| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08649101B2 |
Projection apparatus
A projection apparatus includes an illumination system providing an illumination light beam, a light valve disposed in a transmission path of the illumination light beam and converting the illumination light beam into an image light beam, a projection lens disposed in a transmission path of the image light beam, a first field lens, and a second field lens. The first field lens and the second field lens are disposed between the light valve and the projection lens and in the transmission paths of the illumination light beam and the image light beam. The first field lens is a positive meniscus lens with a first concave surface facing the projection lens. The second field lens is a positive meniscus lens with a second concave surface adjacent to the first field lens. The projection apparatus is capable of reducing a ghost image. |
| US08649100B2 |
Metamaterial for separating electromagnetic wave beam
A metamaterial for separating an electromagnetic wave beam is disclosed. Two kinds of man-made microstructures are attached on a substrate of the metamaterial. The first man-made microstructures each have a principal optical axis parallel to a first electric field direction, and the second man-made microstructures each have a principal optical axis parallel to a second electric field direction. The metamaterial comprises a first region and a second region. The first man-made microstructures in the first region have the largest geometric size and the first man-made microstructures in other regions increase in geometric size continuously in a direction towards the first region; and the second man-made microstructures in the second region have the largest geometric size and the second man-made microstructures in other regions increase in geometric size continuously in a direction towards the second region. |
| US08649097B2 |
Method of controlling inclination angle of Fabry-Perot tunable filters
Fabry-Perot tunable filters is provided with a first fixed semitransparent mirror and a second movable semitransparent mirror arranged against each other, and piezoelectric elements more than three arranged at an equi-interval on the second movable semitransparent mirror to change a space between the first and second semitransparent mirrors. The second movable semitransparent mirror is adapted to be rotated by using as a pivot an imaginary axis toward which each length of perpendiculars let fall from each of the piezoelectric elements on a plane parallel to the second movable semitransparent mirror and including the imaginary axis connected between arbitrary two points of each middle point between the adjacent piezoelectric elements is equal each other. |
| US08649093B2 |
Polarizing fiber, polarizer, polarizing plate, laminated optical film, and image display
As the polarizing fiber of the present invention, the cross sectional form perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has a sea-island structure, and the cross sectional form is continuously made up in the longitudinal direction. A resin (sea component) that constitutes the sea region of the sea-island structure comprises a dichroic dye, and a resin (island component) that constitutes the island regions of the sea-island structure is a transparent resin. The polarizing fiber of the present invention may be used as a forming material of a polarizer, for example. By using the above polarizing fiber, a polarizer wherein unevenness of the transmittance is small and cracks are less generated may be formed. |
| US08649080B2 |
Two-dimensional optical deflector including only one pair of meander-type piezoelectric actuators and its driver
In a two-dimensional optical deflector having a mirror and a support body surrounding the mirror, first and second piezoelectric actuators of a meander-type are provided opposite to each other with respect to a first axis of the mirror. Each of the first second piezoelectric actuators includes a plurality of piezoelectric cantilevers folded at every piezoelectric and connected from the support body to the mirror. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers are in parallel with the first axis. Each of the piezoelectric cantilevers includes first and second piezoelectric cantilever elements in parallel with each other combined by a substrate. The second piezoelectric cantilever elements are divided into a first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements and a second group of piezoelectric cantilever elements alternating with the first group of piezoelectric cantilever elements. |
| US08649077B2 |
Image recording medium, hologram replicating device and hologram replicating method
An image recording medium in which a refractive index modulation is recorded in a material in a layer such that, when the hologram recording medium is illuminated from a predetermined angle and a viewpoint is moved horizontally with respect to a normal line, a hologram image having continuous parallax in at least the horizontal direction is reproduced and that, when the viewpoint is moved in a direction with respect to the normal line different from the horizontal direction, another image that is different from and thus is not continuous with the hologram image is reproduced. |
| US08649076B2 |
Calibrating field uniformity
Systems and methods systems and methods for calibrating field uniformity are disclosed. An exemplary method includes scanning the imaging area including a first media to obtain optical data for a specular reflectance map. The method also includes scanning the imaging area including a second media to obtain optical data for a diffuse reflective map. The method also includes storing the specular reflectance map and the diffuse reflective map for adjusting actual pixel values during an imaging operation. |
| US08649075B2 |
Image reading apparatus and control method
An apparatus includes a contact image sensor (CIS) configured to parallelly output image signals of a plurality of pixels via a plurality of signal lines, an analog frontend (AFE) configured to serially output the image signals of the plurality of pixels output from the CIS by converting the image signal into a plurality pieces of pixel data, an input/output control circuit configured to add reading position information and reading color information to each of the plurality pieces of pixel data, and a direct memory access controller (DMAC) configured to transfer each of the plurality pieces of pixel data to a storage position corresponding to the reading position information and the reading color information such that the plurality pieces of pixel data is stored in consecutive storage positions in an external memory. |
| US08649069B2 |
Document photosensor of surface-mounted elements
A document photosensor is provided which comprises upper and lower sensor assemblies 1 and 2 disposed on opposite sides of a passageway 55 along which a document 50 is transported. Upper sensor assembly 1 comprises an upper substrate 11, an upper LED chip 21 surface-mounted on upper substrate 11 and an upper PD chip 37 surface-mounted on upper substrate 11. Lower sensor assembly 2 comprises a lower substrate 12, a lower LED chip 31 surface-mounted on lower substrate 12 and a lower PD chip 38 surface-mounted on lower substrate 12. These chips 21, 37, 31 and 38 are secured at precise locations on upper and lower substrates 11 and 12 with accuracy on the order of a few micrometers or less to exactly detect by upper and lower PD chips 37, 38 lights irradiated from upper and lower LED chips 21 and 31 after penetration of these lights through particular points on a bill 50 moved along passageway 55 to improve validation performance of bill 50. |
| US08649067B2 |
Document retrieving/printing system, digital multi-function machine, document retrieving/printing method, and program
A text print instructions sheet generation unit embeds, in a text print instructions sheet, identification information for specifying a text print instructions sheet after being converted into image data. A sheet data management unit manages layout information that associates the identification information for specifying the text print instructions sheet with the identification information of a document included in a retrieval result. An image analysis unit extracts the identification information for specifying a sheet from the image data, specifies the layout information managed by the sheet data management unit based on the extracted identification information, and performs image analysis based on the specified layout information. |
| US08649066B2 |
Image display device and image forming apparatus with security control features
An image display device is provided with a storage for storing an image, a display for displaying a preview of the image, a security setting receiving unit for receiving setting as to whether or not the preview of the image is to be displayed with security, an image processing unit for applying an image quality degradation process to the image for which the security setting receiving unit received the setting for displaying the preview of the image with security, and a preview display controlling unit for causing the image having the image quality degradation process applied by the image processing unit to be displayed at the time of the preview display of the image for which the setting for the security display was received. |
| US08649064B2 |
Printing device capable of printing image of image file
In order to correct image files to be printed in a printing device, there is provided a printing device including: an inputting unit that is configured to be capable of inputting an image file representing a motion image; a generating unit that is configured to extract a plurality of frame images from the image file and to generate a first output image in which the plurality of extracted frame images are laid out on a single page; correcting unit that is configured to correct the first output image and to generate a first corrected output image; and a printing unit that is configured to be capable of printing the first corrected output image. |
| US08649059B2 |
Mutual optimization system for class matrix and diffusion weighting used in halftone image processing technique
A mutual optimization method for class matrix and diffusion weighting used in a halftone image processing technique and a mutual optimization system thereof are provided. In the method, a mutual optimization of a plurality of diffusion weightings and a class matrix used in a dot diffusion process is performed based on a concept of simulated annealing in order to avoid converging to local solution, so as to ensure an image quality of a halftone image generated by the dot diffusion process. Besides, since the mutual optimization method is for a hexagonal class matrix, a block effect appearing in the halftone image can be significantly reduced. |
| US08649056B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising a selection unit configured to select difference vectors to be used in correction processing of a first color conversion table from difference vectors between reference values and corresponding colorimetric values; a table correction unit configured to correct output values for respective grid points of the first color conversion table using the selected difference vectors; and a table generation unit configured to set conversion results of data which represent grid points of a third color conversion table as output values for the grid points, wherein the conversion results are obtained by performing conversion using a second color conversion table and the first color conversion table which is corrected by the table correction unit. |
| US08649044B2 |
Computer processing of differences between print job files
Processing print jobs on a computer which comprises generating a first print ready job file by a first print module based on an input print job file and generating a second print ready job file by a second print module based on the input print job file. The first print ready job file is compared to the second print ready job file, and if there is at least one difference between the first print ready job file and the second print ready job file, the input print job file is forwarded to a PSP (printer service provider) that is configured with the first print module or the second print ready job file is forwarded to a PSP that is configured with the second print module. |
| US08649042B2 |
System and method for automated generation of a fully parameterized workflow plan
An improved automated planning method and system includes the use of an automated planner for generating a plan template and a final plan generator to produce a fully parameterized workflow plan. Such an approach provides for the generation of fully parameterized workflow plans utilized in rendering environments. A plurality of device capability descriptions can be converted into a data indicative of facts and operators for use with an automated planner, which can be either domain-independent or domain-dependent. Next, a formal product description can be converted into properties indicative of a goal state. The goal state and the data indicative of facts and operators can then be utilized with the automated planner to synthesize a plan template. The plan template is then provided to a final plan generator, along with a formal product description, to produce a fully parameterized workflow plan. |
| US08649038B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form images based on image data transmitted from information processing apparatus of users including registered users and unregistered users; a setting unit configured to set permission information for each user based on a log of the image forming and limit information; a first judging unit configured to determine whether user identification information is attached to image data; a second judging unit configured to determine, based on the permission information that is set for an unregistered user, whether to permit execution of image forming of the image data, when the first judging unit determines that the user identification information is not attached to the image data. |
| US08649029B2 |
Printing apparatus and processing method therefor
A printing apparatus includes a first processor which is connected to a first memory and converts print data into an image data format based on a page description language, a second processor which is connected to a second memory and performs image processing for print data of the image data format to generate data of a format interpretable by a printing unit, and a communication control unit which externally receives print data and transfers the received print data to either the first memory or second memory based on a descriptor. The second processor determines the format of received print data. When the print data has the page description language format, the first memory is set as the transfer destination in the descriptor. When the print data has the image data format, the second memory is set as the transfer destination in the descriptor. |
| US08649023B2 |
Film thickness measurement device and measurement method
A film thickness measurement apparatus includes a measurement light source that supplies measurement light containing a measurement light component with a first wavelength and a measurement light component with a second wavelength to a measuring object, a spectroscopic optical system that decomposes interfering light of reflected light from the upper surface and reflected light from the lower surface of the measuring object into an interfering light component with the first wavelength and an interfering light component with the second wavelength, photodetectors that detect intensities of the first and second interfering light components at each time point, and a film thickness analysis section that obtains a temporal change in film thickness of the measuring object based on a phase difference between a first phase in a temporal change in detected intensity of the first interfering light component and a second phase in a temporal change in detected intensity of the second interfering light component. |
| US08649020B2 |
Color chart
A color chart having a plurality of mirror-image color blocks arranged in a matrix, with each color block a mirror image of an adjacent color block, each color block having rows and columns of color patches, wherein the concentration of a first color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given row of a color block, the concentration of a second color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given column of a color block, and the concentration of a third color of the multiple colors remains unchanged across all the plurality of color patches within a color block and differs only between color blocks. |
| US08649016B2 |
System for directly measuring the depth of a high aspect ratio etched feature on a wafer
A system (10) for directly measuring the depth of a high aspect ratio etched feature on a wafer (80) that includes an etched surface (82) and a non-etched surface (84). The system (10) utilizes an infrared reflectometer (12) that in a preferred embodiment includes a swept laser (14), a fiber circulator (16), a photodetector (22) and a combination collimator (18) and an objective lens (20). From the objective lens (20) a focused incident light (23) is produced that is applied to the non-etched surface (84) of the wafer (80). From the wafer (80) is produced a reflected light (25) that is processed through the reflectometer (12) and applied to an ADC (24) where a corresponding digital data signal (29) is produced. The digital data signal (29) is applied to a computer (30) that, in combination with software (32), measures the depth of the etched feature that is then viewed on a display (34). |
| US08649015B2 |
Bioinformation acquisition apparatus
In a bioinformation acquisition apparatus, a flux of light emitted from a test object through diffusion when the test object is irradiated with light can be reused, improving use efficiency of the radiated light. The apparatus has a light source for irradiating the test object with the flux of light, and a detector for detecting a signal output based on the radiation, and includes: a reflection-type polarization element adapted that at least a part of the flux of light from the light source can be transmitted through, and a flux of light emitted from the test object by the radiation can be reflected, in which the reflection-type polarization element is disposed at a position opposite to an irradiation area of the light on the surface of the test object to cover the irradiation area. |
| US08649014B2 |
Vertical plasmonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer
An optical device includes first and second optical branches. The first optical branch is formed at an interface between a first substrate and a second substrate, and the second optical branch is formed at an interface between the second substrate and an ambient medium. The second substrate defines first and second spaced apart slits that are each coupled to the first and second optical branches. The first slit is configured to receive at least partially coherent light from a light source and in response excite at least one surface plasmon polariton mode in each of the first and second optical branches. The second slit is configured to combine the surface plasmon polariton modes received from the first and second optical branches and emit scattered light into at least one of the first substrate and the ambient medium. |
| US08649010B2 |
Integral transformed optical measurement method and apparatus
An optical measurement method for high-speed acquisition of integral transformed time domain optical signals is presented. A circuit network is used to generate a modulation signal and a reference signal from a broadband signal such as a pseudo random bit sequence. The integral transformed measurements are obtained by cross correlating the time dependent response to the modulated illumination with the reference signal. |
| US08649009B2 |
Optical spectrometer element having non-spherical mirrors
The invention relates to a spectrometer for analyzing the optical emission of a sample, having an excitation source, an entrance gap and a dispersive element, which fans out the spectrum of the light generated in the excitation source in a plane, and having solid body sensors with one or more lines, which are arranged in the region of the focal curve of the beam path in order to evaluate the spectral information, wherein the sensors are arranged above or below the plane and the spectral emission is deflected onto the sensors by mirrors and focused, wherein the reflecting surface of the mirrors is aspherically formed in a direction of curvature. |
| US08649007B2 |
Optical emission spectroscopic (OES) instrument with automatic top and bottom slit curtains
An optical emission spectroscopic (OES) instrument includes a spectrometer, a processor and an adjustable mask controlled by the processor. The adjustable mask defines a portion of an analytical gap imaged by the spectrometer. The instrument automatically adjusts the size and position of an opening in the mask, so the spectrometer images an optimal portion of plasma formed in the analytical gap, thereby improving signal and noise characteristics of the instrument, without requiring tedious and time-consuming manual adjustment of the mask during manufacture or use. |
| US08649006B2 |
Plasma emission transfer and modification device
A Plasma Emission Transfer and Modification Device allowing for alteration of the plasma shape or characteristics for e.g. optimized viewing of relevant Plasma zones or improved coupling of a Plasma to the subsequent spectrometer optics, at the same time avoiding negative effects (e.g. heat transfer from the spectro-chemical source into subsequent system components) is described. |
| US08649003B2 |
Microrefractometer using defocusing imaging
The present invention relates to a microrefractometer using defocusing imaging. The refractometer includes: a target in which a target micrometer and a reference fluid, an index of refraction of which is known, are positioned; an objective lens receiving light that has been emitted from a light source and passed through the target; an aperture including a plurality of pin holes which divide an optical path of the light having passed through the objective lens; and a camera photographing defocused images formed on an image plane of the refractometer by the light having passed through the aperture. |
| US08649001B2 |
Substrate for fingerprint contact
A substrate for fingerprint contact includes a plate, and the plate includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is an optical diffusing surface. The optical diffusing surface is used for being contacted by a finger, and features hazed particles. The second surface faces an optical imaging system. The optical diffusing surface of the plate helps to enhance light to be evenly emitted to the finger and weakens the unnecessary scattered light to the optical imaging system, so as to enhance the recognition rate of a fingerprint when the optical imaging system is used for intercept the light applied on a finger. |
| US08649000B1 |
Whispering gallery optical resonator spectroscopic probe and method
Disclosed herein is a spectroscopic probe comprising at least one whispering gallery mode optical resonator disposed on a support, the whispering gallery mode optical resonator comprising a continuous outer surface having a cross section comprising a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. A method of measuring a Raman spectrum and an Infra-red spectrum of an analyte using the spectroscopic probe is also disclosed. |
| US08648999B2 |
Alignment of light source focus
An extreme ultraviolet light system includes a steering system that steers and focuses an amplified light beam traveling along a propagation direction to a focal plane near a target location within an extreme ultraviolet light chamber, a detection system including at least one detector positioned to detect an image of a laser beam reflected from at least a portion of a target material within the chamber, a wavefront modification system in the path of the reflected laser beam and between the target location and the detection system, and a controller. The wavefront modification system is configured to modify the wavefront of the reflected laser beam as a function of a target focal plane position along the propagation direction. The controller includes logic for adjusting a location of the focal plane of the amplified light beam relative to the target material based on the detected image of the reflected laser beam. |
| US08648997B2 |
Member with a cleaning surface and a method of removing contamination
A member with a cleaning surface for use in capturing particles in a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The particles are captured by a plurality of projections which are arranged in a pattern. A sensor can be used to detect contaminant particles in the pattern. |
| US08648995B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
Relating to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, minimizing liquid crystal material loss and use of cleaning solvent, and providing a liquid crystal display device in which a seal pattern having few gap inconsistencies are taken as a objective. Liquid crystal material wraparound can be prevented by forming a seal stopper portion outside a peripheral seal portion, and in addition, by increasing the degree of symmetry of the seal pattern and by forming a damming portion between injection ports, gap inconsistencies within the liquid crystal display device can be reduced. |
| US08648992B2 |
Method for manufacturing thin film capacitor and thin film capacitor obtained by the same
A thin film capacitor is characterized by forming a lower electrode, coating a composition onto the lower electrode without applying an annealing process having a temperature of greater than 300° C., drying at a predetermined temperature within a range from ambient temperature to 500° C., and calcining at a predetermined temperature within a range of 500 to 800° C. and higher than a drying temperature. The process from coating to calcining is performed the process from coating to calcining once or at least twice, or the process from coating to drying is performed at least twice, and then calcining is performed once. The thickness of the dielectric thin film formed after the first calcining is 20 to 600 nm. The ratio of the thickness of the lower electrode and the thickness of the dielectric thin film formed after the initial calcining step (thickness of lower electrode/thickness of the dielectric thin film) is preferably in the range 0.10 to 15.0. |
| US08648990B2 |
Optical device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a laminate section in which p-type layer 5 and n-type layer 7 are laminated such that they sandwich active layer 6. A part of light emitted from active layer 6 exits from a first surface of the laminate section. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a reflection layer that is located on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the laminate section and that reflects light that is emitted from active layer 6 and that enters from the second surface in the direction of the active layer side. The reflection layer includes metal layer 1 and transparent electrode films 2 to 4 that are transparent to a wave length of light that enters from active layer 6 and that have conductivity. The refractive index of transparent conduction film 3 is lower than that of each of transparent conduction films 2 and 4 and p-type layer 5. The absorption coefficient of transparent conduction film 3 is smaller than that of each of transparent conduction films 2 and 4. |
| US08648989B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate having drain lines and gate signal lines defining pixel regions and the second substrate. The pixel regions include a pixel electrode formed of a transparent conducting layer and having a plurality of slits, a common electrode formed of a transparent conducting layer, the common electrode being overlapped with the pixel electrode through an insulating layer, and the liquid crystal being driven by an electric field generated by the pixel electrode and the common electrode. A conductor layer is arranged proximate to the drain signal line. The conductor layer is placed at a position where at least a part thereof overlaps the common electrode, and the conductor layer is not connected to the drain signal line and the pixel electrode electrically. |
| US08648987B2 |
Transparent product that gives image only at one side
A transparent product that gives an image only at one side, which can be used for an advertisement on the window or the like, which is a product that has a semi-transmissive-half-reflective layer having transmittance of 30% or higher and a reflectance of 30% or higher, a birefringent layer which is a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern or a driven-type optically anisotropic layer containing a liquid-crystal compound driven by voltage application to control the optical anisotropy, and a polarizing layer in this order and does not have, at the opposite side of the polarizing layer with respect to the birefringent layer, a polarizing layer, is provided. |
| US08648984B2 |
Color filter substrate having ball spacers disposed within black matrixes for liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating the same includes black matrixes on a transparent insulating substrate, the black matrixes defining pixel areas and having a first region and a second region, color filters in the pixel areas and having areas overlapping the first region of the black matrixes, and ball spacers above the second region of the black matrixes, wherein a thickness of the first region is greater than a thickness of the second region. |
| US08648981B2 |
Display device and backlight module thereof
The display apparatus includes a backlight module, which includes a light source, a light-emitting surface, a light-emitting counter surface and a flexible circuit. The light-emitting counter surface is disposed opposite to the light-emitting surface. The flexible circuit is electrically connected with the light source, and has a portion covering the light-emitting counter surface. |
| US08648975B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with potential varying capacitance electrode
In a liquid crystal display device in which one pixel is divided into the plurality of subpixels, a narrow picture-frame is realized by decreasing a wiring region without reducing a display quality. One of two sub-pixel portions includes a second transistor (TB) having a gate connected to a first scanning signal line (GL) and having a source connected to a data signal line (SL), a pixel electrode (EB) connected to a drain of the second transistor (TB), a liquid crystal capacitance (ClcB) formed by a common electrode (41) and the pixel electrode (EB), a third transistor (TC) having a gate connected to a second scanning signal line (G2L) and having a source connected to a line SEL, a capacitance electrode (EC) connected to a drain of the third transistor (TC), and a capacitance (Cl) formed by the pixel electrode (EB) and the capacitance electrode (EC). A high potential and a low potential are alternately provided to the line SEL for each one frame. The second scanning signal line (G2L) is selected after the first scanning signal line (GL) is selected. |
| US08648974B2 |
PSA LCD panel with pixel unit of eight domains
A PSA LCD panel includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units includes a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode separated from the first pixel electrode. Each of the first and second pixel electrodes has a pattern scattered from a center in such a manner to form four domains. |
| US08648964B2 |
Multi-projection display system and method of adjusting brightness thereof
A multi-projection display system is provided with a plurality of sensor units corresponding to projector units. The sensor units detect brightness for each color in a projected image that is projected on a screen and supply the detection results. The projector unit generates a brightness correction table on the basis of the image signal of a specific picture element of the projected image realized by an adjacent projector unit and on the basis of the brightness of the specific picture element of the projected image of the adjacent projector unit that is detected by a sensor unit for matching the brightness of the image projected by its own projector unit with that of the adjacent projector unit, refers to the brightness correction table to correct brightness for each color of the image signals that are received as input, and projects onto a screen the light of each color in accordance with the corrected image signals. |
| US08648962B2 |
Camera body
A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a capacitor, and a housing member. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The capacitor is disposed more to the imaging element side than the body mount in a direction of the light passing through the lens unit. The housing member accommodates the imaging element and the capacitor. The camera body has no mirror box. |
| US08648959B2 |
Rapid auto-focus using classifier chains, MEMS and/or multiple object focusing
A smart-focusing technique includes identifying an object of interest, such as a face, in a digital image. A focus-generic classifier chain is applied that is trained to match both focused and unfocused faces and/or data from a face tracking module is accepted. Multiple focus-specific classifier chains are applied, including a first chain trained to match substantially out of focus faces, and a second chain trained to match slightly out of focus faces. Focus position is rapidly adjusted using a MEMS component. |
| US08648955B2 |
Apparatus and method for acquiring light field data using variable modulator
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for acquiring light field data using a variable modulator. The apparatus varies a modulator located between an optical system and a sensor adaptively according to objects to be captured or a peripheral environment. Accordingly, 4-dimensional (4D) light field data optimized according to objects to be captured or according to changes in focal distance may be acquired. |
| US08648954B2 |
Imaging apparatus, user interface, and associated methodology for a co-existent shooting and reproduction mode
A currently captured image of an object is displayed at a center of a display frame on a display screen in a shooting mode. When a dial is rotated, the currently captured image is moved rightward. A reproduced image captured before the currently captured image is displayed on the left thereof. Another reproduced image captured before the reproduced image is displayed on the left thereof. The currently captured image and the reproduced images are displayed simultaneously on the display screen as a co-existent shooting and reproducing mode. When the dial is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, only the reproduced images are displayed in a reproducing mode. The reproduced images are displayed along a time axis. |
| US08648951B2 |
Semiconductor module, MOS type solid-state image pickup device, camera and manufacturing method of camera
A back-illuminated type MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor) solid-state image pickup device in which micro pads are formed on the wiring layer side and a signal processing chip having micro pads formed on the wiring layer at the positions corresponding to the micro pads of the MOS solid-state image pickup device are connected by micro bumps. In a semiconductor module including the MOS type solid-state image pickup device, at the same time an image processing speed can be increased, simultaneity within the picture can be realized and image quality can be improved, a manufacturing process can be facilitated, and a yield can be improved. Also, it becomes possible to decrease a power consumption required when all pixels or a large number of pixels is driven at the same time. |
| US08648947B2 |
Image-pickup system and method of controlling same
An image-pickup apparatus including a detector comprising a detecting unit and a reading circuit, the detecting unit including pixels, each of which including a conversion element, the reading circuit which includes a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a signal wire transferring an electric signal and that electrically connects the signal wire to a node, and which performs a reading operation to output the electric signal from the pixel. A control unit controls an operation of the reading circuit, and a sensing unit senses the end of radiation irradiation based on an output of the reading circuit, which is acquired during the period of an accumulation operation of the detector. The control unit starts establishing the electrical connection between the signal wire and the node through the connecting unit based on the sensed irradiation end, and retains the electrical connection until the start of the reading operation. |
| US08648944B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and camera having impurity diffusion region
A solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate, each pixel comprising a photoelectric conversion element including a charge accumulation region of a first conductivity type, a floating diffusion of the first conductivity type, and a transfer transistor which transfers charge in the charge accumulation region to the floating diffusion, comprises an element isolation region made of an insulator and arranged to isolate adjacent pixels from each other, and an impurity diffusion region of a second conductivity type arranged inside the semiconductor substrate to isolate adjacent pixels from each other, wherein a peak position of an impurity concentration of the impurity diffusion region of one pixel is disposed within a width of the floating diffusion, of the one pixel, along a straight line passing through the photoelectric conversion element, a gate electrode of the transfer transistor, and the floating diffusion which are of the one pixel. |
| US08648941B2 |
Image processor, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image processor which is capable of performing correction of defective pixels without degrading image quality when synthesizing a plurality of still images. When a plurality of image data items are synthesized, a first reference value which is smaller than a second reference value for use in determining whether or not to correct pixel data forming the image data is compared with a pixel value indicated by each of synthesized pixel data items forming the synthesized image data, and first correction processing is performed in which the synthesized pixel data of the synthesized image data is corrected according to a result of comparison. |
| US08648939B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, drive method therefor, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging device includes: a normal pixel disposed in a pixel section capable of performing a global shutter, and including at least a photoelectric conversion part and a memory part adjacent to the photoelectric conversion part; and a leak-light correcting pixel disposed in the pixel section to correct degradation of an image quality originated from leak light leaked into the memory part. |
| US08648937B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and camera module
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a color-difference signal correction unit. The color-difference signal correction unit includes a smoothing unit and a color edge extracting unit. The smoothing unit performs smoothing process on a color-difference signal to obtain a smoothed color-difference signal. The color edge extracting unit extracts a color edge component to be added to the smoothed color-difference signal. An edge coring unit which is included in the color edge extracting unit performs a coring process on a difference between the color-difference signal before the smoothing process is performed and the smoothed color-difference signal. |
| US08648934B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and scheduling apparatus
An image processing apparatus for performing image processing to image data, including: an image computing unit which performs to the image data the image processing including a matrix process performing a computation by using a pixel value of a plurality of pixels represented in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; a scheduling unit which calculates a number of wait pixels between first image frame and second image frame in the image data based on a size of the plurality of pixels and a presence or absence of an edge process of performing the matrix process using a copied pixel value; and an image data input control unit which outputs the image data of the first image frame to the image computing unit, delays an output of the image data of the second image frame by the number of wait pixels, and outputs the image data of the second image frame to the image computing unit. |
| US08648927B2 |
Imaging device, imaging method and program storage medium
An imaging device includes an AF section that determines in-focus positions for subjects; a determination section that determines a main subject; a shifting section that, if a difference between an in-focus positions of the main subject and a non-main subject is a first threshold value or greater, shifts a focal position for the non-main subject from the in-focus position towards the main subject side; an imaging section that sequentially captures images at the in-focus position of the main subject and the shifted focal position of the non-main subject; a detection section that detects corresponding points of the subjects between a reference image and a non-reference image; an deformation section that deforms the non-reference image to match the corresponding points thereof with those of the reference image; and an generation section that generates a blur-adjusted image based on the reference image and the deformed non-reference image. |
| US08648925B2 |
Control apparatus, control method, and control system for reproducing captured image data
There is provided an imaging apparatus that continuously reproduces, if first moving image data is acquired by imaging in a first imaging mode for capturing a moving image for a predetermined period of time, and then automatically stopping the capturing of the moving image, second moving image data captured before the capturing of the moving image related to the first moving image data and acquired by the imaging in the first imaging mode and the first moving image data. |
| US08648922B2 |
Medical image apparatus and medical image archiving apparatus
A medical image apparatus according to the embodiments has a medical image utilization apparatus and medical image archiving apparatus. The former has an acquisition part that acquires a requested frame rate for cases in which medical images are movie displayed on its display, and an designating part that designates an attention point with respect to one of the medical images displayed. The latter has a transmission speed measurement part that measures the data transmission speed between the former and the latter, an extraction part that, based on the requested frame rate, the attention point and the data transmission speed, extracts the region including the attention point for each of the medical images, and a transmission part that transmits an image of the extracted region to the display. The display displays, as a moving image, the images of the region extracted by said extraction part at said requested frame rate. |
| US08648920B2 |
Electromagnetically driven device with shake suppression
This invention provides an electromagnetically driven device applicable to a lens driving device with an anti-shake function by a simple structure that enables the movable member to swing around an axis thereof. A flat spring for swinging connects to a stationary frame body provided with a permanent magnet set and a coil set for swinging is mounted on an outer circumference of a movable frame body. When an axial direction of the movable frame body is designated as the Z axis, the coil set for swinging including a first through fourth coils arranged around the Z axis and spaced at uniform intervals with each winding around an axis perpendicular to the Z axis and opposite to the permanent magnet set respectively. The permanent magnet set includes a first through fourth magnets, wherein each magnet is arranged between two adjacent coils among the first through fourth coils. |
| US08648918B2 |
Method and system for obtaining a point spread function using motion information
The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining a point spread function for deblurring image data captured by an imaging device comprising a motion sensor. First, motion path values indicating the motion of the imaging device during the exposure time are acquired. The motion path values of the imaging device are then projected onto the sensor plane and for each sensor pixel the projected motion path values are integrated over time. Said integrated value represents for each sensor pixel an initial estimate of the point spread function. Optionally, the size of the point spread function can also be estimated based on the distance of the focused object and taken into account during the projecting step. |
| US08648917B2 |
Imaging apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image processing method, and program
Disclosed is an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units; a correction unit that executes a correction process for images captured by a plurality of the imaging units; and a control unit that computes a correction parameter applied to a correction process in the correction unit, wherein the correction unit executes distortion aberration correction and hand-vibration correction for each of the captured images and an image characteristic matching correction process for matching characteristics between a plurality of images captured by a plurality of the imaging units. |
| US08648914B1 |
Laser communication system for spatial referencing
A laser communication and spatial referencing system and related methods provides effective and secure non-line-of-sight communications. A laser communication and spatial referencing system includes a laser transmitter transmitting a pulsed laser beam encoded with binary communications data, and an imaging data receiver for receiving the pulsed laser beam reflecting off a reflective target. The imaging receiver decodes the binary communications data and determines the position of the laser beam. The laser communication and spatial referencing system may operate synchronously and/or asynchronously, and may include a display displaying a video image of area surrounding the target with the reflecting location superimposed on the image to provide visual identification of the target. |
| US08648908B2 |
System for detecting incorrectly functioning sensors in a visitor counting system
In a visitor counting system a plurality of sensors (107, 108, 109, 110) count the number of visitors passing by. A data-recording device (105, 106) connected to the sensors store records comprising the number of visitors counted within a predetermined time period. A remote visitor data processing unit (120) further comprises a record validation block for checking validity of the records, an interpolation block for creating new records to substitute the incorrect records, and a faulty-sensor detection block for concluding, based on the records, whether a sensor is faulty. |
| US08648906B2 |
Precision solder resist registration inspection method
A method is disclosed for operating a machine vision inspection system to determine a fluorescent imaging height for acquiring a fluorescent image for repeatably determining the location of a feature within the fluorescent material. The height of an exposed workpiece portion exposed outside of the fluorescent material is determined (e.g., using a height sensor or autofocus operations). The determined height is repeatable. The exposed portion has a characteristic height relative to the fluorescent material and/or features located therein. The fluorescent imaging height, which may be inside the fluorescent material, is determined relative to the determined height of the exposed portion. The fluorescent imaging height is determined such that it enhances the detection of the desired feature located within the fluorescent material in the resulting fluorescent image. For a variety of workpieces, the method provides automatic acquisition of appropriately focused fluorescent image more reliably than previously known methods. |
| US08648899B2 |
Liquid crystal lenses having attenuated switching noise
The invention relates to liquid crystal lenses having dynamically switchable light transmission, including: a shutter (2) including two transparent substrates (21, 22) and a nematic liquid crystal layer (20) arranged between the substrates (21, 22); and a control circuit capable of alternately applying a bias voltage or a relaxation voltage across the liquid crystal to render the shutter (2)clear or opaque, the falling edges between the bias voltage and the relaxation voltage having a duration of 80 to 900 μs. |
| US08648898B2 |
Stereoscopic liquid crystal shutter glasses and stereoscopic image display system
According to one embodiment, stereoscopic liquid crystal shutter glasses include a left-eye liquid crystal shutter and a right-eye liquid crystal shutter. Each of the left-eye liquid crystal shutter and the right-eye liquid crystal shutter has a response time not more than 5 milliseconds. Each of the left-eye liquid crystal shutter and the right-eye liquid crystal shutter has a contrast ratio not less than 350:1. The contrast ratio is a value at an angle of sight of 30 degrees in left direction and in right direction. |
| US08648896B2 |
Stereoscopic optical system, and optical apparatus for stereoscopic measurement, stereoscopic measurement apparatus and stereoscopic observation apparatus each using the same
A stereoscopic optical system includes, at a distal end of an insertion part of an endoscope, a two-path forming optical system for forming two paths of rays involving a parallax, an image forming optical system for forming images out of light travelling along the respective paths of rays in the two-path forming optical system onto a common region, and an image sensor arranged at an image forming position of the image forming optical system. The stereoscopic optical system is further provided with a time-division path switching means that is capable of switching between the two paths of rays in a time-division manner so that only light coming from either one of the two paths of rays formed by the two-path forming optical system enters the image forming optical system. |
| US08648893B2 |
Electrooptic device
An electrooptic device having a simple structure that can efficiently increase deflection of a beam is provided. The device includes: an electrooptic crystal (11) having an electrooptic effect; an electrode pair of a positive electrode (12) and a negative electrode (13) for generating an electric field inside the electrooptic crystal; and a power source for applying a voltage between the electrode pair so as to generate a space charge inside the electrooptic crystal. With this arrangement, by using a simple structure, a change in a deflection angle is temporally rapid, and a large deflection angle that cannot be obtained by a conventional electrooptic crystal prism can be acquired at a low applied voltage. |
| US08648889B2 |
Display device and method for driving display member
In one embodiment of the present invention, in an even-numbered signal line group, the arrangement sequence of the first and second signal lines is reversed between in a display area and in a non-display area, and the same goes for the arrangement sequence of the third and fourth signal lines. The ends of the first to sixteenth signal lines in the non-display area are connected to the first to sixteenth individual drivers, respectively. An odd-numbered individual driver and an even-numbered individual driver each output a corresponding one of drive signals of opposite polarity. Thus, the polarities of subpixels of the same color arranged in a first direction D1 (horizontal direction) differ between the subpixels connected to the odd-numbered signal line group and the subpixels connected to the even-numbered signal line group. That is, all of the subpixels having the same color arranged in the horizontal direction do not have the same polarity. This helps reduce a horizontal shadow. |
| US08648887B2 |
Method for quickly adjusting the waveform brightness of digital three-dimensional oscilloscope
A method for adjusting the waveform brightness for a waveform formatted to be displayed on a digital three-dimensional (3D) oscilloscope having M brightness gradation levels to display the waveform on a digital 3D oscilloscope having L brightness gradation levels is includes, creating a ROM in an FPGA and storing a look-up table of screen display brightness value of LCD that is corresponding to the waveform occurrence N(T,A) at the current brightness gradation L. The ROM is divided into 2a sub ROMs, each sub ROM has the capacity of 2b×d bits. A value of round(pL·N(T,A) is assigned to waveform brightness value D(T,A) and is stored correspondingly into the subROML of 2b×d bits by ascending order of the b bits of binary data of waveform occurrence N(T,A). In this way, using the b bits of binary data of waveform occurrence N(T,A) as the binary address of the subROML, corresponding waveform brightness value D(T,A) at the current brightness gradation L can be obtained through look-up table in the subROML. |
| US08648885B2 |
Method for creating gamma look-up table and display device
A method for creating a Gamma look-up table (LUT) includes: calculating interpolated display characteristics of a plurality of colors by using a nonlinear interpolation algorithm based on a plurality of display characteristics of the predetermined patterns wherein the number of the display characteristics is smaller than the product of the number of the colors and the number of the interpolated display characteristics of the colors; and correcting the interpolated display characteristics of the colors on the basis of a maximum display characteristic value and a reference gamma value so that the Gamma look-up table is created. The predetermined patterns comprise a plurality of gray level patterns which one-by-one correspond to a plurality of levels, and the interval of a pair of adjacent gray level patterns among the gray level patterns is different from the interval of another pair of adjacent gray level patterns among the gray level patterns. |
| US08648883B2 |
Display apparatus and method of driving the same
In a display apparatus and a method of driving the same, an active period during which one pixel is turned on is divided into a red sub frame, a green sub frame, a blue sub frame, and a white sub frame. A controller compares a gray scale of a fourth image data corresponding to the white sub frame with a reference gray scale and compensates a first image data, a second image data, and a third image data corresponding to the red, green, and blue sub frames, respectively, in accordance with the comparison result. |
| US08648882B2 |
Image display apparatus and image processing method
An image display apparatus includes: a primary image processing device that performs image processing for an input image represented by input image information; a secondary image processing device that performs image processing for the input image processed by the primary image processing device; a light modulator that modulates an illumination light based on the input image information representing the input image processed by the secondary image processing device; and a projection optical system that projects the modulated light onto a screen as an image, wherein the secondary image processing device performs position adjustment processing, and outputs position information representing the display position of the input image to the primary image processing device after the position adjustment processing on the input image is completed, and the primary image processing device reflects the position information outputted from the secondary image processing device to perform position adjustment on the input image information. |
| US08648879B2 |
Apparatus and method for tracking augmented reality content
Provided are an apparatus and method for tracking augmented reality content using a mobile sensor. The method includes recognizing an augmented reality marker from an input image and calculating a position and posture of the recognized augmented reality marker, calculating a position and posture of augmented reality content corresponding to the augmented reality marker using the calculated position and posture of the augmented reality marker, synthesizing the augmented reality content with the input image using the calculated position and posture of the augmented reality content, and displaying the synthesized image, updating the position and posture of the augmented reality content using a 6-axis sensor when the augmented reality marker is not recognized in the input image; and synthesizing the augmented reality content with the input image using the updated position and posture of the augmented reality content, and displaying the synthesized image. |
| US08648877B2 |
Mobile terminal and operation method thereof
A mobile terminal and an operating method thereof are provided. The operating method includes displaying a preview image provided by a camera module on a display module; obtaining position information of the mobile terminal; obtaining a map of an area displayed in the preview image and its relevant areas based on the obtained position information; and displaying an image into which the preview image and the map are combined on the display module. Therefore, it is possible for a user to view a preview image and a map at the same time and determine his or her location with an enhanced sense of reality. |
| US08648875B2 |
Differential resource applications in virtual worlds based on payment and account options
A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system comprises a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method comprises providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object. |
| US08648874B2 |
Method and system for providing edge antialiasing
A system and method for generating a graphical image on a display is disclosed. The graphical image is generated from data describing at least one object. The display includes a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions has an area. The system and method include determining if a portion of the at least one object intersects a current position of the plurality of positions and providing an output if the portion intersects the current position. The method and system further include providing a mask for the portion if it is determined that the portion intersects the current position. The mask indicates an extent to which the at least one portion occupies the area of current position. The method and system further include utilizing the mask to provide antialiasing. The method and system also include repeating the determining, one mask providing, and utilizing steps for each of the plurality of positions. |
| US08648871B2 |
Storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An information processing section of a game apparatus executes a program for implementing a step S100 of acquiring a camera image; a step S200 of detecting a marker; a step S400 of calculating a position and an orientation of a virtual camera; a step S600 of generating an animation in which layed-flat surfaces of a hexahedron appear, and the hexahedron is folded so as to confine virtual objects representing targets therein when a stage is cleared; a step S800 of generating an animation in which the folded hexahedron is unfolded so as to position different virtual objects thereon; a step S900 of mapping the photographed image on objects; a step S1000 of taking an image of the objects by means of the virtual camera; and a step S1100, S1200 of displaying the camera image and an object image which is superimposed on the camera image. |
| US08648869B1 |
Automatic test instrument for video generation and capture combined with real-time image redisplay methods
Method of capturing multiple format video signals and reformatting them in real-time for display on generic external monitors, is disclosed. This method is intended for, by not limited to, implementation on a multiple function video test instrument with video generation and video capture capabilities. The method is capable of operating with standard and non-standard format synchronized video waveforms and also with deflection-driven video waveforms. Since this innovative method reuses already available functionality in the video test instrument, the new functionality is realized efficiently, economically and does not require any more space within the test instrument. |
| US08648868B2 |
Color correction to facilitate switching between graphics-processing units
The described embodiments provide a system that facilitates a switch from using a first graphics-processing unit (GPU) to using a second GPU to drive a display. During operation, upon generation of a request to switch from using the first GPU to using the second GPU as a signal source for driving the display, the system obtains a transform (such as a lookup table) that enables the displayed color output from the second GPU to substantially match the displayed color output from the first GPU. The system then makes the transform available for use by the second GPU in driving the display. |
| US08648867B2 |
Graphic processor based accelerator system and method
An accelerator system is implemented on an expansion card comprising a printed circuit board having (a) one or more graphics processing units (GPU), (b) two or more associated memory banks (logically or physically partitioned), (c) a specialized controller, and (d) a local bus providing signal coupling compatible with the PCI industry standards (this includes but is not limited to PCI-Express, PCI-X, USB 2.0, or functionally similar technologies). The controller handles most of the primitive operations needed to set up and control GPU computation. As a result, the computer's central processing unit (CPU) is freed from this function and is dedicated to other tasks. In this case a few controls (simulation start and stop signals from the CPU and the simulation completion signal back to CPU), GPU programs and input/output data are the information exchanged between CPU and the expansion card. Moreover, since on every time step of the simulation the results from the previous time step are used but not changed, the results are preferably transferred back to CPU in parallel with the computation. |
| US08648864B2 |
System and method for blended animation enabling an animated character to aim at any arbitrary point in a virtual space
A method for blended animation by providing a set of animation sequences associated with an animated character model is disclosed. In one embodiment, a geometric representation of a blend space is generated from the set of animation sequences using locator nodes associated with each animation sequence. A subset of animation sequences is selected from the set of animation sequences by casting a ray from a reference bone to a target through the geometric representation and selecting animation sequences that are geometrically close to the intersection of the cast ray and the geometric representation. A blend weight is determined for each member animation sequence in the selected subset of animation sequences. A blended animation is generated using the selected subset of animation sequences and the blend weights, then rendered to create a final animation. |
| US08648862B2 |
Method for automatically modifying a graphics feature to comply with a resolution limit
A method, system and computer readable media relating to automatically adjusting a graphics feature to compensate for a predetermined resolution limit. The method generally relates to automatically identifying, within a selected area of a graphics file, one or more portions of at least one graphics feature meeting predetermined criteria for adjustment, including criteria for defining a thin portion having a thickness less than the resolution limit. The method then automatically modifies only the identified one or more portions to have an adjusted thickness greater than the initial thickness. Additional criteria may be used to restrict which thin portions of the feature are actually modified. |
| US08648861B2 |
Two-dimensional vector fills using topological recipes
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to update a fill region of a computer drawing. A topological recipe representing the fill region is defined. The recipe includes a region set (of regions to be filled where the regions are areas bound by contours), a contour set (of contours that are a chain of curve segments), and curve segments. A final fill area of the fill region based on the topological recipe is computed. The final fill area is displayed and the curve segments are then modified. In response to the modification of the curve segments, the final fill area is dynamically updated and displayed. |
| US08648860B2 |
Graphics tools for interactive analysis of three-dimensional machine data
Methods for displaying machine data are described including a method for displaying machine data as a virtual three-dimensional image showing a three-dimensional graph having three axes such that the data in the graph may be rotated about one or more of the axes to give a data analyst a better perspective of the behavior of an item being monitored. In a related embodiment, a method for displaying machine data in a virtual three-dimensional image such that the data may be rotated one or more of the axes is described which further includes one or more cursor images representing substantially planar cursors on the display for analyzing data. |
| US08648859B2 |
Image display apparatus, image processing apparatus and method to output an image with high perceived resolution
An intermediate image generating means (1) generates a horizontal intermediate image (D1h) and a vertical intermediate image (D1v) by extracting components of an input image (DIN) in a particular frequency band; an intermediate image processing means (2) generates a horizontal image (D2Bh) and a vertical image (D2Bv) by performing non-linear processing (2A) and high-frequency component generation (2B); an intermediate image (D2) is obtained by combining these horizontal and vertical images by performing weighted addition for each pixel and is added (3) to the input image (DIN) to obtain an enhanced output image (DOUT). Even if the input image includes a fold-over component on the high-frequency side or does not include an adequate high-frequency component, adequate image enhancement processing can be carried out. |
| US08648858B1 |
Hybrid text and image based encoding
A configuration for encoding and decoding the data is disclosed herein. A server retrieves webpage content to filter and extract text and image data. The text data is encoded using a lossless encoder, whereas the image data is downsampled to a lower resolution and encoded using a lossy encoder. The encoded text and image data is transmitted over a network. Once the encoded data is received on the client device, the text and image data is decoded using an inverse encoding algorithm and resized at a resolution appropriate to the native resolution of the display device. |
| US08648852B2 |
Method and system for providing transparent access to hardware graphic layers
The present invention relates generally to computer graphics, and more specifically to methods of, and systems for, configuring, controlling and accessing multiple hardware graphics layers that are used to compose a single video display. One aspect of the invention is broadly defined as follows: in a computer environment including a software application and an operating system running on a computer, the computer including a graphics card and a video display, the graphics card being operable to render images to the video display, the improvement comprising: the operating system including a universal application programming interface (API) which supports hardware layers on graphics cards; the operating system being operable to: receive draw events via the universal API; determine what hardware layers are available on the graphics card, and what their parameters are; and respond to draw requests from the software application by rendering the draw requests selectively to any of the available hardware layers on the graphics card; whereby the computer environment allows software applications to exploit available hardware layers on the graphics card. |
| US08648851B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device having improved reliability is disclosed.The LCD device includes an LCD panel comprising a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines crossing the plurality of gate lines, a bottom cover disposed under the LCD panel, a top case encompassing an edge portion of an upper surface of the LCD panel and coupled to the bottom cover, a control PCB disposed on a lower surface of the bottom cover, a data driving PCB disposed at a side of the LCD panel and supplying a data signal to the plurality of data lines, a plurality of chip-on-films (COFs) connected the data driving PCB and the LCD panel, a plurality of flexible flat cables (FFCs) connected the data driving PCB and the control PCB, and a protection tape in which an adhesive material is coated on a surface other than areas corresponding to the FFCs and a plurality of grooves corresponding to the FFCs are formed at a side of the protection tape. |
| US08648847B2 |
LED driving apparatus which controls based on LED state
An LED driving apparatus comprising: a power feed unit; a driving control unit; a current detection unit that detects load current flowing in an LED module; and an output control unit that determines whether the LED module is under conducting state or opening state, and outputs a signal in accordance with a result of the determination, wherein, when the LED module is under conducting state, the output control unit outputs a first signal to the driving control unit so that the load current is constant, wherein, when the LED module is under opening state, the output control unit outputs a second signal to the driving control unit so that a voltage becomes a predetermined constant-voltage value, and wherein the predetermined voltage value is a voltage or higher, at which the LED module starts conduction, and a voltage or lower corresponding to an upper limit of the LED. |
| US08648846B2 |
Display device, electronic device, and method of driving display device
A display device is provided having improved reliability compared with the related art. The display device includes, for each pixel: a photo-emission element and a first MOS transistor connected in series between a first power source line and a second power source line; a capacitor connected to be inserted between a gate and a source of the first MOS transistor; and a second MOS transistor connected to be inserted between a signal line to be applied with a image signal voltage and the gate of the first MOS transistor, the second MOS transistor being controlled by a scan signal to change between ON-state and OFF-state, wherein ON-period of the first transistor is established within a period in which the photo-emission element is maintained to an extinction state and the signal line is applied with a voltage having a fixed level independent from the image signal voltage. |
| US08648844B2 |
Power saving transmissive display
For reduced power wastage, a transmissive display (100), comprises a backlight (106) and a valve (110) for modulating light from the backlight to create an image, and furthermore the transmissive display comprises: a connector (198) for connection with a connected viewer behavior detection means ((150, 152, 165), 160), and a power optimizer (120), having an input connection (C_i) to the viewer behavior detection means for receiving from it a behavior measuring signal (I_usr), and having an output (O_BL) for sending an optimal drive value (D_Lb) to the backlight (106) depending on the behavior measuring signal (I_usr). |
| US08648842B2 |
Method and apparatus for billboard with advertisement including electroluminescent lighting
Method and apparatus provide for attaching a planar electroluminescent lamp unit to the side of a billboard, and providing a media adhered to the surface of the lamp unit and to the side of the billboard adjacent the lamp unit, wherein the media has advertising indicia printed thereon. The lamp unit is connected to a source of power on the billboard. |
| US08648840B2 |
Display apparatus, driving method thereof, and electronic system
A display apparatus includes: a pixel array section including a row of first and second scanning lines, a column of signal lines, and pixels in a matrix, each of the pixels disposed at an intersection of both of the lines; and a drive section. The drive section performs line progressive scanning on the pixels. The pixel includes a light emitting device, a sampling transistor, a driving transistor, a switching transistor, and a holding capacitor. The sampling transistor samples a video signal on the signal line to hold the signal potential in the holding capacitor, the driving transistor makes the light emitting device conductive to be in a luminous state in accordance with the held signal potential, and the switching transistor becomes ON in accordance with the control signal supplied in advance of the sampling of the video signal to change the light emitting device to a non-luminous state. |
| US08648838B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a detection section which detects touch operation on a touch operation surface by the operating tool, an execution section which executes predetermined processing designated by the touch operation, a determination section which determines whether contact of the operating tool to the touch operation surface is maintained, and a display control section which causes a confirmation message for confirming whether to execute the predetermined processing to be displayed depending on a determination result of the determination section, and, when the determination section determines that the contact of the operating tool to the touch operation surface is maintained, the execution section executes the predetermined processing designated by the touch operation even without explicit confirmation processing being performed with respect to the confirmation message. |
| US08648835B2 |
Touch screen controller
A controller for a touch-screen sensor is described. The controller comprises a voltage generator for generating a first voltage signal and at least one output for outputting the first voltage signal such that the first voltage is applied across a resistive layer of the sensor in a first direction (e.g. X direction). The controller further comprises an input for receiving a second voltage signal representing the voltage on the resistive layer measured at a touch position by a measuring electrode of the sensor when the sensor is touched. A processor determines the co-ordinate in the first direction (e.g. X co-ordinate) of the touch position using the second voltage signal received during a first measuring period. Specifically, the co-ordinate is determined by determining the attenuation of the first voltage signal in the second voltage signal. The first voltage signal is generated such that the first voltage applied across the resistive layer is a time-varying voltage during the first measuring period, having at least one known characteristic. In one embodiment, voltages are applied across the resistive layer in two directions (e.g. X and Y directions) simultaneously, allowing the processor to determine the X and Y co-ordinates simultaneously. |
| US08648833B2 |
Touch panel having reduced number of interconnects and touch input/output apparatus having the same
A touch panel includes first and second normally spaced apart substrates. The first substrate includes first spaced apart touch electrodes extended in a first direction and each having a first width (W1). The second substrate includes second spaced apart touch electrodes extended in a different second direction and each having a second width (W2) which is substantially narrower than the first width. One of the substrates can be flexed so that momentary shorting contact is established between corresponding first and second touch electrodes at positions where pressing touch is provided. A combination of interconnect wirings and interrogation circuits are provided for automatically determining where and when the temporary shorting contacts were made, even if plural ones are simultaneously made. The disclosed embodiments include ones where the number of interconnect wirings are reduced. |
| US08648830B2 |
Noise reduction in digitizer system
A method for noise reduction in a digitizer includes determining a location of a stylus with a known frequency of emission over a first sampling period, sampling output from a plurality of detecting elements over a second sampling period, identifying detecting elements with sampled output in the second sampling period above a defined threshold in a selected frequency, the selected frequency being close to but different than the known frequency of the stylus, selecting as a candidate carrier of mere noise a detecting element from the detecting elements identified that is spaced away from the determined location of the stylus, and reducing values of output sampled over the second sampling period from at least one other detecting element, in accordance with the output sampled over the second sampling period from the detecting element selected as the candidate carrier of mere noise. |
| US08648827B2 |
Portable devices, data transmission systems and display sharing methods thereof
Display sharing methods for use in a server coupled to a plurality of devices via a network are provided. Each device at least includes a touch-sensitive display unit. The server receives a plurality of determination information from the devices and determines whether the devices corresponding to the received determination information are neighboring to each other and are located on the same plane, wherein each of determination information corresponds to one device and includes first gesture information. If so, the server further determines whether first gesture information from all received determination information can be combined into a closed-loop gesture and if so, provides first display data to each device. Second display information is displayed on the touch-sensitive display units of the devices, wherein each of determination information is generated when the corresponding device detects/receives a gesture which has contacted two edges of its touch-sensitive display unit on the touch-sensitive display unit. |
| US08648818B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device which is the liquid crystal display device (12) in which the transparent interlayer (3) is provided between the liquid crystal display panel (1) and the transparent substrate (11) having a touch panel function and disposed on a front side of the liquid crystal display panel (1). In the liquid crystal display device (12), the outermost periphery of the transparent interlayer (3) is shaped like a frame, and the same material is used to form a frame-shaped transparent interlayer (7) and the transparent interlayer (3) that constitutes an entire display area to prevent the liquid material of the interlayer (3) leaking out of the liquid crystal display device (12) during manufacture of a product or while the product is in use. |
| US08648817B2 |
Portable game machine with touch panel display
A portable game machine with a display which also serves as a touch panel type input portion is comprised of means for detecting a contact between a finger of a player and a screen, means for computing a coordinate position of the finger on the screen, means for computing and determining the coordinate position where the object to be displayed on the display is displayed so as to separate a predetermined distance from the coordinate position of the finger and to create a gap between the object displayed on the display and a periphery of the finger contacted with the screen, and object display means for displaying the object at the computed and determined coordinate position on the display. |
| US08648815B2 |
Touch panel that has an image layer and detects bending waves
A touch panel includes a substrate that has top and bottom surfaces. A reflective image layer has top and bottom surfaces and displays an image. The bottom surface of the reflective image layer is bonded to the top surface of the substrate to form a stack having top and bottom sides. At least one sensor detects signals associated with bending waves propagating through the stack. The signals are used to identify coordinate locations of at least one touch event on the top or bottom sides of the stack, or to identify coordinate locations of touch events on both of the top and bottom sides of the stack. |
| US08648803B2 |
Remote control
The remote control device contains two keypads, of which the second keypad is able to be slid into a housing or extracted from it. A sensor detects the sliding position of the second keypad and generates an output signal, that assigns differing control signals to preset keys of the first keypad depending on the sliding position of the second keypad. Additionally the remote control device has two transmission devices with differing directions of emission, with always only one transmission device being activated and in fact depending on the output signal of the sensor. |
| US08648798B2 |
Input device and method and program
An input device includes a detection unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a compensation unit. The detection unit is configured to detect an operation by a user for controlling an electronic device and output an operation signal corresponding to the operation. The first acquisition unit is configured to acquire the detected operation signal and a differential value of the operation signal. The second acquisition unit is configured to acquire a function defined by the differential value to compensate for a delay in response of the operation signal with respect to the operation by the user. The compensation unit is configured to compensate the operation signal with the acquired function. |
| US08648793B2 |
Image display apparatus, display control apparatus, and display control method
An illuminance change detector obtains detected illuminance values from a plurality of illuminance detectors, and determines whether the illuminance value detected by each illuminance detector changed from an illuminance range to another illuminance range. When the illuminance value detected by at least one of the plurality of illuminance detectors changed from the illuminance range to the other illuminance range, an image quality control unit sets different timing to change an image quality adjustment value for a display image from an image quality adjustment value corresponding to the illuminance range to an image quality adjustment value corresponding to the other illuminance range, depending on how many of the illuminance values detected by the illuminance detectors changed from the illuminance range to the other illuminance range. |
| US08648791B2 |
Backlight module and method of determining driving current thereof
A method of determining driving currents of a backlight module includes: disposing the backlight module onto a base; defining a plurality of areas from a top area to a bottom are of the backlight module; and reducing the driving current of the area that is situated further from the base. |
| US08648787B2 |
Pixel circuitry for display apparatus
A pixel circuitry for a display apparatus is provided herein. The pixel circuitry includes a first storage element, and a switching element composed of a plurality of switches. The first storage element has a first terminal receiving a pixel signal and a second terminal coupled to a first voltage. The first storage element is used for storing the pixel signal. The switching element includes a first switch and a second switch respectively conducted in response to a first signal and a second signal. Each of the first switch and the second switch has an input terminal coupled to a data line and an output terminal coupled to the first storage element. The cooperation of the first switch and the second switch has benefit of delivering the pixel signal without influence of body effect. |
| US08648786B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel including a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, a plurality of gate lines and data lines arranged on the display area to intersect each other, so as to define a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of thin-film transistors formed at respective intersections of the gate lines and the data lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the respective pixel regions and connected to the thin film transistors, and at least one first common line provided between the data lines and arranged parallel to the data lines. |
| US08648783B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving liquid crystal display
A driving apparatus and a method for a liquid crystal display wherein a picture can be inspected by a specific image signal when an image signal is not applied is provided. In the driving apparatus, an image signal processor extracts a complex synchronizing signal and a first image signal from a complex image signal input from an external source. An image signal generator generates a second image signal. An input signal detector counts the pulses in the complex synchronizing signal to generate a selection signal. An image signal selector selectively outputs any one of the first image signal from the image signal processor and the second image signal from the image signal generator in response to the selection signal. A data driver applies an output image signal selected and output by the image signal selector to the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US08648782B2 |
Display device
The display device includes a signal line and a pixel. The pixel includes a first switching element, a capacitor having a first electrode which is electrically connected to the signal line through the first switching element, a display element electrically connected to the first electrode of the capacitor, a second switching element, and an electric charge supply terminal electrically connected to a second electrode of the capacitor through the second switching element. A potential difference between a potential of the signal line and a potential of the electric charge supply line is applied to the capacitor. Voltage of the capacitor at the time of writing is set higher than that of the display element. Accordingly, drop in voltage held in the capacitor due to degradation of the first switching element is reduced, and desired voltage applied to the display element is maintained. |
| US08648781B2 |
Technique for adjusting a backlight during a brightness discontinuity
Embodiments of a system that includes one or more integrated circuits are described. During operation, the system receives a sequence of video images, and calculates brightness metrics associated with the video images in the sequence of video images. Then, the system determines an intensity setting of a light source, which illuminates a display that is configured to display the sequence of video images, and scales brightness values of a given video image in the sequence of video images based on a given brightness metric associated with the given video image. Next, the system changes the intensity setting and scaling the brightness values when there is a discontinuity in the brightness metrics between two adjacent video images in the sequence of video images. |
| US08648774B2 |
Large scale LED display
A large scale LED display has a number of display panels each having a cable and spacer support structure for a number of LED modules. Adjacent display panels are connected together by a number of seam links that snap onto one cable of one of the display panels and one cable of the adjacent display panel. The cables may include a number of seam link engagement members spaced along the length of the cable and onto which the seam links snap wherein each of the seam link engagement members locates an LED module on the support structure. The LED modules include top and bottom housing sections that snap together, wherein one of the housing sections includes a seat for an electrical connector. The seat locates the connector and a printed circuit assembly within the LED module. |
| US08648773B2 |
Three-dimensional display
A light ray controller has a circular frustum shape and is fitted in a circular hole of a top board such that its large diameter bottom opening faces upward. The light ray controller transmits a light ray while diffusing the light ray in a ridgeline direction and transmits the light ray straightforward without diffusing the light ray in a circumferential direction. A rotation module is provided under the table. One or more scanning projectors are provided on a circumference around an axis of the light ray controller on the rotation base of the rotation module. One or more scanning projectors are rotated by the rotation module. The controller controls one or more scanning projectors being rotated based on three-dimensional shape data stored in a storage. |
| US08648772B2 |
Amalgamated display comprising dissimilar display devices
A reflective display, such as an electrophoretic display (EPD), and an emissive display, such as a backlit liquid crystal display, may be combined to form an amalgamated display. This combination may include layering one display atop the other, alternating reflective and emissive display elements, or otherwise interspersing reflective and emissive display elements with one another. Images on the amalgamated display may be presented using either reflective or emissive modes or a combination of the two, depending upon factors such as refresh rate, power consumption, presence of color and/or video, and so forth. |
| US08648770B2 |
Smart antenna systems suitable for reception of digital television signals
A reconfigurable antenna is disclosed that includes a ground plane, an electrically-conductive microstrip patch element, and a plurality of switches. The patch element is spaced-apart from the ground plane with a dielectric medium between the patch element and the ground plane. The switches are coupled between the ground plane and the patch element. The switches are openable and closable, for example, in response to a control signal from an external television device to configure the state of the reconfigurable antenna. Additional reconfigurable antenna elements are disclosed. Antenna arrays including reconfigurable antenna elements, switchable fixed elements, or a combination thereof are also disclosed. |
| US08648768B2 |
Conical switched beam antenna method and apparatus
A switched beam antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a plurality of feed elements arranged radially about a center point. A feed switch provides equidistant signal paths between each antenna element and a transceiver. The production of an antenna beam in a desired direction is achieved by controlling a switch to selectively operate a feed element associated with a beam coverage area that encompasses the desired steering angle. |
| US08648763B2 |
Ground radiator using capacitor
A ground radiation antenna is disclosed. Herein, the ground radiation antenna provides a ground radiator inducing resonance by using the inductance of a ground. Since the ground radiator efficiently uses the inductance of the ground, the ground radiator may operate as a radiator of the ground radiation antenna by using a simple structure of combining a capacitive element with the ground. As described above, by providing an antenna radiator having a remarkably simple structure, the fabrication cost for the antenna may be decreased, and the size of the antenna may also be largely reduced. |
| US08648761B2 |
Behind-the-ear wireless device
A behind-the-ear wireless device includes a main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein and an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound to an ear. The main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected to each other, whereby the wireless device can be fitted to the ear. An antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in a hollow of the sound tube. A parasitic element having a length of about a half wave length is disposed in the main body casing. |
| US08648760B2 |
Continuous dipole antenna
A dipole antenna may be created by surrounding a portion of the continuous conductor with a nonconductive magnetic bead, and then applying a power source to the continuous conductor across the nonconductive magnetic bead. The nonconductive magnetic bead creates a driving discontinuity without requiring a break or gap in the conductor. The power source may be connected or applied to the continuous conductor using a variety of preferably shielded configurations, including a coaxial or twin-axial inset or offset feed, a triaxial inset feed, or a diaxial offset feed. A second nonconductive magnetic bead may be positioned to surround a second portion of the continuous conductor to effectively create two nearly equal length dipole antenna sections on either side of the first nonconductive magnetic bead. The nonconductive magnetic beads may be comprised of various nonconductive magnetic materials, and preformed for installation around the conductor, or injected around the conductor in subsurface applications. Electromagnetic heating of hydrocarbon ores may be accomplished. |
| US08648754B2 |
Multi-resonant broadband antenna
An antenna including: a conducting wire part which includes a first part extending in a first direction, a second part extending from an end of the first part in a direction crossing the first direction, and a third part extending from an end of the second part to face the first part, wherein lengths of the first and third parts are different from each other. |
| US08648753B2 |
Antenna device
Disclosed is an antenna device including a base having an internal thread for an external thread, a first antenna element, a first circuit board which is arranged on the base, electrically connected to the first antenna element, and amplifies a signal output from the first antenna element, a shielding case arranged on the first circuit board, the shielding case having a top board, a second antenna element arranged on the top board of the shielding case and a second circuit board which is electrically connected to the second antenna element and amplifies a signal output from the second antenna element. |
| US08648752B2 |
Chassis-excited antenna apparatus and methods
A chassis-excited antenna apparatus, and methods of tuning and utilizing the same. In one embodiment, a distributed loop antenna configuration is used within a handheld mobile device (e.g., cellular telephone). The antenna comprises two radiating elements: one configured to operate in a high-frequency band, and the other in a low-frequency band. The two antenna elements are disposed on different side surfaces of the metal chassis of the portable device; e.g., on the opposing sides of the device enclosure. Each antenna component comprises a radiator and an insulating cover. The radiator is coupled to a device feed via a feed conductor and a ground point. A portion of the feed conductor is disposed with the radiator to facilitate forming of the coupled loop resonator structure. |
| US08648750B2 |
Antenna with U-shaped portion and extending section
An antenna for transmitting a wireless signal is provided. The antenna includes a ground element, a short element and a transmitting element. The short element is connected to the ground element. The transmitting element is connected to the short element, wherein the transmitting element is a claw shaped structure, and the transmitting element includes a first section, a second section and an extending section, wherein an end of the first section is connected to the short element, and the other end of the first section is connected to ends of the second section and the extending section, and a first groove is formed between the first section and the second section, and a second groove is formed between the first section and the extending section. |
| US08648749B1 |
Estimation of multiple angles of arrival of signals received by an array of antenna elements
A computer estimates multiple angles of arrival of a target signal received by an array of commutated antenna elements. In one aspect, samples of a received target signal obtained from an array of communicated antenna elements and from an element in an array of reference antenna elements are processed to make maximum-likelihood-estimations of multiple angles of arrival at which signals are received by the array of commutated antenna elements; and a display is mapped over time and frequency of the estimations, with the angle of arrival for a particular sample being represented by a variable given display feature. |
| US08648743B2 |
Method and implementation for calculating speed distributions with multi-PRI and SMPRF radars
A method and an arrangement are provided for producing a computed distribution of speeds of scatterers in a target volume (1701). An estimate distribution of speeds at which scatterers would move in the target volume is provided (1201). It is converted (1202) to a candidate autocorrelation function that represent autocorrelation data points that a pulse radar would measure from the current estimate distribution. The fit of a candidate ACF to a measured ACF is measured (1203). The estimate distribution is accepted if a measured fit fulfills a predefined acceptance criterion, or modified (1205) in which case processing returns to the conversion of the modified estimate distribution to an ACF. An accepted estimate distribution is output (1206) as a computed distribution of speeds that describes the actual distribution of speeds. |
| US08648742B2 |
Systems and methods for acquiring and decoding signals using compressed sensing
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize a CS architecture based on a sub-linear time recovery process (with reduced memory requirements). In several embodiments, a novel structured measurement matrix is exploited during signal acquisition allowing the use of a recovery process based on relatively simple computational primitives making it more amenable to implementation in a fully-integrated form. One embodiment of the invention includes an analog front end configured to receive an analog input signal, and CS sampling circuitry connected to an output of the analog front end and configured to generate a plurality of measurements using a structured measurement matrix, where each row of the structured measurement matrix is generated using a different predetermined check node. In addition, the CS sampling circuitry is configured to generate the plurality of measurements at a rate that is less than the Nyquist rate of the analog input signal. |
| US08648739B2 |
Transmission interface and system using the same
A transmission interface includes a first pin, a second pin, a conversion unit, and a decoding unit. The conversion unit receives a serial input data stream via the first pin and receives a serial clock via the second pin. The conversion unit converts the serial input data stream to parallel input data and converts the serial clock to a parallel clock. The serial input data stream has a full swing form. The decoding unit receives and decodes the parallel input data and generates an input data signal according to the decoded parallel input data. |
| US08648738B1 |
Apparatus and methods of rate control for a sample rate converter
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for sample rate conversion. A sample rate converter is arranged to receive an input signal at an input sampling frequency and use an interpolation interval to convert the input signal to an output signal at an output sampling frequency. A rate controller is arranged to alternate between different frequency control words for use in generating the interpolation interval signal. Another embodiment relates to a method of sample rate conversion. Another embodiment relates to a rate controller circuit. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed. |
| US08648737B1 |
Telephone keypad with multidirectional keys
A telephone keypad for one touch text messaging the QWERTY pattern of keys in a matrix of nine keys. Using the multi position biasing keys only one touch is needed for each character, so in use to input the letter “C” you touch one key one time, decreasing the time spend text messaging from cell phones or desk tops and dialing phone numbers advertised in letters. The keypad also has a shift key to get upper case included in the nine keys, and a 2nd key to double functionality of the keys. |
| US08648732B2 |
Pressure sensing based localization and tracking system
A locating and tracking system is provided. The locating and tracking system includes plural pressure sensing modules, each of which includes at least one pressure sensing unit detecting a pressure source and generating a signal; a data processing unit connected with the at least one pressure sensing unit, and processing the signal to generate a module information; a storage unit connected with the data processing unit, and storing the module information and an user information; a communication unit connected with the data processing unit, transmitting the module information, and receiving an outer information; and a power managing unit managing a power needed by the at least one pressure sensing unit, the data processing unit, the storage unit and the communication unit; a bottom board configured on a floor, and bearing the mentioned units; and a top board covering the mentioned units, and transferring the pressure source to the pressure sensing unit. |
| US08648731B2 |
Gas concentration monitor
Techniques are generally described related to a method and system for monitoring gas concentrations. One example gas monitoring apparatus includes a light source, a MEMS micro-mirror arranged to be in an optical path of a light from the light source that has passed through a sample and configured to direct selected wavelengths of the light to a single detection point, a detector arranged at the single detection point and configured to convert incident light into electrical signals, and a processor programmed to determine a gas concentration of one or more gases in the sample based on the electrical signals. |
| US08648726B1 |
Kit and system for monitoring a person
A kit that can include one or more sensors that can be in communication with one or more contact devices. The kit can ensure that infants are breathing and that at least one caregiver receives an alert when an infant stops breathing. The kit can also provide alerts and alarms when other acquired data is not within predetermined value ranges. |
| US08648725B2 |
Using IPTV as health monitor
An IPTV can receive a user name and present a screen enabling a user by means of a remote control to select health information categories, inputting numeric parameters into the selected categories which can be uploaded to an Internet server for analysis and viewed by the user for subsequent monitoring/charting. |
| US08648724B2 |
System and method for motivating or prompting hand washing
The invention relates to a system and method for motivating or prompting persons to wash hands. The system includes a sensor for detecting use of a toilet or a urinal, which sensor creates a first signal indicative of that use, and a signaling arrangement for issuing in response to the first signal at least one second signal reminding or prompting the person to use a cleansing agent dispenser. |
| US08648723B2 |
Biological information monitoring system
A biological information monitoring system includes: an alarm generator which generates an alarm signal indicative of an abnormality of biological information of a patient, or an abnormality of a unit related to monitoring of biological information of a patient, or an abnormality due to an operation of a unit related to monitoring of biological information of a patient; a first output generator which performs a first output based on the alarm signal; a detector which detects information related to the first output; a second output generator which performs a second output being independent from the first output; and a warning controller which controls the second output generator to perform the second output based on the detected information related to the first output. |
| US08648711B2 |
Apparatus for the wireless monitoring of linear heat detection systems for storage tank roofs
An fire monitoring apparatus for large storage tanks of combustible fluids permits wireless communication between a Linear Heat Detector system and a Fire Control system. The system comprises a Communication Unit and a Remote Unit. The Communication Unit relays status and control signals between the Fire Control system and the Remote Unit. The communication between the Communication Unit and the Remote Unit is wireless. The Remote Unit is self-powered using solar cells, batteries, or a combination thereof. |
| US08648710B2 |
System and method for playing a game based on a coin toss
System and method for playing game based on coin toss, may utilize sensors to detect physical movement of coin or instrumented coin, communicate sensor-derived data to remote graphical display system, display virtual coin that represents movement and orientation of tossed coin. May utilize sensor, communication, display, game systems and optional message gateway. Sensor system and part of wireless communication system may be external or embedded in coin. Graphical coin movement and orientation may mimic the actual coin being tossed or may be represented as any avatar or other graphical object that represents the coin including celebrity pictures, videos, faces, logos or any other object that may represent a “head” or “tail”. May generate a random number that allows viewers to win a prize. Viewers may guess result of coin toss before toss and win prize if they guess the result correctly. |
| US08648708B2 |
Method and apparatus for redefining electrical power system wiring
Methods and apparatus detect wiring error(s), identify to the user what wiring error has been detected, and redefine the wiring configuration. An indication is provided to the user that the apparatus has redefined the wiring configuration. Steps may be automated and/or initiated by the user. |
| US08648707B2 |
Process for generating an alarm, control device and device for carrying out the process
A process is provided for generating an alarm if at least one monitored parameter (13) deviates from at least one preset value or value range, with the detection or determination of parameter (13) in case of its deviation. The process takes into account a verification interval (25) of limited duration in time and with adaptation of the time limitation of the verification interval (25) as a function of the extent of deviation of parameter (13) from the preset value or value range. A control device, a device for generating an alarm, a treatment devices, a digital storage medium, a computer program product as well as to a computer program are provided. |
| US08648704B2 |
Control device and method for triggering passenger protection devices
A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection devices are provided, the passenger protection devices being triggered as a function of a first acceleration signal and/or a driving dynamics signal. The acceleration signal is corrected by an offset by a comparison with the driving dynamics signal. |
| US08648703B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring apparatus and methods
A vehicle having a sensor apparatus includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion disposed on a side surface of a vehicle frame, wherein the first and second mounting portions are spaced apart in a vehicle length direction, wherein the first and second mounting portions configured to receive a load platform of the vehicle, a wheel assembly comprising a sensor transmitter, and a receiver mounted to the side surface between the first and the second mounting portions, the receiver configured to receive a signal from the sensor transmitter. |
| US08648702B2 |
Combined time-of-flight and image sensor systems
An object detection system of a vehicle includes a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor that receives a reflected object detection signal at a second time based on an object detection signal transmitted at a first time. An image sensor generates an image signal including an image of a detected object. The image sensor is distinct from and adjacent to the TOF sensor. A TOF control module generates distance data based on the first time and the second time and determines whether at least a portion of a detected object is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle. An image control module generates image data based on the image signal. A detection control module correlates the distance data with the image data to generate a warning indicator when at least a portion of the detected object is within the predetermined distance of the vehicle. |
| US08648698B2 |
Method and system for radio frequency identification tag using reduced set communication protocol
A method and tag for decoding a signal received from a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader. A signal is received from the RFID reader in which the signal has a series of pulses. A time frame between receipt of two consecutive pulses is measured to determine whether the pulses represent zero bits or one bits. A total pulse duration is calculated in which the total pulse duration represents a sum of the measured time frames for the signal. A command is decoded. The decoding is based on the total duration of the two pulses. |
| US08648697B2 |
System and method for information service using network
Disclosed is an information providing system using a network. The information providing system comprises a tag for transmitting a tag identification code, a mobile communication terminal for receiving the tag identification code through a first network, generating map request data and transmitting the map request data together with the tag identification code, a first computer for transmitting the tag identification code and the map request data, which are received from the mobile communication terminal through a third network, through a second network, a third computer for providing map data through the second network, and a second computer for receiving the tag identification code and the map request data through the second network, receiving the map data from the third computer, and transmitting the map data to the first computer. The first computer transmits the map data to the mobile communication terminal through the third network. |
| US08648696B2 |
Image processing device, user authentication method and program
An image processing device includes an operation panel on which a plurality of operation keys is arranged, and a storage part that stores key information allocated to a predetermined operation key of a plurality of operation keys, and with which an user authentication information for authenticating a user authorized to use a function corresponding to the predetermined operation key and an authentication activation information in which conditions for user authentication to be executed when the predetermined operation key is operated are defined are associated. An authentication part reads the user authentication information and the authentication activation information based on the key information when the predetermined operation key is operated, and executes user authentication based on the user authentication information if conditions defined in the authentication activation information are met. A key operation enabling part enables a key operation of the predetermined operation key when user authentication results in success. |
| US08648692B2 |
Accessing an automobile with a transponder
Accessing an automobile with a transponder is disclosed. A processor may determine if the transponder is within range and receive a signal with an identification code from the transponder. If the identification code is valid, user information for the automobile based on the identification code are retrieved. The processor may also process spoken commands if the identification code is valid. |
| US08648691B2 |
Electronic device and casing color changing method thereof
An electronic device and a method for changing housing colors thereof are provided. This electronic device comprises: a power supply, a display screen, a housing (7), a user operation interface (1), a master controller (3), and a control circuit (5), wherein the housing (7) is configured to have multiple independent color-variable units, and each color-variable unit, which is connected to the power supply, is made of electrochromic materials with capacity of memory respectively; the user operation interface (1) is configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user for selecting a housing pattern; the master controller (3), which is connected to the user operation interface, is configured to convert the selected housing pattern into a first control signaling, and then to output the first control signaling; and the control circuit (5), which is connected to the master controller (3), is configured to receive the first control signaling, and to convert the first control signaling into different voltage signals and to control each color-variable unit of the housing (7) to change the color. By adopting this electronic device and the method for changing housing colors thereof, the housing patterns of electronic devices can be changed by following users' demands, which improves users' experience. |
| US08648690B2 |
System and method for monitoring computer servers and network appliances
A sensor board includes at least one sensor in communication with a controller having a single board address to facilitate sensor polling by standard, product-independent modules of a circuit board for a computer server or network appliance. Miniature low-cost sensor boards can be placed in multiple locations on circuit boards without the necessity of being specified and integrated into the circuit board during the design phase to reduce or eliminate associated design risks or delays. |
| US08648689B2 |
Method and system for detecting door state and door sensor failures
A system includes a controller that executes a method for determining failure of the door latch sensor using both the door latch sensor and a door lock sensor. If the door latch sensor is faulty, the controller adjusts an automatic feature of the vehicle based on a door lock signal instead of a door state signal. The controller is also configured to mark the door latch signal as faulty if the door latch system is not functioning properly by using a fault counter that tracks the door lock sensor. |
| US08648687B2 |
Symmetric planar transformer having adjustable leakage inductance
A symmetric planar transformer having adjustable leakage inductance has a circuit board, two first bobbins mounted respectively on opposite side surfaces of the circuit board, two primary windings mounted respectively on the first bobbins, two secondary windings disposed respectively between the circuit board and the first bobbins, two second bobbins disposed respectively between adjacent first bobbins and primary windings, two pad sets disposed respectively between adjacent first bobbins and second bobbins, and a magnetic core assembly mounted through the circuit board, the first and second bobbins, the secondary and primary windings and the pad sets. Adjusting the numbers of the at least one pad of each pad set also adjusts distances between the primary and secondary windings to allow the secondary windings to have the same leakage. Thus, a balanced electric current is induced. |
| US08648686B2 |
Resonant transformer and resonant converter employing same
A resonant transformer and resonant converter are disclosed. The resonant transformer includes a first bobbin, a first primary winding coil, plural first secondary winding coils, a second bobbin, a second primary winding coil, plural second secondary winding coils and a magnetic core assembly. The first bobbin includes a first winding section and plural single-trough second winding sections. Plural pins are arranged at the first winding section. The first primary winding coil is wound around the first winding section and connected with the pins. The first secondary winding coils are wound around respective single-trough second winding sections. The second bobbin includes a third winding section and plural single-trough fourth winding sections. The second primary winding coil are wound around the third winding section and connected with the pins at the first winding section of the first bobbin. The second secondary winding coils are wound around respective single-trough fourth winding sections. |
| US08648679B2 |
Tablet device having a display operable in peek mode
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device. |
| US08648676B2 |
Tunable substrate integrated waveguide components
A method and an apparatus are provided for providing a tunable substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) for which a parameter of at least some element or portion thereof may be altered or varied to alter the propagation of a signal propagating through the SIW thereby achieving a tunable SIW. In some embodiments a plurality of capacitively variably loaded transverse slots achieve the tunability for the SIW. |
| US08648672B2 |
Filter, portable terminal and electronic component
An object is to obtain a steep and large attenuation amount in attenuation bands close to each other out of a band of a TV wave and to provide a filter in which the use number of inductors is reduced thereby to be able to contribute to downsizing of a device. Elastic wave resonators of a plurality of parallel arms for each forming plurality of attenuation band are connected to the same electric potential point in a signal path without aid of an inductor. Otherwise, a series circuit of a plurality of element parts generating series resonance is connected in a signal path as a parallel arm. Therefore, a large attenuation amount can be obtained in each of the plural attenuation bands, but a region equivalent to what is called a zero point exists between adjacent poles. However, there can be obtained a characteristic in which steep attenuations occur in both sides of the zero point even if the zero point exists. Sets of elastic wave resonators (sets of resonators) connected to the same potential points or parallel arms constituted by the series circuits are connected in a signal path in a plurality of stages, and an inductor for inverting a phase intervenes between the stages. |
| US08648670B2 |
Filter, duplexer and communication module
According to an aspect of the invention, each of a filter, a duplexer and a communication module includes a plurality of series resonators connected to a signal line in series and a plurality of parallel resonators connected to the signal line in parallel. At least two of the plurality of parallel resonators are connected to the signal line between two of the plurality of series resonators in parallel, inductors are respectively connected to the at least two parallel resonators, and the inductors have different inductances from each other. |
| US08648669B1 |
Planar transmission-line interconnection and transition structures
A combiner/divider circuit may include a plurality of planar transmission lines that each may have a planar signal conductor and at least a planar signal-return conductor. Ends of different ones of the signal conductors of the plurality of transmission lines may interconnect with the signal conductor of a first transmission line may be connected to the signal conductors of second and third transmission lines. Signal-return conductors of the first, fourth, and fifth transmission lines may be connected along their lengths. Vias may connect signal-return conductors of the second and third transmission lines with respective signal conductors of the fourth and fifth transmission lines. The positions of the fourth and fifth striplines relative to the first strip line may reverse in a transition region spaced from the connection region. |
| US08648666B2 |
Multimode frontend circuit
A multimode frontend circuit of the present invention comprises two transmission paths. Each of the transmission paths comprises two input/output lines, a first transmission line having one end connected to one of the input/output lines and the other end connected to the other input/output line, a second transmission line connected to the one of the input/output lines and the other end connected to the other input/output line, and one or more termination switch circuits. The termination switch circuit or circuits comprise a switch having one end connected to one of the first and second transmission lines and a termination circuit connected to the other end of the switch. Each of the transmission lines may comprise one or more short-circuiting switches. The short-circuiting switch or switches are capable of short-circuiting between the two transmission lines at positions at the same electrical length from one of the input/output lines. |
| US08648664B2 |
Mutual inductance circuits
An apparatus includes a first conductive loop coupled to conduct a first current and a second conductive loop coupled in parallel with the first conductive loop and further coupled to conduct a second current. A first conductive portion forms a part of the first conductive loop and the second conductive loop. The first conductive portion is coupled to conduct the first current and the second current. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first conductive loop and the second conductive loop are planar inductors formed in a conductive layer on a substrate of an integrated circuit. |
| US08648658B2 |
Generation of pre-distortion coefficients
There is disclosed a method for generating pre-emphasis coefficients for a pre-emphasis stage of a non-linear distorting device, the method comprising the steps of: capturing, for a given time period, samples of an input signal and samples of an output signal; determining the direction of an error between the captured samples; adjusting the input signal in a direction to reduce the error to generate an estimate of the pre-distorted input signal; generating updated pre-distortion coefficients in dependence on the estimate of the pre-distorted input signal and generated pre-distortion coefficients for one or more previous time periods. |
| US08648656B2 |
Low-noise amplifier with through-mode
The low-noise amplifier with through mode is configured such that a source grounded transistor and a gate grounded transistor are connected in cascode, and a load impedance element and a switching transistor are serially connected between the drain of the gate grounded transistor and a power supply, and a through pass circuit is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal. The gate voltage of the gate grounded transistor is regulated by a bias circuit and the voltage of a mode control terminal is converted by a level shifter to control the gate voltage of the switching transistor, whereby, in the case of using only transistors whose terminal-to-terminal breakdown voltages are each equal to or less than the power supply voltage, it becomes feasible to prevent voltages equal to or more than the terminal-to-terminal breakdown voltages from being applied between the terminals of each transistor. |
| US08648650B2 |
Integrated circuit with dynamic power supply control
Disclosed herein is an integrated circuit including: a timing signal distribution circuit configured to distribute a timing signal that indicates predetermined timing; a synchronous operation circuit configured to operate in synchronization with the distributed timing signal; a logic circuit configured to perform predetermined logical operation based on an operation result of the synchronous operation circuit; and a power supply section configured to supply a voltage lower than a timing signal distribution circuit drive voltage to drive the timing signal distribution circuit as a logic circuit drive voltage to the logic circuit. |
| US08648649B2 |
Voltage down converter
A voltage down converter includes a first driver having a first input terminal configured to generate a first voltage by using an external voltage in response to a first driving signal being inputted to the first input terminal, a control circuit configured to output the first driving signal to the first input terminal in response to a level of the first voltage, a second driver having a second input terminal configured to generate a second voltage by using the external voltage in response to the first driving signal or a second driving signal being inputted to the second input terminal, wherein the first driving signal is transferred from the first input terminal to the second input terminal through a conductive line, and a driving control circuit configured to generate the second driving signal and transferred to the second input terminal in response to a level of the second voltage. |
| US08648647B2 |
Determining current of a first FET of body connected FETs
A semiconductor includes: a first field-effect transistor (FET); and a second FET of similar polarity to the first FET, wherein a body of the first FET is electrically coupled to a body of the second FET, and a source of the first FET is electrically coupled to a source of the second FET, such that a body voltage of the second FET controls a body voltage of the first FET. |
| US08648646B2 |
System and method for generating abritrary voltage waveforms
An electrical system for generating arbitrary voltage waveform includes a power supply unit for providing a supply voltage to the electrical system. One or more charge pumps are in electrical communication with the power supply unit. Each charge pump generates a voltage. The electrical system also includes a plurality of switches, a first switch among the plurality of switches coupled between a ground and an output terminal, other switches among the plurality of switches coupled between the one or more charge pumps and the output terminal. A control circuit is in electrical communication with the power supply unit, the plurality of switches and the one or more charge pumps, and is operable to control the voltage generated by the each charge pump and the plurality of switches. Voltages from the one or more charge pumps additively result in a variable output voltage that generates an arbitrary voltage waveform. |
| US08648644B2 |
Switch control device
The switch control device controls a switching operation of a power switch. The switch control device includes an auxiliary power device. The auxiliary power device includes a parasitic capacitor, and charges the parasitic capacitor by receiving a power voltage to generate an auxiliary power voltage. The switch control device includes a control pulse generator driven by the auxiliary power voltage and generating a set pulse and a reset pulse according to an input signal that is input for controlling the switching operation of the power switch. The switch control device generates a gate signal that turns on the power switch by being synchronized with the set pulse and generates a gate signal that turns off the power switch by being synchronized with the reset pulse. |
| US08648641B2 |
Voltage controlled variable resistor suitable for large scale signal application
A voltage controlled variable resistor circuit is configured to variably attenuate a variable source signal. A fixed attenuation circuit is coupled to receive the variable source signal and output an attenuated variable source signal. The variable source signal is further applied across a variable resistive divider formed of a fixed resistive circuit and a variable resistive circuit. The variable resistive circuit has a first input configured to receive the attenuated variable source signal and a second input configured to receive a variable resistance control signal. The variable resistive circuit is configured to have a resistance which is variable in response to the attenuated variable source signal and the variable resistance control signal. |
| US08648636B2 |
Delaying data signals
In one embodiment, multiple (serializer-deserializer) SERDES channels are aligned by selectively slipping one or more of the incoming serial data streams one bit at a time prior to deserialization. Within each SERDES channel, a slip circuit slips the corresponding serial data stream by one bit (i.e., one unit interval (UI)) by extending the high portion of the duty cycle of a corresponding clock signal. The high portion of the clock signal is extended using a 3-to-1 mux that selects a fixed high signal, such as the high power supply rail, as an intermediate mux output signal whenever transitioning between two different applied clock signals that are offset from one another by one UI. In this way, the slip circuit avoids glitches that might otherwise result from switching directly between the two clock signals. |
| US08648634B2 |
Input jitter filter for a phase-locked loop (PLL)
An input jitter filter for a phase-locked loop and methods of use are provided. The method includes generating a masking zone around falling edges of a feedback signal. The method also includes determining that one or more outputs of a phase detector fall within the masking zone. The method further includes ignoring input clock noise when the one or more outputs of the phase detector fall within the masking zone. |
| US08648633B1 |
Clock and data recovery circuit
The invention provides a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, including a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, providing a reference voltage; a first delay device, delaying an input data so as to generate a first delay signal; an edge detector, generating an edge signal according to the first delay signal and the input data; a second delay device, delaying the edge signal according to a control signal so as to generate a second delay signal; a first gated voltage-controlled oscillator, generating an output recovery clock according to the second delay signal and the reference voltage; a phase detector, detecting a phase difference between the first delay signal and the output recovery clock so as to generate a phase signal and a output recovery data; and an amplifier, amplifying the phase signal by a factor so as to generate the control signal. |
| US08648630B2 |
Systems and methods for driving transistors with high threshold voltages
System and method are provided for driving a transistor. The system includes a floating-voltage generator, a first driving circuit, and a second driving circuit. The floating-voltage generator is configured to receive a first bias voltage and generate a floating voltage, the floating-voltage generator being further configured to change the floating voltage if the first bias voltage changes and to maintain the floating voltage to be lower than the first bias voltage by a first predetermined value in magnitude. The first driving circuit is configured to receive an input signal, the first bias voltage and the floating voltage. The second driving circuit is configured to receive the input signal, a second bias voltage and a third bias voltage, the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit being configured to generate an output signal to drive a transistor. |
| US08648629B2 |
Transmission channel for ultrasound applications
A transmission channel configured to transmit high-voltage pulses and to receive echoes of the high-voltage pulses includes a high voltage buffer, a voltage clamp and a switch. The voltage clamp may include clamping transistors and switching off transistors coupled together in series with body diodes in anti-series. The transmission channel may include a reset circuit configured to bias the transmission channel between pulses. The switch may include a bootstrap circuit. |
| US08648623B2 |
High side current sense amplifier
A single stage current sense amplifier is described that generates a differential output that is proportional to a current through a sense resistor. The voltage across the sense resistor is Vsense. The current sense amplifier includes a differential transconductance amplifier having high impedance input terminals. An on-chip RC filter filters transients in the Vsense signal. A feedback circuit for each leg of the amplifier causes a pair of input transistors to conduct a fixed constant current irrespective of Vsense, which stabilizes the transconductance. A gain control resistor (Re) is coupled across terminals of the pair of input transistors and has Vsense across it. The current through the gain control resistor is therefore Vsensex1/Re. A level shifting circuit coupled to each of the input transistors lowers a common mode voltage at an output of the amplifier. Chopper circuits at the input and output cancel any offset voltages. |
| US08648622B2 |
Method and device for monitoring a frequency signal
A method for monitoring a frequency signal provided within a unit is disclosed. The method comprises a step of receiving one or more binary signal levels of a cycle signal (CLK) or a control signal (CS) from a communication interface (CLK, CS, MOSI, MISO), wherein the communication interface (CLK, CS, MOSI, MISO) is designed to transfer information according to a communication protocol. The method further comprises a step of providing the frequency signal in the unit and comparing the frequency signal to a temporal sequence of signal levels of the cycle signal (CLK) received by the communication interface (CLK, CS, MOSI, MISO) in order to obtain a comparison result or controlling a counter by the control signal (CS) and the frequency signal in order to obtain a counter status. Finally, the method according to the disclosure comprises a step of recognizing a predetermined quality of the frequency signal if the comparison result fulfills a predetermined criterion or if the counter status lies within a predetermined value range in order to monitor by the recognized quality of the frequency signal. |
| US08648621B2 |
Counter operation in a state machine lattice
Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a device that includes a finite state machine lattice. The lattice may include a counter suitable for counting a number of times a programmable element in the lattice detects a condition. The counter may be configured to output in response to counting the condition was detected a certain number of times. For example, the counter may be configured to output in response to determining a condition was detected at least (or no more than) the certain number of times, determining the condition was detected exactly the certain number of times, or determining the condition was detected within a certain range of times. The counter may be coupled to other counters in the device for determining high-count operations and/or certain quantifiers. |
| US08648615B2 |
Testing die-to-die bonding and rework
A method of testing a multi-die integrated circuit (IC) can include testing an inter-die connection of the multi-die IC. The inter-die connection can include a micro-bump coupling a first die to a second die. The method can include detecting whether a fault occurs during testing of the inter-die connection. Responsive to detecting the fault, the multi-die integrated circuit can be designated as including a faulty inter-die connection. Also described is an integrated circuit that includes a first die, a second die on which the first die may be disposed, a plurality of inter-die connections coupling the first die to the second die, and a plurality of probe pads, where each probe pad is coupled to at least one of the inter-die connections. |
| US08648613B2 |
Control device and method for triggering person protecting device
In method and a control device for triggering person protection device, a signal of a planarly measuring environment sensor system and a second signal of a contact sensor system are evaluated separately in order to produce a respective trigger signal. These two trigger signals are then gated in order to produce a third trigger signal. A trigger circuit triggers the person protection device as a function of this third trigger signal. |
| US08648609B2 |
Testing system and adapter thereof utilizing a common power supply and display device to test different main board circuits
A testing system utilizing a common power supply and a display device to test different types of a main board circuit is disclosed. The testing system includes a power supply device for outputting a predetermined power; a liquid crystal display for receiving a control signal from the main board circuit to perform a testing procedure; and an adapter. The adapter includes a first circuit coupled electrically between the power supply device and the main board circuit for converting the predetermined power into a power needed by the main board circuit, and a second circuit coupled electrically between the main board circuit and the liquid crystal display for converting a control signal generated by the main board circuit into a signal format required to perform the testing procedure on the liquid crystal display. |
| US08648602B2 |
Battery impedance detection system, apparatus and method
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to monitoring battery cells. In accordance with various embodiments, an energy storage cell apparatus includes a current injection circuit that separately inject current into individual ones of a plurality of battery cells that store energy, and an impedance-detection circuit detects an impedance characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells in response to the injected current. A filter circuit receives impedance data regarding the detected impedance characteristic and separates low-frequency components of the impedance data from high-frequency components of the impedance data. A memory circuit stores data corresponding to high-bandwidth data including both the low-frequency components and the high-frequency components, and an access circuit provides the low-frequency components for the plurality of battery cells to a battery pack controller. The access circuit further accesses and provides the stored high-bandwidth data for a subset of the individual battery cells to the battery pack controller based upon available bandwidth for communicating the high-bandwidth data. |
| US08648595B2 |
Determining a position of a subarea of an object under examination and the structure thereof in a magnetic resonance system
A method is disclosed for determining a location of a subarea of an area under examination in a magnetic resonance system. The subarea is arranged at the edge of a field-of-view of the magnetic resonance system. In at least one embodiment of the method, at least one slice position is determined for an MR image in which the B0 field at the edge of the MR image satisfies a homogeneity value. For the slice position determined an MR image is acquired which contains the subarea at the edge of the field-of-view and the location of the subarea of the object under examination is determined through the location of the subarea in the MR image. |
| US08648593B2 |
Dark blood balanced steady state free precession imaging
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio. |
| US08648589B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor employing nitrogenated Cu/Ag under-layers with (100) textured growth as templates for CoFe, CoFeX, and Co2(MnFe)X alloys
A magnetoresistive sensor that has a free layer with a face centered cubic, 100 crystal orientation formed on an underlayer structure that has been deposited in the presence of nitrogen. The free layer can be constructed of CoFe, Co2(Mn(1-y)Fey)X (where 0≦y≦1 and X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof), CoFeX (where X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof). The under-layer can include a layer of Ta, a Cu layer formed over the layer of Ta and deposited using a process gas comprising about 20 percent nitrogen and a layer of Ag deposited over the layer of Cu and deposited using a process gas comprising about 50 to 100 percent nitrogen. |
| US08648586B2 |
Circuit for sensing load current of a voltage regulator
A circuit for sensing load current of a voltage regulator. The circuit includes a power transistor and a mirror transistor. A first transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the power transistor and is operable to control size of the power transistor based on a bias voltage of the power transistor, thereby regulating a first voltage for varying load conditions. The circuit also includes a feedback amplifier coupled to the power transistor and the mirror transistor. A transistor is coupled to the feedback amplifier and the mirror transistor. An analog to digital converter (ADC) is coupled to the transistor. A second transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the mirror transistor, the transistor, and the ADC. The second transistor sizing circuit is responsive to an output voltage to control size of the mirror transistor, thereby ensuring that accuracy of output voltage sensed by ADC is not limited by ADC's resolution. |
| US08648585B2 |
Circuit including first and second transistors coupled between an outpout terminal and a power supply
A constant current source circuit is constituted of a control voltage generation section which detects the output voltage at the output terminal so as to generate a control voltage, a reference current adjustment section which adjust a reference current based on the control voltage, and a current mirror section which outputs the output current responsive to the adjusted reference current at the output terminal. This reduces variations of the output current due to variations of the output voltage; hence, the constant current source circuit can precisely operate in a low-voltage region. |
| US08648579B2 |
Supply circuit with ripple compensation
A supply circuit (1) comprising an inductor (2) coupled to switching means (7) and comprising a capacitor (4) is provided with an impedance (3) located between the inductor (2) and the capacitor (4), with a current injector (5) and with a feedback loop comprising a converter (6) for controlling the current injector (5) for compensating a ripple in an output voltage across the capacitor (4). The impedance (3) allows injection of a compensating current at a location different from an output location. This increases a number of possible detections of ripples in the output voltage and allows a ripple in an output voltage to be detected even in case of loads introducing much noise across the capacitor (4). The converter (6) detects a detection signal via the impedance (3) by measuring a voltage across the impedance (3) or across a serial circuit comprising the impedance (3) and the capacitor (4). The impedance (3) comprises a resistor or a further inductor. |
| US08648578B2 |
Capless low drop-out voltage regulator having discharge circuit compensating for on-chip output capacitance and response time
A voltage regulator is provided having one or more discharger circuits that compensate for low on-chip output capacitance and a slow loop response time. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator includes an output transistor coupled to an output voltage line, an output voltage sensing arrangement coupled to the output voltage line for producing an output feedback voltage, and an error amplifier coupled to the output feedback voltage, the output transistor, and a reference voltage for applying feedback control to the output transistor. A first discharger circuit is coupled to the output voltage line and to a reference potential, the first discharger circuit being triggered by a steep-rise overvoltage condition. In another embodiment, a combination of fast and slow discharger circuits is used to improve the load step response—i.e., to stop the output voltage from jumping too high and to pull it back to stable value very quickly, such that the load circuits are protected. |
| US08648574B2 |
Output control device for hybrid engine-driven power generator
A power generator has a battery and an alternator driven by an engine. The battery assists a power energy of the alternator. An inverter circuit is connected to an output of a rectifying circuit. A DC/DC converter boosts a voltage of the battery and inputs the boosted voltage into a constant power regulator. The constant power regulator boosts an input voltage and secures a certain power. An output voltage of the rectifying circuit is monitored by a monitoring means and an output voltage of the battery is monitored by a monitoring means. When the output voltage of the rectifying circuit is equal to or less than a rated voltage, an auxiliary power value corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery is set as a power target value of the constant power regulator. |
| US08648573B2 |
Charger and portable device having the same
A charger for a portable device includes a USB detector connected to a data pin to detect the effective resistance on the data pin before a USB transceiver is enabled, to identify USB or adapter plug in and control a charging current for a battery accordingly. |
| US08648567B2 |
Enhanced portable battery powered electrical appliance
An appliance, such as a flashlight, accepts first and second batteries. The appliance also includes an electrical load, such as a light source. A first circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the first battery and supplies power to the load. A second circuit, such as a DC to DC converter, receives power from the second battery and supplies electrical power to the load. In one embodiment, the appliance accepts batteries having multiple physical sizes. |
| US08648566B2 |
Automatic and dynamic home electricity load balancing for the purpose of EV charging
A circuit breaker monitors a total present electric current consumption value for electric consumers served by the service panel and not served by the circuit breaker, compares the present electric current consumption value with a preset maximum current capacity limit, and sets an electric charging current drawn from the service panel to a value less than a difference between the maximum current capacity limit and a sum of the total present electric current consumption value and a preset current consumption value for an electric consumer that is presently not drawing current. |
| US08648565B2 |
Power supply system of vehicle
A charging system of a vehicle for charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device includes a charger configured to receive electric power from a power supply external to the vehicle for charging the power storage device, a charging power sensing portion for sensing charging power supplied to the power storage device, and a charging control device for performing control on the charger by generating a power command value for the charger based on a target value. The charging control device detects a difference between charging power sensed by the charging power sensing portion and the target value and determines presence/absence of abnormality of the charger based on the detected difference. |
| US08648564B2 |
Power transmitting device
According to an embodiment, a power transmitting device includes a power supply unit, a power transmitting coil, a first switch, a piezoelectric element, and a first switch controller. The power supply unit is configured to generate a transmission power by using power supplied to a power input terminal. Once the first switch is turned on, the first switch electrically connects an external power supply and the power input terminal until the first switch is turned off next time. The piezoelectric element is disposed at a position at which a weight of a placed power receiving device can be detected. The piezoelectric element is configured to generate a detection power according to the weight of the placed power receiving device. The first switch controller is configured to generate a starting power by the detection power and switches the first switch to on by using the starting power. |
| US08648559B2 |
System for controlling rotary electric machines to reduce current ripple on a direct current bus
The system comprises a first motor for applying rotational energy to a respective first wheel of the vehicle. A second motor is arranged for applying rotational energy to a respective second wheel of the vehicle. A first inverter is coupled to the first motor, where the first inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The first inverter is configured to provide a first group of alternating currents with a corresponding reference phase. A second inverter is coupled to the second motor. The second inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The second inverter is configured to provide a second group of alternating currents with a phase shift with respect to the reference phase, such that the phase shift is effective to reduce the direct current ripple on the direct current bus. |
| US08648558B2 |
Control of a brushless motor
A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes exciting a winding of the motor for a conduction period over each electrical half-cycle of the motor. The length of the conduction period is defined by a waveform that varies periodically with time. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor system that incorporates the control system. |
| US08648554B2 |
Electric motor car control system
An embodiment of an electric motor car control system includes a resistor connected parallel to a main motor cut-off switch, or a switch for grounding terminals of the main motor, to discharge electric charges accumulated in stray capacitances of the main motor, whereby the electric motor car control system can prevent electrical shocks due to electric charges accumulated in main motor stray capacitances. |
| US08648552B2 |
Control system for an electric machine
A control system for an electric machine, the control system including a position sensor and a drive controller. The drive controller generates one or more control signals for exciting a winding of the electric machine in response to edges of a signal output by the position sensor. Moreover, the drive controller generates control signals in response to an edge that occurs within a time window. The time window starts at a time when control signals are generated and has a length less than the electrical half-cycle period. |
| US08648551B2 |
Device for continuously reorienting a solar panel
A system and method are provided for continuously reorienting a solar panel array while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint for the solar panel. A cylindrically shaped knuckle is provided that is formed with a bottom surface and a top surface that is slanted relative to the bottom surface at a slant angle φ. One end of an upper pole is positioned against the top surface of the knuckle, and one end of a lower pole is positioned against the bottom surface of the knuckle. An upper and lower motor respectively connect the knuckle to the upper pole and the lower pole. These motors are used to continuously rotate the knuckle at an angular velocity ω relative to the upper and lower poles. When the knuckle rotates, the upper and lower poles remain stationary to allow the solar panel to continuously reorient while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint. |
| US08648550B2 |
Ambient light sensor auto-calibration in a lighting control system
A lighting system includes a master that controls a plurality of light fixtures via wireless RF communications. An ambient light sensor in the master is used to monitor total ambient light and to prevent excessive illumination. In an auto-calibration process, the master makes ambient light measurements A, B and C when the light fixtures are illuminating an area at a minimum setting, at a maximum setting, and at an intermediate setting, respectively. A first threshold is set to be approximately (B−A). A second threshold is set to be slightly larger than (B−A)+(B−C). In normal system operation, total ambient light measurements are taken and compared to the two thresholds. In one example, if detected brightness is lower than the first threshold then the system is set at its maximum illumination setting, whereas if detected brightness is greater than the second threshold then the system is set at its intermediate illumination setting. |
| US08648547B2 |
High efficiency LED lighting
An LED lighting system may include one or more light-emitting diodes and one or more power management modules. Components of the LED lighting system may be selected and arranged, for example, to match a load voltage to an operating voltage. Matching the load voltage to the operating voltage may enable efficient use of power by the LED lighting system. A method of selecting components of the LED lighting system is provided. For example, the components may be selected based on a target luminance and a given operating voltage. The method may be facilitated and/or implemented with a computer. |
| US08648544B2 |
Illumination lighting apparatus, illumination apparatus, and illumination system
An illumination lighting apparatus is connected to, as an external apparatus, any of a human body sensing sensor configured to detect presence/absence of a person, an illuminance sensor configured to detect space illuminance, and a dimmer which arbitrarily adjusts the space illuminance, and is configured to produce an output control signal for controlling an optical output of a light source based on a signal output from the external apparatus. The illumination lighting apparatus includes: an external apparatus determining unit configured to determine which kind of the external apparatus is connected based on the signal output from the external apparatus; and a signal processing unit configured to produce the output control signal based on the signal output from the external apparatus. |
| US08648539B2 |
Multi-voltage and multi-brightness LED lighting devices and methods of using same
A single chip multi-voltage or multi-brightness LED lighting device having at least two LED circuits having at least two LEDs connected seπes, and electrically unconnected in a parallel relationship, a forward operating dπve voltage of at least six volts and are monolithically integrated on a single substrate, configurable by means of connecting the circuits so as to provide optional operating voltage level and/or desired brightness level wherein the electrical connection at the LED packaging level when the single chips are integrated into the LED package Alternatively, the LED package may have external electrical contacts that match the integrated chips within Optionally allowable, the drive voltage level and/or the brightness level select-ability may be passed on through to the exterior of the LED package and may be selected by the LED package user, the PCB assembly facility, or the end product manufacturer. |
| US08648534B2 |
Microwave antenna for generating plasma
The present invention relates to the new structure antenna to create the uniform large area plasma using microwave. The microwave antenna to create the plasma of present invention comprises the waveguide, main body of antenna and the coaxial structure connecting part which connects said waveguide and said main body of antenna electrically, the main body of antenna comprises the conductive block in donut shape forming multiple slots, and notches are formed between the multiple slots of the conductive block and multiple permanent magnets are inserted into the notches. The multiple slots can be formed by passing through the inside and outside of the conductive block and the multiple slots can be formed with repetitive square wave pattern. |
| US08648527B2 |
Display apparatus
Provided is a display apparatus using an organic EL device in which blur in a display image to be a problem for the display apparatus is reduced while propagating light propagating through a high-refractive-index transparent layer is efficiently extracted outside. The display apparatus has a configuration in which a high-refractive-index transparent layer is provided on a light exit side of the organic EL device, a light extraction structure is provided on the high-refractive-index transparent layer so as to surround each of subpixels, a visible light absorbing member is arranged between pixels adjacent to each other, and the visible light absorbing member is not arranged in a region between subpixels adjacent to each other within a pixel. |
| US08648525B2 |
Transparent electrode, purifying method of conductive fibers employed in transparent electrode and organic electroluminescence element
Disclosed are a transparent electrode with excellent optical transmittance and conductivity, a purifying method of conductive fibers employed in the transparent electrode and an organic electroluminescence element with reduced luminance unevenness and long product lifetime employing the transparent electrode. The transparent electrode of the invention comprises a transparent substrate and provided thereon, a transparent conductive layer containing conductive fibers and a transparent conductive material, featured in that the content rate of conductive fibers with an aspect ratio of not less than 100 contained in the transparent conductive layer is 99.00% or more. |
| US08648520B2 |
Inner coupling tubular type electrodeless lamp
An inner coupling tubular type electrodeless lamp comprises a glass bulb, an amalgam, and a power coupler. The glass bulb includes an external portion and an inner portion. A gas discharging cavity that is annularly airtight is defined by an envelopment of the external portion and the inner portion. A coupling cavity is defined in the inner portion. The power coupler includes a radiating post, a ferrite core, and a winding sequentially situating from an interior to an exterior thereof. The power coupler is disposed in the coupling cavity. Two ends of the coupling cavity are intercommunicated with each other as well as the exterior. The external portion of the glass bulb adopts the elongated tube. Wherein, a length of the ferrite core of the power coupler is not smaller than a half length of the coupling cavity. A length of the winding is measured from one-fifth to four-fifth of the length of the coupling cavity to evenly distribute an electromagnetic field. At least one diffuse reflection layer that is made of a material falling in a 250˜2000 nm spectrum scope is disposed between an inner wall of the inner portion (the side near the power coupler) and an external surface of the power coupler. Wherein, the material for making the diffuse reflection layer adopts a non-conducting electricity material that resists a temperature higher than 100° C. |
| US08648516B2 |
Elastomeric bridge bearings having a piezoelectric device
A resilient support for a bridge includes: an upper plate fixedly installed on the undersurface of the bridge deck panel; a base plate fixedly installed on the top surface of the pier; an upper fixed panel and a lower fixed panel fastened and fixed by fastening bolts to the upper plate and to the base plate, respectively; and a rubber pad, the top and bottom surfaces of which are thermally bonded and fixed to the upper and lower fixed panels, respectively, and including a plurality of steel panels in a multi-stack configuration filled therein, wherein the resilient support is configured with a plurality of piezoelectric devices for converting vibrations transmitted from the bridge deck panels into electric energy, and the piezoelectric devices are stacked between each of the steel panels within the rubber pad. |
| US08648515B2 |
Brush design for electric motor having commutator
An electric motor has a pair of brushes for transferring power to windings of a wound rotor by making sliding contact with a cylindrical commutator. Each brush has a body with a pair of end surfaces, and a contact surface extending between the end surfaces and configured to slidingly contact a cylindrical circumferential surface of the commutator. The extending direction of the contact surface is inclined relative to the axial direction of the commutator, and the contact surface is V-shaped when viewed in the extending direction thereof. |
| US08648514B2 |
Rotary electric motor and blower that uses the same
In a rotary electric motor a first stator core and a second stator core are disposed coaxially so as to be separated by a predetermined distance axially and such that circumferential positions of teeth are aligned, and a first rotor core and a second rotor core on which salient poles are disposed at a uniform angular pitch circumferentially are fixed coaxially to a rotating shaft so as to be positioned on inner peripheral sides of the first stator core and the second stator core, respectively, and so as to be offset circumferentially by a pitch of half a salient pole from each other. A first permanent magnet that is magnetically oriented such that a direction of magnetization is radially inward is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a core back of the first stator core, and an outer peripheral surface of the first permanent magnet and the outer peripheral surface of the core back of the second stator core are linked by a frame that is made of a magnetic material. |
| US08648511B2 |
Magnetic component part for a rotor assembly
A magnetic component part for a rotor assembly of an electromechanical transducer is provided. The magnetic component part includes a base element having a first side and an opposing second side, a permanent magnet, attached to the base element at the first side, and a mounting structure fixed to the base element at the second side and adapted to be mechanically connected to a support structure of the rotor assembly. The permanent magnet is located in an offset position with respect to a central axis of the mounting structure, which central axis extends from the mounting structure through the second side to the first side. A rotor assembly, an electromechanical transducer and a wind turbine, which are all equipped with at least four magnetic component parts are also provided as well as a method for manufacturing a rotor assembly including at least four magnetic component parts. |
| US08648503B2 |
Arrangement for acoustic decoupling of a stator of an electric motor
The invention relates to an arrangement for acoustic decoupling of a stator of an electric motor having two substantially cylindrical decoupling rings disposed on both sides of the stator and concentric to a motor shaft, each fixed to a front side of the stator on one side and each fixed to a housing enclosing the stator on the other side, and comprising recesses on the circumferential surfaces thereof. The decoupling rings hold the stator in a centered position at a distance from the housing. The recesses allow targeted acoustic decoupling. The invention is particularly applicable for electric motors in steering systems for motor vehicles. |
| US08648500B1 |
Power supply regulation and optimization by multiple circuits sharing a single supply
In accordance with some embodiments, an integrated circuit device comprises a circuit configured to provide a sense signal representing a dynamic power requirement of the circuit to a first sense node, a first sense switch coupled between the first sense node and a first die bump, and a sense switch controller configured to provide a control signal to the first sense switch. |
| US08648492B2 |
System and method of controlling a plurality of energy loads and energy supplies in a coordinated manner
The operation and/or power of a plurality of energy loads and/or energy supplies configured to supply power to the energy loads are managed in a coordinated manner. The coordinated control over the energy loads and/or energy supplies may enable the execution of missions including a one or more objectives by energy loads with an enhanced efficiency, autonomy, and/or effectiveness. Aspects of the planning and/or management of execution of the missions may be automated according to predetermined rules and/or criteria. |
| US08648489B2 |
Power supply control device for vehicle
A power supply control device for a vehicle includes a plurality of electrical loadings installed in a vehicle; a feeding part configured to supply electric power to the electrical loadings; and a presumption part configured to presume an electrical power demand for operating the electrical loadings based on sign information for foreseeable operations of the electrical loadings. Electrical power supply from the feeding part to each electrical loading is adjusted based on the result of presumption by the presumption part. |
| US08648488B2 |
Wind turbine
A wind turbine connected to a utility grid includes a nacelle, at least one transformer for feeding generated power to the utility grid, and a flexible suspension arrangement connected to a load carrying structure of the nacelle and suspending the transformer above a floor level of the nacelle. |
| US08648487B2 |
Shaft power plant
A shaft power plant for energy conversion of a discharge between a headwater and a tailwater, comprising a vertical shaft, the top of which forms an inflow plane which is parallel to the bed and extends below the headwater water level, wherein the shaft is open toward the top and is closed by a base at its bottom end, a unit composed of a turbine and an electrical machine, wherein the unit is arranged entirely under water in the shaft and wherein the turbine is arranged for water to pass through horizontally, and an outflow, which is connected to the turbine, represents a closed flow channel and leads through a through-passage in the shaft to the tailwater, wherein a horizontal first cross-sectional area of the shaft is much larger than a vertical second cross-sectional area taken up by the turbine runner. |
| US08648480B1 |
Energy harvesting system using flow-induced vibrations
A system includes a housing disposed within a fluid having a fluid flow. A first member is located substantially external to the housing and is directly exposed to the fluid flow and lengthwise positioned transverse to the direction of the fluid flow. The first member is configured to vibrate independently of the housing responsive to direct exposure to the fluid flow. A coil is coupled to one end of the first member. The coil is disposed within the housing and shielded from direct fluid flow. A magnet is disposed within the housing separate from and adjacent to the coil. The magnet is shielded from direct fluid flow. Magnetic flux from the magnet induces an electric current through the coil responsive to relative motion between the magnet and the coil caused by vibration of the first member. |
| US08648479B2 |
Epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulant and semiconductor device using the same
According to the present invention, an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulant including (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a compound in which a copolymer of a 1-alkene having 5 to 80 carbon atoms and maleic anhydride is esterified with an alcohol having 5 to 25 carbon atoms in the presence of a compound represented by General Formula (1), wherein R1 in General Formula (1) is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a halogenated alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and an aromatic group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms is provided. |
| US08648477B2 |
Semiconductor chip, film substrate, and related semiconductor chip package
A semiconductor chip package including a film substrate and a semiconductor chip loaded on the semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip includes a plurality of input pads and a plurality of output pads. A power supply input pad of the input pads is formed at a different edge from an edge of the semiconductor chip where other input pads are formed. The film substrate includes input lines and output lines. The input lines of the film substrate are connected to the corresponding input pads of the semiconductor chip, and the output lines thereof are connected to the corresponding output pads of the semiconductor chip. |
| US08648476B2 |
Dicing tape-integrated wafer back surface protective film
The present invention provides a dicing tape-integrated wafer back surface protective film including: a dicing tape including a base material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the base material; and a wafer back surface protective film formed on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the dicing tape, in which the wafer back surface protective film is colored. It is preferable that the colored wafer back surface protective film has a laser marking ability. The dicing tape-integrated wafer back surface protective film can be suitably used for a flip chip-mounted semiconductor device. |
| US08648473B2 |
Chip arrangement and a method for forming a chip arrangement
A chip arrangement is provided. The chip arrangement includes: a first chip electrically connected to the first chip carrier top side; a second chip electrically connected to the second chip carrier top side; and electrically insulating material configured to at least partially surround the first chip carrier and the second chip carrier; at least one electrical interconnect configured to electrically contact the first chip to the second chip through the electrically insulating material; one or more first electrically conductive portions formed over and electrically contacted to at least one of the first chip carrier top side and second chip carrier top side, and one or more second electrically conductive portions formed over and electrically contacted to at least one of the first chip carrier bottom side and second chip carrier bottom side. |
| US08648464B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, and an interconnection above the semiconductor substrate. The interconnection includes a co-catalyst layer, a catalyst layer on the co-catalyst layer, and a graphene layer on the catalyst layer. The co-catalyst layer includes a portion contacting the catalyst layer. The portion has a face-centered cubic structure with a (111) plane oriented parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The catalyst layer has a face-centered cubic structure with a (111) plane oriented parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08648463B2 |
Assembly of multi-chip modules with proximity connectors using reflowable features
A multi-chip module (MCM) that includes at least two substrates, having facing surfaces, which are mechanically coupled by a set of coupling elements having a reflow characteristic, is described. One of the two substrates includes another set of coupling elements having another reflow characteristic, which is different than the reflow characteristic. These different reflow characteristics of the sets of coupling elements allow different temperature profiles to be used when bonding the two substrates to each other than when bonding the one of the two substrates to a carrier. For example, the temperature profiles may have different peak temperatures and/or different durations from one another. These reflow characteristics may facilitate low-cost, high-yield assembly and alignment of the substrates in the MCM, and may allow temperature-sensitive components to be included in the MCM. |
| US08648461B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate, a semiconductor element mounted on the wiring substrate, a first radiator member arranged on and thermally coupled to the semiconductor element, and a second radiator member arranged on and thermally coupled to the first radiator member. The second radiator member includes projections which project out toward the first radiator member. The projections are formed on a circumference of a concentric circle with respect to a center point of the second radiator member. The first radiator member includes grooves in which the projections are movable. The grooves are formed on a circumference of a concentric circle with respect to a center point of the first radiator member. The projections are fitted to terminating ends of the grooves with the center point of the first radiator member and the center point of the second radiator member coincided. |
| US08648459B2 |
Nitride based semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same and bonding substrate
A nitride based semiconductor package includes a nitride based semiconductor device, a package substrate, and a bonding substrate. The semiconductor device includes, on a surface thereof, a first electrode pattern having a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode. The bonding substrate includes, on a first surface thereof, a second electrode pattern corresponding to the first electrode pattern, and at least one first groove pattern. The first groove pattern exposes the second electrode pattern. The first electrode pattern is received in the at least one first groove pattern. The second electrode pattern is bonded to the first electrode pattern received in the at least one first groove pattern. A second surface of the bonding substrate is bonded to the package substrate. |
| US08648457B2 |
Wiring pattern for touch integrated circuit
Electrodes on a touch sensor are connected with pins of an integrated circuit by wires. The wires connecting a first side of the integrated circuit go under the integrated circuit to the electrodes, and wires connecting a second side of the integrated circuit have segments extending away from the touch sensor under the integrated circuit. |
| US08648456B1 |
Embedded integrated circuit package and method for manufacturing an embedded integrated circuit package
A embedded integrated circuit package is provided, the embedded integrated circuit package including: at least one chip arranged over a chip carrier, the at least one chip including a plurality of chip contact pads; encapsulation material formed over the chip carrier and at least partially surrounding the at least one chip; a plurality of electrical interconnects formed through the encapsulation material, wherein each electrical interconnect is electrically connected to a chip contact pad; and a structure formed between the electrical interconnects of the embedded integrated circuit package, wherein the structure increases the creepage resistance between the electrical interconnects. |
| US08648451B2 |
Semiconductor package, test socket and related methods
Provided are a socket, a semiconductor package, a test device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package. A socket to test a semiconductor package comprising a housing, a trench receiving a semiconductor package in the housing, at least one probe connected to the semiconductor package at a bottom of the trench, and at least one connector electrically connecting a plurality of contact points exposed at a side of the semiconductor package when the semiconductor package is inserted into the trench. A semiconductor package with contacts exposed from a side of a package substrate, and a method of manufacturing such a semiconductor package are also disclosed. |
| US08648449B2 |
Electrical connectivity for circuit applications
According to example configurations herein, a leadframe includes a connection interface. The connection interface can be configured for attaching an electrical circuit to the leadframe. The leadframe also can include a conductive path. The conductive path in the leadframe provides an electrical connection between a first electrical node of the electrical circuit and a second electrical node of the electrical circuit. Prior to making the connection between the electrical circuit and the leadframe, the first electrical node and the second electrical node can be electrically isolated from each other. Subsequent to making connection of the electrical circuit with the leadframe, the conductive path of the leadframe electrically connects the first electrical node and the second electrical node together. Accordingly, the leadframe provides connectivity between nodes of an electrical circuit in lieu of having to provide such connectivity at, for example, a metal interconnect layer of an integrated circuit device. |
| US08648447B2 |
Semiconductor rectifier device
A semiconductor rectifier device using an SiC semiconductor at least includes: an anode electrode; an anode area that adjoins the anode electrode and is made of a second conductivity type semiconductor; a drift layer that adjoins the anode area and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a low concentration; a minority carrier absorption layer that adjoins the drift layer and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a higher concentration than that of the drift layer; a high-resistance semiconductor area that adjoins the minority carrier absorption layer, has less thickness than the drift layer and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a concentration lower than that of the minority carrier absorption layer; a cathode contact layer that adjoins the semiconductor area; and a cathode electrode. |
| US08648444B2 |
Wafer scribe line structure for improving IC reliability
A semiconductor wafer having a multi-layer wiring structure is disclosed. The wafer comprises a plurality of chip die areas arranged on the wafer in an array and scribe line areas between the chip die areas. The scribe lines of a semiconductor wafer having USG top-level wiring layers above ELK wiring layers have at least one metal film structures substantially covering corner regions where two scribe lines intersect to inhibit delamination at the USG/ELK interface during wafer dicing operation. |
| US08648442B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a transistor circuit and a bleeder resistance circuit is provided in which fluctuations in resistance value of a bleeder resistor are reduced. In the transistor circuit, a barrier metal film and a interconnect film are layered as a metal film on an interlayer insulating film above transistor structure. In the bleeder resistance circuit, the interconnect film is layered as a metal film on the interlayer insulating film above the bleeder resistor formed from polysilicon film. Alternatively, the metal film in the bleeder resistance circuit includes the barrier metal film only in a portion where the metal film is connected to the bleeder resistor. This reduces stress to the bleeder resistor formed from a polysilicon film, and the resistance value of the bleeder resistor accordingly fluctuates less. In addition, since the metal film used as interconnect of the transistor circuit includes the barrier metal film, interconnect reliability is not impaired. |
| US08648441B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a substrate; a multi-layered interconnect formed on the substrate, and having a plurality of interconnect layers, each of which being configured by an interconnect and an insulating layer, stacked therein; a memory circuit formed in a memory circuit region on the substrate in a plan view, and having a peripheral circuit and at least one capacitor element embedded in the multi-layered interconnect; and a logic circuit formed in a logic circuit region on the substrate, wherein the capacitor element is configured by a lower electrode, a capacitor insulating film, an upper electrode, an embedded electrode and an upper interconnect; the top surface of the upper interconnect, and the top surface of the interconnect configuring the logic circuit formed in the same interconnect layer with the upper interconnect, are aligned to the same plane. |
| US08648440B2 |
Semiconductor device employing nitride floating capacitor (NFC)
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate configured to include cell regions and a peripheral region around the cell regions; storage nodes arranged in each of the cell regions; a first support pattern configured in each cell region to support the storage nodes; and a second support pattern configured in the peripheral region to couple first support patterns to each other. |
| US08648439B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
The present invention provides a thin and bendable semiconductor device utilizing an advantage of a flexible substrate used in the semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has at least one surface covered by an insulating layer which serves as a substrate for protection. In the semiconductor device, the insulating layer is formed over a conductive layer serving as an antenna such that the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer in a portion not covering the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 1.2, and the value in the thickness ratio of the insulating layer formed over the conductive layer to the conductive layer is at least 0.2. Further, not the conductive layer but the insulating layer is exposed in the side face of the semiconductor device, and the insulating layer covers a TFT and the conductive layer. |
| US08648436B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device is provided with a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion films are arrayed and pixel isolation portions are interposed between the plurality of pixels, wherein the photoelectric conversion film is a chalcopyrite-structure compound semiconductor composed of a copper-aluminum-gallium-indium-sulfur-selenium based mixed crystal or a copper-aluminum-gallium-indium-zinc-sulfur-selenium based mixed crystal and is disposed on a silicon substrate in such a way as to lattice-match the silicon substrate concerned, and the pixel isolation portion is formed from a compound semiconductor subjected to doping concentration control or composition control in such a way as to become a potential barrier between the photoelectric conversion films disposed in accordance with the plurality of pixels. |
| US08648435B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing same
A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate including a plurality of light receiving sections; an optical waveguide provided above each of the plurality of light receiving sections and surrounded by a cladding layer; a color filter provided above each of the optical waveguides; and a lens provided above the color filter, the optical waveguide including a first layer having a first refractive index and a second layer being in contact with the first layer and having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index. |
| US08648426B2 |
Tunneling transistors
A transistor including a source; a drain; a gate region, the gate region including a gate; an island; and a gate oxide, wherein the gate oxide is positioned between the gate and the island; and the gate and island are coactively coupled to each other; and a source barrier and a drain barrier, wherein the source barrier separates the source from the gate region and the drain barrier separates the drain from the gate region. |
| US08648423B2 |
Semiconductor devices including buried-channel-array transistors
Provided is a semiconductor device in which a short margin between a storage contact plug and a bit line contact plug may be increased. The device includes a substrate including isolation regions and active regions defined by the isolation regions, gates disposed in the substrate and configured to intersect the active regions and define source regions and drain regions in the active regions, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate, bit line contact plugs configured to penetrate the interlayer insulating layer and contact the drain regions, and first bit line structures and second bit line structures disposed on the interlayer insulating layer. The first bit line structures include first bit line conductive patterns and first bit line spacers covering sidewalls of the first bit line conductive patterns. The second bit line structures include second bit line conductive patterns configured to contact the bit line contact plugs to be substantially parallel to the first bit line conductive patterns and first bit line spacers covering sidewalls of the second bit line conductive patterns and sidewalls of the bit line contact plugs. |
| US08648420B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an input/output pad, and a data transfer unit configured to form a parasitic diode between the input/output pad and a power supply terminal thereof to discharge an introduced electrostatic discharge (ESD), and form a data transfer path between the input/output pad and an internal circuit in response to a control signal. |
| US08648409B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming a channel link layer and an isolation layer surrounding the channel link layer over a substrate, forming a stack structure having interlayer dielectric layers that are alternately stacked with gate electrode layers over the channel link layer and the isolation layer, and forming a pair of channels connected to the channel link layer through the stack structure, and a memory layer interposed between the channel and the stack structure. |
| US08648407B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first opening and a second opening adjacent thereto. A first dielectric layer is disposed in a lower portion of the first opening. A charge-trapping dielectric layer is disposed in an upper portion of the first opening to cover the first dielectric layer. A doping region of a predetermined conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the first opening and the second opening, wherein the doping region of the predetermined conductivity type has a polarity which is different from that of the charges trapped in the charge-trapping dielectric layer. A gate electrode is disposed in a lower portion of the second opening. A method for fabricating the semiconductor device is also disclosed. |
| US08648403B2 |
Dynamic memory cell structures
A dynamic random access memory cell is disclosed that comprises a capacitive storage device and a write access transistor. The write access transistor is operatively coupled to the capacitive storage device and has a gate stack that comprises a high-K dielectric, wherein the high-K dielectric has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of silicon dioxide. Also disclosed are a memory array using the cells, a computing apparatus using the memory array, a method of storing data, and a method of manufacturing. |
| US08648397B2 |
Semiconductor device, active matrix substrate and display device
A switching element (a semiconductor device) (18) having a top gate electrode (21) and a bottom gate electrode (23) is provided with a silicon layer (a semiconductor layer) (SL) that is arranged between the top gate electrode (21) and the bottom gate electrode (a light-shielding film) (23) and that has a source region (24), a drain region (28), a channel region (26), and low-concentration impurity regions (25, 27). Furthermore, the bottom gate electrode (23) is arranged so as to overlap the channel region (26), a part of the low-concentration impurity region (25), which is adjacent to the source region (24), and a part of the low-concentration impurity region (27), which is adjacent to the drain region (28). The bottom gate electrode (23) is controlled so as to have a prescribed potential. |
| US08648394B2 |
Method for growing conformal EPI layers and structure thereof
A method for forming a conformal buffer layer of uniform thickness and a resulting semiconductor structure are disclosed. The conformal buffer layer is used to protect highly-doped extension regions during formation of an epitaxial layer that is used for inducing mechanical stress on the channel region of transistors. |
| US08648391B2 |
SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor with an improved breakdown voltage-cutoff frequency product
The product of the breakdown voltage (BVCEO) and the cutoff frequency (fT) of a SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) is increased beyond the Johnson limit by utilizing a doped region with a hollow core that extends down from the base to the heavily-doped buried collector region. The doped region and the buried collector region have opposite dopant types. |
| US08648390B2 |
Transistor with enhanced channel charge inducing material layer and threshold voltage control
High electron mobility transistors and fabrication processes are presented in which a barrier material layer of uniform thickness is provided for threshold voltage control under an enhanced channel charge inducing material layer (ECCIML) in source and drain regions with the ECCIML layer removed in the gate region. |
| US08648389B2 |
Semiconductor device with spacer layer between carrier traveling layer and carrier supplying layer
A nitride semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a stack of semiconductor layers including the channel layer, the spacer layer, and the doped layer. The spacer layer is made of AlN while the doped layer is InAlN. A feature of the embodiment is that the spacer layer has a thickness of 0.5 to 1.25 nm. |
| US08648386B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method for the same and ESD circuit
A semiconductor structure and manufacturing method for the same, and an ESD circuit are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region and a resistor. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The third doped region has the first type conductivity. The first doped region and the third doped region are separated by the second doped region. The resistor is coupled between the second doped region and the third doped region. An anode is coupled to the first doped region. A cathode is coupled to the third doped region. |
| US08648384B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device is disclosed. In the light emitting device, the structure of a barrier layer of an active layer is changed, and a band gap energy of an intermediate layer is varied, thereby improving hole injection efficiency of the active layer and thus light emission efficiency. |
| US08648381B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting portion, a first layer, a second layer, and an intermediate layer. The semiconductor layers include nitride semiconductor. The light emitting portion is provided between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes a quantum well layer. The first layer is provided between the light emitting portion and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes Alx1Ga1-x1N having first Al composition ratio x1. The second layer is provided between the first layer and the p-type semiconductor layer and includes Alx2Ga1-x2N having second Al composition ratio x2 higher than the first Al composition ratio x1. The intermediate layer is provided between the first layer and the light emitting portion and has a thickness not smaller than 3 nanometers and not larger than 8 nanometers and includes Inz1Ga1-z1N (0≦z1<1). |
| US08648379B2 |
LED lamp assembly
Provided is a light emitting diode (LED) lamp assembly having an increased light incidence angle by fixing unit LED lamps fixed on a substrate at various angles. The LED lamp assembly includes a substrate having a socket portion and an LED mounting portion, first unit LED modules installed on both surfaces of the substrate and irradiating light onto the both surfaces of the substrate in a frontward direction, and second unit LED modules irradiating light onto the both surface of the substrate in directions other than the frontward direction. In the LED lamp assembly, since first and second unit LED modules having light irradiation units formed at different positions are installed on both surfaces of a single substrate, light can be irradiated in a radial direction. |
| US08648376B2 |
Light emitting device having light extraction structure and method for manufacturing the same
A nitride-based light emitting device capable of achieving an enhancement in emission efficiency and an enhancement in reliability is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, and a light extracting layer arranged on the semiconductor layer and made of a material having a refractive index equal to or higher than a reflective index of the semiconductor layer. |
| US08648372B2 |
Light-emitting device, method for adjusting optical properties, and method for manufacturing light-emitting devices
A light emitting device includes a plurality of LEDs that each emit light. A wavelength conversion member converts wavelengths of at least part of the light emitted from the LEDs to at least one other wavelength, and outputs light obtained by combining light having at least two wavelengths emitted from the wavelength conversion member. At least part of a light emitting surface of the wavelength conversion member has a surface state that differs from other parts of the light emitting surface. |
| US08648367B2 |
LED comprising a multiband phosphor system
An LED module comprising at least one blue LED and a color conversion layer that is applied thereto and emits a mixed light of the blue light of the LED and the converted spectrum of the color conversion layer. The color conversion layer has at least three different phosphors which at least partially convert the light of the blue LED into red, green, and yellow or yellowish-green light. The phosphor for conversion into red light is a doped nitride compound, preferably a nitridosilicate. |
| US08648360B2 |
Light-emitting diode structure
A light-emitting diode structure includes a base with a recessed portion, a light-emitting chip and a light-transmissive block. The light-emitting chip disposed in the recessed portion of the base and emits a light beam. The light-transmissive block disposed on the base covers the recessed portion and the light-emitting chip, so that the light beam emitted from the light-emitting chip is radiated outwardly via the light-transmissive block. The light-transmissive block is a flat-top multilateral cone including a bottom surface, a top surface, and several side surfaces connected to and located between the bottom surface and the top surface. A slot with a bottom portion is formed on the top surface of the light-transmissive block. |
| US08648358B2 |
Light emitting device, planar light source, and display device
A mortar-shaped or funnel-shaped light emitting device (50) includes: a substrate (20); at least one LED chip (25) die-bonded to the substrate (20); and a wavelength converting portion (40) covering said at least one LED chip (25); at least four planes uprising from the substrate (20); and a lens having a top surface (10a) facing the substrate (20), the four planes being positioned in four directions, respectively, in such a manner as to surround said at least one LED chip (25), and the top surface (10a) having a concave portion. |
| US08648357B2 |
Radiation-emitting device
A radiation-emitting device includes a first active semiconductor layer embodied for the emission of electromagnetic radiation and for direct contact with connection electrodes, and a second active semiconductor layer embodied for the emission of electromagnetic radiation and for direct contact with connection electrodes. The first active semiconductor layer and the second active semiconductor layer are arranged in a manner stacked one above another. |
| US08648356B2 |
Light emitting diode for harsh environments
A light emitting diode for harsh environments includes a substantially transparent substrate, a semiconductor layer deposited on a bottom surface of the substrate, several bonding pads, coupled to the semiconductor layer, formed on the bottom surface of the substrate, and a micro post, formed on each bonding pad, for electrically connecting the light emitting diode to a printed circuit board. An underfill layer may be provided between the bottom surface of the substrate and the top surface of the printed circuit board, to reduce water infiltration under the light emitting diode substrate. Additionally, a diffuser may be mounted to a top surface of the light emitting diode substrate to diffuse the light emitted through the top surface. |
| US08648355B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device having one or more recesses on a layer
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a substrate; a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the substrate; an electrode layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer; and an electrode on the electrode layer, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of convex portions, wherein the electrode layer comprises a plurality of holes corresponding to a region of at least one of the plurality of convex portions of the substrate, wherein an insulating material is disposed in the plurality of holes on the light emitting structure. |
| US08648354B2 |
Electronic field effect devices and methods for their manufacture
Electronic field effect devices, and methods of manufacture of these electronic field effect devices are disclosed. In particular, there is disclosed an electronic field effect device which has improved electrical properties due to the formation of a highly mobile two-dimensional charge-carrier gas in a simple structure formed from diamond in combination with polar materials. |
| US08648352B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting structure
A semiconductor light emitting structure including a substrate, a patterned structure, a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer is provided. The patterned structure is protruded from or indented into a surface of the substrate, so that the surface of the substrate becomes a roughed surface. The patterned structure has an asymmetrical geometric shape. The first semiconductor layer is disposed on the roughed surface. The active layer is disposed on the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor is disposed on the active layer. |
| US08648351B2 |
Epitaxial substrate and method for manufacturing epitaxial substrate
Provided is a crack-free epitaxial substrate having excellent breakdown voltage properties in which a silicon substrate is used as a base substrate thereof. The epitaxial substrate includes: a (111) single crystal Si substrate and a buffer layer including a plurality of composition modulation layers each formed of a first composition layer made of AlN and a second composition layer made of AlxGa1-xN (0≦x<1) being alternately laminated. The relationship of x(1)≧x(2)≧ . . . ≧x(n−1)≧x(n) and x(1)>x(n) is satisfied, where n represents the number of laminations of each of the first and the second composition layer, and x(i) represents the value of x in i-th one of the second composition layers as counted from the base substrate side. Each of the second composition layers is formed so as to be in a coherent state relative to the first composition layer. |
| US08648348B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package, and lighting system
Provided is a light emitting device according to one embodiment including: a substrate which has protrusions on the C-face, and of which unit cells are constructed in a hexagonal structure; a semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate, in which empty spaces are formed in sides of the protrusions, and of which unit cells are constructed in a hexagonal structure; and a light emitting structure layer comprising a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer formed between the first conductive semiconductor layer and second conductive semiconductor layer which are formed on the semiconductor layer, wherein the A-face of the substrate and the A-face of the semiconductor layer form an angle of greater than zero degree, and the protrusions include the R-faces. |
| US08648344B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display device comprises: a lower substrate; an upper substrate facing the lower substrate; and a spacer formed in a sealed space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate and dividing the space into two or more sections; wherein air holes are formed in the spacer and allow air to flow between the sections of the space. |
| US08648341B2 |
Methods and apparatus for testing pads on wafers
Methods and apparatuses for sharing test pads among function blocks under test within multiple layers of a die are disclosed. A semiconductor wafer comprises a first die and a second die separated by a scribe line. A first pad, a second pad, and a third pad are located in the scribe line. The test pads may be located within a die as well. The first pad and the second pad are used to test a first function block within a first layer, and the first pad and the third pad are used to test a second function block within a second layer of the first die. The shared first test pad are used to test multiple function blocks contained in different layers of the die. Therefore fewer test pads are needed which leads to reduced area for scribe lines in a wafer. |
| US08648340B2 |
Semiconductor device for driving electric motor
A FET for driving an electric motor includes a source electrode. The source electrode has main electrode surfaces to which bonding wires, through which a drive current for an electric motor passes, are joined, and inspection electrode surfaces that are arranged so as to be independent of and apart from the main electrode surfaces. The inspection electrode surfaces are provided so as to contact a probe of an inspection device that performs an inspection of the FET 3. |
| US08648339B2 |
Semiconductor device including first semiconductor chip including first pads connected to first terminals, and second semiconductor chip including second pads connected to second terminals
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first data input/output terminals, a plurality of second data input/output terminals, a first semiconductor chip, and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a plurality of first data input/output pads connected with the first data input/output terminals, a first test circuit, and a first memory portion. The first test circuit generates a first test result in response to a data output from the first memory portion at a test operation. The second semiconductor chip includes a plurality of second data input/output pads connected with the second data input/output terminals, a second and a third test circuits, and a second memory portion. The second test circuit generates a second test result in response to a data output from the second memory portion, and the third test circuit generates a third test result in response to the second test result and the first test result input from the first test circuit of the first semiconductor chip and outputs the third test result from a specified second data input/output terminal. |
| US08648333B2 |
Triarylamine compounds for use in organic light-emitting diodes
This invention relates to triarylamine compounds that are useful in electronic applications. It also relates to electronic devices in which the active layer includes such a compound. |
| US08648331B2 |
Coherent quantum information transfer between topological and conventional qubits
Computing bus devices that enable quantum information to be coherently transferred between topological and conventional qubits are disclosed. A concrete realization of such a topological quantum bus acting between a topological qubit in a Majorana wire network and a conventional semiconductor double quantum dot qubit is described. The disclosed device measures the joint (fermion) parity of the two different qubits by using the Aharonov-Casher effect in conjunction with an ancillary superconducting flux qubit that facilitates the measurement. Such a parity measurement, together with the ability to apply Hadamard gates to the two qubits, allows for the production of states in which the topological and conventional qubits are maximally entangled, and for teleporting quantum states between the topological and conventional quantum systems. |
| US08648328B2 |
Light emitting diode (LED) using three-dimensional gallium nitride (GaN) pillar structures with planar surfaces
A method is provided for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) using three-dimensional gallium nitride (GaN) pillar structures with planar surfaces. The method forms a plurality of GaN pillar structures, each with an n-doped GaN (n-GaN) pillar and planar sidewalls perpendicular to the c-plane, formed in either an m-plane or a-plane family. A multiple quantum well (MQW) layer is formed overlying the n-GaN pillar sidewalls, and a layer of p-doped GaN (p-GaN) is formed overlying the MQW layer. The plurality of GaN pillar structures are deposited on a first substrate, with the n-doped GaN pillar sidewalls aligned parallel to a top surface of the first substrate. A first end of each GaN pillar structure is connected to a first metal layer. The second end of each GaN pillar structure is etched to expose the n-GaN pillar second end and connected to a second metal layer. |
| US08648327B2 |
Stackable non-volatile resistive switching memory devices
A memory device includes a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a first crossbar array, a first thickness of dielectric material overlying the first plurality of memory cells, and a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a second crossbar array overlying the first thickness of dielectric material. The memory device further includes a second thickness of dielectric material overlying the second plurality of memory cells. In a specific embodiment, the memory device further includes a Nth thickness of dielectric material overlying an Nth plurality of memory cells, where N is an integer ranging from 3 to 8. |
| US08648324B2 |
Glassy carbon nanostructures
Glassy carbon nanostructures are disclosed that can be used as electrode materials in batteries and electrochemical capacitors, or as photoelectrodes in photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry devices. In some embodiments channels (e.g., substantially cylindrically-shaped pores) are formed in a glassy carbon substrate, whereas in other embodiments, ridges are formed that extend along and over a glassy carbon substrate. In either case, a semiconductor and/or metal oxide may be deposited over the glassy carbon to form a composite material. |
| US08648322B2 |
Optical sensing in an adverse environment
A system capable of flowing gases including combustion byproducts past an exposed face of an optical element in an engine fluid conduit, and depositing debris on the exposed face of the optical element. The debris may be soot, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, and/or a reductant precipitate. The system is further capable of passing electromagnetic (EM) radiation through the optical element and the flowing gases and interrogating the EM radiation after passing through the optical element and the flowing gases to determine an amount of debris accumulated on the exposed face of the optical element. The system is further capable of heating an electric heating element thermally coupled to the optical element sufficiently to remove accumulated debris from the exposed face in response to the amount of debris exceeding a threshold. |
| US08648321B2 |
Optical sensor for use in a domestic washing machine or dishwasher
An optical sensor for use in a washing machine or dishwasher comprises a housing, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and a light-conducting structure, which is made from a transparent material, having a light entry point, a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface and a light exit point. A light measurement path runs from the light-emitting element, via the light entry point, the first reflection surface, the second reflection surface and the light exit point, to the light-receiving element wherein the light undergoes total reflection on the first reflection surface and on the second reflection surface and where a light beam that runs from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface has a cross-sectional area of not less than 0.9 mm2. |
| US08648318B2 |
Multiple beam charged particle optical system
The invention relates to a multiple beam charged particle optical system, comprising an electrostatic lens structure with at least one electrode, provided with apertures, wherein the effective size of a lens field effected by said electrode at a said aperture is made ultimately small. The system may comprise a diverging charged particle beam part, in which the lens structure is included. The physical dimension of the lens is made ultimately small, in particular smaller than one mm, more in particular less than a few tens of microns. In further elaboration, a lens is combined with a current limiting aperture, aligned such relative to a lens of said structure, that a virtual aperture effected by said current limiting aperture in said lens is situated in an optimum position with respect to minimizing aberrations total. |
| US08648316B2 |
Apparatus for cooling samples during ion beam preparation
The invention relates to a cooling apparatus (101) for a sample in an ion beam etching process, including, a sample stage (102) for arranging the sample, a coolant receptacle (120) containing a coolant, at least one thermal conduction element (106a, 106b) that connects the sample stage (102) to the coolant, a cooling finger (105) connected to the thermal conduction element (106a, 106b), the cooling finger (105) comprising a conduit (130, 131) through which coolant can flow and which is connectable to the coolant receptacle (120). The invention further relates to a method of adjusting the temperature of a sample in an ion beam etching process, including mounting a sample on a coolable sample stage (102), aligning the sample on the sample stage (102), and cooling the sample by coolant directed through a conduit (130, 131) of a cooling finger. |
| US08648312B2 |
Radiation detection apparatus, manufacturing method thereof, and radiation detection system
A method of manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first scintillator layer, a second scintillator layer, and a sensor panel that detects light emitted by the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer. The method comprises preparing a sensor unit having the sensor panel and the first scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the sensor panel, and a scintillator panel having a scintillator substrate and the second scintillator layer which includes a set of columnar crystals formed on the scintillator substrate, and fixing the scintillator panel to the sensor panel such that the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer face each other. |
| US08648303B2 |
Compact infrared light detector and method for producing the same, and an infrared light detector system comprising the infrared light detector
An infrared light detector having a sensor chip (4), which includes a thin-film element (5) made from a pyroelectrically sensitive material, having an electrical insulator (27), at least one electronic component (17, 18) having a thin-film design, which forms part of a readout electronics unit, and a thin-film membrane (2), on which the sensor chip (4) and the electronic component (17, 18) are mounted side by side in an integrated manner such that the electronic component (17, 18) is electrically conductively coupled to the thin-film element (5). A signal amplifier (22), with which, in co-operation with the electronic component (17, 18), an electrical signal emitted from the sensor chip (4) can be amplified, can be connected to the electronic component (17, 18). |
| US08648300B2 |
Charged particle beam apparatus
The charged particle beam apparatus having an opening formation member formed with an opening for passage of a charged particle beam emitted from a charged particle source, and either a detector adapted to detect charged particles having passed through the passage opening or a detector adapted to detect charged particles resulting from bombardment on another member of the charged particles having passed through the opening, comprises an aligner for aligning charged particles discharged from the sample and a control unit for controlling the aligner, wherein the control unit controls the aligner to cause it to shift trajectories of the charged particles discharged from the sample so that length measurement may be executed on the basis of detection signals before and after the alignment by the aligner. |
| US08648298B2 |
Excitation of ions in ICR mass spectrometers
In an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer ions are excited into cyclotron orbits by an alternating current excitation signal having a nonlinear function of the excitation frequency vs. time in a “chirp.” Such an excitation signal produces transients which have no pronounced beats, even if mixtures of many ion species, all having the same mass differences, are present. The dynamic measuring range for the image currents can thus be better utilized. In particular, sum spectra of specified quality can be generated from a significantly smaller number of individual transients, and thus in a significantly shorter measuring time. |
| US08648297B2 |
Coupling of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry by liquid sample desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)
An apparatus to separate and analyze components of a liquid sample include a high performance liquid chromatograph with a mass spectrometer utilizing desorption electrospray ionization. This permits separation and evaluation of different components in a liquid sample. Further, this can be combined with online derivation via reactive DESI and, further, can be used with further electrochemistry. |
| US08648296B2 |
Spectrometer apparatus
An ion mobility spectrometer has several electrodes spaced along its ion source region. Voltages are applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage gradient along the length of the ion source region. By varying the voltage gradient, the residence time of ions in the ion source region can be selectively varied. Typically, the spectrometer is arranged to reduce the residence time in response to a decrease in the amplitude of an ion peak detected at the far end of the drift region. |
| US08648295B2 |
Combined distance-of-flight and time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A combined distance-of-flight mass spectrometry (DOFMS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) instrument includes an ion source configured to produce ions having varying mass-to-charge ratios, a first detector configured to determine when each of the ions travels a predetermined distance, a second detector configured to determine how far each of the ions travels in a predetermined time, and a detector extraction region operable to direct portions of the ions either to the first detector or to the second detector. |
| US08648294B2 |
Compact aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer
Among other things, methods, systems, apparatus for performing on-the-fly apportionment are described. In particular, a mass spectrometry apparatus includes an ionization laser to produce a deionization laser beam. The apparatus also includes a particle beam path that receives aerosol particles and intersects the ionization laser beam at a location where aerosol particles are desorbed and ionized by the laser beam. The apparatus also includes an ion extractor located at or near the ionization location to separate positive ions and negative ions desorbed from the aerosol particles and to direct the positive ions along a first direction of an ion path and the negative ions along a second, opposite direction of the ion path. The apparatus also includes a first reflectron located at a first side of the ion extractor, on the ion path, to reflect the positive ions along a first reflection path that deviates from the ion path. |
| US08648290B2 |
Data selection circuit, data transmission circuit, ramp wave generation circuit, and solid-state imaging device
Provided are a data selection circuit, a data transmission circuit, a ramp wave generation circuit, and a solid-state imaging device. A delay section delays signals input to delay units of n (n is a natural number equal to or more than 3) stages that are connected to each other and have the same configuration and outputs delayed signals from the delay units. A delay control section controls a delay amount of the delay units. An output section performs a logical operation on signals output from i-th and j-th (i and j are natural numbers that are different from each other and equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than n) delay units to generate a signal and outputs the signal to a k-th (k is a natural number equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than m) first data selection pulse input terminal of a functional circuit having m (m is a natural number equal to or more than 2) first data selection pulse input terminals. |
| US08648288B2 |
Pixels, imagers and related fabrication methods
Pixels, imagers and related fabrication methods are described. The described methods result in cross-talk reduction in imagers and related devices by generating depletion regions. The devices can also be used with electronic circuits for imaging applications. |
| US08648286B2 |
Shadow band pyranometer
A shadow band assembly includes a platform and an arcuate shadow arm extending upward from the platform and terminating in a free end above the platform. A sun sensor mounting location is located below the free end of the shadow arm. The arm is preferably further supported by a vertical strut. According to other embodiments, the arm is hollow and contains a fluid conduit and/or an electrical cable. A sun sensor may be mounted on top of the free end of the arm and a fluid nozzle may be mounted under the free end. A shadow band pyranometer includes the shadow band assembly, a sun sensor mounted at the mounting location and a motor drive coupled to the platform for azimuth tracking. Additional sensors with zenith tracking may also be provided. |
| US08648284B2 |
Composite materials and devices comprising single crystal silicon carbide heated by electromagnetic radiation
A composite material that increases in temperature upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation includes single crystal silicon carbide whiskers and fibrils in a matrix material. Also disclosed are heat-generating objects that include the composite material, and a method of generating heat. |
| US08648275B2 |
Power supply device for sinker electric discharge machining
A power supply device comprises a DC power supply (12), a current sensor (14) for detecting gap current (Igap) flowing through the machining gap, a first switching element (16) connected in series between the DC power supply and the tool electrode (2), a first reverse current prevention diode (22) connected in parallel with the DC power supply and connected in series with the first switching element (16), a second switching element (18) connected in series between the DC power supply and the workpiece (3), a second reverse current prevention diode (24) connected in parallel with the DC power supply and connected in series with the second switching element (18), and a pulse controller (20) for controlling the first and second switching elements in response to gap current (Igap). From a first time (t1) when electric discharge is generated across the machining gap, until a second time (t2) when the gap current reaches the peak current during the ON time, both of the first and second switching elements are on. At the second time (t2) only one of the first and second switching elements is turned off. |
| US08648274B2 |
Arc resistant electrical enclosure
Methods, systems, apparatus and devices for an arc resistant electrical enclosure that includes a duct system of adjacent pressure relief chambers separated by flame arresting ventilation partitions to provide a torturous mechanical maze to relieve internal pressure and extinguish internal hot flames within the flame arresting duct system prior to exiting the enclosure expelling gasses into the external environment. The adjacent partitioned pressure relief chambers for routing pressure and or flames through the duct system with ninety degree turns from one pressure relief chamber into the next adjacent pressure relief chamber. In an embodiment, a set of ventilation panels is located within one or more of the adjacent pressure relief chambers and each next pressure relief chamber can have a volume that is less than the volume in the preceding chamber. |
| US08648273B2 |
Switching installation with arc protection and arc protection method
A switching installation including a gas-filled enclosure, an input conductor, an actuator and a short-circuit device. The actuator is arranged to actuate the short-circuit device upon the occurrence of a first arc in the enclosure. The short-circuit device creates, upon being actuated, a short-circuit through the solid insulation between the input conductor and the enclosure or a separate ground point. The actuator can be arranged to react on an increase in pressure in the enclosure upon the occurrence of the first arc. The gas can be air or SF6. The short-circuit device can create, upon being actuated, the short-circuit through a section of a solid cable insulation isolating the input conductor from the enclosure. |
| US08648269B2 |
Keyless solenoid release unit
A electrically operated blocking device used to block the operation of electrical or mechanical equipment without using a system of deadbolt locks, keys, and electrically operated key traps. The electrically operated blocking device preferably includes a blocking shaft used to block the operation of electrical equipment such as, e.g., switches, circuit breakers and other similar electrical equipment, or mechanical equipment such as, e.g., valves, cams, gears, doors or any moving device or device operator, and preferably includes a keyless solenoid release unit (KSRU) used to control a plunger that locks the blocking shaft into place and unlocks the blocking shaft to allow the blocking shaft to move freely along its axis. |
| US08648267B2 |
Weight measurement device with load transmission member whose position is changeable
A weight measurement device has a housing that includes a base, a platform located above the base and on which a subject is placed or stands, and a chamber defined by the base and the platform. At least one load cell is contained in the chamber and is supported by the base. A load transmission member is located between the platform and the load cell. A bracket is fixed to the base. An elastic deformation part is located around the load transmission member and connected to the bracket and to the load transmission member. The elastic deformation part has an elasticity that is greater than that of the load transmission member, and allows the load transmission member to change in position with respect to the bracket when force is transmitted from the platform via the load transmission member to the load cell. |
| US08648265B2 |
Full perimeter laser beam button weld of dissimilar materials
Terminal pins that include a refractory metal forming a full perimeter weld connected to a terminal block including a dissimilar metal incorporated into feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are discussed. The feedthrough filter capacitor assemblies are particularly useful for incorporation into implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and the like, to decouple and shield internal electronic components of the medical device from undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals. |
| US08648261B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board comprises a circuit substrate, an electrically conductive cloth structure, and a shielding structure. The circuit substrate comprises a base layer, a grounded circuit layer, and a connecting pad formed on the grounded circuit layer. The cloth structure comprises an anisotropic conductive adhesive connected to the connecting pad, an insulating layer, and a metallic deposition layer arranged between the anisotropic conductive adhesive and the insulating layer. The shielding structure comprises a shielding metal layer, an adhesive matrix, and a number of electrically conductive particles electrically connected to the shielding metal layer. The insulating layer defines a number of through holes corresponding to the particles, the particles is arranged in the through holes respectively and electrically connected the metallic deposition layer and the shielding metal layer. A method for manufacturing the above PCB is also provided. |
| US08648259B2 |
Accordion-style grommet with shape-influencing stiffeners
A grommet for housing electrical wires constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure includes a mounting structure, a tube, and a plurality of stiffeners. The mounting structure is configured to mount to a panel of a vehicle, the mounting structure defining a first passage extending therethrough. The tube extends from the mounting structure and defines a second passage in communication with the first passage. The tube includes a corrugated portion having a plurality of ridges and a plurality of grooves interposed between the plurality of ridges. The stiffeners are interposed between those of the plurality of ridges that are disposed within a zone of the corrugated portion. The stiffeners extend partially around a circumference of the tube. |
| US08648257B2 |
Insulation material composition for DC power cable and the DC power cable using the same
An insulation material composition for a direct current (DC) power cable and the DC power cable using the same are provided. A direct current (DC) power cable insulation material composition includes 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of surface-modified nano-sized cubic magnesium oxide, per 100 parts by weight of a polyethylene base resin. |
| US08648254B2 |
Device and method for stringing overhead cable
An overhead tower assembly comprising an overhead tower, a threading device attached to the tower and defining an opening, a cable positioned through the opening, and a cable catcher attached to the cable. The catcher includes a body secured to the cable and sized to fit through the opening, and an arm attached to the body and movable relative to the body between a collapsed position, having a cross-section smaller than the opening, and an expanded position, having a cross-section larger than the opening. The catcher and can be used to perform a method including attaching the catcher to the cable, inserting an end of the cable through the threading device, pulling the cable through the threading device, contacting the arm with the threading device, moving the arm from the expanded position toward the collapsed position, continuing to pull the cable until the catcher has passed through the threading device, and moving the arm back to the expanded position. |
| US08648252B2 |
Solar cell using low iron high transmission glass and corresponding method
A high transmission low iron glass, that is highly oxidized, is provided for use in solar cells or the like. In certain example embodiments, the glass composition used for the glass is a low-iron type glass composition which is highly oxidized thereby permitting the glass to realize a combination of high visible transmission (Lta or Tvis), high ultraviolet (UV) and/or infrared (IR) transmission, and high total solar (TS) transmission. These features may be achieved without the need for antimony in certain example instances. The glass substrate used in a solar cell may be patterned in certain example embodiments of this invention. |
| US08648250B2 |
Multi-stack semiconductor device
A multi-stack semiconductor device comprises: a substrate; a first conductive layer, a first group of the semiconductor material layers and a second group of the semiconductor material layers. The first conductive layer is formed on the substrate scribed by laser on the bottom of the first conductive layer to form a plurality of the first scribe lines. The first group of the semiconductor material layers is formed on the first conductive layer, and the second group of the semiconductor material layers is formed on the first group of the semiconductor material layers. The first group of the semiconductor material layers and the second group of the semiconductor material layers are simultaneously scribed by laser on bottom of the first group of the semiconductor material layers to form a plurality of the second scribe lines. Each second scribe line is comprised of a plurality of the second pores. The second conductive layer is formed on the second group of the semiconductor material layers and is scribe by laser on the bottom of the first group of the semiconductor material layers to form a plurality of the third scribe lines. The second pores are shortened for shortening the horizontal distance of the first scribe lines and the second scribe lines and/or the horizontal distance of the second scribe lines and the third scribe lines. |
| US08648249B1 |
Geo-cooled photovoltaic power converter
A geo-cooled photovoltaic power conversion apparatus including a cooling system having liquid-to-earth sub-grade heat exchanger, multiple cooling loops, and a coolant reservoir which provides thermal storage for the cooling system. |
| US08648241B2 |
Key determination apparatus and storage medium storing key determination program
A manipulator information obtaining unit obtains at least a note name corresponding to a manipulator manipulated. A storage device includes a register configured to store at least possible note names, note names in a history of manipulators manipulated, and key candidates, and a first table configured to store diatonic scale notes for each of the key candidates. A key determination unit compares the note names in a history of manipulators manipulated with the diatonic scale notes for each of the key candidates and determines whether there is a key candidate in which all of the note names in the history of the manipulators coincide with any of the diatonic scale notes of the key candidate, thereby determining a key of a musical composition played by the manipulation of the manipulators, and storing the determined key in the register. |
| US08648234B1 |
Soybean variety XB74D11
A novel soybean variety, designated XB74D11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB74D11, cells from soybean variety XB74D11, plants of soybean XB74D11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB74D11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB74D11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB74D11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB74D11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB74D11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB74D11 are further provided. |
| US08648232B2 |
Early-maturing transgenic plants
The present invention provides an early-maturing transgenic plant, which comprises a nucleic acid that encodes a protein having activity of causing early maturation of a plant, so that the gene can be expressed. |
| US08648228B2 |
MSCA1 nucleotide sequences impacting plant male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences of a Msca1 gene, critical to male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in impacting male fertility in plants. |
| US08648225B2 |
Process for hydrogenating highly unsaturated hydrocarbons and catalyst therefor
A process for hydrogenating highly unsaturated hydrocarbons to less unsaturated hydrocarbons wherein production of saturated hydrocarbons is minimized. The process utilizes catalyst including Ce2O3, MgO, and an inorganic support, and optionally palladium, optionally silver, and/or an optional alkali metal. |
| US08648224B2 |
Process for the production of bio-naphtha from complex mixtures of natural occurring fats and oils
A process for making a bio-naphtha and optionally bio-propane from a complex mixture of natural occurring fats & oils, wherein said complex mixture is subjected to a refining treatment for removing the major part of non-triglyceride and non-fatty acid components, thereby obtaining refined fats & oils; said refined fats & oils are transformed into linear or substantially linear paraffin's as the bio-naphtha by an hydrodeoxygenation or from said refined fats & oils are obtained fatty acids that are transformed into linear or substantially linear paraffin's as the bio-naphtha by hydrodeoxygenation or decarboxylation of the free fatty acids or from said refined fats & oils are obtained fatty acids soaps that are transformed into linear or substantially linear paraffin's as the bio-naphtha by decarboxylation of the soaps. |
| US08648222B2 |
Method for making catalyst compositions of alkali metal halide-doped bivalent metal fluorides and a process for making fluorinated olefins
There is provided methods for making a catalyst composition represented by the formula MX/M′F2 wherein MX is an alkali metal halide; M is an alkali metal ion selected from the group consisting of Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+; X is a halogen ion selected from the group consisting of F−, Cl−, Br−, and I−; M′F2 is a bivalent metal fluoride; and M′ is a bivalent metal ion. There is also a method for making a fluorinated olefin. |
| US08648219B2 |
Method for purifying glycerin and products obtained therefrom
A method and system for purifying crude glycerin is provided in which a mixture is formed by blending glycerin, water, an organic solvent, and an acid. The acid being capable of reacting with soap impurities to form lipids that are soluble in the organic solvent and ionic salts that are soluble in the glycerin and water. Liquid-liquid extraction separates and partitions the organic solvents and lipids away from the glycerin, water, and ionic salts with the organic solvent and lipids being reclaimed for future use. Any residual trace amount of organic solvent that remains in the glycerin and water is separated and removed through the use of a clarifier system, with the formation of micro-bubbles arising from a diffuser facilitating the separation. Prior to collection of the purified glycerin product, the ionic salts are removed from the mixture through the use of an ionic exchange resin, electrodialysis, or electrodeionization, followed by the water being removed by evaporation. The resulting purified glycerin exhibits a purity level on the order of about 99.7% or more. |
| US08648218B2 |
Method for preparing phenolic compounds
In an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for preparing a phenolic compound is provided. The method includes providing a lignin depolymerization product, and hydrogenating the lignin depolymerization product under iron oxide and hydrogen gas to prepare a phenolic compound. The prepared phenolic compound is a crude phenolic composition including phenol, methylphenol, dimethylphenol or a combination thereof. |
| US08648217B2 |
Modification of carbonaceous materials
A modified carbonaceous material having chemically bound on its surface at least one fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain (chain Rf) and a process for the modification of a carbonaceous material [material (C)]. The process comprises: contacting the material (C) with a (per)fluoropolyether peroxide comprising at least one peroxidic moiety comprised between sp3 carbon atoms and at least one fluoropolyoxyalkene chain (chain Rf), i.e. a fluorocarbon segment comprising ether linkages in main chain [peroxide (P)]; and heating the material (C) while in contact with the peroxide (P) at a temperature exceeding decomposition temperature of the peroxide (P). |
| US08648215B2 |
Spiroenone and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel spiroenones extracted from an alcohol extract of dehulled adlay seeds. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the spiroenones and a method for treating breast cancer in a subject, which method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of the spiroenone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. |
| US08648213B2 |
Prostamides for the treatment of glaucoma and related diseases
Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an amide related to a prostaglandin and a biogenic amine. Other aspects relate to certain chemical compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating glaucoma. |
| US08648211B2 |
Surface-modifying silicone elastomers
The present disclosure describes compounds of Formula (I) wherein m is 1 to 6, n is 6 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branch chain siloxane, their use in methods to modify the surface of hydrophobic substrates to render the substrates superhydrophilic and surface-modified substrates. |
| US08648207B2 |
Aryl (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) compound, and process for production thereof
A process for production of a (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)benzene compound represented the general formula (5) [wherein R is a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a cyclic C1 to C6 alkyl group; A1 is a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a mono(C1 to C6 alkyl)amino group or a di(C1 to C6 alkyl)amino group; and A2 is a halogen atom, a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a cyclic C1 to C6 alkyl group], which comprises reacting a triazole compound represented by the general formula (2) (wherein A1 has the same definition as given above) with a phenylboronic acid compound represented by the general formula (3) (wherein R and A2 have the same definitions as given above) or a phenylboroxine compound represented by the general formula (4) (wherein R and A2 have the same definitions as given above) in the presence of a copper catalyst. |
| US08648201B2 |
Aminopyridine derivatives for treating tumors and inflammatory diseases
Compounds of the formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R7 and Y have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of PDK1 and cell proliferation/cell vitality and can be employed for the treatment of tumors and for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. |
| US08648198B2 |
Phenylethanolamine-based NMDA receptor antagonists
Described herein are enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their methods of use and treatment, e.g., of Formula (I): wherein one or more of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, or the ring formed by the joining of R1 and R2, is a hydrophobic moiety which confers enhanced antagonist activity as compared to existing NMDA receptor antagonists, e.g., ifenprodil. Compounds described herein are designed based on the discovery that ifenprodil binds within the allosteric domain of the GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor, particularly at the interface between GluN1 and GluN2B subunits. In silico methods are further described herein. |
| US08648188B2 |
Preparation of 2-chloro-9-(2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-adenine
A process for making clofarabine comprising: fluorinating a compound of formula VII wherein each R4 is independently a hydroxy protecting group, OR6 is a leaving group, with a fluorinating agent in the presence of guanidine carbonate to give a compound of formula VIII: wherein R4 is as defined above; and deprotecting the compound of formula VIII to give the clofarabine. |
| US08648187B2 |
Method for separation of double-stranded and single-stranded nucleic acids from the same sample
The invention provides systems, methods and kits for the separation and/or purification of double-stranded and single-stranded nucleic acids from the same sample. The method includes first mixing a sample containing both double-stranded nucleic acid and single-stranded nucleic acid with a solution including a chaotropic salt and a non-ionic detergent to generate a mixture; then applying the mixture to a first mineral support for double-stranded nucleic acid to bind; and collecting the flow-through which contains unbound single-stranded nucleic acid. The method further includes diluting the non-ionic detergent of the flow-through, and applying the diluted flow-through to a second mineral support for the single-stranded nucleic acid to bind. Alternatively the flow-through can be mixed with a lower aliphatic alcohol prior to loading of the second column. The double-stranded and the single-stranded nucleic acids can be eluted from the mineral supports respectively. |
| US08648186B2 |
Antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) against SMAD7 and uses thereof in medical field
The invention relates to antisense oligonucleotidic sequences (ODN) against Smad7 suitably modified, and their uses in medical field as therapeutic biological agents, in particular in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. |
| US08648180B2 |
Compound Smilaxchinoside F
Smilaxchinoside F compound and its separation method are disclosed. The compound has the structure as following. The use of Smilaxchinoside F in the manufacture of a medicine for treating abnormal angiogenesis and its relating diseases is also disclosed. |
| US08648179B2 |
Enzymatic nucleic acid synthesis: compositions and methods for inhibiting pyrophosphorolysis
Nucleotide triphosphate probes containing a molecular and/or atomic tag on a a γ and/or β phosphate group and/or a base moiety having a detectable property are disclosed, and kits and method for using the tagged nucleotides in sequencing reactions and various assay. Also, phosphate and polyphosphate molecular fidelity altering agents are disclosed. |
| US08648174B2 |
UCP4
The present invention is directed to novel polypeptide, designated in the present application as “UCP4” (SEQ ID NO: 1), having homology to certain human uncoupling proteins (“UCPs”) and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention, and methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention. |
| US08648173B2 |
Inhibition of tumor metastasis by anti neuropilin 2 antibodies
The application provides Nrp2 antagonists, such as anti-Nrp2 antibodies, and their use in the prevention and treatment of tumor metastasis. |
| US08648168B2 |
Biodegradable polyesteretheramide
A biodegradable polyesteretheramide for manufacturing films and molded products, for example for application in the protection of foodstuff products and films for agriculture, contains a compound with at least 3 groups capable of reacting with one or several types of the active groups present in the reaction mixture, that is, compounds which, while containing ether groups in their structure, have active groups capable of reacting in the reaction mixture to form amide groups, and which simplifies and shortens the preparation process, reducing its economic cost and obtaining products of greater transparency and higher strain at failure, while maintaining other properties such as resistance to tearing and puncture, and allowing greater widths of films to be made with smaller thicknesses. |
| US08648166B2 |
Process for producing antimony-free PET polyester fiber excellent in no yellowish look
An antimony-free PET resin produced by using an inorganic Ti—Mg catalyst and a small amount of blue and red dyes, in the absence of an antimony catalyst or a phosphorus stabilizer; and, in a melt spinning process for producing PET polyester fiber, the PET resin demonstrates excellent spinnability but no yarn breaks or aggregation of TiO2 delustering agent so that the resultant PET polyester fiber features commercially desired in both color tone and glossiness. Especially the PET resin and the PET polyester fiber containing no antimony are therefore environmentally friendly by causing no heavy metal pollution to the environment. |
| US08648164B2 |
Low-k, flame-retardant, bi-functional benzoxazine and method for making the same
Disclosed is a method for making a low-k, flame-retardant, bi-functional benzoxazine. The method includes the steps of dissolving phosphoric diamine with various functional groups, phenolic adamantane and paraformaldehyde in a solvent at 72° C. to 88° C. for 7 to 9 hours, and cooling and introducing the solution in n-hexane to separate the low-k, flame-retardant, phosphoric, bi-functional benzoxazine. |
| US08648162B2 |
Adherence substance, pressure sensitive adhesive sheet and its use
To provide an adherence substance which has a low viscosity and good coatability, can be made solvent free, has a low adhesive strength, of which increase with time is small, has good adhesion to a substrate, has excellent adhesion to an adherend and excellent removability, and has a good wettability. An adherence substance which is obtained by curing a curable composition comprising a silyl group-containing polymer (S) obtained by introducing a hydrolyzable silyl group to a molecular terminal of a polyurethane prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyol compound with a polyisocyanate compound, and which has a peel adhesive strength of at most 8N/25 mm. |
| US08648158B2 |
Continuously operated method for producing copolymers
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of copolymer in a continuous mode of operation in a polymerization apparatus, comprising a polymerization reactor having feed lines and an outflow, free radical polymerization initiator, an acid monomer and polyether macromonomer being passed as monomeric starting materials into the polymerization reactor through the feed lines, initiator, monomeric starting materials and copolymer-containing reaction composition thermostated at −20 to +120° C. being present in the polymerization reactor, copolymer-containing reaction composition being discharged from the polymerization reactor through the outflow, the introduction of the polyether macromonomer into the polymerization reactor being effected separately from the acid monomer in a manner such that the polyether macromonomer is mixed with the initiator, monomeric starting materials and copolymer-containing reaction composition in the polymerization reactor and comes into contact with the acid monomer for the first time thereby. |
| US08648156B2 |
Reactor
Polymerization process in a slurry loop reactor having a slurry loop reaction zone with a volume of at least 50 m3 and an internal diameter (D) of 50 cm or greater, a feed inlet for monomers and diluent, a catalyst inlet for polymerisation catalyst, and a discharge conduit for removal of polymer. Monomer, diluent and catalyst are passed into the reaction zone through their respective inlets where they form a slurry of polymer solids having a polymer solids concentration in the reaction zone of greater than 20 wt %. The space-time yield (STY) is greater than 100 kg/h/m3, and the catalyst inlet is an inlet pipe such that no part of the inlet pipe protrudes beyond the wall of the reaction zone and into the reaction zone by more than 1/10th of the diameter of the reaction zone at the point where the inlet pipe joins the reaction zone. |
| US08648153B2 |
Organopolysiloxane
The present invention provides an organopolysiloxane obtained by binding, to at least two silicon atoms of an organopolysiloxane segment constituting a main chain, a poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) segment composed of a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and n is 2 or 3, via an alkylene group containing a hetero atom, wherein the poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) segment has a number-average molecular weight of from 1,600 to 3,500; a mass ratio (a/b) of the organopolysiloxane segment (a) constituting the main chain to the poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) segment (b) (which will hereinafter be called “mass ratio (a/b)”, simply) is from 42/58 to 58/42; the organopolysiloxane segment between two poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) segments adjacent to each other has a weight-average molecular weight of from 1,600 to 3,500; and the organopolysiloxane segment constituting the main chain has a weight-average molecular weight of 7,000 to 100,000. |
| US08648152B2 |
Polyfunctional dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin, and process for production thereof
The present invention provides a polyfunctional dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin which is polyfunctional, rich in reactivity and useful as a variety of raw materials to be modified, specifically a dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin obtained by allowing (1) one kind or two or more kinds of a dimethylnaphthalene having one methyl group on each of two benzene rings in a naphthalene ring thereof and selected from the group consisting of 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,7-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene and 2,7-dimethylnaphthalene; and (2) formaldehyde to react with each other in the presence of water and an acid catalyst, the polyfunctional dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin having a mean value of the number of hydrogen atoms substituted by the reaction among the six hydrogen atoms directly bonded on the naphthalene ring in the dimethylnaphthalene of from 1.8 to 3.5. |
| US08648150B2 |
Method for producing water absorbent resin
The present invention is a method for producing a water absorbent resin which method is a method for producing surface cross-linked water absorbent resin particles, the method including the successive steps of: (a) adding a surface cross-linking agent and water to a particulate water absorbent resin in a mixer; and (b) reacting the resulting water absorbent resin mixture taken out from the mixer with the surface cross-linking agent in a reactor by heating or active energy ray irradiation, water vapor being used as part or all of the water added in the mixer. This makes it possible to provide a method for producing a water absorbent resin in which method a surface cross-linked water absorbent resin that has excellent properties can be obtained efficiently at low cost with high productivity. |
| US08648149B2 |
Radically coupled PTFE polymer compounds and method for the production thereof
The invention relates to the field of chemistry and relates to radically coupled PTFE polymer compounds that can be used, for example, as tribo materials, and a method for the production thereof. The object of the invention is to disclose radically coupled PTFE polymer compounds which exhibit improved wear resistances with comparable gliding properties, and furthermore a simple and efficient method for the production of such compounds. The object is attained through radically coupled PTFE polymer compounds comprising radiation-chemically and/or plasma-chemically modified PTFE powders, on the particle surface of which olefinically unsaturated polymers are chemically radically coupled by a reactive conversion into a melt. The object is further attained through a method for producing radically coupled PTFE polymer compounds, in which PTFE powders are reactively converted with reactive perfiuoroalkyl-(peroxy) radical centers after a radiation-chemical and/or plasma-chemical modification into a melt with the addition of olefinically unsaturated polymers. |
| US08648139B2 |
Method of making an elastic film, in particular for a hygienic article
An elastic film for a hygienic article is made by first premixing polymer components to form a polymer composite that contains styrene block copolymers and then extruding the polymer composite to make at least one layer. During the premixing or the extruding zeolites are added having pores of a size larger than 2.5 Angstrom and smaller than 5.5 Angstrom. |
| US08648138B2 |
Polymeric material of photosynthetic origin comprising particulate inorganic material
Disclosed is a new composition of matter comprising a polymeric material of photosynthetic origin having embedded therein small particles of an inorganic material. The composition of matter is particularly suitable for use in processes whereby the polymeric material is converted to fuels in liquid or gas form, and/or to the valuable specialty chemicals. The polymeric material comprises biomass. More specifically, the polymeric material comprises cellulose and at least one of hemicellulose and lignin. |
| US08648136B2 |
Structures incorporating polymer-inorganic particle blends
Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures. |
| US08648124B2 |
Weather-resistant polyurethane casting compounds, a process for preparation thereof and use thereof
The invention concerns novel weather-resistant polyurethane casting compounds, a process for preparation thereof and use thereof in the building sector. |
| US08648120B2 |
Liquid rheology modifier
The present invention provides a liquid rheology modifier containing compounds (A) and (B) selected from combination (1) of compound (A) selected from cationic surfactants and compound (B) selected from anionic aromatic compounds and combination (2) of compound (A) from cationic surfactants and compound (B) selected from brominated compounds; and dicarboxylic acid (C). |
| US08648119B2 |
Controlled release immunomodulator compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders with immunomodulating agent compositions and formulations administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disorder, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s). |
| US08648116B2 |
Derivatives of N-(arylamino) sulfonamides including polymorphs as inhibitors of MEK as well as compositions, methods of use and methods for preparing the same
This invention concerns N-(2-arylamino) aryl sulfonamide compounds which are inhibitors of MEK including crystalline polymorphic forms which exhibit a specific powder x-ray diffraction profile and/or a specific differential scanning calorimetry profile. This invention also concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds described herein and methods of use of the compounds and compositions described herein, including the use in the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, hyperproliferative diseases and inflammatory conditions. The invention also concerns methods of making the compounds and compositions described herein. |
| US08648114B2 |
Use of transplatin to prevent hearing loss
Methods and compositions for treating and preventing toxic side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy agents are disclosed, in which transplatin is administered to a subject. Transplatin is shown to have protective effects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, nephotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Anti-inflammatory activity of transplatin is demonstrated and methods and compositions for treating and preventing inflammatory pain are described. |
| US08648110B2 |
2-aryl-acetic acids, their derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing them
Selected 2-arylacetic acids, their derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions that contain these compounds are useful in inhibiting chemotactic activation of neutrophils (PMN leukocytes) induced by the interaction of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) with CXCR1 and CXCR2 membrane receptors. The compounds are used for the prevention and treatment of pathologies deriving from their activation. In particular, 2(ortho)-substituted arylacetic acids or their derivatives, such as amides and sulfonamides, lack cyclo-oxygenase inhibition activity and are particularly useful in the treatment of neutrophil-dependent pathologies such as psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, melanoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bullous pemphigoid, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis and in the prevention and treatment of damages caused by ischemia and reperfusion. |
| US08648108B2 |
Medical compositions for intravesical treatment of bladder cancer
Anti-cancer coating compositions comprising 3-hydroxymethyl-5-aziridinyl-1-1-methyl-2-[1H-indole-4,7-dione]propenol (E09) are disclosed. More specifically, the coating compositions comprise EO9 and a formulation vehicle. The formulation vehicle improves the solubility and stability of EO9. Additionally, the coating compositions can include coating agents that provide better adhesion of the coating composition to the bladder wall during intravesical delivery of the coating composition. |
| US08648107B2 |
Ketorolac tromethamine compositions for treating or preventing ocular pain
Compositions comprising ketorolac tromethamine at a therapeutically effective concentration of less than 0.5% are disclosed herein. Methods of treating or preventing ocular pain using said compositions are also disclosed herein. |
| US08648106B2 |
Dexmedetomidine premix formulation
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising dexmedetomidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein the composition is formulated as a liquid for parenteral administration to a subject, and wherein the composition is disposed within a sealed container as a premixture. The pharmaceutical compositions can be used, for example, in perioperative care of a patient or for sedation. |
| US08648105B2 |
Diarylthiohydantoin compounds
The present invention relates to diarylthiohydantoin compounds and methods for synthesizing them and using them in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. |
| US08648099B2 |
3-pyridine carboxylic acid hydrazides
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, wherein R1 to R5 are defined in the description and claims, and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present invention relates also to the manufacture of said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which can be treated with HDL-cholesterol raising agents, such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. |
| US08648095B2 |
Methods for treating multiple myeloma using 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione in combination with proteasome inhibitor
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed. |
| US08648090B2 |
Indole alkaloid derivatives having opioid receptor agonistic effect, and therapeutic compositions and methods relating to same
Indole alkaloid derivatives having an opioid receptor agonistic effect, their synthesis, and therapeutic compositions containing these derivatives, and methods of treating conditions with these compounds and therapeutic compositions, are provided. |
| US08648089B2 |
1,3,6-substituted indole derivatives having inhibitory activity for protein kinase
Disclosed are a 1,3,6-substituted indole compound having inhibitory activity for protein kinases, a pharmaceutically acceptable thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and treatment of diseases caused by abnormal cell growth including the compound as an active ingredient.Since the novel indole compound exhibits superior inhibitory activity for various protein kinases involved in growth factor signal transduction, it is useful as an agent for preventing or treating cancers caused by abnormal cell growth. |
| US08648088B2 |
Ethynyl nitrogen containing heteroaryl pyrazolidin-3-one derivatives
The present invention relates to ethynyl derivatives of formula I wherein G, X, R1, R2, R3, R3′, R4, and R4′ are as defined herein or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer and/or stereoisomer thereof. Compounds of formula I are positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). |
| US08648086B2 |
5,6-bicyclic heteroaryl-containing urea compounds as kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides 5,6-bicyclic heteroaryl-containing urea compounds of Formula I or II and use of the same for treating conditions mediated by protein kinase such as VEGFR2, c-Met, PDGFRβ c-Kit, CSF1R, or EphA2. |
| US08648085B2 |
1, 5-dihydro-pyrazolo (3, 4-D) pyrimidin-4-one derivatives and their use as PDE9A mudulators for the treatment of CNS disorders
The invention relates to novel substituted pyrazolopyrimidines. Chemically, the compounds are characterized by general Formula (I): with R1 being phenyl or pyridyl, any of which is substituted with 1 to 4, preferably 1 to 3 substituents X; X independently of each other being selected from C2-C6-alky1 or Ci-C6-alkoxy, where C2-C6-alkyl and C1-C6-alkoxy are at least dihalogenated up to perhalogenated. preferably with 2 to 6 halogen substituents, and the halogen atoms being selected from the group of fluoro, chloro and bromo, preferably fluoro; R2 being phenyl or heteroaryl, where phenyl is substituted by 1 to 3 radicals and heteroaryl is optionally substituted by 1 to 3 radicals in each case independently of one another selected from the group of C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, hydroxycarbonyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, amino, nitro, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkylamino, halogen, C6-C10-arylcarbonylamino, C1-C6-alkylcarbonylamino, C1-C6-alkylaminocarbonyl. C1-C6-alkoxycarbonyl, C6-C10-arylaminocarbonyl, heteroarylaminocarbonyl. heteroarylcarbonylamino, C1-C6-alkylsulphonyl-amino, C1-C6-alkylsulphonyl and C1-C6-alkylthio; The new compounds shall be used for the manufacture of medicaments, in particular medicaments for improving, perception, concentration, learning and/or memory in patients in need thereof. |
| US08648084B2 |
Selective substituted pyrazine ligands for neuronal nicotinic receptors
The present application describes selective ligands of formula (I) for neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs), more specifically for the α4β2 NNR subtype, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same, wherein X, R1, X, R2, R3, L1, m, n, p, and q are defined in the specification. |
| US08648082B2 |
Gum resin as a carrier for topical application of antimicrobial agents
The invention provides a biological dressing for treatment of a dermatological disease comprised of a gum resin, a topically acceptable volatile solvent, and a pharmacologically active agent. The gum resin is present in a suitable amount that the composition, when the solvent evaporates, will dry to form a solid coating that sticks to the skin or mucosal membrane to which the composition is applied and maintain the pharmacologically active agent over a sustained period of time in contact with sites on the skin or mucosal membranes exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Methods are provided for treating symptoms of dermatological diseases with such a pharmacological composition. Biological dressings including tincture of benzoin and clotrimazole are shown to be efficacious for the long-term amelioration of symptoms of athlete's foot. |
| US08648081B2 |
Parasiticidal dihydroisoxazole compounds
Provided are dihydroisoxazole compounds I useful for controlling parasites both in animals and agriculture. Further provided are methods for controlling parasite infestations of an animal by administering an effective amount of a compound as described above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to an animal, as well as formulations for controlling parasite infestations using the compounds described above or an acceptable salt thereof, and an acceptable carrier. Also provided are compounds and processes useful for making the dihydroisoxazole compounds. |
| US08648079B2 |
Heterocyclic compounds
The present invention provides a compound useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of neurodegenerative disease and the like, or a salt thereof.The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof. |
| US08648076B2 |
Cysteine protease inhibitors and their therapeutic applications
The present invention concerns new compounds of formula (I), their process of preparation and their therapeutic use. |
| US08648070B2 |
Bicyclic ring system substituted sulfonamide functionalised phenols as medicaments
This invention relates to bicyclic ring system substituted sulfonamide functionalized phenols of general formula 1, their use as inhibitors of CXCR2 activity, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for treatment and/or prevention of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin, or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system or cancers, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds. |
| US08648069B2 |
5-substituted indazoles as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutical acceptable salts, wherein A, R1, R2, R3 and m, are defined in the description. The present invention relates also to methods of making said compounds, and compositions containing said compounds which are useful for inhibiting kinases such as Glycogen Synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), Rho kinase (ROCK), Janus Kinases (JAK), Cdc7, AKT, PAK4, PLK, CK2, KDR, MK2, JNK1, aurora, pim 1 and nek 2. |
| US08648068B2 |
Heterocycloalkyl-containing thienopyrimidines for pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention relates to novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising thienopyrimidine compounds. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of the thienopyrimidine compounds of the invention for the production of pharmaceutical compositions for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases which can be influenced by the inhibition of the kinase activity of Mnk1 and/or Mnk2 (Mnk2a or Mnk2b) and/or variants thereof. |
| US08648067B2 |
Substituted phenoxypropylcycloamine derivatives as histamine-3 (H3) receptor ligands
The present invention provides compounds of formula I: their use as H3 antagonists/inverse agonists, processes for their preparation, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. |
| US08648066B2 |
Benzoxazepines as inhibitors of PI3K/mTOR and methods of their use and manufacture
The invention is directed to Compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, as well as methods of making and using the compounds. |
| US08648061B2 |
Use of polyunsaturated fatty acids for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events
The use of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 series such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 ω-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ω-3), or their pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives is described for the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events in subjects who have not undergone previous infarct episodes. |
| US08648056B2 |
Composition for local anesthesia
A composition for local anesthesia which comprises a local anesthetic as an active ingredient and an agent for maintaining anesthetic action selected from the group consisting of acidic mucopolysaccharides such as sodium chondroitin sulfate and cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and does not contain catecholamines, which has durability of anesthetic action suitable for minor dental operations such as tooth extraction, and can be used as a safe composition for local anesthesia used for oral surgery or dental treatment. |
| US08648055B2 |
Virucidal properties of various forms of sophorolipids
A method for neutralizing or inactivating a virus, and neutralizing or inactivating HIV using sophorolipids having antiviral properties produced by synthesizing the sophorolipid by fermentation of Candida bombicola in a fermentation media to form a natural mixture of lactonic sophorolipids compounds and non-lactonic sophorolipids compounds and utilizing the natural mixture as an antiviral agent, and/or separating the lactonic sophorolipids from the natural mixture to form a lactonic fraction and mixing all remaining fractions to form a non-lactonic fraction and utilizing the lactonic fraction and/or the non-lactonic fraction as an antiviral agent, and sophorolipid compounds for use as antiviral agents. |
| US08648051B2 |
Antiproliferative activity of G-rich oligonucleotides and method of using same to bind to nucleolin
The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the proliferation of malignant and/or hyperplastic cells in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a guanosine rich oligonucleotide. The present invention also provides oligonucleotides which are capable of being specifically bound to a specific cellular protein which is nucleolin and/or nucleolin in nature, which is implicated in the proliferation of cells, specifically malignant and/or hyperplastic cells, and a method for their selection. |
| US08648044B2 |
FKBP52-tau interaction as a novel therapeutical target for treating the neurological disorders involving tau dysfunction
Candidate compounds for use in neuro-protection and repair in neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction (including Alzheimer's disease) are identified from a direct interaction between proteins FKBP52 and Tau. The method for screening a drug for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction includes determining the ability of a candidate compound, to modulate binding between a Tau polypeptide and a FKBP52 polypeptide, and selecting positively the candidate compound that modulates binding. |
| US08648042B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions
A pharmaceutical polymer and a method for quenching free radicals is described. The pharmaceutical polymer comprises a glycopeptide covalently bound to an aminothiol moiety. The pharmaceutical polymer and method can be applied before or after the occurrence of radiation exposure. |
| US08648041B2 |
Double-acylated GLP-1 derivatives
The invention relates to a derivative of a GLP-1 analogue, which analogue comprises a first K residue at a position corresponding to position 37 of GLP-1(7-37) (SEQ ID NO: 1), a second K residue at a position corresponding to position 26 of GLP-1(7-37), and a maximum of ten amino acid modifications as compared to GLP-1(7-37), wherein the first K residue is designated K37, and the second K residue is designated K26, which derivative comprises two albumin binding moieties attached to K26 and K37, respectively, wherein the albumin binding moiety comprises a protracting moiety selected from:Chem. 1, Chem. 2, Chem. 3 or Chem. 4; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide, or ester thereof. |
| US08648040B2 |
Amino acid composition for improving glucose tolerance
Disclosed are compositions, including low-calorie beverages or liquids, comprising isoleucine, leucine, valine, cysteine, and methionine, in specified amounts, weight ratios, or both. The compositions are especially useful in treating individuals afflicted with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. |
| US08648039B2 |
Use of alpha-lactalbumin for regulations of glycemia
Use of alpha-lactalbumin in a dietary, health-food or pharmaceutical type of composition to promote the cellular absorption of glucose, to improve the regulation of glycemia, to prevent the appearance of insulin resistance and/or type II diabetes. |
| US08648035B2 |
Identification and use of peptide inhibitors of protein synthesis
The present invention discloses compositions of peptide inhibitors of protein synthesis, and methods of identifying peptide inhibitors that are capable of inhibiting protein synthesis through an interaction at a stem-loop H18 in 16S rRNA of a 30S ribosomal subunit. Screening methods for peptides are disclosed, in addition to methods of determining the affinity of a test compound for a ribosomal subunit. |
| US08648033B2 |
Organic carbonates with vanilla odor
The invention relates to a method to confer, enhance, improve or modify the odor properties of a perfuming composition or of a perfumed article, by adding to the composition or article an effective amount of at least a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group; R2 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group; and one R3 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group, and the other R3 represents a hydrogen atom. The invention also relates to perfuming compositions and perfuming consumer products containing these compounds. |
| US08648029B2 |
Composition comprising a diester quaternary ammonium fabric softener with durable pearlescent aesthetics
The present invention relates to liquid compositions provided with durable pearlescent appearance, and to a process of producing said compositions. |
| US08648025B2 |
Personal care compositions with silicones and polyhydroxy quaternary ammonium salts
A personal care composition is provided with a silicone compound and being aesthetically modified for improved skinfeel with a polyhydroxy quaternary ammonium salt of structure (I): wherein X− is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, hydroxyl, sulphate, phosphate, methosulphate, carboxyl, citrate and tartrate; and (ii) from about 0.05 to about 50% of silicone by weight of the composition. |
| US08648023B2 |
Process for inhibiting dyed hair fibers from losing their color during shampooing
A process for inhibiting dyed hair fibers from losing their color during shampooing involving contacting the dyed hair fibers with a composition containing: (a) at least one polyamine compound having at least two amino groups; (b) at least one anionic silicone; and (c) optionally, at least one surfactant, and wherein (a) is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to inhibit the dyed hair fibers from losing their color during shampooing. |
| US08648018B2 |
Crosslinked swellable polymer
The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. |
| US08648016B2 |
Array with extended dynamic range and associated method
A system and method of quantitating the concentration of a molecule of interest in one embodiment includes establishing a plurality of test environments at a plurality of test sites, each of the plurality of test environments associated with one of a plurality of response curves, each of the plurality of response curves different from the other of the plurality of response curves, storing a combined response curve resulting from a summation of the plurality of response curves, exposing the plurality of test sites to a sample having a concentration of a molecule of interest, obtaining a plurality of quantitation signals, each of the plurality of quantitation signals associated with one of the plurality of test sites, associating a summation of the plurality of quantitation signals with the stored combined response curve, and generating a signal related to the concentration of the molecule of interest based upon the association. |
| US08648005B2 |
Method for preparing catalyst
The present invention provides a method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst having high activity by liquid phase reduction without decreasing purity of the solvent and a method for efficiently producing an alcohol. The present invention provides the method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, including reducing a molded precursor of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by supplying hydrogen gas or a mixture of hydrogen gas with an inert gas at a temperature of 50 to 150° C. in the presence of a solvent to obtain the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the reduction is conducted at an average reduction velocity of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst of not more than 3.0% by weight/hour. The present invention also provides the method of producing an alcohol, including preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by the method of preparation, and subjecting a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid ester to catalytic reduction with hydrogen in the presence of the prepared copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst. |
| US08648004B2 |
Methods of preparing carbinized nanotube composite and metal-nanotube composite catalyst
A method for preparing a metal-nanotube composite catalyst for an electro-chemical oxygen reduction reaction includes: debundling carbon nanotubes (CNTs); loading a carbon-containing polymeric material onto the surfaces of the nanotubes that have been debundled; carbonizing in situ the carbon-containing polymeric material on the carbon nanotubes to form carbon char layers surrounding the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes; and loading metal catalyst particles on the carbon nanotubes. The carbon char layers contain high amount of nitrogen and may be formed into a porous structure. |
| US08648003B2 |
Catalysts for ring-closing metathesis
A catalyst composition is provided, which may be used for ring closing metathesis. In the composition, a catalyst is immobilized on a siliceous mesocellular foam support. A suitable catalyst for use in the composition is a Grubbs-type catalyst or a Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalyst. |
| US08647997B2 |
Zeolite membrane and methods of making the same
A free-standing zeolite membrane and a zeolite membrane supported on a support structure are disclosed. The free-standing zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing zeolite particles and an optional inorganic binder, forming a green body, and sintering the green body at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selectivity properties of the zeolite particles. The supported composite zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing a sacrificial binder, an optional inorganic binder, boehmite sol and zeolite particles to form a slurry. The slurry is then coated onto a porous support structure, dried and sintered at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selective properties of the zeolite particles. In both membranes, the zeolite particles span the entire thickness of the membrane to provide a high selectivity path for the flow of gas to pass therethrough. |
| US08647990B2 |
Method of patterning a low-K dielectric film
Methods of patterning low-k dielectric films are described. |
| US08647984B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: an insulating layer forming step of forming an insulating layer made of an insulating material containing Si and O; a groove forming step of forming a groove in the insulating layer; a metal film applying step of covering the inner surface of the groove with a metal film made of MnOx (x: a number greater than zero) by sputtering; and a wire forming step of forming a Cu wire made of a metallic material mainly composed of Cu on the metal film. |
| US08647982B2 |
Methods of forming interconnects in a semiconductor structure
A method of activating a metal structure on an intermediate semiconductor device structure toward metal plating. The method comprises providing an intermediate semiconductor device structure comprising at least one first metal structure and at least one second metal structure on a semiconductor substrate. The at least one first metal structure comprises at least one aluminum structure, at least one copper structure, or at least one structure comprising a mixture of aluminum and copper and the at least one second metal structure comprises at least one tungsten structure. One of the at least one first metal structure and the at least one second metal structure is activated toward metal plating without activating the other of the at least one first metal structure and the at least one second metal structure. An intermediate semiconductor device structure is also disclosed. |
| US08647981B1 |
Methods of forming patterns, and methods of forming integrated circuitry
Some embodiments include methods of forming a pattern. First lines are formed over a first material, and second lines are formed over the first lines. The first and second lines form a crosshatch pattern. The first openings are extended through the first material. Portions of the first lines that are not covered by the second lines are removed to pattern the first lines into segments. The second lines are removed to uncover the segments. Masking material is formed between the segments. The segments are removed to form second openings that extend through the masking material to the first material. The second openings are extended through the first material. The masking material is removed to leave a patterned mask comprising the first material having the first and second openings therein. In some embodiments, spacers may be formed along the first and second lines to narrow the openings in the crosshatch pattern. |
| US08647979B2 |
Buffer layer to enhance photo and/or laser sintering
Conductive lines are deposited on a substrate to produce traces for conducting electricity between electronic components. A patterned metal layer is formed on the substrate, and then a layer of material having a low thermal conductivity is coated over the patterned metal layer and the substrate. Vias are formed through the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity thereby exposing portions of the patterned metal layer. A film of conductive ink is then coated over the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity and into the vias to thereby coat the portions of the patterned metal layer, and then sintered. The film of conductive ink coated over the portion of the patterned metal layer does not absorb as much energy from the sintering as the film of conductive ink coated over the layer of material having the low thermal conductivity. The layer of material having the low thermal conductivity may be a polymer, such as polyimide. |
| US08647976B2 |
Semiconductor package having test pads on top and bottom substrate surfaces and method of testing same
A semiconductor package and testing method is disclosed. The package includes a substrate having top and bottom surfaces, a semiconductor chip mounted in a centrally located semiconductor chip mounting area of the substrate, and a plurality of test pads disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and comprising a first group of test pads configured on the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and having a first height above the respective top and bottom surface of the substrate, and a second group of test pads disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and having a second height greater than the first, wherein each one of the second group of test pads includes a solder ball attached thereto. |
| US08647971B2 |
Method of manufacturing junction barrier schottky diode with dual silicides
An integrated circuit, including a junction barrier Schottky diode, has an N type well, a P-type anode region in the surface of the well, and an N-type Schottky region in the surface of the well and horizontally abutting the anode region. A first silicide layer is on and makes a Schottky contact to the Schottky region and is on an adjoining anode region. A second silicide layer of a different material than the first silicide is on the anode region. An ohmic contact is made to the second silicide on the anode region and to the well. |
| US08647970B2 |
Electronic device comprising conductive structures and an insulating layer between the conductive structures and within a trench
An electronic device can include a substrate including an underlying doped region and a semiconductor layer overlying the substrate. A trench can have a sidewall and extend at least partly through the semiconductor layer. The electronic device can further include a first conductive structure adjacent to the underlying doped region, an insulating layer, and a second conductive structure within the trench. The insulating layer can be disposed between the first and second conductive structures, and the first conductive structure can be disposed between the insulating layer and the underlying doped region. Processes of forming the electronic device may be performed such that the first conductive structure includes a conductive fill material or a doped region within the semiconductor layer. The first conductive structure can allow the underlying doped region to be farther from the channel region and allow RDSON to be lower for a given BVDSS. |
| US08647964B2 |
Temporary wafer bonding method for semiconductor processing
A method for temporary wafer bonding employs a curable adhesive composition and a degradation agent combined with the curable adhesive composition. The adhesive composition may include (A) a polyorganosiloxane containing an average of at least two silicon-bonded unsaturated organic groups per molecule, (B) an organosilicon compound containing an average of at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule in an amount sufficient to cure the composition, (C) a catalytic amount of a hydrosilylation catalyst, and (D) a base. The film prepared by curing the composition is degradable and removable by heating. |
| US08647962B2 |
Wafer level packaging bond
The present disclosure provides a method of bonding a plurality of substrates. In an embodiment, a first substrate includes a first bonding layer. The second substrate includes a second bonding layer. The first bonding layer includes silicon; the second bonding layer includes aluminum. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded forming a bond region having an interface between the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer. A device having a bonding region between substrates is also provided. The bonding region includes an interface between a layer including silicon and a layer including aluminum. |
| US08647959B2 |
Metal-insulator-metal capacitor alloying process
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a bottom electrode material layer containing aluminum and copper over the substrate. An insulating material layer and a top electrode material layer are sequentially formed on the surface of the bottom electrode material layer. A photoresist pattern is formed on the top electrode material layer, and then the top electrode material layer is patterned to form a top electrode by using the photoresist pattern as mask. The photoresist pattern is removed by plasma ash and then an alloy process is performed to the bottom electrode material layer. Thereafter, the insulating material layer, and the bottom electrode material layer are patterned to form a patterned insulating layer and a patterned bottom electrode layer. |
| US08647955B2 |
Methods for forming electrostatic discharge protection clamps with increased current capabilities
Methods for forming an electrostatic discharge protection (ESD) clamps are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming at least one transistor having a first well region of a first conductivity type extending into a substrate. At least one transistor is formed having another well region of a second opposite conductivity type, which extends into the substrate to partially form a collector. The lateral edges of the transistor well regions are separated by a distance D, which at least partially determines a threshold voltage Vt1 of the ESD clamp. A base contact of the first conductivity type is formed in the first well region and separated from an emitter of the second conductivity type by a lateral distance Lbe. The first doping density and the lateral distance Lbe are selected to provide a parasitic base-emitter resistance Rbe in the range of 1 |
| US08647953B2 |
Method for fabricating first and second epitaxial cap layers
A method for fabricating a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device is described, including following steps. Two recesses are formed in a substrate. A first epitaxy growth process is performed, so as to form a first semiconductor compound layer in each of the recesses. A second epitaxy growth process is performed with an epitaxial temperature lower than 700° C., so as to form a cap layer on each of the first semiconductor compound layers. Each of the cap layers includes a second semiconductor compound layer protruding from a surface of the substrate. The first and the second semiconductor compound layers are composed of a first Group IV element and a second Group IV element, wherein the second Group IV element is a nonsilicon element. The content of the second Group IV element in the second semiconductor compound layers is less than that in the first semiconductor compound layers. |
| US08647947B2 |
Semiconductor device including a MOS transistor and production method therefor
It is intended to provide a semiconductor device including a MOS transistor, comprising: a semiconductor pillar; a bottom doped region formed in contact with a lower part of the semiconductor pillar; a first gate formed around a sidewall of the semiconductor pillar through a first dielectric film therebetween; and a top doped region formed so as to at least partially overlap a top surface of the semiconductor pillar, wherein the top doped region has a top surface having an area greater than that of the top surface of the semiconductor pillar. |
| US08647944B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a logic formation region where a logic device is formed; a first impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a second impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a third impurity region formed in an upper surface of the first impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a fourth region formed in an upper surface of the second impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a first silicide film formed in an upper surface of the third impurity region; a second silicide film formed in an upper surface of the fourth impurity region and having a larger thickness than the first silicide film. |
| US08647941B2 |
Method of forming semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A semiconductor substrate having a first strained silicon layer is provided. Then, an insulating region such as a shallow trench isolation (STI) is formed, where a depth of the insulating region is substantially larger than a depth of the first strained silicon layer. Subsequently, the first strained silicon layer is removed, and a second strained silicon layer is formed to substitute the first strained silicon layer. |
| US08647937B2 |
Deep depleted channel MOSFET with minimized dopant fluctuation and diffusion levels
CMOS devices are fabricated with a channel layer having minimized dopant fluctuation and diffusion. Embodiments include forming a dummy gate, on a substrate, between a pair of spacers, forming, in the substrate, a source and drain separated by a ground plane layer, removing the dummy gate from the substrate, forming a cavity between the pair of spacers, forming, after removal of the dummy gate, a channel layer on the substrate, forming a high-k layer on the channel layer and on side surfaces of the cavity, and forming a replacement gate in the cavity. |
| US08647934B2 |
Thin film transistor and fabricating method thereof
A thin film transistor (TFT) including a gate, a gate insulator, an oxide semiconductor channel layer, a source, and a drain is provided. The gate insulator covers the gate, while the oxide semiconductor channel layer is configured on the gate insulator and located above the gate. The oxide semiconductor channel layer includes a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer located on the first sub-layer. An oxygen content of the first sub-layer is lower than an oxygen content of the second sub-layer. The source and the drain are configured on a portion of the second sub-layer. In addition, a fabricating method of the above-mentioned TFT is also provided. |
| US08647932B2 |
Manufacturing method of thin film transistor
Disclosed are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor. An electrode layer of the thin film transistor includes a seed layer formed of a transparent conductive material doped with indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) and a main layer formed of a transparent conductive material. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a gate insulation film on the substrate to cover the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulation film in a region corresponding to the gate electrode, an electrode layer having a double layer structure and disposed on the gate insulation film in a manner such that a topside portion of the semiconductor layer is exposed through the electrode layer, and a passivation layer on the gate insulation film to cover the semiconductor layer and the electrode layer. |
| US08647930B2 |
Wafer with recessed plug
In one embodiment, a method of forming a plug includes providing a base layer, providing an intermediate oxide layer above an upper surface of the base layer, providing an upper layer above an upper surface of the intermediate oxide layer, etching a trench including a first trench portion extending through the upper layer, a second trench portion extending through the oxide layer, and a third trench portion extending into the base layer, depositing a first material portion within the third trench portion, depositing a second material portion within the second trench portion, and depositing a third material portion within the first trench portion. |
| US08647928B2 |
Method for manufacturing thin film transistor and liquid crystal by treating a surface layer
A thin film transistor substrate includes a base substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a surface treating layer, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The gate electrode is formed on the base substrate. The gate insulating layer is formed on the base substrate to cover the gate electrode. The surface treating layer is formed on the gate insulating layer by treating the gate insulating layer with a nitrogen-containing gas to prevent leakage current. The active layer is formed on the surface treating layer to cover the gate electrode. The source electrode and the gate electrode that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance are formed on the active layer. |
| US08647926B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor plastic package including a core board, build-up insulation layer, printed circuit, and semiconductor chip
A method of fabricating a semiconductor plastic package can include: providing a core board, which includes at least one pad, and which has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 9 ppm/° C. or lower; stacking a build-up insulation layer over the core board; forming an opening by removing a portion of the build-up insulation layer such that the pad is exposed to the exterior; and placing a semiconductor chip in the opening and electrically connecting the semiconductor chip with the pad. This method can be utilized to provide higher reliability in the connection between the semiconductor chip and the circuit board. |
| US08647925B2 |
Surface modification for handling wafer thinning process
A wafer is provided with a through via extending a portion of a substrate, an interconnect structure electrically connecting the through via, and a polyimide layer formed on the interconnect structure. Surface modification of the polyimide layer is the formation of a thin dielectric film on the polyimide layer by coating, plasma treatment, chemical treatment, or deposition methods. The thin dielectric film is adhered strongly to the polyimide layer, which can reduce the adhesion between the wafer surface and an adhesive layer formed in subsequent carrier attaching process. |
| US08647924B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of packaging semiconductor devices
A method of forming a device stack is presented. The method includes providing a temporary substrate having a temporary mounting surface. A first chip is temporarily mounted to the temporary mounting surface. A first bottom surface of the first chip is temporarily mounted to the temporary mounting surface and a first top surface of the first chip comprises first interconnects. A second chip is stacked on the first chip. The second chip includes second conductive contacts on the second bottom surface. The method also includes bonding the first and second chips together to form the device stack. The second conductive contacts are coupled to the first interconnects. The first bottom surface of the first chip is separated from the substrate to separate the chip stack from the substrate. |
| US08647923B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a plurality of first integrated circuits on the surface side of a first semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of second integrated circuits in a semiconductor layer that is formed on a release layer provided on a second semiconductor substrate; bonding the two semiconductor substrates so that electrically bonding portions are bonded to each other to form a bonded structure; separating the second semiconductor substrate from the bonded structure at the release layer to transfer, to the first semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer in which the plurality of second integrated circuits are formed; and dicing the first semiconductor substrate to obtain stacked chips each including the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit. |
| US08647920B2 |
Method for forming 3D-interconnect structures with airgaps
Ultra-low capacitance interconnect structures, preferably Through Silicon Via (TSV) interconnects and methods for fabricating said interconnects are disclosed. The fabrication method comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a first main surface, producing at least one hollow trench-like structure therein from the first main surface, said trench-like structure surrounding an inner pillar structure of substrate material, depositing a dielectric liner which pinches off said hollow trench-like structure at the first main surface such that an airgap is created in the center of hollow trench-like structure and further creating a TSV hole and filling it at least partly with conductive material. |
| US08647915B2 |
Hetero-junction photovoltaic device and method of fabricating the device
A hetero-junction device and fabrication method in which phase-separated n-type and p-type semiconductor pillars define vertically-oriented p-n junctions extending above a substrate. Semiconductor materials are selected for the p-type and n-type pillars that are thermodynamically stable and substantially insoluble in one another. An epitaxial deposition process is employed to form the pillars on a nucleation layer and the mutual insolubility drives phase separation of the materials. During the epitaxial deposition process, the orientation is such that the nucleation layer initiates propagation of vertical columns resulting in a substantially ordered, three-dimensional structure throughout the deposited material. An oxidation state of at least a portion of one of the p-type or the n-type semiconductor materials is altered relative to the other, such that the band-gap energy of the semiconductor materials differ with respect to stoichiometric compositions and the device preferentially absorbs particular selected bands of radiation. |
| US08647907B2 |
Nitride-based semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method includes the step of preparing a GaN-based substrate 10, the step of forming on the substrate a nitride-based semiconductor multilayer structure including a p-type AldGaeN layer (p-type semiconductor region) 26, the p-type AldGaeN layer 26 being made of an AlxInyGazN semiconductor (x+y+z=1, x≧0, y≧0, z≧0), and a principal surface of the p-type AldGaeN layer 26 being an m-plane, the step of forming a metal layer 28 which contains at least one of Mg and Zn on the principal surface of the p-type AldGaeN layer 26 and performing a heat treatment, the step of removing the metal layer 28, and the step of forming a p-type electrode on the principal surface of the p-type AldGaeN layer 26, wherein the heat treatment causes a N concentration to be higher than a Ga concentration in the p-type AldGaeN layer 26. |
| US08647906B2 |
Method for manufacturing a light emitting device
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device, the method including: disposing a semiconductor light emitting element including a semiconductor layer that emits a primary light on a mounting substrate; covering the semiconductor light emitting element with a transparent medium containing fluorescent material particles that absorb a part of the primary light and emits a secondary light having a wavelength longer than that of the primary light and scattering particles having a mean particle size D that satisfies the inequality 20 nm |
| US08647904B2 |
Method for manufacturing nitride semiconductor device, nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, and light-emitting apparatus
Provided is a method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming an AlNO buffer layer containing at least aluminum, nitrogen, and oxygen on a substrate; and forming a nitride semiconductor layer on the AlNO buffer layer, wherein, in the step of forming the AlNO buffer layer, the AlNO buffer layer is formed by a reactive sputtering method using aluminum as a target in an atmosphere to and from which nitrogen gas and oxygen gas are continuously introduced and exhausted, and the atmosphere is an atmosphere in which a ratio of a flow rate of the oxygen gas to a sum of a flow rate of the nitrogen gas and the flow rate of the oxygen gas is not more than 0.5%. |
| US08647903B2 |
Method of fabricating antireflective grating pattern and method of fabricating optical device integrated with antireflective grating pattern
A method of fabricating an antireflective grating pattern and a method of fabricating an optical device integrated with an antireflective grating pattern are provided. The method of fabricating the antireflective grating pattern includes forming a photoresist (PR) pattern on a substrate using a hologram lithography process, forming a PR lens pattern having a predetermined radius of curvature by reflowing the PR pattern, and etching the entire surface of the substrate including the PR lens pattern to form a wedge-type or parabola-type antireflective subwavelength grating (SWG) pattern having a pointed tip on a top surface of the substrate. In this method, a fabrication process is simplified, the reflection of light caused by a difference in refractive index between the air and a semiconductor material can be minimized, and the antireflective grating pattern can be easily applied to optical devices. |
| US08647902B2 |
Method of manufacturing array substrate for liquid crystal display device
A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate; forming a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; forming a passivation layer on the substrate having the gate lines, data lines and the thin film transistor; forming a first conductive material layer on the passivation layer and connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; oxidizing a surface of the first conductive material layer; forming a second conductive material layer on the oxidized first conductive material layer; forming a photoresist pattern on the second conductive material layer; etching the first and second conductive material layers using the photoresist pattern to form pixel and common electrodes which are alternately arranged in the pixel region and produces an in-plane electric field; and removing the photoresist pattern. |
| US08647901B2 |
Method for forming a nitride semiconductor layer and method for separating the nitride semiconductor layer from the substrate
There is provided a method of forming a nitride semiconductor layer, including the steps of firstly providing a substrate on which a patterned epitaxy layer with a pier structure is formed. A protective layer is then formed on the patterned epitaxy layer, exposing a top surface of the pier structure. Next, a nitride semiconductor layer is formed over the patterned epitaxy layer connected to the nitride semiconductor layer through the pier structure, wherein the nitride semiconductor layer, the pier structure, and the patterned epitaxy layer together form a space exposing a bottom surface of the nitride semiconductor layer. Thereafter, a weakening process is performed to remove a portion of the bottom surface of the nitride semiconductor layer and to weaken a connection point between the top surface of the pier structure and the nitride semiconductor layer. Finally, the substrate is separated from the nitride semiconductor layer through the connection point. |
| US08647898B2 |
LED device and method for manufacturing the same
An LED device comprises a substrate, an LED chip and a luminescent conversion layer. The substrate comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a reflector located on top faces of the first and the second electrodes. The LED chip is disposed on the first electrode and electrically connected to the first and the second electrodes. The luminescent conversion layer is located inside the reflector and comprises a first luminescent conversion layer and a second luminescent conversion layer with different specific gravities. A manufacturing method for the LED device is also provided. |
| US08647897B2 |
Air-stable ink for scalable, high-throughput layer deposition
A method for producing and depositing air-stable, easily decomposable, vulcanized ink on any of a wide range of substrates is disclosed. The ink enables high-volume production of optoelectronic and/or electronic devices using scalable production methods, such as roll-to-roll transfer, fast rolling processes, and the like. |
| US08647895B1 |
Process of manufacturing crystalline silicon solar cell
A process of manufacturing a crystalline silicon solar cell includes forming a rough surface on a surface of the crystalline silicon wafer and an Al2O3 film is coated on a non-rough surface thereof. A single-sided n diffusion layer and phosphosilicate glass film are formed. An anti-reflection layer SiNx film is formed on a top surface of the phosphosilicate glass film. An Al metallic film is formed as a back ohmic electrode on the Al2O3 film. The local area of the anti-reflection layer SiNx film and the phosphosilicate glass film is melted and removed to form a local area of n+-Si layer. Then, an Al—Si back ohmic contact electrode is formed between the Al metallic film and the crystalline silicon wafer. A front ohmic contact electrode is formed on the molten and removed area of the antireflection layer SiNx film and the phosphosilicate film by light-induced plating. |
| US08647894B2 |
Method for generating graphene structures
A method for depositing graphene is provided. The method includes depositing a layer of non-conducting amorphous carbon over a surface of a substrate and depositing a transition metal in a pattern over the amorphous carbon. The substrate is annealed at a temperature below 500° C., where the annealing converts the non-conducting amorphous carbon disposed under the transition metal to conducting amorphous carbon. A portion of the pattern of the transition metal is removed from the surface of the substrate to expose the conducting amorphous carbon. |
| US08647893B1 |
Method for post decomposition density balancing in integrated circuit layouts, related system and program product
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of modifying a decomposed integrated circuit (IC) layout. The method includes providing a decomposed IC layout, the decomposed IC layout including a set of colors; determining a density of each color in the decomposed IC layout, wherein each color includes a plurality of features formed by a related exposure; separating the decomposed IC layout into a set of tiles; determining a first color with a minimum density in one tile of the set of tiles and a second color with a maximum density in tile, the first color including a first set of first features and the second color including a first set of second features; and replacing the first set of second features on the tile with a second set of first features, and the first set of first features on the tile with a second set of second features. |
| US08647892B2 |
Inline process control structures
A method for process control is disclosed. The method includes performing an etching process on a semiconductor substrate forming a structure and a test structure having a pattern and a releasing mechanism coupled to the pattern; and monitoring the pattern of the test structure to determine whether the etching process is complete. |
| US08647886B1 |
Apparatus, method, system for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, method, system for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells. More specifically, the invention concerns a method, system, and the relative apparatus used to determine the aggregation rate of red blood cells, and other parameters related to these, such as viscosity, deformability, elasticity, density, in the field of in vitro medical analyses, using optical systems after or during inducted forces for red blood cell disruption and redistribution generated by ultrasound waves. |
| US08647883B2 |
Material compositions for sensors for determination of chemical species at trace concentrations
A method of quantitatively measuring the concentration of a chemical species in a sample solution with a sensor film. A hydrogel sensor film is prepared having a chemical composition comprising an indicator that changes its optical property in the ultra-violet, visible or near-infrared spectral range upon being exposed to the chemical species in the sample solution. The film is exposed to a fixed amount of the sample solution. The concentration of the chemical species in the sample solution is quantified using the average absorbance measured from the sensor film. |
| US08647879B2 |
Peptide probe for rapid and specific detection of β-amyloid aggregation
A peptide probe that generates fluorescence signals rapidly upon recognition of various Aβ aggregates without significant perturbation of samples. The present peptide probes display an increase in fluorescence signals upon coincubation with Aβ oligomers, but neither monomeric/dimeric species nor fibrils. The detection can occur within an hour or two without any additional sample preparation and incubation steps. |
| US08647874B2 |
Isolated cells and populations comprising same for the treatment of CNS diseases
An isolated human cell and populations thereof is provided comprising at least one astrocytic phenotype and at least one mesenchymal stem cell phenotype, wherein the mesenchymal stem cell phenotype is not an astrocytic phenotype. |
| US08647871B2 |
Endogenous expression of HLA-G and/or HLA-E by mesenchymal cells
Methods and compositions are provided for the identification and isolation of mammalian HLA-G+ MSC, HLA-E+ MSC, or HLA-G4VHLA-E+ MSC. The methods of the invention provide a means to obtain enriched HLA-G+ MSC, HLA-E+ MSC, or HLA-G+/HLA-E+ MSC populations. |
| US08647865B2 |
Promiscuous PAP CD4 T cell epitopes
The present invention relates to the discovery of novel T cell epitopes of the human prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) protein that is promiscuous for at least 15 different HLA-DR alleles. The invention also relates to compositions that contain one of the novel epitopes or a fusion peptide of such an epitope and a heterologous polypeptide. Further disclosed herein is the use of the epitopes or their fusion peptides, and compositions containing the epitopes or their fusion peptides. |
| US08647864B2 |
Compositions and methods for generating an immune response utilizing alphavirus-based vector systems
Compositions and methods are provided for Eukaryotic Layered Vector Initiation Systems and Alphavirus replicon particles for introducing heterologous sequences into cells for generating immune responses. |
| US08647862B2 |
Method of increasing the gas-liquid interface in a fermentation process
When using the equipment and method in accordance with this invention, it is possible to implement biotechnological production e.g. in biorefineries in such a way that it is possible to make use of the phenomena of the gas-liquid interface and interfaces between other phases by means of a moving process solution and gas led into it. This way, production and post-treatment methods can also be integrated, and desired acceleration of reactions and cost reductions can be achieved. |
| US08647861B2 |
Organ mimic device with microchannels and methods of use and manufacturing thereof
System and method includes a body having a central microchannel separated by one or more porous membranes. The membranes are configured to divide the central microchannel into a two or more parallel central microchannels, wherein one or more first fluids are applied through the first central microchannel and one or more second fluids are applied through the second or more central microchannels. The surfaces of each porous membrane can be coated with cell adhesive molecules to support the attachment of cells and promote their organization into tissues on the upper and lower surface of the membrane. The pores may be large enough to only permit exchange of gases and small chemicals, or to permit migration and transchannel passage of large proteins and whole living cells. Fluid pressure, flow and channel geometry also may be varied to apply a desired mechanical force to one or both tissue layers. |
| US08647860B2 |
Pathogen detection by simultaneous size/fluorescence measurement
A method and apparatus for detecting pathogens and particles in a fluid in which particle size and intrinsic fluorescence of a simple particle is determined. |
| US08647843B2 |
Method of producing succinic acid
Provided is a method of producing succinic acid in which a microorganism having a succinic acid-producing ability is allowed to react with a sugar, the method being characterized in that the ratio of the oxygen transfer rate to the succinic acid production rate (mmol-O2/mol-SA) is 0.1 to 240 and that the doubling time of the microorganism during the reaction is not shorter than 40 hours. |
| US08647841B2 |
Artificial chromosome vector
According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a protein in a eukaryotic cell line, comprising the steps of a) providing a backbone of an artificial chromosome, b) recombining the nucleic acid encoding said protein into said backbone to generate an expression vector, c) introducing said expression vector into a eukaryotic host cell line to obtain a eukaryotic expression cell line, d) cultivating said expression cell line to produce said protein, and e) isolating said protein. The invention further relates to respective vectors and transgenic cell lines. |
| US08647840B2 |
In vivo unnatural amino acid expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris
The invention provides orthogonal translation systems for the production of polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris. Methods for producing polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris are also provided. |
| US08647838B2 |
Method for producing L-arginine using a bacterium of enterobacteriaceae family, having attenuated expression of a gene encoding an L-arginine transporter
The present invention provides a method for producing L-arginine using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of one or several genes encoding an L-arginine transporter. |
| US08647837B2 |
Artificial tissue constructs comprising alveolar cells and methods for using the same
The present invention comprises artificial tissue constructs that serve as in vitro models of mammalian lung tissue. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise functionally equivalent in vitro tissue scaffolds that enable immunophysiological function of the lung. The constructs can serve as novel platforms for the study of lung diseases (e.g., interstitial lung diseases, fibrosis, influenza, RSV) as well as smoke- and smoking-related diseases. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise the two components of alveolar tissue, epithelial and endothelial cell layers. |
| US08647836B2 |
Method and devices for the cross-referencing of identification of tissue slice supports for microtomised analytical samples
The invention relates to a method and device for the cross-referencing of identification (1) of tissue slice supports (2), for microtomised analytical samples still to be mounted thereon, with identification information (3) of a tissue sample holder (4) of a tissue sample (5) which is not yet microtomised. The conventional problem of cross-referencing is improved in a simple manner, whereby the identification information (3) for the tissue sample holder (4) is automatically detected when positioned in the microtome (6) and an identification (1) corresponding thereto is automatically transferred to at least one tissue slice support (2) and that tissue slice support (2), provided with the identification (1), is dispensed for application of the tissue sample slice at the moment when a tissue sample slice must be applied to a tissue slice support (2). |
| US08647833B2 |
Method for in vitro assay of the circulating tissue factor, and use in the detection of coagulation diseases
The invention concerns the field of hemostasis, in particular blood coagulation disorders linked to an abnormal expression of tissue factor, and to physiopathological phenomena correlated with over-expression of the factor. The present invention provides a method for assaying the activity of circulating tissue factor in a biological sample. The method of the invention is carried out in vitro, in particular on a blood sample collected from a patient. |
| US08647830B2 |
Method for determining amino-terminal proANP in patients having a cardiac disease or being suspected of developing or having a cardiac disease
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for medical diagnosis, prognosis and therapy follow-up for patients having a cardiac disease or being suspected of developing or having a cardiac disease comprising the steps of: providing a sample of a patient having a cardiac disease or being suspected of developing or having a cardiac disease, determining amino-terminal proANp or partial peptides thereof having from 12 to 98 amino acids in said sample using at least one antibody that binds specifically to a partial sequence of amino-terminal proANP, attributing the determined amino-terminal proANP level or the level of partial peptides thereof to a clinical picture wherein the attribution is carried out independent of the BMI of the patient. The present invention further concerns a rapid test assay and a kit for conducting the method of the present invention and the use of antibodies suitable for the method and assays according to the present invention. |
| US08647827B2 |
Fluorescent substrates for neurotransmitter transporters
The invention is based on the finding that IDT307 and analogs thereof are fluorescent substrates transported by several neurotransmitter transporters. Provided are methods for the analysis of neurotransmitter transport and binding using IDT307 and its analogs. The invention also provides rapid methods for screening for modulators of neurotransmitter transport. |
| US08647825B2 |
Compositions and methods relating to monitoring alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse
Methods and compositions according to embodiments of the present invention are provided that specifically and sensitively detect alcohol consumption and whether alcohol consumption is moderate or high in a subject. Aspects of the present invention relate to assays of panels of proteins for detecting non-consumption, moderate consumption and high consumption of ethanol by a subject. |
| US08647821B2 |
Method and apparatus for combined electrochemical synthesis and detection of analytes
Described are devices and methods for detecting binding on an electrode surface. In addition, devices and methods for electrochemically synthesizing polymers and devices and methods for synthesizing and detecting binding to the polymer on a common integrated device surface are described. |
| US08647815B1 |
Method of manufacturing copper electrode
A method for manufacturing an electrode comprising the steps of: applying onto a substrate a conductive paste to form a conductive paste layer comprising; (i) 100 parts by weight of a copper powder coated with a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide (SiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), magnesium oxide (MgO) and a mixture thereof; (ii) 5 to 30 parts by weight of a boron powder; and (iii) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a glass frit; dispersed in (iv) an organic vehicle; and firing the conductive paste in air. |
| US08647806B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition, photosensitive dry film and method for forming pattern
The present invention is related to a photosensitive resin composition containing: a vinyl-based copolymer (I) obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing a monomer (a) having a phenolic hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer (b); a quinonediazide compound (II) and a compound (III) represented by the following formula (5), and to a photosensitive dry film and a method for forming a patter by using the photosensitive resin composition.According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photosensitive resin composition which can form a resist film in which the occurrence of crack is suppressed, the film reduction of the unexposed area is suppressed, and sensitivity and resolution are excellent, and to provide a photosensitive dry film and a method for forming a pattern by using the photosensitive resist composition [In the formula, Y is a straight or branched hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; 1 and m are respectively independently an integer of 1 to 3; n is 1 or 2; p and q are respectively independently 0 or 1.] |
| US08647805B2 |
Emulsion aggregation toners having flow aids
The present disclosure provides processes for producing toners. In embodiments, flow aids are added to a wet cake including the toner particles, prior to drying. The addition of the flow aid improves flow characteristics of the toner, thereby enhancing overall drying time, reducing the amount of coarse particles, and improving yield, without adversely affecting fusing and charging of the toner particles. |
| US08647803B2 |
Method for producing colored resin particles, colored resin particles, developer, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and process cartridge
A method for producing colored resin particles including: dissolving or dispersing at least binder resin and colorant in organic solvent to prepare oil phase; dissolving resin A and basic compound in aqueous medium to prepare aqueous phase, the resin A having solubility <2.0 g/100 g water having temperature 25° C. and pH 3.0 and solubility ≧2.0 g/100 g water having temperature 25° C. and pH 10.0; dispersing the oil phase in the aqueous phase to prepare core particle dispersion liquid; dispersing resin particles in aqueous medium to prepare resin particle dispersion liquid, and adding the resin particle dispersion liquid to the core particle dispersion liquid so that the resin particles are attached onto the core particles, to prepare dispersion liquid containing particles each having the core particle and the resin particles attached thereonto; removing the organic solvent from the dispersion liquid; washing the particles; and drying the particles. |
| US08647802B2 |
Toner for developing latent electrostatic image, method for manufacturing the same, image forming method and image forming apparatus
To provide a toner manufacturing method including: continuously mixing an oil phase with an aqueous phase to form an emulsified liquid using an emulsifying mechanism having an emulsified liquid circulation pathway and an emulsifying device equipped with a stirring blade; forming liquid droplets from the emulsified liquid by controlling the equilibrium between atomization and integration of the liquid droplets; and feeding the liquid droplets with stirring to a series of treatments including at least desolvation, filtration, washing and drying; wherein a product T of the solid content concentration (% by mass) of the oil phase and viscosity (mPa·s) measured with a rotating viscometer at 25° C., and 6 rpm satisfies 30,000≦T≦50,000. |
| US08647801B2 |
Natural oil-based chemically produced toner
A natural oil-based toner resin for producing toner in developing electrophotographic image comprising a copolymer of unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl monomers, wherein the polyester resins have a molecular weight of 500 to 30000 and obtained from polycondensation between a polycarboxylic acid, a natural oil or derivative thereof and a polyol. The toner resin in emulsion form is mixed with fine suspensions or emulsions of a colorant and a charge control agent; and a flocculating agent is incorporated therein to induce aggregation for forming particles of desired sizes, and subsequently the temperature is suitably raised to cause coalescence to produce raw toner particles of regular shape and smooth surface. The raw toner particles are washed and dried, and treated with suitable additives to produce the finished product of chemically produced toner. |
| US08647800B2 |
Toner
Provided is a toner capable of suppressing the bleeding of wax to the surface of the toner to maintain a high electrophotograph property while maintaining a broad fixing temperature range and capable of reducing interior contamination in long-term use. The toner includes toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The toner has a softening point of 75° C. or more and 110° C. or less measured by a constant-pressure-extrusion-type capillary rheometer. The wax is a hydrocarbon wax composed of a hydrocarbon compound. The hydrocarbon wax has specific abundance ratios each corresponding to a specific carbon number range of hydrocarbon compounds. |
| US08647797B2 |
Methos and device for keeping mask dimensions constant
The present application describes a method and a device for keeping the mask dimensions of a mask (6) constant in the mask plane in lithography. The mask (6) is heated due to the exposure during lithography. By means of thermal and/or mechanical methods, the dimensions of the mask (6) are kept constant. It is possible to use additional methods or devices, e.g. an air cooler (17) or an air heater (17), in order to prevent a change in the mask dimensions in the mask plane. |
| US08647792B2 |
Fuel-cell stack
A fuel-cell stack includes a laminate having a plurality of unit cells laminated and accommodated in a box-like casing. The casing includes pairs of side plates arranged at the sides of the laminate and formed of a metal plate having a first thickness, and a plurality of hinge plates spot-welded to both ends of the side plates and formed of a metal plate having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. Of spot-welding electrodes, the spot-welding electrode has an end face formed with a concave. With the spot-welding electrode being arranged on the side of the hinge plate and with the hinge plate and the side plate being in press contact by the spot-welding electrodes, energization is carried out for welding. |
| US08647790B2 |
Replacement device for membrane-electrode assembly of fuel cell stack with separators having recess portions
A fuel cell stack including an electricity generating unit and a pair of end plates is disclosed. The electricity generating unit includes membrane-electrode assemblies and separators interposed between the membrane-electrode assemblies. The separators have recess portions formed on side faces thereof and may be configured to hold an external device for replacement of a single membrane-electrode assembly within the fuel cell stack. The end plates are located sandwiching the electricity generating unit by using fastening members to press the electricity generating unit. |
| US08647789B2 |
Visualization apparatus for large area PEMFC
Provided is a visualization apparatus for a PEMFC using a transparent window. More particularly, provided is a visualization apparatus for a large are PEMFC including: a plurality of visualization apparatuses for region cells including current collector plates each provided on both sides of a membrane electrode assembly of a PEMFC and formed with channels through which reaction gas and products flow and a transparent provided on the outer surface of the current collector plate. Further, provided is a visualization apparatus for a large area PEMFC electrically connecting the current collector plates of the visualization apparatus for region cells to each other in parallel. |
| US08647787B2 |
Gas diffusion element, method of manufacturing the same, and device using the same
A gas diffusion element has a hydrophobic layer which includes a thermoplastic material and particles embedded in the thermoplastic material so that the hydrophobic layer has voids and is a porous layer configured so that water can not pass through the hydrophobic layer from its one side to its another side, while passage of gas from the other side to the one side is not interfered with; and also a method of producing the gas diffusion element and devices using the gas diffusion element are proposed. |
| US08647785B2 |
Dynamic voltage suppression in a fuel cell system
A system and method for determining a maximum average cell voltage set-point for fuel cells in a fuel cell stack that considers oxidation of the catalyst in the fuel cells. The method includes determining the average cell voltage, the stack current density (I) and an internal resistance (R) of membranes in the fuel cells to calculate an IR corrected average cell voltage. The IR corrected average cell voltage is then used to determine the oxidation state of the catalyst particles using, for example, an empirical model. The oxidation state of the particles is then used to calculate the maximum average cell voltage set-point of the fuel cells, which is used to set the minimum power requested from the fuel cell stack. |
| US08647783B2 |
Auto-learning of base stack resistance for HFR based RH control
A method for determining membrane humidification by determining the membrane protonic resistance of a fuel cell stack at humidified conditions, and normalizing the base resistance of the fuel cell stack against the base resistance of a reference fuel cell stack. |
| US08647782B2 |
Fuel cell system and control method thereof
A fuel cell system is provided that can establish, for a long time period, a stack to an idling stop state. The fuel cell system includes: an idling stop control means for setting the stack to an idling stop state by, decreasing both a supplied amount of air to the stack and generated electric current produced from the stack to less than during the idling power generation; and a discharge valve control means for determining whether there is a necessity to discharge nitrogen or generated water inside of the anode system, and for opening the purge valve or drain valve in a case of there being a necessity. The discharge valve control means shortens valve open times (PO2, DO2) of the purge valve and drain valve during idling stop to less than the valve open times (PO1, DO1) thereof during idling power generation. |
| US08647779B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte composition and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte composition includes: a nonaqueous solvent; an electrolyte salt; a matrix resin; a filler; and a surfactant. |
| US08647777B2 |
Mixed material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, electrode containing same, battery comprising such electrode, method for producing such mixed material, and method for producing battery
Disclosed is a mixed material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, which contains secondary particles as aggregates of lithium iron phosphate primary particles and a fibrous carbon which is present inside the secondary particles. An electrode containing such a mixed material, a battery comprising such an electrode, a method for producing such a mixed material, and a method for producing a battery are also disclosed. |
| US08647776B2 |
Carbon material for lithium ion secondary battery
To provide a negative electrode material capable of giving a lithium ion secondary battery that is sufficiently small in the charge/discharge irreversible capacity observed at the initial cycle stage, has excellent high-temperature storage characteristics, and reduced in the gas generation at the initial cycle stage as well as during high-temperature storage.A carbon material for lithium ion secondary battery, wherein the surface functional group amount O/C value represented by the following formula 1 is from 1 to 4% and the sum (Cl/C+S165/C) of the surface functional group amount Cl/C value represented by the following formula 2 and the surface functional group amount S165/C value represented by the following formula 3 is from 0.05 to 0.5%: O/C value (%)=O atom concentration determined based on the peak area of the spectrum of O1s in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis/C atom concentration determined based on the peak area of the spectrum of C1s in XPS analysis×100 Formula 1: Cl/C value (%)=Cl atom concentration determined based on the peak area of the spectrum of Cl2p in XPS analysis/C atom concentration determined based on the peak area of the spectrum of C1s in XPS analysis×100 Formula 2: S165/C value (%)=S165 atom concentration based on the peak area of the peak near 165 eV in the spectrum corresponding to S2p in XPS analysis/C atom concentration determined based on the peak area of the spectrum of C1s in XPS analysis×100 Formula 3. |
| US08647773B2 |
Niobium oxide compositions and methods for using same
The disclosure relates a niobium oxide useful in anodes of secondary lithium ion batteries. Such niobium oxide has formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7, wherein 0≦x≦3, 0≦y≦1, and M represents Ti or Zr. The niobium oxide may be in the form of particles, which may be carbon coated. The disclosure also relates to an electrode composition containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. The disclosure further relates to electrodes, such as anodes, and batteries containing at least one or more niobium oxides of formula LixM1−yNbyNb2O7. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to methods of forming the above. |
| US08647770B2 |
Bismuth-tin binary anodes for rechargeable magnesium-ion batteries
A rechargeable magnesium-ion battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a source of magnesium ions, such as a magnesium salt. The first electrode includes an active material, the active material including tin and bismuth, for example as a binary combination of Sn and Bi, such as a solid solution or intermetallic compound. |
| US08647768B2 |
Positive active material composition and positive electrode for electrochemical device, and electrochemical device including the same
Disclosed are a positive active material composition for an electrochemical device, a positive electrode, and an electrochemical device including the same. The positive active material composition includes: a carbon-based additive including a hydroxyl group (—OH) and an enol group (—C═C—OH) on the surface, having a peak area ratio (OH/C═COH) of a hydroxyl group peak area and an enol group peak area of an infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum ranging from about 0.5 to about 10, having a specific surface area of about 50 m2/g to about 3000 m2/g, and having an oxygen-containing heterogeneous element in a content of less than about 15 wt %; a positive active material; a conductive material; and a binder. |
| US08647767B2 |
Sodium-metal-halide energy storage device with sodium level control mechanism
An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anode chambers are thus provided, a majority of which are in ionic communication with the cathode chamber through a majority of the solid electrolyte elements and which are also provided with a sodium level control mechanism. |
| US08647762B2 |
Battery cell module
A battery cell module includes an enclosure having an electrically non-conductive perimeter and at least one cover formed from a thermally conductive material. The cover has a substantially flat inner surface and sealingly engages the electrically non-conductive perimeter. A plurality of series-interconnected battery cells are placed together into facing contact with each other, an exterior one of the battery cells in facing contact with the inner surface of the cover to facilitate heat transfer therethrough and to provide a desired compression against the series-interconnected battery cells. A first end of the series-interconnected battery cells includes a positive terminal end, and a second end of the series-interconnected battery cells including a negative terminal end, the series-interconnected battery cells the positive and negative terminal ends extending through the electrically non-conductive perimeter. |
| US08647761B2 |
Electrode assembly and secondary battery using the same
There are provided an electrode assembly and a secondary battery using the same. An electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate having a first non-coating portion formed along one end portion in a length direction thereof; a second electrode plate having a second non-coating portion formed along the other end portion opposite to the first non-coating portion; and a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates. In the electrode assembly, the first electrode plate, the second electrode plate and the separator are wound in a jelly-roll shape, and the electrode assembly further includes a clamping member that fixes at least one of the first and second non-coating portions. Accordingly, although the thickness of an electrode tab is increased, it is possible to simply manufacture high-power, high-capacity medium- and large sized batteries. |
| US08647758B2 |
Electrochemical energy storage device
An electrochemical energy storage device provides problem-free pressure compensation at a permanently high impermeability, includes a storage housing (1), which encases a volume, in which cells are accommodated, wherein the storage housing (1) protects the volume from the surroundings, and includes a volume compensation device (2), which compensates pressure differences between the interior of the storage housing (1) and the surroundings without a material replacement between the surroundings and the interior of the storage housing (1). |
| US08647755B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with less medium noise, excellent overwrite characteristics, and scratch resistance. According to one embodiment, when an Ar gas with addition of a micro-amount of oxygen is used upon forming an upper Ru intermediate layer, a micro-structure of a magnetic layer formed thereon can be formed in a state where no magnetic oxide region is segregated and the magnetic crystal grains are isolated. In this case, a gas pressure for forming the upper intermediate layer is set to 5 Pa or more and 12 Pa or less which is a region much higher compared with 0.5 Pa or more and 1 Pa for the lower Ru intermediate layer. Since writing by a head becomes difficult remarkably in the perpendicular magnetic medium having magnetic crystal grains promoted for isolation, a second magnetic layer for facilitating magnetization reversal by lowering the oxide concentration and somewhat strengthening coupling between particles only in the magnetic layer on the side of the surface is formed to a layer above the first magnetic layer as a main part. |
| US08647752B2 |
Thermal interface material assemblies, and related methods
A thermal interface material (TIM) assembly is provided for use in conducting heat away from heat generating components. The TIM assembly generally includes a substrate, a metal alloy coupled to at least one side surface of the substrate, and a coating material covering at least part of the substrate and at least part of the metal alloy. The substrate may include a metal foil, a heat dissipating unit, a heat generating component, etc. The metal alloy may include a low melting metal alloy coupled to the substrate to form multiple bumps along the substrate in a pattern. The pattern may be generic such that the TIM assembly may be used with multiple different heat generating components to effectively conduct heat away from the multiple different heat generating components, or it may correspond to particular locations on a heat generating component away from which heat is to be conducted. |
| US08647750B2 |
Process of using sodium silicate to create fire retardant products
Wood products, specifically wood commonly used in construction including dimension lumber, pressure treated pine, composite wood materials such as plywood, particle board, and wafer board, and samples of paper and fabric were variously treated with concentrations of sodium silicate (Na2O.SiO2) also known as water glass. Cellulosic materials including dimension lumber, plywood, particle board, wafer board, paper, and fabric were treated with sodium silicate (Na2O.SiO2) in concentrations ranging from 400-0.04 g Na2O.SiO2/kg water. To overcome the disadvantages of sodium silicate, sodium silicate treated samples were further treated to convert the water soluble sodium silicate to a water insoluble form, thereby overcoming the disadvantages of water solubility, and rendering the material effective for internal and external uses. Although treated sodium silicate samples are composed of the same elements in similar proportions, as the untreated sodium silicate samples, the water solubility of the treated and untreated substances is very different. |
| US08647749B2 |
Multi-ply platforms and panels using such a platform
The object of the present invention is to provide multi-ply platforms suitable for the manufacture of decorative panels and decorative panels incorporating such multi-ply platforms, which multi-ply platforms improve the resistance to deformation caused by changes in relative humidity and/or temperature of, or around, such decorative panels. This object is achieved by providing multi-ply platforms comprising a plurality of plies which are arranged so that the platform is substantially unbalanced around its central plane. The unbalanced platform is achieved by, arranging the plies such that at least two adjacent plies have substantially the same main grain direction and/or that two plies having substantially the same main grain direction are separated only by one or more neutral plies. These unbalanced platforms are intended to be bonded to a further ply to form a substantially balanced decorative panel. |
| US08647748B2 |
Thermoplastic product and method for the production of a composite product
The disclosure relates to a composite thermoplastic product including a first polar engineering thermoplastic cohesively bound to a second thermoplastic that includes a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin. The first thermoplastic can contain a polar thermoplastic polymer cohesively bound to the second thermoplastic. Methods for the production of the composite product are also described, including methods for forming an adhesive bond between polar engineering thermoplastics such as ABS, ABS/PC, PC or PMMA and non-polar thermoplastic elastomers containing styrene elastomers, such as SEBS or SEPS, combined with a polyolefin polymer. |
| US08647743B2 |
Ferromagnetic powder composition and method for its production
A ferromagnetic powder composition including soft magnetic iron-based core particles, wherein the surface of the core particles is provided with a first inorganic insulating layer and at least one metal-organic layer, located outside the first layer, of a metal-organic compound having the following general formula: (R1[(R1)x(R2)y(MOn-1)]nR1, wherein M is a central atom selected from Si, Ti, Al, or Zr; O is oxygen; R1 is a hydrolysable group; R2 is an organic moiety and wherein at least one R2 contains at least one amino group; wherein n is the number of repeatable units being an integer between 1 and 20; wherein the x is an integer between 0 and 1; wherein y is an integer between 1 and 2; wherein a metallic or semi-metallic particulate compound having a Mohs hardness of less than 3.5 is adhered to a metal-organic layer; wherein the powder composition further includes a particulate lubricant. |
| US08647742B2 |
Diagnostic gel composition, method for making a diagnostic gel composition
The invention relates to a diagnostic gel composition for use as a diagnostic element in diagnostic devices. The diagnostic gel composition is derived from a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po wherein D is a diagnostic group; Sp is a hydrophilic spacer group; and Po is a polymerizable group. The diagnostic gel composition of the invention has dimensions ranging from about 250 nanometers to about 1000 micrometers, and a Young's modulus ranging from about 10 kilopascals to about 200 kilopascals. The invention also provides method for making the diagnostic gel composition. The method comprises providing a composition comprising a porogen, an initiator and a compound having a formula D-Sp-Po; polymerizing the composition to form a polymerized composition; and washing the polymerized composition to form the diagnostic gel composition. |
| US08647740B2 |
Heat-transfer label well-suited for labeling fabrics and methods of making and using the same
A method for labeling fabrics, such as fabric garments, and a heat-transfer label well-suited for use in said method. In one embodiment, the heat-transfer label comprises (i) a support portion, the support portion comprising a carrier and a release layer; (ii) a wax layer, the wax layer overcoating the release layer; and (iii) a transfer portion, the transfer portion comprising an adhesive layer printed onto the wax layer and an ink design layer printed onto the adhesive layer. Preferably, at least a portion of the ink design layer is printed using a variable printing technique, such as thermal transfer printing. |
| US08647738B2 |
Film
A film made of a resin composition which includes polylactic acid (component A) composed of poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(D-lactic acid) and acrylic resin (component B) and has a crystal melting peak at 190° C. or higher when measured by a scanning differential calorimeter (DSC). The film has a small change in birefringence caused by external force, excellent dimensional stability at the time of heating and a small change in birefringence caused by heat stress. |
| US08647735B2 |
Heating article including coloured heat indicator with improved visability and precision
This invention relates to a heating article (1) comprising a substrate (2) of which one of the surfaces (21) is equipped with a design (4), in the form of a coating layer with at least one pattern (41, 42), which comprises a thermochromic pigment composition with at least one SC thermochromic pigment that is lipid-sensitive under heat. According to the invention, the thermochromic pigment composition includes at least one thermostable pigment and composite pigment grains (43), which each include a core (430) including the semiconducting thermochromic pigment, and a solid, transparent and continuous envelope (431), formed by a mineral or organomineral material. The thermochromic pigment composition shows a reversible change in color in a thermal color-change area with an amplitude of no more than 40° C. within the range of variation of said temperature T1 of use. |
| US08647734B2 |
Drainage mat
A drainage mat for use in building structures, particularly in exterior walls and roofing, to improve drainage and ventilation within such structures. The drainage mat includes a web of extruded polymer monofilaments that are heat welded at junctions to form a matrix of tangled monofilaments. The web has a uniform thickness and includes alternating rows of high filament density and low filament density. |
| US08647732B2 |
Anti-mold film assembly
An anti-mold film assembly has an absorptive sheet, a metallic coating and two first films. The absorptive sheet absorbs vaporizable ingredients and has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side of the absorptive sheet. The metallic coating is connected with the first side of the absorptive sheet and has a surface opposite to the absorptive sheet. The first films are ventilative and are respectively connected with the second side of the absorptive sheet and the surface of the metallic coating. Because the metallic coating is capable of drawing sulfhydryl groups of enzyme proteins contained in bacteria and killing the bacteria, the antibiotic effect of the anti-mold film assembly is greatly enhanced. |
| US08647731B2 |
Purge dam for retaining purge gas around a weld zone
A purge dam for retaining a purge gas around a weld zone includes a purge dam structure configured to substantially obstruct an air passage leading to the weld zone. The purge dam includes a main blocking portion configured to substantially block the air passage. The purge dam structure further includes a wall portion configured to engage the air passage for attachment. Adhesive can be optionally provided on the wall portion to facilitate the air passage attachment. Some or all of the purge dam structure may be formed as a multi-layer structure that includes one or more layers of water degradable paper and one or more layers of water degradable polymer. If present, the optional adhesive may be applied to the water degradable polymer layer. The purge dam may be installed by placing the purge dam in the air passage and adhering the wall portion thereto. |
| US08647730B2 |
Hydrogenated norbornene-based ring-opening polymerization polymer, resin composition, and molded object
A hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer obtained by hydrogenating 80% or more of main-chain carbon-carbon double bonds of a ring-open polymer obtained by ring-opening polymerization of 2-norbornene. The hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer has a weight average molecular weight determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of 50,000 to 200,000, a molecular weight distribution of 1.5 to 10.0, and a melting point of 110 to 145° C. A hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer obtained by hydrogenating 80% or more of carbon-carbon double bonds of a ring-open polymer obtained by ring-opening copolymerization of 2-norbornene and a substituent-containing norbornene monomer, wherein the proportion of a repeating unit (A) derived from the 2-norbornene with respect to all repeating units is 90 to 99 wt % and the proportion of a repeating unit (B) derived from the substituent-containing norbornene monomer with respect to all repeating units is 1 to 10 wt %. A resin composition and a molding material. |
| US08647727B1 |
Optical assembly with adhesive layers configured for diffusion
A optical assembly is utilized in various applications including in a display assembly. The optical assembly includes a first translucent substrate, a second translucent substrate, a first layer of adhesive, and a second layer of adhesive. The first layer of adhesive is bonded to the first translusive substrate and the second layer of adhesive is bonded to the second translusive substrate. The first layer of adhesive is configured for diffusive effects, and the second layer of adhesive is configured for diffusive effects. |
| US08647725B2 |
Cellulose acylate film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device
A cellulose acylate film, containing an acyl-modified compound of a reduction product of a ketone compound-formaldehyde polymer, a polarizing plate containing the film as transparent protective film, and a liquid crystal display device having the polarizing plate. |
| US08647723B2 |
Nucleation of ultrathin, continuous, conformal metal films using atomic layer deposition and application as fuel cell catalysts
A method to achieve a conformal ultrathin film of platinum or one of its alloys on a substrate that can be economically used as a heterogeneous catalyst, such as automotive polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell catalyst. The method includes using a hydrogen plasma in platinum atomic layer deposition along with tungsten as a substrate or anchoring adhesive layer to assist platinum nucleation and deposition. |
| US08647720B2 |
Method of mixing and applying multi-component paint
A system for applying coatings and more specifically paint coatings is provided that combines fluid stored in separate reservoir containers prior to expelling the mixture for application. The reservoirs may be comprised of collapsible and disposable bags that eject its fluid upon activation of an actuator or expanding bladder. The fluid components are combined and blended together in a mixer that is positioned between the reservoirs and a nozzle. |
| US08647711B2 |
High adhesion acrylate coatings for a photochromic ophthalmic lens
A method and coating used to prepare a photochromically-enabled bifocal ophthalmic lens. The coating is a high adhesive strength acrylate-based coating that contains a small quantity of a polycarbonate-based TPU. The coating is applied to produce an intermediate imbibable bifocal surface. A photochromic solution is subsequently imbibed by contact with the bifocal surface. |
| US08647709B2 |
Anti-icing coatings and methods
A method of inhibiting or preventing bonding between snow or ice and a substrate. The method includes applying an adhesive to the substrate, broadcasting an aggregate onto the adhesive, the aggregate having the capacity to receive an anti-icing chemical into the aggregate, and applying the anti-icing chemical onto the aggregate so that at least a portion of the anti-icing chemical is received into at least a portion of the aggregate. |
| US08647702B2 |
Maintaining a fixed distance by providing an air cushion during coating of a medical device
System and method for coating an expandable member of a medical device comprising a support structure to support the expandable member and an applicator positioned with at least one outlet proximate a surface of an expandable member. A drive assembly establishes relative movement between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member to apply fluid on the surface of the expandable member along a coating path. A positioning device maintains a substantially fixed distance between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member during relative movement therebetween by ejecting a pressurized medium against the surface of the expandable member. |
| US08647701B2 |
Diffusion-hardened medical implant
Methods of making surface hardened medical implants comprising providing a biocompatible alloy with a surface comprising an oxide or nitride layer, diffusing at least a portion of the respective oxygen or nitrogen from the oxide or nitride layer the substrate for a period of time to form a diffusion hardened zone of desired thickness. The period of time is based at least on (1) the diffusivity of a diffusing specie in the oxide or nitride layer, (2) a desired hardness profile of at least a portion of said implant defined by a function selected from the group consisting of: an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof, or (3) a desired thickness of said oxide or nitride layer to be retained. |
| US08647700B2 |
Methods of making medical devices
Scaffold-supported metal or pseudometallic film covers suitable for use as medical devices are disclosed together with methods of fabricating the devices. Methods for making the medical devices consist of either providing or forming a scaffold, then depositing a metallic or pseudometallic film cover onto the scaffold in such a manner as to form an integral, substantially monolithic junction between the deposited cover material and the scaffold. |
| US08647699B2 |
Method for coating silicone hydrogels
The invention relates to a process for producing biomedical articles, in particular, silicone hydrogel contact lenses having durable hydrophilic chitosan coating. The chitosan coating is covalently attached to the medical device by performing a crosslinking reaction between chitosan and the carboxylic groups on the surface of a medical device directly in a sealed package during autoclave. The coated biomedical articles obtainable by the process of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus especially useful in the field of ophthalmic devices. |
| US08647694B2 |
Grooved noodle
A grooved noodle comprises: a core located at a center position of a noodle in cross section and having a circular shape with a diameter being 26% to 41% of a diameter of the noodle; and hook-shaped portions formed on a periphery of the core due to existences of grooves each extending spirally from the periphery of the core to a surface of the noodle, each hook-shaped portion having a leg with a width in a range of 18% to 30% of the diameter of the noodle and a blade extending from an outer end of the leg, an outer periphery of the blade extending along an arc from its base connected to the leg to its tip, the base being located further inwardly toward the center of the noodle than the tip. |
| US08647693B2 |
Fast rehydrating noodle
The invention relates to an instant noodle which can be rehydrated at a lower temperature and/or in a shorter period of time, while taste and mouthfeel of the noodle are at least as good as those of conventional instant noodles. The invention widens the scope of possibilities for supply and consumption of instant noodles, e.g. in vending machines, even or air dried instant noodles. |
| US08647689B2 |
Citrus fruit fibers in emulsions
The current invention relates to a composition of citrus fruit fibers and hydrophobic vitamin. The hydrophobic nutritional supplement is selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, D, E, K, and mixtures thereof. It further relates to a process for preparing liquid compositions comprising said citrus fruit fibers and hydrophobic vitamin. Furthermore it relates to beverages comprising said composition. |
| US08647688B2 |
Method of fermenting wort
The present invention relates to a continuous method of fermenting wort, said method comprising: -fermenting wort with a biologically active yeast to produce an alcohol containing fermented liquid; -introducing the fermented liquid containing at least 10 g/l of biologically active yeast into a maturation vessel; -separately removing yeast containing sediment and supernatant liquid from the vessel; and -optionally recirculating at least a part of the yeast containing sediment to the wort fermentation; wherein the residence time of the fermented liquid in the maturation vessel exceeds 6 hours. The present method offers the advantage that it combines maturation and yeast separation into one processing step, whereas conventional continuous processes require at least two separate processing steps, one for yeast separation and one for maturation. Secondly, the present method is very robust as the relatively high residence time that is needed for maturation ensures that effective sedimentation is achieved under virtually all conditions. |
| US08647687B2 |
Isoamyl acetate for weight management
Described is the use of isoamyl acetate in food compositions for weight management and/or weight control. Further described is a beverage containing isoamyl acetate. |
| US08647686B1 |
Insect diet formulations and methods for rearing insects
A composition suitable for the preparation of insect diet formulations, containing proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, salts, and lambda carrageenan; the composition contains maltodextrin and no agar. An insect diet formulation, containing the composition described herein and water (room temperature). A method for rearing insects from eggs, involving providing the insect diet formulation described herein and culturing the insects with the insect diet formulation. |
| US08647684B2 |
pH modified insect repellent/insecticide soap composed of plant essential oils
An insect repellent/insecticide starts with a main composition that is composed of the three primary essential oils of eucalyptus, citronella, and pine. A number of secondary essential oils can be added that provide additional beneficial characteristics, depending upon the application. A safe embedded tick “remove and kill” product includes a basic pH adjuster that is added to the main composition in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the main composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.5. A repellent spray dilutes the main composition in water to about 1% concentration by volume and a sufficient amount of a basic pH adjuster is added thereto to adjust the pH of the main composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.5. Soap includes the main composition combined with a detergent, glycerin, and a sufficient amount of an acidic pH adjuster to adjust the pH of the soap composition to approximately between 6.4 and 7.4, and preferably equal to about 6.8. |
| US08647682B2 |
Composition and method for treating keratosis pilaris
A combination comprising buffered glycolic acid, urea, and white tea extract for treating keratosis pilaris is provided. The improved composition provides a significant and unexpected reduction of KP symptoms when applied topically to an affected area. |
| US08647679B2 |
Core-shell type zinc oxide microparticle or dispersion containing the microparticle, and production process and use of the microparticle or the dispersion
Disclosed herein are core-shell type zinc oxide microparticles, a dispersion containing such microparticles, and a production process and uses of the microparticles and the dispersion. As disclosed herein, the core-shell type zinc oxide microparticles have an average particle diameter of from 50 to 1,000 nm. The core is a secondary particle of spherical shape to the surface of which a polymer is attached as a shell. Methods for making the microparticles include the steps of: mixing together a zinc salt and a polymer in an organic solvent so as to obtain a mixture; and heating/refluxing the mixture at a predetermined temperature so as to cause core-shell type zinc oxide microparticles to precipitate, wherein the zinc salt is zinc acetate; and uses such as cosmetics, resins and fibers which contain the core-shell type zinc oxide microparticles and have an ultraviolet light blocking action. |
| US08647678B2 |
Anti-inflammatory macrophages and uses thereof
The invention relates to a purified, novel anti-inflammatory population of macrophage and methods of making and using such macrophage. |