Document Document Title
US07643144B2 Alignment apparatus and alignment method
An adjusting unit for making positional adjustment of the optical axis adjustment mask, based on the observation by the one optical unit, such that the reference mark at the one location or the other location and the optical axis adjusting alignment mark corresponding positionally thereto are superposed, and for making optical axis adjustment of the other optical axis, based on the observation by the other optical unit, such that the reference mark at the one location or the other location and the optical axis adjusting alignment mark corresponding positionally thereto are superposed.
US07643139B2 Method and apparatus for detecting defects
An inspection apparatus projects a laser beam on the surface of a SOI wafer and detects foreign matter on and defects in the surface of the SOI wafer by receiving scattered light reflected from the surface of the SOI wafer. The wavelength of the laser beam used by the inspection apparatus is determined so that a penetration depth of the laser beam in a Si thin film may be 10 nm or below to detect only foreign matter on and defects in the outermost surface and not to detect foreign matter and defects in a BOX layer. Only the foreign matter on and defects in the outermost surface layer can be detected without being influenced by thin-film interference by projecting the laser beam on the surface of the SOI wafer and receiving scattered light rays.
US07643138B2 Method of inspecting a semiconductor device and an apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus of inspecting a sample, in which the sample is inspected under a plurality of inspection conditions, and inspection data obtained by inspecting the sample under each of the plurality of inspection conditions and position information on the sample of the inspection date in correspondence with the respective inspection conditions, are stored. The inspection data for each of the plurality of inspection conditions is against each other by the use of the position information on the sample to determine a position to be inspected in detail, and an image of the sample at a position to be inspected in detail is obtained. The obtained image is classified, the inspection condition of the sample by the use of information of classification of the image is determined.
US07643131B2 Spatial information detection device and spatial information detection system using the same
A spatial information detection device is provided, which is capable of, even under the condition that an environmental light having intensity fluctuations exists in a target space, projecting a light intensity-modulated with a predetermined modulation signal from a light emitting source into the target space, receiving light from the target space with a photodetector, and detecting spatial information of the target space from a change between the light projected from the light emitting source and the light received by the photodetector. This device has a smoothing unit configured to integrate, over a predetermined integration period, a fluctuation component in a prescribed phase zone of the modulation signal with respect to an electric charge amount generated by receiving the environmental light in the electric charge amount generated at the photodetector by receiving the light from the target space, thereby smoothing the fluctuation component.
US07643129B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, method for manufacturing device
An exposure apparatus that: projects pattern images onto a substrate via liquid and a projection optical system, the liquid forming a liquid immersion region between the projection optical system and the substrate; and exposes the substrate. The apparatus has: a liquid-supplying-section that supplies the liquid onto the substrate; a first pipe section that introduces the liquid to the liquid-supplying-section; and a second pipe section, connected to the first pipe section, that collects the liquid not being supplied to the liquid-supplying-section from the first pipe section. By doing this, it is possible to provide a liquid-immersion exposure apparatus having a liquid-supplying-mechanism, exposure method, and a method for manufacturing devices so as to: restrict the temperature of the liquid, supplied between the projection optical system and the substrate, from varying; and prevent contaminants from invading into the liquid.
US07643126B2 Method of setting focus condition at time of exposure, apparatus for setting focus condition at time of exposure, program, and computer readable recording medium
In the present invention, in the photolithography process in which a certain focus condition has been already set, a film on a substrate is exposed to only zero-order light of a light source transmitted, and then developed to reduce a first portion of the film on the substrate. Further, the film on the substrate is exposed to zero-order light and higher order light of the light source transmitted, and then developed to reduce a second portion of the film on the substrate. Thereafter, the film thicknesses of the first portion and the second portion are measured, and the measured film thicknesses of the first portion and the second portion are converted into line widths of a resist pattern by previously obtained correlations between the film thicknesses and the line widths. The converted line width of the second portion is then subtracted from the converted line width of the first portion, whereby the line width depending only on the focus component is calculated. Based on the line width, a new focus condition is set.
US07643125B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus includes a first driving mechanism which drives a first optical element, a second driving mechanism which drives a second optical element, and a control unit which controls the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism so as to adjust the astigmatism of a projection optical system. The amount of change in the first order component of the astigmatism and the amount of change in the second order component of the astigmatism upon driving the first optical element by the first driving mechanism have a first ratio, and the amount of change in the first order component of the astigmatism and the amount of change in the second order component of the astigmatism upon driving the second optical element by the second driving mechanism have a second ratio which is different from the first ratio.
US07643123B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising bubble traps and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal area defined within a display area by a sealant, and a non-display area formed in an outer part of the display area, and at least one bubble trap arranged in the outer part of the sealant within the non-display area and patterned to have a concave surface facing toward outside of the non-display area.
US07643120B2 Pixel structure and liquid crystal display panel
A pixel structure of an active device array substrate is provided. The pixel structure includes a scan line and a data line; an active device electrically coupled to the scan line and the data line; a pixel electrode electrically coupled to the active device, wherein the pixel electrode has at least one opening therein; and at least one island electrode disposed inside the opening, wherein the island electrode is electrically coupled to a voltage V, and the pixel electrode is electrically coupled to a driving voltage Vd that is different from the voltage V, such that a transverse electric field is formed between the island electrode and the pixel electrode.
US07643116B2 Liquid crystal display device
In a retardation film (c plate) for canceling the optical effect of a liquid crystal layer, the optical effect of the liquid crystal layer which is represented by Δnd/λ increases as the wavelength λ of incident light decreases. Accordingly, in order to cancel this effect, a negative retardation needs to be reduced as the wavelength of incident light increases. In a retardation film (a plate) for rotating the direction of polarization of light, an in-plane retardation needs to be increased as the wavelength λ of incident light increases. It is preferable that both of these retardation films be placed. However, compared to known technologies, light leakage can be suppressed even using only any one of the retardation films.
US07643114B2 Transflective display device with reflection pattern on the color filter substrate
A transflective liquid crystal display device includes an upper array substrate that has a gate line, a data line crossing the gate line while being insulated, an organic passivation film pattern overlapped with the data line, and a pixel electrode formed to overlap the data line with the organic passivation film pattern therebetween. A lower array substrate faces the upper array substrate with a liquid crystal layer therebetween and that has a dispersion film which disperses an external light, a reflection pattern which is formed on the dispersion film and in a reflection area, a color filter layer formed on the reflection pattern and the dispersion film, and a common electrode which covers the color filter layer. A backlight unit irradiates light to the lower array substrate.
US07643113B2 Transflective liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A transflective liquid crystal display device in which a transmissive area to transmit light to a pixel area and a reflective area as well as a thin film transistor are arranged on an insulating substrate, includes an TFT array substrate having plural gate wirings each provided with a gate electrode and a storage capacitive wiring provided with a storage capacitive electrode made of a first conductive film, plural source wirings each provided with a source electrode and a drain electrode made of a second conductive film, a reflecting pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode, and a transmissive pixel electrode formed through a second insulating film, and an opposite substrate arranged oppositely to the TFT array substrate. The source wirings and the reflecting pixel electrode are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and a contrast preventing electrode is formed over the interval on the second insulating film.
US07643111B2 Liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and its fabrication method are disclosed. Specifically, a fabrication method in which polyhedral spacers are implemented on a substrate through an ink jet method are used for an LCD device. The spacers have the polyhedral shape to increase their contact area with two substrates, and include a surface processed layer for strengthening a bonding force in its bonding with an alignment film formed on the two substrates. The spacers have a polyhedral shape for maintaining the cell gap between the substrates.
US07643110B2 Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display panel
There are provided a substrate which has solved an unsatisfactory adhesion problem of a seal part in a liquid crystal cell comprising a retardation layer provided on the inner side of the cell, and a liquid crystal cell using the substrate. A black matrix layer 12 formed of a resin composition containing a black colorant and its picture frame part 12A, a color filter layer 13, and a retardation layer 14 are stacked on a substrate 11, and an area including at least the picture frame part 12A is an area to be sealed.
US07643107B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus which comprises two liquid crystal display stacked one on top of the other, and which is switchable between two states, a state in which only the viewer-side liquid crystal panel is operated and a state in which only the other liquid crystal panel is operated. More specifically, a liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes a first liquid crystal display and a second liquid crystal display disposed above the first liquid crystal display with the viewing side of each of the displays facing upward, wherein the first liquid crystal display has at least one viewing mode, a transmissive mode or a reflective mode, and the second liquid crystal display has at least one viewing mode, the transmissive mode or the reflective mode, and wherein the maximum power consumption of the second liquid crystal display is smaller than that of the first liquid crystal display.
US07643104B2 Foamed resin sheet and liquid crystal display
This invention relates to a foamed resin sheet containing closed-cells which have a specific average diameter and a specific volume ratio. The foamed resin sheet of this invention is excellent in light reflectance or light transmittance to visible light and is also excellent in light diffusing capability, and in particular it is suitable as a light reflective plate or light diffusing plate to be incorporated and used in a direct backlight unit for a large-screen liquid crystal display or a 15- to 39-inch large-screen liquid crystal television set. The industrial effect that this invention produces is remarkable.
US07643102B2 Liquid crystal display device having first and second pixel electrodes overlapping a common electrode and connected to first and second switching elements respectively
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a pixel electrode and a counter electrode in a pixel formed on a surface of a substrate which faces liquid crystal, the counter electrode is formed below an insulation film, and the pixel electrode is formed above the insulation film, wherein the counter electrode is formed over a whole area of a center except for a slight periphery of at least the pixel, the pixel electrode is constituted of separate pixel electrodes to which a video signal which is supplied to the pixel is inputted through the separate switching elements at the same timing, and the separate pixel electrodes are respectively formed of a plurality of electrodes and the respective electrodes are alternately arranged.
US07643097B2 Multiple-TV display channel setting method and module
A multiple-TV display channel setting method for synchronously a setting mapping relation between display channels and transmission channels to a first TV and a second TV is disclosed. The method includes setting the mapping relation between the display channels and the transmission channels to the first TV, allowing the first TV to display audio/video (A/V) signals transmitted over one of the transmission channels according to one of the display channels, wherein the display channel is mapped by the mapping relation onto the transmission channel; and transmitting the mapping relation to the second TV so that the second TV displays the A/V signals transmitted over the transmission channel according to the mapped display channels.
US07643094B2 Color image processing apparatus, color image processing method, program and recording medium
A color image processing apparatus performs color image display using a red display, green display, blue display and white display. The apparatus includes a white signal generation circuit generating a white signal W based on an input red signal Rin for the red display, an input green signal Gin for the green display, and an input blue signal Bin for the blue display, a yellow signal generation circuit generating a yellow signal Ye, based on the input red signal Rin, the input green signal Gin, and the generated white signal W, and a first output white signal generation circuit generating a first output white signal Wout(1) for the white display, based on the generated white signal W and the generated yellow signal Ye.
US07643093B2 VSB reception system with enhanced signal detection for processing supplemental data
A VSB reception system includes a sequence generator for decoding a symbol corresponding to the supplemental data and generating a predefined sequence included in the supplemental data at VSB transmission system. The reception system also includes a modified legacy VSB receiver for processing the data received from the VSB transmission system in a reverse order of the VSB transmission system by using the sequence, and a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the data from the modified legacy VSB receiver into the MPEG data and the supplemental data. The VSB reception system also includes a supplemental data processor for processing the supplemental data segment from the demultiplexer in a reverse order of the transmission system, to obtain the supplemental data, thereby carrying out the slicer prediction, decoding, and symbol decision more accurately by using the predefined sequence, to improve a performance.
US07643089B2 Decoder device and receiver using the same
A decoder apparatus which includes a de-multiplexer, which is configured to divide motion picture data from a transport stream, a video decoder, which is configured to decode the divided motion picture data, and a first re-formatter on-screen unit, which is configured to display motion picture data and at least one of first and second graphic data on a screen. The first re-formatter on-screen unit converts motion picture data of a first aspect ratio, which is decoded by the video decoder, and first graphics data, which is produced by applying information relating to a caption corresponding to the motion picture data, into a second aspect ratio, when outputting the motion picture data of the first aspect ratio after conversion into the second aspect ratio, without converting the aspect ratio of second graphic data, which is produced by applying information relating to a program guide.
US07643087B2 Operating button device for portable apparatus
A switching device for a portable apparatus, comprises a button disposed in an opening formed in a housing. A spring member, supported by the housing, is integrally connected to a first connecting portion of the button. A stopping claw is connected to a second connecting portion of the button, and can engage with an inner wall of the housing near the peripheral edge of the opening. The switching circuit board is provided in the housing. The switching circuit board is depressed and released through the button. The switching circuit board has a notch in which the stopping claw is inserted when the button is depressed.
US07643086B2 Electronic still camera having a sealing member for optically isolating an image pickup element
An electronic still camera includes an image pickup element provided in an optically isolated space which is opened and closed by a shutter, and an image pickup optical system which makes object light incident upon the image pickup element. An image pickup light path defined between the shutter and the image pickup element is sealed by a sealing member.
US07643085B2 Image pickup apparatus and method of manufacturing thereof
An image pickup apparatus of the present invention is a portion of the image pickup portion is exposed on a first surface of the casing. The apparatus includes: a holding frame disposed on a second surface, which is the rear surface of the first surface of the casing, wherein the image pickup portion is held by the holding frame, and the holding frame is fixed to a third surface adjacent to the second surface. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of components, and to eliminate the need for the step of attaching the double-faced tape, and the step of attaching the cover ring to the front panel.
US07643079B2 Control circuit for reading out signal charges from main and subsidiary pixels of a solid-state image sensor separately from each other in interlace scanning
In a control circuit for controlling a solid-state image pickup device, two sorts of image data are read out separately with differing sensitivities. A timing generator control in a digital camera controls a timing signal generator to the interlace scanning or to all-pixel scanning, and outputs a timing signal, consistent with this control, to the driver. The driver outputs a driving signal, consistent with the timing signal, to the solid-state image pickup device included in an image pickup unit to read out signal charges. In particular, in interlace scanning, readout of signal charges of main pixels of the image pickup device is separated from that of subsidiary pixels of the device.
US07643076B2 Image scanning device having multiple CMOS element in matrix form
An image scanning device divides an image scanning element group into a plurality of areas and an image signal is output for every area. The device includes a plurality of charge integrating units respective provided in each of the plurality of areas for integrating charges output from plural image scanning elements and outputting the charges thus integrated as an integrated charge, an integrated charge selecting unit for selecting any one or more integrated charges from the plural integrated charges and outputting the integrated charges thus selected, a charge accumulating unit for accumulating and combining any one or more integrated charges output from the integrated charge selecting unit; and an image signal outputting unit for converting the composite charge accumulated in the charge accumulating unit to an image signal and outputting the image signal.
US07643074B2 Pixel signal processing apparatus and pixel signal processing method
The difference between the output of a k-signal nonlinear low-pass filter (8g) and the output of an h-signal nonlinear low-pass filter (8r) is added (44) to the value of the h-th pixel signal (h(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest to obtain the k-th pixel signal (k(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest. Accurate pixel interpolation can be performed with good noise immunity, even at locations where the color signals are uncorrelated.
US07643071B2 Digital zooming apparatus and method
This invention discloses a digital zooming apparatus for adjusting the size of a sensed image sensed by a sensor. The digital zooming apparatus includes an adjusting module, a first image-processing module, a storage module and a second image-processing module. The adjusting module connected to the sensor receives the sensed image and adjusts the sensed image according to a zooming factor to produce an adjusted image. The first image-processing module connected to the adjusting module processes the adjusted image according to a first predetermined condition and a second predetermined condition to produce a first image. The storage module connected to the first image-processing module stores the first image. The second image-processing module connected to the storage module receives the first image and processes the first image according to the second predetermined condition to produce a second image.
US07643070B2 Moving image generating apparatus, moving image generating method, and program
A moving image generating apparatus of the present invention generates moving image data that is smoothly replayed from a taken still image. The apparatus includes: an image storing section that stores a plurality of captured images continuously taken in an exposure time shorter than a frame period of a moving image; a movement computing section that computes a movement of a subject between a timing at which one captured image is taken and a timing at which a captured image taken next to the one captured image is taken, based on a change of a position of the subject in the plurality of captured images; a frame image generating section that performs a blurring processing in a direction in which the subject included in the one captured image moves to generate a frame image from the one captured image, according to the movement of the subject computed from the movement computing section; and a moving image recording section that records, as a moving image, a plurality of frame images each generated from the frame image generating section in association with each of the plurality of captured images.
US07643068B2 White balance control method, white balance control apparatus and image-taking apparatus
According to the present invention, it is possible, by using the first and second light source loci, to tone down the influence of the object color of the color information in the image and detect the light source based on the color information having the influence of the object color toned down so as to detect the light source accurately. It is thereby possible to reduce the color failure when controlling the white balance.
US07643066B2 Method and apparatus for producing frame accurate position data in a PTZ dome camera with open loop control
A method of processing video images includes capturing a first image with a camera having a first field of view. The capturing occurs at a first point in time. Commands are transmitted to the camera to make pan, tilt and zoom movements. A second image is captured with the camera at a second point in time. The second point in time is after the movements have commenced. A second field of view of the camera is calculated at the second point in time. The calculating is based upon the commands. The second image is processed based upon the first field of view and the calculated second field of view.
US07643065B2 Image data processing system
In a system having a server and a client apparatus, the client apparatus edits image data by using a representative image of the image data stored in the server, generates play list data indicating the order of reproducing the image data, in accordance with the editing results, and the server stores the image data sent from the client apparatus, reproduces the stored image data in accordance with the play list data sent from the client, and transmits the reproduced image data to the server.
US07643057B2 Method and system for displaying content while reducing burn-in of a display
A method and system for reducing burn-in of a display is disclosed. A plurality of assets containing text, graphics, and video are stored and then gathered. These assets are then assembled into a template to form a video frame or “screen”, which is subsequently output in a video transport stream or video display. Based upon a trigger, the assets are gathered again and reassembled in a second template to form a second video frame or screen wherein the assets are in positions on the screen, which are different from those of the first screen. The second screen is subsequently output to the video transport stream and the process is repeated.
US07643049B2 Method for manufacturing recording media, method for manufacturing production plate used when manufacturing recording media, apparatus for manufacturing recording media, and apparatus for manufacturing production plate used when manufacturing recording media
When manufacturing a recording medium, a material layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 that composes the recording medium is exposed to a laser beam in accordance with a recording pattern. The material layer 12 has a predetermined reflectivity for the laser beam 13 so as to produce return light for the laser beam 13. By detecting this return light, the focusing of the laser beam on the material layer is adjusted. By doing so, a laser beam can be easily and accurately focused on a material layer during a process in which a laser beam is shone, in accordance with a recording pattern, onto a material layer formed on a recording medium or a production plate used when manufacturing a recording medium.
US07643047B2 Light source module, optical unit array and pattern writing apparatus
An optical unit array comprises a plurality of optical units (2) in each of which a plurality of light source modules (1) are arranged and a first comb-teeth member (41) and a second comb-teeth member (42) which are provided for holding the optical units (2), and respective first pins (213) and second pins (214) of a plurality of optical units (2) are held by the first comb-teeth member (41) and the second comb-teeth member (42). In the optical unit array (4), positions of a plurality of optical units (2) relative to one another can be determined with high accuracy by bringing the first pins (213) and the second pins (214) into contact with grooves (411) and grooves (421), respectively. The outgoing positions and directions of light beams emitted from the light source modules (1) are also determined with high accuracy in each optical unit (2).
US07643045B2 Thermal printing apparatus and printing methods thereof
Thermal printing apparatus and printing methods thereof are disclosed. One of the proposed printing methods includes: providing an n-bit value corresponding to a pixel, wherein a color level of the pixel ranges from 0 to 2n−1; determining a total print time corresponding to a target bit of the n-bit value according to the bit significance of the target bit; and if the target bit is of a predetermined value, intermittently driving a heating unit to heat a ribbon within the print time corresponding to the target bit.
US07643043B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
Image data are inputted from a data processing means (23) into storage means (24) so that light emitting elements on one line (28a) of a light emitting element (yellow) line head (28) are actuated according to signal outputted from a shift resistor (24a) so as to expose pixels on an image carrier. At a point of time when the pixels reach a position corresponding to the light emitting elements in a next line (28b) by moving the image carrier in a direction of arrow X, the image data are transmitted to a shift resistor (24b) and then outputted to the line (28b) so as to expose the pixels again. The image data are transmitted among the shift resistors sequentially by moving the image carrier, thereby achieving the multiple exposure of the same pixels.
US07643038B2 Virtual device buffer for embedded device
Apparatus are provided, including an embedded display processor on a given chip. The apparatus may be an embedded device, for example, a mobile wireless communications device. More specifically, the apparatus may be a mobile phone, a portable gaming device, a video streaming device, or a GPS map drawing device. The display processor includes, on the same given chip, a rendering memory, from which pixels are rendered to a display device. The display processor further includes an image manipulation mechanism to manipulate pixels of a given image frame from source positions in a pre-manipulation buffer, to target positions in the rendering memory, the target positions corresponding to rendered positions in the given image frame. The display processor further includes a fetch mechanism to fetch, from the pre-manipulation buffer, a predetermined number of neighboring pixels including adjacent cross-row pixels traversing a plurality of rows while in their source positions, the adjacent cross-row pixels being intended for target positions in a common row in accordance with the manipulation to be performed by the manipulation mechanism. The display processor further includes a send mechanism to send, from the rendering memory, a set of the neighboring pixels, including adjacent common row pixels on a common row after having been manipulated, to the display device in accordance with a given dynamic refresh rate and scheme. The display processor further includes a reconfigure mechanism to periodically reconfigure a manner of assignment of addresses and physical locations for data stored in the rendering memory.
US07643034B2 Synthesis of advecting texture using adaptive regeneration
An adaptive texture regeneration method and system for generating a sequence of images over time (an animation sequence) that gives the appearance of texture flowing over a surface. The adaptive texture regeneration method and system helps keep synthesized texture flow over a surface from becoming so distorted such that it no longer resembles the original exemplar. This is achieved in part by using pixel coordinates instead of colors. By using pixel coordinates, distortion of the texture can be measured. Based on this distortion measurement, the texture can be adaptively regenerated if necessary. The distortion measurement of the texture is measured and compared to a distortion threshold. If the measured distortion does not exceed the threshold, then the current synthesized texture is retained. On the other hand, if the measured distortion exceeds the threshold, the current synthesized texture is regenerated.
US07643029B2 Method and system for automated visual comparison based on user drilldown sequences
A method for presenting data comprises receiving the data; and deriving a multi-level dynamic hierarchical structure for the data based on drilldown sequences input from a user, wherein the drilldown sequences automatically compute a graphical visual comparison of the data and comprise: deriving a multi-pixel bar chart to display an aggregated data paradigm; and deriving a graphical illustration to display a data distribution paradigm.
US07643026B2 NURBS surface deformation apparatus and the method using 3D target curve
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for deforming a curved surface using a three-dimensional target curve. The curved surface deformation apparatus of the present invention includes object curved surface selection means, sample vertex extraction means, basis function calculation means, target curve input means, control point variation calculation means, and object curved surface deformation means. The object curved surface selection means selects all or part of the curved surface of the NURBS model. The sample vertex extraction means extracts a plurality of vertexes from the object curved surface. The basis function calculation means calculates a basis function of the object curved surface. The target curve input means inputs a target curve, composed of a plurality of target. The target curve projection means projects the target curve onto the object curved surface. The control point variation calculation means individually interpolates variation values ranging from projection points of the object curved surface corresponding to the target points, calculates variation values of sample vertexes, and calculates variations of control points using the calculated variation values and a pseudo-inverse matrix of the basis function. The object curved surface deformation means deforms the object curved surface on the basis of the calculated variations of the control points.
US07643025B2 Method and apparatus for applying stereoscopic imagery to three-dimensionally defined substrates
The invention represents a new form of stereoscopically-rendered three-dimensional model and various methods for constructing, manipulating, and displaying these models. The model consists of one or more stereograms applied to a substrate, where the shape of the substrate has been derived from the imagery or from the object itself, and the stereograms are applied to the substrate in a specific way that eliminates parallax for some points and reduces it in others. The methods offered can be (conservatively) 400 times more efficient at representing complex surfaces than conventional modelling techniques, and also provide for independent control of micro and macro parallaxes in a stereoscopically-viewed scene, whether presented in a VR environment or in stereo film or television.
US07643024B2 System and method for view management in three dimensional space
A method for managing a display space for a 3D environment is provided. A 3D scene having at least one scene object (105) is displayed and the visible surfaces (110) of the scene objects are represented as visible space in a 2D view plane representation. Controllable objects that are to be placed in the scene are defined by parameters such as size, placement priority, proximity relationships and the like. The available space for placing controllable objects, which can include empty space and low priority background and foreground regions, is determined for each controllable object. The placement (125) for controllable objects in the 3D space is then determined in accordance with at least placement parameter and one of the visible space and available space of the view-plane representation (120) such that view management objectives, such as not occluding important scene objects, are accomplished.
US07643021B2 Driving system and driving method for motion picture display
A driving system and a driving method for motion pictures are described, using an input, a black image insertion module, an advanced overdrive module, and a partial frame rate control module. The input receives a first frame and a second frame in order. The black image insertion module inserts a single fixed gray level frame between the first frame and the second frame. The advanced overdrive module increases the second frame to (n+a) bits and converts the same to the overdrive image, in which the first frame and the second frame are n bits. The partial frame rate control module smoothes the overdrive image and converts the same to an output image to refresh the pixels from the single fixed gray level frame to the second frame.
US07643019B2 Edge dependent motion blur reduction
The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement to reduce motion blur of images shown in non-stroboscopic display devices, in particular Liquid Crystal Display Panels (LCDs). Thin Film Transistor Displays (TFTs), Color Sequential Displays. Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), Digital Micro Mirror Devices or Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, in which motion vectors depending on moving components in each image of an input video, signal are calculated, in which anti-motion blur filtering of the input video signal is performed based on the calculated motion vectors to produce an output video signal, and in which images are generated on said display device depending on said output video signal. In order to provide an improved spatial filtering with less noise enhancement and less noise modulation, it is proposed that edge characteristics in each image of the input video signal are determined and that anti-motion blur filtering is further based on said determined edge characteristics. In this way, spatial filtering is concentrated on significant parts of an image only, and both noise enhancement and noise modulation are reduced.
US07643018B1 Twisted pair communications line system
A transmission system for transmitting analog color video signals wherein a cable comprising multiple twisted pairs is employed, and certain of these pairs are coupled to carry selected color signals as a function of the delay provided by particular twist rates. In certain instances, selected signal delay devices are connected in circuit with certain twisted pairs. By such an arrangement, it has been found that relatively long distances between a computer and a monitor may be spanned by relatively low-cost, twisted pair cable commonly used for telephone communications.
US07643012B2 Terminal and method for selecting displayed items
A terminal and method for selecting an item displayed on a touch screen are disclosed. The method for selecting an item displayed on the screen includes simultaneously touching the screen at two or more locations to define a selection area and identifying the items within the selection area. The section area may be a rectangle, a horizontal or vertical band of the display, a circle, or sequentially arranged items of a list. Alternatively, a single touch may define a point in the display area and the bounds of the display area are defined by the time the touch is maintained. Recently, with the increasing development of multiple functions on a single terminal, the method can be conveniently applied to the latest terminal where associated items are simultaneously displayed on a single display screen of the terminal.
US07643008B2 Changing keys drawn on a display and actuating them using a sensor-screen
This invention describes a method for changing a keypad layout with keys (e.g., graphics and text) drawn on a display of an electronic device (e.g., wireless portable device, a mobile communication device or a mobile phone) and actuating said keys by a user of the electronic device using a transparent or translucent sensor-screen placed over said keys which are visible by the user. The transparent or translucent sensor-screen can be positioned partially or completely over the display. This invention enables different application/feature specific keypad configurations (shape, size, orientation, number of keys) for mobile devices.
US07643007B2 Method of operating an optical mouse
Movement of a hand operated pointing device may be tracked by providing a source of non-coherent light in a movable housing for illuminating a work surface and providing circuitry for producing a plurality of two dimensional arrays of data related to light reflected by surface irregularities on the illuminated work surface and for processing a first array with a second array to track movement of the housing relative to the illuminated work surface. Circuitry may be provided for processing the first array with the second array to predict further movement of the housing relative to the illuminated work surface. Circuitry may be provided for selecting a different portion of the first array in accordance with the prediction for processing with a third array to track further movement of the housing. Circuitry may be provided for determining validity of the tracked movement and sending a signal to a computer related to the tracked movement unless the tracked movement is determined not to be valid.
US07643004B2 Method and apparatus for driving liquid crystal display device
An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display includes a picture quality improving unit that extracts a brightness component from first data, analyzes the brightness using the extracted brightness component, and generates second data having a contrast in accordance with the analyzed brightness. The contrast of the second data is extended from that of the first data. A timing controller rearranges the second data to supply the second data to a data driver. A backlight supplies the light to a liquid crystal panel in accordance with a driving current. An inverter supplies the driving current to the backlight.
US07643002B2 Data driver, liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a comparator which judges a voltage of data; and a pre-charge controller which pre-charges a data line of a liquid crystal display panel with a pre-charge voltage if the voltage of the data is a first voltage, and pre-charges the data line with a charge share voltage, which has a lower absolute value than the pre-charge voltage, if the voltage of the data is a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage.
US07643001B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method of the same
A liquid crystal display device and driving method therefor are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of signal lines that apply different gray scale voltages to each of the pixels. A driving circuit is provided to generate the gray scale voltages to be applied to the pixels. In operation, the driving circuit applies the first gray scale voltage at intervals of the horizontal scanning time within a display period. The second gray scale voltage is output by a number of times that is not smaller than twice and not greater than (M−N) times at intervals of the horizontal scanning time from the beginning of the vertical retrace interval. The second gray scale voltage is then stopped until completion of the vertical retrace interval.
US07642994B2 Plasma display
A plasma display panel employs a voltage circuit having an input and an output, the voltage circuit configured for supplying a negative voltage for an electrode. The plasma display panel also employs a power supply that has a positive terminal and a negative terminal, where the negative terminal is connected to the input of the voltage circuit. The power supply is otherwise configured relative to the voltage circuit such that the voltage difference between the output and the input of the voltage circuit is fixed as a function of the power supply. By fixing this voltage difference, parasitic capacitance is minimized, power consumption and calorific value are reduced, and the plasma display panel operates in a more stable manner.
US07642989B2 System for and method of motion and force synchronization with time delay reduction in multi-user shared virtual environments
Systems, methods and computer-executable code stored on computer readable media for synchronizing the evolving state of a dynamic object in a shared virtual environment among a plurality of geographically separated computers connected in a communications network including data communications links introducing time delays in the propagation of data between said computers. The synchronization scheme utilizes an advanced feedback controller to compensate for the state error between sites, comprised of a linear compensator and a Smith predictor based internal model, to determine correct control forces creating a smooth input while maintaining high levels of responsiveness and consistency. A recovery filter for restoring the natural motion of the virtual object distorted by synchronization control is also described.
US07642988B1 Multi-link antenna array configured for cellular site placement
A system and method for mounting a plurality of antenna elements onto a cell tower is disclosed. The plurality of antennas are mounted into a radome enclosure. The radome enclosure has an outer size and shape that matches the outer size and shape of a cellular antenna element. The radome enclosure is configured to attach to a cellular tower using the same physical mounting system as the cellular antenna elements. The plurality of antennas provide multiple point-to-point links that may be used for wireless backhaul links or other applications.
US07642983B2 High efficiency ferrite antenna system
An automatic tuning procedure can be used to allow a small, high efficiency ferrite antenna assembly to be used in various FM frequency based devices. The ferrite antenna can take the form of a rod or flat disk, for example, which can use a pick-up coil and tuning coil to provide sufficient signal strength using a small FM antenna. A balanced amplifier can be used to provide differential input in order to further reduce noise. A microcontroller can determine the strength of the FM signal at various frequencies and can automatically tune the operating frequency to optimize system performance.
US07642980B2 Slot type antenna with integrated amplifiers
The present invention relates to a slot type antenna with integrated amplifiers, comprising a substrate S featuring a ground plane G, a longitudinal radiation open slot antenna, a power divider connected to a feeder line, an amplifier connected to each of the outputs of the power divider, such that the amplifiers are supplied in phase opposition, the output of the amplifiers being connected to a power combination circuit directly coupled to the excitation point of the slot type antenna.
US07642976B2 AM/FM receiving antenna
There is provided an AM/FM receiving antenna, which is provided at a windowpane of a vehicle, comprising an AM antenna element including an end portion as a power supply point and another end portion forming an open end, and an AM/FM antenna element connected to the AM antenna element via the power supply point, wherein a distance L between the end portion and the another end portion of the AM antenna element, a reduction ratio α of a material of the windowpane, a minimum wavelength λmin of a receiving FM frequency band, and a maximum wavelength λmax of the receiving FM frequency band meet a requirement equation of α·λmin/2≦L≦α·λmax/2. The AM/FM receiving antenna can properly achieve the compatibility of receiving sensitivity of the AM and FM electric waves, having a smaller layout space for antenna elements.
US07642962B2 Adaptive array antenna system and method of controlling directivity thereof
An adaptive array antenna is disclosed which permits the circuit scale to be reduced by omitting a down-converter, an AD converter, and interconnects for them while controlling the directivity well. In one aspect, the array antenna comprises phase shift-amplitude control modules which accept signals received by antenna elements via an analog-to-digital converter. The value of any one of phase-amplitude change modules is set to 1. The values of the other phase-amplitude change modules are set to 0. Thus, the signal from any one antenna element is accepted. This sequence of operations is repeated as many times as there are antenna elements, whereby signals received by all the antenna elements can be accepted.
US07642954B2 Positioning apparatus, control method of positioning apparatus, control program for positioning apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium having control program for positioning apparatus recorded therein
A positioning apparatus that measures a current position by using measurement basis codes carried on satellite waves from a plurality of positioning satellites includes: a first phase error information generating unit that generates first phase error information indicating an error of a first phase on the basis of a frequency difference between a first frequency which is an estimated value of a receiving frequency of the satellite wave and a second frequency which is a frequency corresponding to a maximum value of a correlation value under a condition of the estimated phase; a second phase information generating unit that generates second phase information indicating a second phase by correcting a first phase information on the basis of the first phase error information; and a positioning unit that measures the current position on the basis of the second phase information on at least three of the positioning satellites.
US07642945B2 AD converter circuit and microcontroller
A successive approximation type AD converter circuit for comparing an analog input signal with an output analog signal of a DA converter with a comparator to input a digital signal output in accordance with a comparison result to the DA converter to determine a digital signal obtained if the output analog signal of the DA converter is equal to the analog input signal, as an AD-converted output signal, includes: an AD converter for AD-converting the analog input circuit in accordance with a sampling period for sampling the analog input signal and a comparison period for comparing the sampled analog input signal with the output analog signal of the DA converter with the comparator; and setting means for independently setting a cycle time of a first clock signal for determining the sampling period and a cycle time of a second clock signal for determining the comparison period.
US07642939B2 Configurations for data ports at digital interface for multiple data converters
A data converter includes multiple analog to digital converters (ADCs) and uses a reduced number of data ports at the digital interface for transferring signal samples. The bits of the signal samples generated in parallel by the ADCs are multiplexed into fewer data streams than the number of ADCs. The data ports transfer the data streams at a higher data transfer rate than the bit rate of the samples output from the ADCs. Unused data ports are powered down, decreasing power consumption and system complexity. A host device receives the data streams using fewer input data ports and demultiplexes the received data streams to reproduce the signal samples. Efficient data transfer to a data converter including multiple digital to analog converters (DACs), from a source device generating multiple digital signals can also use fewer data ports having higher data transfer rates.
US07642936B2 System and method for determining whether to dynamically suppress data in a communications environment
A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of bits associated with a communications flow and inspecting the bits. The method also includes determining whether one or more samples included in the flow should be suppressed. A portion of the bits is converted to 1 bits such that they are designated for later suppression. A selected one or more of the samples are suppressed if the selected samples are designated for suppression.
US07642933B2 Methods and devices for keypress validation in a slider form factor device
Disclosed are methods in a slider form factor device, and slider form factor devices, for ignoring a key depression when there is a change in the position of a first housing relative to a second housing that occurs between the key depression and the release of the key depression. The method may include detecting a key depression of the first housing, detecting a change in the position of the first housing relative to the second housing, and detecting a release of the key depression. The method may further include ignoring the key depression when there is a change in the position of the first housing relative to the second housing that occurs between the key depression and the release of the key depression.
US07642926B2 Control system of an actuator for the actuation of submarine devices
Electronic control system for a submarine actuator, said actuator comprising a container body, from which a drive shaft projects that is suitable for inserting in a seat of said submarine device. The system comprises an electronic control board for at least one electric motor arranged inside said container body suitable for moving said drive shaft.
US07642925B2 Sensor drive control method and sensor-equipped radio terminal device
A sensor device wherein when a first sensor detects a detection object, the first sensor changes its output voltage level, and when the processor unit detects the change of the output voltage level of the first sensor as an interrupt signal, the drive voltage level of the first sensor is switched from the first signal level to the second signal level which is different from the first signal level and the drive voltage level of the second sensor is switched from the second signal level to the first signal level which is different from the second signal level.
US07642923B2 Sensors based on density differences in fluids and method for operating and for manufacturing said sensors to detect movement, acceleration, position, fluid-properties
A sensor for detecting position and/or movement in space and/or for detecting fluid-properties comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver which are enclosed by a fluid, characterized in that the at least one transmitter generates cyclic fluid density fluctuations and the at least one receiver detects the change in transit time and/or the phase shift and/or the frequency change and/or the amplitude change.
US07642919B2 Signalling and localization device for an individual in the sea and method of use thereof
Signalling and localisation device for an individual in the sea, includingan ultrasonic wave transmitter constituting an individual alarm unit carried by the individual in the sea designed to transmit carrier waves of primary signals; a surface surveillance means arranged on the surface of the sea and provided with: a submersed antenna capable of picking up the primary signals transmitted by individual alarm unit; means of transmitting secondary ultrasonic signals, these transmission means: means capable of calculating the position of individual alarm unit as a function of the ultrasonic signals received in response to secondary ultrasonic signals and of converting this information into the coordinates of a global positioning system; a unit for transmitting radio waves capable of sending signals representing these coordinates to a mobile or fixed alarm processing centre equipped with a radio receiver.
US07642915B2 Multiple frequency detection system
A multiple frequency detection system allows the seamless integration of an almost ideal EAS function with an RFID function. While not being limited to a particular theory, the preferred embodiments integrate EAS technology at, for example, 8.2 MHz or 14 MHz, and RFID technology at, for example, 13.56 MHz in a common antenna package. The use of standard RFID frequencies as forcing functions will allow for the easy packaging of EAS with RFID and have a true roadmap of a scalable technology.
US07642914B2 Auto-locating system and method for data center mapping and monitoring
Automated locating of electronics racks within a data center room is provided. The automated approach employs n wireless identification units associated with respective electronics racks of the data center, and first and second transceiver units positioned within the data center along a common plane at known X,Y locations. A monitor unit is in communication with the transceiver units, and automatically determines X,Y location within the data center room of each respective electronics rack employing, in part, first time differentials between transmission of a first broadcast signal by the first transceiver unit and receipt of response signals from the wireless identification units, second time differentials between transmission of a second broadcast signal from the second transceiver unit and receipt of response signals thereto from the wireless identification units, and the known X,Y locations within the data center of the transceiver units.
US07642910B2 Multi-frequency alarm system receiver with interference detection
An alarm system receiver that is capable of receiving signals transmitted from wireless intrusion detectors at more than one frequency and automatically switching from receiving at one frequency to receiving at a different frequency based on the detection of an interference signal. The alarm system receiver senses a first signal, filters the sensed first signal at a first frequency, demodulates the filtered first signal at the first frequency, and determines if a first interference signal is present in the demodulated first signal for a predetermined time. If the first interference signal is not present in the demodulated first signal, it processes the demodulated first signal as an alarm system signal. If the first interference signal is present in the demodulated signal, the alarm system receiver senses a second signal, filters the sensed second signal at a second frequency, demodulates the filtered second signal at the second frequency, and processes the demodulated second signal as an alarm signal. The alarm system receiver consists of an antenna, more than one filter, more than one local oscillator for providing oscillator signals at the predetermined frequencies, a demodulator for inputting one of the oscillator signals and a corresponding one of the filtered signals to provide a demodulated signal, and an interference detection circuit for inputting the demodulated signal, determining if an interference signal is present in the demodulated signal, and providing an interference detection signal.
US07642909B2 System for remotely monitoring a premise
A system and method for monitoring a premise in case of an emergency and enabling 2-way voice communications with an individual at every possible location within the monitored premises. The system utilizes a radio frequency 2-way wireless communication link from a centrally located Base Alarm Control Unit on the premise to plurality of Remote Alarm Control Units situated throughout the premise. Remote Alarm Control Units relay the information received from the wireless remote transmitters to the Base Alarm Control Unit thereby increasing the effective useful range of the wireless communication link. The same also establishes a 2-way voice connection between the Central Station operator and the individual who may be located at any possible location within the premise, thereby providing a much more effective handling of the emergency or alarm situation.
US07642908B2 Elevated light system for vehicles
A light system for a vehicle includes a light casing that is fixedly secured to the motor vehicle. The light casing includes brake, fog and spacer sections with the spacer section separating the brake section from the fog section. A controller is fixedly secured to the light casing for receiving electrical power and control signals from the vehicle. A brake light source is disposed within the brake section of the light casing and is electrically connected to the controller to receive the control signals and to selectively emit light based on the signals. The light system also includes a fog light source disposed within the fog section of the light casing. The fog light source is electrically connected to the controller to selectively emit light based on the control signals. The spacer section allows one that is following the vehicle to distinguish between the brake and for light sources.
US07642907B2 Wireless buckle-up detection using RF technology
An automotive restraint monitoring assembly is provided comprised of a seatbelt assembly including a buckle element and clip element affixed to an automotive seat assembly. A wireless transponder element and transponder antenna are positioned within the buckle element and transmit a seat-based unique identification signal only when the clip element is positioned within the buckle element. A base station mounted within a vehicle includes at least one base station antenna in wireless communication with the wireless transponder. A vehicle belt alert system is in communication with the base station.
US07642906B1 Vehicle operator safety signal
A device and system is provided for alerting or signaling a vehicle driver after the driver leaves a vehicle compartment. A signaling device, in a deployed condition, is physically located in a forward line-of-sight of a driver operator of the vehicle. The signaling device is deployed automatically in the event of the opening of a vehicle door from the inside of a vehicle compartment. Resetting of the signaling device, out of the line-of-sight, requires manual operation by the vehicle operator outside the vehicle compartment. The system ensures that the operator will be alerted to safety procedures required after activities outside vehicle.
US07642903B2 Trailer tire alert system
A tire pressure sensing device for a tow trailer that signals the driver of the tow vehicle subsequent to deflation of at least one tire mounted to the trailer. The tire pressure sensing device further includes a base plate mounted to the axle of the tow trailer releasably secured by a generally u-shaped clamp. A switch is superposed on the base plate. The switch further includes an actuating rod support member and an actuating rod extending in a downward direction. The actuating rod biases the switch to a closed position subsequent to deflation of the tire thereby electrically activating a warning indicator.
US07642900B2 Alarm device and alarm system
An alarm device for a vehicle includes state information obtaining unit, alarm information obtaining unit, alarming unit, and controlling unit. The state information obtaining obtains as state information at least one of information of an occupant, information of the vehicle, and information of a surrounding of the vehicle. The alarm information obtaining unit obtains alarm information. The alarming unit informs the occupant of the alarm information. The controlling unit determines an expiration time of the alarm information based on the state information obtained by the state information obtaining unit when the controlling unit receives the alarm information from the alarm information obtaining unit, wherein the control unit causes the alarming unit to inform the occupant of the alarm information while the expiration time is valid.
US07642893B2 Array of independently-addressable resistors, and method for production thereof
The arrays of independently-addressable resistors are commonly used to control miniature elements. The invention proposes solving the problem caused by the loss of power dissipated in the addressed resistor by choosing, for this resistor, a material with a negative thermal coefficient resistance, which enables the addressing output of this resistor to be increased.
US07642892B1 Negative voltage coefficient resistor and method of manufacture
In one aspect, a negative voltage coefficient resistor is provided. The negative voltage coefficient resistor includes an insulative layer positioned between a polycrystalline silicon resistive layer and a silicide layer. Upon application of an appropriate voltage bias at the silicide layer of the resistor, a tunneling current is established across the insulative layer and is supplied to the polycrystalline silicon resistive layer. The tunneling current limits the current flow through the polycrystalline silicon layer, producing a resistor having a negative voltage coefficient of resistance and a reduced temperature coefficient of resistance.
US07642890B2 Inductor structure
An inductor structure including a first winding turn and a second winding turn is provided. The first winding turn is disposed above a substrate. The second winding turn is disposed between the first winding turn and the substrate. One end of the second winding turn is grounded, and the other end of the second winding turn and the first winding turn are electrically connected in series. The first winding turn and the second winding turn form a three-dimensional helix structure above the substrate. The width of the second winding turn is greater than that of the first winding turn, and furthermore, the first winding turn is projected onto the second winding turn.
US07642880B2 Switch arrangement
A single pole N throw (SPNT) switch arrangement including: a pole, one or more throw nodes and a switch mechanism arranged to connect the pole and a first throw node in response to a first signal and to disconnect the pole and the first throw node in response to a second signal; an interconnect, for providing the first signal, arranged for connection to the pole when providing the first signal; and a dc power source arranged to control a dc bias applied to the interconnect to provide the first signal
US07642878B2 Plural signal transmission line circuits having a reference plane with separation slots therein corresponding to the plural signal transmission lines
A signal transmission circuit and method thereof are provided. The signal transmission circuit may include a plurality of signal transmission lines, each of the plurality of signal transmission lines configured to transfer data via signal currents and a reference transmission plane configured to transfer return currents corresponding to the signal currents, the reference transmission plane separated from each of the plurality of signal transmission lines by an insulating layer, the reference transmission plane including at least one separation slot.
US07642875B2 Temperature correcting apparatus and voltage-controlled oscillation apparatus
A temperature correcting apparatus divides an actually measured waveform of correcting voltages, which are required at each of different temperatures, by a minimum resolution of D/A conversion; obtains voltage digital values representing voltage values at individual dividing points of the actually measured waveform, and obtains times corresponding to the voltage digital values; prestores pairs of the voltage digital values and times together with addresses as correcting data; reads out the correcting data in response to the detection address representing the temperature; extracts or calculates from the correcting data the voltage digital values and times about the correcting voltages required by the detection address; and sequentially supplying a D/A converter (36) with the resultant voltage digital values in synchronization with the corresponding times.
US07642870B2 Device and method for generating an adjustable chaotic signal
A device and method for generating an adjustable chaotic signal are provided. The chaotic signal generation device includes a plurality of triangle pulse train generators which generate a plurality of triangle waves having different frequency cycles, an adder which adds the triangle waves output from the triangle pulse train generators and outputs a noise signal, and a frequency modulator which converts the noise signal to a certain frequency band to output a chaotic signal. Accordingly, the power consumption and cost are reduced and the manufacture of the chaotic signal generation device is simplified due to the components integrated on an IC. Also, a plurality of users can use wireless communications in a particular wireless communications area.
US07642869B2 Clock generator
A clock generator includes a ring oscillator for outputting a basic signal, a divide-by-N frequency divider for dividing the basic signal by a division ratio N to generate a clock signal having a target frequency, a divide-by-two frequency divider for dividing the clock signal by two when an enable signal is on, a counter for counting the number of pulses of the basic signal for a predetermined period of time, a calculator for calculating the division ratio N, and a comparator for comparing a count value of the counter with a threshold value. When the count value of the counter is less than the threshold value, the comparator turns on the enable signal. Thus, when a temperature of the ring oscillator increases, the frequency of the clock signal is reduced to half the target frequency.
US07642864B2 Circuits and design structures for monitoring NBTI (negative bias temperature instability) effect and/or PBTI (positive bias temperature instability) effect
A ring oscillator has an odd number of NOR-gates greater than or equal to three, each with first and second input terminals, a voltage supply terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminals of all the NOR-gates are interconnected, and each of the NOR-gates has its output terminal connected to the second input terminal of an immediately adjacent one of the NOR-gates. During a stress mode, a voltage supply and control block applies a stress enable signal to the interconnected first input terminals, and an increased supply voltage to the voltage supply terminals. During a measurement mode, this block grounds the interconnected first input terminals, and applies a normal supply voltage to the voltage supply terminals. Also included are an analogous NAND-gate based circuit, a circuit combining the NAND- and NOR-aspects, a circuit with a ring oscillator where the inverters may be coupled directly or through inverting paths, and circuits for measuring the bias temperature instability effect in pass gates.
US07642861B2 Locked loop system
This disclosure relates to a phase locked loop and a frequency locked loop.
US07642860B2 Current pre-amplifier and associated current comparator
A current pre-amplifier with an input capable of receiving or supplying an input current with at least one pulse, wherein the pre-amplifier includes a regulated cascode stage including an input transistor and a first current generator as well as an output transistor and a second current generator. The pre-amplifier includes a detection device capable of detecting an input current pulse, and a feedback device capable of increasing the current supplied by the first and/or the second current generator during the entire detection of the input current pulse.
US07642859B2 Power amplifier
A power amplifier includes an amplification circuit, an input stage matching circuit, and an output stage matching circuit. The amplification circuit amplifies an input signal in each frequency band by an active element common to the signals in plural types of frequency bans, and outputs the amplified signal. The input stage matching circuit is disposed on an input side of the active element, and performs an impedance-matching between an output impedance of a circuit which supplies the signals of the plural types of frequency bands and an input impedance of the active element. The output stage matching circuit is disposed on an output side of the active element, and performs an impedance-matching between an input impedance of a circuit which receives the signals of the plural types of frequency bands outputted from the active element and an output impedance of the active element.
US07642857B2 Current limit circuit for compensating for output load mismatch of an RF power amplifier
An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing control of current consumption of a power amplifier. The power amplifier comprises an output stage for amplifying a RF signal, and the output stage is operably coupled to an output load. The power amplifier further comprises a bias circuit operably coupled to the output stage, wherein the bias circuit is capable of applying a bias voltage to the output stage. The power amplifier still further comprises a limit circuit operably coupled to the bias circuit for detecting an increase in the current of the output stage under an output load mismatch and in response, decreasing the bias voltage applied to the output stage.
US07642850B2 Feedforward linearization of RF power amplifiers
RF amplifier system (200) incorporating feedforward linearization. The system includes a digital waveform source (202) generating digital data s(t) representative of at least one analog signal. The system also includes a feedforward linearization circuit for reducing a distortion of an RF power amplifier (212). The feedforward linearization circuit includes a differential amplifier (230) arranged for generating an error signal. The error signal is determined based on a difference between the distorted RF output signal and an analog RF reference signal (229) generated from the digital data.
US07642849B2 Multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier
The invention relates to an amplifier capable of producing a plurality of currents at its output terminals, these currents being controlled by a plurality of input voltages. A multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier of the invention includes 4 signal input terminals, 4 signal output terminals, 4 active sub-circuits and a feedback network. Each active sub-circuit has a sub-circuit input terminal connected to one of the signal input terminals, a sub-circuit output terminal connected to one of the signal output terminals and a sub-circuit common terminal. The feedback network has terminals connected to the sub-circuit common terminal of each active sub-circuit. The feedback network presents, in a known frequency band, an impedance matrix producing a negative feedback such that the transfer admittance matrix of the multiple-input and multiple-output amplifier approximates a given admittance matrix.
US07642845B2 Circuit for creating tracking transconductors of different types
Systems and method for tracking different types of transconductance cells is shown and described. In these multi-cell systems, the addition of one or more tracking control modules allows circuit designers to advantageously incorporate multiple transconductor topologies and their uniquely beneficial characteristics into their designs, without eradicating its centralized multi-cell tuning functionality.
US07642844B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit for voltage detection
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, one or more wells formed in the semiconductor substrate, one or more diffusion layers formed in the one or more wells, a plurality of interconnects formed in an interconnect layer, the one or more diffusion layers and the plurality of interconnects being connected in series to provide a coupling between a first potential and a second potential, and a comparison circuit coupled to one of the interconnects set at a third potential between the first potential and the second potential, and configured to compare the third potential with a reference potential, wherein a first interconnect of the plurality of interconnects that is set to the first potential is connected to at least a first well of the one or more wells and connected to a first diffusion layer of the one or more diffusion layers that is formed in the first well.
US07642843B2 Reference voltage generating circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device
A reference voltage generating circuit comprises: a monitor circuit, including a low threshold voltage PMOS transistor, a low threshold voltage NMOS transistor, and a resistor having a predetermined resistance which are connected in series, for generating a reference voltage at one end; and an additional circuit for supplying a monitor current to the monitor circuit and for controlling the other end of the monitor circuit to be at a constant voltage, wherein a voltage value of the reference voltage is corrected within a range corresponding to a process fluctuation from a predetermined center value, based on the monitor current changing in response to the process fluctuation.
US07642841B2 Voltage supply insensitive bias circuits
A voltage-insensitive circuit includes a second circuit, and a biasing means for providing a constant bias current to the second circuit, the bias current being insensitive to power fluctuations of the voltage-insensitive circuit.
US07642836B2 Systems and methods for minimizing static leakage of an integrated circuit
A leakage manager system for adequately minimizing static leakage of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The leakage manager system includes a generator configured to generate a control signal to be applied to a sleep transistor. A monitor is configured to determine whether to adjust the control signal to adequately minimize the static leakage. In some embodiments, the monitor includes an emulated sleep transistor. A regulator is configured to adjust the control signal depending on the determination.
US07642835B1 System for substrate potential regulation during power-up in integrated circuits
An integrated circuit with body-bias inputs coordinated by a switch at initial power application. A switch coupled to the N-well bias and P-type substrate bias lines of an integrated circuit selectively couples the substrate to ground or the substrate bias supply, depending upon the state of the bias supply lines. During power-up and the initial application of the N-well bias, the substrate is coupled to ground to prevent a leakage induce rise in the substrate potential. Upon sensing the presence of the substrate bias potential on the substrate bias line, the switch couples the substrate to the substrate bias line instead of ground. In another embodiment, a switch indirectly senses the availability of the substrate bias potential by sensing a charge pump enable signal.
US07642834B2 Level shifter concept for fast level transient design
A driving circuit is provided by the present invention. The driving circuit includes a level shifter, a buffer and a switch. The switch is coupled between the level shifter and the buffer. While the level shifter is transiting, the switch is turned off, and the switch is turned on after the level shifter completes the transition. Therefore, the transition time of the level shifter is different from the transition time of the buffer so as to avoid simultaneously conducting large currents to adversely affect the transition capability of the level shifter.
US07642832B2 Clock generator with programmable non-overlapping-clock-edge capability
A system and method for generating and optimizing clock signals with non-overlapping edges on a chip using a unique programmable on-chip clock generator. Overlapping of the edges of the clocking signals is avoided by adjusting an amount of delay introduced in the on-chip clock generator circuit. The amount of delay is adjusted by programming the on-chip clock generator using either hardware and/or software programming. In hardware programming, the amount of delay adjusted by physically altering the composition of delay elements in the on-chip clock generator. In software programming, the delay is adjusted using software commands to control the operation of delay elements in the on-chip clock generator, or to select the paths that delay the signals.
US07642831B2 Phase shift circuit with lower intrinsic delay
A phase shift circuit that includes two, rather than four, delay chains and corresponding selectors is described. This provides a significant area savings and reduces the intrinsic delay of the phase shift circuit, which is particularly beneficial for embodiments in which there is no intrinsic delay matching. In one implementation, the phase shift circuit includes a first delay circuit and a matching delay circuit. The first delay circuit provides a first delay that includes a first intrinsic delay and a first intentional delay. The delay matching circuit provides a matching delay that matches the first intrinsic delay. In one implementation, the phase shift circuit also includes a second delay circuit to provide a second delay that includes a second intrinsic delay and second intentional delay, where the second intrinsic delay matches the first intrinsic delay and the second intentional delay is half as long as the first intentional delay.
US07642826B2 DLL circuit and semiconductor device having the same
A DLL circuit comprising: delay circuits which output first and second delayed clock signals obtained by delaying the reference clock signal by a delay times selected according to control signals; an interpolation circuit which interpolates a phase difference between the delayed clock signals to output an internal clock signal; an output circuit which generates a predetermined signal; a dummy output circuit which has the same transmission characteristics as the output circuit and outputs a feedback clock signal having the same phase as the predetermined signal; a phase comparison circuit which compares phases of the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal; delay control circuits which controls the control signals in a direction where both phases are equal; wherein the delay time of the second delayed clock signal is larger than the first delayed clock signal by an amount equivalent to one cycle of the reference clock signal.
US07642821B2 Method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal, and phase locked loop
A method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal is disclosed. One embodiment has a first synchronization part which has a bit pattern having a particular clock period, a pause whose length is a multiple of this clock period plus a fraction of the clock period, and a second synchronization part having the particular clock period. The method includes generating a phase difference signal which is proportional to a phase difference between the clock signal and the reference signal, filtering the phase difference signal and providing a filtered phase difference signal, driving a digital oscillator in such a manner that the frequency of the clock signal is changed on the basis of the filtered phase difference signal, the phase of the clock signal within a clock period being corrected by a value corresponding to the fraction of the clock period at an end of the pause in the reference signal.
US07642820B2 Triangle wave generator and spread spectrum control circuit thereof
A triangle wave generator with function of spreading frequency spectrum is provided. The triangle wave generator includes a switch control circuit, a current generator, an integrator, and a spread spectrum control circuit. The switch control circuit provides an internal clock and a switch control signal. The current generator is coupled to the switch control circuit and provides charge current according to the switch control signal. The integrator is coupled to the current generator and provides a triangle wave signal. The spread spectrum control circuit is coupled to the switch control circuit and the current generator for providing a current control signal according to the internal clock.
US07642819B1 High speed current mode write driver
An integrated circuit (100) includes a current mode write driver (105). The write driver (105) includes a switching control circuit (110) including (i) a DC current control circuit (111) operable to directly convert a received ECL differential signal into first, second, third and fourth DC output currents (a, b, c, and d) and (ii) a boost current control circuit (112) operable to directly convert a received level shifted version of the ECL differential voltage signal and a delayed version of the ECL differential voltage signal into first, second, third and fourth boost output currents (a1, b1, c1, and d1). An H-bridge circuit (120) includes an output stage (125) including first and second current sourcing control nodes (126, 127) and first and second current sinking control nodes (128, 129). A first output node (131) is between the first sourcing and first sinking nodes (126, 128) and second output node between the second sourcing and the second sinking nodes (127, 129). A first, second, third and fourth current mirror including input is coupled to sourcing or sinking control nodes (126, 127, 128, and 129) and are each operable to receive one of the DC output currents and one of the boost output currents for switchably delivering current diagonally through a load (145) connected between the output nodes (131, 132).
US07642816B2 Transconductor
A transconductor to convert an input voltage to an output current, includes: a primary transconductance stage to provide the output current from the input voltage and a driving current; an adaptive transconductance stage coupled in series with the primary transconductance stage to generate the driving current from the input voltage; and a bias circuit coupled to provide a primary bias voltage to the primary transconductance stage and an adaptive bias voltage to the adaptive transconductance stage.
US07642809B2 Die apparatus having configurable input/output and control method thereof
A metal configurable I/O structure for an integrated circuit is disclosed. The metal configurable I/O structure may be configured for one of any of a plurality of I/O specifications. Preferably a common voltage reference and a common current reference is generated for provision to a plurality of I/O structures.
US07642803B2 Address pin reduction mode circuit with parallel input for semiconductor memory device and test method using the same
Example embodiments of the present invention include an address pin reduction mode circuit with parallel inputs and a method for testing a semiconductor memory device in an address pin reduction mode based on parallel input-based addressing. A reduction in the number of address pins is achieved by use of a common pin for address pins and data enable/disable pins in the semiconductor memory device. The address pin reduction mode circuit with parallel inputs for a semiconductor memory device is capable of reducing test costs by performing tests in an address pin reduction mode based on parallel input-based addressing, as opposed to serial addressing. Even when the semiconductor memory device has more address pins, example embodiments may include a first switch formed to include two address channels coupled to two channels of the tester. A second switch may be coupled to two data enable/disable pins having respective connections to the two channels of the tester. The first and second switches are structured to select the address and data enable/disable signals from the tester responsive to a mode register set (MRS) code corresponding to a test mode. A third switch may be configured to select a chip enable signal /CE and transmit the chip enable signal /CE to a data enable/disable channel responsive to the MRS code when the second switch is off. An address coding unit may be configured to provide a coded address to the two address channels responsive to the MRS code when the first switch is off.
US07642802B2 Method and apparatus for cooling non-native instrument in automatic test equipment
An adapter frame is configured to receive a non-native test instrument module and is further configured for coupling within a test head of automatic semiconductor device test equipment. The adapter frame includes interfaces for operatively connecting the test instrument module to the test head using the existing slots of the test head. Interfaces may include mechanical interfaces, such as liquid cooling interfaces and other suitable interfaces. Additional software and/or hardware components may be included on the adapter frame to integrate the non-native test instrument module into the existing test equipment.
US07642799B2 Test chip socket and method for testing a chip
A test chip socket comprises a contact block fixed to a tester substrate, a tray mounted to the contact block, the tray having a convex part for positioning test target chips to a plurality of mount positions, and a plurality of probes each of which is held by the contact block and contacts the tester substrate and the test target chip, wherein each probe contacts with a terminal of each test target chip mounted to the mounting position when the tray mounting the plurality of the test target chip is fixed to the contact block.
US07642797B2 Power supply stabilizing circuit, an electronic device and a test apparatus
There is provided a power supply stabilizing circuit provided in a chip of an electronic device. The power supply stabilizing circuit stabilizes a power supply voltage supplied to an operational circuit of the electronic device, and includes a current bypass section that supplies a bypass current from an auxiliary power supply interconnection to a main power supply interconnection, where the main power supply interconnection supplies the power supply voltage to the operational circuit, and the auxiliary power supply interconnection is different from the main power supply interconnection, and a current control section that varies an amount of the bypass current supplied by the current bypass section to the main power supply interconnection in accordance with a predetermined current variation pattern, under an external control, during an operation of the operational circuit.
US07642787B2 Automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic device
An automotive vehicle electrical system diagnostic apparatus includes first and second electrical connections configured to electrically couple to an electrical system of an automotive vehicle which includes a battery. Digital samples are obtained during operation of the vehicle which are related to the system. The digital samples are stored in memory.
US07642786B2 Battery tester capable of identifying faulty battery post adapters
An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery. The tester includes a first connector configured to electrically couple to a first terminal of the battery via a first battery post adapter and a second connector configured to electrically couple to a second terminal of the battery via a second battery post adapter. The tester also includes an input configured to receive a battery-post-adapter-connection indicator. Test circuitry, which is coupled to the input, upon receipt of the battery-post-adapter-connection indicator, determines whether or not the first battery post adapter and the second battery post adapter are faulty.
US07642785B2 Method and device for complex permittivity measurements as a function of frequency
An apparatus for use in a system that includes a network analyzer for determining a property, such as dielectric permittivity of a sample material as a function of frequency, the apparatus including: a cylindrical chamber for receiving the sample; a coaxial connector having a first relatively small diameter end coupleable with the analyzer and a second relatively large diameter end communicating with a side of the cylindrical chamber, the connector having inner and outer coaxial conductors; the inner conductor of the connector having a diameter that tapers outwardly from the first end to the second end, and the outer conductor of the connector having an inner surface whose diameter tapers outwardly from the first end to the second end. The chamber can accommodate relatively large samples, such as standard earth formation coring samples.
US07642784B2 Electromagnetic survey system with multiple sources
Multiple sources are provided for a transmitter cable for use in electromagnetic surveying. The transmitter cable includes a dipole antenna comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes mounted on their respective cables. Two antennas may be powered from each source. Alternatively, the outputs of each source are connected to a common antenna pair. A single large power supply may be mounted on a vessel to supply power through the tow cable. Alternatively, a number of power supplies may be provided aboard the vessel, with each power supply having dedicated conductors through the tow cable to power the plurality of current sources.
US07642780B2 Magnetic resonance system with radio-frequency shield with frequency-dependent shielding effect
A magnetic resonance system has a basic magnet that generates a static basic magnetic field in an examination volume, and a whole-body antenna that emits a homogeneous radio-frequency field in the examination volume, the homogeneous radio-frequency field exhibiting an excitation frequency so that nuclei in an examination subject in the examination volume are excited to emit magnetic resonance signals, and a radio-frequency shield. The radio-frequency shield is arranged between the whole-body antenna and the basic magnet. The whole-body antenna is arranged between the radio-frequency shield and the examination volume. The radio-frequency shield is fashioned to exhibit a high shielding effect in a shielding frequency range that encompasses the excitation frequency. The shielding effect drops to a significantly lower shielding effect on both sides at side bands adjoining the shielding frequency range. The shielding frequency range and the side bands exhibit bandwidths that are significantly smaller than the excitation frequency.
US07642778B2 MRI apparatus
An MRI apparatus for performing an MRI examination to an object by sequentially applying an imaging method group, which is constituted by time-sequentially arranging a plurality of different imaging methods, to each of the imaging methods, has an imaging method group setting unit, a performing order setting unit and an imaging condition setting unit. The imaging method group setting unit sets the imaging method group. The performing order setting unit sets a performing order as a performing order of the imaging methods constituting the imaging method group. The imaging condition setting unit sets an imaging condition to each of the imaging methods. The workflow setting unit obtains an examination history data corresponding to the imaging method group, the performing order and the imaging condition from the examination history data previously stored to a storage unit, and sets a first workflow relating to the MRI examination by estimating an imaging time of each of the imaging methods in the performing order based on the obtained examination history data.
US07642776B2 Method to determine an acquisition sequence in an imaging method for generation of 2D slice images
In a method for determination of an acquisition sequence for slice plane data of slice planes of an examination subject, the slice plane data are acquired with measurement sequences that each includes a preparation phase and a measurement phase temporally separated from the preparation phase. For n slice planes and a set of sequence parameters that include at least the parameters TRmin: minimal repetition time between two measurement sequences of the same slice plane and TRmax: maximum repetition time between two measurement sequences of the same slice plane, a periodic acquisition scheme that, temporally expanded, is [TRi, TR]-compatible to the k-th degree and has k streams. The association of the n slice planes with the k streams of the acquisition scheme and the order of the slice planes within the respective streams are determined by mixed-integer linear program.
US07642774B2 Method for fast measurement of the saturation and the resistivity of a porous medium
A method for measuring the conducting fluid saturation and the resistivity of a porous medium have application to development of underground geological formations. A solid sample is extracted from the medium and placed in a centrifugation cell, beside a second sample for limiting the capillary end effect in the first sample. The two samples are partly desaturated by subjecting them to centrifugation. The resistivity of the sample is measured by placing it in a radial-electrode resistivity measurement cell. The saturation of the sample is then determined by measuring its nuclear magnetization by means of an NMR device. Repeating this procedure for different centrifugation velocities provides resistivity and saturation pairs allowing a relationship between saturation and resistivity to be estimated.
US07642773B2 Magnetic sensor, production method thereof, rotation detection device, and position detection device
A one-chip type magnetic sensor is provided in which thin-film anisotropic magnetoresistance elements are formed on an IC substrate. Applied magnetic fields can be detected in the magnetic sensor in vertical and horizontal directions, and detection sensitivity can be adjusted with respect to direction. The influence on a magnetic-sensitive property can be suppressed when another magnetic field is applied from another direction. A semiconductor substrate, lead frame, and lead frame(s) are accommodated in a package in the magnetic sensor. Thin-film magnetoresistance elements are formed on the substrate, which includes an electric circuit having comparison and amplification functions. The lead frame is used to mount the semiconductor substrate thereon. The lead frames are connected to the semiconductor substrate, which is attached to a semiconductor attachment surface. The lead frame has a structure in which the semiconductor attachment surface is inclined with respect to a package surface by bending the lead frame.
US07642772B1 Non-contact method and apparatus for measurement of leakage current of p-n junctions in IC product wafers
A non-contact apparatus and method for measuring of the leakage current and capacitance of p-n junctions in test structures within scribe lanes of IC product wafers is disclosed. The apparatus comprises of a light source optically coupled with a fiber to a transparent electrode at the end of the fiber, which is brought close to the p-n junction under test. The ac signal generated from the test p-n junction is captured by this transparent and conducting coating electrode. The leakage current of a test p-n junction is determined using the frequency dependence of junction photo-voltage signal and reference signals from a p-n junction with low leakage current and known capacitance.
US07642765B2 Monolithic miniature voltage converter with very low input voltage
A DC voltage conversion device including a DC/DC converter and an energy reservoir capable of providing a starting voltage to the DC/DC converter.
US07642762B2 Current source with indirect load current signal extraction
A switching circuit for supplying current to a load has a switching element, an inductive element coupled to the switching element, and a load current extraction circuit responsive to current in the inductive element for producing a load current signal as a simulated current approximating current in the load.
US07642761B2 Power supply circuit
A power supply circuit includes a standard voltage generator; a regulator to control an output voltage, and to be capable of being switched ON/OFF; a capacitor in parallel between the standard voltage generator and the regulator; a discharging circuit including a first switch and a second switch configured to discharge electrical charges from the capacitor via the second switch while the regulator is in an OFF state; and a starting controller configured to transmit a signal for controlling the first switch and the second switch. The first switch is connected in series between the standard voltage generator and the regulator. The second switch has one end connected to a connection node between the first switch and the regulator, and has another end connected to a ground. When the first switch is in OFF state, the second switch is turned to ON state while the regulator is in OFF state.
US07642760B2 Power supply circuit
The disclosure concerns a power supply circuit comprising a voltage converter receiving an external voltage and outputting an internal voltage; a first switch and a second switch connected between an output of the voltage converter and a constant voltage source; a resistor provided between the first switch and the second switch, and dividing the internal voltage; a comparator including a first input unit, a second input, and an output which is connected to the voltage converter; a reference voltage source supplying a reference voltage to the first input; a feedback feeding back a voltage divided by the resistor to the second input from a node between the first switch and the second switch; a setting voltage source, to the second input; a third switch connected between the setting voltage source and the second input; and a control signal generator controlling the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch.
US07642758B2 Power conversion regulator with predictive energy balancing
A power-conversion regulator comprising an inductive reactor, an output filter reactor, and a switch for admitting energy to the inductive reactor, additionally comprises computation circuitry responsive to the flux in the inductive reactor, to a reference signal, to an output voltage, and sometimes to an output load current, for computing the quantity of energy that must be supplied to a load and to the output filter reactor to regulate the output voltage or current to a desired relationship with the reference signal during each chopping waveform cycle driving the switch. As the inductive reactor is charged from an input energy source, the computation circuitry predicts whether the energy in the inductive reactor has become adequate for the regulation.
US07642756B2 Electric power generating system
An electric power generating system connectable to a reconfigurable power distribution network, and wherein a number of alternators, driven by internal combustion engines running at different speeds ω1, ω2, . . . , ωn, supply alternating voltages to rectifiers (14) generating rectified voltages V(r1), V(r2), . . . , V(rn) which are maintained substantially equal.
US07642754B2 Method of forming a voltage regulator and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a voltage regulator uses a first current to charge a by-pass capacitor for a first time period and uses a second current after the first time period.
US07642752B2 Method of determining a frequency interval containing a resonance frequency of a rechargeable battery
Disclosed is a method of determining a resonance frequency interval containing the resonance frequency of a rechargeable battery. The method comprises applying periodic current or voltage signals of different frequencies in succession to a battery cell of the battery. The method also comprises measuring of the temperatures of the battery cell occurring for the different frequencies. In addition, the method comprises comparing of the temperatures, and subsequent selection of an initial frequency of the different frequencies as a first interval value of the resonance frequency interval and a second frequency of the different frequencies as a second interval value of the resonance frequency interval based on the comparison of the temperatures.
US07642751B2 Prefabricated PCM and battery pack containing the same
Disclosed herein is a protection circuit module (PCM) including a protection circuit for controlling overcharge, overdischarge, and overcurrent of a battery. The protection circuit module includes a pair of connecting members, which are mounted to a rectangular lower end of the PCM and electrically connected to a protection circuit, and a pair of coupling members coupled to the corresponding connecting members while plate-shaped electrode terminals of a battery cell are interposed between the connecting members and the coupling members, and a battery pack including the protection circuit module, which is electrically connected to a battery cell. According to the present invention, a welding or soldering process, which requires a large amount of time and a high degree of technical skill to manufacture a battery pack, is not necessary, the coupling force between the battery cell and the PCM is increased, and the inner space of the battery pack is maximally utilized.
US07642739B2 Device and method for controlling motor
A speed direction corrector determines whether a speed Vp corresponding to a manipulated variable Up generated by a position controller is larger than a target speed Vt set in a target speed setting register (Vp>Vt). If Vp≦Vt, the manipulated variable corresponding to the target speed Vt is corrected to the manipulated variable Up to produce a new manipulated variable Uf. If Vp>Vt, a manipulated variable corresponding to the target speed Vt is set to the new manipulated variable Uf as is. As above, in a deceleration section where Vp≦Vt, the manipulated variable of a position control is reflected in the manipulated variable of a speed control. Combined use of the speed control and the position control becomes possible without a need to execute a complicated process in which the manipulated variable is regulated at the time of switching from the speed control to the position control.
US07642723B2 Vehicular lamp lighting circuit
A vehicular lamp lighting circuit includes a control unit configured to control an electric current that flows to a light source unit. The control unit has an electric current supply section configured to output the electric current to the light source unit, a switching controller configured to compare, with a reference voltage, and to control, by switching, the electric current that is outputted from the electric current supply section, an output current detection section configured to detect the electric current that flows into the light source unit, and a voltage transform circuit configured to transform an electric potential difference that arises from the electric current that flows into the output current detection section into a difference voltage and to output the difference voltage thus converted to the switching controller.
US07642721B2 High pressure discharge lamp
A high pressure discharge lamp can be used in a vehicle lighting device as a light source in place of a halogen lamp, and can be driven with a reduced starting voltage while being miniaturized. A gas is filled in a space between an arc tube and an outer tube of the high pressure discharge lamp, the gas being capable of dielectric barrier discharge, to reduce the starting voltage. A metal conductor is arranged in the space between the arc tube and the outer tube to stabilize the starting voltage and perform other functions. The metal conductor can also serve as a lead line. Accordingly, high voltage portions of the lamp are not exposed outside of the outer tube. This can reduce the entire size of the high pressure discharge lamp such that a housing for a headlight using a halogen lamp can be used for this type of high pressure discharge lamp.
US07642719B2 Energy efficient fluorescent lamp having an improved starting assembly and preferred method for manufacturing
A discharge lamp having a starting assembly is provided for use with existing high frequency electronic ballasts. The lamp comprises a light-transmissive envelope and has a discharge sustaining fill of an inert gas mixture of krypton and argon. The starting assembly comprises at least one conductive path attached to the outside or inside surface of the envelope or embedded in the envelope.
US07642715B2 Light-emitting device comprising an improved gas barrier layer, method for manufacturing light-emitting device, and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting device includes a base; a plurality of first electrodes; a partition having a plurality of openings located at positions corresponding to the first electrodes; organic functional layers each arranged in the corresponding openings; a second electrode covering the partition and the organic functional layers; an organic buffer layer covering the second electrode; a gas barrier layer covering the organic buffer layer; and an intermediate protective layer, disposed between the organic buffer layer and the gas barrier layer, having an elasticity which is greater than that of the organic buffer layer and which is less than that of the gas barrier layer. These layers and electrodes are arranged on or above the base.
US07642710B2 Pixel structure for an OLED provided with a redundant active device connected to a pixel electrode and a current control unit
A pixel structure electrically connected to a scan line, a data line and a power line is provided. The pixel structure includes a current control unit, a pixel electrode and a redundant active device. The current control unit is electrically connected to the scan line, the data line and the power line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the current control unit. The redundant active device is electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the current control unit, and the redundant active device is electrically insulated from the power line. Moreover, an organic electro-luminescence displaying unit and a repairing method thereof are further provided.
US07642707B2 Electroluminescent device with a light conversion element
The invention relates to a light source to emit a mixture of primary and secondary light comprising an electroluminescent device like a light emitting diode LED or a laser, to emit the primary light into a light conversion element (3) to convert the primary light into the secondary light, where a first part of the primary light is emitted along a light path with a first conversion factor (11) for the primary light, and a second part of the primary light is emitted along a light path with a second conversion factor (12) for the primary light larger than the first conversion factor.
US07642705B2 Electron emission device and method of manufacturing the same
An electron emission device and a method of manufacturing the same. The electron emission device of the present invention includes at least one anode formed on one side of a substrate, and a light emitter including a plurality of multiple divided phosphor layers formed on the anode at predetermined intervals. At least one of the phosphor layers has at least one partition pattern. The phosphor layer structure of the present invention is capable of maintaining superior color coordinate characteristics and greatly improving luminance characteristics.
US07642700B2 Flat-panel type display and spacer
A flat-panel type display is provided, in which a marginal portion of a cathode panel provided with a plurality of electron emission regions and a marginal portion of an anode panel provided with luminescent layers and an anode are bonded to each other, spacers are disposed between the cathode panel and the anode panel, and a space sandwiched between the cathode panel and the anode panel is maintained under vacuum. The spacer includes a substrate of spacer and an antistatic coating disposed on the side surface of the spacer material, wherein the antistatic coating is formed from germanium nitride containing no transition metal, the thickness of the antistatic coating is within the range of 2 nm to 20 nm, and the volume resistivity of the substrate of spacer is within the range of 5×106 Ω·m to 2×108 Ω·m.
US07642699B2 Electronic-component container and piezoelectric resonator device
An electronic-component container is provided in which a metal lid is bonded with an insulating package. The container comprises the insulating package having a housing portion for housing an electronic component element having an electrical function, a metallized sealing portion formed around the housing portion and hermetically bonded with the metal lid, and a castellation having a terminal electrode formed at a side end portion thereof, and the metal lid formed in a shape as viewed from the top which is substantially equal to a shape as viewed from the top of the insulating package, wherein a brazing material is formed on a lower surface of the metal lid, and the brazing material is provided with a welding portion which is bonded with the metallized sealing portion inside the castellation when the metal lid is bonded with the insulating package.
US07642695B2 Piezoelectric thin-film resonator
A piezoelectric thin-film resonator and a method of manufacturing thereof eliminate and prevent breaking of a piezoelectric thin film, disconnection of electrodes, and other known problems. The piezoelectric thin-film resonator includes a substrate and a suspended portion including a vibrating portion in which a piezoelectric thin film is disposed between a pair of excitation electrodes. At least two film-like supports partially supported on the substrate are provided. The suspended portion is supported by the supports so as to be suspended above the substrate with an air-gap layer therebetween.
US07642687B2 Short-circuit member for a commutator and an armature
The number of conductor members in a first conductor member group and the number of conductor members in a second conductor member group are equal to each other and are odd numbers. An inner terminal of each conductor member is displaced from an outer terminal of the same conductor member by 90 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the corresponding conductor member group. Each outer terminal of the first conductor member group is displaced from a corresponding one of the outer terminals of the second conductor member with respect to the circumferential direction of the first conductor member group.
US07642685B2 Induction machine
An electric rotating machine comprises: a stator in which a coil is wound on a plurality of teeth in concentrated winding, and the coil is connected to a three-phase power supply; and a rotor disposed in opposition to the teeth of the stator; wherein a ratio between the number of poles and the number of slots of the stator is 1:3. There is no higher harmonics of magnetomotive force in low order close to fundamental wave, thus enabling efficient operation of the electric rotating machine. Furthermore, owing to the stator of concentrated winding, it is possible to provide an electric rotating machine of high productivity with small coil end, high mass production, and high space factor.
US07642679B2 Drive unit for hand-held power tool
A drive unit (2) for a hand-held power tool includes a stator (8) located in the drive unit housing (6), an end member (12) provided at each of the opposite ends (10) of the stator (8), a rotor (14) provided with at least one permanent magnet (16), arranged in a receiving space (20) limited by the stator (8) and the end members (12), and the rotatably supported by a drive axle (18) on the end members (12); and a fan (22) rotatably connected with the drive axle (18) for generating a cooling flow (K) from one stator end (10) to another stator end (10) between an inner surface (26) of the drive unit housing (6) and an outer surface (28) of the stator (8) for cooling the stator (8) and the drive unit, with the stator outer surface (28) being provided with a plurality of deflection surfaces (32) extending transverse to the longitudinal extent (L) of the stator (8).
US07642678B2 Linear motor and machine tool having the same mounted thereon
The present invention provides a linear motor 1 which uses a plurality of cylindrical linear motors 2 to increase power and which can guide forward and backward movements using a simple configuration, the linear motor 1 requiring reduced manufacturing costs. A plurality of cylindrical linear motors 2 are provided each of which has a shaft member 3 made of a permanent magnet and a coil unit 4. A motor support 25 is provided which is able to support the coil units of the plurality of cylindrical linear motors 2 arranged in parallel. The shaft members of the plurality of cylindrical linear motors 2 are coupled together at ends thereof by coupling members 10, 11. A guide mechanism 32 is located inside the arrangement of the cylindrical linear motors 2 to guide movement of the shaft members 3 of the cylindrical linear motors 2. The number of guide mechanisms 32 is smaller than that of the cylindrical linear motors 2. For example, the single guide mechanism 32 is provided.
US07642677B2 Controlling inrush current from a power supply to a load
Apparatus (100) for controlling inrush current from a power supply (250) to a load (255), the apparatus comprising a first (105a) and a second (105b) power supply input and a first (110a) and a second (110b) load output, a semiconductor device (115) coupled between the first power supply input (105a) and the first load output (110a), a control circuit (120) having a control circuit input (125) coupled to the first load output (110a) and a control circuit output (130) coupled to a conductance control node (135) of the semiconductor device (115), wherein, in use, when a load (255) is connected across the first load output (110a) and the second load output (110b), the control circuit (120) provides a control signal to the conductance control node (130) to thereby progressively vary the conductance of the semiconductor device (115) from a low conductance state to a high conductance state in response to a load signal being provided to the control circuit input (125) indicating that a load current (Isd) flowing through the semiconductor device (115) has exceeded a pre-determined threshold.
US07642676B2 Contact verification method for a transfer switch mechanism
An algorithm for verifying the state of switches (such as in a transfer switch mechanism) and for controlling the switches. The control algorithm controls automatic actuation of the switches. The verification algorithm measures the instantaneous voltage on the source and load sides of one or both switches and calculates the RMS magnitude, period, and relative phase for each voltage measurement. If the voltage characteristics for the load do not match any of those for any source, an error is outputted. If the voltage characteristics of the sources match each other, the algorithm determines that they are synchronized. The algorithm determines which switch is closed by comparing the voltage characteristics of the load and of each source, and if there is a match, then the switch associated with the source that is matched with the load is determined to be closed. Otherwise, the switch is determined to be opened.
US07642672B2 Control of integrated supply voltage regulation due to on-chip internal resistance fluctuations in integrated circuits
The effects of power supply resistance and internal resistance drop are measured at any time in the interior or other strategic areas of an IC device during steady-state operation, and the results of managed internal voltage regulation are fed back from at least one point, but preferably from several or more points throughout the power grid of the IC. Thus, stability of voltage regulation on an IC including at least one integrated voltage regulator is dynamically controlled with voltage regulation that is managed to effectively provide a ‘secondary’ voltage regulation of the output of one or more voltage regulators to provide a desired voltage output result on one or more portions of a power grid. The management may be implemented in an IC having a singular power grid with respect to a particular supply voltage, or in an IC having multiple power grid structures (e.g., one in each quadrant, etc.).
US07642671B2 Power supply system providing two output voltages
A power supply system. The power supply system may have a power circuit having a switch and adapted to generate a first output voltage and a second output voltage, depending on the state of the switch. It also includes an output connector coupled to the power circuit, where the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A voltage output indicator device is coupled to the first and second electrical contacts. The voltage output indicator device indicates that the power circuit is producing the first output voltage or the second output voltage, so that the user is aware of the voltage being output by the power supply system.
US07642668B2 Power transmission apparatus for wind generator
Disclosed is a power transmission apparatus for a wind generator having an electric generator connected to an apparatus rotor by a main shaft. The electric generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator. The electric generator may be assembled to the main shaft via the generator rotor, but the generator stator is not assembled to the main shaft. Instead, the generator stator is connected to a stator housing fixed to bearing housings respectively provided on a pair of bearings disposed on an outer surface of a rotor bearing. The rotor bearing is disposed perpendicular to a vertical rotor frame, is formed integrally with the generator rotor, and is connected to an outer surface of the main shaft. The apparatus permits the generator stator to be assembled with a circumference of the generator rotor. The apparatus provides increased convenience and efficiency in assembly.
US07642667B2 Wind power installation with ring generator having a stator with grooves to receive a stator winding
A synchronous machine has a stator in which grooves are provided at the inner or outer periphery in mutually spaced relationship to receive a stator winding. The synchronous machine may be in the form of a ring generator used in a wind power installation, for example. In order to provide a stator having a winding, in which the susceptibility to trouble as a consequence of the high loading on the generator is substantially reduced, the stator winding is wound without interruption continuously throughout.
US07642665B2 Portable generator housing
A portable genset with an engine driving a generator mounted to a frame and positioned within an enclosure. The enclosure includes front and rear hoods that are hingedly mounted adjacent opposite ends of the genset. The hoods may be hinged open to permit access to either of the engine or the generator. The genset may also include a tongue with a hitch mounted an outer end permitting the genset to be towed. The tongue may be movable between an extended position and a generally vertical position.
US07642664B1 Transient energy systems and methods for use of the same
This disclosure relates to transient energy systems for supplying power to a load substantially instantaneously on demand. Transient energy systems may include a flywheel coupled the rotor of an induction motor generator. One embodiment of the disclosure refers to systems and methods for reducing loads on a bearing in a transient energy system. In another embodiment, the disclosure refers to an induction motor generator that is optimized for high power transient power generation, yet low power motor operation. Yet another embodiment of the disclosure refers to using a flywheel as a drag pump to cool components of a transient energy system. In yet another embodiment, a slip control scheme is discussed for regulating a DC bus. In yet a further embodiment of the disclosure a method is provided for reducing unnecessary turbine starts by making turbine start a function of the rotational velocity of a flywheel.
US07642654B2 Multilayer wiring structure of semiconductor device, method of producing said multilayer wiring structure and semiconductor to be used for reliability evaluation
A multilayer wiring structure of a semiconductor device having a stacked structure is arranged to restrain reliability degradation due to stress applied to the region of wiring between opposite upper and lower plugs. The rate of overlap of contact surface between upper plug and wiring on contact surface between lower plug and wiring, is small to the extent that no void is generated. The multilayer wiring structure is produced such that no grain boundary is contained in the region of wiring between upper and lower plugs. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the material of wiring and the material of upper and lower plugs, is small to the extent that no void is generated.
US07642649B2 Support structure for low-k dielectrics
A semiconductor device employs a support structure to mitigate damage to dielectric layers having a low dielectric constant (k). The semiconductor device includes at least one inter-level dielectric layer (ILD) comprising a material having a low dielectric constant (k), and at least one support structure disposed within the low-k dielectric layer. The support structure mitigates damage of the semiconductor device by providing a mechanically stable interface between two layers in the semiconductor device.
US07642645B2 Systems and methods for aligning wafers or substrates
Systems and methods for aligning substrates that include microstructures. The microstructures may be electronic or micromechanical components. The system includes a first substrate having a first alignment structure and a second substrate having a second alignment structure. The substrates are positioned so that the first alignment structure contacts the second alignment structure without the substrates directly contacting each other, and one of the substrates is adjusted in relation to the other substrate until the first and second alignment structures lock into place. After alignment, the microstructures on the first substrate and the second substrate may establish a connection with or be positioned in near proximity to each other.
US07642643B2 Apparatus for molding a semiconductor die package with enhanced thermal conductivity
A method and apparatus for assembling and packaging semiconductor die assemblies utilizes a coating element such as a wafer back side laminate formed on a back side of a semiconductor die is disclosed. The coating element may be formed from a somewhat compressible and, optionally, resilient material, which seals against a surface of a mold cavity while the semiconductor die assembly is being encapsulated. In this manner, the coating element prevents encapsulant material from covering at least a portion of the back side of the semiconductor die to prevent encapsulant flashing over the back side and thus improve heat dissipation characteristics of the packaged semiconductor die during operation.
US07642639B2 COB type IC package to enhanced bondibility of bumps embedded in substrate and method for fabricating the same
An IC package to enhance the bondibility of embedded bumps, primarily includes a substrate having a plurality of bump-accommodating holes, a bumped chip, an encapsulant, and a plurality of external terminals. The substrate further has a plurality of inner pads at one ends of the bump-accommodating holes respectively. The inner pads may be meshed or a soldering layer is disposed thereon for improving bump connection. The chip is attached to the substrate with the bumps aligned and embedded in the corresponding bump-accommodating holes. The encapsulant is at least formed on a lower surface of the substrate to encapsulate the meshes or the soldering layer. By the suspended meshes or/and the soldering layer, the bumps can be easily bonded at lower temperatures to simplify the manufacturing process with shorter electrical conductive paths and thinner package profiles without wire sweeping.
US07642635B2 Stacked semiconductor package
A stacked semiconductor package comprises two semiconductor chips (11, 12) each of which has a mounting surface provided with a plurality of chip pins arranged in a predetermined pattern. The semiconductor chips are mounted on opposite surfaces of a substrate (13) so that the mounting surfaces are faced to each other through the substrate. The substrate is provided with a plurality of package pins formed in an area other than a chip mounting area and arranged in a pattern identical to the predetermined pattern. A pair of the corresponding chip pins of the semiconductor chips are connected to a via formed at an intermediate position therebetween by the use of branch wires equal in length to each other. The via is connected by a common wire to the package pin corresponding to the chip pins connected to the via.
US07642633B2 Semiconductor device including capsule type semiconductor package and semiconductor chip in stacking manner
An interposer substrate having electrodes on the front surface and on the rear surface thereof, respectively, is prepared, and at least one memory chip having electrodes connected to an internal circuit is prepared. Then, the rear surface of the memory chip is bonded to the front surface of the interposer substrate, and the memory chip is sealed to the front surface of the interposer substrate to constitute an encapsulated capsule type semiconductor package. On the other hand, a logic chip is prepared. Further, a main substrate is prepared in which electrodes are formed on the front surface and on the rear surface, respectively, and desired internal connections are provided between these electrodes. Then, the capsule type semiconductor package and the logic chip are laminated on the main substrate, and desired connections are provided between the electrodes on the rear surface of the interposer substrate of the capsule type semiconductor package, the electrodes of the logic chip and the electrodes on the front surface of the main substrate. The capsule type semiconductor package and the logic chip are sealed to the front surface of the main substrate by a resin to obtain a system-in-package type semiconductor device.
US07642631B2 Packaged semiconductor chip comprising an integrated circuit chip ablated with laser and cut with saw blade from wafer
A packaged semiconductor chip comprising an integrated circuit chip including a low-k dielectric layer and a chip substrate, wherein an edge of the integrated circuit chip has a first edge portion and a second edge portion. At least part of the first edge portion being across a same level as the low-k dielectric layer, and the first edge portion having been laser ablated to have a series of rounded recesses formed therein. The second edge portion being across a same level as at least part of the chip substrate, and the second edge portion having a different surface texture than that of the first edge portion. The packaged semiconductor chip also comprises a packaging substrate having the integrated circuit chip attached and a plurality of solder bumps electrically connecting between the packaging substrate and the integrated circuit chip.
US07642628B2 MEMS packaging with improved reaction to temperature changes
A large-scale MEMS device includes a MEMS die supported by at least one compliant die mount. The compliant die mount couples the MEMS die to a support structure. The support structure is positioned within a package. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the package is substantially symmetrical about the MEMS die. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the support structure and/or the package is designed to have a neutral bend axis along the MEMS die.
US07642626B2 Semiconductor devices including mesa structures and multiple passivation layers
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor structure defining a mesa having a mesa surface and mesa sidewalls, and first and second passivation layers. The first passivation layer may be on at least portions of the mesa sidewalls, at least a portion of the mesa surface may be free of the first passivation layer, and the first passivation layer may include a first material. The second passivation layer may be on the first passivation layer, at least a portion of the mesa surface may be free of the second passivation layer, and the second passivation layer may include a second material different than the first material.
US07642618B2 Semiconductor devices with inductors
Semiconductor devices are provided with high performance high-frequency circuits in which interference caused by inductors is reduced. In a semiconductor device including a modulator circuit to modulate a carrier wave by a base band signal to output an RF signal and a demodulator circuit to demodulate the RF signal by use of the carrier wave to gain the base band signal and a local oscillator to generate the carrier wave, inductors respectively having a closed loop wire are adopted. Interference caused by mutual inductance is reduced by the closed loop wire. For example, where inductors are adopted in the modulator circuit, a closed loop wire is disposed around the outer periphery of the inductors.
US07642617B2 Integrated circuit with depletion mode JFET
An integrated circuit having an n-channel MOSFET device and a JFET device. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor layer having an upper surface, an MOS transistor device formed in a doped well of a first conductivity type extending from the semiconductor upper surface and a JFET device. The JFET device includes a channel region in the semiconductor layer spaced from, and having a peak concentration positioned a predetermined distance below, the upper surface. An associated method of manufacturing includes introducing p-type dopant into the semiconductor surface to form a p-well in which the NMOS device is formed and a source and a drain of the JFET device. N-type dopant is introduced into the semiconductor surface to form an n-type region of the NMOS device below the p-well and a gate region of the JFET device. P-type dopant is introduced into the semiconductor layer to simultaneously form a higher concentration p-type region in the p-well of the NMOS device and a channel region extending between the source and drain of the JFET.
US07642614B2 Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing the same
Channel stop sections are formed by multiple times of impurity ion implanting processes. Four-layer impurity regions are formed across the depth of a semiconductor substrate (across the depth of the bulk), so that a P-type impurity region is formed deep in the semiconductor substrate; thus, incorrect movement of electric charges is prevented. Other four-layer impurity regions of another channel stop section are decreased in width step by step across the depth of the substrate, so that the reduction of a charge storage region of a light receiving section due to the dispersion of P-type impurity in the channel stop section is prevented in the depth of the substrate.
US07642608B2 Dual isolation for image sensors
Methods, methods of making, devices, and systems for image sensors that include isolation regions are disclosed. A semiconductor imager includes a pixel array and peripheral circuitry arranged on at least one side of the pixel array. Array devices are formed as part of the pixel array and periphery devices are formed in the periphery. Array isolation regions are disposed around at least a portion of at least some of the array devices and periphery isolation regions are disposed around at least a portion of at least some of the periphery devices. Within the semiconductor imager, the periphery isolation regions are configured differently from the array isolation regions. The semiconductor image sensor may be included in as part of an imaging system that includes a processor.
US07642605B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a glass substrate having a main surface, a polysilicon film formed on the main surface, having a channel region formed and having a source region and a drain region formed on opposing sides of the channel region, a gate insulating film provided so as to be in contact with the polysilicon film and containing oxygen, and a gate electrode provided in a position facing the channel region with the gate insulating film being interposed. The polysilicon film has a thickness larger than 50 nm and not larger than 150 nm. The polysilicon film contains hydrogen in a proportion not smaller than 0.5 atomic percent and not larger than 10 atomic percent. With such a structure, a semiconductor device attaining a large drain current and having a desired electric characteristic is provided.
US07642601B2 Method of designing semiconductor integrated circuit device and semiconductor integrated circuit device
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method of designing the same, design information about circuit cells each having a desired function are described as objects according to selected purposes. The pieces of design information are registered in a cell library as cell information capable of forming any of substrate potential fixed cells and substrate potential variable cells. Further, a data sheet common to the substrate potential fixed cell and the substrate potential variable cell is offered to a user, so that the user is able to make a selection according to the user's purposes. The substrate potential fixed cells and the substrate potential variable cells are mixed together on a semiconductor chip so as to be properly used according to the functions or the like of circuit portions in which the cells are used.
US07642593B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method of fabricating the same
a nonvolatile memory device Includes an active region defined in a semiconductor substrate and a control gate electrode crossing over the active region. A gate insulating layer is interposed between the control gate electrode and the active reigon. A floating gate is formed in the active region to penetrate the control gate electrode and extend to a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate. A tunnel insulating layer is successively interposed between the control gate electrode and the floating gate, and between the semiconductor substrate and the floating gate. The floating gate may be formed after a trench is formed by sequentially etching a control gate conductive layer and the semiconductor substrate, and a tunnel insulating layer is formed on the trench and sidewalls of the control gate conductive layer. The floating gate is formed in the trench to extend into a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate.
US07642591B2 Multi-resistive integrated circuit memory
A capacitor for use in integrated circuits comprises a layer of conductive material. The layer of conductive material including at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged in a predetermined pattern relative to one another to provide a maximum amount of capacitance per semiconductor die area.
US07642583B2 Ferroelectric memory device
A ferroelectric memory device having plural memory cells, each composed of a memory cell transistor and a memory cell capacitor including a lower electrode that is independent for each memory cell capacitor, a ferroelectric layer formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode layer formed on the ferroelectric layer. A plurality of the upper electrode layers are connected together and constitute a plate electrode, and the width of the upper electrode is narrower than the width of the ferroelectric layer. Accordingly, by making the width of the upper electrode narrower than the width of the ferroelectric layer, it is possible to prevent current leakage between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, which reduces the placement interval of the memory cell capacitors without causing current leakage between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and results in a smaller memory cell size.
US07642582B2 Imagers having electrically active optical elements
A CMOS image sensor comprising an array of active pixel cells. Each active pixel cell includes a substrate; a photosensing device formed at or below a substrate surface for collecting charge carriers in response to incident light; and, one or more light transmissive conductive wire structures formed above the photosensing device, the one or more conductive wire structures being located in an optical path above the photosensing device. The formed light transmissive conductive wire structures provide both an electrical and optical functions. An optical function is provided by tailoring the thickness of the conductive wire layer to filter light according to a pixel color scheme. Alternately, the light transmissive conductive wire structures may be formed as a microlens structure providing a light focusing function. Electrical functions for the conductive wire layer include use as a capacitor plate, as a resistor or as an interconnect.
US07642581B2 Solid-state image sensing device
A solid-state image sensing device has a pixel that includes a photodiode that generates an electrical charge according to an amount of incoming light, a floating diffusion portion, a charge transfer transistor that transfers the electrical charge to the floating diffusion portion from the photoelectric conversion portion, a reading circuit that outputs an signal on the basis of said electrical charge held in said floating diffusion portion, and a light-shielding member disposed so as to cover a side wall of a gate electrode of the charge transfer transistor on the photoelectric conversion portion side.
US07642578B2 Semiconductor device having a round-shaped nano-wire transistor channel and method of manufacturing same
A field-effect transistor (FET) with a round-shaped nano-wire channel and a method of manufacturing the FET are provided. According to the method, source and drain regions are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of preliminary channel regions is coupled between the source and drain regions. The preliminary channel regions are etched, and the etched preliminary channel regions are annealed to form FET channel regions, the FET channel regions having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.
US07642577B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: forming a dummy electrode 22n and a dummy electrode 22p; forming a metal film 32 on the dummy electrode 22p; conducting a thermal treatment at a first temperature to substitute the dummy electrode 22n with an electrode 34a of a material containing the constituent material of the metal film 32; forming a metal film 36 on the dummy electrode 22n; and conducting a thermal treatment at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature and at which an interdiffusion of constituent materials between the electrode 34a and the metal film 36 does not take place, to substitute the second dummy electrode with an electrode 34b of a material containing the constituent material of the metal film 36.
US07642576B2 Rotational MEMS device having piezo-resistor sensor
A rotational micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) having a piezo-resistor sensor is provided. The rotational MEMS device includes a pair of torsion springs that support a stage, four resistors, at least one of the resistors being formed along a center axis of the torsion springs, and electrical signal cables connected to the four resistors, wherein at least one of the torsion springs is formed in a <100> direction on an n-type silicon substrate having a (100) plane, and the resistors formed on the at least one of the torsion springs are formed in a <110> group direction.
US07642574B2 Semiconductor architecture having field-effect transistors especially suitable for analog applications
An insulated-gate field-effect transistor (100, 100V, 140, 150, 150V, 160, 170, 170V, 180, 180V, 190, 210, 210W, 220, 220U, 220V, 220W, 380, or 480) has a hypoabrupt vertical dopant profile below one (104 or 264) of its source/drain zones for reducing the parasitic capacitance along the pn junction between that source/drain zone and adjoining body material (108 or 268). In particular, the concentration of semiconductor dopant which defines the conductivity type of the body material increases by at least a factor of 10 in moving from that source/drain zone down to an underlying body-material location no more than 10 times deeper below the upper semiconductor surface than that source/drain zone. The body material preferably includes a more heavily doped pocket portion (120 or 280) situated along the other source/drain zone (102 or 262). The combination of the hypoabrupt vertical dopant profile below the first-mentioned source/drain zone, normally serving as the drain, and the pocket portion along the second-mentioned source/drain zone, normally serving as the source, enables the resultant asymmetric transistor to be especially suitable for high-speed analog applications.
US07642571B2 Substrate core
A substrate including a first patterned metallic layer, a second patterned metallic layer and an insulator is provided. One side of the first patterned metallic layer is connected to a corresponding side of the second patterned metallic layer. The first patterned metallic layer and the second patterned metallic layer are formed as a whole. The insulator fills the gaps in the first patterned metallic layer and the gaps in the second patterned metallic layer.
US07642569B2 Transistor structure with minimized parasitics and method of fabricating the same
A transistor having minimized parasitics is provided including an emitter having a recessed extrinsic emitter portion atop an intrinsic emitter portion; a base including an intrinsic base portion in electrical contact with the intrinsic emitter portion and an extrinsic base portion in electrical contact with the intrinsic base portion and electrically isolated from the recessed extrinsic emitter portion by a set of emitter/base spacers; and a collector in electrical contact with the intrinsic base portion. The transistor may further include extrinsic base having top surfaces entirely silicided to the emitter/base spacer. Additionally, the transistor may include a base window opening within the transistor's active area. Methods of forming the above-described transistor are also provided.
US07642568B2 Semiconductor device having substrate-driven field-effect transistor and Schottky diode and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device including a substrate-driven field-effect transistor with a lateral channel and a parallel-coupled Schottky diode, and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the substrate-driven field-effect transistor of the semiconductor device includes a conductive substrate having a first contact covering a substantial portion of a bottom surface thereof, and a lateral channel above the conductive substrate. The substrate-driven field-effect transistor also includes a second contact above the lateral channel and an interconnect that connects the lateral channel to the conductive substrate operable to provide a low resistance coupling between the first contact and the lateral channel. The semiconductor device also includes a Schottky diode parallel-coupled to the substrate-driven field-effect transistor. A first and second terminal of the Schottky diode are couplable to the first and second contacts, respectively, of the substrate drive field-effect transistor.
US07642565B2 Radiation-emitting semiconductor component based on gallium nitride, and method for fabricating the semiconductor component
A radiation-emitting semiconductor component has a high p-type conductivity. The semiconductor body of the component includes a substrate, preferably an SiC-based substrate, on which a plurality of GaN-based layers have been formed. The active region of these layers is arranged between at least one n-conducting layer and a p-conducting layer. The p-conducting layer is grown in tensile-stressed form. The p-doping that is used is preferably Mg.
US07642563B2 LED package with metal PCB
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED) package. An object of the present invention is to provide an LED package having a metal PCB, which has a superior heat dissipation property and a compact structure, does not largely restrict use of conventional equipments, and is compatible with an electronic device or illumination device currently used widely. To this end, an LED package according to the present invention comprises a metal printed circuit board (PCB) formed by laminating first and second sheet metal plates with an electric insulating layer interposed therebetween; and an LED chip mounted on the first sheet metal plate of the metal PCB, wherein the first sheet metal plate has electrode patterns and leads respectively extending from the electrode patterns.
US07642562B2 Long-wavelength resonant-cavity light-emitting diode
An efficient long-wavelength light-emitting diode has a resonant-cavity design. The light-emitting diode preferably has self-organized (In,Ga)As or (In,Ga)(As,N) quantum dots in the light-emitting active region, deposited on a GaAs substrate. The light-emitting diode is capable of emitting in a long-wavelength spectral range of preferably 1.15-1.35 μm. The light-emitting diode also has a high efficiency of preferably at least 6 mW and more preferably at least 8 mW at an operating current of less than 100 mA and a low operating voltage of preferably less than 3V. In addition, the light-emitting diode preferably has an intensity of maxima, other than the main maximum of the emission spectrum, of less than 1% of an intensity of the main maximum. This combination of parameters makes such a device useful as an inexpensive optical source for various applications.
US07642560B2 Composite semiconductor light-emitting device
A composite semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first semiconductor element portion made of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor element portion made of a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material. The first semiconductor element portion has a first semiconductor layered structure, and the second semiconductor element portion has a second semiconductor layered structure. The first semiconductor element portion has a plurality of light-emitting regions that emit lights of different wavelengths. The second semiconductor element portion has at least one light-emitting region that emits light whose wavelength is different from the lights emitted by the light-emitting regions of the first semiconductor element portion. The light-emitting regions of the first semiconductor element portion and at least one light-emitting region of the second semiconductor element portion are electrically connected to each other.
US07642556B2 Compound semiconductor element resistible to high voltage
A compound semiconductor element is provided which electrically connects an electrode 3 formed on one main surface 2a of a compound semiconductor region 2 with a substrate 5 to fix an electric potential of substrate 5 at an electric potential of electrode 3, thereby preventing fluctuation in electric potential of substrate 5 under the changing operating condition of the device for stabilization in electric property of the device. Also, formed between compound semiconductor region 2 and substrate 5 is an insulating layer 6 for blocking a leakage current which may flow longitudinally between one main surface 2a of compound semiconductor region 2 and substrate 5 so that sufficiently high withstand voltage property can be given between compound semiconductor region 2 and substrate 5. In addition, formed in compound semiconductor region 2 is a notch 14 which extends in the thickness direction from main surface 2a of compound semiconductor region 2 and reaches at least insulating layer 6, and an insulating protective layer 15 covers a side surface of a conductive film 7 exposed to the notch 14 to prevent occurrence of electric discharge between conductive film 7 and substrate 5 for stable and high withstand voltage.
US07642554B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal display device
An array substrate for an LCD device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The array substrate includes: a substrate defining a display area and a non-display area; an n-type driving TFT and a p-type driving TFT in the non-display area; a switching TFT in the display region; a storage capacitor in the display region, the storage capacitor including first to third storage layers sequentially layered with intervening insulating layers, wherein the first storage layer contacts a first semiconductor layer under the first storage layer; and a pixel electrode in the display region, the pixel electrode connected to the switching TFT.
US07642551B2 Wafer-level package having test terminal
A wafer-level package includes a semiconductor wafer having at least one semiconductor chip circuit forming region each including a semiconductor chip circuit each provided with test chip terminals and non test chip terminals, at least one external connection terminal, at least one redistribution trace provided on the semiconductor wafer, at least one testing member, and an insulating material. A first end of the redistribution trace is connected to one of the test chip terminals and a second end of said redistribution trace is extended out to a position offset from the chip terminals. The testing member is provided in an outer region of the semiconductor chip circuit forming region, and the second end of the redistribution trace is connected to the testing member.
US07642550B2 Multi-layer structures for parameter measurement
Various embodiments disclosed herein include methods for measuring a parameter associated with a workpiece. Such a method may include providing a first overlay pattern on the workpiece and a second overlay pattern over the first overlay pattern. The first overlay pattern may comprise a first plurality of features spaced apart from each other, and the second overlay pattern may comprise a second plurality of substantially optically transmissive features spaced apart from each other. The second plurality of features may be offset with respect to and partially overlapping the first plurality of features. The method may further comprise directing light onto the first and second overlay pattern such that the light is reflected from both the first and second overlay patterns and using reflectometry to obtain a measure of the parameter from the reflected light.
US07642547B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The light emitting device comprises a substrate, a gate electrode positioned on the substrate, a first insulating layer positioned on the substrate comprising the gate electrode, an amorphous silicon layer positioned on the first insulating layer so that a predetermined area thereof corresponds to the gate electrode, ohmic layers that positioned on a predetermined area of the amorphous silicon layer, the ohmic layers defining a source area and a drain area, a source electrode or a drain electrode electrically connected to any one of the ohmic layers and a cathode that is electrically connected to the other one of the ohmic layers, a second insulating layer positioned on the substrate comprising the source electrode or the drain electrode and the cathode, the second insulating layer comprising an opening exposing a portion of the cathode, an emitting layer positioned within the opening, and an anode positioned on the substrate comprising the emitting layer.
US07642545B2 Layer and system with a silicon layer and a passivation layer, method for production of a passivation layer on a silicon layer and use thereof
A layer system and a method for producing the layer system are provided, the layer system having a silicon layer, on which at least regionally a passivating layer is superficially deposited, the passivating layer having a first, at least largely inorganic partial layer and a second, at least largely polymer partial layer. The method includes producing on the silicon layer, a first, inorganic partial layer, and producing on this first partial layer a second, polymer partial layer, which form the passivating layer. The production of the intermediate layer occurs in such a way that the intermediate layer in its surface area adjoining the first partial layer is composed as the first partial layer, and the intermediate layer in its surface area adjoining the second partial layer is composed as the second partial layer. The composition of the intermediate layer transitions, either continuously or in steps, from the composition corresponding to the first partial layer into the composition corresponding to the second partial layer.
US07642539B2 Thin film fuse phase change cell with thermal isolation pad and manufacturing method
A memory device comprising a first electrode having a top side, a second electrode having a top side and an insulating member between the first electrode and the second electrode. The insulating member has a thickness between the first and second electrodes near the top side of the first electrode and the top side of the second electrode extends outwardly from the top sides of the first and second electrodes defining a wall of insulating material having top side. A bridge of memory material crosses the insulating member over the top of the wall, and defines an inter-electrode path between the first and second electrodes across the insulating member. An array of such memory cells is provided. The bridge comprises an active layer of memory material on the top side of the wall, having at least two solid phases and a layer of thermal insulating material overlying the memory material having thermal conductivity less than a thermal conductivity of the first and second electrodes.
US07642538B2 Switching element, line-switching device and logic circuit
A switching element for ON/OFF switching includes a pair of electrodes provided on a substrate separately from each other, a phase change film contacting the electrodes and having its resistance varied in accordance with the history of heating, and a heating mechanism for heating the phase change film.
US07642526B2 Direction correcting apparatus, method thereof and movable radiation inspecting system
The present invention discloses direction correcting apparatus and method thereof for a movable radiation inspecting system having a moving device. The direction correcting apparatus comprises: a direction detecting device for detecting a moving direction of the moving device and generating a detecting signal indicating the moving direction; a direction control device for controlling the moving direction of the moving device; and a control unit for calculating a deviation value between the moving direction and the predetermined direction based on the detected signal received from the direction detecting device, and the direction control device is driven according to the deviation value to correct the moving direction to the predetermined direction. The direction correcting apparatus according to the present invention can automatically control the movable radiation inspecting system to move linearly in a predetermined direction during working, which enhances automatic control degree, and has a simple structure with installing easily and reduced cost. And it also does not influence the normal running of the inspecting system on a road while not inspecting.
US07642525B2 Microscope objective and fluorescent observation apparatus therewith
An immersion type microscope objective is configured by, in order from the object side to an image side, a positive lens group Ga including a cemented lens obtained by cementing a plano-convex lens whose plane surface faces the object side to a meniscus lens whose concave surface faces the object side, and a positive single lens, a positive lens group Gb including a cemented lens, a lens group Gc including at least one cemented lens, a lens group Gd having a meniscus lens having a strongly concave surface that faces the image side, and a lens group Ge having a negative lens having a strongly concave surface that faces the object side.
US07642524B1 Sanitizing apparatus for writing utensils
A sanitizing apparatus for writing utensils comprising a housing assembly and an ultraviolet and ozone generating assembly housed therein. The housing assembly comprises a top wall, a base and four walls. The first and second walls are perpendicularly disposed with respect to the third and fourth walls. The third and fourth walls are lateral walls. The housing assembly also comprises an angled wall that protrudes outwardly beyond the top wall and beyond the first wall defining a tray that terminates with a lip for preventing the writing utensil from falling off. A battery compartment is also housed within the housing assembly. The ultraviolet and ozone generating assembly radiates the writing utensil within the housing assembly with rays and ozone, to effectively sterilize bacteria and biological germs existing on the writing utensil. A visual indicator notifies a user when the ultraviolet and ozone generating assembly is operating.
US07642515B2 Component for detecting especially infrared electromagnetic radiation
A component for detecting electromagnetic radiation comprises: a housing defining a chamber placed under a vacuum or underpressure, one of the faces of the housing including a window which is transparent to the radiation to be detected and the chamber including at least one detector which is used to detect the radiation in question and is arranged inside said chamber essentially against the transparent window, a getter in order to maintain the vacuum or underpressure in the chamber at an acceptable level, and a thermal stabilization device for ensuring regulation of temperature of the detector(s). The thermal stabilization device consists of a heating resistive element which is integrated into the mass of one of the walls defining the housing.
US07642514B2 Charged particle beam apparatus
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image which is focused on all portions of a sample and to provide a charged particle beam apparatus capable of obtaining a two-dimensional image which has no blurred part over an entire sample. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises means for changing a focus condition of a charged particle beam emitted from a charged particle source, a charged particle detector for detecting charged particles irradiated from a surface portion of said sample in response to the emitted charged particle beam, and means for composing a two-dimensional image of the surface portion of the sample based on signals on which said charged particle beam is focused, said signals being among signals output from the charged particle detector.
US07642513B2 Device for obtaining the image and/or spectra of electron energy loss
The inventive device for obtaining the electron energy loss image and/or spectra includes an image sensor, a control for at least two deflectors for alternately exposing at least two photosensitive parts of the image sensor, sensor reading means for generating the representative signal of an image captured by each photosensitive part of the image sensor, means for synchronizing the deflector and the reading means for successively controlling the exposition of the photosensitive part and the reading of the other photosensitive part for each photosensitive part and means for combining the two image parts in such a way that a spectrum is formed.
US07642509B2 Top-down protein analysis in mass spectrometers with ion traps
Proteins with a molecular mass in the range from approximately 5 to 100 kilodaltons are structurally analyzed without prior enzymatic digestion to small peptides in a mass spectrometer that operates with an ion trap. The proteins are ionized by electrospraying or similar processes to create highly charged analyte ions, which are then introduced into the ion trap and subjected to fragmentation and partial deprotonation in either order. The fragmentation may be ergodic or electron-induced. The result remaining in the ion trap is an evenly distributed mixture of fragment ions having between one and n charges, where n is a number between three and about eight. A mass spectrum is recorded from this mixture of fragment ions, which spectrum demonstrates a sequence coverage that far exceeds the mass range of the mass analyzer for singly charged ions.
US07642508B2 Micro fluidic gas assisted ionization structure and method
In accordance with the invention, auxiliary structures are used in conjunction with a microfluidic chip to form a microfluidic electrospray structure that allows gas assisted nebulization for use in a mass spectrometry system.
US07642507B2 Apparatus and methods for interlaced density and neutron measurements
A tool for formation logging includes a support configured for movement in a borehole; a source mounted on the support, the source configured to emit neutrons and gamma rays; and at least one sensor mounted on the support and spaced apart from the source, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one selected from the group consisting of gamma rays and neutrons. A method for formation logging in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes emitting neutrons and gamma rays into a formation, using a source on a logging tool disposed in a borehole penetrating the formation; and detecting gamma-ray signals and neutron signals scattered by the formation, using at least one detector on the logging tool.
US07642504B2 System and method for measuring forces
Optical transducers are provided for detecting forces such as, rotation and transversal forces acting on them, wherein, for the purpose of detecting the forces, optical signals are transmitted through an optical path, for instance defined by an optical fiber. Moreover, polarization scrambling means are provided together with polarizing means, with the polarization scrambling means being adapted to render the polarization of the optical signals entering the optical path either parallel or perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the polarizing means. The polarization of optical signals transmitted through the transducer is further modified as a result of forces acting on the transducer so that the optical signals exiting the transducer can be used for the purpose of detecting the forces.
US07642500B2 True color image by modified microlens array having different effective areas
An image sensor array includes a substrate having at least three image sensors located therein. The image sensor array also includes a blue filter positioned proximate to the first image sensor; a green filter proximate to the second image sensor; and a red filter proximate to the third image sensor. A first microlens is positionally arranged with the blue filter and the first image sensor; a second microlens is positionally arranged with the green filter and the second image sensor; and a third microlens is positionally arranged with the red filter and the third image sensor. The first microlens has a larger effective area than the second microlens, and the second microlens has a larger effective area than the third microlens.
US07642499B2 Image sensor comprising multilayer wire
This image sensor includes a charge increasing portion for increasing the quantity of charges, a first electrode for applying a voltage regulating a region adjacent to the charge increasing portion to a prescribed potential, a second electrode provided adjacently to the first electrode for applying another voltage increasing the quantity of charges in the charge increasing portion, a first wire formed on a prescribed layer for supplying a signal to the first electrode and a second wire formed on a layer different from the prescribed layer for supplying another signal to the second electrode.
US07642496B2 Photodetector including a plurality of photodiodes
The present invention aims at providing a photodetector which can detect the incident light intensity with a high speed while having a wide dynamic range for incident light intensity detection. Each photodiode PDm,n generates electric charges Q by an amount corresponding to the intensity of light incident thereon. An electric charge amount level determining circuit 10m,n is provided so as to correspond to the photodiode PDm,n, determines the level of the amount of electric charges Q generated by the photodiode PDm,n, and outputs a level signal Level indicative of the result of level determination. The capacitance value of the integral capacitance part 21 in the integrating circuit 20m is set by the respective level signals Level sequentially fed from N electric charge amount level determining circuits 10m,1 to 10m,N. The integrating circuit 20m accumulates the electric charges Q fed to the input terminal sequentially from the N electric charge amount level determining circuits 10m,1 to 10m,N into the integral capacitance part 21, and outputs a voltage V20 corresponding to the amount of thus accumulated electric charges Q from the output terminal.
US07642489B2 Flexible electrothermal composite and heating apparatus having the same
The present invention relates to a flexible electrothermal composite. In one embodiment, a flexible electrothermal composite includes a flexible polymer matrix and a number of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the matrix, the carbon nanotubes forming a plurality of conductive network in the polymer. The flexible electrothermal composite has high flexibility, resistance and intensity.
US07642483B2 Glass-plate cutting machine
A glass plate cutting machine using a laser beam is provided to solve problems, such as uneven glass section and slanting cutting. By using the glass plate cutting machine of the current invention, the glass plate is irradiated with a first carbon dioxide laser beam of 0.05-2 joule/mm2 on a long oval shaped area of 20-200 mm2 according to an expected cutting line thereof, and immediately cooled with water, to generate a scribe line, which is then further irradiated with a second carbon dioxide laser beam of 0.1-0.5 joule/mm′ on the area of 20-200 mm2 thus obtaining a superior glass section.
US07642480B2 Actuating the contacts of an interrupting chamber in opposite directions via an insulating tube
In order to reduce the breaking energy of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker, the interrupting chamber (10) contains two contacts (12, 14) mounted to move in opposite directions, and actuated via a single device (20). The two contacts (12, 14) are surrounded by an insulating casing (18) of tubular shape, coupled in fixed manner to the main contact (12). The contacts (12, 14) are actuated by a device having a lever (24) in which each lever arm is coupled to a link, one of the links (32) being secured to the insulating casing (18) and the other link (34) being secured to the second contact (14). The guiding of the drive tube (18) on the main contacts (12b, 14b) makes it possible to improve breaking by keeping clean gas between said main contacts.
US07642475B2 Lever operating device
Disclosed is a lever operating device having a simple structure and high durability without a contact defect.In the disclosed lever operating device, when an operating lever is tilted in one of the first and second operating surfaces that are substantially orthogonal to each other, a slider supported by a lever support is selectively moved in one of two directions that are substantially orthogonal to each other in a plane parallel to a circuit board, and the electric resistance of a GMR sensor mounted to the circuit board varies depending on the position of a permanent magnet held by the slider. In this way, the operating position of the operating lever is detected.
US07642474B2 Device for the quantitative analysis of debris
Device for the quantitative analysis of debris (12, 41) preferably produced during drilling, of the type equipped with means for the progressive collection of the debris, means for the progressive weighing of the debris collected, means for periodical discharging of the same and a structure for support of the device, wherein said means for the collection of the debris comprise a conveyor belt (22, 46) wound in the manner of a track on at least two rollers (23, 24), said means for weighing the debris comprise at least four sensing elements (214, 411) placed so as to take a direct measurement of the weight force exerted on the conveyor belt (22, 46) and said means for discharging debris comprise the unit for actuation of the rollers.
US07642469B2 Electromagnetic shielding sheet
An electromagnetic shielding sheet is capable of shielding electromagnetic radiation generated by a display, has a proper transparency and uniformly distributed meshes, prevents the occurrence of white and/or black spot defects and linear defects and glaring, and ensures the satisfactory visibility of images. The electromagnetic shielding sheet has a conductive structure (109) having lines (107) having straight parts of widths (W) in the range of C(1±30%), where C is a predetermined value. The radius (r) of curvature of a side surface (107S) extending between the upper side (107U) and the lower side (107B) of a bank in a section of the lines (107) in a plane perpendicular to the transparent sheet meet a condition expressed by: 1.5t≦r≦3.0t, where t is the thickness of the conductive structure (109).
US07642464B2 Liquid dispensing system having a modular cord set
A liquid dispensing system equipped with a modular cord set for powering an electrically-operated dispensing module of the system. The cord set includes a plug removably inserted into receptacle extending through a manifold of the system. The manifold heats and supplies liquid to the dispensing module. When the plug is positioned in the receptacle, electrical contacts on the plug are coupled with corresponding electrical contacts on the dispensing module. The cord set and dispensing module can be independently disconnected from the manifold without disturbing each other.
US07642456B2 Electrical junction box to be mounted on motor vehicle
An electrical junction box for a motor vehicle is configured to prevent loss of a fuse that falls down during maintenance. Fuse-containing sections are provided on a vertical surface of a casing of an electrical junction box. The fuse-containing sections are opposed to a trim cover provided with an opening for maintenance in the motor vehicle. Fuse-receiving plates project toward the trim cover integrally on or detachably from the casing surface at the position below the fuse-containing sections. The fuse-receiving plate has a length in which a distal end contacts the trim cover or the distal end is spaced away from the trim cover by a clearance through which a fuse cannot pass. The fuse-receiving plates can receive a fuse that falls down during a fuse attachment or detachment operation.
US07642454B2 Anti-theft apparatus for an electrical buss bar
Apparatus for preventing theft of a buss bar connected to electrical conductor and grounding cables is provided in the form of a box-like enclosure of thick metal construction which confines the buss bar and has an elongated access opening permitting passage of cables into the enclosure. An aperture within the bottom of the enclosure permits downward emergence of a grounding cable attached to the buss bar.
US07642451B2 Thermally tuned coaxial cable for microwave antennas
A coaxial cable, including an outer conductor and an inner conductor adapted to connect to an energy source for treating tissue and first and second dielectric materials disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor which position the inner conductor relative to the outer conductor in general concentric relation thereto. The first dielectric material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second dielectric material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
US07642449B2 Photovoltaic integrated building component
A structural building component for a residential or light commercial building includes a PV laminate and a plastic frame disposed at least around the PV laminate. The plastic frame includes a first electrical connector for communication with the PV laminate and receptive to electrical connection with a contiguous PV laminate. The first electrical connector is configured to facilitate electrical and mechanical connection with the contiguous PV laminate and the frame includes a means for facilitating attachment to the building structure.
US07642448B2 Optical transducer system for monitoring movable parts, optical modulator and musical instrument using the same
An optical modulator is hung from a key moved on a key trajectory so as to be moved together with the key, and a light beam, which is stationary with respect to a key bed, is radiated through the optical modulator; a large number of miniature refractors are formed on the light output surface of the optical modulator, and the density of miniature refractors per unit area is varied in a direction in which the optical modulator is moved together with the key so that the current key position is converted to the amount of light passing through the optical modulator; since the miniature refractors and other portions of optical modulator have a unitary structure, a molding process is used for the optical modulator, and the molding process make the production cost low.
US07642445B2 Music sound generator
A music sound generator imitates released key string vibration sounds (RKSV) and cabinet resonances of an acoustic piano. When a key is pressed, waveform is readout from a normal music sound waveform memory 15. The normal sound waveform is inputted into a filter 21, and inputted into a filter 22 through a band-pass filter 33. Output waveform of a cabinet resonance waveform memory 17 is inputted into a filter 23 when the key is pressed. Outputs of the filters are synthesized by an adder 27 through multipliers 24 through 26. When the key is pressed, a cut-off frequency of the filter 22 is sufficiently low and RKSV is not generated. If the damper is not on when key-releasing, the cut-off frequency is returned to normal and RKSV is generated. A level controller 32 attenuates the RKSV and the cabinet resonance for a longer time than the normal music sound.
US07642444B2 Music-piece processing apparatus and method
For each of a plurality of music pieces, a storage device stores respective tone data of a plurality of fragments of the music piece and respective musical character values of the fragments. Similarity determination section calculates a similarity index value indicative of a degree of similarity between the character values of each of the fragments of a main music piece and the character values of each individual fragment of a plurality of sub music pieces. Each of the similarity index values calculated for the fragments of each of the sub music pieces can be adjusted in accordance with a user's control. Processing section processes the tone data of each of the fragments of the main music piece on the basis of the tone data of any one of the fragments of the sub music pieces of which the similarity index value indicates sufficient similarity.
US07642443B2 User interface for simultaneous management of owned and unowned inventory
The present invention provides a user configurable computer interface for managing inventory. The interface provides a list, generated according to a user-defined organization. The list includes both owned and un-owned items and provides a means for sampling and purchasing the un-owned items directly from the list. The present invention contemplates a user interface for managing an entertainment play lists such as music play lists, video play lists etc. In addition the present invention contemplates management of vehicle maintenance and goods such as groceries, toys, or books.
US07642441B2 Selectively tunable percussion instrument
A percussion instrument and its method of construction. The percussion instrument has an annular body with an open top and an open bottom. The annular body has multiple sections that include a first section and an opposite second section. The first and second sections join together at bending regions that are located at opposite sides of the annular body. A striking membrane is stretched taut over the open top of the annular body. An adjustment mechanism is provided that is used to selectively bend the annular body within the bending regions. Depending upon what direction the annular body is bent, the tautness of the striking membrane is either increased or decreased. This selectively alters the tone of the sound produced by the drum.
US07642437B2 Musical instrument
A musical instrument having a displacement member that is operable to vary sounds, thereby offering a wide variety of musical performances. A box-shaped sound generation unit accommodated in the inside of a musical instrument body generates a sound in response to any one of performance operators being operated. At least part of a displacement member provided for displacement relative to the musical instrument body is always disposed within the inside of the musical instrument body. When an operating section is operated to cause the displacement member to be displaced as a sound is generated from the sound generation unit, the sound varies according to the displacement of the displacement member.
US07642435B2 Rice hybrid XL729
A rice hybrid designated XL729 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of rice hybrid XL729, to the plants of rice hybrid XL729 and to methods for producing a rice plant produced by crossing the hybrid XL729 with itself or another rice plant. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing the hybrid XL729 with another rice plant. This invention further relates to growing and producing blends of rice seeds comprised of seeds of rice hybrid XL729 with rice seed of one, two, three, four or more of another rice hybrid, rice variety or rice inbred.
US07642432B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV035322
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV035322. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV035322, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV035322 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV035322 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV035322.
US07642430B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV011880
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV011880. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV011880, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV011880 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV011880 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV011880.
US07642428B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety LH327
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated LH327. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety LH327, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety LH327 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety LH327 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety LH327.
US07642425B1 Inbred corn line G07-NPAF3455
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPAF3455, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPAF3455 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred G07-NPAF3455 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPAF3455 and plants produced by said methods.
US07642421B1 Soybean variety XB53S08
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB53S08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB53S08, to the plants of soybean XB53S08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB53S08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB53S08 with another soybean plant, using XB53S08 as either the male or the female parent.
US07642419B1 Soybean variety RJS30001
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS30001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS30001, to the plants of soybean RJS30001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS30001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS30001 with another soybean plant, using RJS30001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07642417B1 Soybean variety XB39A08
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB39A08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB39A08, to the plants of soybean XB39A08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB39A08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB39A08 with another soybean plant, using XB39A08 as either the male or the female parent.
US07642416B2 Soybean cultivar 7013345
A soybean cultivar designated 7013345 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7013345, to the plants of soybean 7013345, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7013345 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7013345 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7013345, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7013345 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7013345 with another soybean cultivar.
US07642415B2 Soybean cultivar 7549450
A soybean cultivar designated 7549450 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7549450, to the plants of soybean 7549450, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7549450 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7549450 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7549450, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7549450 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7549450 with another soybean cultivar.
US07642412B2 Soybean cultivar S070157
A soybean cultivar designated S070157 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S070157, to the plants of soybean S070157, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S070157 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S070157 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety S070157, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S070157 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S070157 with another soybean cultivar.
US07642411B2 Soybean variety D4925614
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D4925614. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D4925614. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D4925614 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D4925614 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07642408B2 Soybean cultivar 6928285
A soybean cultivar designated 6928285 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 6928285, to the plants of soybean 6928285, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 6928285 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 6928285 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 6928285, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 6928285 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 6928285 with another soybean cultivar.
US07642407B2 Soybean variety 0330738
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 0330738. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 0330738. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 0330738 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 0330738 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07642403B2 Marker mapping and resistance gene associations in soybean
The invention provides novel molecular genetic markers in soybean, where the markers are useful, for example, in the marker-assisted selection of gene alleles that impart disease-resistance, thereby allowing the identification and selection of a disease-resistant plant. The markers also find use in positional cloning of disease-resistance genes.
US07642402B2 Human photoaged skin model
The invention provides a human photoaged skin model and an animal model which are useful for evaluating cosmetics and similar products in terms of their anti-aging or rejuvenating effect, as well as a method for producing such a skin model and such an animal model. The method of producing the human photoaged skin model is characterized in that a transplanted skin area of an immunodeficient non-human animal which has undergone transplantation of human skin is irradiated with UV-B light of 80-100 mJ/cm2 for consecutive 4 to 8 weeks, and the irradiated area is left to take its own course for at least 3 weeks. A human photoaged skin model and an animal model produced through this method are also disclosed.
US07642395B2 Composition and wipe for reducing viscosity of viscoelastic bodily fluids
The present invention provides a topical composition for application to the perianal and/or labial areas of the skin which helps prevent viscoelastic fluids, such as menses and feces, from attaching to the skin and aids in the reducing the viscoelastic properties of the fluid so that the fluid can flow into absorbent articles. The composition contains at least one viscoelastant material and at least one an anti-adherent material. the composition may be applied with a wipe, including mitts and gloves, a solid stick composition, an aerosol dispenser, a pump spray, a trigger spray, a squeeze bottle, as a foam, as a cream, as an ointment, as a salve, as a gel, as a wash or as a lotion. In addition, absorbent articles, such as pads or pants, diapers and the like may also be used as a means to transfer the composition to the skin.
US07642394B1 Methods for recycling waste
Systems and methods for recycling waste and reclaiming beneficial and useful compositions such as organic solvents comprises a shredder, operating in an inerted or anaerobic atmosphere, which shreds the waste into smaller pieces that are fed into and indirectly heated in an anaerobic desorption unit so as to vaporize at least one organic compound associated with the waste. A vacuum means is used to transfer the organic compound vapors from the desorption unit to a water quench condensing unit that operates to produce a mixed organic compound liquid stream. The liquid organic compound and water stream is then processed in an oil and water separator. The water is separated and can be reused in the system for quenching gas vapors or inerting the desorption unit. The water-free mixed organic compound liquid stream is then fed into a multi-stage packed distillation column separating organic compound according to boiling points to produce products such as organic solvents.
US07642387B2 Processes for producing halocarbon compounds using inorganic fluoride
Methods and systems for producing halocarbon with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.
US07642380B2 Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescence device using the same
The present invention relates to aromatic amine derivatives having a specific structure; and organic electroluminescent devices comprising a cathode, an anode and one or plural organic thin film layers including at least a light emitting layer which are sandwiched between the cathode and the anode wherein at least one of the organic thin film layers contains the above aromatic amine derivatives in the form of a single substance or a component of a mixture. There are provided the organic electroluminescent devices exhibiting a long life and a high efficiency of light emission which are capable of emitting a blue light having a high color purity, as well as the aromatic amine derivatives capable of realizing such organic electroluminescent devices.
US07642378B2 Lipid lowering biphenylcarboxamides
Biphenylcarboxamide compounds of formula (I) methods for preparing compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) as well as the use of compounds of formula (I) as a medicine for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, obesity and type II diabetes.
US07642373B2 Radical trap in fluoridation of iodonium salt
Decomposition of iodonium salts by a free radical process has been identified as a significant factor in the observed yield variability of fluoridation reactions using said iodonium salts. Accordingly, the inclusion of a free radical trap in the reaction mixture blocks the radical chain decomposition pathway for iodonium salts such that only the reaction leading to fluoridation can occur and the yield of aryl fluoride becomes high and reproducible. The reaction may also be carried out on solid phase. In both the solution and the solid phase the preferred method of the present invention is radiofluoridation.
US07642372B2 Process for preparing carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof
Preparation of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having (n+1) carbon atoms, where n is an integer up to 6, and/or an ester or anhydride thereof may be achieved by contacting an aliphatic alcohol having n carbon atoms and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide substantially in the absence of the halogens or derivatives thereof at a temperature in the range 250-600° C. and at a pressure in the range 10 to 200 bars, in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a mordenite which has, as framework elements, silicon, aluminum and one or more of gallium, boron and iron, and which has been ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with copper, nickel, iridium, rhodium or cobalt.
US07642365B2 Multiphase reactor design incorporating filtration system for fixed—bed catalyst
A unique reactor configuration especially suitable for interphase mass transfer and mixing of multiple phases, i.e. gas(es), liquid(s), and solid(s) where reaction is catalyzed by a solid catalyst comprises a draught tube reactor wherein the solid catalyst particles are maintained in an annular space between the draught tube of the reactor and an annulus-defining wall by means of filter elements positioned downstream and optionally also upstream from the catalyst bed.
US07642364B2 Benzopyrone compounds, preparation method and use thereof
The invention relates to pesticide and bactericide, specifically to the benzopyrone compounds and its preparation method and use thereof. The benzopyrone compounds of the invention having general formula (I): The present invention, having good pesticide activity and broad bactericide activity, applied for controlling various pests in plants such as army worm, diamond backmoth and aphid, carmine spider mite, two-spotted spider mite, ladybeetle, mites and mosquito larvae. Various disease in plants can be controlled by the invention and that of grape downy mildew, rice sheath and culm blight, rice blast, tomato early blight, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust, wheat leaf blotch, wheat powdery mildew, cucumber powdery mildew, cucumber downy mildew, cucumber grey mold and so on.
US07642363B2 Process for the preparation of 2-(6-substituted-1,3-dioxane-4-YL) acetic acid derivatives
The invention relates to the preparation of 2-(6-substituted-1,3-dioxane-4-yl)acetic acid derivatives of formula 1, where X stands for a leaving group, and R1, R2, and R3 each independently stand for an alkyl group with 1-3 carbon atoms from 4-hydroxy-6-X-substituted-methyl-tetrahydropyran-2-one compounds, where X is as defined above, with the aid of an acetalization agent, in the presence of an acid catalyst.The invention also relates to the novel compounds of formula 1 as well as salts and acids to be prepared from these, with the OR3 group in formula 1 being replaced by an OY group, where X, R1 and R2 have the meanings defined above and where Y stands for an alkaline (earth) metal or a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group or stands for hydrogen, and to the novel compounds of formula 2.The products concerned are, after conversion into the t-butyl ester of 2-(6-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxane-4-yl)acetic acid, important as intermediary products in the preparation of statins.
US07642360B2 Composition for dyeing keratinous fibers comprising at least one diamino-N,N-dihydropyrazolone derivative
Disclosed herein are a composition for dyeing keratinous fibers, for example, human keratinous fibers such as hair, comprising at least one oxidation base chosen from diamino-N,N-dihydropyrazolone derivative and a method using the composition. Further disclosed herein are amino-N,N-dihydropyrazolone derivatives and the addition salts thereof and diamino-N,N-dihydropyrazolone derivatives and the addition salts thereof, as well as the methods for preparing these compounds.
US07642359B2 Pyrazolyl-substituted heterocycles and their use as phytosanitary products
The present invention relates to novel pyrazolyl-substituted heterocycles of the formula (I) in which X, Y, Z and Het are as defined in the disclosure, to processes for their preparation, and to their use as pesticides, microbicides and herbicides.
US07642358B2 Substituted phenylacetic acids
Substituted phenylacetic acids, phenylethanols and related compounds are provided that are useful in treating or controlling a number of diseases associated with glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and insulin secretion.
US07642349B2 siRNA targeting TATA box binding protein (TBP)-associated factor (TAF1)
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for TAF1.
US07642348B2 Prostate cancer-related nucleic acids
Described herein are novel polynucleotides associated with prostate cancer. The polynucleotides are miRNAs, miRNA precursors, and associated nucleic acids. Methods and compositions are described that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of the disease-associated polynucleotides. Also described herein are methods and compositions for linear amplification and labeling of a targeted nucleic acid. The amplified targeted molecules may be used in hybridization techniques like Luminex and Microarray analysis.
US07642346B2 Flax seed specific promoters
Novel methods for the expression of non-native genes in flax seeds and the seeds of other plant species are provided. The methods involve the use of seed-specific promoters obtained from flax. Additionally provided are novel flax seed-specific promoters, chimeric nucleic acid constructs comprising novel flax seed-specific promoters, transgenic plant cells, transgenic plants and transgenic plant seeds containing novel flax seed-specific promoters. The promoters and methods are useful, for example, for altering the seed oil and protein composition in flax seed or other plant seeds.
US07642339B2 Antiviral compounds
The invention is related to phosphorus substituted anti-viral inhibitory compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07642338B2 Tacrolimus standard and methods of using same
A composition and kit useful as a tacrolimus standard solution for immunoassays, and methods for making and using same. The composition and kits include a known amount of tacrolimus or a derivative thereof, and a non-specific protein capable of forming a complex with the tacrolimus or derivative thereof. The standard solution may be used to generate calibration curves for an immunoassay or to check the precision of an analytical instrument.
US07642336B2 Phthalonitrile composites
The disclosed compositions and methods for producing composite materials that are suitably adapted for use in elevated temperature environments generally include the use of oxyarylbisorthodinitrile matrix resins in conjunction with aromatic amines to produce an improved phthalonitrile-based composite. Various features and specifications may be controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve the temperature-rated performance of the disclosed composite materials. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide composite materials that offer improved strength at temperatures in excess of 600° F.
US07642334B2 Polymer of polycarbonate diol having an alicyclic structure and production process thereof
The invention relates to a polycarbonate diol, comprising an organic residue derived from a diol component represented by formula (1), wherein n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4, and the norbornane structure or the cyclopentane structure may be substituted with a halogen group or a hydrocarbon group. The polycarbonate diol according to the present invention can give a polyurethane resin having excellent heat resistance and flexibility in a well-balanced manner and reliability in long-term insulating properties under high temperature/high humidity conditions.
US07642330B2 Method of selecting polyolefins based on rheological properties
This invention relates to a method for selecting a polyolefin having a die swell within a pre-selected range, the method comprising (a) obtaining from reference samples of a plurality of polyolefin batches a data set for at least one property, other than die swell, of the polyolefin; (b) obtaining a die swell data set from the reference samples of the polyolefin; (c) correlating the at least one property and the die swell data set using a regression analysis to generate an equation for predicting the die swell as a function of the at least one property from step (a); (d) obtaining from a non-reference polyolefin sample a value for each variable in the equation from step (c) and calculating the predicted die swell from the equation from step (c); (e) comparing the predicted die swell of step (d) to the die swell within the pre-selected range, and (f) rejecting the non-reference polyolefin when the predicted die swell for the non-reference polyolefin is outside of the pre-selected range of the die swell. This invention relates to the use of the method in the production of blow-molded articles and in the control of a polyolefin reactor process.
US07642329B2 Oligomeric lactide macromer based copolymer and a process for the preparation thereof
A macromer based novel copolymer comprising an acrylate or methacrylate ester of low molecular weight oligomeric lactide copolymerized with basic monomer is provided. These copolymers show unusual dissolution behavior in that they are soluble over a wide range of pH from 1.8 to 7.4. This unexpected solubility behavior can be exploited to develop pharmaceutical dosage forms.
US07642322B2 Functionalized high cis-1,4-polybutadiene prepared using novel functionalizing agents
A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with a functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) A-R1-Z  (I) where R1 is a divalent bond or divalent organic group comprising from 0 to about 20 carbon atoms, A is a substituent that will undergo an addition reaction with a pseudo-living polymer, and Z is a substituent that will react or interact with silica or carbon black reinforcing fillers, with the proviso that A, R1, and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer.
US07642319B2 Highly-neutralized acid polymers and their use in golf balls
The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one layer which includes a polymer composition containing at least 50 wt % of an acid polymer and at least 0.5 wt % of a polylactic acid, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition. At least 70% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized by a cation source or a metal salt thereof.
US07642317B2 Modified block copolymer
A second-order modified block copolymer which can be obtained by reacting a first-order modified block copolymer with a second-order modifier, wherein the first-order modified block copolymer comprises a base block copolymer and a functional group-containing first-order modifier group bonded to the base block copolymer, wherein the base block copolymer comprises at least one polymer block comprised mainly of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer units and at least one polymer block comprised mainly of conjugated diene monomer units, and wherein the second-order modifier has a specific functional group which is reactive to the functional group of the first-order modifier group of the first-order modified block copolymer. A second-order modified block copolymer-containing polymer composition comprising the second-order modified block copolymer as well as a thermoplastic resin and/or a rubbery polymer.
US07642315B2 Polycarbonate-poly(alkylene oxide) copolymer compositions and articles formed therefrom
Disclosed herein is a polycarbonate copolymer comprising A) a structure derived from a dihydroxy alkylene oxide compound selected from the group consisting of formula (1a) and formula (1b): H-(E-X)l—OH  (1a) H-(E-X-E)l-OH  (1b) wherein E and X are different and each and independently are selected from the group consisting of formula (2a) and formula (2b): —(OCH2CH2)m—  (2a) —(OCHRCH2)n—  (2b) wherein R is a C1-8 alkyl group; l, m, and n are integers greater than or equal to 1; and wherein the weight average molecular weight of the total amount of the structures corresponding to formula (2b) in the copolymer is between 100 and 2,000 g/mol; and B) a structure derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the structures of A) and B).
US07642313B2 Fluoropolymer with inorganic fluoride filler
The invention relates to the use of inorganic fluoride compounds as fillers for use in fluoropolymers, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers. The filled fluoropolymer is especially useful in articles where limited combustion and low smoke are required—such as in cables and conduits. The invention also relates to a filled PVDF as a means of lowering costs and improving performance properties in any application.
US07642312B2 Non-flammable waterproofing composition
A composition of matter and a solvent system for use in providing a water resistant coating to a surface of a roof is disclosed. The solvent system comprises a chlorinated solvent blend which includes a vegetable oil. The solvent system and coating composition are non-flammable, environmentally friendly and provide an improved, consistent coating when applied to the surface of a roof.
US07642311B2 Method for producing a natural rubber master batch and a synthetic isoprene rubber batch using biodegraded rubber powder, using rubber powder and a filling agent, or using biodegraded rubber powder and a filling agent
The present invention makes it possible (1) to produce a natural rubber wet master batch and/or a synthetic isoprene rubber wet master batch by mixing a slurry solution of biodegraded rubber powder dispersed in water with a natural rubber latex solution and/or a synthetic isoprene rubber latex solution. Further, the present invention makes it possible (2) to produce a natural rubber wet master batch and/or a synthetic isoprene rubber wet master rubber powder with a natural rubber latex solution and/or a synthetic isoprene batch by mixing a slurry solution of dispersed carbon black and/or silica and rubber latex solution. A rubber composition having high physical properties can be obtained by adding a natural rubber master batch and/or a synthetic isoprene rubber master batch obtained by drying the natural rubber wet master batch and/or the synthetic isoprene rubber wet master batch. Further, the rubber composition containing the wet master batch obtained by the method in combination of above (1) and (2) also exhibits high physical properties.
US07642302B2 Modified asphalt binders and asphalt paving compositions
A process for preparing a modified asphalt binder composition, the process comprising mixing asphalt, an unsaturated polymer, and phosphorus pentasulfide to form a modified asphalt composition.
US07642300B2 Hydroxyapatite grafted fumarate based macromers for biodegradable composites
A composition is disclosed which comprises (i) a macromer prepared by reacting an unsaturated diacid having a carbon-carbon double bond and a saturated diacid, and (ii) a bioactive ceramic grafted to the macromer. In one embodiment, the unsaturated diacid having a carbon-carbon double bond is fumaric acid, the saturated diacid is compatible with fumaric acid and poly(propylene fumarate) such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid and mixtures thereof, and the bioactive ceramic is hydroxyapatite. In another embodiment, hydroxyapatite is grafted with a biodegradable and crosslinkable macromer comprising silane units alternating with furnarate and adipate units.
US07642298B2 Polymeric surfactant
A polymeric surfactant formed by the reaction of an oligomeric or polymeric substrate with at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of a type II photo initiator and by the action of actinic radiation. The polymeric surfactant is useful for stabilising the interface in emulsions or dispersions.
US07642295B2 Electrolyte membrane of siloxane-based polymer and solid polymer fuel cell utilizing the same
An electrolyte membrane made of a phosphate-containing siloxane-based polymer for fuel cell, where the polymer comprises a siloxane backbone and a poly(meth)acrylate chain to which phosphate groups are attached, and the polymer is formed by vinyl polymerization of a silane compound having a (meth)acrylate functional group or a hydrolysis-polycondensation product thereof and a (meth)acrylate compound having a phosphate group, followed by siloxane crosslinking. The electrolyte membrane of a siloxane-based polymer has a high conductivity for a fuel cell.
US07642294B2 Process to prepare lower olefins from a carbon containing feedstock
A process is provided to make ethylene and propylene from a carbonaceous feedstock. The process comprises preparing a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from a feedstock. A Fischer Tropsch synthesis is then performed on the gaseous mixture to obtain a Fischer Tropsch product along with unconverted carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The Fischer Tropsch product in admixture with the unconverted carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the previous step is then subjected to terminal cracking to form ethylene and propylene.
US07642290B2 Compounds for use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, immuno-allergical diseases and organ or tissue transplantation rejection
The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating, immuno-allergical diseases, autoimmune diseases, and organ or tissue rejection following transplantation.
US07642289B2 Drugs for chronic pain
The present invention relates to nitrooxyderivatives or salts thereof having the following general formula (I): R—NR1c—(K)k0—(B)b0—(C)c0—NO2  (I) wherein c0, b0 and k0 are 0 or 1; R is the radical of an analgesic drug for chronic pain, for instance neurophatic pain; R1c is H or alkyl with from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; B is such that its precursor is selected from amino acids, hydroxy acids, polyalcohol, compounds; C is a bivalent radical containing an aliphatic, heterocyclic or aromatic radical.
US07642287B2 Statin pharmaceutical compositions and related methods of treatment
The invention provides novel omega-3 oil solutions of one or more statins. These solutions are readily bioavailable. Notably, because the solutions of the invention contain an omega-3 oil as the major ingredient, they not only provide an antihypercholesterolemic effect due to the statin active ingredient, they also provide recommended daily dosages of omega-3 oils (i.e., approximately 1 gram of omega-3 oil per day), or a portion thereof. The invention also provides novel salts of one or more statins.
US07642285B2 Compounds and methods for modulating communication and virulence in quorum sensing bacteria
The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the communication and virulence of quorum sensing bacteria. In various exemplary embodiments, the invention provides a combinatorial library of quorum sensing compounds including synthetic analogs of naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) analogs, and methods of synthesizing and using these compounds.
US07642279B2 Atipamezole hydrochloride crystallization method
A method of isolating atipamezole hydrocloride as a crystalline salt is provided.
US07642268B2 Crystalline micronisate, process for the manufacture thereof and use thereof for the preparation of a medicament
The invention relates to a crystalline micronisate of (1 α,2β,4β,5α,7β)-7-[(hydroxydi-2-thienylacetyl)oxy]-9,9-dimethyl-3-oxa-9-azoniatricyclo[3.3.1.02,4]nonane-bromide, processes for preparing it and its use for preparing a pharmaceutical composition, particularly for preparing a pharmaceutical composition with an anticholinergic activity.
US07642267B2 Benzimidazole and pyridylimidazole derivatives
This invention relates to benzimidazoles, pyridylimidazoles and related bicyclic heteroaryl compounds, all of which may be described by of Formula I. The invention is particularly related to such compounds that bind with high selectivity and high affinity to the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and to the use of such compounds in treatment of certain central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Novel processes for preparing compounds of Formula I are disclosed. This invention also relates to the use of benzimidazoles, pyridylimidazoles and related bicyclic heteroaryl compounds of Formula I in combination with one or more other CNS agents to potentiate the effects of the other CNS agents. Additionally this invention relates to the use such compounds as probes for the localization of GABAA receptors in tissue sections.
US07642260B2 Apoptosis promoters
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic protein family members, compositions containing the compounds and uses of the compounds for preparing medicaments for treating diseases during which occurs expression one or more than one of an anti-apoptotic protein family member.
US07642259B2 Heteroaryl benzamide derivatives for use as GLK activators in the treatment of diabetes
Compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, HET-1 and HET-2 are as described in the specification, and their salts and pro-drugs, are activators of glucokinase (GLK) and are thereby useful in the treatment of, for example, type 2 diabetes. Processes for preparing compounds of formula (I) are also described.
US07642258B2 Combination of brimonidine and timolol for topical ophthalmic use
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising brimondine and timolol for topical ophthalmic delivery and a method of treatment comprising administering said composition when indicated for glaucoma and associated conditions such as elevated intraocular pressure in the eyes of humans.
US07642257B2 Phenyl-aniline substituted bicyclic compounds useful as kinase inhibitors
Compounds having the formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof, are useful as kinase inhibitors, wherein R, R1, R2, R5, R6a, R6b, J, K, X and Z are as described in the specification.
US07642251B2 Compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C
The invention encompasses compounds of formula I as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US07642248B2 Devices and processes for distribution of genetic material to mammalian limb
A process is described for the delivery of a therapeutic polynucleotide to limb muscle tissue suffering from or potentially suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. The polynucleotide is inserted into a mammalian limb vessel such as an artery. Delivery efficiency and distribution is enhanced by combining injection of a solution containing the polynucleotide with the use of an externally applied cuff.
US07642244B2 Neuropeptide-2 receptor (Y-2R) agonists and uses thereof
Provided herein are neuropeptide-2 receptor agonists of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, derivatives and fragments thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. X is 4-oxo-6-(1-piperazinyl)-3(4H)-quinazoline-acetic acid (Pqa). These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, obesity and diabetes.
US07642218B2 Inks for use on optical recording media
An optical recording medium, comprises a substrate, an imaging composition disposed on said substrate, said compound comprising: a matrix, a color-forming agent, and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent increases the nucleation density of at least one component of the color-forming agent.
US07642217B2 Pt/Ru alloy catalyst for fuel cell
A platinum (Pt)/ruthenium (Ru) alloy catalyst, highly resistant to CO poisoning, having a lattice constant of 3.856-3.885 Å and a particle size of 2-5 nm, and supported on a carrier. The Pt/Ru alloy catalyst is highly resistant to CO poisoning, thereby allowing for higher catalytic activity when used. That is, an electrode and a fuel cell having a longer lifetime can be prepared using a smaller amount of the Pt/Ru alloy catalyst.
US07642216B2 Methods of using heterocycle-amine ligands, compositions, complexes, and catalysts
Ligands, compositions, and metal-ligand complexes that incorporate heterocycle-amine compounds are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalyst have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene to form isotactic polypropylene.
US07642215B2 Chemically-resistant shelter coatings
A shelter coating comprising a photocatalyst capable of generating singlet oxygen from ambient air. The shelter coating may optionally include a singlet oxygen scavenger.
US07642213B2 Method of producing membrane electrode assemblies for use in proton exchange membrane and direct methanol fuel cells
Compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrodes for fuel cells. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The methods can utilize direct-write tools to deposit ink compositions and form functional layers of a membrane electrode assembly having controlled properties and enhanced performance.
US07642208B2 Abrasion resistant material for use in various media
A composite polymeric material is provided that may be used to construct an abrasion resistant layer or sheet such as an abrasion resistant meltblown layer. Desirably, the composite polymeric material comprises blends of syndiotactic and isotactic polypropylene with ferroelectric materials. The composite polymeric material is particularly useful for constructing a filter media comprising an abrasion resistant fine fiber layer such as a nonwoven layer. The composite polymeric material of the present invention also allows for electret treatment to improve its filtration characteristics.
US07642206B1 Ceramic faced ballistic panel construction
A ballistic resistant panel which is formed from a ceramic layer and a plurality of fibrous backing layers. A first fibrous backing layer is adjacent to the ceramic layer, and a second fibrous backing layer is adjacent to the first fibrous backing layer. Each of the fibrous backing layers are formed from a network of high tenacity fibers, but the fibers of each of the backing layers have a different composition. Preferably, the first fibrous layer is stiffer than the second fibrous layer. The panel has a ballistic resistance which is substantially equivalent to or higher than the ballistic resistance of a comparable ceramic panel construction that has only a single fibrous layer of the same type of high tenacity fibers as are in the first and second fibrous backing layers, for substantially the same areal density.
US07642203B2 Passivation layer for semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments relate to a passivation layer for a semiconductor device that may be formed in a substrate having a plurality of semiconductor devices. The passivation layer may includes a first passivation layer, a second passivation layer, and a third passivation layer, and the passivation layer may have a laminated triple layer structure.
US07642196B2 Semiconductor fabrication processes
Various methods for selectively etching metal-containing materials (such as, for example, metal nitrides, which can include, for example, titanium nitride) relative to one or more of silicon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, and doped silicon oxides in high aspect ratio structures with high etch rates. The etching can utilize hydrogen peroxide in combination with ozone, ammonium hydroxide, tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and/or a persulfate. The invention can also utilize ozone in combination with hydrogen peroxide, and/or in combination with one or more of ammonium hydroxide, tetra-methyl ammonium hydroxide and a persulfate. The invention can also utilize ozone, hydrogen peroxide and HCl, with or without persulfate. The invention can also utilize hydrogen peroxide and a phosphate, either alone, or in combination with a persulfate.
US07642195B2 Hydrogen treatment to improve photoresist adhesion and rework consistency
A process for selectively removing photoresist, organic overlayers, and/or polymers/residues from a substrate without altering the surface chemistry and adhesion properties of the underlying substrate layers is provided. Generally, the process includes pretreating the substrate with hydrogen (e.g., by way of a hydrogen-based plasma) prior to deposition of a photoresist layer, and then ashing the substrate with a hydrogen-based plasma to selectively remove the photoresist, organic overlayers, and/or polymers/residues from the substrate during etching, post-etch, rework, etc. The hydrogen-based ashing process of the invention may be used post-etch to remove the residue photoresist, or may be used in a rework stripping process to remove misaligned patterns. The hydrogen-based ashing process following the initial hydrogen surface pretreatment substantially reduces surface chemistry poisoning, while retaining adequate adhesion properties following ashing.
US07642194B2 Method for etching and apparatus for etching
A method of etching for forming a groove in a SOI substrate includes a forming step, in which a mixed gas plasma is formed by using a mixed gas of a fluorinate gas and an oxygenic gas, and an applying step, in which a high-frequency bias is intermittently applied to the SOI substrate. In the applying step, the high-frequency bias is a temporally modulated high-frequency electricity. According to the method of etching, a yielding rate and a productivity can be improved.
US07642191B2 Method of forming semiconductor structure
A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a mask layer on the substrate, Next, dielectric isolations are formed in the mask layer and the substrate, wherein the dielectric isolations extend above the substrate. Then, the mask layer is removed to expose a portion of the substrate, and a dielectric layer is formed on the exposed portion of the substrate. Subsequently, a first conductive layer is formed on the dielectric layer, and a portion of the dielectric isolation is removed, wherein a top surface of the remaining dielectric isolation is lower than a top surface of the first conductive layer. Moreover, a conformal layer is formed over the substrate, and a second conductive layer is formed on the conformal layer.
US07642189B2 Synergy effect of alloying materials in interconnect structures
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure, the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming an opening in the dielectric layer; forming a seed layer in the opening; forming a copper line on the seed layer, wherein at least one of the seed layer and the copper line includes an alloying material; and forming an etch stop layer on the copper line.
US07642187B2 Method of forming wiring of a semiconductor memory device
A method of forming a wiring for a semiconductor memory device includes obtaining a semiconductor substrate, depositing at least one conductive layer on the semiconductor substrate under controlled conditions, such as substrate temperature and atmosphere temperature, to provide a conductive layer exhibiting a reduced surface roughness as compared to a comparable conductive layer deposited under uncontrolled conditions, and patterning the conductive layer to form a wiring.
US07642185B2 Insulating film forming method capable of enhancing adhesion of silicon carbide film, etc. and semiconductor device
A first film made of silicon carbide is formed over a substrate. The surface of the first film is exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere to oxidize the surface layer of the first film. The surface of the first film is made in contact with chemical which makes the surface hydrophilic. On the hydrophilic surface of the first film, a second film is formed which is an insulating film made of a low dielectric constant insulating material having a relative dielectric constant of 2.7 or smaller or an insulating film made by a coating method. A sufficient adhesion property is obtained when a film made of low dielectric constant insulating material is formed on an insulating film made of silicon carbide having a small amount of oxygen contents.
US07642182B2 ESD protection for passive integrated devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for ESD protection of integrated passive devices (IPDs). The apparatus comprises one or more IPDs having terminals or other elements potentially exposed to ESD transients coupled by charge leakage resistances having resistance values much larger than the ordinary impedance of the IPDs at the operating frequency of interest. When the IPD is built on a semi-insulating substrate, various elements of the IPD are coupled to the substrate by spaced-apart connections so that the substrate itself provides the high value resistances coupling the elements, but this is not essential. When applied to an IPD RF coupler, the ESD tolerance increased by over 70%. The invented arrangement can also be applied to active devices and integrated circuits and to IPDs with conductive or insulating substrates.
US07642180B2 Semiconductor on insulator vertical transistor fabrication and doping process
A process for conformally doping through the vertical and horizontal surfaces of a 3-dimensional vertical transistor in a semiconductor-on-insulator structure employs an RF oscillating torroidal plasma current to perform either conformal ion implantation, or conformal deposition of a dopant-containing film which can then be heated to drive the dopants into the transistor. Some embodiments employ both conformal ion implantation and conformal deposition of dopant containing films, and in those embodiments in which the dopant containing film is a pure dopant, the ion implantation and film deposition can be performed simultaneously.
US07642177B2 Method of manufacturing nanowire
A method of manufacturing a nanowire, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus including a nanowire and a semiconductor apparatus formed from the same are provided. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus may include forming a material layer pattern on a substrate, forming a first insulating layer on the material layer pattern, a first nanowire forming layer and a top insulating layer on the substrate, wherein a total depth of the first insulating layer and the first nanowire forming layer may be formed to be smaller than a depth of the material layer pattern, sequentially polishing the top insulating layer, the first nanowire forming layer and the first insulating layer so that the material layer pattern is exposed, exposing part of the first nanowire forming layer to form an exposed region and forming a single crystalline nanowire on an exposed region of the first nanowire forming layer.
US07642173B2 Three-dimensional face-to-face integration assembly
A via for connecting metallization layers of chips bonded in a face-to-face configuration is provided, as well as methods of fabricating the via. The via may function as an interconnection of metallization layers in three-dimensional, stacked, integrated circuits, and may enable high density, low-resistance interconnection formation.
US07642172B2 Method of forming isolation layer in semiconductor device
A semiconductor device can include a semiconductor substrate, a first trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, a second trench formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first device isolation layer formed in the first trench, a second device isolation layer formed in the second trench having a different structure than the first device isolation layer.
US07642168B1 System and method for providing a self aligned bipolar transistor using a sacrificial polysilicon external base
A system and method are disclosed for providing a self aligned bipolar transistor using a sacrificial polysilicon external base. An active region of a transistor is formed and a sacrificial polysilicon external base is formed above the active region of the transistor and covered with a silicon oxide layer. Then an emitter window is etched and filled with silicon nitride. An etch procedure is subsequently performed to remove the sacrificial polysilicon external base. A layer of doped polysilicon material is then deposited to fill a cavity within the transistor formed by the removal of the sacrificial polysilicon external base. A polysilicon emitter structure is subsequently formed in the emitter window. The self aligned bipolar transistor architecture of the invention is compatible with BiCMOS technology.
US07642162B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device has plural columnar gate electrodes for plural MOSFETs formed in a row separately on a semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor region which is formed in a part between the neighboring two columnar gate electrodes of the plural columnar gate electrodes to form a channel of the MOSFETs.
US07642158B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of production
The bit lines are produced by an implantation of a dopant by means of a sacrificial hard mask layer, which is later replaced with the gate electrodes formed of polysilicon in the memory cell array. Striplike areas of the memory cell array, which run transversely to the bit lines, are reserved by a blocking layer to be occupied by the bit line contacts. In these areas, the hard mask is used to form contact holes, which are self-aligned with the implanted buried bit lines. Between the blocked areas, the word lines are arranged normally to the bit lines.
US07642157B2 Method for enhancing electrode surface area in DRAM cell capacitors
Methods for forming the lower electrode of a capacitor in a semiconductor circuit, and the capacitors formed by such methods are provided. The lower electrode is fabricated by forming a texturizing underlayer and then depositing a conductive material thereover. In one embodiment of a method of forming the lower electrode, the texturizing layer is formed by depositing a polymeric material comprising a hydrocarbon block and a silicon-containing block, over the insulative layer of a container, and then subsequently converting the polymeric film to relief or porous nanostructures by exposure to UV radiation and ozone, resulting in a textured porous or relief silicon oxycarbide film. A conductive material is then deposited over the texturizing layer resulting in a lower electrode have an upper roughened surface. In another embodiment of a method of forming the lower electrode, the texturizing underlayer is formed by depositing overlying first and second conductive metal layers and annealing the metal layers to form surface dislocations, preferably structured as a periodic network. A conductive metal is then deposited in gaseous phase, and agglomerates onto the surface dislocations of the texturizing layer, forming nanostructures in the form of island clusters. The capacitor is completed by depositing a dielectric layer over the formed lower electrode, and forming an upper capacitor electrode over the dielectric layer. The capacitors are particularly useful in fabricating DRAM cells.
US07642154B2 BiCMOS device and method of manufacturing a biCMOS device
A biCMOS device including a bipolar transistor and a Polysilicon/Insulator/Polysilicon (PIP) capacitor is disclosed. A biCMOS device may have a relatively low series resistance at a bipolar transistor. A bipolar transistor may have a desirable amplification rate.
US07642147B1 Methods for removing sidewall spacers
A method for removing sidewall spacers. The method includes: (a) forming a gate stack on a substrate; after (a), (b) forming dielectric spacers on sidewalls of the gate stack; after (b), (c) forming a dielectric sacrificial layer over the substrate and on the gate stack where the substrate and the gate stack are not covered by the spacers; and after (c), (d) removing the sacrificial layer and the spacers in a etch process by etching the sacrificial layer until the spacers are exposed and thereafter simultaneously etching the sacrificial layer and the spacers until the sacrificial layer and the spacers are removed. Methods for spacer removal from PFETs when a stress layer is formed over the NFETs are also disclosed.
US07642145B2 Method for producing electronic device
There is a problem in that when the demand accuracy with respect to a semiconductor pattern dimension comes close to a resist molecule size with miniaturization, the device performance is deteriorated due to edge roughness of a resist pattern to exert a bad influence on the system performance. The present invention overcomes the problem by the procedure in which super-molecules which are small in dimension as compared with the conventional polymers are used as main components, the reaction number required for the change of molecule solubility is made constant and as large as possible, and an acid generator is made clathrate or combinatory n super molecules to make an acid catalyst concentration large. As a result, it is possible to form a pattern of molecular accuracy with high productivity even with respect to the pattern dimension less than 50 nm, thereby realizing the high performance system.
US07642142B2 Method for manufacturing a flash memory device with cavities in upper portions of conductors
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate and forming conductor patterns and openings on the substrate. Next the openings are filled with a mask layer and upper portions of the conductor patterns are etched to form cavities. Following, a portion of the mask layer is removed to form a trench between two neighboring conductor patterns, wherein the trench exposes the substrate and the sidewalls of the two neighboring conductor patterns. Next, an insulating layer on the cavities and the trench is conformably formed, a second conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer and the trench is filled with the second conductive layer.
US07642141B2 Manufacturing method for display device
A manufacturing method for a display device having a first conductive type thin film transistor and a second conductive type thin film transistor, comprising the steps of: in formation regions for a first conductive type thin film transistor and a second conductive type thin film transistor forming a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film covering the semiconductor layer and a gate electrode disposed on the first insulating film so as to intersect the semiconductor layer, on substrate having first conductive type impurity regions on both outer sides of a channel region of the semiconductor layer below the gate electrode forming a second insulating film, in the second insulating film and the first insulating film forming a contact hole for a drain electrode and a source electrode, in the formation region for the second conductive type thin film transistor forming electrodes and a second conductive type impurity region.
US07642140B2 CMOS integrated circuit devices and substrates having buried silicon germanium layers therein and method of forming same
CMOS integrated circuit devices include an electrically insulating layer and an unstrained silicon active layer on the electrically insulating layer. An insulated gate electrode is also provided on a surface of the unstrained silicon active layer. A Si1-xGex layer is also disposed between the electrically insulating layer and the unstrained silicon active layer. The Si1-xGex layer forms a first junction with the unstrained silicon active layer and has a graded concentration of Ge therein that decreases monotonically in a first direction extending from a peak level towards the surface of the unstrained silicon active layer. The peak Ge concentration level is greater than x=0.15 and the concentration of Ge in the Si1-xGex layer varies from the peak level to a level less than about x=0.1 at the first junction. The concentration of Ge at the first junction may be abrupt. More preferably, the concentration of Ge in the Si1-xGex layer varies from the peak level where 0.2
US07642139B2 Semiconductor device production method and semiconductor device
A production method for a semiconductor device, including the steps of: forming a semiconductor layer of the first conductivity on the semiconductor substrate; forming a trench in the semiconductor layer, the trench penetrating through the semiconductor layer to reach the semiconductor substrate; filling a filling material in a predetermined bottom portion of the trench, so that a filling material portion is provided in the bottom portion of the trench up to a predetermined upper surface position which is shallower than an interface between the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor layer; and, after the filling step, introducing an impurity of the second conductivity into a portion of the semiconductor layer exposed to an interior side wall of the trench.
US07642137B2 Manufacturing method of chip package
A chip package including a thermal enhanced plate, contacts around the thermal enhanced plate and electrically insulated from the thermal enhanced plate, a film-like circuit layer disposed on the contacts and the thermal enhanced plate, a conductive adhesive layer, a first molding, and at least one chip disposed on the film-like circuit layer is provided. The conductive adhesive layer is disposed between the contacts and the film-like circuit layer electrically connected to the contacts through the conductive adhesive layer. The chip has a back surface, an active surface and many bumps disposed thereon, and the chip is electrically connected to the film-like circuit layer via the bumps. The first molding at least encapsulates a portion of the thermal enhanced plate, the conductive adhesive layer, parts of the contacts and at least a portion of the film-like circuit layer. Therefore, heat dissipation efficiency of the light emitting chip package is improved.
US07642134B2 Semiconductor device, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, manufacturing equipment of semiconductor device, light emitting diode head, and image forming apparatus
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is provided to manufacture an increased number of semiconductor devices per single substrate such as, e.g., a wafer while obviating damages like those caused by conventional dicing method. The manufacturing method comprises steps of performing a first etching process to etch a separation area on a front surface of a substrate, arranging a supporter on a back surface of the first substrate to prevent semiconductor devices from coming apart, coating with a thin film a non-etching area including a sidewall of the etched separation area and excluding a bottom of the etched separation area on the front surface of the first substrate, and performing a second etching process to etch the first substrate from the front surface through an area not coated by the thin film to divide the substrate into multiple semiconductor devices.
US07642133B2 Method of making a semiconductor package and method of making a semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a semiconductor device and a method of making the same. The method of making the semiconductor package comprises: providing a substrate; attaching a chip to a surface of the substrate; forming a plurality of connecting elements for electrically connecting the chip and the substrate; forming a plurality of first conductive bodies on the surface of the substrate; forming a molding compound for encapsulating the surface of the substrate, the chip, the connecting elements and the first conductive bodies; and removing a part of a border portion of the molding compound, so that the molding compound has two heights and one end of each first conductive bodies is exposed. Thereby, the molding compound covers the entire surface of the substrate, so that the bonding pads on the surface of the substrate will not be polluted.
US07642132B2 Three-dimensional package and method of making the same
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional package and a method of making the same. The method comprises: (a) providing a semiconductor body; (b) forming at least one blind hole in the semiconductor body; (c) forming an isolation layer on the side wall of the blind hole; (d) forming a conductive layer on the isolation layer; (e) patterning the conductive layer; (f) removing a part of the lower surface of the semiconductor body and a part of the isolation layer, so as to expose a part of the conductive layer; (g) forming a solder on the lower end of the conductive layer; (h) stacking a plurality of the semiconductor bodies, and performing a reflow process; and (i) cutting the stacked semiconductor bodies, so as to form a plurality of three-dimensional packages. As such, the lower end of the conductive layer and the solder thereon are “inserted” into the space formed by the conductive layer of the lower semiconductor body, so as to enhance the joining between the conductive layer and the solder, and effectively reduce the overall height of the three-dimensional packages after joining.
US07642127B2 Method and system for sealing a substrate
A method of sealing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device from ambient conditions is described, wherein the MEMS device is formed on a substrate and a substantially hermetic seal is formed as part of the MEMS device manufacturing process. The method comprises forming a metal seal on the substrate proximate a perimeter of the MEMS device using a method such as photolithography. The metal seal is formed on the substrate while the MEMS device retains a sacrificial layer between conductive members of MEMS elements, and the sacrificial layer is removed after formation of the seal and prior to attachment of a backplane.
US07642120B2 CMOS image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof. In the method, a photodiode, an interlayer insulating layer, a color filter layer, and a planarizing layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. A photoresist is applied on the planarizing layer. The photoresist is selectively patterned to form a plurality of photoresist patterns. A surface of each photoresist is hardened. The hardened photoresist patterns are reflowed to form microlenses.
US07642116B1 Method of forming a photodiode that reduces the effects of surface recombination sites
The loss of photogenerated electrons to surface electron-hole recombination sites is minimized by utilizing a first p-type surface region to form a depletion region that functions as a first barrier that repels photogenerated electrons from the surface recombination sites, and a second p-type surface region that provides a substantial change in the dopant concentration.
US07642115B2 Method for making a transducer
A method for forming a transducer including the step of providing a semiconductor-on-insulator wafer including first and second semiconductor layers separated by an electrically insulating layer. The method further includes depositing or growing a piezoelectric film or piezoresistive film on the wafer, depositing or growing an electrically conductive material on the piezoelectric or piezoresistive film to form at least one electrode, and depositing or growing a bonding layer including an electrical connection portion that is located on or is electrically coupled to the electrode. The method further includes the step of providing a ceramic substrate having a bonding layer located thereon, the bonding layer including an electrical connection portion and being patterned in a manner to generally match the bonding layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator wafer. The method also includes causing the bonding layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator wafer and the bonding layer of the substrate to bond together to thereby mechanically and electrically couple the semiconductor-on-insulator wafer and the substrate to form the transducer, wherein the electrical connection portions of the bonding layers of the semiconductor-on-insulator wafer and the substrate are fluidly isolated from the surrounding environment by the bonding layers.
US07642111B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other having a pixel region; a color filter layer on the first substrate corresponding to the pixel region; a planarization layer on the color filter layer having a groove; a common electrode on the planarization layer; a pixel electrode on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the common electrode and the pixel electrode.
US07642103B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor device
Dicing lines extending longitudinally and transversely, and chip areas surrounded by the dicing lines are formed in a resist mask. Critical-dimension patterns are formed in the dicing lines so as to be paired while placing the center line thereof in between. The dimensional measurement of the resist film having these patterns formed therein is made under a CD-SEM, by specifying a measurement-target chip area out of a plurality of chip areas, and by specifying a position of a critical-dimension pattern on the left thereof. Then, the distance of two linear portions configuring the critical-dimension pattern is measured, wherein a portion at a point of measurement on the measurement-target chip area side as viewed from the center line of the dicing line is measured.
US07642097B2 Manufacture and use of non-standard size microarray slides
Methods and devices are disclosed for microarray analysis. In one embodiment a method is disclosed for processing a non-standard size slide having an array of chemical compounds attached to a surface of the slide. A sample is exposed to the surface of the non-standard size slide wherein components in the sample bind to the chemical compounds on the surface of the slide. The sample and the slide are incubated under conditions for carrying out the binding reactions, and the surface of the non-standard size slide is examined for the results of the binding reactions. Prior to the exposing step or the incubating step or the examining step, the non-standard size slide is placed into a slide holder comprising a slide-holding section a slide-holding section adapted to dispose the non-standard size slide to a processing instrument in a manner similar to that for a standard size slide. The non-standard size slide may also include an identifier such as a bar code.
US07642095B2 Method of analyzing basestocks for low temperature properties
A process for producing lube basestocks involving solvent dewaxing a waxy feed to produce at least a partially dewaxed lube oil boiling range stream and then hydrodewaxing the partially dewaxed lube oil boiling range stream to produce a lube basestock.
US07642090B2 Systems and methods for generating compost
Systems and methods for the generation of compost are provided. In one embodiment, the system for generating compost comprises a positively aerated floor, a semi gas and liquid impermeable compost cover sized to cover a compost biomass pile placed on the positively aerated floor, and a suction system positioned under or substantially close to the compost cover and generally near a top of the compost biomass pile, wherein the floor comprises a plurality of channels connected to at least one gas flow pipe installed below or above grade, wherein gas drawn by suction system at the top of the biomass compost pile maintains a negative pressure across the compost cover, thereby generating suction between the compost cover and the top of the compost biomass pile, and wherein the compost cover directs substantially all of the gas flow towards the suction system.
US07642081B2 Lactic acid bacteria and their cellular components inducing immunoregulatory function, and method of obtaining the same
To provide a microorganism and an ingredient thereof that contribute to prevention and treatment of immune diseases including allergy, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory bowel diseases (e.g., large-intestinal ulcer), a method of effectively selecting the microorganism, and a method of efficiently inducing immunoregulatory cells that play an important role on maintaining immunological homeostasis using the microorganism or the ingredient thereof. The present invention provides a Lactococcus and an ingredient thereof which induce production of IL-10 from mammalian dendritic or spleen cells, a method of obtaining the microorganism or the ingredient thereof by co-culturing a microorganism such as Lactococcus strains with mammalian dendritic or spleen cells to select a microbial cell having a high IL-10 production ability, a method of selecting the microorganism or the ingredient thereof by co-culturing an intestinal epithelial cell with a microorganism such as the lactic acid bacteria and selecting the cells on the basis of a caspase-1 activity and the ability of inducing the production of IL-18, and a food product or material and an animal feeding stuff or medical and pharmaceutical products which contain the lactic acid bacteria as an effective ingredient.
US07642080B2 Subtilases
The present invention relates to novel subtilases from wild-type strains of Bacillus, especially the Bacillus strains ZI344, EP655, P203, EP63, ZI120, ZI130, ZI1342 and ZI140, and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry detergent or an automatic dishwashing detergent.
US07642078B2 Methods to obtain recombinant proteins with increased sialylation from cells that express adenovirus E1A protein, and proteins obtained thereby
The invention provides compositions comprising one or more isoforms of an erythropoietin (EPO) comprising glycans linked thereto, characterized in that said glycans comprise LewisX structures and on average at least 6 sialic acid moieties per EPO molecule. The invention further provides methods for obtaining a composition comprising one or more isoforms of an erythropoietin (EPO) comprising glycans linked thereto wherein said glycans comprise on average at least 6 sialic acids per EPO molecule and from 0 to 2 Lewis x structures, said method comprising: a) providing a eukaryotic cell containing a nucleic acid sequence encoding an adenoviral E1A protein in expressible format and further containing a nucleic acid encoding an EPO in expressible format, wherein said cell further contains a nucleic acid sequence encoding a sialyltransferase, preferably an alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase or an alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase, under control of a heterologous promoter; b) culturing said cell in a serum-free culture medium and allow expression of an EPO in said cell; c) harvesting the expressed EPO from said cell and/or from the culture medium; and d) purifying and fractionating the EPO to obtain fractions which have an increased average sialic acid content of the N-linked glycans per EPO molecule, to obtain a composition comprising one or more iso forms of an EPO comprising glycans linked thereto wherein said glycans comprise on average at least 6 sialic acids per EPO molecule and from 0 to 2 Lewis x structures.
US07642073B2 Method for reductive amination of a ketone using a mutated enzyme
Methods for chemically transforming compounds using a mutated enzyme are provided, and more particularly a method for the production of an amine from a target ketone. The methods comprise creating a mutated enzyme that catalyzes the reductive amination of the target ketone under conditions sufficient to permit the formation of the desired amine to thereby produce the amine.
US07642069B2 Process for the intracellular over-production of streptokinase using genetically engineered strain of E. coli
An improved process for the production of streptokinase using a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli which overproduces streptokinase intracellularly and more particularly, the overall process disclosed herein, concerns with an improvement in the fermentative production of streptokinase using an optimized growth medium mainly comprised of simple salts and trace-elements; thus, in principal, the present process constitutes an improved and more economical means for the production of streptokinase which may be useful in thrombolytic therapy.
US07642068B2 Multiple-valent opsonophagocytic assay selection panel arrays and uses therefor
This application discloses a multivalent opsonophagocytosis assay that does not rely on counting of bacterial colonies to determine bacteria viability following opsonophagocytosis. Instead, the method uses a metabolic colorimetric indicator to determine if viable bacteria are present. Also disclosed are arrays that can be used to determine the viability of bacteria following opsonophagocytosis.
US07642064B2 Enzyme-catalyzed metal deposition for the enhanced detection of analytes of interest
The invention is directed to enhanced methods for detecting an analyte of interest in situ, by immunoassay, or by hybridization comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to an analyte of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the inactive reductive species to an active reducing agent, which in turn reduces the metal ion to a metal atom thereby providing an enhanced means of detecting the analyte via metal deposition.
US07642063B2 Methods for targeting and killing glioma cells
A diagnostic technique for matching anti-cancer peptide drugs to the molecular profiles of individual cancer tumors, and a method using the technique for a patient-specific treatment of tumors in mammals. This strategy matches anti-cancer peptide drugs to the molecular profiles of individual tumors, and includes the development of two banks, both of which use the same targeting peptides. Targeting peptides are identified using biopsies or other tissue materials from multiple cancer patients and placed into two banks. For a bank of probes, targeting peptides are linked to a label such as a fluorescent or a radioisotope. For a bank of drugs, targeting peptides are linked to a cytotoxic peptide to form a “targeting peptide drug”. Peptide probes are used to establish molecular profiles of individual tumors. Based on these molecular profiles, a patient-specific combination of targeting drugs from the bank of peptide drugs is prepared and the patient is treated. Any currently used cytotoxic agent that can be linked to targeting peptides may be used in place of cytotoxic peptides.
US07642058B2 Method and apparatus for characterization of interactions
The invention relates to a method of characterizing interaction between two species in a liquid environment, wherein a liquid comprising said at least one species is passed as a flow through a measurement system, and wherein the interaction takes place within said measurement system. The method comprises generating a concentration gradient of at least a first one of said species or of at least one other species having an influence on the interaction or on interacted components. The flow of liquid is passed through a sensor device, and a result of interaction between said at least two species is detected. The flow of liquid is intersected at least once with a further liquid before the flow is passed through said sensor, so as to create at least two separated liquid segments having different concentrations of at least one of said species forming the concentration gradient.
US07642057B2 Method and probes for the detection of chromosome aberrations
A novel method for detecting chromosome aberrations is disclosed. More specifically, chromosome aberrations are detected by in situ hybridisation using at least two sets of hybridisation probes, at least one set comprising one or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to a potential aberration in a chromosome, and at least one set comprising two or more peptide nucleic acid probes capable of hybridising to specific nucleic acid sequences related to another potential aberration in a chromosome. In particular, the method may be used for detecting chromosome aberrations in the form of breakpoints.
US07642056B2 Method and kit for detecting a target protein using a DNA aptamer
A method and a kit for detecting a target protein in a sample with a signal amplification strategy are provided. The signal amplification strategy is established for the aptamer-based molecular recognition of a target protein with concomitant release of single-stranded DNA (G-DNA), which binds complementarily to a single-stranded RNA comprising a fluorophore and a quencher (“F-RNA-Q”). The fluorescence-quenched RNA is then degraded by RNase H to result in a fluorescence signal, and the undamaged G-DNA is recycled to yield fluorescence amplification.
US07642053B2 Method and device for PCR-amplification and detection of nucleotide sequences
A DNA-Chip includes a flat carrier and an array of spots containing probe molecules (oligonucleotides) which are arranged on said carrier. Each spot is associated with a microelectrode arrangement for impedance spectroscopic detection of binding events occurring between the probe molecules and target molecules (DNA fragments) applied by way of an analyte solution. In order to increase the sensitivity or the binding specific measuring effects of the biochip, the electrode arrangement is at least partially embedded in a hydrophilic reaction layer containing probe molecules and which is permeable to target molecules.
US07642048B2 Chemo-sensitivity assays using tumor cells exhibiting persistent phenotypic characteristics
The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.
US07642044B2 Trimerising module
The present invention relates to the design of trimeric polypeptides using polypeptide structural elements derived from the tetranectin protein family, and their use in rational de novo design and production of multi-functional molecules including the application of the multi-functional molecules in protein library technology, such as phage display technology, diagnostic and therapeutic systems, such as human gene therapy and imaging. The trimeric polypeptides being constructed as a monomer polypeptide construct comprising at least one tetranectin trimerising structural element (TTSE) which is covalently linked to at least one heterologous moiety, said TTSE being capable of forming a stable complex with two other TTSEs; or as an oligomer which is comprised of two monomer polypeptide constructs as mentioned above, and which comprises three TTSEs or a multiplum of three TTSEs, or which is comprised of three monomer polypeptide constructs.
US07642043B2 Rework process for photoresist film
There is disclosed a rework process for a photoresist film over a substrate having at least an antireflection silicone resin film and the photoresist film over the silicone resin film comprising: at least removing the photoresist film with a solvent while leaving the silicone resin film unremoved; and forming a photoresist film again over the silicone resin film. In this case, the substrate over which the photoresist film is reworked can have an organic film under the silicone resin film. There can be provided a rework process for a photoresist film that can be conducted more easily at lower cost.
US07642042B2 Polymer, top coating layer, top coating composition and immersion lithography process using the same
A polymer, a top coating layer, a top coating composition and an immersion lithography process using the same are disclosed. The top coating layer polymer may include a deuterated carboxyl group having a desired acidity such that the top coating layer polymer may be insoluble with water and a photoresist, and soluble in a developer. The polymer may be included in a top coating layer and a top coating composition.
US07642036B2 Azo-metal chelate dye and optical recording medium
The azo-metal chelate dye to which the present invention is applied is a compound formed as follows: for example, 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring is selected as the diazo component; the diazo component is combined with a coupler component having condensed rings including a fluorine-substituted alkylsulfonylamino group and an amino group, to form an azo dye compound; and the azo dye compound forms chelate bonds with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu and Pd. Here, two absorption bands (OD1 and OD2) are seen in the absorption spectrum, which is measured in a range of 400 to 800 nm wavelengths. The azo-metal chelate dye is characterized in that the optical density ratio (OD2/OD1) of the two absorption bands is greater than 1.25. By using this azo-metal chelate dye, an optical recording medium capable of high-speed recording is provided.
US07642035B2 Sensitized photochemical switching for cholesteric liquid crystal displays
The present invention relates to photo-tunable dopant compositions comprising a photo-reactive chiral compound capable of undergoing a photochemical reaction resulting in the loss of chirality, and a triplet sensitizer. The present invention also relates to a display comprising a substrate, a liquid crystalline layer thereon, wherein the liquid crystalline layer comprises a nematic host, at least one chiral dopant, a photo-reacted compound, and a triplet sensitizer, and at least one transparent conductive layer. The present invention also relates to a method of tuning a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising providing at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound; combining the at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound to form a mixture; and irradiating the mixture for a period of time.
US07642033B2 Toner production method, toner and toner production apparatus
In a toner production method, a volatile solvent gas is jetted into a dispersion of aggregated resin particles where at least resin particles dispersed in a continuous phase are aggregated. A form of the aggregated resin particles is controlled by jetting the volatile solvent gas into the dispersion of aggregated resin particles. The volatile solvent is removed from the form-controlled aggregated resin particles.
US07642032B2 Toner, developer, image forming apparatus and image forming method
A toner including a binder resin; and a colorant, wherein a hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)-soluble component satisfies the following relationship: 2,000 ≦Mn ≦7,000 and 1.5 ≦Mn/Mw ≦10 wherein Mn represents a number-average molecular weight and Mw represents a weight-average molecular weight.
US07642031B2 Electrophotographic toner and electrophotographic developer and image forming method
An electrophotographic toner that includes a colorant, a release agent, a non-crystalline resin and a crystalline resin, wherein the crystalline resin is a polyalkyl acrylate or polyalkyl methacrylate having an alkyl group of approximately 18 or more carbon atoms, and is produced by copolymerization with approximately 10 mol % or more, but no more than approximately 50 mol %, of a vinyl monomer having a carboxyl group.
US07642029B2 Imaging member
A flexible imaging member which does not require the use of an anti-curl back coating is disclosed herein. The flexible imaging member has a layer comprising two charge transport molecules dispersed in a film-forming polymer binder and an overcoat layer. The first charge transport molecule is a biphenyl amine, terphenyl diamine, or bis(triarylamine) stilbene. The second charge transport molecule is a bis(triarylamine), tri-p-tolylamine, or triphenylamine. The weight ratio of second charge transport molecule to first charge transport molecule is from about 90:10 to about 66:34. Trifluoro acetic acid is also added to the layer containing the charge transport material.
US07642022B2 Parameter determination method, exposure method, device fabrication method, and storage medium
The present invention provides a parameter determination method of determining an optical parameter and a process parameter by using an optical simulator which calculates a resist image to be formed on a resist applied on a substrate, based on the optical parameter of an exposure apparatus which transfers a pattern of a mask onto the substrate, and a process simulator which calculates a process image to be formed on the substrate, based on the process parameter representing information concerning the resist and information concerning a process to be performed on the resist.
US07642020B2 Method for separating optical and resist effects in process models
A methodology to improve the through-process model calibration accuracy of a semiconductor manufacturing process using lithographic methods by setting the correct defocus and image plane position in a patterning process model build. Separations of the optical model and the photoresist model are employed by separating out the adverse effects of the exposure tool from the effects of the photoresist. The exposure tool is adjusted to compensate for the errors. The methodology includes a determination of where the simulator best focus location is in comparison to the empirically derived best focus location.
US07642019B2 Methods for monitoring and adjusting focus variation in a photolithographic process using test features printed from photomask test pattern images; and machine readable program storage device having instructions therefore
Systems and methods are provided for detecting focus variation in a lithographic process using photomasks having test patterns adapted to print test features with critical dimensions that can be measured and analyzed to determine magnitude and direction of defocus from a best focus position of an exposure tool during the lithographic process.
US07642013B2 Medical device having lithium-ion battery
A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector, a first active material, and a second active material. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode including a current collector, a third active material, and a quantity of lithium in electrical contact with the current collector of the negative electrode. The second active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.
US07642012B2 Polymer separator for a lithium battery
A separator for a battery in lithium. The separator is a thick membrane, of around 60 to 120 μm in polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer, which has considerable porosity, of around 50 to 90%, with pores of size between 1 and 10 μm. With these characteristics, it is possible to optimize the operation of a battery with an electrode in, e.g., Li4Ti5O12, in particular for rapid charges and discharges, in other words in power applications.
US07642006B2 Secondary battery module
A secondary battery module includes a unit battery pack having a plurality of unit batteries arranged at predetermined intervals, and a housing having the unit battery pack disposed in the housing. A heat transfer medium for controlling temperature of the plurality of unit batteries circulates in the housing. A first dispersion plate is fixedly disposed in the housing so as to be adjacent to the unit battery pack, and distributes the heat transfer medium between the plurality of unit batteries. A second dispersion plate is slidably disposed on the first dispersion plate, and distributes the heat transfer medium between the plurality of unit batteries.
US07642005B2 Battery pack
A battery pack includes a case having an inner space, a plurality of battery cells placed inside the case, and at least one spacer placed between the battery cells. A space is formed around a supporting portion of the spacer for the battery cells so as to allow heat generated by the battery cells to flow out of the case. The spacer supports the battery cells by line contact therewith. The spacer body is formed in the shape of an H beam or in the shape of a staircase.
US07641995B2 Heat exchanger for a heating system with integrated fuel cells for the production of electricity
Please substitute the following version of the Abstract, with changes shown by strikethrough (for deletions) or underlining (for added matter). The heat exchanger (I) is provided for a heating system with integrated fuel cells (Z) for the production of electricity and with an additional burner (B). Electrical and thermal energy (E, Q) can be produced in this heating system from a gaseous fuel or from a fuel brought into the gas form by means of the fuel cells, and/or thermal energy (Q) can be produced by means of the additional burner. One part of the thermal energy present in the form of hot exhaust gases can be transferred in the heat exchanger to a liquid heat transfer medium, in particular water or an oil. The heat transfer medium is provided for heat transport for the purpose of room heating and/or process water heating. The heat exchanger forms a compact unit which is also made of a material of good thermal conductivity. Two separate passages (12, 13) are arranged in the heat exchanger inside a double-walled jacket (10). The jacket has a structured inner space (11) which forms a communicating vessel. Due to the structuring the heat transfer medium flows through at least a predominant part of the inner space.
US07641993B2 Exhaust emissions control of hydrogen throughout fuel cell stack operation
A system and method for limiting the amount of hydrogen being bled from an anode exhaust line. The method includes maintaining a pressure bias between an anode outlet and a cathode outlet of a fuel cell stack so that when an anode exhaust gas is bled from the anode exhaust line and mixed with the cathode exhaust gas, the concentration of hydrogen in the mixed gas is maintained below a predetermined percentage. The pressure bias is such that the anode exhaust gas has a higher gas pressure than the cathode exhaust gas.
US07641992B2 Medical device having lithium-ion battery
A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode including a current collector and a first active material, a negative electrode including a current collector and a second active material, and an auxiliary electrode including a current collector and a third active material. The auxiliary electrode is configured for selective electrical connection to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.
US07641990B2 Iron compound particles and magnetic recording medium using same
Non-magnetic powder of particles for non-magnetic lower layer applications is provided that enables a multilayer coating type magnetic recording medium having good surface smoothness to be obtained. The particles are iron compound particles having a long axis with a standard geometrical deviation, as obtained from a transmission electron microscope image, that is greater than 1.5, and a short axis with a standard geometrical deviation, as obtained from a TEM image, that is greater than 1.35. The iron compound particles may be hematite or iron oxyhydroxide.
US07641988B2 Self-supported nitride semiconductor substrate and its production method, and light-emitting nitride semiconductor device using it
A self-supported nitride semiconductor substrate of 10 mm or more in diameter having an X-ray diffraction half width of 500 seconds or less in at least one of a {20-24} diffraction plane and a {11-24} diffraction plane.
US07641984B2 Composite metal foam and methods of preparation thereof
The present invention is directed to composite metal foams comprising hollow metallic spheres and a solid metal matrix. The composite metal foams show high strength, particularly in comparison to previous metal foams, while maintaining a favorable strength to density ratio. The composite metal foams can be prepared by various techniques, such as powder metallurgy and casting.
US07641983B2 Medical devices including composites
Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical device includes a composite having a metallic matrix and a plurality of particles in the matrix, the particles and the matrix having different compositions.
US07641982B2 Radiation curable composition
A composition includes at least one radiation curable (alkyl)acrylate-polyester oligomer, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one surfactant, wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 50 cP to about 3000 cP at about 25° C., and a surface tension of from about 15 to about 40 dynes/cm at about 25° C.
US07641981B2 Surface treated metal material
A metal material having a coating formed by a surface treatment on the surface of the metal material is provided. The coating has an excellent corrosion resistance with or without a further coating that is equivalent or superior to the prior art coating formed by zinc phosphate treatment or chromate treatment, is free from sludge formation or environmentally harmful components, and is formed by using a component capable of deposition with a simple method. A surface-treated metal material having on a surface of a metal material a coating layer formed by a surface treatment, the coating layer containing the following components (A) and (B), wherein (A) is an oxide and/or hydroxide of at least one metallic element selected from the group of Ti, Zr, and Hf and (B) is aluminum; wherein, in the coating layer formed by the surface treatment, the weight ratio K1 (=B/A), which is the weight ratio of the coating weight B of aluminum of the component (B) to the total coating weight A of the metallic element in the component (A), is in the range of 0.001≦K1≦2.
US07641971B2 Metal-treated particles for remediation
The invention relates to metal-treated particles, methods for their preparation and methods for using metal-treated particles for, e.g., remediation of process waste-water, sewage, contaminated groundwater aquifers, and soil containing harmful contaminants. Another aspect of the invention relates to a metal-treated particle comprising a ferrosoferric oxide core and a metal supported on the core, where the average diameter or other largest transverse dimension of the core is from about 75 nm to about 990 nm and the amount of metal supported on the core is from about 8% to about 22% by weight, based on the weight of the metal-treated particle.
US07641969B2 Optical fiber preform with overclad tubes
An optical fiber preform is assembled by inserting core rod segments axially end to end inside of a first glass overclad tube having a first, relatively low concentration of a given impurity that contributes to signal attenuation in an optical fiber to be drawn from the preform. The first overclad tube with the contained core rod segments are inserted in a second glass tube having a second concentration of the given impurity which is higher than the first concentration. The wall thickness of the first overclad tube is preferably less than that of the second overclad tube, thus reducing the amount of high purity glass needed to form the first overclad tube and attendant manufacturing costs. The core rod segments may include salvageable remnants from a single long core rod produced, for example, by vapor axial deposition (VAD).
US07641968B2 Moisture-curable polyurethane hot melt adhesive and multilayer sheet using the same
There are provided a moisture-curable polyurethane hot melt adhesive containing a urethane prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyol (A) with a polyisocyanate (B), wherein the polyol (A) contains 40 to 80 mass % of a polycarbonate polyol (a1), 5 to 40 mass % of polytetramethylene glycol (a2), and 5 to 40 mass % of a polyester polyol (a3) obtained by reacting a polycarboxylic acid containing an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid with a polyether polyol obtained by adding an alkylene oxide to bisphenol A, based on the total amount of the polyol (A), and a multilayer sheet using this adhesive. This adhesive can maintain excellent adhesion strength even after washing is repeatedly performed under stringent washing conditions without impairing soft texture of a multilayer sheet.
US07641960B2 Cellular cushioned material
An inflatable cellular cushioning material having an air inlet pipe path to be inflated by an inflating device through the use of an air inlet pipe, the inflatable cushioning material comprising at least two layers of plastic pre-welded in such a manner so as to form a substantially diagonally oriented lines forming sleeves along the longitudinal axis of the inflatable cellular cushioning material and a substantially horizontal welded lines along the path of the air inlet pipe whereby the horizontal welded lines substantially reduce the non-inflated areas along the path of the air inlet pipe.
US07641957B2 Coated polymeric substrates having improved surface smoothness suitable for use in flexible electronic and opto-electronic devices
The use of a coating composition comprising: (a) from about 5 to about 50 weight percent solids, the solids comprising from about 10 to about 70 weight percent silica and from about 90 to about 30 weight percent of a partially polymerized organic silanol of the general formula RSi(OH)3, wherein R is selected from methyl and up to about 40% of a group selected from the group consisting of vinyl, phenyl, gamma-glycidoxypropyl, and gamma-methacryloxypropyl, and (b) from about 95 to about 50 weight percent solvent, the solvent comprising from about 10 to about 90 weight percent water and from about 90 to about 10 weight percent lower aliphatic alcohol, wherein the coating composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 8.0, for the purpose of improving the surface smoothness of a polymeric substrate, particularly a heat-stabilised, heat-set, oriented polyester substrate, and use of said coated substrate in the manufacture of an electronic or optoelectronic device containing a conjugated conductive polymer.
US07641955B2 Honeycomb structured body and exhaust gas converting apparatus
A honeycomb structured body comprising a pillar-shaped honeycomb block including a honeycomb unit in which a number of cells are longitudinally placed in parallel with a cell wall therebetween. The honeycomb unit comprising inorganic particles, as well as inorganic fibers and/or whiskers, and the inorganic fibers and/or whiskers increase a specific surface area of the honeycomb unit. A sealing material provided on a peripheral portion of the honeycomb block. Irregularities are formed on the peripheral face of the honeycomb structured body and the pillar-shaped honeycomb block. A least square curve is obtained by a least square method on the basis of points comprising the contour of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the honeycomb structured body and the honeycomb block.
US07641954B2 Insulated panel and glazing system comprising the same
The invention provides a translucent glazing panel comprising: (a) a thermoplastic panel comprising (i) an outer wall having an inner surface defining an internal channel, the internal channel having an internal volume, and (ii) at least one inner wall protruding from the inner surface into the internal channel, and (b) hydrophobic aerogel particles, the hydrophobic aerogel particles being disposed within the channel. The invention also provides an insulated glazing system comprising: (a) a first U-shaped element, (b) a second U-shaped element, the first and second elements being disposed to define a cavity therebetween, and (c) an insulating panel disposed within the cavity. The insulated glazing system can further comprise hydrophobic aerogel particles disposed within the internal channel of the insulating panel. The insulating panel of the glazing system also can be the same as the translucent glazing panel described herein.
US07641953B2 Component for a vehicle interior having a soft-feel touch
A component for an interior of a vehicle including a substrate, a skin cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and foam disposed within the cavity. The skin includes first and second skin components cooperating to define an outer show surface and a hidden support portion that extends away from the show portion. The skin components matingly engage each other along the length of the support portion to substantially prevent the foam from leaking therebetween. Additionally, the support portion includes an deformable portion to improve the soft-touch feel of the component.
US07641951B2 Printing stock for use in printing composite signs, methods and apparatus for printing such signs, and methods for manufacturing such printing stock
Printing stock for use in making a sign that includes a face sheet and a backing sheet. The sign is formed, for example, by overlapping a plurality of face sub-sheets of the printing stock, with the face sub-sheets arranged in a pattern to form a desired image of the sign. The face sheet includes a printing surface for receiving ink and an adhesive surface for receiving the backing sheet. The face sheet includes a face cut forming a margin and the face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet. The backing sheet may include a backing cut forming a border and a backing sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the border is separable from the backing sub-sheet so that at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the face sheet is exposable.
US07641950B2 Polyester/polyamide blend having improved flavor retaining property and clarity
This invention relates to a polyester/polyamide blend having an excellent gas barrier property. More particularly, the present invention relates to combinations of a polyethylene terephthalate polymer and a polyamide polymer having an excellent gas barrier property and short oxygen scavenging induction periods, where the polyamide polymer has a C:A terminal group concentration ratio of 2:1 or more and a C+A terminal group concentration of at least 0.17 meq/g of polyamide polymer, wherein C represents a cumulative total of a terminal carboxyl group concentration and a terminal hydrocarbyl group concentration expressed in meq/g of polyamide, and A represents a terminal amine group concentration expressed in meq/g of polyamide.
US07641948B2 In-mold transfer film
An in-mold transfer film is formed to satisfy the conditions of F2>F1, F3>F2, F3>F1, and F3>F1+F4+F5, where F1 is an adhesive force at an interface between a base and a mold-release layer, F2 is an adhesive force at an interface between the mold-release layer and a printed ink layer, F3 is an adhesive force at an interface between the printed ink layer and a transferred object, F4 is a cohesive force of the mold-release layer, and F5 is a cohesive force of the printed ink layer.
US07641947B2 Stackable inkjet recording material
In one aspect of the present system and method, an inkjet recording medium includes a photobase layer, a layer of inorganic oxide dispensed on a first side of the photobase layer, and a layer of ink vehicle absorbing layer formed on a second side of the photobase layer.
US07641946B2 Adhesive film and image display device
An adhesive film prevents static charge on peeling generated when removed from an adherend and also improves adhesion between a base material and an adhesive layer, where an under coat layer containing an organometallic is formed on the base material and then an adhesive layer is formed on the base material. Alternatively, an adhesive film showing high adhesion with a glass substrate, and including an antistatic layer, which prevents static charge on peeling generated when the surface protective film is removed, and improves adhesion between a base material and an adhesive layer, where the adhesive film includes a base material, an adhesive layer made of a water dispersible adhesive including, and an antistatic layer, containing a water soluble or water dispersible conductive material, interposed between them, and the adhesive film is stuck onto an image display device.
US07641945B2 Electrical-discharge surface-treatment method
An electrode for an electrical-discharge surface-treatment method is molded with a metallic powder or a metallic compound powder having an average grain diameter of 6 micrometers to 10 micrometers. A coat on a surface of a workpiece is formed with a material constituting the electrode or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the material due to a pulse-like electrical discharge. The coat is built up with a material containing metal as a main constituent under conditions of a width of a current pulse for the pulse-like electrical discharge in a range of 50 microseconds to 500 microseconds and a peak of the current pulse equal to or less than 30 amperes.
US07641941B2 Oxidation inhibition of carbon-carbon composites
This invention relates to a method of inhibiting oxidation of a porous carbon-carbon composite comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the carbon-carbon composite with an oxidation inhibiting composition comprising phosphoric acid or an acid phosphate salt, at least one aluminum salt, and at least one additional metal salt, the oxidation inhibiting composition penetrating at least some of the pores of the carbon-carbon composite; and (b) heating the carbon-carbon composite at a temperature sufficient to form a deposit from the oxidation inhibiting composition within at least some of the penetrated pores of the carbon-carbon composite. The invention also relates to the foregoing oxidation inhibiting composition. The invention relates to carbon-carbon composites treated by the foregoing method.
US07641939B2 Chemical vapor deposition reactor having multiple inlets
A chemical vapor deposition reactor has a wafer carrier which cooperates with a chamber of the reactor to facilitate laminar flow of reaction gas within the chamber and a plurality of injectors configured in flow controllable zones so as to mitigate depletion.
US07641935B2 Method of liquid crystal alignment for a flexible LCD with micro-grooves
The present invention is method of liquid crystal alignment for a flexible LCD with micro-grooves comprising: coating a thermoplastic material onto a conductive film; heat embossing a plurality of micro-grooves formed by a mold, wherein the surface of said mold forms said plurality of micro-grooves; and aligning said plurality of micro-grooves with an aligning wall and grooves. The present invention also adds a plurality of liquid alignment technology in roll-to-toll micro cell LCD processes. The plurality of liquid alignment technology lets the micro cells of the LCD from without aligning with an alignment LCD mode (such as TN, VA or horizontal alignment) and achieves a better contrast and display quality.
US07641934B2 Process for the production of entry sheet for drilling and use thereof
There are provided a process for the production of an entry sheet for drilling, comprising preparing a water-soluble resin composition solution by using a mixed solvent containing water and isopropyl alcohol in a specific ratio as a solvent of a water-soluble resin composition, then applying the solution to a sheet-like base material and drying the resultant base material to form a resin layer on the base material, and a method of drilling a printed wiring board material using the above entry sheet. According to the present invention, the problems of remaining bubbles in the resin layer and a decrease in surface flatness and smoothness due to the occurrence of a ridge, which are caused because the melting point of the water-soluble resin is lower than the boiling point of water, are overcome, and an entry sheet for drilling excellent in hole position accuracy is provided.
US07641930B2 Chocolate products and ingredients and methods for producing novel oil-in-water suspensions
The invention provides novel means and methods for manipulating cocoa and milk ingredients, for example, to produce edible oil-in-water suspensions. In one embodiment, cocoa products are used to produce a gel network formed by cocoa starches and/or proteins. The suspension is formed with milk proteins and cocoa solids and also comprises crystallized cocoa butter as a dispersed component, and water or skim milk as the continuous phase or aqueous phase. The compositions, products, and ingredients possible according to the invention provide novel methods and components for low or reduced calorie or sugar free chocolate products or ingredients having the same cocoa content as conventional chocolate and/or falling within the standard of identity for chocolate products. In addition, the production and packaging options for chocolate products are expanded by the use of the invention as the viscosity of the chocolate product or ingredient can be varied easily without specific reliance on cocoa butter content.
US07641929B2 Method and device for adjusting the sediment content of a drink
A method of adjusting a sediment content of a drink by a centrifuge. The method includes the steps of feeding a starting product into a centrifugal drum, clarifying the starting product by a clarification process of sediment substances into a clear phase, a solids phase and a finely cloudy phase, and discharging the clear phase, the solids phase and the finely clouded phase from the centrifugal drum. Also disclosed is a centrifuge for adjusting a sediment content of a drink.
US07641928B2 Dewatering whole stillage
The present invention relates to a method of dewatering whole stillage comprising subjecting whole stillage to one or more enzymes capable of degrading a whole stillage component and separating the material obtained in step i) into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction.
US07641927B2 Chewing gum and confectionery compositions containing a stain removing complex, and methods of making and using the same
A composition in the form of a chewing gum composition or a confectionery composition containing a stain removing complex of a stain removing agent and a cyclodextrin compound and methods of preparing and using the same to remove stains from dental material including teeth.
US07641925B2 Synergistic composition for the treatment of diabetes mellitus
A synergistic composition for the treatment of diabetes in a subject in need thereof, comprising Trigonelline of concentration ranging between 20 to 30%, amino acids of concentration ranging between 20 to 60%, and soluble fiber of concentration ranging between 10 to 60%, optionally along with pharmaceutically acceptable additives, a process thereof and also, a method of treating diabetes.
US07641924B2 Nutritional composition for controlling blood sugar level
A nutritional composition for controlling blood sugar level comprising a protein, a lipid and a carbohydrate, wherein energy percentages supplied by the protein, lipid and carbohydrate are 10 to 25%, 20 to 35% and 40 to 60%, respectively; and oleic acid in the lipid energy percentage is 60 to 90% and palatinose and/or trehalulose in the carbohydrate energy percentage is 60 to 100%. The composition is useful as an oral or tube feeding nutrient for nutritional management or blood sugar level control of patients suffering from diabetes and glucose intolerance, or for obesity prevention, a therapeutic diet, a diet for diabetic patients at home, an obesity preventive diet or a food with health claims.
US07641921B1 Anti-anal fistula composition and process for its manufacture
The composition and process for preparing an anti-anal fistula composition which comprises providing a predetermined effective amount of natural substances of the genera Safflower, Notoginseng Radix, Lightyellow Sophora, Elecampane Redix, Rumex, Pine Resin, Sassafras Tree, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Testudinis Carapax, Rhei Rhizoma, Ephedrae Herba, Natrii Sulfas, Menthae Herba, Pasoniae Radix, Acontii Tuber, Corni Fructus, Gypsum, and Pelladendri Radix in an aqueous medium to form an initial mixture, extracting the initial mixture with water at a temperature of about 65°-75° C. for 1-2 hours to produce an aqueous mixture, filtering the aqueous mixture to produce a filtrate, and evaporating the filtrate to a moisture content of 30% to produce an extract which can be used as a treatment for hemorrhoid diseases including anal fistula.
US07641918B2 Plasma cryoprecipitate substantially free of plasminogen
A method for specifically removing or isolating plasmin(ogen) or plasmin in presence of fibrinogen from a mixture containing plasmin(ogen) or plasmin by contacting the mixture with a rigid amino acid wherein the amino group of the amino acid and the carboxylic group of the amino acid are about 6-8 Angstroms, preferably about 7 Angstroms apart and the rigid amino acid is covalently bound to the support via the amino group of the amino acid.
US07641917B2 Method of encapsulating an active substance
The invention provides a method of encapsulating an active substance in an interpolymer complex, to make an encapsulated product in particulate form. The method comprises forming a mixture of a supercritical fluid, an interpolymer complex and an active substance and then causing or allowing the interpolymer complex to encapsulate the active substance. The encapsulated product is then separated from the supercritical fluid and, if necessary, the product is subjected to size reduction to ontain particles in which the active substance is encapsulated by the interpolymer complex.
US07641912B1 Antimicrobial coatings for treatment of surfaces in a building setting and method of applying same
Antimicrobial coatings to protect surfaces and a method of applying such a coating are disclosed. An antimicrobial coating may be applied to a surface, such as the interior surface of a building's exterior wall. The interior surface must be accessed, and then an antimicrobial coating is provided and applied. The antimicrobial coating includes an inorganic antimicrobial additive and a colloidal polymeric medium. The inorganic antimicrobial additive may be silver, platinum, gold, palladium, copper, zinc, boron, or a compound of any of those elements. By including an ultraviolet tracer or color dye additive in the coating, it is possible to detect the coating at any time, provided that the surface is accessed.
US07641911B2 Immunological adjuvant compositions
The present invention is directed to novel adjuvant compositions, which target the cellular and/or humoral arms of immunity. According to an embodiment of the invention, an oil-in-water adjuvant composition is provided that comprises: (a) water; (b) a metabolizable oil comprising at least one branched or unbranched long-chain hydrocarbon moiety; (c) a steroid; and (d) a saponin.
US07641908B2 Dengue serotype 2 attenuated strain
The invention relates to live attenuated VDV2 (VERO-Derived Vaccine Dengue serotype 2) strains which have been derived from the wild-type dengue-2 strain 16681 by passaging on PDK and Vero cells. The invention further relates to a vaccine composition which comprises a VDV2 strain.
US07641904B2 IL-32 monoclonal antibodies and uses thereof
The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies specific for interleukin-32 (IL-32, previously referred to as “natural killer cell transcript 4” or “NK4”) and hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for IL-32. Also provided are diagnostic methods and kits (e.g., ELISA, Western blot, etc.) which utilize monoclonal antibodies specific for IL-32.
US07641902B2 Compositions and methods for detecting cancer and for inhibiting metastasis
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting cancer (e.g., prostate cancer) and for inhibiting metastasis (e.g., associated with prostate cancer). In particular, the present invention provides methods of detecting vimentin expression and secretion and for characterizing cancer (e.g., prostate cancer). In addition, the present invention provides methods for inhibiting metastasis (e.g., of prostate cancer) via altering (e.g., inhibiting) vimentin expression and/or activity.
US07641901B2 Immunotherapy of autoimmune disorders using antibodies which target B-cells
Antibodies that bind with a B-cell antigen provide an effective means to treat autoimmune disorders. Antibodies and fragments, which may be conjugated or naked, are used alone or in multimodal therapies. The antibodies may be bispecific antibodies which may be produced recombinantly as fusion proteins, or as hybrid, polyspecific antibodies.
US07641900B2 Wound treatment utilizing collagenase and a phosphotidylcholine organogel
The effect of the action of collagenase in treating lesions containing collagen or mixed fibrin clots (e.g., burns or ulcers) is improved by applying collagenase to the wound in combination with an organogel and a phosphatidylcholine, of which lecithin is a readily available source, particularly when the collagenase is first mixed and stored with that choline and an organic solvent and is subsequently mixed with a second individually stored formulation comprising a gel-forming agent and water, the two formulations individually having satisfactory shelf lives and the resultant mixture being applied to the lesion promptly after being formed.
US07641897B2 Feeder layer and serum independent embryonic stem cells
Undifferentiated primordial stem cells are manipulated to permit their long term growth in defined media lacking serum and feeder layer cells by shifting the apoptotic balance of the cells, through increasing the activity of Bcl-2 family anti-apoptotic proteins or decreasing the activity of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic proteins. In some embodiments of the invention, the Bcl family protein is Bcl-2. The ES cells sustain the characteristics of undifferentiated, pluripotent stem cells during long-term serum- and feeder layer cell-free conditions, including the ability to be expanded in vitro, but maintain their potential to differentiate into mature cell types.
US07641896B2 Adjuvant viral particle
The present invention relates to an immunogen-carrier having immunopotentiating or adjuvant properties. More particularly, the immunogen-carrier is a virus-like particle (VLP) from the family of potexvirus, and most particularly the papaya mosaic virus. The VLP produced by recombinant techniques is in fusion with one of its own proteins a protein immunogen. The above VLP and a protein or a protein extract from a viral, bacterial or parasital pathogen may be used as a vaccine.
US07641895B2 Peptides for active anti-cytokine immunization
Peptide of a size comprised between 5 and 40 amino acids, originating from a cytokine, in which at least one of its amino acids comprises at least one of its atoms separated by a distance d of less than 5 angströms from an atom of the receptor corresponding to said cytokine, the spacing d being evaluated on the basis of structural data, derivatives, immunogenic compounds comprising them, use of a peptide or peptide derivative or immunogenic compound for the preparation of a curative or preventative medicament intended for the treatment or prevention of diseases linked to an excess or to the presence of cytokines or for the treatment of an auto-immune disease and pharmaceutical compositions which contain at least one abovementioned peptide or peptide derivative or immunogenic compound as active ingredient.
US07641891B2 Chimeric, human and humanized anti-CSAp monoclonal antibodies
The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CSAp antibodies and anti-CSAp antibody fusion proteins that are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers, including colon cancer.
US07641889B1 Hydrogen generator
An apparatus and method apply water to a hydrogen-containing composition, such as a hydride, in the presence of a catalyst that promotes hydrolysis to generate hydrogen in a controlled manner. The amount of catalyst used can be carefully tailored so that the reaction rate is limited by the amount of catalyst present (passive control) or it can be sufficiently large so that the reaction is controlled by the rate of water addition (active control).
US07641886B2 Process and apparatus for producing inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles
The present invention provides a process for obtaining fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, comprising feeding a metal precursor (INi) selected from metal halide, metal carbonyl, organo-metallic compound and metal oxyhalide vapor into a reaction chamber (12) towards a reaction zone to interact with a flow of at least one chalcogen material (IN2) in gas phase, the temperature conditions in said reaction zone being such to enable the formation of the fullerene-like metal chalcogenide nanoparticles product. The present invention further provides novel IF metal chalcogenides nanoparticles with spherical shape and optionally having a very small or no hollow core and also exhibiting excellent tribological behavior. The present invention further provides an apparatus for preparing various IF nanostructures.
US07641881B2 Fertilizer production from fossil fuel with minimal carbon dioxide emission
An ammonia and fertilizer production process is based on partial oxidation of fossil fuel, which co-produces polycarbonsuboxide. The four step process is low-cost and low-carbon-dioxide emission. It comprises the steps of reacting fossil fuel with oxygen in air and steam in an electric discharge plasma to produce a gas exit stream of polycarbonsuboxide, hydrogen with associated nitrogen (110); cooling the gas stream to condense and separate the polycarbonsuboxide as a solid polymer (120); compressing the gas stream to pressures for synthesis of ammonia (140); and, converting the gas stream to ammonia by employing a catalytic converter (150). Optional steps involve gas cleanup, which include removal of contaminants from the gas stream and adding hydrogen or nitrogen to the gas stream to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen to three to one, respectively, prior to converting the gas stream to ammonia (130).
US07641871B2 Fine channel device and a chemically operating method for fluid using the device
A fine channel device including a fine channel provided with at least two inlet ports for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion communicated with the inlet channels, a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports communicated with the outlet channels. The fine channel is provided with a plurality of partition walls arranged along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid. Furthermore, the plurality of partition walls are spaced apart at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid.
US07641868B2 Cell for generating disinfection water and system using the same
The present invention relates to a cell for generating sterilized water in which lead wires having cathode and anode are alternately wound on a body in the horizontal direction, the cell is disposed in plural in the vertical direction to the flow of water by a given distance so that a plasma reaction is generated between both lead wires wound on the cell in the linear direction along the lead wires thereby increasing reaction efficiency per surface area of the cell. The cell comprises a body of a square shape including a pair of vertical frames in which a plurality of first and second grooves having a different depth are alternately formed correspondingly to each other, wherein the body has a plurality of support frames disposed between a pair of vertical frames in a lattice shapes, anode and cathode electrode poles respectively inserted into the pair of the vertical frames, a first lead wire wound on the plurality of the first grooves with one side being brought into contact with the anode electrode pole, and a second lead wire wound on the plurality of the second grooves in parallel with the first lead wire with one side being brought into contact with the cathode electrode pole.
US07641866B2 Multi-station reaction apparatus
In a multi-station reaction apparatus (1) comprising an annular heat transfer block (30) formed with a plurality of cavities (31) for receiving respective reaction vessels (36), the upper surface of the heat transfer block (30) has a central recess (32) around which the said plurality of cavities (31) are arrayed. The apparatus further comprises a removable cooling module (4), the central recess (32) of the heat transfer block (30) being shaped so as to accommodate the removable cooling module (4) and corresponding surfaces of the central recess (32) of the heat transfer block (30) and the cooling module (4) being shaped such that there is a stepped interface between them. The cooling module (4) comprises a metal block having channels therein through which coolant circulates when the cooling module (4) is in use. The apparatus further comprises refluxing means (5) which are positioned above the heat transfer block (30) and arrayed annularly around a central hole (52), whereby the cooling module (4) can be inserted or removed from the heat, transfer block (30) through the hole (52) without disturbance or removal of the said reaction vessels (36) or refluxing means (5). In an alternative embodiment, the cooling module may be annular with a central recess for receiving the heat transfer block.
US07641865B2 Flow control through plural, parallel connecting channels to/from a manifold
The invention provides apparatuses and techniques for controlling flow between a manifold and two or more connecting microchannels. Flow between plural connecting microchannels, that share a common manifold, can be made more uniform by the use of flow straighteners and distributors that equalize flow in connecting channels. Alternatively, flow can be made more uniform by sections of narrowed diameter within the channels. Methods of making apparatus and methods of conducting unit operations in connecting channels are also described.
US07641863B2 Nanoengineered membranes for controlled transport
A nanoengineered membrane for controlling material transport (e.g., molecular transport) is disclosed. The membrane includes a substrate, a cover defining a material transport channel between the substrate and the cover, and a plurality of fibers positioned in the channel and connected to and extending away from a surface of the substrate. The fibers are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, and have a width of 100 nanometers or less. The diffusion limits for material transport are controlled by the separation of the fibers. In one embodiment, chemical derivatization of carbon fibers may be undertaken to further affect the diffusion limits or affect selective permeability or facilitated transport. For example, a coating can be applied to at least a portion of the fibers. In another embodiment, individually addressable carbon nanofibers can be integrated with the membrane to provide an electrical driving force for material transport.
US07641859B2 Pipette tip mounting and ejection assembly and associated pipette tip
An air displacement pipette has a tubular pipette tip with an upper section surrounding a locking chamber, and a body section leading from the upper section and tapering downwardly to a reduced diameter end. A tubular mounting shaft on the pipette has a distal end configured and dimensioned for axial insertion into the locking chamber of the pipette tip. Coacting surfaces on the distal end of the mounting shaft and the upper section of the pipette tip establish an axially interengaged relationship between the pipette tip and the mounting shaft in response to insertion of the distal end of the mounting shaft into the locking chamber. A sleeve is axially shiftable on the mounting shaft between a retracted position accommodating the establishment of the axially interengaged relationship, and an advanced position disrupting the axially interengaged relationship to thereby accommodate axial ejection of the pipette tip from the mounting shaft.
US07641845B2 Method for manufacturing a foil decorated molding
A method for manufacturing a foil decorated molding includes steps of: providing an injection molding device, the injection molding device comprising a male mold and a female mold, the male mold having a projecting part, the female mold defining a cavity; transporting the foil into the injection molding device and between the male and female molds; locking the foil to the female mold to form an airproof space together with the cavity of the female; vacuuming the airproof space to suck the foil toward the female mold; clamping the male and female molds to form a molding space; inputting thermal medium into the molding space to press the foil to cling to an inner surface of the cavity of the female mold; injecting molten resin into the molding space; and cooling and opening the injection molding device, the molten resin cooled forming a molding.
US07641844B2 Method of making a fiber-reinforced medical balloon
A method of making a fiber-reinforced medical balloon is described herein. The method entails pressurizing a portion of a balloon, and ejecting a fiber precursor fluid from at least one nozzle adjacent to the portion. One or more fibers are formed from the fiber precursor fluid and deposited on an exterior surface of the portion. Preferably, the fibers are polymer nanofibers, and the method is carried out using an electrospinning process.
US07641842B2 Graphics transfers for use in rotational molding
This invention is an indicia transfer and method for its use to impart indicia to polyolefin objects during rotational molding. The transfer is a laminate of at least two, and preferably, three coats on a carrier sheet, which is preferably a flexible, transparent polymer sheet. The coats, as successive layers on the carrier sheet are: an optional backing coat of a backing-coat pressure sensitive adhesive, an indicia coat of a colorants in a graphic or alphanumerical array, and a top coat of a pressure sensitive adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive used for the backing coat has a transition melting temperature less than the surface temperature of the mold to which the transfer is to be applied while the top-coat pressure sensitive adhesive has a temperature sensitive adhesive which becomes tacky at the demolding temperature to enable transfer of the coats to the interior surface of a rotational mold. All the coats have melting temperatures which are less than the molding temperature to enable transfer and fusing of the transfers into the surface of the molded part.
US07641841B2 Method for treating thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers
A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and a dendritic polymer in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
US07641840B2 Method for expelling gas positioned between a substrate and a mold
The present invention is directed towards a method of expelling a gas positioned between a substrate and a mold, the substrate and the mold further having a liquid positioned therebetween.
US07641839B2 Method for fabricating a three dimensional emblem
A method for fabricating a three dimensional emblem is disclosed. An indentation is formed in the back surface of a piece of transparent material. Multiple colors are printed to form a pattern or emblem in the indentation. After printing, the indentation is filled with resin to make the back surface of the piece of transparent material flat. A second indentation is then formed in the filled indentation. When the front surface of the transparent material is viewed, the emblem appears as a three dimensional emblem. Since the emblem is under the front surface of the transparent material, the three dimensional emblem is protected and cannot be inadvertently dislodged from the transparent material.
US07641835B2 Trashcan having improved bag retention member
A trashcan includes a container having a base and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the base forming an interior space for receipt of a trash bag therein; and a trash bag retention member disposed on the peripheral wall, the retention member defining a passageway into the interior space of the container and comprising a plurality of resilient, flexible fingers configured to receive and retain therebetween a portion of a trash bag. Each finger includes a portion thereof that extends away from the peripheral wall. Each finger is “bent” and extends away from the peripheral wall. A finger may extend away from the peripheral wall on the exterior of the container, away from the peripheral wall on the interior of the container, or both. A method of making the trashcan includes injection molding the container and the retention member separately or, alternatively, together.
US07641833B2 Method for producing a pellet from a fiber-filled resin composition and injection-molded products thereof
An object of the present invention is to economically produce a resin composition pellet with the degradation of resin suppressed, by using an ordinary extruder, the resin composition pellet being filled with a desired filling amount of a uniformly compounded fibrous filler, and having a required weight average fiber length, in particular, to produce a resin composition pellet used for a socket of a planar socket pin in which the pitch interval of a lattice area of a semiconductor device is 2.0 mm or less, the thickness of the lattice area is 0.5 mm or less, and the height of the socket is 5.0 mm or less. To achieve the object, in supplying 80 to 55% by weight of resin and 20 to 45% by weight of the fibrous filler with a weight average fiber length of 1 mm or more to an extruder to produce a resin composition pellet in which a weight average fiber length of a fibrous filler is 180 to 360 μm, a part of an amount (x) of the resin is supplied through a main feed port of the extruder, and the fibrous filler and a remaining amount (1−x) of the resin are supplied through a side-feed port so that x/(1−x) becomes 50/50 to 10/90% by weight.
US07641830B2 Method of continuously feeding film piece for molding process
A method of continuously feeding film pieces for the molding process includes a film preparation task, a film drawing task, a film cutting task and a film feeding task. The film preparation task includes preparing a roll of film and drawing the film out and fixing a head end thereof at a first position. The film drawing task includes holding the film and drawing the film along a film feeding direction to have the head end to a second position. The film cutting task includes cutting the film off to have a film piece,. The film feeding task includes holding the film piece and moving the film piece to a third position. The film preparation task, the film drawing task and film cutting task are repeated in sequence for continuously feeding film pieces for the molding process.
US07641828B2 Methods of making orthodontic appliances
Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
US07641826B2 Methods for monitoring binder mix loading of fiber glass mats
Process and apparatus for non-invasive measuring of binder mix loading of glass fibers for monitoring production of construction insulation product, such as roofing and wall insulation. The process utilizes visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy; and, is particularly advantageous when utilized in an on-line production processing following binder mix loading of glass fibers and prior to curing treatment of the binder mix loaded glass fibers. Such spectroscopic analyses can be carried out on a static or moving support substrate. The blend is then conveyed to and through curing treatment to form insulation product. The blend is exposed to VIS-NIR radiant energy, and a radiant energy sensor collects resulting data as to absorption following penetration of the VIS-NIR radiant energy. The spectroscopic instrumentation is calibrated to determine to facilitate accuracy; and, can be used to verify load following curing. The amount of binder mix, in the binder mix/fiber blend, is adjusted if the blend is outside of desired loading specifications.
US07641825B2 Method of making a polyhydroxyalkanoate filament
Absorbable polyester fibers, braids, and surgical meshes with improved handling properties have been developed. These devices are preferably derived from biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. These devices provide a wider range of in vivo strength retention properties than are currently available and have a decreased tendency to curl, in the preferred embodiment, due to the inclusion of relaxation and annealing steps following methods are characterized by the following physical properties: (i) elongation to break from about 17% to about 85% (ii) Young's modulus of less than 350,000 psi, (iii) knot to straight ratio (knot strength/tensile strength) of 55-80% or (iv) load at break from 1100 to 4200 grams.
US07641824B2 Apparatus for preparing inorganic spheroidized particle
An apparatus for preparing an inorganic spheroidized particle, wherein an inorganic powder is fed from a feed pathway for an inorganic powder to a combustion flame in a powder melting furnace, and melted or softened and spheroidized, and wherein the apparatus comprises a powder dispersing plate in the feed pathway for an inorganic powder; and a process for preparing an inorganic spheroidized particle comprising the step of preparing inorganic spheroidized particles with the apparatus for preparing inorganic spheroidized particles as defined above. The inorganic spheroidized particle prepared by the above process and apparatus can be suitably used for a spherical molding sand, a filler, a pigment or the like, especially in the case where the inorganic spheroidized particle is a ceramics particle.
US07641819B2 Biasable transfer composition and member
The present invention provides conductivity control agents derived from the trans esterification of dialkyl phosphonium 5-sulfoisophthalate salts with poly(alkylene glycols). The conductivity control agents can be used with semi-conductive rolls, belts and other biasable members. The inclusion of the conductivity control agent in the polymeric or polyurethane elastomers extends the electrical life of the polymer biasable member in low humidity environments. Additionally, the resistivity of the elastomeric polymers or polyurethane on the biasable member is controlled to a desirable value by adjusting the conductivity control agent level in the polymer elastomers.
US07641812B2 Thermal insulation with thin phase change layer
The present disclosure encompasses provides thermal stabilizer compositions comprising a phase change material admixed with a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator. The present disclosure further encompasses a heat insulation blanket for reducing heat transfer between adjacent spaces, comprising at least two plies of thermoplastic sheet material in superposed relationship and a seal, wherein the seal connects the plies of sheet material to form a cell containing a volume of a thermal stabilizer comprising a phase change material, a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator.
US07641811B2 Enhanced thermal conducting formulations
A thermal conducting mixture is provided which is used to make thermal conducting formulations such as a paste having a high thermal conductivity and a relatively low viscosity. The paste is used to provide a thermal conductor connection between an electronic component and a cooling device to increase the heat transfer rate between the component and the device cooling the electronic component. The formulation contains the mixture of thermally conductive particles in various particle size ranges typically dispersed in a non-aqueous dielectric carrier containing an antioxidant and a dispersant with the thermally conductive particles mixture being specially correlated in the mixture by volume % based on particle size range and by particle size ratio of each particle size range. The mixture may be used to make other similar products such as thermal gels, adhesives, slurries and composites, for electronic and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and like products.
US07641810B2 Refrigerant compositions
Disclosed is a non-flammable refrigerant composition consisting of pentafluoroethane in an amount from 62-70% based on the weight of the composition selected from 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, or a mixture thereof in an amount from 26 to 36% by weight based on the weight of the composition and mixture of dimethyether and n-butane in an amount of from 1-4% by weight based on the weight of the composition. Optionally, the composition may include at least one lubricant, at least one additive or combinations thereof.
US07641809B2 Tracer-containing compositions
The present invention relates to the field of compression refrigeration and air conditioning. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tracer-containing compositions comprising refrigeration/heating fluid and tracer compound(s). Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for detecting tracer compounds to identify gases after leaving the custody of the original manufacturer or prior source, and the verification of authenticity. The aforementioned method provides for the detection of tracer compounds, which in turn, may alert the refrigeration industry to when dilution, adulteration, contamination or other unauthorized practices have occurred with refrigeration products.
US07641805B2 Passive grease trap with pre-stage for solids separation
A solids collector for collecting solids in waste water that are heavier than water includes a roto-molded plastic container having a cylindrical sidewall and a downwardly sloping bottom. An inlet and outlet are connected to the sidewall substantially above the sloping bottom so that solids that are heavier than water in the waste water coming into the container through the inlet have residence time in the container long enough to gravitationally separate towards the bottom. Waste water depleted of solids that are heavier than water discharge from the container through the outlet.
US07641797B2 Method of treating waste liquid from production plant for hydrocarbons or oxygen-containing compounds
A method for treating a formaldehyde-containing waste liquid, which is formed as a byproduct in a plant for the production of hydrocarbons or oxygen-containing compounds, containing the steps of: subjecting formaldehyde in the liquid to chemical treatment; and treating the resulting waste liquid, while being aerated, by using a membrane bioreactor that is composed of a microorganism or enzyme and a separation membrane.
US07641796B2 Anaerobic digestion process for low-solid waste
An anaerobic digestion process for the treatment of domestic wastewater sludge that requires less space and funding to construct. Sludge to be treated is combined with recycled anaerobic digester sludge to form a blended sludge. The recycled anaerobic digester sludge provides a source of microorganisms necessary to initiate the breakdown of organic matter in the sludge to be treated. The sludge is then concentrated to increase total solids content to about 10-20%. Excess liquid is removed from the concentrated sludge. The concentrated sludge is then digested in an anaerobic reactor system such as a plug-flow reactor. Some benefits of the system's reduced volume, as a result of concentration of the sludge, include elimination of the necessity of substantially continuous stirring and the new possibilities for the types of construction to be used for the reactor. In addition to the reduced cost of the process itself, the process creates biogas that can be used to offset energy requirements for the process.
US07641795B2 Membrane contactor
A membrane contactor includes a housing, a stack of membrane mats, and a cap. The housing has a closed end and an open end. The closed end includes an outlet port. The cap is united to the open end and includes an inlet port. A stack of membrane mats is within the housing stacked substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. Each membrane mat has a plurality of hollow fiber members. A potting material bonds the membrane mats to each other and simultaneously bonds one end of the stack to the closed end and bonds the other end of the stack to the cap. The potting material forms an internal chamber and at least one external chamber within the housing. The hollow fiber members extend through the potting material from the internal chamber into the external chambers. The inlet port and the outlet port are in communication with the internal chamber. At least one side port is in communication with the external chambers.
US07641790B2 UV LED based water purification module for intermittently operable flow-through hydration systems
A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system (10) includes a purification module (22, 50) that contains one or more solid state UV devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece (18). The UV LEDs are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor (20) or the opening of a push-pull valve (53) controls the turning on of the UV LEDs. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder (12) in a backpack (19) worn by the user, a sports bottle (54) worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump. The power for the purification module may come from batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, power converted from pumping or winding action or any combination thereof.
US07641788B2 Hydrocarbon conversion process and catalyst
A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock into a middle distillate utilising a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst comprising a modified beta zeolite and a modified Y zeolite, an amorphous inorganic oxide and a hydrogenation component, wherein the said middle distillate is characterised by having a low aromatics content and/or a low pour point.
US07641787B2 Compositions and processes for reducing NOx emissions during fluid catalytic cracking
Compositions for reduction of NOx generated during a catalytic cracking process, preferably, a fluid catalytic cracking process, are disclosed. The compositions comprise a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst composition, preferably containing a Y-type zeolite, and a particulate NOx composition containing particles of a zeolite having a pore size ranging from about 3 to about 7.2 Angstroms and a SiO2 to Al2O3 molar ratio of less than about 500. Preferably, the NOx reduction composition contains NOx reduction zeolite particles bound with an inorganic binder. In the alternative, the NOx reduction zeolite particles are incorporated into the cracking catalyst as an integral component of the catalyst. Compositions in accordance with the invention are very effective for the reduction of NOx emissions released from the regenerator of a fluid catalytic cracking unit operating under FCC process conditions without a substantial change in conversion or yield of cracked products. Processes for the use of the compositions are also disclosed.
US07641784B2 Method for measuring by means of chemical sensor, and chemical sensor type measuring apparatus
There is disclosed means for quickly solving instability of sensor sensitivity performances found in an initial stage and stabilizing the sensor sensitivity performances, when immersing a chemical sensor kept under a dry state in a buffer solution used as a storage liquid and applying a measurement bias between a working electrode and a reference electrode to make first use of the chemical sensor for measurement in which the chemical sensor is used. To make the first use of the chemical sensor, after immersing the chemical sensor kept under a dry state in the buffer solution used as the storage liquid, a first initial treatment bias having the same direction as that of the measurement bias and possessing an absolute value larger than that of the measurement bias is applied between the working electrode and the reference electrode for a first initial treatment time. Subsequently, the bias is changed to a second initial treatment bias which is the same as the measurement bias, and the second initial treatment bias is applied for a second initial treatment time. When such a two-step initial treatment operation is carried out, the stabilized sensor sensitivity performance is achieved.
US07641782B2 Method and apparatus for improving corrosion resistance of chrome plated material
A method and apparatus for improving the corrosion resistance of chrome plated materials. After the materials to be chrome plated are mechanically abrasively polished, but before they are reverse etched, they are power washed with a high-pressure liquid. A sprayer with nozzles directed inwardly towards the materials directs water onto the material at pressures in the range of 1000 or 2500 to 3000 psi. After the materials are chrome plated, they are heated above the melting point of a buffing compound, and then the heated materials with the buffing compound applied are buffed. An induction heater is used, before or after the buffing compound is applied. Computer controls, responsive to operator input of the cross-sectional size, composition and/or speed of movement of the chrome plated materials, to in turn regulate the power to an induction coil heater.
US07641779B2 Method and apparatus for programmable fluidic processing
A method and apparatus for microfluidic processing by programmably manipulating a packet. A material is introduced onto a reaction surface and compartmentalized to form a packet. A position of the packet is sensed with a position sensor. A programmable manipulation force is applied to the packet at the position. The programmable manipulation force is adjustable according to packet position by a controller. The packet is programmably moved according to the programmable manipulation force along arbitrarily chosen paths.
US07641778B2 Gel electroelution and sample separation devices and associated processes
A gel electroelution device can have a gel spot column having upstream and downstream openings in fluid communication with an inlet and outlet, respectively. The gel spot column receives a gel spot and negative and positive electrodes are fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, respectively. A gel electroelution process can involve flowing a buffer solution through the gel spot in a first direction, and creating an electric field across the gel spot in the same direction. A separator device can have a generally cylindrical collection reservoir in fluid communication with inlet, filtrate, and retentate ports, a filter intermediate the inlet and filtrate ports. The inlet and retentate ports can intersect the collection reservoir in a manner to induce a cyclonic flow. A flow separation process can involve inducing a generally cyclonic flow in the collection reservoir, and filtering the fluid therein to retain the retentate.
US07641775B2 Apparatus for manufacturing electrolytic metal foil
Disclosed is an apparatus for manufacturing an electrolytic metal foil, which includes an electrolytic cell containing electrolyte; an upper drum installed in an upper portion of the electrolytic cell to be rotatable and to which a negative potential is applied; a lower drum soaked in the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell and installed to be rotatable together with the upper drum; a cathode belt mounted around outer circumferences of the upper and lower drums to move along an endless track and electrically connected to the upper drum so that the negative potential is applied thereto; and an anode unit installed to form a space from a metal electroplating surface of the cathode belt soaked in the electrolytic cell so that a positive potential is applied thereto, the anode unit having a slit for supplying the electrolytic to the space. This apparatus may increase a production rate of electrolytic metal foils.
US07641768B2 Method and joining assembly for joining ends of a fabric in a paper machine
A method of joining two ends of a fabric for use in a paper machine, carried out using a joining assembly, includes the steps of: placing a first end of the fabric on a first portion of a pin plate, the pins in the first portion of the pin plate extending into the first end; placing a second end of the fabric on a second portion of the pin plate such that the first end and the second end are in close proximity to each other in a join area, the pins in the second portion of the pin plate extending into the second end; and joining the first end and the second end in the join area. The method results in a perforated (and therefore permeable) join area.
US07641767B2 Apparatus for treating a fibrous suspension
An apparatus and method serves, e.g., to deaerate, clean or screen a fibrous suspension and is provided with a closed housing and a rotor arranged centrally therein. The rotor puts at least a part of the fibrous suspension guided into the housing into a rotational flow. The fibrous suspension flowing into the housing through the inlet is put into rotation by a guide element acting hydraulically. This increase the efficiency of the apparatus and prevents disturbing turbulences in the apparatus.
US07641762B2 Gas sealing skirt for suspended showerhead in process chamber
Stress within a suspension wall for suspending a showerhead in a process chamber is ameliorated by one or more of: (1) A gas sealing skirt that helps protect the suspension wall from direct contact with process gas. The gas sealing skirt is connected to either the chamber wall or the showerhead but is not connected to both. (2) Openings in the suspension wall that reduce exposure of the suspension wall to process gas or ambient atmosphere when the chamber lid is opened. (3) A substantially vertical arrangement of one or more rifts in the suspension wall which facilitate horizontal buckling or flexing of the suspension wall. (4) A plurality of suspension walls whose respective central portions are coplanar.
US07641759B2 Method of joining surfaces
The present invention relates to a method of joining surfaces, comprising in the following order: applying an adhesive composition (A), comprising a solvent, onto a first surface, drying off the solvent, partially or completely, by forced drying, to give the adhesive composition (A) a solids content of X weight %, directly after the drying step, applying a component (C), comprising a solvent, having a solids content of Z weight %, onto a second surface, wherein Z
US07641754B1 Reinforcer reloader system for hole puncher
A reinforcing ring loading and confining apparatus is provide for a hole punching and sheet material reinforcing device and includes a reinforcer loader receptacle that accommodates a plurality of annular reinforcing rings. The reinforcer loader has a body portion with a floor and a cylindrical reinforcer guide, open at the top and bottom, projecting up from the floor. A removable bottom panel is mounted to the body portion beneath the floor in alignment with the cylindrical guide. The reinforcer loader is inserted into the reinforcer loader receptacle support so that the loaded stack of reinforcing rings are positioned upon the removable bottom panel directly beneath the punching ram. The punching ram is forced downwardly through the stack of reinforcing rings and has an enlarged punching tip that passes through the central apertures in the reinforcing rings. When retracted, the punching tip lifts the stack of reinforcing rings back upwardly, thereby transferring them onto the punching ram shank. The stack of reinforcing rings is thereby loaded. The removable bottom panel is removed and the reinforcing rings are thereafter applied to a sheet of material while concurrently punching holes in the sheet of material.
US07641753B2 PVC-free multilayer tube with more dependable peelability for medical purposes, and process for its production
A PVC-free multilayer tube, preferably for medical purposes, with more dependable peelability, comprises at least three layers, of which a base layer comprising a first plastics material has been bonded to at least one connection layer comprising a second plastics material by means of at least one buffer layer arranged between the base layer and the at least one connection layer, the buffer layer comprising a third plastics material, wherein the multilayer tube can be used to mold a coil or a loop with a diameter of down to 50 mm without undesirable kinking. Each of the first and second plastics materials is comprised of at least 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the base layer and the connection layer, respectively, of polyolefins, while the third plastics material has a proportion, based on the total weight of the buffer layer, of more than 75% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer which is not a polyolefin.
US07641744B2 Superfinishing of high density carbides
A method for superfinishing a high density carbide steel component using chemically accelerated finishing is provided. The high density carbide steel component is vibrated in a vessel containing a plurality of media, with active chemistry being added to the vessel at a low flow rate. An active chemistry composition is also provided, consisting of one or more conversion coating agents having preferably a phosphate radical, and one or more chelating agents preferably including citric acid.
US07641739B2 Friction stir welding tool cleaning method
The invention is directed to a friction stir welding tool cleaning method and apparatus for fixed and retractable pin tools. The method and apparatus use a heating component, a temperature indicator component, a controller component, and a rotatable tool cleaner component for cleaning fixed pin tools. An additional bore cleaner component is used for cleaning retractable pin tools. Heat is applied to a friction stir welding tool having a surface with weld process residue material until the process residue material is sufficiently plasticized, and then the tool cleaner component is applied to the heated tool to remove the plasticized residue on the pin and shoulder surfaces of the tool, and for retractable pin tools, the bore cleaner component is applied to the heated tool to remove the plasticized residue in the tool bore.
US07641737B2 Evaporation source for evaporating an organic
The present invention relates to an evaporation source for evaporating an organic electroluminescent layer. In particular, the present invention relates to the evaporation source preventing an aperture, through which a vaporized evaporation material is emitted, from being clogged by restricting heat transfer to outward. The evaporation source according to the present invention includes a cell retaining an evaporation material therein; a cell cap installed on the upper part of the cell and having a cell cap aperture for emitting a vaporized evaporation material; an external wall placed in the outside of the cell to support a heating means set up at the outside of the cell; a cover placed above the cell cap, fixed to the upper end of the external wall, and having a cover aperture corresponding to the cell cap aperture; and a shut-off plate placed between the cover and the cell cap and having a shut-off plate aperture corresponding to the cell cap aperture and the cover aperture in the center of the shut-off plate.
US07641736B2 Method of manufacturing SiC single crystal wafer
A method of manufacturing an SiC single crystal wafer according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) preparing an SiC single crystal wafer 10 with a mirror-polished surface; (b) oxidizing the surface of the SiC single crystal wafer 10 with plasma, thereby forming an oxide layer 12 on the surface of the SiC single crystal wafer; and (c) removing at least a portion of the oxide layer 12 by a reactive ion etching process. Preferably, the surface of the wafer is planarized by repeatedly performing the steps (b) and (c) a number of times.
US07641735B2 Doped aluminum nitride crystals and methods of making them
Fabrication of doped AlN crystals and/or AlGaN epitaxial layers with high conductivity and mobility is accomplished by, for example, forming mixed crystals including a plurality of impurity species and electrically activating at least a portion of the crystal.
US07641734B2 Method for producing silicon single crystal
A method of growing silicon single crystals with a [110] crystallographic axis orientation by the Czochralski method is provided according to which a silicon seed crystal doped with a high concentration of boron is used and an included angle of a conical part during shoulder section formation is maintained within a specified range. It is thereby possible to grow large-diameter and heavy-weight dislocation-free silicon single crystals with a diameter of 300 mm or more in a stable manner, without the fear of dropping the single crystal during pulling up. Therefore, the method can be properly utilized in producing silicon single crystals as semiconductor materials.
US07641731B2 Ultrahigh-performance, self-compacting concrete, preparation method thereof and use of same
The invention relates to an ultra-high-performance, self-compacting light-colored concrete comprising: a cement; a mixture of calcined bauxite sands of different grain sizes, the finest sand having an average grain size of less than 1 mm and the thickest sand having an average grain size of less than 10 mm; optionally silica fume, whereby 90% of the particles thereof have a size of less than 1 ?m and the average diameter is approximately 0.5 ?m, said silica fume representing at most 15 parts by weight per 100 parts of cement; an antifoaming agent; water-reducing superplasticiser; optionally fibers; and water. The inventive concrete also comprises: ultrafine calcium carbonate particles having a specific surface area that is equal to or greater than 10 m2/g and a form factor (IF) that is equal to or greater than 0.3 and, preferably, equal to or greater than 0.4. The grain size distribution of the cements, sands, ultrafine calcium carbonate particles and silica fume is such that at least three, and at most five, different grain size ranges are present, the ratio between the average diameter of one grain size range and that of the range immediately above is approximately 10. The invention also relates to the method of preparing one such concrete and to the uses thereof.
US07641726B2 Phthalocyanines and their use in ink-jet printing
A mixture of compounds of Formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein: M is 2H, Si, a metal, an oxymetal group, a hydroxymetal group or a halometal group; Pc represents a phthalocyanine nucleus of formula; R1 is H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; R2 is optionally substituted alkyl; R3 is H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; R4 is optionally substituted heterocycyl; L is a direct covalent bond or a divalent linking group; w, x, y and z are each independently greater than zero. Also compositions and inks, printing processes, printed material and ink-jet printer cartridges.
US07641723B2 Ink jet recording ink, recording method and recording apparatus
An ink jet recording ink is provided which does not have a problem concerning curling of a recording medium containing cellulose, and can deal with high-definition image recording while maintaining good response at a high level during ejection at a high drive frequency and good startup properties. The ink contains at least water, a colorant, a compound represented by the following general formula (I) accounting for 8 to 40% by mass of the total mass of the ink, and a water-soluble substance accounting for 5 to 30% by mass of the total mass of the ink, the ratio (A/B) of mass (A) of the compound represented by general formula (I) and mass (B) of the water-soluble substance is in a range of 1/3 to 7/1.General formula (I)
US07641721B2 Aqueous solution of chromium salt and method for producing same
Disclosed is an aqueous solution of a chromium salt, in which the oxalic acid content is 8% by weight or less relative to chromium. In the aqueous solution of the chromium salt, the total organic carbon content is 4% by weight or less relative to chromium. The chromium salt is preferably a chromium chloride, a chromium phosphate, or a chromium nitrate. The chromium chloride preferably contains a basic chromium chloride represented by the composition formula Cr(OH)xCly (wherein 0
US07641720B2 Flow turning vane assembly with integrated hydrocarbon adsorbent
The invention concerns a flow turning vane assembly for use in a duct bend portion of a clean air duct of an air induction system for a vehicle engine. The flow turning vane assembly may have a vane support housing, and a hydrocarbon adsorbent vane mounted to the vane support housing. The hydrocarbon adsorbent vane has a curved shape complimentary to the duct bend portion and includes a hydrocarbon adsorbent layer.
US07641716B2 Methods and apparatus for improved control of PSA flow variations
A pressure swing adsorption process including the step of separating a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in an adsorbent mass provided within each vessel of a plurality of vessels. The separating step has a single pressure equalization cycle. The separating step is preferably performed with only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels. Additionally, a pressure swing adsorption system of the invention includes a plurality of vessels each containing therein an adsorbent mass configured to separate a gas mixture by absorbing at least one gas component in said adsorbent mass, where the system is configured to separate the gas mixture using a single pressure equalization cycle and includes only four valves per vessel of the plurality of vessels.
US07641709B2 High thermal conductivity metal matrix composites
Discontinuous diamond particulate containing metal matrix composites of high thermal conductivity and methods for producing these composites are provided. The manufacturing method includes producing a thin reaction formed and diffusion bonded functionally graded interactive SiC surface layer on diamond particles. The interactive surface converted SiC coated diamond particles are then disposed into a mold and between the particles and permitted to rapidly solidify under pressure. The surface conversion interactive SiC coating on the diamond particles achieves minimal interface thermal resistance with the metal matrix which translates into good mechanical strength and stiffness of the composites and facilitates near theoretical thermal conductivity levels to be attained in the composite. Secondary working of the diamond metal composite can be performed for producing thin sheet product.
US07641706B1 Method of combustion
The present invention relates to the use of a naturally occurring group of biological compounds to produce a combustible fuel that may be used in either internal combustion engines or as a burnable heat source. These compounds are a set of biomolecules produced by some bacteria in nutrient limiting environmental conditions when storage of carbon is necessary. More specifically this invention envisions the use of polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHA), especially those ranging in size from C4 to C8, to produce the combustible fuel.
US07641705B2 Electrochemical cell with reduced height fillport
An electrochemical cell including a cell enclosure, a fill tube, a ball, a closing button, an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cell enclosure defines an internal volume and includes a cover forming a fillport through hole. The fill tube is separately formed, and defines a leading section, a trailing section, and a passageway. The leading section is secured within the fillport through hole. The ball is sealingly secured within the passageway. The closing button is also separately formed, and is sealingly secured within the fillport through hole adjacent the leading section of the fill tube. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte are maintained within the internal volume. By configuring the fill tube such that the leading section thereof is secured within the fillport through hole, an overall extension of the fill tube relative to the internal volume is greatly reduced, thereby maximizing a volumetric efficiency.
US07641698B1 Modular hip joint implant
A modular hip joint implant and associated method. The modular hip implant includes a femoral stem having a proximal surface defining a dovetail groove having first and second female wings, and a neck component having a distal surface defining a semi-dovetail projection engaging the dovetail groove. The projection includes a single male wing mating with the first femoral wing.
US07641697B2 Systems and methods for installing ankle replacement prostheses
A method of installing an ankle prosthesis system provides an artificial talar joint surface and a family of talar stem components having different physical characteristics. Each talar stem component in the family is sized and configured to be attached to the artificial talar joint surface. The method selects an ankle region to be treated and analyzes the morphology of the ankle region. The method selects among the family one of the talar stem components having a desired physical characteristic based upon the analysis. The method forms a prosthesis-receiving cavity that traverses the joint between the talus and a calcaneus and installs the selected one of the talar stem components in the prosthesis-receiving cavity to prevent movement of the joint. The method attaches the artificial talar joint surface to the selected one of the talar stem components.
US07641695B2 Modular system for replacement of radial head
A modular endoprosthetic radial head implant includes an end cap secured to a cannulated body held to bone by a fixation element. The fixation element supports the cannulated body on a resected radial bone end, for example. The fixation element of one embodiment features a threaded stem with a spherical head. The stem fits distally into the cannulated body and extends through a hole formed by the distal end of the cannulated body. The spherical head nests inside the cannulated body. Polyaxial alignment between the cannulated body and the fixation element is locked using a jam nut tightened inside the cannulated body. An end cap fits into place proximally on the cannulated body. The end cap is formed of a joint surface material to provide a bearing surface.
US07641694B1 Line lock graft retention system and method
A system for restoring articular cartilage has a cover, an anchor, and a tether that cooperate to retain graft tissue with respect to a graft site. The cover is attached to the anchor via the tether. The tether passes through a tunnel through a bone to which the articular cartilage is attached. The tunnel may be blind or may extend through the bone. The anchor is retained within the tunnel such that tension in the tether keeps the cover in place over the tissue graft. The anchor may receive the tether such that the tether can only pass through the anchor along one direction. Thus, tension applied to the tether between the anchor and the tissue graft is automatically maintained by the anchor. After passing through the anchor, the tether may exit the tunnel through the graft site, or through the opposite side of the bone.
US07641693B2 Intervertebral implant
An intervertebral implant having a lower implant part and an upper implant part. The lower implant part has an outer casing, a hollow cylindrical cavity, an axis of rotation, and an apposition part for contacting the lower vertebra. The upper implant part has an essentially circularly cylindrical shaft, which has an external thread, for extending into the cavity of the lower implant part, an axis of rotation, and an apposition part for contacting the upper vertebra. The two implant parts may be secured to prevent rotation about their axis of rotation. The implant also includes a ring with an internal thread, disposed between the two implant parts and interacts with the external thread of the upper implant part. Rotating the ring permits the distance between the two apposition parts to be adjusted. The ring may be axially fixed but rotatively movably with the lower implant part.
US07641692B2 Implantable joint prosthesis
The invention relates to a surgical implant that provides an artificial diarthroidal-like D joint, suitable for use in replacing any joint, but particularly suitable for use as an intervertebral disc endoprosthesis. The invention contains two rigid opposing shells, each having an outer surface adapted to engage the surfaces of the bones of a joint in such a way that the shells are immobilized by friction between their outer surfaces and the surfaces of the bone. These outer surfaces are sufficiently rough, while the inner surfaces of the shells are relatively smooth. The central body has a shape that cooperates with the shape of the inner surface of the shell so as to provide a range of motion similar to that provided by a healthy joint.
US07641690B2 Bone fixation and fusion device
Disclosed is a bone fusion cage that contains bone graft and is implanted between bones in a skeletal system. The cage bears structural loads that are transmitted through the bones of the skeletal system and at least partially shields the contained bone graft from the structural loads. The cage is configured to provide a secondary load to the bone graft independent of the structural load to promote fusion of the bone graft to adjacent bones.
US07641688B2 Tissue augmentation device
Disclosed are implantable tissue augmentation devices, methods, and associated tools. The devices include an inflatable body, having an inner layer and an outer layer. A valve is provided for permitting the introduction of and retaining inflation media. At least one pull tab is provided on an end of the implant, to assist in positioning the implant. Kits and systems are also disclosed.
US07641687B2 Attachment of a sewing cuff to a heart valve
A heart valve comprises a stent and a sewing cuff comprising a stiffening ring, wherein the stent and the stiffening ring are adapted to be snap-fitted. In one embodiment, the stent and the stiffening ring can together comprise one or more projections and one or more openings.
US07641686B2 Percutaneous heart valve with stentless support
An implantable prosthetic valve having a stentless support structure. The valve has a tubular annular support structure with a first inflatable ring at a proximal end, a second inflatable ring at a distal end, and an inflatable intermediate support in between the first and second inflatable rings. There is at least one moveable occluder that controls the flow of blood through the tubular support structure. The tubular support structure can be filled with inflation media in the first inflatable ring, the second inflatable ring and inflatable intermediate support structure to convert the tubular support structure from a collapsed configuration to a patent tubular configuration.
US07641685B2 System and method for delivering a bifurcated stent
A system and method for delivering and assembling a bifurcated stent in a bifurcated vessel having a first lumen and a second lumen. The system and method includes the use of three balloon catheters wherein at least one of the catheters is a fixed wire catheter. A first segment of the bifurcated stent having a stem portion, a first leg portion, a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and a branch aperture formed in the side wall is mounted on two of the balloon catheters and delivered to the treatment site where it is implanted into the first lumen. A second segment of the bifurcated stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough is mounted on the third balloon catheter and is delivered to the treatment site such that the distal end extends into the second lumen and the proximal end extends into longitudinal bore of the first segment. The second segment is then implanted into the second lumen and secured to the branch aperture of the first segment to form a bifurcated stent.
US07641684B2 Catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels
A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis. The linking device allows the catheter system to be advanced as a unit and helps prevent premature or inadvertent dislodgement of the stent from the catheters, yet is releasable so that one or both of the balloon catheters can be released from the linking device and maneuvered separately from the rest of the catheter system when desired. The method utilizes the described catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels using a modified “kissing balloons” technique.
US07641682B2 Compliant implantable medical devices and methods of making same
Implantable medical grafts fabricated of metallic or pseudometallic films of biocompatible materials having a plurality of microperforations passing through the film in a pattern that imparts fabric-like qualities to the graft or permits the geometric deformation of the graft. The implantable graft is preferably fabricated by vacuum deposition of metallic and/or pseudometallic materials into either single or multi-layered structures with the plurality of microperforations either being formed during deposition or after deposition by selective removal of sections of the deposited film. The implantable medical grafts are suitable for use as endoluminal or surgical grafts and may be used as vascular grafts, stent-grafts, skin grafts, shunts, bone grafts, surgical patches, non-vascular conduits, valvular leaflets, filters, occlusion membranes, artificial sphincters, tendons and ligaments.
US07641681B2 Low profile stent-graft attachment
A low profile, implantable prosthesis includes (a) a tubular graft including opposed open ends and having yarns in a textile pattern to define a textile wall having a luminal surface and an exterior surface; and (b) a tubular, radially extensible member including a portion arranged in a closed zig-zag pattern, the pattern having a series of angled bends at proximal and distal ends thereof, and longitudinally extending members having opposed proximal and distal ends, the distal ends being disposed from the angled bends of the proximal end; the longitudinally extending members having a plurality of detents for securing the yarns within the textile pattern at one of the opposed open ends, wherein the yarns of the textile patterns are securably disposed to the detents. The detents may be holes, inwardly extending notches, outwardly extending protuberances, or combinations thereof in the longitudinally extending members. The textile pattern of the graft may be a braided textile pattern, a woven textile pattern, a knitted textile pattern, and combinations thereof. Desirably, the zigzag portion of the radially extensible member is disposed beyond the open end of the graft. The radially extensible member may be a stent or may be an anchoring device for securing the prosthesis against the wall of a bodily lumen.
US07641677B2 Compression bone fragment wire
A bone fragment wire connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The bone fragment wire has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior section is longer than the bone penetration section, and thus extends substantially out of the bone during healing of the bone. The bone penetration section includes a distal bone anchor section which threadingly engages the anchor bone, and a proximal fragment section of small diameter. The fragment section fits within the overbore created by advancing the bone anchor section through the bone fragment, and thus extends through but does not positively engage the bone fragment. A compression engagement on a distal end of the bone exterior section provides a compression shoulder. In one embodiment the compression engagement is provided by a threaded compression nut, while in another embodiment the compression engagement is permanently affixed to the bone wire. The shoulder makes substantial contact with an exterior surface of the bone fragment, biasing the bone fragment toward the anchor bone with a controlled compression force. The compression engagement is further adapted, such as through thread form and/or with a sloped proximal side, to enable the bone wire to be more easily removed from the healed fracture without damaging surrounding tissue.
US07641669B2 Intravascular occlusion balloon catheter
An intravascular occlusion balloon catheter having a removable hub, a profile sized to approximate a guidewire, and a means for venting air from the balloon. The removable hub and the small profile allow the occlusion balloon catheter to be used as a guidewire. The venting means allows air to be easily and reliably removed from the balloon prior to use.
US07641664B2 Surgical instrumentation and method for treatment of a spinal structure
Instrumentation and method for treatment of a spinal structure, comprising an elongate member including a deformable distal portion having an initial configuration for placement within the spinal structure and a deformed configuration wherein the distal portion is outwardly deformed to form a cavity in the spinal structure. The elongate member comprises a cannula member and an actuator member that is removably positioned within the cannula member and configured to transition the deformable distal portion from the initial configuration toward the deformed configuration. The actuator member is selectively removed from the cannula member to provide a passageway for delivery of a material into the cavity formed in the spinal structure.
US07641660B2 Method, apparatus, and system for image guided bone cutting
A system for cutting a bone at a desired location may include an image guided drill cylinder configured to receive either a drill bit to create a bore at a target location on the bone or a pin for insertion into the target location, and a cutting block having a plurality of adjustable guides, each defining a cutting path to guide a cutting instrument, a mounting location configured to attach to the bone at the target location, and a plurality of adjustors for adjusting the position of the guides relative to the target location. The system may further include a tracking instrument for providing image guidance of the adjustments to the positions of the guides.
US07641653B2 Open vessel sealing forceps disposable handswitch
A removable handswitch and electrode assembly for use with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another includes a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least a portion of a mechanical forceps and a handswitch assembly disposed on the housing. A pair of electrodes is included which removably engage a distal end of the mechanical forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation to one another. At least one electrode is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator through the handswitch assembly. At least one stop member is operatively associated with the electrodes and controls the distance between the opposing electrodes to affect a tissue seal.
US07641651B2 Devices and methods for mobilization of the uterus
An electrocautery device comprises first and second continuous loop electrode structures. The electrodes are typically coupled together at one end, permitting the electrodes to be introduced anteriorly and posteriorly over a uterine body. The electrodes may be clamped together, and radiofrequency energy may be delivered through the clamped electrodes to sever and cauterize blood vessels, tubular structures, and ligaments which connect the uterine body to surrounding tissue structures. The mobilized uterine body may then be removed by conventional hysterectomy.
US07641650B2 Remote control device for a medical probe
The device according to the invention ensures accurate and in particular sensitive navigation of the probe, which can be inserted into a body, despite the fact that the remote control uses simple means, by means of a movement (MR;MB;MP) corresponding intuitively to the navigation of a probe using the control device (1). Intuitive operation can be converted in particular using an inventive U-shaped embodiment of the control device (1). Sensitive controllability can be increased by transmitting the mechanical interaction between the probe and an environment under examination to the control device (1) and thus directly to the operating hand (3) by means of inventive feedback.
US07641648B2 Low profile adaptor for use with a medical catheter
A low profile adaptor for use with a medical catheter. In one embodiment, the adaptor comprises a lower connector portion, an upper connector portion and a valve. The lower connector portion comprises a tubular portion and an annular portion, the annular portion radially surrounding the tubular portion along an intermediate length thereof. A helical thread is formed on the inside surface of the tubular portion. A circular lip projects upwardly a short distance from the top surface of the annular portion. The upper connector portion comprises a tubular section adapted for insertion into the tubular portion of the lower connector portion. An external helical thread is formed on the tubular section of the upper connector portion for mating engagement with the thread on the interior of the tubular portion of the lower connector portion. The upper connector portion also includes an annular base. The top of the base is shaped to include a cavity for receiving the valve, the cavity being in fluid communication with the tubular section. A double-walled circular lip is formed on the bottom of the base, the double-walled lip being sized and shaped to define a groove adapted to matingly receive the lip on the upper connector portion. In use, the lower connector portion is inserted into the end of a catheter, and the tubular section of the upper connector portion is screwed into the tubular portion of the lower connector, with the catheter being ensnared between the lips of the upper and lower connector portions.
US07641644B2 Devices, systems and methods for treating disorders of the ear, nose and throat
Sinusitis, mucocysts, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, choanal atresia, fractures and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, Eustachian tubes, Lachrymal ducts and other ear, nose, throat and mouth structures are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies and endoscopic studies. Access and occluding devices may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices such asendoscopes, wires, probes, needles, catheters, balloon catheters, dilation catheters, dilators, balloons, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, suction or irrigation devices, imaging devices, sizing devices, biopsy devices, image-guided devices containing sensors or transmitters, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting or delivering devices and implants, etc.
US07641643B2 Methods and compositions to treat myocardial conditions
Methods, devices, kits and compositions to treat a myocardial infarction. In one embodiment, the method includes the prevention of remodeling of the infarct zone of the ventricle. In other embodiments, the method includes the introduction of structurally reinforcing agents. In other embodiments, agents are introduced into a ventricle to increase compliance of the ventricle. In an alternative embodiment, the prevention of remodeling includes the prevention of thinning of the ventricular infarct zone. In another embodiment, the prevention of remodeling and thinning of the infarct zone involves the cross-linking of collagen and prevention of collagen slipping. In other embodiments, the structurally reinforcing agent may be accompanied by other therapeutic agents. These agents may include but are not limited to pro-fibroblastic and angiogenic agents.
US07641641B2 Absorbent article product line
A product line of absorbent articles includes a first absorbent article with a first elective component secured to the first absorbent article in a first configuration of the component. The first elective component is selectively configurable to a second configuration different from the first configuration of the component. A second absorbent article of the product line has a second elective component that is selectively configurable from a first configuration of the second elective component to a second configuration different from the first configuration of the second elective component.
US07641636B2 Syringe with a closure
A syringe with a closure is disclosed. The syringe comprises a needle projecting from a syringe body, the tip of the needle being enclosed by a closure cap when the syringe is in a closed position. A sealing element is provided for sealing the needle in the closed position. The sealing element has an annular, elastically deformable portion that can be sealingly pressed against the outer surface of the needle by means of the closure cap.
US07641633B2 Apparatus for treating venous insufficiency
A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.
US07641632B2 System and method for controlling rate of heat exchange with patient
A patient control system uses a patient-implanted catheter in thermal communication with a fluid bath via a circulating fluid circuit. A controller automatically controls the temperature of the fluid bath as required for selectively cooling or heating the patient in accordance with patient temperature measurements. The controller thermally decouples the catheter and patient from the fluid bath during changes in fluid bath temperatures in order to overcome the effects of system thermal mass.
US07641627B2 Method and apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure
A drainage apparatus and method to reduce intraocular pressure in an eyeball that includes an anterior chamber having aqueous humor disposed therein, a cornea and a surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a scleral layer and a conjunctival layer disposed on an exposed surface of the eyeball and under eyelids, the apparatus comprising an inlet assembly configured to be disposed at the anterior chamber of the eyeball, an outlet assembly configured to be disposed at the external surface of the eyeball, a tube extending between the inlet and outlet assemblies and configured to promote fluid communication between the inlet and outlet assemblies, and a control means disposed within the outlet assembly for controlling a flow of aqueous humor through the tube from the anterior chamber of the eyeball to the external surface of the eyeball, and for preventing bacterial infiltration into the anterior chamber.
US07641623B2 System for compression therapy with patient support
A system for compression therapy comprises a patient-support apparatus and a compression sleeve assembly that is coupleable to the patient-support apparatus. In some embodiments, the patient-support apparatus comprises a hospital bed; and in other embodiments, the patient-support apparatus comprises a mattress for a bed. The compression sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve that couples to a patient's limb and that inflates to promote blood flow. The compression sleeve assembly also comprises a conduit and a compression module that is operable to inflate the sleeve through the conduit. The conduit may be routed, at least in part, through the associated patient-support apparatus. The compression module may be situated, at least in part, in a cavity of the associated patient-support apparatus. A compression module that couples to an architectural structure, such as a headwall unit, is also disclosed.
US07641620B2 Rotatable sampling apparatus
A sampling apparatus for taking a sample from the body of a patient is easily rotatable while the sample is being taken. This allows the physician to aspirate or draw the sample, rotating the sampling apparatus while holding stationary a syringe or other container for receiving the sample.
US07641618B2 Capacitance-type pressure sensor and heart beat / respiration measuring device using the same
A heart beat/respiration measuring device comprising a sheet-like capacitance-type pressure sensor adapted to be pressed against the human body, and a measuring circuit for measuring a heart rate and/or respiration rate from the output of the sensor. The capacitance-type pressure sensor includes a sheet-like dielectric body elastically deformable in all directions and a pair of conductive clothes with stretchability disposed on opposite sides of the dielectric body. The measuring circuit comprises a resonant circuit wherein the capacitance-type pressure sensor serves as an oscillation capacitor, and a calculation processing circuit for detecting variations in the oscillation frequency of the resonant circuit and calculating the heart rate and/or respiration rate based on the frequency component or components of heart beats and/or respiration included in the variations.
US07641614B2 Wearable blood pressure sensor and method of calibration
Methods and apparatus for measuring arterial blood pressure at an extremity of a subject. Arterial blood pressure is derived from a circulatory measurement performed on an extremity of a subject and the circulatory measurement is normalized to account for the instantaneous vertical displacement of the extremity. The vertical displacement of the extremity relative to the heart of the subject is obtained using the angular orientation of the subject's extremity. An improved photoplethysmograph can discriminate light traversing the extremity from ambient light on the basis of differential response. The apparatus may have a conducting polymer actuator for applying pressure to the extremity of the subject. A pulsatile waveform from the photoplethysmographic signal may be obtained at a plurality of externally applied pressures to calibrate the photoplethysmograph.