to surround the side surface of a columnar portion and a charge storing layer, and includes plural first conductive layers functioning as gates of memory transistors, and a first protecting layer stacked to protect an upper portion of the plural first conductive layers. The plural first conductive layers constitute a first stairway portion formed stepwise such that their ends are located at different positions. Each first conductive layer constitutes a step of the first stairway portion. A top surface of a first portion of the first stairway portion is covered with the first protecting layer including a first number of layers, and A tope surface of a second portion of the first stairway portion located at a lower level than the first portion is covered with the first protecting layer including a second number of layers fewer than the first number of layers.
US08581322B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for making the same
A method for making a nonvolatile memory device includes the following steps. A conductive structure is formed, wherein the conductive structure has a first top portion. The first top portion is converted into a second top portion having a domed surface.
US08581319B2 Semiconductor stacks including catalytic layers
A method for fabricating a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor includes forming a first electrode layer, forming a catalytic layer on the first electrode layer, optionally annealing the catalytic layer, forming a dielectric layer on the catalytic layer, optionally annealing the dielectric layer, forming a second electrode layer on the dielectric layer, and optionally annealing the capacitor stack. Advantageously, the electrode layers are TiN, the catalytic layer is MoO2−x where x is between 0 and 2, and the physical thickness of the catalytic layer is between about 0.5 nm and about 10 nm, and the dielectric layer is ZrO2.
US08581318B1 Enhanced non-noble electrode layers for DRAM capacitor cell
A metal oxide first electrode material for a MIM DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the first and/or second electrode materials or structures contain layers having one or more dopants up to a total doping concentration that will not prevent the electrode materials from crystallizing during a subsequent anneal step. Advantageously, the electrode doped with one or more of the dopants has a work function greater than about 5.0 eV. Advantageously, the electrode doped with one or more of the dopants has a resistivity less than about 1000 μΩcm. Advantageously, the electrode materials are conductive molybdenum oxide.
US08581317B2 SOI MuGFETs having single gate electrode level
A silicon on insulator (SOI) multi-gate field effect transistor electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (MuFET EPROM) includes a substrate having a dielectric surface. A first semiconducting region is in or on the dielectric surface. A source region, a drain region and a channel region interposed between the source and drain are formed in first semiconducting region. A gate dielectric layer is on the channel region. At least a second semiconducting region in or on the dielectric surface is spaced apart from the first semiconducting region. A first electrode layer comprises a first electrode portion including a transistor gate electrode and a control gate electrode electrically isolated from one another. The transistor gate overlies the channel region to form a transistor. The control gate extends to overlay a portion of the second semiconducting region. The transistor gate and thus the transistor and the control gate are capacitively coupled to one another by at least one MOS coupling capacitor, with one plate of the MOS coupling capacitor ohmically coupled to or including the second semiconducting region.
US08581315B2 Semiconductor device having cylindrical lower electrode of capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
To provide a semiconductor device including: plural capacitors each including a cylindrical lower electrode having an internal wall and an external wall, and an upper electrode that covers the external wall of the lower electrode via a capacitance dielectric film; and a supporting film having a buried portion buried in an internal region surrounded by the internal wall of the lower electrode, and a supporting portion a part of which is positioned within the internal region and remaining parts of which are positioned at outside of the internal region. The supporting portion sandwiches an upper end of the lower electrode at both ends of the upper end by covering the internal wall and the external wall of the upper end of the lower electrode.
US08581311B1 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are provided. The method includes: providing a substrate having a gate structure and first spacers on both sidewalls of the gate structure formed on a top surface of the substrate; forming first openings in the substrate by using the first spacers as a mask, wherein the first openings are located on both sides of the gate structure; forming second openings by etching the first openings with an etching gas, wherein each of the second openings is an expansion of a corresponding one of the first openings toward the gate structure and extends to underneath an adjacent first spacer; and forming epitaxial layers in the first openings and the second openings.
US08581310B2 Z2FET field-effect transistor with a vertical subthreshold slope and with no impact ionization
The transistor comprises first and second source/drain electrodes formed in a semiconductor film by N-doped and P-doped areas, respectively. A polarization voltage is applied between the two source/drain electrodes in order to impose to the P-doped electrode a potential higher than that of the N-doped electrode. The transistor comprises first and second devices for generating a potential barrier in the semiconductor film. The two potential barriers are opposed to the passage of the charge carriers emitted by the first and second source/drain electrodes, respectively. The two potential barriers are shifted with respect to an axis connecting the two source/drain electrodes. The two devices for generating a potential barrier are configured to generate a potential barrier having a variable amplitude and it are electrically connected to the gate and to the counter electrode.
US08581309B2 Semiconductor device
An object is to realize high performance and low power consumption in a semiconductor device having an SOI structure. In addition, another object is to provide a semiconductor device having a high performance semiconductor element which is more highly integrated. A semiconductor device is such that a plurality of n-channel field-effect transistors and p-channel field-effect transistors are stacked with an interlayer insulating layer interposed therebetween over a substrate having an insulating surface. By controlling a distortion caused to a semiconductor layer due to an insulating film having a stress, a plane orientation of the semiconductor layer, and a crystal axis in a channel length direction, difference in mobility between the n-channel field-effect transistor and the p-channel field-effect transistor can be reduced, whereby current driving capabilities and response speeds of the n-channel field-effect transistor and the p-channel field-effect can be comparable.
US08581308B2 High temperature embedded charge devices and methods thereof
A device for storing embedded charge includes a first insulator and at least one second insulator. The first insulator has at least two outer surfaces and has a band gap of less than about 5.5 eV. The second insulator is deposited on at least each of the at least two outer surfaces of the first insulator to form at least one interface for storing charge between the first and second insulators. The second insulator has a band gap of more than about 6.0 eV.
US08581304B2 Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors having gate electrodes formed within gate level feature layout channels with four inside positioned gate contacts having offset and aligned relationships
A semiconductor device includes conductive features within a gate electrode level region that are each fabricated from respective originating rectangular-shaped layout features having its centerline aligned parallel to a first direction. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS, second PMOS, first NMOS, and second NMOS transistor devices respectively extend along different gate electrode tracks. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device.
US08581303B2 Integrated circuit including cross-coupled trasistors having gate electrodes formed within gate level feature layout channels with four inside positioned gate contacts having offset relationships and electrical connection of cross-coupled transistors through same interconnect layer
A semiconductor device includes first and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions that are each electrically connected to a common node. Each of a number of conductive features within a gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature having a centerline aligned parallel to a first direction. The conductive features respectively form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected. The electrical connection between the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices is formed in part by one or more electrical conductors present within at least one interconnect level above the gate electrode level region.
US08581301B2 Nitride semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor device has an electroconductive substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer provided directly on the electroconductive substrate or provided on the electroconductive substrate through a buffer layer and formed of a non-doped nitride semiconductor, a second nitride semiconductor layer provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and formed of a non-doped or n-type nitride semiconductor having a band gap wider than that of the first nitride semiconductor layer, a heterojunction field effect transistor having a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, a Schottky barrier diode having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, first and second element isolation insulating layers, and a frame electrode. The frame electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode and the electroconductive substrate, and surrounds outer peripheries of the heterojunction field effect transistor and the Schottky barrier diode.
US08581300B2 Compound semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
An embodiment of a compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; an electron channel layer and an electron supply layer formed over the substrate; a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on or above the electron supply layer; and a p-type semiconductor layer formed between the electron supply layer and the gate electrode. The p-type semiconductor layer contains, as a p-type impurity, an element same as that being contained in at least either of the electron channel layer and the electron supply layer.
US08581298B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer having a first end portion and a second end portion; a first main electrode provided on the first end portion and electrically connected to the semiconductor layer; a second main electrode provided on the second end portion and electrically connected to the semiconductor layer; a first gate electrode provided via a first gate insulating film in a plurality of first trenches formed from the first end portion toward the second end portion; and a second gate electrode provided via a second gate insulating film in a plurality of second trenches formed from the second end portion toward the first end portion. Spacing between a plurality of the first gate electrodes and spacing between a plurality of the second gate electrodes are 200 nm or less.
US08581296B2 Compound semiconductor device
A compound semiconductor device having reduced contact resistance to an electrode is provided. The compound semiconductor device includes an n-substrate 3 comprising a hexagonal compound semiconductor GaN and having surfaces S1 and S2; an n-electrode 13 formed on the surface S1 of the n-substrate 3; a layered product having an n-cladding layer 5, an active layer 7, a p-cladding layer 9, and a contact layer 11 formed on the surface S2 of the n-substrate 3; and a p-electrode 15 formed on the p-cladding layer 9. The number of N atoms contained on the surface S1 of the n-substrate 3 is more than the number of Ga atoms contained on the surface S1. The electrode formed on the surface S1 is an n-electrode 13. The surface S1 has an oxygen concentration of not more than 5 atomic percent. The number of Ga atoms contained on the surface S3 of the contact layer 11 is more than the number of N atoms contained on the surface S3. The electrode formed on the surface S3 is a p-electrode 15. The surface S3 has an oxygen concentration of not more than 5 atomic percent.
US08581294B2 Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device that includes: a first substrate having a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) disposed on the first area of the first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate such that the OLED is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate so as to expose the second area of the first substrate; and a sealant disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to attach and seal the first substrate to the second substrate, wherein the sealant surrounds the OLED by a predetermined distance and having a first width of one portion closer to the second area that is larger than a second width of an other portion which is farther from the second area.
US08581289B2 Semiconductor light emitting component
A semiconductor light emitting component including an epitaxial structure, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first cutout structure and a second cutout structure is provided. The epitaxial structure includes a first type doped layer, a light emitting portion and a second type doped layer. The first electrode is formed on a surface of the first type doped layer. The second electrode is formed on a surface of the second type doped layer. The first cutout structure is formed in the first type doped layer to expose at least a portion of the first electrode. The second cutout structure is formed in the first type doped layer, the light emitting portion and the second type doped layer so as to expose at least a portion of the second electrode.
US08581285B2 Semiconductor light-emitting element for flip-chip mounting
The present invention is directed to the provision of a semiconductor light-emitting element that has an electrode formed with a desired thickness using a plated metal layer. A semiconductor light-emitting element for flip-chip mounting on a circuit substrate includes a semiconductor layer including a light-emitting layer, an N-side bump electrode for connecting the semiconductor layer to the circuit substrate, and a P-type bump electrode for connecting the semiconductor layer to the circuit substrate, wherein the N-side bump electrode and the P-type bump electrode each include an under-bump metal layer and a plated metal layer, the under-bump metal layer includes a high-reflectivity metal layer disposed on a side that faces the semiconductor layer and a metal layer disposed on a side opposite from the semiconductor layer, and the plated metal layer has a thickness not less than 3 μm but not greater than 30 μm.
US08581284B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device and manufacturing method
A semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same can include a wavelength converting layer encapsulating at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip in order to emit various colored lights including white light. The semiconductor light-emitting device can include a base board, a frame located on the base board, the chip mounted on the base board, the wavelength converting layer formed around the chip, a transparent plate located on the wavelength converting layer and a diffusing reflection member disposed between the frame and both side surfaces of the wavelength converting layer and the transparent plate. The device can be configured to improve the linearity of a boundary between the diffusing reflection member and both side surfaces by using the transparent plate, and therefore can be used for a headlight that can form a favorable horizontal cut-off line corresponding to the boundary via a projector lens without a shade.
US08581279B2 Light-emitting diode chip comprising a contact structure
In a luminescence diode chip having a radiation exit area (1) and a contact structure (2, 3, 4) which is arranged on the radiation exit area (1) and comprises a bonding pad (4) and a plurality of contact webs (2, 3) which are provided for current expansion and are electrically conductively connected to the bonding pad (4), the bonding pad (4) is arranged in an edge region of the radiation exit area (1). The luminescence diode chip has reduced absorption of the emitted radiation (23) in the contact structure (2, 3, 4).
US08581277B2 Light emitting device and light emitting device package having the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first and second conductive semiconductors, and an active layer; an insulating layer on a lateral surface of the light emitting structure; an electrode on the first conductive semiconductor layer; an electrode layer under the second conductive semiconductor layer; and a protective layer including a first portion between the light emitting structure and the electrode layer and a second portion extending outward beyond a lower surface of the light emitting structure, wherein the first conductive semiconductor layer includes a first top surface including a roughness on a first region, and a second top surface lower than the first region and being closer the lateral surface of the light emitting structure than the first region, wherein the second top surface is disposed on an edge portion of the first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08581270B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting display apparatus is disclosed. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel, where each of said first, second and third sub-pixels displays a different color, a substrate, a first electrode disposed on the substrate, a second electrode disposed on the first electrode, facing the first electrode, an organic emission layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, including a first organic emission layer, a second organic emission layer, and a third organic emission layer, and an electron acceptor layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode configured to contact the organic emission layer, where the first organic emission layer is disposed in the first sub-pixel, the second organic emission layer is disposed in the second sub-pixel, and the third organic emission layer is commonly disposed over the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel, and where the electron acceptor layer is disposed between the first organic emission layer and the third organic emission layer in the first sub-pixel and between the second organic emission layer and the third organic emission layer in the second sub-pixel.
US08581269B2 Modular high density LED array light sources
A modular LED array light source comprises an assembly of a plurality of solid-state LED array modules. Modules are abutted to provide a large area, high intensity and high-density array that provides substantially uniform irradiance. Preferably, in each module, a linear or rectangular array of groups of LED is provided in which the density of LED die in the array is higher at ends or edges of the modules abutting other modules, to provide improved uniformity of irradiance over the illuminated area between modules. Particular arrangements of clusters of LEDs are provided that reduce or overcome the discontinuity or dip in irradiance due to edge or wall effects caused by the spacing of LED die from edges of the substrate/packaging of each module. These arrangements are advantageous for hermetically sealed LED array modules, for example, which require a minimum wall thickness for an effective seal.
US08581265B2 Light-emitting device and electronic device including substrate having flexibility
It is an object to provide a flexible light-emitting device with long lifetime in a simple way and to provide an inexpensive electronic device with long lifetime using the flexible light-emitting device. A flexible light-emitting device is provided, which includes a substrate having flexibility and a light-transmitting property with respect to visible light; a first adhesive layer over the substrate; an insulating film containing nitrogen and silicon over the first adhesive layer; a light-emitting element including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and an EL layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; a second adhesive layer over the second electrode; and a metal substrate over the second adhesive layer, wherein the thickness of the metal substrate is 10 μm to 200 μm inclusive. Further, an electronic device using the flexible light-emitting device is provided.
US08581264B2 Semiconductor body and method of producing a semiconductor body
A semiconductor body includes an n-conductive semiconductor layer and a p-conductive semiconductor layer. The p-conductive semiconductor layer contains a p-dopant and the n-conductive semiconductor layer an n-dopant and a further dopant.
US08581262B2 Electronic devices comprising multi cyclic hydrocarbons
The present invention relates to compositions comprising functionalized or un-functionalized multi cyclic hydrocarbons and functional organic compounds, which can be used in different electronic devices. The invention further relates to an electronic device comprising one or more organic functional layers, wherein at least one of the layers comprises at least one functionalized or un-functionalized multi cyclic hydrocarbon. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a formulation comprising functionalized or un-functionalized multi cyclic hydrocarbons, from which a thin layer comprising at least one functionalized or un-functionalized multi cyclic hydrocarbon can be formed.
US08581261B2 Compound semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Two layers of protection films are formed such that a sheet resistance at a portion directly below the protection film is higher than that at a portion directly below the protection film. The protection films are formed, for example, of SiN film, as insulating films. The protection film is formed to be higher, for instance, in hydrogen concentration than the protection film so that the protection film is higher in refractive index the protection film. The protection film is formed to cover a gate electrode and extend to the vicinity of the gate electrode on an electron supplying layer. The protection film is formed on the entire surface to cover the protection film. According to this configuration, the gate leakage is significantly reduced by a relatively simple configuration to realize a highly-reliable compound semiconductor device achieving high voltage operation, high withstand voltage, and high output.
US08581258B2 Semiconductor device structures and methods of forming semiconductor structures
A method of patterning a semiconductor film is described. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hard mask material is formed on a silicon film having a global crystal orientation wherein the semiconductor film has a first crystal plane and second crystal plane, wherein the first crystal plane is denser than the second crystal plane and wherein the hard mask is formed on the second crystal plane. Next, the hard mask and semiconductor film are patterned into a hard mask covered semiconductor structure. The hard mask covered semiconductor structured is then exposed to a wet etch process which has sufficient chemical strength to etch the second crystal plane but insufficient chemical strength to etch the first crystal plane.
US08581252B2 Active device array substrate, color filter substrate and manufacturing methods thereof
An active device array substrate comprising a substrate, a pixel array, a partition configuration and an alignment material layer is provided. The substrate has an alignment region and a predetermined sealing region. The predetermined sealing region surrounds the alignment region. The pixel array is disposed on the substrate within the alignment region. The partition configuration is disposed on the substrate between the predetermined sealing region and the alignment region. The alignment material layer is disposed within the alignment region and covers the pixel array.
US08581246B2 Protective barriers for electronic devices
The present disclosure provides for electronic devices that use low cost, conductive materials as transparent conductors. The devices contain corrosion preventative conductive polymer layers and conductive innerlayer barriers that separate corrosive electrolyte from the conductors which are prone to corrosion and dissolution, while providing an uninterrupted electrical circuit. The present disclosure also allows for the use of layers which have been applied from aqueous media thereby reducing both the cost and the environmental impact of the electronic devices. Methods of manufacture are also provided.
US08581243B2 Thin-film transistor and process for its fabrication
A bottom gate type thin-film transistor constituted of at least a substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. At an interface between the gate electrode and the gate insulating layer, the interface has a difference between hill tops and dale bottoms of unevenness in the vertical direction, of 30 nm or less.
US08581241B2 Polymer compound, net-like polymer compound produced by crosslinking the polymer compound, composition for organic electroluminescence element, organic electroluminescence element, organic EL display, and organic EL lighting
An object of the invention is to provide a polymer compound having a high hole transport capacity, excellent in electrochemical stability, and suitable to film formation according to a wet film formation method. Another object of the invention is to provide an organic electroluminescence element having a high current efficiency, a low drive voltage, and a long derive lifetime. The polymer compound has a crosslinking group bonding to the arylamine moiety in the repeating unit via at least one single bond therebetween.
US08581233B2 Variable capacitor single-electron transistor including a P-N junction gate electrode
The present invention provides a single-electron transistor device 100. The device comprises a source 105 and drain 110 located over a substrate 115 and a quantum island 120 situated between the source and drain, to form tunnel junctions 125, 130 between the source and drain. The device further includes a fixed-gate electrode 135 located adjacent the quantum island 120. The fixed-gate electrode has a capacitance associated therewith that varies as a function of an applied voltage to the fixed-gate electrode. The present invention also includes a method of fabricating a single-electron device 300, and a transistor circuit 800 that include a single-electron device 810.
US08581232B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer; an active layer on the second semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer on the active layer; and a fourth semiconductor layer on the third semiconductor layer, wherein the first semiconductor layer has a composition equation of AlY(GaxIn1-x)1-YN(0≦X,Y≦1), wherein the third semiconductor layer has a composition equation of AlY(GaxIn1-x)1-YN(0≦X,Y≦1), wherein the active layer includes a plurality of quantum barrier layers and a plurality of quantum well layers having a material different from the quantum barrier layers, wherein the plurality of quantum well layers include an AlGaN based semiconductor layer, wherein the plurality of quantum barrier layers has a larger band gap energy than that of the quantum well layers.
US08581231B2 Light emitting device with electrode having plurality of adhesive seeds spaced from one another on the light emitting structure
Disclosed is a light emitting device including a light emitting structure including a first conductive-type semiconductor layer, a second conductive-type semiconductor layer and an active layer interposed between the first conductive-type semiconductor layer and the second conductive-type semiconductor layer, a first electrode layer electrically connected to the first conductive-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode layer disposed on the second conductive-type semiconductor layer, wherein the second electrode layer includes a plurality of adhesive seeds spaced from one another on the light emitting structure, a reflective layer disposed on the plurality of adhesive seeds, and a protective layer disposed on the reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer contains silver (Ag) or an Ag alloy. As a result, it is possible to improve light reflectance and electrical properties of the electrode layer of the light emitting device and reliability of the electrode layer.
US08581226B2 Nonvolatile memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a word line interconnect layer, a bit line interconnect layer, and a pillar. The word line interconnect layer includes a plurality of word lines extending in a first direction. The bit line interconnect layer includes a plurality of bit lines extending in a second direction. The pillar is disposed between each of the word lines and each of the bit lines. The pillar includes a current selection film and a plurality of variable resistance films stacked on the current selection film. One variable resistance film includes a metal and either oxygen or nitrogen. Remainder of the variable resistance films include the metal, either oxygen or nitrogen, and a highly electronegative substance having electronegativity higher than electronegativity of the metal. A concentration of highly electronegative substance in the remainder of the variable resistance films is different among the variable resistance films.
US08581225B2 Variable resistance nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A manufacturing method includes forming, on a substrate, lower layer copper lines each being shaped into a strip, forming electrode seed layers each being shaped into a strip, on the respective lower layer copper lines using electroless plating, forming an interlayer insulating layer above the electrode seed layers, forming, in the interlayer insulating layer, memory cell holes, penetrating through the interlayer insulating layer and extending to the electrode seed layers, forming noble metal electrode layers on the electrode seed layers exposed in the respective memory cell holes using the electroless plating, forming, in the respective memory cell holes, variable resistance layers connected to the noble electrode layers, and forming, above the interlayer insulating layer and the variable resistance layers, upper layer copper lines each being shaped into a strip, connected to a corresponding one of the variable resistance layers, and crossing the lower layer copper lines.
US08581224B2 Memory cells
Some embodiments include memory cells which contain, in order; a first electrode material, a first metal oxide material, a second metal oxide material, and a second electrode material. The first metal oxide material has at least two regions which differ in oxygen concentration relative to one another. One of the regions is a first region and another is a second region. The first region is closer to the first electrode material than the second region, and has a greater oxygen concentration than the second region. The second metal oxide material includes a different metal than the first metal oxide material. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which oxygen is substantially irreversibly transferred from a region of a metal oxide material to an oxygen-sink material. The oxygen transfer creates a difference in oxygen concentration within one region of the metal oxide material relative to another.
US08581221B2 Image information detecting apparatus
An image information detecting apparatus with an image information detecting unit that receives recording light representing image information, and records the image information by storing electric charges generated in the unit by the recording light. The apparatus further includes a wireless communication means operable for transmission to an external device; a wire communication means operable for transmission to the external device through a detachable communication cable; a wire transmission setting means for setting the wire communication means operable for transmission; and a wireless transmission prohibiting means. The wireless transmission prohibiting means prohibits wireless transmission from the wireless communication means when the wire communication means is set operable for transmission by the wire transmission setting means.
US08581219B2 Composite charged-particle-beam apparatus
There is provided a technology which allows SEM observation in real time without deteriorating the processing efficiency in FIB processing. In the present invention, a composite charged-particle-beam apparatus having a FIB column and a SEM column includes an SE3 detector which detects secondary electrons (referred to as tertiary electrons in this specification) discharged when back-scattered electrons generated by irradiating a sample with an electron beam collide with structures in a sample chamber. With use of the tertiary electrons, a SEM image is generated, and based on the SEM image, an ion beam processing state can be observed.
US08581217B2 Method for monitoring ion implantation
A method capable of monitoring ion implantation. First, an ion beam and a workpiece are provided. Next, implant the workpiece by the ion beam and generate a profile having numerous signals relevant to respectively numerous relative positions between the ion beam and the workpiece, wherein the profile has at least a higher portion, a gradual portion and a lower portion. Therefore, by directly analyzing the profile without referring to a pre-determined profile and without using a profiler measuring the ion beam, some ion beam information may be acquired, such as beam height, beam width, ion beam current distribution on the ion beam cross-section, and so on, and the ion implantation may be monitored real-timely. Furthermore, when numerous workpieces are implanted in sequence, the profile(s) of one or more initially implanted workpiece(s) may be to generate a reference for calibrating the ion implantation of the following workpieces.
US08581214B2 Staff dose awareness indication
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a dose awareness indication device is provided in which an individual dose is determined on the basis of raw dose measuring data, dose sensor and information data from an examination apparatus, wherein the information data from the examination apparatus relates to the type of examination. Thus, an individualized determination of dose data may be provided, depending on the actual examination process.
US08581212B2 Portable UV monitoring device
The monitoring of UV radiation has received increased attention recently due to the hazards of accelerated skin ageing and even cancer following excessive exposure. Personalized monitoring gives a more accurate reading than crude weather forecasts of the ‘UV index’. This invention answers both these needs in a personal UV monitor that is incorporated into an existing display. Minimal processing changes are made to an existing display in order to achieve this added functionality, which is therefore achieved at little additional cost.
US08581209B2 Fluorescent monitoring of microcapsule oxidation
The present disclosure relates to microcapsules that include a shell material and a core material. The core material of the microcapsules contains an environmentally sensitive luminescent colorant which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics capable of changing upon exposure to a given environment, and a luminescent standard which exhibits characteristics of an emitted wavelength bandwidth, a peak intensity for emission and a time for luminescence decay, one or more of the characteristics do not change upon exposure to said given environment.
US08581205B2 Transmission electron microscope micro-grid
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid includes a grid and a carbon nanotube composite film covered thereon. The carbon nanotube composite film includes a carbon nanotube film and a layer of nano-materials coated thereon. The carbon nanotube composite film covers a surface of the grid. The nano-material layer is coated on a surface of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
US08581200B2 Radiation detector with multiple electrodes on a sensitive layer
The invention relates to a radiation detector (200), particularly an X-ray detector, which comprises at least one sensitive layer (212) for the conversion of incident photons (X) into electrical signals. A two-dimensional array of electrodes (213) is located on the front side of the sensitive layer (212), while its back side carries a counter-electrode (211). The size of the electrodes (213) may vary in radiation direction (y) for adapting the counting workload of the electrodes. Moreover, the position of the electrodes (213) with respect to the radiation direction (y) provides information about the energy of the detected photons (X).
US08581192B2 Pyroelectric detector and method for manufacturing same, pyroelectric detection device, and electronic instrument
A pyroelectric detector includes a pyroelectric detection element, a support member, a fixing part and a first reducing gas barrier layer. A first side of the support member faces a cavity and the pyroelectric detection element is mounted and supported on a second side opposite from the first side. An opening part communicated with the cavity is formed on a periphery of the support member in plan view from the second side of the support member. The fixing part supports the support member. The first reducing gas barrier layer covers a first surface of the support member on the first side, a side surface of the support member facing the opening part, and a part of a second surface of the support member on the second side and the pyroelectric detection element exposed as viewed from the second side of the support member.
US08581190B2 Charged particle beam apparatus and geometrical aberration measurement method therefor
Disclosed is a scanning charged particle microscope provided with an aberration measuring means that measures high-order geometrical aberration at high precision and high speed. An image obtained by a single-hole aperture and an image obtained by a multiple-hole aperture arranged in a region larger than that for the single-hole aperture are deconvoluted, an aberration quantity is determined based on the profiles of beams tilted in a plurality of directions and the obtained quantity is fed back to an aberration corrector.
US08581187B2 Method for measuring sample and measurement device
An amount of displacement and an overlapping area between first and second patterns formed through a double patterning lithography process can be determined. The first pattern is formed by a first exposure while the second pattern is formed by a later second exposure. A first image of the first pattern is formed prior to the formation of the second pattern. A second image of both patterns is formed after the formation of the second pattern. A two-step matching process between combined information and images of the first and second patterns is performed. The combined information includes information regarding the first pattern, as formed, combined with design information of the second pattern. Based on a moving amount of the design information of the second pattern, a displacement amount between the first and second patterns is determined.
US08581179B2 Protein sequencing with MALDI mass spectrometry
In a mass spectrometer, sample ions are produced by using matrix assisted laser desorption with a matrix substance that supports spontaneous, non-ergodic ISD fragmentation and a laser light source with nanosecond light pulses and a multiple spot beam profile. A plurality of individual time-of-flight spectra are recorded from the resulting ions in such a way that amplification of ion signals in the mass spectrometer detector is initially reduced so that only ions with masses near a mass range limit are initially recorded. During the repeated acquisitions of the individual time-of-flight spectra, both the detector amplification and the mass range limit are increased. By these methods, it is possible to evaluate c and z fragment ions in lower mass ranges and to directly read N-terminal sequences from near terminus up to 80 amino acids and beyond, and C-terminal sequences up to more than 60 amino acids.
US08581176B2 Method for high efficiency tandem mass spectrometry
A system and method for performing MS/MS of everything are provided. Ionisable materials separated in order of molecular weight in a plurality of mass ranges are received at a mass spectrometer system in a given order in time, each mass range comprising a respective center mass value and a respective width. The ionisable materials are ionised in the given order that each of the plurality of mass ranges are received, to form respective precursor ions in a respective given mass range. The respective precursor ions are filtered via a mass filter module, a mass scan range of the mass filter module synchronized with the given order in which each of the plurality of mass ranges are received. The respective precursor ions are fragmented, via a fragmentation module, to form respective product ions. The respective product ions are analyzed in a mass spectrometer module to produce product ion spectra.
US08581174B2 Image sensor with prismatic de-multiplexing
An image sensor includes a first imaging pixel for a first color having a photosensitive region disposed within a substrate of the image sensor and a second imaging pixel for a second color that is different from the first color having a photosensitive region disposed within the substrate. A refraction element disposed adjacent to the substrate, so that the refraction element refracts light of the first color to the photosensitive region of the first imaging pixel and refracts light of the second color to the photosensitive region of the second imaging pixel.
US08581172B2 High-speed analog photon counter and method
A high speed analog photon counter and method is provided. In one aspect, the method includes delivering an electric charge to a circuit of the high speed analog photon counter through a current source of the circuit. The method also includes accumulating the electric charge in a capacitor of the circuit electrically coupled to the current source. The method further includes comparing the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor of the circuit with a reference voltage through a comparator of the circuit electrically coupled to an output of the capacitor. The output of the capacitor of the circuit is coupled to an input of the comparator of the circuit, and the reference voltage is coupled to another input of the comparator of the circuit. The method furthermore includes resetting the capacitor of the circuit when the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor of the circuit matches the reference voltage.
US08581171B2 Cyclic A/D converter, image sensor device, and method for generating digital signal from analog signal
A cyclic A/D converter which can reduce the number of reference voltages for D/A conversion is provided. The cyclic A/D converter (11) comprises a gain stage (15), an A/D converter circuit (17), a logic circuit (19), and a D/A converter circuit (21). In an operational action of the gain stage (15), an operational value (VOP) is generated by the use of an operational amplifier circuit (23) and capacitors (25, 27, 29). The gain stage (15) operates as receiving three kinds of voltage signal from the D/A converter circuit (21) by the switching of two kinds of voltage signal (VDA1, VDA2) to be applied to the capacitors (25, 27) in a switching circuit (31). That is, the D/A converter circuit (21) provides a voltage signal (VRH) to the capacitors (25, 27), in response to a value (D=2) of a digital signal (B0, B1), provides voltage signals (VRH, VRL) to the capacitors (25, 27), respectively, in response to a value (D=1) of the signal (B0, B1), and provides the voltage signal (VRL) to the capacitors (25, 27), in response to a value (D=0) of the signal (B0, B1).
US08581170B2 Semiconductor device having a photodiode electrically connected to a back gate of a transistor and driving method thereof
A transistor a gate of which, one of a source and a drain of which, and the other are electrically connected to a selection signal line, an output signal line, and a reference signal line, respectively and a photodiode one of an anode and a cathode of which and the other are electrically connected to a reset signal line and a back gate of the transistor, respectively are included. The photodiode is forward biased to initialize the back-gate potential of the transistor, the back-gate potential is changed by current of the inversely-biased photodiode flowing in an inverse direction in accordance with the light intensity, and the transistor is turned on to change the potential of the output signal line, so that a signal in accordance with the intensity is obtained.
US08581168B2 Dual well read-out integrated circuit (ROIC)
A single camera capable of capturing high speed laser return pulses for a target, as well as provide imaging information on the background of the target. This capability is enabled by having a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) capable of extracting both types of information from a pixel of a focal plane array (FPA). Further, an ROIC topology that allows for the ability to distinguish between high frequency and low frequency signal paths, and provide supporting circuitry to process the two paths separately. One path may integrate the low frequency background scene to provide a high fidelity image of the scene. The second path may process high frequency noise and multiple laser pulse returns within a frame. These two paths may be combined to provide a background image with a superimposed laser return.
US08581160B1 Gyroscopic stabilizer
A gyroscopic stabilizer has a ring mounted at a missile rocket nozzle exit for rotation about the exit. The ring bears vanes extended inwardly into gases exiting from the nozzle and configured for rotation by the exiting gases so that the rotating mass of the ring gyroscopically stabilizes the missile. The ring may be mounted by a bearing having rolling elements or sliding surfaces. The axial length of the ring may be substantially less than its diameter. The ring has a low moment of inertia and is accelerated to stabilizing speed by vanes minimally impeding the exiting gases. When the stabilizer is used on a rocket propelled missile launched from a tube, the missile is fully stabilized in the tube before burnout and there is no rotational friction between the tube and the missile.
US08581156B2 Apparatus with heating part
An apparatus has a chassis has a chassis inner face and a chassis outer face, at least one heating part accommodated in the chassis, wherein at least a portion of the heating part faces the chassis inner face with an internal space therebetween, and a film having a first face and a second face bonded to at least a portion of the heating part facing the chassis inner face. The chassis outer face is located on a side opposite the chassis inner face portion and in contact with an external space and having a radiation film interposed therebetween. The film includes a convex part, a concave part, or a repeated pattern of convex and concave parts in the first face or the second face. At least one of the first face and the second face is in contact with the internal space.
US08581154B2 Method for effectuating temperature control in roller grills
The present invention provides a method for effectuating temperature control in roller grill assembly. Some embodiments provide a roller grill assembly which provides enhanced measurement by utilizing temperature probes located in convective air streams generated in the roller tube. Certain embodiments also provide an improved method for maintaining of a food product temperature by utilizing an intermediate holding mode. Finally, certain embodiments provide improved current control by limiting the number of heating circuits of a food heater that may be simultaneously enabled such that the current draw does not exceed a maximum current draw.
US08581149B2 Exothermic welding assembly
An assembly is disclosed for exothermic welding comprising a mold which is formed of a material which withstands exothermic welding temperatures and includes a weld cavity therein for positioning at least two members which are to be exothermically welded together, and an ignition cavity communicating with the weld cavity. The mold is capable of accommodating any one of several exothermic welding procedures which may involve either a flint igniter or the use of an electrical igniter which is readily accommodated by the mold in the performance of several of the procedures. The electrical igniter is formed of a pair of flat, longitudinally extending conductor strips with a sheet of insulation laminated therebetween, a filament adjacent one end of the strips, and one or more positioning tabs adjacent one end of the strips. A cartridge is also provided which contains the weld metal and the electrical igniter and which may be positioned in the ignition cavity of the mold. The cartridge is formed of a material which is consumed during the welding procedure and may contain a plate of a different material adjacent its bottom which melts at a higher temperature than the materials of the cartridge.
US08581147B2 Three stage power source for electric ARC welding
A three stage power source for an electric arc welding process comprising an input stage having an AC input and a first DC output signal; a second stage in the form of an unregulated DC to DC converter having an input connected to the first DC output signal, a network of switches switched at a high frequency with a given duty cycle to convert the input into a first internal AC signal, an isolation transformer with a primary winding driven by the first internal high frequency AC signal and a secondary winding for creating a second internal high frequency AC signal and a rectifier to convert the second internal AC signal into a second DC output signal of the second stage, with a magnitude related to the duty cycle of the switches; and, a third stage to convert the second DC output signal to a welding output for welding wherein the input stage has a regulated DC to DC converter with a boost power switch having an active soft switching circuit.
US08581146B2 Automatic wire feeding system
An apparatus and method for feeding welding wire, where the apparatus contains a wire feeding device which pays out a wire and a power source which provides a current and voltage to the wire while it is being paid out. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit which detects a short circuit in the wire when the wire makes contact with a work piece or the like, and upon detection of the short circuit the wire feeding device stops feeding the wire so that a desired stick out distance is achieved.
US08581145B2 System and method for tracking welding-type parameters, machine setup and job packet coding for workflow
A system and method for identifying, recording, and storing specific settings for an interface device of a welding-type system includes a bezel forming a marking surface that extends about a portion of a periphery of the interface device to display user markings and allow the markings to be selectively erased. The marking surface may be designed to receive color-coded markers that engage the marking surface through suction, magnetism, or peg-and-receptacle couplings to indicate desired settings of the interface device to perform a specific welding-type process. Additionally, if the interface device is a dial, a pointer may be coupled with the dial that is movable independently from the dial to indicate a desired dial setting.
US08581141B2 Laser machining apparatus using laser beam introduced into jet liquid column
A laser machining apparatus comprising jet liquid, a laser beam, and a laminar flow forming channel for supplying jet liquid to a nozzle. The channel includes a distribution channel formed by a cavity, an interconnecting channel disposed to communicate with said channel downstream in an axial direction of the nozzle and formed by an annular cavity around the axis of the nozzle to provide a narrower flow passage, and a liquid reservoir chamber. Said chamber has an outer peripheral edge communicating with the interconnecting channel over an entire circumference of the annular shape. An outer peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the chamber form a continuous surface and an inner peripheral wall surface and an inner peripheral surface of the channel are both formed as an inclined inward surface that is downstream, the inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral wall surface forming a planar continuous surface.
US08581137B2 Method for operating a heating device of an electric heating appliance having a plurality of heating devices
In an operating method for a hob having a plurality of heating elements, an operating action for a heating element, such as heating with an additional region on the cooktop or invoking a parboiling step, is selected in an initial step by providing input to a general input sensor element that is not associated with any specific heating element. In a subsequent step, the selected operating action is allocated or associated with a specific heating element by operating a cooking element specific sensor element, for example when setting the power level for that heating element. Therefore, sensor elements can be provided with an advantageous multiple-use effect for general operating actions. Furthermore, the operating sequence permits simple and convenient operation.
US08581134B2 Method and apparatus for dry granulation
The invention provides, inter alia, a method for producing granules from a powder, characterized in that compaction force is applied to the powder to produce a compacted mass comprising a mixture of fine particles and granules and separating and removing fine particles and/or small granules from the other granules by entraining the fine particles and/or small granules in a gas stream. Also provided are apparatus for use in the process and tablets formed by compression of the resultant granules.
US08581133B2 Operator control apparatus of an electronic domestic appliance and method of producing the operator control apparatus
An operator control apparatus of an electronic domestic appliance contains an operator control panel on that side of the operator control apparatus which faces a user, at least one electrically conductive sensor element on that side of the operator control panel which is averted from the user, and a printed circuit board with at least one electrically conductive contact area which is arranged on that side of the printed circuit board which faces the operator control panel so as to be associated with the at least one sensor element. In this case, the at least one sensor element and the at least one contact area of the printed circuit board are connected to one another by an adhesive which is electrically conductive at least in the connection direction.
US08581127B2 Key structure with scissors-type connecting member
A key structure includes a keycap, a scissors-type connecting element, a membrane module, a light-emitting element and a base plate. The light-emitting element is used for emitting light beams. The keycap has a protrusion structure for blocking the light beams and preventing the light beams from leaking out through the gap between said keycap and said base plate. The base plate has a slot corresponding to the protrusion structure. When the keycap is depressed, the membrane module is pressed by the protrusion structure to be subject to deformation, so that a deformed part of the membrane module is inserted into the slot of the base plate. In such way, the hand feel of depressing the keycap is not adversely affected.
US08581126B1 Integrated automotive horn/light apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for simultaneously operating the horn and light systems of a motorized vehicle is provided. The controller used to operate the systems can be a single controller that operates the horn when a certain range of pressure is applied to the controller and operates the horn and lights systems when a stronger pressure is applied. The system can include a dedicated horn operating system controller independent of the dual function controller to eliminate the need for differing pressures to operate the horn and light systems substantially simultaneously. Also disclosed are apparatuses and methods to coordinate a vehicle braking system with the vehicle horn and light systems to improve the reception of safety and/or emergency warnings.
US08581124B2 Terminal device
A terminal device includes a first housing, a key attached to a cut portion in a corner of the first housing, a key support portion configured to support the key, the key support portion including a shaft portion having a rotation axis on a side of a side face of the corner and attached to a bearing portion provided in the first housing and a peripheral edge portion caught by a peripheral edge of the cut portion, a transmitting portion configured to transmit a predetermined pressing force to a switch provided on the substrate via the key support portion when the predetermined pressing force is applied to the key in a rotation direction determined by the rotation axis, and a second housing combined with the first housing to which the key and the key support portion are attached so as to store the transmitting portion, the substrate, and the switch.
US08581122B2 Feed bin monitoring system and method
A bin monitoring system functions both as a device for lifting the bin and as a weighing system for monitoring or measuring the level of feed in a feed bin. Various embodiments having a suspended load cell and methods of retrofitting the bin monitoring system to existing bins are provided. Further, the accuracy provided by various embodiments enables one to accurately predict when the feed bin will be empty. Thus, the feed mill can be aware of anticipated needs days in advance, allowing the feed mill to better optimize its scheduling and deliveries.
US08581114B2 Packaged structure having magnetic component and method thereof
A packaged structure having a magnetic component and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The packaged structure includes an insulating substrate having a ring-typed recess, an island portion and a surrounding portion defined by the ring-typed recess, wherein the ring-typed recess is laterally between the island portion and the surrounding portion. The packaged structure further includes a ring-typed magnetic component placed in the ring-typed recess; an upper wiring layer above the insulating substrate and a lower wiring layer under the insulating substrate; an inner plated through hole vertically passing through the island portion and connecting the upper wiring layer and the lower wiring layer; an outer plated through hole vertically passing through the surrounding portion and connecting the upper wiring layer and the lower wiring layer, wherein the inner plated through hole, the outer plated through hole, the upper wiring layer and the lower wiring layer form a coil of wire surrounding the ring-typed magnetic component.
US08581113B2 Low cost high frequency device package and methods
A low-cost high-frequency electronic device package and associated fabrication method are described wherein waveguide structures are formed from the high frequency device to the package lead transition. The package lead transition is optimized to take advantage of waveguide interconnect structure.
US08581111B2 Mounting structure
A mounting structure includes an electronic component mounted on a circuit board. Land electrodes are disposed on a board body and are connected to outer electrodes of the electronic component through solders, respectively. A distance from each of the land electrodes to a top of the corresponding solder is not larger than about 1.27 times a distance from each of the land electrodes to an exposed portion of a capacitor conductor exposed at an end surface of the electronic component, the capacitor conductor being positioned closest to the circuit board.
US08581109B2 Method for manufacturing a circuit board structure
The present publication discloses a method for manufacturing a circuit-board structure. In the method, a conductor layer is made, which comprises a conductor foil and a conductor pattern on the surface of the conductor foil. A component is attached to the conductor layer and at least some conductor material of the conductor layer is removed from outside the conductor pattern.
US08581107B2 Halogen-free flame-retardant epoxy resin composition, and prepreg and printed circuit board using the same
Disclosed is a halogen-free flame-retardant epoxy resin composition for printed circuit board, which includes (A) a halogen-free epoxy resin; (B) a copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride used as a first curing agent; (C) poly(1,3-phenylene methylphosphonate) used as a second curing agent; (D) a curing accelerator; and (E) an inorganic filler.
US08581106B2 Submount
A submount with an electrode layer having excellent wettability in soldering and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A submount (1) for having a semiconductor device mounted thereon comprises a submount substrate (2), a substrate protective layer (3) formed on a surface of the submount substrate (2), an electrode layer (4) formed on the substrate protective layer (3) and a solder layer (5) formed on the electrode layer (3) wherein the electrode layer (4) is made having an average surface roughness of less than 1 μm. The reduced average surface roughness of the electrode layer (4) improves wettability of the solder layer (5), allowing the solder layer (5) and a semiconductor device to be firmly bonded together without any flux therebetween. A submount (1) is thus obtained which with the semiconductor device mounted thereon is reduced in heat resistance, reducing its temperature rise and improving its performance and service life.
US08581104B2 Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes an insulation layer containing a resin and a silica-type filler and having a roughened surface, and a conductive layer formed on the roughened surface of the insulation layer and having a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion positioned adjacent to the first conductive portion. The roughened surface of the insulation layer has a roughness under the first conductive portion, a roughness under the second conductive portion, and a roughness between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and the roughness between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion is set less than at least one of the roughness under the first conductive portion and the roughness under the second conductive portion.
US08581103B2 Parts made of electrostructural composite material
A ridge structural part made of laminated composite material incorporates electrically conducting cables, the structural part includes at least two structural layers including fibers held in place by a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix, at least one conducting network layer located between two of the at least two structural layer, the at least one conducting network layer including a network of electrically conducting cables, said electrically conducting cables being arranged throughout said structural part in a substantially regular manner and being electrically insulated from said two structural layers by a dielectric material. The structural part also includes electrical connections, to which electrically conducting cables of the at least one network layer are electrically connected so as to form an electrical network by assembling several structural parts.
US08581100B2 Manufacturing method and cover for electronic device
A cover for an electronic device includes a display window and a cover body injection molded with the display window. The display window includes a window body and at least one protruding portion projecting form the window body. The cover body includes a cover wall and ribs. The window body includes a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface connecting the front surface and the rear surface. The at least one protruding portion is fixed on the peripheral surface and embedded between the cover wall and the ribs.
US08581099B2 Photovoltaic junction box
A photovoltaic junction box includes a housing, a circuit board received in the housing, a plurality of metal brackets, and a plurality of bypass diodes. The plurality of metal brackets are secured to the circuit board, each of the plurality of metal brackets defines a receiving space receiving a spring sheet. The plurality of bypass diodes are respectively secured to the plurality of metal brackets and electrically connected to the circuit board. Each of a plurality of ribbons is clamped between the spring sheet and a corresponding metal bracket, and the ribbon directly and electrically contacts the corresponding metal bracket.
US08581092B2 Tandem solar cell and method of manufacturing same
A tandem solar cell includes: a substrate; a front electrode disposed on the substrate; a back electrode disposed opposite to the front electrode on the substrate; a first cell disposed below the front electrode and including a first buffer layer and a first light absorption layer; and a second cell disposed above the back electrode and including a second light absorption layer and a second buffer layer. The first light absorption layer includes a CuGaSeS layer and a CuGaSe layer, and the second light absorption layer includes a semiconductor compound selected from the group consisting of CuInSe2, CuInGaSe2, CuInSeS, CuInGaSeS and any combinations thereof. The CuGaSeS layer of the first light absorption layer is disposed closer than the CuGaSe layer of the first light absorption layer to the front electrode.
US08581091B2 Serial circuit of solar cells with integrated semiconductor bodies, corresponding method for production and module with serial connection
The invention relates to a method for production of a serial circuit of solar cells with integrated semiconductor bodies, a serial circuit produced thus and photovoltaic modules, comprising at last one serial circuit. The invention is characterized in that conducting bodies (20) and semiconducting bodies (30) are applied to an insulating support layer, according to a pattern, whereby said pattern provides at least one dividing line (21) of conducting bodies. The regions adjacent to the conducting bodies are provided with spherical or particle-shaped semiconducting bodies (30). Parts of the semiconductor bodies are removed and the support layer coated on the side with a back contact layer (50). The back contact layer of a semiconducting body is thus exposed, for example, and brought into contact with the back contact layer (50) of the solar cell. The other side of the support layer (10) is provided with a front contact layer. By the introduction of two separating layers along a row of conducting bodies, the flow of current from the solar cells produced with the integrated semiconductor bodies can run such that the cell regions between the conducting body rows are connected in series. Individual series circuits can be connected to each other in the manner of tiles, such that each back contact is connected to a front contact.
US08581089B2 Module having a plurality of thermoelectric elements
A module having a plurality of thermoelectric elements electrically connected in series, each being made of at least one n-layer and at least one p-layer made of thermoelectric material with a pn-transition implemented along a boundary layer. A temperature gradient parallel to the boundary layer between a hot and a cold side of each thermoelectric element can be applied or detected. Resistances of the electrical contacts of the individual thermoelectric elements are reduced and the thermal connection to a heat sink or heat source is improved for generating a temperature gradient along the boundary layer. The substrate and the thermoelectric elements are produced in separate processes, and the thermoelectric elements are adhered to previously structured, thermally and electrically conductive regions of the substrate using different adhesives for the cold and hot side of each thermoelectric element.
US08581083B2 Stringed instrument practice device
The present invention extends to handheld practice devices for practicing to play stringed instruments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a practice device that may assist a user in learning how to properly finger and play a stringed musical instrument. A user can hold an elongate handle and place one or more of his or her fingers on strings to practice fingerings that are used to play chords/notes. Real instrument strings can be used, helping to strengthen a user's fingertips and get the fingertips accustomed to holding/pinching the instrument strings. Further, the stringed instrument practice device can be portable and sized to fit within the user's hand. Accordingly, a user can realize advantages of the invention and utilize practice methods while the user is “on the go,” riding on a bus, watching television, waiting in line, etc.
US08581079B2 Maize variety X4S790
A novel maize variety designated X4S790 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 maize variety X4S790 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X4S790 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X4S790, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X4S790. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X4S790 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US08581078B2 Sweet corn hybrid SEB6SH1102 and parents thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of sweet corn hybrid SEB6SH1102 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of sweet corn hybrid SEB6SH1102 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a sweet corn plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another sweet corn 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 parts of such plants.
US08581075B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV497880
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV497880. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV497880, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV497880 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 CV497880 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 CV497880.
US08581071B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV240831
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV240831. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV240831, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV240831 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 CV240831 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 CV240831.
US08581070B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV368215
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV368215. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV368215, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV368215 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 CV368215 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 CV368215.
US08581068B1 Maize variety hybrid X18B721
A novel maize variety designated X18B721 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 X18B721 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18B721 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18B721, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18B721. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18B721.
US08581064B1 aize variety inbred PH18MF
A novel maize variety designated PH18MF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18MF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18MF 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 PH18MF or a locus conversion of PH18MF with another maize variety.
US08581061B1 Inbred corn line 1AA001
An inbred corn line, designated 1AA001, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line 1AA001, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line 1AA001 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line 1AA001 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 1AA001, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 1AA001 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US08581059B2 Tomato line FDR 14-2098
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid EX15567631 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid EX15567631 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.
US08581052B1 Soybean variety XB35F12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB35F12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB35F12, cells from soybean variety XB35F12, plants of soybean XB35F12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB35F12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB35F12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB35F12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB35F12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB35F12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB35F12 are further provided.
US08581051B2 Soybean variety XB07D12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB07D12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB07D12, cells from soybean variety XB07D12, plants of soybean XB07D12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB07D12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB07D12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB07D12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB07D12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB07D12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB07D12 are further provided.
US08581050B2 Soybean variety XBO6F12
A novel soybean variety, designated XB06F12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB06F12, cells from soybean variety XB06F12, plants of soybean XB06F12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB06F12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB06F12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB06F12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB06F12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB06F12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB06F12 are further provided.
US08581049B1 Maize variety hybrid X08B802
A novel maize variety designated X08B802 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 X08B802 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B802 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B802, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B802. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B802.
US08581043B2 Nicotiana nucleic acid molecules and uses thereof
The present invention features Nicotiana nucleic acid sequences such as sequences encoding constitutive, or ethylene or senescence induced polypeptides, in particular cytochrome p450 enzymes, in Nicotiana plants and methods for using these nucleic acid sequences and plants to alter desirable traits, for example by using breeding protocols.
US08581037B2 Promotion of somatic embryogenesis in plants by Wuschel gene expression
The present invention relates to methods for promoting somatic embryogenesis from a tissue or organ of a plant, by overexpressing a Wuschel gene in said tissue or organ. In one embodiment, such overexpression can be used as a silent selectable marker for transgenic plants. In another embodiment, such expression can be used to confer apomixis to a plant. In another embodiment, such overexpression can be used to create haploid plants, which can be used to produce dihaploid plants.
US08581036B2 Plant peptide gamma-zein for delivery of biomolecules into plant cells
A method of introducing a molecule of interest into a plant cell having a cell wall includes interacting a gamma-zein peptide with a molecule of interest to form a gamma-zein linked structure. The gamma-zein linked structure is then placed in contact with the plant cell having a cell wall, and allowing uptake of the gamma-zein linked structure into the plant cell. Alternatively, a gene of interest can be expressed in a plant cell having an intact cell wall by interacting a gamma-zein peptide with the gene of interest to form a gamma-zein linked gene structure, allowing uptake of the gamma-zein linked gene structure into the plant cell, and expressing the gene of interest in the plant cell and its progeny.
US08581035B2 Plant transformation without selection
The invention provides methods for identifying regenerated transformed plants and differentiated transformed plant parts, obtained without subjecting plant cells to selective conditions prior to regenerating the cells to obtain differentiated tissues. In particular embodiments, the plant cells are corn plant cells. Methods for growing and handling plants, including identifying plants that demonstrate specific traits of interest are also provided.
US08581032B1 Maize variety inbred PH13FW
A novel maize variety designated PH13FW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13FW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13FW 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 PH13FW or a locus conversion of PH13FW with another maize variety.
US08581030B1 Maize variety hybrid X03B437
A novel maize variety designated X03B437 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 X03B437 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03B437 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03B437, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03B437. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03B437.
US08581018B2 Absorber comprising pulp, tea dregs and water absorbent resin; sanitary articles using the absorber and production method thereof
An absorber wherein crushed tea leaves having a particle size of 0.05 to 4.6 mm are dispersed and held within a pulp fiber material having a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, for water-absorbing, drying, and odor-eliminating with good visual quality, and maintaining sanitary conditions, and sanitary articles using the absorber. An upper water-absorbing paper layer portion forms an upper surface, a lower water-absorbing paper layer portion forms a lower surface, and a water-absorbing mixture layer portion is provided between the upper water-absorbing paper layer portion. The layer portions are overlapped and integrated forming the absorber. The water-absorbing mixture layer portion is formed by including a crushed pulp fiber material beaten to have a fiber length of 0.1 to 7 mm, and crushed tea dregs having a particle size of 0.7 to 3.8 mm in mixing content percentage of 14 to 43% by weight.
US08581016B2 Process for producing alkylated aromatic compound and process for producing phenol
The present invention provides an industrially practical process where a ketone and an aromatic compound are directly reacted to obtain a corresponding alkylated aromatic compound in a single reaction step. The process for producing an alkylated aromatic compound is characterized in that it comprises reacting an aromatic compound, a ketone and hydrogen in the presence of a solid acid substance and a catalyst composition comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Re, Ni and a platinum group metal.
US08581010B2 Formation of ethanol from methanol
A process is disclosed for the production of ethanol from methanol whereby methanol is condensed in the gas phase over a heterogeneous catalyst to produce ethanol and water.
US08581009B2 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1, 1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid salt and method for producing the same
By using an organic base when a carboxylic acid bromodifluoroethyl ester is sulfinated by using a sulfinating agent, there is obtained 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1,1-difluoroethanesulfinic acid ammonium salt. By oxidizing the 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1,1-difluoroethanesulfinic acid ammonium salt, there is obtained 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid ammonium salt. By using the 2-(alkylcarbonyloxy)-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid ammonium salt as a raw material and exchanging it into an onium salt directly or through saponification/esterification, there can be obtained a 2-alkylcarbonyloxy-1,1-difluoroethanesulfonic acid onium salt.
US08581008B2 Process for preparing α,β-unsaturated C10-aldehydes
The invention relates to a method for continuously producing α,β-unsaturated C10-aldehydes from aliphatic C5-aldehydes, comprising the following steps: aldol-condensing aliphatic C5-aldehydes into α,β-unsaturated C10-aldehydes in the presence of an aqueous base in a tube reactor; phase separating the output of the tube reactor into an aqueous catalyst phase and an organic product phase; separating the organic product phase into α,β-unsaturated C10-aldehydes, aliphatic C5-aldehydes, and auxiliary products; discharging a part of the aqueous catalyst phase to remove the reaction water and supplementing said part with liquor solution and subsequently returning said part to the tube reactor. The task of the invention is to improve a method of said kind in a way such that it requires lower energy input. This is achieved in that the aliphatic C5-aldehydes and/or the α,β-unsaturated C10-aldehydes are dispersed in the aqueous base as drops, wherein the average Sauter diameter of the drops is between 0.2 mm and 2 mm.
US08581002B2 Process for working up diacetone acrylamide solutions for the preparation of pure diacetone acrylamide
Improved process for working up diacetone acrylamide solutions, obtained by reaction of acetone or diacetone alcohol with acrylonitrile and sulfuric acid and subsequent dilution and neutralization, in which a) the organic phase obtained subsequent to the neutralization, which comprises the crude diacetone acrylamide, is hydrolyzed by addition of an aqueous alkaline solution in order to remove acrylamide, then b) after phase separation has been carried out, the organic phase, which comprises the crude diacetone acrylamide, is neutralized by addition of an acid, and c) in succession, low-boiling-point byproducts are removed by distillation in the presence of one or more polymerization inhibitors, then t-butylacrylamide is removed by distillation and, finally, the diacetone acrylamide is isolated by product distillation, and d) the diacetone acrylamide thus obtained is converted into its final form.
US08581000B2 Process for preparing amide gellant compounds with aromatic end groups
Disclosed is a process for preparing a compound of the formula wherein R1 and R1′, R2 and R2′, and R3 are as defined herein, said process comprising (I) reacting a diacid of the formula HOOC—R2—COOH with a diamine of the formula H2N—R3—NH2 to form an acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate of the formula HOOC—R2—CONH—R3—HNCO—R2′—COOH; and (II) reacting the acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate with a monoalcohol of the formula R1—OH in the presence of a tin or organic titanate catalyst, in the absence of a coupling agent, and in the absence of a solvent to form the product. Also disclosed is a composition prepared by the process.
US08580998B2 Preparation of alkenes by mild thermolysis of sulfoxides
Embodiments of this disclosure, among others, encompass methods for generating alkenes under mild thermolytic conditions that can provide almost total conversion of a precursor compound to an alkene without isomerization or the need to chromatographically purify the final product By selectively blocking the amino and carboxy groups of the derivatized amino acid, the methods of the disclosure provide for the synthesis of a peptide having the vinylglycine moiety at either the carboxy or the amino terminus of the peptide The mild conditions for the thermolytic removal of an o-NO2-phenyl substituted aryl group ensure that there is minimal if any damage to thermally sensitive conjugates such as a peptide bearing the vinylglycine The methods of the present disclosure have practical applications for the preparation of unsaturated compounds under mild, thermolytic conditions.
US08580993B2 Amino vinylsilane precursors for stressed SiN films
The present invention is a method to increase the intrinsic compressive stress in plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) silicon nitride (SiN) and silicon carbonitride (SiCN) thin films, comprising depositing the film from an amino vinylsilane-based precursor. More specifically the present invention uses the amino vinylsilane-based precursor selected from the formula: [RR1N]xSiR3y(R2)z, where x+y+z=4, x=1-3, y=0-2, and z=1-3; R, R1 and R3 can be hydrogen, C1 to C10 alkane, alkene, or C4 to C12 aromatic; each R2 is a vinyl, allyl or vinyl-containing functional group.
US08580986B2 Process for the production of fatty acid alkyl esters
Disclosed is an improved process for the production of fatty acid lower alkyl esters according to formula (I) R1CO—OR2  (I) in which R1CO represents a linear or branched acyl moiety having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and 0 to 6 double bonds and wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkyl moiety having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, by transesterification of triglycerides or fatty acid esters using C1-C6 aliphatic alcohols, which includes the steps of (a) providing an aqueous mixture of aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol by fermenting in a first reactor a carbon source comprising carbohydrates and/or glycerol produce a fermentation broth comprising said aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol, (b) providing in a second reactor a triglyceride and/or an ester of a fatty acid, together with a biocatalyst capable of effecting a transesterification reaction, (c) transferring said aqueous aliphatic C1-C6 alcohol mixture obtained from said first reactor into said second reactor to provide a two-phase system, and (d) effecting the transesterification reaction to produce said fatty acid lower alkyl ester and a glycerol- or alcohol-containing aqueous phase. The products thus obtained are particularly useful as components of the fuel known as biodiesel.
US08580984B2 Esters of secondary hydroxy fatty acid oligomers and preparation thereof
Prepare an ester of a secondary hydroxy fatty acid oligomer by first partially homopolymerizing a hydroxylated fatty acid compound, reacting the partially homopolymerized hydroxylated fatty acid compound with an alcohol to form an intermediate product, and capping the intermediate product with an acid, acid anhydride or ester. The ester of a secondary hydroxy fatty acid oligomer may be represented as follows: (3) where R is an alkyl group that contains from six to twelve carbon atoms, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl radical, x is an integer within a range of from 8 to 12, n is an integer between 1 and 20, R2 is an alkyl group that contains from one carbon atom to twenty carbon atoms and R3 is an alkyl group that contains from one carbon atom to twelve carbon atoms.
US08580981B2 Process for the preparation of (3R,3aS,6aR)-hexahydrofuro [2,3-b] furan-3-yl (1S,2R)-3-[[(4-aminophenyl) sulfonyl] (isobutyl) amino]-1-benzyl-2-hydroxypropylcarbamate
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of (3R,3aS,6aR)-hexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan-3-yl(1S,2R)-3-[[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl](isobutyl)amino]-1-benzyl-2-hydroxypropylcarbamate as well as novel intermediates for use in said process. (3R,3aS,6aR)-hexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan-3-yl(1S,2R)-3-[[(4-aminophenyl)sulfonyl](isobutyl)amino]-1-benzyl-2-hydroxypropylcarbamate is particularly useful as an HIV protease inhibitor.
US08580977B2 Tautomycetin and tautomycetin analog biosynthesis
The present invention relates to the biosynthetic gene cluster for tautomycetin (TTN) produces tautomycetin. Also provided are engineered micro-organisms for the production of TTN and analogs thereof, as well as methods of screening for compounds for activity.
US08580976B2 Process for preparing A 2-substituted benzofuran-3-yl borate ester
The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable 2-substituted benzofuran-3-yl borate ester corresponding to the formula: said process comprising contacting 3-bromo-2-substituted-benzofuran corresponding to the formula: with an C1-4 alkyllithium at a temperature less than −60° C. to form 3-lithio-2-substititued-benzofuran, contacting the 3-lithio-2-substituted- benzofuran at a temperature less than −60° C. with an borate ester corresponding to the formula: and recovering the resulting borate ester product, wherein, RW' is C1-4 alkyl; Rx is C1-10 hydrocarbyl or halohydrocarbyl; and RY independently each occurrence is C1-10 hydrocarbyl, halohydrocarbyl or trialkylsilylhydrocarbyl or 2 RY groups together are a divalent hydrocarbylene of up to 20 carbons.
US08580973B2 Process for the preparation of 2,2-difluoroethylamine
A process for the preparation of 2,2-difluoroethylamine, comprising the reaction of 2,2-difluoro-1-chloroethane with an imide of the formula (II) in the presence of an acid scavenger, to give a compound of the formula (III) in which, in the compounds of the formulae (II) and (III), R1 and R2 are, each independently of one another, hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl or R1 and R2 form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded, a six-membered aromatic ring which is optionally substituted; and the cleavage of 2,2-difluoroethylamine by reaction of the compound of the formula (III) with acid, base or hydrazine.
US08580971B2 Alkyl-analide producing method
New pyrazolylcarboxanilides of the formula (I) in which R and R1 have the meanings given in the description, a plurality of processes for the preparation of these substances and their use for controlling undesired microorganisms, and novel intermediates and their preparation.
US08580968B2 Benzothiazole and benzooxazole derivatives and methods of use
Compounds of formula (I) are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by histamine-3 receptor ligands. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of compounds of formula (I), methods for using such compounds and compositions, and a process for preparing the compounds.
US08580963B2 Method for the manufacturing of naltrexone
The present invention relates to an improved process for producing naltrexone[17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxy-morphinan-6-one] from noroxymorphone[4,5-α-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxy-morphinan-6-one] by alkylation with a cyclopropylmethyl halide.
US08580960B2 Process for synthesis of phenoxy diaminopyrimidine derivatives
A method for preparing a compound of formula k or a salt or solvate thereof, wherein R1 is as defined herein, the method comprising treating a compound of formula j or a salt or solvate thereof, with ammonia, to form the compound of formula k.
US08580959B2 Azolotriazinone melanin concentrating hormone receptor-1 antagonists
The present application provides compounds that are useful as MCHR1 antagonists, especially for the treatment of obesity, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I wherein the variables are defined herein.
US08580958B1 Two-photon absorbing polyhydroxy diphenylamino-dialkylfluorene-1,3,5-triazine molecules
Provided are novel 2PA-active monomers of the formula: wherein Y═H, acrylic or methacrylic moiety; R is a linear or branched alkyl group, —CmH2m+1, where m=1-6 or an alkylether group, —(CH2CH2O)pMe, where p=1-5. The number of R′—(OH)x groups, attached to the phenyl rings of the triarylamine moiety either in a para or a meta position, could be 3 or 6 per molecule, or mixtures of molecules containing 3, 4, 5, 6 in various ratios and wherein x=1, 2, or 3. R′ is a linear or branched alkyl group such as —CmH2m, where m=1-6, i.e. linear —(CH2)m, where m=2-6, or branched alkyl group such as —CH2CH(R″)—, where R″═—(CH2)lCH3, where l=2-6.
US08580957B2 Thetrahydroquinolines derivatives as bromodomain inhibitors
Tetrahydroquinoline compounds of formula (I) or a salt thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and their use in therapy, in particular in the treatment of diseases or conditions for which a bromodomain inhibitor is indicted.
US08580956B2 Gamma secretase modulators
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides a novel class of heterocyclic compounds as modulators of gamma secretase, methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more such compounds, methods of preparing pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more such compounds, and methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition, or amelioration of one or more diseases associated with the central nervous system using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08580955B2 Purification method and production method for cellobiose
The present invention provides a method for purifying cellobiose which comprises the steps of (A) preparing a cellobiose-containing sugar solution; (B) increasing the rate of cellobiose present in the sugar solution relative to the total saccharides present therein up to at least 50% by mass; and (C) crystallizing cellobiose; and a method for preparing cellobiose having a high content of the α-anomer thereof which comprises the step of drying a cellobiose-containing sugar solution having a rate of cellobiose of at least 90% by mass relative to the total saccharides present therein while maintaining the sugar solution at a temperature ranging from 80 to 95° C. These methods of the present invention permit the economical preparation of cellobiose having considerably improved purity and recovery rate, without using any complicated process. Moreover, the present invention also permits the preparation of cellobiose highly soluble in water.
US08580953B2 Water-absorbing polysaccharide and method for producing the same
The present invention relates to a process for producing a water-absorbent polysaccharide including the process steps of bringing into contact an uncrosslinked polysaccharide with a polyphosphate or a polyphosphoric acid as crosslinking agent in the presence of water to form a polysaccharide gel and crosslinking the polysaccharide gel. The invention further relates to a water-absorbent polysaccharide obtainable by this process, a water-absorbent polysaccharide, a composite, a process for producing a composite, a composite produced by this process, the use of the water-absorbent polysaccharides or of the composites as well as the use of polyphosphates.
US08580949B2 Enzymatic synthesis of carba-NAD
The disclosure concerns the enzymatic synthesis of stable analogues of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD/NADH and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADP/NADPH, the so-called “carba-NADs”, i.e. analogues of NAD/NADH or NADP/NADPH, respectively, comprising a carbacyclic sugar instead of ribose.
US08580948B2 Modulation of forkhead box O1A expression
Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of forkhead box O1A. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding forkhead box O1A. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of forkhead box O1A expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of forkhead box O1A are provided, in particular, for methods of treating diabetes.
US08580947B2 Pharmaceutical composition for preventing, stabilising and/or inhibiting blood and lymph vascularization
A pharmaceutical composition including as active agent, an antisens oligonucleotide having the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the antisens oligonucleotide is in a concentration from about 0.40 mg/ml to about 2 mg/ml and the use thereof for preventing, stabilizing and/or inhibiting blood and lymph vascularization.
US08580946B2 Multi-conjugate of siRNA and preparing method thereof
The present invention relates to a multi-conjugate of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and a preparing method of the same, more precisely a multi-conjugate of siRNA prepared by direct binding of double stranded sense/antisense siRNA monomers or indirect covalent bonding mediated by a cross-linking agent or a polymer, and a preparing method of the same. The preparing method of a siRNA multi-conjugate of the present invention is characterized by simple and efficient reaction and thereby the prepared siRNA multi-conjugate of the present invention has high molecular weight multiple times the conventional siRNA, so that it has high negative charge density, suggesting that it has excellent ionic interaction with a cationic gene carrier and high gene delivery efficiency.
US08580941B2 Epididymal lipocalin gene and uses thereof
Isolated nucleic acids comprising a lipocalin gene promoter region, isolated nucleic acids comprising a human lipocalin gene, isolated nucleic acids encoding a lipocalin polypeptide, isolated lipocalin polypeptides, and uses thereof. The disclosed lipocalin nucleic acids and polypeptides can be used to generate a mouse model of male infertility, for drug discovery screens, and for therapeutic treatment of fertility-related conditions.
US08580939B2 Engineered Listeria and methods of use thereof
The invention provides a bacterium containing a polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid encoding a heterologous antigen, as well as fusion protein partners. Also provided are vectors for mediating site-specific recombination and vectors comprising removable antibiotic resistance genes.
US08580938B2 Engineered anti-TSLP antibody
The invention relates to binding compounds that specifically bind to human TSLP, as well as uses thereof, e.g., in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
US08580936B2 Polynucleotides encoding FGFR1-IIIc ECD fusion proteins
The invention provides FGFR fusion proteins, methods of making them, and methods of using them to treat proliferative disorders, including cancers and disorders of angiogenesis. The FGFR fusion molecules can be made in CHO cells and may comprise deletion mutations in the extracellular domains of the FGFRs which improve their stability. These fusion proteins inhibit the growth and viability of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The combination of the relatively high affinity of these receptors for their ligand FGFs and the demonstrated ability of these decoy receptors to inhibit tumor growth is an indication of the clinical value of the compositions and methods provided herein.
US08580933B2 Variable tangential flow filtration
The current invention reports a method for concentrating an immunoglobulin solution by tangential flow filtration wherein the transmembrane pressure and the cross-flow are variable.
US08580930B2 Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binding proteins
The present invention provides a family of binding proteins that bind and neutralize the activity of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), in particular human HGF. The binding proteins can be used as diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents. With regard to their therapeutic activity, the binding proteins can be used to treat certain HGF responsive disorders, for example, certain HGF responsive tumors.
US08580929B2 DNA sequence encoding a retinoic acid regulated protein
The present invention concerns a novel retinoic acid regulated gene whose expression product displays useful morphogenic/mitogenic properties. The present invention further concerns an isolated nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:1 encoding a retinoic acid regulated expression product having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
US08580927B2 Engineered antibody constant domain molecules
Described herein are engineered antibody constant domain molecules, such as CH2 or CH3 domain molecules, comprising at least one mutation, or comprising at least one complementarity determining region (CDR), or a functional fragment thereof, engrafted in a loop region of the CH2 domain. The CH2 domain molecules described herein are small, stable, soluble, exhibit little to no toxicity and are capable of binding antigen.
US08580926B2 Gene and protein expression profiles associated with the therapeutic efficacy of irinotecan
The present invention includes gene and protein expression profiles indicative of whether a cancer patient is likely to respond to treatment with irinotecan. By identifying such responsiveness, a treatment provider may determine in advance those patients who would benefit from such treatment, as well as identify alternative therapies for non-responders. The present invention further provide methods of using the gene and/or protein expression profiles and assays for identifying the presence of a gene and/or protein expression profile in a patient sample.
US08580925B2 Method for examining carcinoma and adenoma
[PROBLEMS] To provide examination methods and reagents able to detect efficiently cancer patients and patients at high risk of cancer.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Significant differences in the distribution of GlcNAc-6-sulfotransferase isozymes, sulfation enzymes of sugar residues, between non-carcinoma tissues and carcinoma tissues or adenoma tissues were discovered. The discovery is evidently applicable to detect carcinomas and adenomas (except colorectal carcinomas and colorectal adenomas) specifically by assaying a certain range of GlcNAc-6-sulfated sugar residue groups in tissues of patients and in fecal samples. Examination of carcinomas and adenomas is possible by the use of antibodies reacting specifically with GlcNAc-6-sulfated sugar residues specifically synthesized by enzymes present in carcinoma and adenoma tissues.
US08580916B2 Stable solution of the polymer prepared from N,O-heterocycles and its preparation method and use
A stable solution of the polymer prepared from N,O-heterocyclic compound and its preparing method are provided, wherein the stable solution is prepared by making the N,O-heterocyclic compound of formulae I or II carry out a ring-opening polymerization: wherein R1 to R3, W1, W2, m, n, p and q are as defined in the specification. The stable solution can be used as a hardener for curing epoxy resin.
US08580915B2 Process for preparing stable photoresist compositions
A micro electromechanical system having incorporated therein a composition of matter consisting of a stable solution containing a polymer derived from a solution of a polymer containing trace metals, the derived method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a polymer solution containing a polymer, a first solvent and trace metals; (b) passing said polymer solution through an acidic cation ion exchange material to remove said trace metals therefrom and thereby forming a polymer solution containing free acid radicals; (c) precipitating said polymer from said polymer solution of step b by contacting with a second solvent wherein the polymer is substantially insoluble therein; (d) filtering said solution and said second solvent to thereby form a solid polymer cake; (e) contacting said cake from step d with sufficient quantities of additional said second solvent in order to remove free acid radicals therefrom; (f) removing any residual first and second solvents from said polymer to form said stable polymer.
US08580911B2 Polycarbonate block copolymers
The disclosure pertains to amphiphilic block copolymers comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate chain coupled to a hydrophilic polymer. Such amphiphilic polymers may have the formula A-L-B, where A- is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain having from about 3 to about 500 repeating units, L is a linker moiety and —B is a hydrophilic oligomer having from about 4 to about 200 repeating units. Provided copolymers are useful as surfactants capable of emulsifying aqueous solutions and supercritical carbon dioxide. Provided copolymers also have utility as additives for use in enhanced oil recovery methods.
US08580909B2 Hotmelt process for producing a chemically crosslinked polyurethane film
Process for producing a chemically crosslinked polyurethane film, comprising the steps of: A) chemically reacting a mixture comprising two or more polyols with one or more polyisocyanates, at least one of the polyols or at least one of the polyisocyanates comprising molecules having a functionality of three or more, to form hydroxyl-functionalized polyurethane hotmelt prepolymer, B) reacting the hydroxyl-functionalized polyurethane hotmelt prepolymer with one or more polyisocyanates in a continuously operating mixing assembly, C) coating the melt emerging from the mixing assembly onto an incoming web-form material or between two incoming web-form materials, in the course of which the reaction started in step B) continues.