| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07660052B2 |
Optical barrel enclosing rod lenses
An optical barrel (1) enclosing rod lenses (2) of a rigid endoscope optics, the rod lenses being contacted by the barrel in zones wherein an inwardly deforming, blade (4, 4′) cut free by two associated cutouts (5, 5′) in the barrel (1) is designed at each zone to make contact with rod lens (2). |
| US07660047B1 |
Flat panel lens
A flat panel lens system as a tapered light guide that has minimal or no margin for fan out. The tapered light guide includes a thin end, and a thick end of which is a bevelled mirror or an optical equivalent. Light is injected into the thin end and the mirror is such that rays injected through a point at the thin end emerge collimated from one of the light guide surfaces, and that collimated rays injected at an appropriate angle through one of the light guide surfaces emerge from a point at the thin end. Bragg gratings can be utilized for color implementations as well. The tapered light guide can be fabricated as a single piece, by extrusion, injection molding, or the combination/variation of extrusion and injection molding, as well as other commonly known techniques. |
| US07660044B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus has light beam emitting units (304L, 304R) which emit light beams based on image information and a set operating frequency, and MEMS mirrors (305L, 305R) which deflect the emitted light beams by deflection operations based on the operating frequency, in correspondence with the right and left eyes. Resonance frequency detection units (306L, 306R) respectively detect the resonance frequencies of the MEMS mirrors (305L, 305R). A control unit (307) sets the operating frequency of the MEMS mirrors (305L, 305R) based on the detected resonance frequencies. |
| US07660042B2 |
Apparatus for crystallizing semiconductor with laser beams
Laser beams emitted by a plurality of laser sources are divided into a plurality of sub-beams, which are irradiated onto selected portions of an amorphous semiconductor on a substrate to crystallize the amorphous semiconductor. A difference in diverging angles between the laser beams is corrected by a beam expander. The apparatus includes a sub-beam selective irradiating system including a sub-beam dividing assembly and a sub-beam focussing assembly. Also, the apparatus includes laser sources, a focussing optical system, and a combining optical system. A stage for supporting a substrate includes a plurality of first stage members, a second stage member disposed above the first stage members, and a third stage member 38C, rotatably disposed above the second stage to support an amorphous semiconductor. |
| US07660037B2 |
Screen, projector, and image display device
A screen includes; a plurality of layers including a diffusion layer that diffuses incident tight; an elastic member that movably supports the diffusion layer with respect to an arbitrary holding part; and a driving unit that moves the diffusion layer in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of light that is incident to the diffusion layer. |
| US07660033B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display device includes a display element including a pair of first and second substrates which are opposed to each other, and a microcapsule enclosing a display material changed in optical characteristics in response to an electric impulse, the microcapsule being sandwiched between the first and second substrates; and a protective film sealing the display element. In the display device, a first electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate which faces the second substrate, a second electrode is provided on the surface of the second substrate which faces the first substrate, and a spacer is provided in the space between the periphery of the facing surface of the first substrate and the first electrode. |
| US07660028B2 |
Apparatus and method of dual-mode display
One embodiment includes display comprising a light modulator configured to display a portion of an image such as a reflective light modulator, a light emitter configured to display the portion of the image and a circuit configured to selectively provide signals to at least one of the light modulator and the light emitter indicative of the portion of the image. In one such embodiment, an active matrix provides a simple, efficient drive for such devices. Other embodiments methods of making and driving such devices. |
| US07660027B2 |
Optical modulator and modulation method
An optical modulator comprises an electrode 21 which applies to an optical waveguides 12 of a Mach-Zehnder type optical interference system a first electric signal based on an alternating current signal S1 and a direct current bias V1, an electrode 22 which applies to an optical waveguide 13 of the Mach-Zehnder type optical interference system a second electric signal based on an alternating current signal S2 and a direct current bias V2, and a bias setting section 41 which sets average direct current levels of the first and second electric signals based on signal frequency information D1 which indicates a magnitude relation between a maximum frequency of the alternating current signal S1 and a maximum frequency of the alternating current signal S2. |
| US07660021B2 |
Facsimile machine
A facsimile machine according to the present invention is capable of accurately comprehending management information of a received document such as from which source to which destination a received document on a discharge tray has been sent, when and by whom a part or the whole has been taken away, since a received document managing section 37 manages the received facsimile document based on a placement status obtained by a placement status obtaining section 27 and stored information of a reception information storing section 31. Consequently, the received facsimile document which has been sent from a source to a destination can be managed properly based on the management information. |
| US07660020B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling image processing for extraction assured embedding, and recording medium storing program product
An image processing method includes acquiring an original image, acquiring original information, generating overlay information, determining where to embed the overlay information, evaluating whether the overlay information is embeddable in the original image, and controlling image processing according to a result of the evaluation. The image processing apparatus includes an image acquisition mechanism for acquiring an original image, an information acquisition mechanism for acquiring original information and generating overlay information, an embed position determination mechanism for determining where to embed a bit of the overlay information, an embed evaluation mechanism for evaluating whether the overlay information is embeddable in the original image, and an image processing control mechanism for controlling image processing according to a result of the evaluation. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program product which causes the image processing apparatus to perform the image processing method. |
| US07660019B2 |
Products with data-encoding pattern
A method and apparatus for producing a document having human-readable content and a position identifying encoding pattern. A printer places text or other content onto a substrate, such as paper, and a filter material application system applies transparent filter material to at least a portion of that content to only modify the reflectivity of the content at a predetermined wavelength. Because the reflectivity of the position identifying encoding pattern remains unchanged, it is distinguishable from the content and can be read at the predetermined wavelength. The position identifying pattern can take a number of forms including a number of dots printed at predetermined positions on the substrate on an imaginary grid. |
| US07660014B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of extracting rule from document image with high precision
An image processing apparatus scans image data along a row in an x direction, and if a series of black pixels having a length equal to or more than a first threshold is detected, the series of black pixels is determined as a rule and erased. Furthermore, if a series of black pixels having a length equal to or more than a second threshold that is connected to the rule and extends in a y direction is detected, the series of black pixels is determined as a rule and erased. |
| US07660011B2 |
Optical imaging pen for use with infrared ink
Provided is an optical imaging pen configured to detect information encoded on a page with ink which is substantially invisible to the human eye. The pen includes a housing and an ink pen cartridge and a stylus mounted side by side within the housing, the ink cartridge and stylus configured to be brought forward through an open end of the housing by rotation of a pen top rotatably mounted on an end of the housing. The pen includes an electronics chassis mounted inside the housing, said chassis supporting an infrared LED for providing infrared radiation for projection onto the page, an image sensor for receiving reflected radiation from the surface, a radio frequency circuit having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver, and a controller circuit for controlling operation of the LED, sensor and radio frequency circuit. Also included is a rechargeable battery mounted about, and in contact with, the electronics chassis with an induction coil mounted about the chassis to enable induction recharging of the battery. |
| US07660010B2 |
Controller driver, liquid crystal display apparatus using the same, and liquid crystal driving method
A controller driver includes a first compressor for compressing received image data to generate first compressed image data, a second compressor to generate second compressed image data, and an image memory capable of storing the second compressed image data of at least one frame. It also includes an overdrive processing unit for generating corrected image data where a tone value of the received image data is corrected from the first compressed image data or its expanded data and second compressed image data of one frame previous to the first compressed image data or its expanded data. The compression processing performed in the first compressor is the same as compression processing performed in the second compressor in compressing image data of one frame previous to the received image data. |
| US07660000B2 |
Stabilizing print job manager
Job starting processing and terminating processing of a printer is kept to the necessary minimum thereby to increase the efficiency of the printer. Print output is performed in accordance with print settings designated in print information, such as a print style of binding, the number of copies, and paper size, and a file output port, which is a characteristic of the present invention, is used as an output destination. An output print job file is sent to a common folder monitored by a job manager. The job manager executes scheduling operations at the time when the print job file is received in the common folder. The job manager also determines order characteristics, such as priority and quality, of the print job file, rearranges job schedules, and generates a stabilizing processing execution job when stabilizing processing is necessary. |
| US07659997B2 |
Moving body system and method of detecting position of moving body
Linear sensors are provided in two rows along a moving route of a moving body. A relative position of a magnet provided in the moving body relative to the linear sensor is determined, and an origin coordinate of the linear sensor is added to the determined relative position to determine an absolute position of the moving body. |
| US07659996B2 |
Relative position detection device and detector for rotary body and image forming apparatus including the relative position detection device
This patent specification describes a relative position detection device and a detector for a rotary body and an image forming apparatus including the relative position detection device. The relative position detection device includes a scale comprising a pattern continuously formed by changing reflectance or transmittance and moving in a direction, a light source to irradiate the scale, a light receiving unit to read the pattern and output a signal, and a signal processing unit to process the output signal of the light receiving unit. The pattern is formed by a line pattern having regularly spaced lines perpendicular to the direction of movement of the scale, the light receiving unit is slanted with respect to the lines, and the relative position detection device detects a relative position change and speed change of the scale. |
| US07659995B2 |
Digitizer using plural capture methods to image features of 3-D objects
A method and apparatus to digitize three-dimensional objects. A projection assembly is retained in fixed relation to an imaging assembly. The projection assembly projects a fixed gradient light pattern into a focal zone of the imaging assembly. The imaging assembly integrates the illumination over time such that the fixed gradient reveals the features of the three dimensional object. |
| US07659994B2 |
Apparatus for the determination of surface properties
A device for determining properties of surfaces having at least one first radiation device having at least one radiation source emitting radiation, having at least one first radiation detector having a first radiation detector element which captures at least a portion of the radiation emitted from the radiation device and subsequently diffused and/or reflected off a measuring surface and emits at least one measuring signal characteristic of the reflected/diffused radiation, and at least one second radiation detector having a second radiation detector element capturing a portion of the radiation from the radiation device and diffused/reflected off a measuring surface and outputs a measuring signal characteristic of the reflected and/or diffused radiation, and at least one filter device which is placeable both in the optical path between the radiation device and the first radiation detector and in the optical path between the radiation device and the second radiation detector. |
| US07659990B2 |
Enhanced optical coherence tomography for anatomical mapping
A system, method and apparatus for anatomical mapping utilizing optical coherence tomography. In the present invention, 3-dimensional fundus intensity imagery can be acquired from a scanning of light back-reflected from an eye. The scanning can include spectral domain scanning, as an example. A fundus intensity image can be acquired in real-time. The 3-dimensional data set can be reduced to generate an anatomical mapping, such as an edema mapping and a thickness mapping. Optionally, a partial fundus intensity image can be produced from the scanning of the eye to generate an en face view of the retinal structure of the eye without first requiring a full segmentation of the 3-D data set. Advantageously, the system, method and apparatus of the present invention can provide quantitative three-dimensional information about the spatial location and extent of macular edema and other pathologies. This three-dimensional information can be used to determine the need for treatment, monitor the effectiveness of treatment and identify the return of fluid that may signal the need for re-treatment. |
| US07659988B2 |
Apparatus for angular-resolved spectroscopic lithography characterization and device manufacturing method
To inspect all portions of the substrate the substrate table can be moved rotationally and linearly. Furthermore the detector can be moved rotationally. This enables all portions of a surface of the substrate to be inspected from all angles in a plane parallel to the substrate. Less linear motion is needed, so the apparatus occupies a smaller volume and generates smaller vibrations. |
| US07659982B2 |
Quantitative evaluation of a color filter
A quantitative evaluation of a color filter (10) in accordance with the capacity of said filter to restore hues comprises the use of a numerical color appearance model. Values of a perceptive attribute are calculated for hue samples (20), by simulating the observation of each of the samples through the filter (10) and without a filter. The values of the perceptive attribute correspond to the visual perception of the samples by an observer (40), and a deviation between the values with and without filter constitutes the result of the evaluation of the filter. Such a method makes it possible to quantitatively rank several color filters, and the ranking obtained corresponds to that which would be established by real observers evaluating the filters. |
| US07659980B1 |
Nephelometric turbidity sensor device
Describes a nephelometric turbidity sensor device which embodies: methods for: (a) attenuation of entrained air, (b) attenuation of bubbles, (c) attenuation of scattered light (d) interchangeable light sources with automatic indexing of algorithms (e) anti-fog windows and (f) verification of operation by self-check and (g) self-calibration. |
| US07659971B2 |
Lensometers and wavefront sensors and methods of measuring aberration
Wavefront measuring systems and methods are disclosed which may be employed, for example, in detecting phase aberrations in a spectacle lens and in an eye. Various embodiments include disposing a modulation pattern in the path of a return beam from the spectacle lens or the eye, and imaging a diffraction pattern at a self-imaging plane relative to the modulation pattern with a detector. The diffraction pattern is analyzed and the results are used to produce a representation of the wavefront phase characteristics that describe aberrations in the lens or eye being measured. Illumination and processing techniques for improving the measurement results are disclosed. Various embodiments comprise systems adaptable to both measure aberrations in lenses in spectacles as well as in a patient's eyes. |
| US07659970B1 |
Method of measuring diffractive lenses
A method and system for measuring an optical property of a multi-focal lens are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises: filtering out light transmitted by all but one of a plurality of diffraction orders of the lens to provide an unfiltered light from a single diffraction order; receiving the unfiltered light at a wavefront detector; and analyzing the unfiltered light at the wavefront detector to measure the optical property. The multi-focal lens can be a multi-focal diffractive intra-ocular lens. The measured optical property can be a discontinuity in the lens surface. Filtering can comprise blocking all but the unfiltered light using an aperture operable to let through the unfiltered light from the single diffraction order, and/or blocking all but the unfiltered light using an opaque obstruction operable to let through only a selected amount of light corresponding to the light transmitted by the single diffraction order. The method can further comprise generating an image quality parameter, such as a modulation transfer function, based on the measured optical property. |
| US07659969B2 |
Diagnosis method and diagnosis chip for the determination of the bandwidth of optical fibers
For determination of the bandwidth of optical fibers, the invention proposes a method which comprises the injection of light at a first optical power level and at a first frequency into an optical fiber, as well as the measurement of a first signal level as a function of the optical power level of the light passing through the fiber at the first frequency, the injection of light at the second optical power level and at a second frequency into the optical fiber, the measurement of a second signal level as a function of the optical power level of the light passing through the fiber at the second frequency, and the determination of the bandwidth of the fiber as a function of the first and second optical power levels and/or of the measured first and second signal levels using a predetermined rule which describes the frequency-dependant attenuation response of the fiber. |
| US07659968B2 |
System with extended range of molecular sensing through integrated multi-modal data acquisition
A multi-modal data acquisition system for detecting target material on a biological reaction surface, the system comprising a radiation source for generating an incoming beam that impinges on the biological reaction surface at an oblique incidence angle and produces a reflected beam, an interferometric detector for detecting an interferometric signal from the illuminated surface, the reflected beam being directed to the interferometric detector, a fluorescence detector for detecting a fluorescence signal from the illuminated surface; the fluorescence detector being positioned to substantially minimize the incidence of the reflected beam; and a processing system for receiving the interferometric and fluorescence signals and determining the presence or absence of target material on the biological reaction surface. A reaction surface conditioned for the simultaneous collection of fluorescence, interferometric and other signals. A multi-modal data acquisition system for collecting and processing additional modes, including multiple interferometric, fluorescence and scattering channels. |
| US07659966B2 |
Container and method of transporting substrate using the same
An exposure apparatus for performing exposure of a substrate to light via a reticle. The apparatus includes a first stage configured to hold a chuck. The chuck has a support base with an electrode, and forms a container, for one of the substrate and the reticle, together with a cover. The container electrostatically chucks the one on the support base by the electrode. A transporter transports the container in which the one is contained, and loads the chuck, which chucks the one, on the first stage without the cover. A second stage holds the other of the substrate and the reticle. The apparatus obtains a first positional shift amount between the chuck and the one chucked on the chuck before the transportation by the transporter, to measure a second positional shift amount between a reference mark on the chuck held by the first stage and a reference mark on the second stage, and corrects positions of the first and second stages based on the first and second positional shift amounts, to perform the exposure. |
| US07659961B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate capable of enhancing image clarity and reducing residual images
A thin film transistor substrate and a liquid crystal display capable of eliminating residual images and enhancing clarity are presented. The thin film transistor substrate includes a charge-up capacitor for increasing electric charge in a first pixel electrode of a first pixel capacitor and a charge-down capacitor decreasing electric charge in a second pixel electrode of a second pixel capacitor. An extension electrode portion of the charge-up capacitor is formed in the shape of a frame to reduce any variation in the overlapping area between the first pixel electrode and the extension electrode portion caused by an alignment error generated during the manufacturing process. |
| US07659958B2 |
Method of manufacturing liquid crystal display and thin film transistor array panel including a data wire having first and second data lines
A gate wire is formed on the insulating substrate. The gate wire has gate lines, first and second gate electrodes connected to the gate lines, and gate pads. A gate insulating layer, first and second semiconductor layers and an ohmic contact layer are sequentially formed thereon. A data wire is formed on the ohmic contact layer. The data wire has first and second data lines, data line connectors, first and second source electrodes, first and second drain electrodes, and data pads. A passivation layer is formed on the data wire, and has contact holes respectively exposing the first and the second drain electrodes, and the gate and the data pads. Pixel electrodes, and subsidiary gate and data pads are formed on the passivation layer. As described above, the data line is provided at opposite sides of the pixel area so that variation in the pixel voltage due to the parasitic capacitance between the partitioned areas with different degree of misalignment is reduced. In addition, two TFTs are provided in each pixel area so that the parasitic capacitance between the gate and the drain electrodes in two respective partitioned areas with left-biased and right-biased misalignment is kept to be constant. In this way, the pixel voltage variation between the two partitioned areas is reduced to prevent non-uniformity in the brightness. |
| US07659957B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and fabricating method thereof
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel and fabricating method thereof capable of minimizing erosion of a common pad of the LCD panel are disclosed. The LCD panel includes a common electrode formed on an upper substrate and a common pad formed on a lower substrate facing the upper substrate, the common pad supplying a common voltage to the common electrode through a short point, wherein the common pad includes a lower electrode formed on the lower substrate, a first common contact hole penetrating a gate dielectric layer formed to cover the lower electrode, an intermediate electrode connected to the lower electrode through the first common contact hole, a plurality of second common contact holes penetrating an organic protection layer formed to cover the intermediate electrode, and an upper electrode connected to the intermediate electrode through the second common contact holes. |
| US07659956B2 |
Pixel unit and display device utilizing the same
A pixel unit comprising a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer comprises a gate electrode and a first electrode. The second metal layer comprises a drain electrode, a source electrode, and a second electrode. The drain electrode overlaps the gate electrode in a first overlapping region. The source electrode overlaps the gate electrode in a second overlapping region. The second electrode overlaps the first electrode in a third overlapping region. The size of the first electrode approximates that of the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are staggered. |
| US07659955B2 |
Liquid crystal device and projection display device with optical-axis-adjusting unit for optical compensator
A liquid crystal device includes an OCB mode liquid crystal panel including a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween, an optical compensator provided on at least one side of the liquid crystal panel, and an optical-axis-adjusting unit that moves the optical compensator relative to the liquid crystal panel to adjust an angle formed by an optical axis of the optical compensator and an optical axis of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US07659953B2 |
Liquid crystal display having reflecting region
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a rear substrate and a front substrate, an LC (liquid crystal) layer placed between the rear substrate and the front substrate, and a reflecting region which reflects external light in at least a portion of a region toward the LC layer at a side of the rear substrate to illuminate the LC layer, and the reflecting region includes an array of a plurality of reflecting surfaces which are formed so that at least a portion toward the front substrate of a side of the rear substrate is not parallel to the front substrate, a first medium layer having a first index of refraction and formed to have a flat surface on the reflecting surfaces, a second medium layer having a second index of refraction that is smaller than the first medium layer, and a third medium layer having a third index of refraction that is larger than the second medium layer, and a portion of light that travels from the rear substrate at an interface between the first medium layer and the second medium layer is totally internally reflected. |
| US07659949B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display employing the same
A backlight unit (2) comprising a shallow box type case (3) having low profile sidewalls and opening upward, a light guide plate (7) in the box type case (3), and a supporting frame (11) containing optical members such as a linear light source (8) and an optical sheet (10) and securing the optical members in place by being fitted in the opening. A first engaging portion (4) is provided on the inside of the sidewall of the box type case (3) and second engaging portions (121-124) are provided on the outer surface of the sidewall of the supporting frame (11) being fitted in the upper opening of the box type case (3). A locking means (14) is attached to the second engaging portion such that the locking means (14) engages with and locks the first engaging portion when the first and second engaging portions engage with each other, thus preventing unfastening of the supporting frame. A liquid crystal display employing the backlight unit is also provided. |
| US07659948B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and display apparatus having the same including rear case and receiving container attachment combination
The liquid crystal display device includes a back light assembly (200), a receiving container (300) and a liquid crystal display panel (400). The back light assembly (200) generates a first light to transform the first light into a second light having modulated optical characteristics. The receiving container (300) has sidewalls (310) and a bottom face (320). The bottom face (320) includes a combination groove (340) for fixing the liquid crystal display device to an external member. A width of a portion of the combination groove (340) is larger than a width of an entrance of the combination groove (340). The liquid crystal display panel transforms the second light into an image light. The receiving container (300) receives the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US07659946B2 |
Liquid crystal projector
Disclosed is a transmissive liquid crystal projector carrying a vertical alignment liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal projector includes a liquid crystal panel (25), on the light incident side and on the light radiating side of which a light incident side polarizing plate (24) and a light radiating side light polarizing plate (26) are arranged, respectively. A first polarized light component in a light beam collected by an illuminating optical system is transmitted through the light incident side polarizing plate (24) and routed to the liquid crystal panel (25). An optical anisotropic device (45), tilted by a preset angle correlated with the direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal panel (25), that is, a pre-tilt angle, is arranged between the light incident side polarizing plate (24) and the liquid crystal panel (25) or between the light radiating side light polarizing plate (26) and the liquid crystal panel (25). By so doing, a high contrast ratio may be maintained, while transmittance of the liquid crystal panel may be improved. |
| US07659945B2 |
Color reproduction method and system, and video display method and device using the same
A color reproduction correcting system and method, and a video display device and method can reproduce original color by considering signal source and display device. Each signal source information and each display device information can be stored. The signal source and the display device, which are currently used (e.g., corrected), can be determined, for example, by a user selection. In one embodiment, the signal provided from a transmission side can be inverse gamma-corrected based on a corresponding signal source, and a colorimetric error of the inverse gamma-corrected signal is preferably corrected using corresponding signal source information and display device information. The corrected colorimetric error signal can be gamma-corrected based on a corresponding display device and then can be displayed on the corresponding display device. |
| US07659941B2 |
Digital broadcasting reception system, digital broadcasting receiver, display, printer and printing method
The video data contained in the digital broadcasting received by a receiver are transmitted to a printer at high speed and at low cost. A receiver (STB 30) for receiving digital broadcasting, a display 31 for displaying the images of the digital broadcasting received by the STB 30 and a printer 32 for printing images contained in the digital broadcasting received by the STB 30 are connected to each other by way of a first signal transmission means adapted to transmit digital signals. The printer 32 obtain video data from the receiver 30 by way of the first signal transmission means. |
| US07659940B2 |
Apparatus and method for improved device interoperability
An apparatus and method for controlling a plurality of electronic devices, such as consumer electronic devices, or the like, via a digital bus. In particular, the present invention provides for improved interoperability of such devices over the digital bus. In one embodiment, the present invention transfers identifying information from a peripheral device to a display device during a discovery mode for providing a device selection screen having a plurality of device icons displayed thereon. The device icons are generated by the display, or controlling device, in response to identifying information, such as keywords stored in a configuration ROM of the peripheral device. |
| US07659939B2 |
Method and apparatus for video deinterlacing and format conversion
A method for deinterlacing a picture is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a potential sample at a location interfaced with a first field of the picture by temporal filtering, (B) evaluating a protection condition in a current region around the location after inclusion of the potential sample and (C) calculating an interpolated sample at the location by vertical spatial filtering the first field in response to the protection condition indicating a significant increase in a vertical activity within the current region due to the potential sample. |
| US07659938B2 |
Nonlinear movement and tilt angle control structure of an image capture device inside a light box
Nonlinear movement and tilt angle control structure of an image capture device inside a light box includes a nonlinear motion set, a rotation set, a cartridge and a compartment. The nonlinear motion set uses dual guiding rails or a single guiding rail to drive the image capture device from top and side directions. The rotation set rotates the image capture device. The cartridge carries the rotation set and is driven by the nonlinear motion set to perform the nonlinear motion. And, the compartment is configured inside the rotation set to ride and fasten the image capture device. |
| US07659937B2 |
Camera module equipped with an optical filter having an edge not in contact with a fixing portion
A camera module includes a module structure constituted by a lens unit to which an image pickup lens is attached and a package to which an imaging element is attached so as to be opposite to the image pickup lens. An optical filter is arranged between the imaging element and the image pickup lens. A portion of a flat surface of the optical filter is fixed to a filter fixing portion via an adhesive. The optical filter is adhered to the filter fixing portion in a state in which an end portion formed by a side surface of the optical filter and the flat surface is in noncontact with the filter fixing portion or the adhesive. Minute particles generated from a cut surface of the optical filter fall outside the filter fixing portion. |
| US07659936B2 |
Wiring substrate, solid-state imaging apparatus using the same, and manufacturing method thereof
In one embodiment, a miniaturized solid-state imaging apparatus includes a body having a cavity for mounting a semiconductor chip therein. The body has an overhanging portion extending toward the cavity. Further, a lead is disposed within the body. The lead has one end exposed through a top surface of the body and the other end exposed through a bottom surface of the body for electrical connection thereof. |
| US07659934B2 |
Recording/reproduction apparatus, and recording/reproduction method as well as stereoscopic images visual effects confirmation apparatus and stereoscopic image visual effects confirmation method
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recording/reproduction of images with which the visual effects of a plurality of images can be visually confirmed with ease. The apparatus includes a recording/reproduction section that records a plurality of input sets of video data and reads them from the recording mediums for reproduction; an arithmetic operation section that performs arithmetic operations by a method corresponding to an external instruction on the plurality of sets of video data reproduced by the recording/reproduction section; and a superimposition section that generates character-string data indicating the arithmetic operation method of the arithmetic operation section, superimposes the arithmetic video data produced by arithmetic operations of the arithmetic operation section and the character-string data and outputs the superimposed video data produced by the superimposition as outcome of arithmetic operations. |
| US07659924B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and program for performing regular image processing and/or correction processing based on a set photography mode and actual photography information
Image data on which image processing has already been performed is obtained with a digital camera. Image processing information includes information indicating a photography mode set at the digital camera. Tag information including the image processing information is attached to the image data. If the image processing information includes information indicating a night view mode, an image output device judges whether the night view mode was intentionally set by a user by judging whether photography date/time information included in the tag information represents night. If the judgment is YES, the image output device sets an output image processing means not to perform exposure correction processing. If the judgment is NO, the image output device sets the output image processing means to perform regular processing including the exposure correction processing. |
| US07659922B2 |
Internet video surveillance camera system and method
The invention consists of a system and method for transferring video images from video sources to video receivers using a video server as an intermediary. The video server creates a list of all the requests from the video receivers for a video image from a video source. The video server requests the video image from the video source and then sends the video image to each video receiver on the list. The video source is only required to send one image for any number of requests from video receivers and the video sources and video receivers have no direct connection to each other. The load of handling many video sources and many video receivers can be distributed amongst multiple video servers. |
| US07659921B2 |
Distance measurement apparatus, distance measurement method, and distance measurement program
Captured images taken by cameras are corrected in accordance with characteristics of the lens system of the cameras to produce corrected images. A pixel position detector then obtains the pixel position of the object on each corrected image. With reference to calibration tables, each of which correlates one of a pixel position on a coordinate system of each corrected image and information having a predetermined relation to the pixel position with information specifying a direction and a position of incident light traveling to the pixel position, the direction and the position of the incident light are obtained. Based on the direction and the position of the incident light, the distance to the object OB can be calculated. |
| US07659920B2 |
System and method for very low frame rate teleconferencing employing image morphing and cropping
A real-time low frame-rate video compression system and method that allows the user to perform face-to-face communication through an extremely low bandwidth network. The system and method employs image cropping and morphing to reduce frame rates. At the encoder side, the system is able to automatically select only a few good faces from the original sequence with high visual quality and compress and transmit them. At the decoder side, the system use image-morphing based rendering method to generate a normal frame-rate video. Experimental results show that the system is superior to more traditional video codecs for low bit-rate face-to-face communication. |
| US07659914B1 |
Generation of an image from text
This invention consists of processes that cause text that is placed on a surface to be selectively scaled, thickened or thinned to achieve the overall appearance of lightness or darkness, thereby forming the approximation of an image. A target image can be used whereby each character's modification in the text will be based on the grayscale value of the corresponding sections of the target image in order to best represent and approximate it. Multiple techniques for implementing this invention are described, including techniques for selectively modifying the text. Novel techniques are also explained for thickening or thinning graphical elements such as text to approximate a target image. |
| US07659911B2 |
Method and apparatus for lossless and minimal-loss color conversion
A method and apparatus for perfectly lossless and minimal-loss interconversion of digital color data between spectral color spaces (RGB) and perceptually based luma-chroma color spaces (Y′CBCR) is disclosed. In particular, the present invention provides a process for converting digital pixels from R′G′B′ space to Y′CBCR space and back, or from Y′CBCR space to R′G′B′ space and back, with zero error, or, in constant-precision implementations, with guaranteed minimal error. This invention permits digital video editing and image editing systems to repeatedly interconvert between color spaces without accumulating errors. In image codecs, this invention can improve the quality of lossy image compressors independently of their core algorithms, and enables lossless image compressors to operate in a different color space than the source data without thereby becoming lossy. The present invention uses fixed-point arithmetic with signed and unsigned rounding normalization at key points in the process to maintain reversibility. |
| US07659909B1 |
Arithmetic logic unit temporary registers
An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) in a graphics processor is described. The ALU includes circuitry for performing an operation using a first set of pixel data. The first set of pixel data is resident in a pipeline register coupled to the circuitry. A temporary register is coupled to the circuitry. The temporary register can receive a result of the operation. The temporary register allows a result generated using one set of pixel data to be used with a subsequent set of pixel data in the same ALU. The result of the operation can thus be used in a second operation with a second set of pixel data that resides in the pipeline register after the first set of pixel data. |
| US07659904B2 |
System and method for processing high priority data elements
A method and system for accommodating at least one high priority data element from a plurality of data elements written into a ring buffer including a processor that preempts a ring buffer by modifying at least one of the data elements previously written to the ring buffer to create modified data elements in response to detecting a high priority data element to be written into the ring buffer. The processor modifies the plurality of data elements previously written to the ring buffer to create the modified data elements. The processor resubmits to the ring buffer at least one of the data elements corresponding to at least one of the modified data elements for execution by a graphics co-processor in response to processing the at least one high priority data element. |
| US07659894B2 |
Terminating spatial partition hierarchies by a priori bounding memory
The present invention provides methods, systems and computer program code (software) products for terminating spatial partition hierarchies and other hierarchies by a priori bounding. |
| US07659885B2 |
Method and system for using a keyboard overlay with a touch-sensitive display screen
Disclosed is a “keyboard overlay” that sits on top of a touch-sensitive display screen of a computing device. After aligning the overlay on the display screen, the user types on the overlay. When the user presses a key on the overlay, the pressure is transmitted to the display screen below. That pressure is registered by the display screen as a touch. The keyboard overlay is formed to provide tactile finger-position feedback so that a user can keep his fingers oriented properly over the keyboard. The overlay may be opaque with keycap information displayed in the key areas. The overlay may be transparent, allowing a user to see a virtual keyboard painted on the display screen below. The computing device can detect the presence and type of an overlay. Applications may respond differently to different types of overlays. Different applications may be invoked depending upon the type of overlay detected. |
| US07659884B2 |
Battery-receiving structure of wireless mouse
A battery-receiving structure of a wireless mouse has a front section structure belonging to a front part and a receiving structure belonging to a rear part. The receiving structure has a first latching part, a second latching part, a seat body with multiple battery holes and an upper cover covering the seat body. A first latching body and a second latching body are set inside the upper cover corresponding to the first latching part and the second latching part. Meanwhile, the first latching body and the second latching body are latched to the first latching part and the second latching part. An existent upper cover is used as a battery cover; therefore, the battery cover does not need not to be molded additionally and the cost is lowered. In addition, the space inside the mouse is also fully used. |
| US07659883B2 |
Joystick device configured with a mouse unit
A joystick device includes a base, an upright joystick handle disposed pivotally on the base and operable to generate a first input signal, and a mouse unit disposed on a top end of the joystick handle and operable to generate a second input signal. An output unit is disposed on the base. A control unit is disposed on the base and connected to the joystick handle, the mouse unit, and the output unit. When the joystick handle is operated, the control unit receives the first input signal from the joystick handle so as to output a first output signal via the output unit. When the mouse unit is operated, the control unit receives the second input signal from the mouse unit so as to output a second output signal via the output unit. A power source supplies electric power to the control unit. |
| US07659882B2 |
Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system
Methods and techniques for use in the operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining an activity level of a user in relation to the game apparatus or other system. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for performing such methods and techniques is also included, as well as an example system for implementation. |
| US07659879B2 |
Backlight driving circuit
A backlight driving circuit for an LCD device is disclosed, in which multiple high-voltage parts each having an inverter circuit are provided, and the plurality of high-voltage parts are dispersedly arranged at both rear sides of an LCD panel. The distribution of the high voltage parts obtains a uniform temperature dispersion in the LCD device, and the lifespan of the LCD is therefore enhanced. |
| US07659875B2 |
Gradation display reference voltage generating circuit and liquid crystal driving device
In a gradation display reference voltage generating circuit, first reference voltages (VH0 to VH63) produced by resistors for positive polarity (RH0 to RH64) of a first ladder circuit in a first reference voltage producing section (LDH) are output from reference voltage output terminals (T0 to T63), respectively, at the positive polarity drive, while second reference voltages (VL0 to VL63) produced by resistors for negative polarity (RL0 to RL64) of a second ladder circuit in a second reference voltage producing section (LDL) are output from the reference voltage outputs (T0 to T63), respectively, at the negative polarity drive. A resistance ratio of the resistors for positive polarity (RH0 to RH64) is different from a resistance ratio of the resistors for negative polarity (RL0 to RL64). |
| US07659872B2 |
Pixel circuit and display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a pixel circuit that includes a correcting section configured to correct the input voltage sampled in the pixel capacitance in order to cancel out the dependency of the output current on the carrier mobility. In the pixel circuit, the correcting section operates depending on the control signal supplied from the scanning line to extract the output current from the drive transistor and introduce the extracted output current into a capacitance of the light-emitting device and the pixel capacitance, thereby correcting the input voltage. The pixel circuit further includes an additional capacitance added to the capacitance of the light-emitting device. In the pixel circuit, a portion of the output current extracted from the drive transistor flows into the additional capacitance to give a time margin to operation of the correcting section. |
| US07659867B2 |
Complex antenna
Provided is a complex antenna which corresponds to both a circularly polarized wave and a linearly polarized wave. The complex antenna includes a substrate, a power feed terminal, four helical antenna devices disposed on the substrate at intervals of 90 degrees, four delay lines having different lengths by a quarter wavelength, and four switch modules which are connected to the power feed terminal in common and each of which is connected to each helical antenna device and each delay line. Each switch module selects one of a first mode in which the power feed terminal and each helical antenna device are directly connected and a second mode in which each delay line is connected to each helical antenna device so that a phase of a power feed fed from the power feed terminal and propagated from each delay line to each helical antenna device can be sequentially shifted by 90 degrees. |
| US07659865B2 |
Adjustable fast set antenna frame
This invention pertains to antenna sector frame that can be more easily installed. The frame is comprised of a support frame having a first vertical end, a second vertical end, an upper horizontal end, and a lower horizontal end. The first vertical end of the support frame may be connected to at least one mounting bracket and the second vertical end of said support frame may be connected to at least one curved T-housing, wherein the lower horizontal end of the support frame is connected to at least one storage base. The face frames comprises of a first vertical end and a second vertical end, wherein the first vertical end may be attached to the curved T-housing. |
| US07659857B2 |
System and method for providing a low and narrow-profile radio frequency identification (RFID) tag
Methods and systems for wireless devices are disclosed. According to one system, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes an RFID circuit packaged within a chip carrier package. The chip carrier package bonds out a first antenna connection for the RFID circuit. An antenna including a conductive lead is interfaced with the first antenna connection. The chip carrier package and the first conductive lead are coupled to a first side of a first spacer. A second spacer having a second dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric constant is coupled to a second side of the first spacer. The second spacer isolates the RFID circuit from a metal surface. |
| US07659851B2 |
Radio frequency certificates of authenticity and related scanners
Radio frequency certificates of authenticity (RFCOAs) and associated scanners are presented. In one implementation, an array of miniaturized antenna elements in an RFCOA scanner occupies an area smaller than a credit card yet obtains a unique electromagnetic fingerprint from an RFCOA associated with an item, such as the credit card. The antenna elements are miniaturized by a combination of both folding and meandering the antenna patch components. The electromagnetic fingerprint of an exemplary RFCOA embeddable in a credit card or other item is computationally infeasible to fake, and the RFCOA cannot be physically copied or counterfeited based only on possession of the electromagnetic fingerprint. |
| US07659848B2 |
Event location determination
A method of determining a location of an event of interest by processing signals from a satellite positioning system. The method comprises receiving recorded blocks of data samples of a satellite broadcast including blocks recorded at the approximate location of the event of interest, each block including one or more timestamps generated within a first portable device at which the samples were recorded; receiving a time of occurrence of the event recorded independently of the samples; comparing the timestamps and the time of occurrence to identify at least one block corresponding to the event; and processing the data samples of the identified at least one block to derive position information approximating the location of the event. |
| US07659845B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter with capacitor array
An analog-to-digital converter comprising a capacitor array having a plurality of unit capacitors, each having first and second inputs; a comparator having a pair of inputs and at least one output; and a controller configured to couple one input of each unit capacitor of the plurality of capacitors to the inputs of the comparator, and to control a feedback loop between the pair of inputs and the at least one output of the comparator. |
| US07659844B2 |
Optical-to-electrical converter and analog-to-digital converter thereof
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal is disclosed. The ADC includes a detection module, a first P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, a first N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, a first switch unit, and an output module. The first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor form an inverter. The first switch unit is disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal of the inverter and is turned on/off according to a first control signal. The output module is coupled to the output terminal of the inverter for counting the time that an input voltage is greater than a reference voltage and generating a digital signal. |
| US07659840B2 |
Sigma-delta conversion circuit suitable for photocurrent measurement applications
A sigma-delta converter suitable for measuring a photocurrent comprises an input node adapted to receive a current to be measured (Imeas), a capacitor connected to the input node, a clocked comparator coupled to the input node and to a reference voltage Vref at respective inputs, and a switchable current source connected to the input node which conducts a reference current Iref when switched on. The converter is arranged in a sigma-delta configuration, with the current source switched on to pull down the voltage (VCMP) at the input node when the comparator output toggles due to VCMP increasing above Vref, and to be switched off when the comparator output toggles due to VCMP falling below Vref, such that the comparator output comprises a digital bitstream which varies with Imeas. |
| US07659837B2 |
Operation processing apparatus, operation processing control method, and computer program
An operation processing apparatus adapted to perform a data conversion on input bits has a logic circuit adapted to perform a data conversion on input bits. The logic circuit includes selectors configured in a hierarchical layer structure and controlled by select signals corresponding to the input bits. Constant values input to selectors located in a bottom layer of the hierarchical structure are selected and transferred toward a top layer from one layer to another. A constant value is finally selected and output from the top layer. The data conversion process is controlled by a control unit such that a pre-charge phase and an evaluation phase are performed alternately. In the pre-charge phase, all input values to the selectors are set to be equal. In the evaluation phase, an output bit for given input bits is produced. The select signals are switched in the pre-charge phase. |
| US07659826B2 |
System for remotely monitoring a user
A subscription system and corresponding method of operation for monitoring user's well being is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing, at a user monitor module, a first indicator for the user well being; providing, at a receiving module operably coupled to the user monitor module, a first threshold for the first indicator; receiving, at the receiving module, the first indication; comparing the first indication and the first threshold; generating a secondary indication when the comparison indicates that the first indication equals or exceeds the first threshold; receiving, at a supervisory module coupled to the receiver module, the secondary indication; and informing a supervisor that the first threshold has been reached. |
| US07659820B2 |
Removable data storage media tracking system
A system for tracking locations of portable data storage media. The system includes media with a wireless tag storing metadata pertaining to its stored data. The tag is adapted to respond to an interrogatory signal by wirelessly transmitting a signal comprising the metadata, e.g., is a high frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag powered inductively to transmit contents of its memory. The system includes a stationary and mobile locators that includes tag readers transmitting the interrogatory signals to the media and receiving the metadata signals from the wireless tags. Mobile ones of the locators include a communication module receiving location data (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) data) and sending wireless signals made up of the received location data and the received metadata signals. The system includes a media tracker that receives signals from the mobile locator and determines and stores locations of the media typically along with a time stamp. |
| US07659819B2 |
RFID reader operating system and associated architecture
A framework structure for controlling an RFID device including a platform comprising an RFID radio. The structure comprises a layered framework including a first layer, with at least one functional module comprising a device driver, communicatively coupled with the platform; and a second layer, with at least one functional module comprising an API, communicatively coupled with the first layer and with an application for controlling the RFID device. |
| US07659815B2 |
Process for producing and controlling the package quality of absorbent articles containing a wetness sensing system
The present disclosure is generally directed to process for controlling the quality of absorbent articles containing wetness sensing systems. The wetness sensing system incorporated in the article can include, for instance, metallic conductive leads or other metallic material. A metal sensor can be used in order to ensure that a proper amount of metallic material is contained within the absorbent article thereby confirming the presence of the wetness sensing system. The process of the present disclosure can be carried out at various locations. For instance, the process can be carried out while the articles are being manufactured, after the articles are packaged or during use of the articles. In one embodiment, the process can be carried out at a wholesale or retail location prior to accepting the articles into inventory. |
| US07659812B2 |
Tire pressure monitor with diversity antenna system and method
An automotive tire pressure monitor with diversity antenna system employs a RF transmitter within each wheel/tire assembly and a vehicle mounted receiver with multiple receiving antennas. A first, primary antenna is located adjacent one vehicle window and a secondary antenna is located adjacent another vehicle window opposite the primary antenna. Both antennas are coupled to a receiver via a switch. The receiver feeds a processor, which is encoded to select the optimal antenna/receiver configuration based upon absolute signal strength (signal to noise), signal quality (completeness of encoded data) or signal reception rate. The signal received from the optimized antenna/receiver configuration is processed and transmitted to the host vehicle for system intervention and or display to an operator. |
| US07659811B2 |
Vehicle device to activate a visual or audible alert and associated methods
A speed exceeded notification device may be installed in a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The speed exceeded notification device may include a wireless communications device, and a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The controller may be for determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period, and based thereon may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification. The controller may also determine when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed threshold for a second time period less than the first time period, and may generate a local vehicle speed exceeded notification using the at least one vehicle indicator coupled to the vehicle data communications bus so that a driver of the vehicle can reduce the speed of the vehicle and avoid sending of the remote vehicle speed exceeded notification. |
| US07659805B2 |
Thermostat
A thermostat has a movable place where a spring point and a securing plate portion are integrally formed. The spring point is provided with a movable contact at a position that faces a fixed contact, a protrusion with which a bimetal that counter turns comes into contact, a hole for inserting the head of a bimetal holding point, and a protrusion for holding the bimetal, and the spring point is valley-folded at a folding point so as to face the securing plate portion. The securing plate portion is integrally constituted of a terminal point connected to one external terminal, a fixation point for securing an insulating plate, which has the fixed contact in a manner to hold the plate from both sides, and a holding point folded and set up, penetrating a central hole of the bimetal to hold the bimetal. |
| US07659804B2 |
High voltage/high current fuse
A fuse for a high voltage/high current application, such as a hydro-electric vehicle (“HEV”) application is provided. The fuse employs a variety of arc quenching features to handle a large amount of arcing energy that is generated when such fuse is opened due to a fuse opening event. In one embodiment, an insulative substrate, such as a melamine substrate, is metallized with a fuse element. The fuse element extends to multiple surfaces of the substrate. A fuse opening portion of the element is located so that the arcing energy is forced to travel along multiple insulative planes, increasing an impedance across the opening of the element and decreasing the likelihood of a sustained arc. Also, the substrate and element are disposed in a sealed housing, which is packed in one embodiment with an arc quenching material, such as sand. |
| US07659798B2 |
Piezoelectric vibration piece and piezoelectric device
A piezoelectric vibration piece includes a base made of a piezoelectric material; a plurality of vibration arms which is integrally formed with the base and extends in parallel; elongate grooves which are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms; and excitation electrodes which include inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves and side electrodes disposed in side surfaces facing the inner electrodes, wherein widening portions in which the widths of the vibration arms are widened toward the base at a joint between the vibration arms of the base are formed, and the side electrodes are led to principal surfaces and side surfaces of the widening portions. |
| US07659797B2 |
Low-leakage EMC filter
EMC filter, connectable between a supply network and an electric operated appliance to reduce conduction noise between said supply network and said appliance, comprising one voltage regulator having an output terminal whose potential is kept close to the earth potential, in order to reduce the voltage drop, at mains frequency, across a “Y” capacitor or an active shunt module. In this way the leakage current to earth is sensibly reduced. The device of the invention is especially useful in corner-earthed three-phase lines or in conjunction with RCD devices. |
| US07659795B2 |
Antenna duplexer and wireless terminal using the same
A technology which can realize a high-performance multiband operation in a compact circuit configuration and is advantageous for a wireless terminal of GSM system for which the further increase of the demands is expected in the future is provided. Provided is a multiband switch type antenna duplexer adopted in a mobile phone used in TDMA system such as the GSM system, in which the signals of respectively different first to fourth frequency bands (GSM 850, EGSM, DCS, PCS) share a single antenna, wherein switching elements such as receive filters and diodes are combined in various ways to perform the high-performance band switch with the minimum number of switching elements. The circuit of this antenna duplexer can realize not only the size reduction of the multiband switch antenna duplexer but also the size reduction and performance improvement of the wireless terminal itself. |
| US07659789B2 |
Signal modulation scheme in class-D amplification and circuit therefor
A class-D amplifier (10) includes a logic circuit (40) for controlling the operation of a switching bridge (11). The logic circuit (40) transmits the differential mode of a differential pulse width modulation input signal and deletes a central portion of the common mode of input signal, while preserving pulses of a minimum pulse width following a rising edge and preceding a falling edge in common mode of the input signal. Deleting the central portion of the common mode signal improves the efficiency and reduces the electromagnetic interference radiation of the class-D amplifier (10). Preserving the pulses of the minimum pulse width ensures the proper operation of the switching elements (12, 14, 16, 18) in the switching bridge (11), thereby reducing the distortion in the signal amplification. |
| US07659785B2 |
Voltage controlled oscillator and PLL having the same
A Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) includes a plurality of oscillation units connected in cascade to form a chain; and a plurality of current source sections operatively connected to the oscillation units, the current source sections each being configured to control current provided to the oscillation units, wherein each of the current source sections includes: at least one fixed current source configured to perform a current control of a corresponding oscillation unit by using a fixed voltage; and at least one variable current source configured to perform a current control of the corresponding oscillation unit by using a variable voltage. |
| US07659777B2 |
Offset adjustment device, semiconductor device, display device, offset adjustment method, noise detection device, and noise detection method
In one embodiment of the present invention, an operational amplifier circuit, a switching element is closed and a switching element is opened. A latch circuit DL latches an output voltage of an operational amplifier and supplies a Q output corresponding to the output voltage. A control circuit supplies an offset adjustment signal to an offset adjustment input terminal OR of the operational amplifier, thereby adjusting an offset of the output voltage. The latch circuit DL latches again the output voltage thus adjusted and minutely adjusts the offset adjustment signal so as to adjust the remaining offset. Weighting is carried out in accordance with how many times latching has been carried out, and the offset of the output voltage of the operational amplifier is quantized, thereby obtaining a binary logical signal and storing the signal in the control circuit. |
| US07659776B2 |
Offset voltage correction for high gain amplifier
A method and an apparatus are described for an offset correction in a high gain amplifier. An embodiment of an amplifier circuit includes an amplifier to convert a current signal into a voltage signal, where the amplifier generates an offset voltage in the voltage signal. The amplifier circuit also includes a sampling component coupled with the amplifier, with the sampling component subtracting a first sample of the voltage signal from a second sample of the voltage signal to produce a difference value. The amplifier circuit further includes a gain component coupled with the sampling component to amplify the difference between the first sample and the second sample. |
| US07659774B2 |
Filter circuit
The present invention addresses a need for reducing the power consumption in a baseband filter used in a front-end wireless receiver while providing the necessary linearity. In particular, relatively high linearity can be obtained with lower power consumption than has heretofore been the case. This is achieved in embodiments of the invention using an optimized single-branch fully differential structure which operates as a “composite” source-follower (when using CMOS devices) with an ideal unitary dc gain. A positive feedback internal to the source follower allows one to synthesize two complex-poles. |
| US07659771B2 |
Differential charge pump
A differential charge pump includes a differential charge pump unit, current adjusting device, and common mode voltage control circuit. The differential charge pump unit is used for generating a output voltage signal according to a pump-up signal and a pump-down signal. The current adjusting device is coupled to the differential charge pump unit for providing an adjusting current signal to the differential charge pump unit as the pump-up signal and pump-down signal are both enabled or disabled. The control circuit is coupled to the differential charge pump unit for outputting a feedback signal to the differential charge pump unit according to the output voltage signal. |
| US07659770B2 |
High frequency switching circuit
A high frequency switching circuit is disclosed. The high frequency switching circuit is provided with first and second high frequency signal terminals, a control terminal, a field-effect transistor having a drain, a source and a gate. The field-effect transistor is connected between the first and the second high frequency signal terminals so as to switch a high frequency signal. The high frequency switching circuit is further provided with a variable resistance circuit which is connected between the gate of the field-effect transistor and the control terminal. |
| US07659766B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device enabling to produce a stable constant current even on a low power-source voltage
A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a first MIS transistor of a first conductivity type, a second MIS transistor of a second conductivity type, a resistor connected in series between a first power-source line and a second power-source line, and a third MIS transistor of the first conductivity type. The third MIS transistor has a gate connected to a node where the first MIS transistor and the second MIS transistor are connected together, and a drain connected to a connection node where the second MIS transistor and the resistor are connected together. |
| US07659765B2 |
Resistor circuit
Operations as a variable resistor are favorably realized even when a drain-source voltage of a variable MOS resistor and that of a reference MOS resistor are not the same. A gate voltage of the variable MOS resistor is controlled with reference to a gate voltage which is controlled such that a voltage generated in the reference MOS resistor is controlled to be the same as a reference voltage. A resistor is connected in parallel with the reference MOS resistor between the drain and source thereof, the resistor including a pair of resistors having the same resistance connected in series. Half of a drain-source voltage of the reference MOS resistor is detected at an intermediate point of the pair of resistors. The gate voltage of the variable resistor is obtained by subtracting one-half of the drain-source voltage from the gate voltage of the reference MOS resistor. |
| US07659762B2 |
Clock synchronizer
Disclosed herein are synchronization latch solutions. |
| US07659760B2 |
PLL circuit and semiconductor integrated device
A charge pump circuit comprises two MOS transistors serially connected between a power supply voltage VDD and ground, a switch SW0, four switches SW1 through SW4, four capacitors C1 through C4, and four switches SW5 through SW8. If a control voltage Vcntl is to be varied, a specific switch SW of the switches SW1 through SW4 is turned on such that a specific capacitor is charged to the power supply voltage VDD. Then, a specific switch SW of the switches SW5 through SW8 is turned on to transfer the electric charge stored in the capacitor to the capacitor of a low-pass filter and thereby the control voltage is controlled at a desired value. |
| US07659754B2 |
CMOS power switching circuit usable in DC-DC converter
A power switching circuit in CMOS technology has a power MOS transistor and a driver stage. The power MOS transistor is operated at a higher supply voltage in excess of its maximum allowable gate-source voltage; and the driver stage of the level shifter is operated at a lower supply voltage substantially lower than the supply voltage for the power MOS transistor. The driver stage includes a pair of driver MOS transistors coupled in series between a higher supply voltage rail and a reference potential rail, and at an interconnection node coupled to the gate of the power MOS transistor. The gates of the driver MOS transistors are AC-coupled to drive signals of mutually opposite phase; and the gates of the driver MOS transistors are each connected to the higher voltage supply rail through a respective parallel connection of a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series with a non-linear component. The resistance value of the second resistor is substantially smaller than the resistance value of the first resistor. |
| US07659751B2 |
Multiple-output transistor logic circuit
A method of designing logic circuit provides a logic circuit which includes a first transistor network and a complementary second transistor network connected at a central node. The central node serves as a first logic output. Each of the transistor networks is also connected to a respective root. A third transistor network is connected between an intermediate node of one of the transistor networks and the network's respective root. The third transistor network has a complementary structure to the transistors between the intermediate node and the central node, and includes a logic output The third transistor network (the graft network) provides a second logic output to the logic circuit. |
| US07659750B2 |
Thermal electric NOR gate
A thermal electric (TE) binary NOR gate logic circuit is provided with a method for NOR logic gating. The method accepts a first input voltage representing an input binary logic state and generates a first thermal electric (TE) temperature in response to the first input voltage. A second input voltage is accepted representing an input binary logic state, and a second TE temperature is generated in response to the second input voltage. In response to the first and second TE temperatures, a NOR logic state output voltage is generated. More explicitly, a first control voltage is generated in response to the first TE temperature, and a second control voltage is generated in response to the second TE temperature. Then, a third TE temperature is generated in response to the first and second control voltages, which in turn generates the output voltage. |
| US07659742B1 |
Vacuum chamber AC/DC probe
Features of non-vacuum AC/DC probe systems are combined with features of the DC vacuum chamber testers to provide an AC/DC probe system that can be used in a vacuum environment, such as a SEM vacuum chamber. Features of the DC vacuum chamber tester are modified to include new op-amp circuitry that provides the AC/DC testing functionality of the non-vacuum chamber systems, resulting in an AC/DC probe system that can be used in a vacuum environment. |
| US07659740B2 |
System and method of digitally testing an analog driver circuit
Digital testing of an analog driver circuit is enabled using a circuit including a control circuit for generating signals, a differential driver circuit for receiving a differential input signal, amplifying the differential input signal and transmitting a differential output signal, a programmable termination impedance circuit for generating a differential termination impedance at the output node of the differential driver circuit, and a differential receiver circuit for converting the differential output signal to a single ended signal and transmitting the single ended signal. The testing includes skewing a differential output termination impedance, adjusting a differential receiver circuit voltage offset, selecting a differential driver circuit power level, enabling a decoder which activates only one differential driver circuit segment per test sequence, activating a segment, stimulating the differential driver circuit with digital test patterns, receiving differential driver circuit output, converting the output to a single-ended signal, and observing the single-ended signal. |
| US07659737B1 |
Electrical, high temperature test probe with conductive driven guard
A probe needle apparatus and method provides a drive guard having the same potential as a probe needle for reducing signal noise in low current measurements. The probe needle apparatus includes a central conductive core covered with alternating layers of dielectric and conductive materials, a first layer of dielectric material applied to maintain electrical access to the conductive central core while providing continuous isolation of the conductive central core elsewhere, and a conductive drive guard layer applied around the first layer of dielectric material in electrical isolation from the conductive central core. |
| US07659736B2 |
Mechanically reconfigurable vertical tester interface for IC probing
A wafer test assembly includes multiple probe head substrates arranged like tiles with connectors attached to one side and probes supported on the opposing side. In one embodiment, flexible cable connectors directly connect the connectors on the probe head tile to a test head, while in another embodiment the flexible cables connect the probe head tile to a PCB providing horizontal routing to test head connectors. In one embodiment, leveling pins provide a simplified support structure connecting to a retaining element attached to the tiles to provide for applying a push-pull leveling force. A test head connector interface frame enables rearrangement of connectors between the test head and the probe card to provide for both full wafer contact or partial wafer contact. The test head connectors are rearranged by being slidable on rails, or pluggable and unpluggable enabling movement over a range of positions. |
| US07659735B2 |
Probe card capable of multi-probing
A probe card capable of multi-probing includes a print circuit board having a plurality of contact portions and a test module having a plurality of test boards. Each of the test boards includes at least one probing portion on which a plurality of needles are arrayed. The test module selects one of the test boards and probes semiconductor chips formed on a semiconductor wafer through the needles arrayed on the probing portion of the selected test board. |
| US07659732B2 |
Four-wire ohmmeter connector and ohmmeter using same
A four-wire ohmmeter connector includes a pair of elongated members spaced apart from each other by an interconnecting web. A pair of elongated contacts are mounted on forwardly projecting portions of each of the elongated members. An insulative housing surrounds the elongated members, contacts and web. The contacts mounted on one of the elongated members are connected through separate wires to a positive probe, and the contacts mounted on the other of the elongated members are connected through separate wires to a negative probe. The elongated members are inserted into respective terminal apertures of a four-wire ohmmeter. A pair of semi-cylindrical conductive sleeves are aligned with each of the apertures, and they make contact with and compress the respective contacts that are inserted into the aperture. |
| US07659731B2 |
Liquid properties sensor circuit
A sensor circuit is coupled to a sensing element for determining a property, such as a dielectric constant, of a fuel. The circuit includes an excitation voltage signal generator, a synchronization trigger and a processing circuit configured to generate an output signal indicative of the fuel property. The excitation signal is applied to the sensing element to produce an induced current signal. The synchronization trigger generates a trigger signal when the excitation signal crosses zero volts, at which time the real (resistive) component of the induced current signal is zero. The induced signal is therefore wholly representative of the imaginary component attributable to a capacitance of the fuel, which in turn is dependent on the dielectric constant (and thus ethanol concentration) of the fuel blend. The processing circuit is configured to sample the induced signal in response to the trigger signal and produce the output signal. |
| US07659729B2 |
Method and device for measuring width direction end position of stripe body, and method and device for measuring width direction center position of stripe body
A microwave sending antenna 3R and a microwave receiving antenna 4R are provided to a right-side furnace wall 1R, and the system is devised so that the microwaves emitted from the microwave sending antenna 3R are reflected by the right-side edge of a cold-rolled steel plate 2, and the reflected waves are received by the microwave receiving antenna 4R. Similarly, a microwave sending antenna 3L and a microwave receiving antenna 4L are provided to a left-side furnace wall 1L, and the system is devised so that the microwaves emitted from the microwave sending antenna 3L are reflected by the left-side edge of the cold-rolled steel plate 2, and the reflected waves are received by the microwave receiving antenna 4L. If the time from the sending of the microwaves until the receiving of the reflected waves is designated as t, and the velocity of the microwaves is designated as c, then the distance to the object reflecting the microwaves is determined from t·c/2. It is possible to provide a method for measuring the width-direction end position of a material strip with which noise and atmosphere have little effect, installation is easy, and there is little mechanical interference with the material strip. |
| US07659727B2 |
Multilayer wiring board and method for testing the same
A multilayer wiring board has a ceramic substrate, on which a multilayer wiring section is formed. One of the conductor layers has a grounded pattern. Each of the conductor layers has a reference pattern, which is usable as a standard in calculation of an electric capacitance. An electric capacitance is measured between the grounded pattern and the three-dimensional wiring path. On the other hand, a theoretical electrical capacitance is calculated on the basis of a reference value of electric capacitance which has been measured between the reference pattern and the grounded pattern. The measured value for the wiring path is compared to the calculated value to determine whether the three-dimensional wiring path is good or bad. As the multilayer wiring section has the reference patterns, the electric capacitance for the normal wiring path can be obtained by calculation without preparing the normal acceptable product. |
| US07659722B2 |
Method for azimuthal resistivity measurement and bed boundary detection
Systems and methods for performing bed boundary detection and azimuthal resistivity logging with a single tool are disclosed. Some method embodiments include logging a borehole with an azimuthally-sensitive resistivity logging tool; deriving both a resistivity log and a boundary detection signal from measurements provided by said tool; and displaying at least one of the boundary detection signal and the resistivity log. The resistivity log measurements may be compensated logs, i.e., logs derived from measurements by one or more symmetric transmitter-receiver arrangements. Though symmetric arrangements can also serve as the basis for the boundary detection signal, a greater depth of investigation can be obtained with an asymmetric arrangement. Hence the boundary detection signal may be uncompensated. |
| US07659721B2 |
Electromagnetic surveying for hydrocarbon reservoirs
A method of electromagnetic surveying of an area of seafloor that is thought or known to contain a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir is described. The method includes broadcasting an EM signal from a horizontal electric dipole (HED) transmitter and obtaining vertical electric dipole (VED) response data at a remote receiver in response thereto. Survey data are analysed by comparing the VED response data with background data which are not sensitive to the postulated hydrocarbon reservoir. Accordingly, differences between the VED response data and the background data allow for the identification of buried hydrocarbon reservoirs. The background data may be provided by magneto-telluric surveying, controlled source electromagnetic surveying or from direct geophysical measurement. By employing VED response data in this way, surveys may be performed in shallower water than has previously been possible since the VED detector is not sensitive to air-wave components of the EM field induced by the HED transmitter at the VED detector. |
| US07659717B2 |
Sensor for measuring magnetic flux
A sensor for measuring the magnetic flux of a sample material includes a first pick-up coil for generating a pick-up signal and a second pick-up coil for generating another pick-up signal. The first and second pick-up coils are arranged such that they have a substantially equal sensitivity with respect to a background field and a substantially equal sensitivity with respect to deviations from a central position within the coils. The coils have a different sensitivity with respect to a field generated by the sample. The sensor can be used to measure the magnetic response of magnetic material in a varying background field, e.g. for full hysteresis measurement equipment using pulsed magnetic fields. The invention also has applications in a meter for magnetic moment and in measuring induced currents in metallic samples, where it is necessary to make a measurement in the presence of an unwanted background field. |
| US07659716B2 |
Sensor circuit, semiconductor device, and electronic apparatus
A sensor circuit has: a sensor portion that obtains, as an electrical signal, information on an object to be measured or detected; and a control circuit that controls the operation of the sensor portion. The control circuit receives a start input signal inputted thereto from outside for making the sensor portion operate only for a given duration after the start input signal is inputted thereto. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the current consumption by arbitrarily controlling a period of an intermittent operation of the sensor circuit. |
| US07659715B2 |
Device for inspecting a rectilinear cavity with eddy currents
Inspecting an open cavity by successive broaching movements of an eddy-current sensor. The inspection device includes a probe body including the sensor installed laterally in the vicinity of the end of a rod and in line with a ramp, together with a resilient bias device acting on the probe body. |
| US07659711B2 |
Test handler including single-door-type stockers
A handler may include a handler system main body used for testing semiconductor devices; an open-type stocker portion on a front side of the handler system main body; and/or a plurality of single-door-type stockers in the open-type stocker portion. The single-door-type stockers may include windows on upper parts of front sides of the single-door-type stockers. The front sides of the single-door-type stockers may be protected. The handler also may include a front top door on an upper part of the front side of the handler system main body; locking stoppers below the windows of the single-door-type stockers; safety sensors on sides of the open-type stocker portion; and/or a working table in front of the open-type stocker portion. The open-type stocker portion may be below the front top door. The safety sensors may stop the handler when the single-door-type stockers are not closed. |
| US07659710B2 |
Electrical measuring instrument having a current clamp measures the current while detached from and attached to the housing
A current clamp meter having a current meter body and a detachable current clamp. The current meter body and the current clamp are configured so that the current clamp is detachable from the current meter body and the meter is operable with the current clamp either attached to the current meter body or detached from the current meter body. |
| US07659709B2 |
Electric current sensor having housing with rails to insert support board
An electric current sensor having a housing, magnetic circuit with a magnetic core, and a magnetic field detector with a detection cell, positioned in an air gap between ends of the core. The core is made of a non-laminated magnetic material, and the magnetic circuit has a strap made of non-magnetic material welded to the core at each side of the air gap. The magnetic field detector has a support plate on which the detection cell is mounted. The plate has a recess, opposition the detection cell, which houses one end of the magnetic circuit. |
| US07659708B2 |
Broadcast receiver having integrated spectrum analysis
A receiver for receiving a broadcast channel comprising a spectrum analyzer physically integrated into the receiver and operative to receive an intermediate frequency signal and process the spectral contents of the receive signal. |
| US07659706B2 |
Current detector circuit and current-mode DC-DC converter using same
A current detector circuit for detecting a load current flowing through a load includes a first series circuit having a first element and the load connected in series, a second series circuit having a second element and a resistor connected in series, the second element having a temperature characteristic equal to the temperature characteristic of the resistance of the first element, a power supply configured to supply voltage to the first series circuit and the second series circuit, and a control circuit configured to control the voltage drop across the second element so that the voltage drop across the second element is equal to the voltage drop across the first element. A current detection signal corresponding to the load current is generated based on a current flowing through the second element. |
| US07659703B1 |
Zero generator for voltage regulators
A circuit for providing an improved “feed forward” zero in a feedback loop such that the zero has a frequency dependent on the transconductance (gm) of a common gate transistor, and pole and zero separation that is dependent on a multiple of the gm. The circuit includes an error amplifier and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit provides a first feedback current and a second feedback current. The error amplifier receives a reference signal and a feedback signal. The feedback signal is provided by summing the first feedback current and the second feedback current. |
| US07659702B2 |
Buck topology allowing step-up and polarity change
A buck topology that provides voltage step up and polarity change is disclosed. In one embodiment a converter includes an input for receiving an input voltage, a switching circuit coupled to the input for receiving a first driving signal, a floating voltage source coupled to the switching circuit for producing an offset voltage, and an output coupled to the floating voltage source for generating an output voltage. The output voltage exhibits a voltage level that is directly proportional to a duty cycle of the first driving signal. |
| US07659701B1 |
Limiting peak input power
In an example embodiment, a primary power supply having an input, an output and a mode selection input. The mode selection input is operative to switch the power supply between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. While in the first mode of operation voltage is regulated within a predefined criterion. While in the second mode of operation, voltage at the output is allowed to vary beyond the predefined criteria. |
| US07659700B2 |
Charge-transfer apparatus and method
An electronic device for transferring charge includes: a charge storage device; an inductive section; and a switching array having a first set of switches connected to a first node of a power terminal, a second set of switches connected to a second node, and a third set of switches connected to a third node. The device includes a controller configured to control the switching array so as to cause a first predetermined charge to interchange between the first node and the charge storage device, a second predetermined charge to interchange between the second node and the charge storage device, and a third predetermined charge to interchange between the third node and the charge storage device; and a bypass switch configured to close a circuit between the charge storage device and the inductive section so as to prevent charge from interchanging between the charge storage device and the nodes. |
| US07659695B2 |
Dehumidifying device for rechargeable electronic equipment
A device associates an enclosing capsule in which will be fitted electronic equipment requiring dehumidification, and a medium-to-low voltage converter to recharge electronic equipment. Heat energy released by the coil in the converter will lead to a free thermal exchange of air between the inside and the outside of the capsule, produced by the natural convection from vent holes located in the lower part of the device through which air will be sucked from the outside and vent holes located in the upper part of the device through which warm air thus produced will escape. The circulation of unsaturated warm air around the electronic equipment has the effect of removing the water molecules on the components by saturating the ambient air in the confinement zone, this air being evacuated through vent holes located in the upper part of the device. |
| US07659692B2 |
Rechargeable battery pack for a power tool having an interruptor for prevention of overcharging
A battery pack for a power tool of self-contained over-charge protection is proposed. The battery pack includes a battery stack composed of a plurality of series connected secondary cells, and a charge terminal connected through a charge current path to the battery stack for flowing a charge current from a charger. The battery pack includes an interrupter inserted in the charge current path, and an over-charge detector which detects a cell voltage across each of the secondary cells and actuates the interrupter to open the charge current path when any one of the cell voltages becomes higher than a predetermined threshold (VTH3). Thus, even if the charger fails to limit the charge current, the battery pack can itself protect the secondary cells from being over-charged. |
| US07659691B2 |
Power supply unit
A power supply unit for extending a function of an apparatus (image pickup apparatus) unloadably loaded with a flat parallelopiped battery having a roughly square principal surface includes the flat battery, and a power supply (for example, a control grip including a cell or cells and a control portion which includes a power supply button, a shutter button, a zoom switch) electrically connected to the flat battery through a plate having the same shape as that of the flat battery and detachably mounted, projected portions are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of a back surface opposite to an insertion surface of the plate, along the back surface, and one of the projected portions is formed with a locked surface to be locked by a lock means (lock pawl) possessed by the apparatus, whereby mis-insertion of the plate into the apparatus is prevented, and a function of the apparatus is extended. |
| US07659687B2 |
Intelligent drive
The invention relates to an electric drive (19) provided with a drive regulator (5), an electromotor (9) and a control device (3, 4, 7, 8) which is used to detect and monitor the threshold value of axis-relevant, electrical/mechanical operational state variables, and preventative error diagnosis. The control device (3, 4, 7, 8) comprises an additional monitoring device (6) which can analyze the operational state variables in order to recognize, at an earlier stage, possible deviations from tolerance ranges and to process the analysis results. |
| US07659682B2 |
Servo motor controlling method
A servo motor controlling method includes: directly or indirectly detecting a position of a moving body which performs a circular-arc interpolation feeding motion by a servo motor; performing a feedback control for enabling the position of the moving body to comply with a position command; and at a quadrant changing time when a moving direction of the moving body is changed, performing torque correction on a torque command value according to a distance from a position where the moving direction is changed. By this method, a quadrant protrusion and a torque change with respect to a friction caused from a free zone at a time of reversion of a ball screw can be appropriately corrected. Especially, by performing a first torque correction for a static friction at the position where the moving direction is changed, and by performing a second torque correction for a moving friction after movement by the distance corresponding to the free zone, more appropriate correction can be obtained. |
| US07659680B1 |
Motor battery systems
A combined motor-battery system comprising an electric power source adapted to convert self-originating electrical current to mechanical power utilizing a set of common functional structures. Preferred embodiments include an electrochemical cell comprising field reactive electrodes that directly produce extractable mechanical forces in the presence of a magnetic field. |
| US07659673B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a controllably variable power to a load
Methods and apparatus for providing and controlling power to at least some types of loads. In one example, a controlled predetermined power is provided to a load without requiring any feedback information from the load (i.e., without monitoring a load voltage and/or load current). In another example, a “feed-forward” power driver for an LED-based light source combines the functionality of a DC-DC converter and a light source controller, and is configured to control the intensity of light generated by the light source based on modulating the average power delivered to the light source in a given time period, without monitoring and/or regulating the voltage or current provided to the light source. In various examples, significantly streamlined circuits having fewer components, higher overall power efficiencies, and smaller space requirements are realized. Based on various power driver configurations, lighting apparatus incorporating one or more power drivers for one or more LED-based loads may be implemented, and multiple such lighting apparatus may be coupled together to form a lighting network in which operating power is efficiently provided throughout the network. |
| US07659671B2 |
High-reliability light fixture and method
A light fixture includes multiple sets of light-producing devices, such as bulbs. A first set of bulbs is illuminated. When one or more bulbs in the first set of bulbs fails, the failure is detected, and a second set of bulbs is illuminated: If a number of good bulbs remaining falls below a predetermined threshold, the light fixture provides a notification that a bulb change is required. The notification may include visual, audio, or electronic notification. By providing multiple sets of bulbs and a controller to detect a bulb failure and automatically switch to a different set of bulbs, the light fixture and method of the preferred embodiments provide high-reliability lighting that automatically compensates when a bulb burns out. |
| US07659664B2 |
System for displaying image
A system for displaying an image includes a plurality of pixels each having a first organic light-emitting device (OLED), a second OLED and a third OLED. The pixel includes a first electrode layer, a first organic light-emitting layer, a second organic light-emitting layer, a second electrode layer and a color filter. The first organic light-emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode layer and within the first OLED and the second OLED. The second organic light-emitting layer is disposed on the first electrode layer and within the second OLED and the third OLED so that the first and second organic light-emitting layers overlap within the second OLED. The second electrode layer is disposed on the first organic light-emitting layer and the second organic light-emitting layer. The color filter is disposed within the second OLED. |
| US07659656B2 |
Vehicle headlight bulb
The invention relates to a vehicle headlight bulb comprising a bulb socket, an illuminant (2) arranged inside the bulb socket (1), and a base comprising a metallic sleeve (3) in which a sealed end (11) of the socket (1) is fixed. According to the invention, at least one of the narrow front sides (111) of the sealed end (11) of the socket (1) is provided with a serrated profiled element (1110) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the bulb and forms a latch connection with at least one locking plate (33) formed on the base sleeve (3). |
| US07659651B2 |
Rotating electric machine, winding machine, and rotating electric machine system
A rotating electric machine includes a stator core of a cylindrical shape, a rotor core coaxially rotating inside the stator core, and a plurality of coils each formed by winding magnet wires using a slot formed axially in either the stator core or the rotor core, or both: it is preferable that each of the coils be split into a plurality of coil groups, that starting sections of winding of the magnet wires in one of the coil groups be wound adjacently to ending sections of winding of the magnet wires in another of the coil groups, and that the starting sections and ending sections of winding of the magnet wires in the two coil groups be connected at respective outgoing wire ends to one another, outside the slots. |
| US07659650B2 |
Self-magnetizing motor and compressor having the same
A self magnetizing motor and a compressor having the same is configured to require a lower starting voltage and to deliver superior performance. In the self magnetizing motor, a magnetic material on an exterior of the rotor is magnetized when power is supplied to a magnetizing unit of the stator. A plurality of conductive bars are inserted on the outer circumference of the rotor core. A spacing distance between outer portions of the conductive bars and inner circumference of the magnetizable material is longer than an air gap between the stator and the rotor. As a result, a magnetic strength of the magnetic material may be increased. |
| US07659649B2 |
Fan and motor thereof
A fan includes a motor and an impeller. The motor drives the impeller to rotate and includes a base, a bearing, a stator, a rotor and a magnetic element. The central portion of the base is extended to form a bushing for accommodating the bearing therein. The stator telescopes around the bushing. The rotor is disposed corresponding to the stator and has a shaft passing through the bearing. The magnetic element is disposed at the bottom of the bushing and located adjacent to one end of the shaft. |
| US07659645B2 |
Vibration-damping rotor assembly
A rotor assembly comprising a rotor for rotating in a magnetic field of a motor, the rotor comprising a main rotor cavity and a plurality of first holes; two side boards, each side board comprising a sleeve-shaped main side board body and a disc-shaped outer side board body, the side board body having a main side board cavity, and the outer side board body being perforated by a plurality of second holes; two damping elements each damping element comprising a main damping element cavity; a plurality of rubber sleeves, each rubber sleeve having a rubber sleeve lip; and a plurality of third holes; an axle; and a plurality of positioning pins. |
| US07659640B1 |
Power over network methods and systems
Methods and systems for providing electrical power over a network configured to facilitate digital communications are described herein. In different aspects, the methods and systems may include a service provider network module configured to facilitate digital communications and having an autonomous power supply, and a network connection device operably connected to the service provider network module. The network connection device may include at least one network connection port configured to receive electrical power; and a power switching module coupled to the at least one network connection port and configured to switch from a primary power source to enable the network connection device to receive electrical power from the service provider network module via the at least one network connection port when electrical power from the primary power source is interrupted. |
| US07659633B2 |
Solder joint flip chip interconnection having relief structure
A flip chip interconnect has a tapering interconnect structure, and the area of contact of the interconnect structure with the site on the substrate metallization is less than the area of contact of the interconnect structure with the die pad. A solder mask has an opening over the interconnect site, and the solder mask makes contact with the interconnect structure, or is in close proximity to the interconnect structure, at the margin of the opening. The flip chip interconnect is provided with an underfill. During the underfill process, the contact (or near proximity) of the solder mask with the interconnect structure interferes with flow of the underfill material toward the substrate adjacent the site, resulting in formation of a void left unfilled by the underfill, adjacent the contact of the interconnect structure with the site on the substrate metallization. The void can help provide relief from strain induced by changes in temperature of the system. |
| US07659630B2 |
Interconnect structures with interlayer dielectric
The present invention relates to metallic interconnect having an interlayer dielectric thereover, the metallic interconnect having an upper surface substantially free from oxidation. The metallic interconnect may have an exposed upper surface thereon that is passivated by a nitrogen containing compound. |
| US07659623B2 |
Semiconductor device having improved wiring
An electronic component such as a semiconductor device is provided which is capable of preventing wiring breakage in a stress concentration region of surface layer wiring lines. In a semiconductor device provided with a support ball (5), no ordinary wiring line is formed in a region (7(A)) in the vicinity of the support ball (5) and a region (7(B)) at the end of the semiconductor chip facing the support ball (5), which are the stress concentration regions of the package substrate (2). Instead, a wiring line (6(C)) is formed away from these regions or a wide wiring line is formed in these regions. |
| US07659616B2 |
On-chip cooling systems for integrated circuits
Structures and methods for forming the same. A semiconductor chip includes a substrate and a transistor. The chip includes N interconnect layers on the substrate, N being a positive integer. The chip includes a cooling pipes system inside the N interconnect layers. The cooling pipes system does not include any solid or liquid material. Given any first point and any second point in the cooling pipes system, there exists a continuous path which connects the first and second points and which is totally within the cooling pipes system. A first portion of the cooling pipes system overlaps the transistor. A second portion of the cooling pipes system is higher than the substrate and lower than a top interconnect layer. The second portion is in direct physical contact with a surrounding ambient. |
| US07659611B2 |
Vertical power semiconductor component, semiconductor device and methods for the production thereof
A vertical power semiconductor component (1) having a top side (3) and a rear side (4) is provided. The top side (3) has at least one first electrode contact area (8) and at least one control electrode area (9) and the rear side (4) has a second electrode contact area (7). A first metallization (10) having a thickness a is arranged on the first electrode contact area (8). A second metallization (11) having a thickness b is arranged on the control electrode area (9). A third metallization (6) having a thickness c is arranged on the second electrode contact area (7). The thickness a of the first metallization (10) is at least 10 times thicker than the thickness b of the second metallization (11). |
| US07659608B2 |
Stacked die semiconductor device having circuit tape
A stacked die semiconductor package includes a first integrated circuit chip, a first circuit tape coupled to the first integrated circuit chip, a second integrated circuit chip coupled to the first circuit tape, and at least one component coupled to the first circuit tape. The at least one component may include one or more passive components, one or more active components, or a combination of passive and active components. The stacked die semiconductor package can also include a second circuit tape coupled to the second integrated circuit chip and a third integrated circuit chip coupled to the second circuit tape. The stacked die semiconductor package can also include an encapsulant. |
| US07659602B2 |
Semiconductor component with MIM capacitor
A structure and method of forming a capacitor is described. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a cylindrical first electrode having an inner portion bounded by a bottom surface and an inner sidewall surface, the first electrode further having an outer sidewall, the first electrode being formed from a conductive material. An insulating fill material is disposed within the inner portion of the first electrode. A capacitor dielectric is disposed adjacent at least a portion of the outer sidewall of the first electrode. A second electrode is disposed adjacent the outer sidewall of the first electrode and separated therefrom by the capacitor dielectric. The second electrode is not formed within the inner portion of the first electrode. |
| US07659598B2 |
Semiconductor ground shield
A ground shield is disclosed that includes a ‘cheesed’ metal positioned within a dielectric layer and a metal region positioned within a first metal level over the cheesed metal. The ground shield can have different forms depending on the metal used, and provisions are made to prevent diffusion of copper (Cu) when that is used as the metal in the cheese metal of the ground shield. The ground shield provides a low resistance, very thick metal at a first metal (M1) level for passive RF elements in conjunction with the standard back-end-of-line (BEOL) integration. The invention also includes a method of forming the ground shield. |
| US07659591B2 |
Apparatus having a layer of material configured as a reservoir having an interior capable of holding a liquid
The present invention provides an apparatus. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes an actuator located over a substrate, a movable feature located over and coupled to the actuator, and a layer of material located above the actuator and movable feature and not constituting part of a beam/spring associated with the movable feature, the layer of material configured as a reservoir having an interior capable of holding a liquid, the movable feature being exposed to the interior. |
| US07659590B2 |
DNA-based memory device and method of reading and writing same
The present invention is directed to a memory device having very high storage density capability. In general, the memory device includes an array of individual memory cells which store information that is assigned a value based on the molecular contents of the memory cell. In a preferred embodiment, the molecules utilized for storing information in the memory cells may be single-strand polynucleotides, for instance single-strand oligonucleotides of between about 5 and about 20 monomer units. The present invention is also directed to methods and systems useful for writing and reading the molecular-based memory devices. In particular, the devices may be written and read via modified atomic force microscopy processes. |
| US07659589B2 |
Device with gates configured in loop structures
A device includes a substrate, a first gate, a second gate, and a third gate. The substrate has a first active region and a second active region. The first gate is configured in a first loop structure around the first active region. The second gate is configured in a second loop structure around the second active region, and the third gate is configured in a third loop structure around the first gate and the second gate. |
| US07659588B2 |
Termination for a superjunction device
A superjunction device that includes a termination region having a transition region adjacent the active region thereof, the transition region including a plurality of spaced columns. |
| US07659585B2 |
ESD protection structure for I/O pad subject to both positive and negative voltages
An ESD protection circuit is disclosed for an n-channel MOS transistor formed in an inner p-well of a triple-well process and connected to an I/O pad that may experience both positive and negative voltages according to the present invention. A first switch connects the p-well containing the n-channel MOS transistor to ground if the voltage at the I/O pad is positive and a second switch connects the p-well containing the n-channel MOS transistor to the I/O pad if the voltage at the I/O pad is negative. A third switch connects the gate of the n-channel MOS transistor to the p-well if it is turned off and a fourth switch connects the gate of the n-channel MOS transistor to Vcc if it is turned on. |
| US07659580B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a transistor with a high ON current including a silicide layer without increasing the number of steps. A semiconductor device comprising the transistor includes a first region in which a thickness is increased from an edge on a channel formation region side and a second region in which a thickness is more uniform than that of the first region. The first and second region are separated by a line which is perpendicular to a horizontal line and passes through a point where a line, which passes through the edge of the silicide layer and forms an angle θ (0°<θ<45°) with the horizontal line, intersects with an interface between the silicide layer and an impurity region, and the thickness of the second region to a thickness of a silicon film is 0.6 or more. |
| US07659579B2 |
FETS with self-aligned bodies and backgate holes
A FET has a shallow source/drain region, a deep channel region, a gate stack and a back gate that is surrounded by dielectric. The FET structure also includes halo or pocket implants that extend through the entire depth of the channel region. Because a portion of the halo and well doping of the channel is deeper than the source/drain depth, better threshold voltage and process control is achieved. A back-gated FET structure is also provided having a first dielectric layer in this structure that runs under the shallow source/drain region between the channel region and the back gate. This first dielectric layer extends from under the source/drain regions on either side of the back gate and is in contact with a second dielectric such that the back gate is bounded on each side or isolated by dielectric. |
| US07659578B2 |
Semiconductor device having variable thickness insulating film and method of manufacturing same
Embodiments of a semiconductor device capable of increasing an aperture ratio of an organic electroluminescence display device by decreasing the surface area of a capacitor in the organic electroluminescence display device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. By forming a gate insulating film of a gate electrode with a thickness different from that of a dielectric film of a capacitor, the surface area of the capacitor can be decreased without variation in capacitance, thereby increasing the aperture ratio of an organic electroluminescence display device. |
| US07659576B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A punch-through type IGBT generally has a thick p++-type collector layer. Therefore, the FWD need be externally attached to the IGBT when the IGBT is used as a switching element in an inverter circuit for driving a motor load, and thus the number of processes and components increases. In the invention, trenches are formed penetrating through a collector layer and reaching a buffer layer. A collector electrode is formed in the trenches, too. With this structure, a current path is formed between an emitter electrode and the collector electrode without through the collector layer and functions as the FWD. |
| US07659575B2 |
Semiconductor device
The technology of preventing lowering of the element breakdown voltage of a trench gate control type semiconductor element is offered. n− type epitaxial layer (drift region) formed in the main surface side of the substrate, p type semiconductor layer (channel region) formed in n− type epitaxial layer, and p− type well (electric field relaxation layer) which was formed in n− type epitaxial layer in contact with the p type semiconductor layer and whose depth is deeper than the p type semiconductor layer are included. The trench whose depth is deeper than p− type well is patterned in the substrate, and the second gate electrode is formed in the inside of the trench via the insulation film. Among the trenches in the cell area in which power MISFET is formed, one end of p− type well is formed between a plurality of cell trenches in which a second gate electrode is formed, and the other end of p− type well is formed in the peripheral region contiguous to the cell area. |
| US07659571B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provide with a semiconductor substrate, a groove formed in the semiconductor substrate, a gate insulting film formed on the inner wall of the groove, a gate electrode formed in the groove, and a source/drain region and an LDD region arranged in the direction that is substantially orthogonal to the substrate surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07659570B2 |
Power MOSFET device structure for high frequency applications
This invention discloses a new switching device supported on a semiconductor that includes a drain disposed on a first surface and a source region disposed near a second surface of said semiconductor opposite the first surface. The switching device further includes an insulated gate electrode disposed on top of the second surface for controlling a source to drain current. The switching device further includes a source electrode interposed into the insulated gate electrode for substantially preventing a coupling of an electrical field between the gate electrode and an epitaxial region underneath the insulated gate electrode. The source electrode further covers and extends over the insulated gate for covering an area on the second surface of the semiconductor to contact the source region. The semiconductor substrate further includes an epitaxial layer disposed above and having a different dopant concentration than the drain region. The insulated gate electrode further includes an insulation layer for insulating the gate electrode from the source electrode wherein the insulation layer having a thickness depending on a Vgsmax rating of the vertical power device. |
| US07659566B2 |
Method of fabricating a resistance based memory device and the memory device
Example embodiments relate to a method of fabricating a memory device and a memory device. The method of fabricating a memory device comprises forming a lower electrode and an oxide layer on a lower structure and radiating an energy beam on a region of the oxide layer. The memory device comprises a lower structure and an oxide layer and a lower structure formed on the lower structure, the oxide layer including an electron beam radiation region that received radiation from an electron beam source creating an artificially formed current path through the oxide layer to the lower electrode. A reset current of the memory device may be decreased and stabilized. |
| US07659551B2 |
Power surface mount light emitting die package
A light emitting die (LED) package is provided which includes a substrate having traces, a LED mounted on the substrate and connected to the traces, and an encapsulant covering the LED. The package includes a lens sitting on the encapsulant and substantially covering the LED. The lens is free to move relative to the substrate. |
| US07659547B2 |
LED array
An illuminator (1) has bare semiconductor die light emitting diodes (7) on pads (11) of Ag/Ni/Ti material. A Si wafer (13) has a rough upper surface, and this roughness is carried through an oxide layer (12) and the pads (11) to provide a rough but reflective upper surface of the pads (11), thus forming a diffuser. Epoxy encapsulant (9) is deposited in a layer over the diodes (7) and the pads (11), and it is index matched with a top diffuser plate (8) of opal glass. |
| US07659541B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a thin film transistor substrate with a multi-cell gap structure and method of manufacturing same
A liquid crystal display, in accordance with the present invention, includes a first substrate having a thin film transistor and a first electrode formed thereon. The first electrode is electrically connected to the thin film transistor. A first insulating layer is formed on the first substrate including the thin film transistor and the first electrode and a window is formed in the first insulating layer, the window exposing a predetermined region of the first electrode. A second electrode is provided on the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the first electrode. A second substrate includes a third electrode formed thereon. A first gap is formed between a surface of the third electrode and a surface of the predetermined region of the first electrode, and a second gap is formed between the surface of the third electrode and a surface of the second electrode. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first gap and the second gap. Other embodiments are included as well as methods for forming the liquid crystal display of the present invention. |
| US07659539B2 |
Semiconductor device including a floating gate memory cell with a superlattice channel
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate and at least one non-volatile memory cell. The at least one memory cell may include spaced apart source and drain regions, and a superlattice channel including a plurality of stacked groups of layers on the semiconductor substrate between the source and drain regions. Each group of layers of the superlattice channel may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and an energy band-modifying layer thereon, which may include at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within a crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions. A floating gate may be adjacent the superlattice channel, and a control gate may be adjacent the second gate insulating layer. |
| US07659535B2 |
High speed data channel including a CMOS VCSEL driver and a high performance photodetector and CMOS photoreceiver
A high speed optical channel including an optical driver and a photodetector in a CMOS photoreceiver. The optical channel driver includes a FET driver circuit driving a passive element (e.g., an integrated loop inductor) and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diode. The VCSEL diode is biased by a bias supply. The integrated loop inductor may be integrated in CMOS technology and on the same IC chip as either/both of the FET driver and the VCSEL diode. The photodetector is in a semiconductor (silicon) layer that may be on an insulator layer, i.e., SOI. One or more ultrathin metal electrodes (<2000 Å) on the silicon layer forms a Schottky barrier diode junction which in turn forms a quantum well containing a two dimensional electron gas between the ultrathin metal electrode and the Schottky barrier diode junction. |
| US07659533B2 |
Radiographic imaging control apparatus and method for controlling the same
A radiographic imaging control apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a radiographic image from a sensor that detects radiant ray, and a control unit configured to cause a radiant ray generation apparatus to decrease the flux of radiant ray from a predetermined maximum value to a predetermined minimum value as time passes when the radiant ray generation apparatus irradiates the sensor with radiant ray. |
| US07659532B2 |
Image reading apparatus capable of reading infrared and visible images
An image reading apparatus includes a light source with a first luminescent portion that outputs light with a first wavelength range and a second luminescent portion that outputs light with a second wavelength range, the wavelength ranges being different from each other; a light-receiving portion that receives light reflected from an original irradiated by the light source; a scanning portion that shifts a reading position of the original in a vertical scanning direction by changing a relative position between the original and the light-receiving portion; a switching portion that alternately turns on the first and second luminescent portions when the scanning portion shifts the reading position, wherein a vertical scanning resolution for a first data obtained when the first luminescent portion is turned on is independently set from a vertical scanning resolution for a second data obtained when the second luminescent portion is turned on. |
| US07659524B2 |
Radiation image conversion panel and preparation method thereof
A method of preparing a radiation image conversion panel including a substrate and a phosphor layer, may include heating an evaporation source containing a phosphor raw material to evaporate the raw material and depositing an evaporated material on the substrate to form the phosphor layer, while the substrate being heated, wherein in (ii), a temperature of the substrate increases at a rate of 0 to 5° C./min, and falling within a range of from 60 to 110° C. |
| US07659521B2 |
System for taking wide-field beam-eye-view (BEV) x-ray-images simultaneously to the proton therapy delivery
A system for an intensity-modulated proton therapy of a predetermined target volume within an object includes a proton source to generate a proton beam, a number of proton beam forming units and a beam nozzle having an outlet for the proton beam to penetrate the predetermined target volume of the object, thereby defining a cross sectional scanning exit area. The system includes further a beam bending magnet disposed upstream of the nozzle, and an x-ray tube and an x-ray imager. The x-ray tube is associated with an irradiation channel within the beam bending magnet, wherein the irradiation channel is oriented along the prolongation of the nominal proton beam direction thereby delivering the x-ray beam along the proton beam direction. |
| US07659518B2 |
Light or radiation image pickup apparatus
A light or radiation image pickup apparatus comprises a first arithmetic unit 50 for calculating a first arithmetic value by subtracting a first offset signal from a main signal, a second arithmetic unit 51 for calculating a second arithmetic value which is a difference between a second offset signal and the first offset signal, and a correcting unit 52 for correcting the first arithmetic value calculated by the first arithmetic unit 50, by using the second arithmetic value calculated by the second arithmetic unit 51 and corresponding to a period of the same length as a period from the first offset signal to the main signal used in the operation in the first arithmetic unit 50. The first arithmetic value is corrected to remove noise components due to leakage of charge signals accumulated during the period from the first offset signal to the main signal. It is thus possible to reduce deterioration of image quality due to leaks of charge signals accumulated in X-ray detecting elements 11 (leakage currents) and prevent an extended imaging time. |
| US07659514B2 |
Asymmetric annular detector
An assembly for a detection unit for an optical device is described. The assembly includes a scintillator adapted to received secondary particles and, in response, generate photons, wherein the scintillator includes an opening for trespassing of a primary beam through the scintillator. The scintillator including the opening is asymmetrical with regard to one axis. |
| US07659513B2 |
Low terahertz source and detector
A detector system for performing at least one of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The detection of electromagnetic radiation at low-terahertz frequencies can be useful in the detection of various chemicals. Preferably a detector includes a microresonant structure that is caused to resonate by electromagnetic radiation at a low-terahertz frequency. The resonance is detected by detecting an altered path of a charged particle beam. |
| US07659509B2 |
System for scanning probe microscope input device
In accordance with the invention, a computer pointing device is interfaced with an SPM system to provide real time control of the SPM and improve the ease of use. |
| US07659504B1 |
Optical sensor with an optical element transmissive to warming radiation
An optical gas sensor includes an optical element that is substantially transparent to both monitoring radiation and warming radiation. Such an optical element facilitates the removal of warming radiation from the optical gas sensor, thereby preventing an increase in the internal temperature of the sensor during use. Additionally, the warming radiation that is emitted from the optical gas sensor may be used to warm one or more windows of a sampling component that is configured for use with the sensor. |
| US07659503B2 |
Image sensor module and light guiding member used for the same
An image sensor module includes a light source, a light guide elongated in a first direction, a reflector covering the guide, and a light receiver for linear light reflected on a reading target in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The guide includes an incident surface for entering light from the light source, a reflecting portion for reflecting, in a direction crossing the first direction, the light from the incident surface, and a surface for emitting light from the reflecting portion as linear light elongated in the first direction. The reflector has an opening and an inclined surface. The opening extends in the first direction to pass the light reflected by the target. The inclined surface, at an end of the opening in the first direction, has a normal which is non-parallel to the first direction and a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. |
| US07659501B2 |
Image-sensing module of image capture apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
An image-sensing module is provided. The image-sensing module includes a substrate, a plurality of image-sensing units, a plurality of micro lenses and a focusing unit. The image-sensing units are disposed on the substrate and the micro lenses are respectively disposed on one of the image-sensing units. The focusing unit is disposed on the substrate and covers the micro lenses. A top surface of the focusing unit is a curved surface. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the image-sensing module and an image capture apparatus are provided. |
| US07659496B2 |
Light emitting device and control method thereof
A light emitting device includes at least one light emitting unit, a switching unit, a comparator unit, a charge storage unit and a sensing unit. The switching unit is electrically connected to the light emitting unit. The comparator unit is electrically connected to the switching unit. The charge storage unit is electrically connected to the comparator unit and stores an amount of electric charges. The sensing unit has a light sensing circuit and is electrically connected to the charge storage unit. The light sensing circuit senses a light intensity of the light emitting unit. The sensing unit adjusts the amount of the electric charges and a voltage corresponding to the amount of the electric charges according to the light intensity. The comparator unit compares the voltage with a threshold voltage. The switching unit controls the light emitting unit in accordance with the result of the comparison. |
| US07659495B2 |
Auto darkening eye protection device having a regulated solar power supply
An auto darkening eye protection device including a shutter assembly, a control circuit, and a power supply. The control circuit includes a sensing circuit for sensing the occurrence of welding, and a delivery circuit to provide signals to the shutter assembly to cause the shutter assembly to transition to the dark state. The power supply supplying power to the control circuit and the delivery circuit. The power supply including a power regulation circuit, and a solar power supply supplying electrical power to the power regulation circuit and the sensing circuit. The power regulation circuit limiting the voltage of the solar power supply to a predetermined voltage to provide a stable reference voltage. |
| US07659493B2 |
Heating system and method
A fluid heating system includes a fluid receptacle having a fluid reservoir, and a heating control system configured to heat fluid retained within the fluid reservoir. The heating control system includes a processing unit, at least one fluid temperature sensor positioned on or within the fluid receptacle, a heating element configured to heat fluid within the fluid reservoir, and a power switch disposed within an electrical path between the heating element and the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the heating element through the power switch based on the fluid temperature detected by the fluid temperature sensor. |
| US07659492B2 |
Method for operating an electrical device
A method for operating a device in which typically a very high current is generated when the device is turned on compared to the rated current, e.g. an analogue operated PTC heating device for a mobile device, such as a vehicle, is disclosed. In this method, the power on the device is increased in a defined limited manner or in a ramp-like manner in the connection phase to avoid a high current when the device is switched on. |
| US07659489B2 |
Toroidal low-field reactive gas and plasma source having a dielectric vacuum vessel
Plasma ignition and cooling apparatus and methods for plasma systems are described. An apparatus can include a vessel and at least one ignition electrode adjacent to the vessel. A total length of a dimension of the at least one ignition electrode is greater than 10% of a length of the vessel's channel. The apparatus can include a dielectric toroidal vessel, a heat sink having multiple segments urged toward the vessel by a spring-loaded mechanism, and a thermal interface between the vessel and the heat sink. A method can include providing a gas having a flow rate and a pressure and directing a portion of the flow rate of the gas into a vessel channel. The gas is ignited in the channel while the remaining portion of the flow rate is directed away from the channel. |
| US07659485B2 |
Linear pressure switch apparatus and method
A linear pressure switch is described that has two conductors separated by strips of insulation. The conductors are resilient members that can vary in thickness and material along with the insulation to provide a range of switch sensitivities. The switch can include connectors and an attachment mechanism that facilitates the installation and removal the switch from a given application. In addition, the switch can ergonomically enhanced actuation. The switches can be stacked in layers and selectively have different sensitivities to provide a desired signal output for each switch in a given application. The switch can also include external coatings on the jacket which enhance the feel and resistance of the jacket to wear and misuse. |
| US07659483B2 |
Electroactive polymer compressed gasket for electromagnetic shielding
A gasket for shielding a seam between two surfaces includes a resilient member, a first electrode, a second electrode and a conductive layer. The resilient member has a first side and an opposite second side. The first electrode is disposed on the first side of the resilient member. The second electrode is disposed on the second side of the resilient member. The conductive layer envelops at least a portion of the resilient member, the first electrode and the second electrode. The resilient member includes a material that is compressed when a first potential is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode and that is decompressed when a second potential, different from the first potential, is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US07659481B2 |
Printed wiring board and information processing device incorporating the board
A printed wiring board mounted with a BGA package including pads, through holes and leads. The leads are linearly formed with almost the same width as the diameter of each of the pads and through holes and thus have high bonding strength against their peeling against an external force. The pads are provided at an angle of approximately 45 degrees outwardly relative to the through holes and along almost in the direction of application of thermal stress, and thus have high durability against their peeling due to an external force. |
| US07659478B2 |
Electrical switch box
This invention relates to electrical switch boxes. In particular, the invention relates to a device having an extension portion connected with a series of electrical switch boxes. In preferred embodiments, the extension portion of the device permits, for example, attachment of the device to a wall stud without flush positioning of the electrical switch boxes with the wall stud. |
| US07659476B2 |
Frame arrangement for a telecommunications cabinet
A telecommunications cabinet including a frame arrangement having an inner frame and an outer frame. The frame arrangement of the telecommunications cabinet being constructed to withstand particular-rated seismic events while still providing the needed thermal cooling capacity to maintain proper equipment operations. |
| US07659475B2 |
Method for backside surface passivation of solar cells and solar cells with such passivation
The present invention provides a method for dielectric passivating the surface of a solar cell by accumulation of negative fixed charges of a first type at the interface between semiconductor material and a passivating material. According to the invention the passivating material comprises an oxide system, for example a binary oxide system, comprising Al2O3 and at least one metal oxide or metalloid oxide which enhances the tetrahedral structure of Al2O3, for example, an (Al2O3)x(TiO2)1-x alloy. In this way it is possible to combine the desirable properties from at least two different oxides, while eliminating the undesirable properties of each individual material. The oxide system can be deposited onto the semiconductor surface by means of a sol-gel method, comprising the steps of formation of the metal oxide and/or metalloid oxide sol and the aluminum solution and then carefully mixing these together under stirring and ultrasonic treatment. Thin films of the oxide system can then be deposited onto the semiconductor surface by means of spin coating followed by a temperature treatment. |
| US07659474B2 |
Solar cell array with isotype-heterojunction diode
A solar cell array has at least one solar cell including a photovoltaic structure having a sun-facing front face and a back face, and having an active region, and an isotype heterojunction diode connected in electrical parallel with the active region of the photovoltaic structure. |
| US07659472B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for assessing similarity of performance sound
A similarity assessment apparatus is provided for assessing a performance sound based on a model performance sound. In the apparatus, a probability density function generating unit divides data of a performance sound into a sequence of frames each having a predetermined temporal length, and generates a probability density function of a fundamental frequency for each frame of the performance sound. A probability density function providing portion provides a probability density function of a fundamental frequency for each frame of the model performance sound. A similarity assessment unit compares the generated probability density function of a frame of the performance sound with the provided probability density function of a frame of the model performance sound so as to assess a similarity between the performance sound and the model performance sound. |
| US07659469B2 |
Pitch modulator drum
A drum with a vibrating membrane for producing sounds in a range of low to high resonant frequencies including a drum shell with a first open end and a second open end, a drumhead, including a vibrating membrane, covering said first open end, a cover with a threaded opening extending across and secured to said second end, and a resonant member having a first end and a second end, with the first end having a threaded means for detachable coupling with the threaded opening in the cap in airtight relation to enhance and manipulate the low resonant frequencies independent of the high resonant frequencies upon the striking of the membrane. |
| US07659467B2 |
Device for adjusting the tension of the strings of a guitar or of a bass
A device for adjusting the tension of the strings of a guitar having at least two strings, particularly an electric guitar or a bass, particularly an electric bass, in which each string of the guitar or bass is, with one end, wound on a turning peg of an adjusting mechanism mounted on the neck of the guitar or of the bass. The adjusting mechanism contains a combination consisting of a worm shaft and of a worm wheel and, due to these, is provided with a self-locking ability. The aim of the invention is to improve the design of a device of the aforementioned type so that, without considerably altering the basic shape of the guitar or of the bass, this device can automatically adjust the tension of individual strings of the instrument reliably and precisely whereby ultimately enabling them to be tuned. To this end, a drive unit for each adjusting mechanism is mounted on the neck of the guitar or of the bass. The drive unit is directly connected to the worm shaft or to the worm wheel (17) of this adjusting mechanism in order to drive the worm shaft or the worm wheel. |
| US07659464B1 |
Neck for stringed musical instrument
A neck for a stringed musical instrument may include a generally longitudinal center support member with a fingerboard fixed thereto. The center support member may be fixed at one end to a string mounting member and fixed at an opposite end to a body of the stringed musical instrument. A generally longitudinal tension adjustment member may be fixed at one end to the string mounting member and fixed at an opposite end to the body of the stringed musical instrument. The tension adjustment member may be adjustable to vary stress on the neck. A generally longitudinal spatial volume may be located between the center support member and the tension adjustment member. A majority of the spatial volume may comprise ambient air. |
| US07659458B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH958922
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH958922. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH958922, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH958922 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH958922. |
| US07659455B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH635689
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH635689. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH635689, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH635689 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH635689. |
| US07659453B2 |
Soybean variety D4356652
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D4356652. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D4356652. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D4356652 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D4356652 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07659452B2 |
Soybean variety 457114
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 457114. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 457114. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 457114 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 457114 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07659448B2 |
Plant regulatory sequences for selective control of gene expression
The current invention relates to enhancing gene expression in a plant during abiotic stress. More specifically the invention relates to a promoter that could be used to drive the expression of structural genes or other DNA sequences. We disclose the sequence of the promoter and give examples showing the function of the promoter. |
| US07659441B2 |
CD9/CD81 double-deficient non-human animal
An object of the invention is to provide a non-human animal which can be utilized as a model animal well exhibiting a pathological condition of low-turnover type of osteoporosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for screening therapeutic agents for osteoporosis or therapeutic agents for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc. The invention includes a non-human animal, wherein a gene coding for CD9 and a gene coding for CD81 are deficient at least in somatic cells; and a method to use the non-human animal as an osteoporosis model animal, including a step of measuring the degree of inhibition in the osteogenesis, and a method to use the non-human animal as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease model animal, including a step of measuring the degree of a phenotype similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. |
| US07659437B2 |
Process for methane conversion
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon(s) including aromatic hydrocarbon(s) comprises providing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing methane and a catalytic particulate material to a reactor system having at least first and second reaction zones connected in series. Each of the reaction zones is operated under reaction conditions sufficient to convert at least a portion of the methane to said higher hydrocarbon(s) and is maintained in a moving bed fashion, with the bulk of the catalytic particulate material being moved from the first reaction zone to the second reaction zone and with the bulk of the hydrocarbon feedstock being moved from the second reaction zone to the first reaction zone. |
| US07659436B2 |
Process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-penta-fluoropropane and/or 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane
A process for the manufacture of CF3CH2CHF2 and/or CF3CH2CF3 is disclosed. The process involves (a) reacting HF and at least one halopropene of the formula CX3CCI═CCIX (where each X is independently F or Cl) to produce a product including both CF3CCI═CF2 and CF3CHCICF3; (b) reacting CF3CCI═CF2 and/or CF3CHCICF3 produced in (a) with hydrogen to produce a product including CF3CH2CHF2 and/or CF3CH2CF3; and (c) recovering CF3CH2CHF2 and/or CF3CH2CF3 from the product produced in (b). In (a), the CF3CCI═CF2 and CF3CHCICF3 are produced in the presence of a fluorination catalyst comprising at least one chromium-containing component selected from (i) a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.05 atom % of the chromium atoms in the alpha-chromium oxide lattice are replaced by divalent copper, and (ii) a chromium-containing composition of (i) which has been treated with a fluorinating agent. |
| US07659435B2 |
Process for the preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane
A process is disclosed for the manufacture of CF3CH2CHF2 and CF3CHFCH2F. The process involves (a) reacting hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, and at least one halopropene of the formula CX3CCl═CClX (where each X is independently F or Cl) to produce a product including both CF3CCl2CClF2 and CF3CClFCCl2F; (b) reacting CF3CCl2CClF2 and CF3CClFCCl2F produced in (a) with hydrogen to produce a product including both CF3CH2CHF2, and CF3CHFCH2F; and (c) recovering CF3CH2CHF2 and CF3CHFCH2F from the product produced in (b). In (a), the CF3CCl2CF3 and CF3CClFCClF2 are produced in the presence of a chlorofluorination catalyst including (i) a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.05 atom % of the chromium atoms in the alpha-chromium oxide lattice are replaced by divalent copper, and/or (ii) a chromium-containing composition of (i) which has been treated with a fluorinating agent. |
| US07659434B2 |
Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds
A method for preparing fluorinated organic compounds comprising contacting hydrogen fluoride with at least one compound of formula I: CX3CXYCH3 I where each X is independently Cl, I or Br, and each Y is independently H or F, said contacting step being carried out under conditions effective to produce a compound of formula II CF3CZCH2 II where Z is Cl, I, Br, or F. |
| US07659432B2 |
Catalysts selective for the preparation of mixed ketones from a mixture of carboxylic acids
Mixed ketones are prepared from a mixture of carboxylic acids in a process with high selectivity by using an improved catalyst. The catalyst contains zirconium dioxide or zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide, and a Group 1 or 2 metal silicate or phosphate salt. The new catalyst is more selective toward the formation of the mixed ketone, as opposed to a symmetrical ketone. |
| US07659429B2 |
Process for preparing 4-pentafluorosulfanylbenzoylguanidines
A process for preparing 4-pentafluorosulfanylbenzoylguanidines of formula I wherein R1 to R4 have the meanings indicated in the specification. The compounds of formula I are NHE1 inhibitors and can be employed, for example, for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. |
| US07659427B2 |
Optimized liquid-phase oxidation
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process. |
| US07659426B2 |
Target protein of anticancer agent and novel anticancer agent (spnal) corresponding thereto
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition containing, as an active ingredient, a compound that specifically binds to KSRP or a functional fragment thereof, and a screening method for the compound. KSRP is a novel target protein for anticancer agents; a compound capable of regulating the expression and activity of such a protein and a pharmaceutical composition containing it are highly useful for proliferative diseases, particularly as anticancer agents. By providing the novel target protein, the mechanism behind the anticancer effect that has conventionally been unexplainable can be elucidated. |
| US07659425B2 |
Process for preparing hydroxyalkyl(meth) acrylates using Lewis acid catalysts
The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates by reacting at least one compound A which contains at least one epoxide group with at least one compound B which contains at least one carboxylic acid group, wherein A and/or B also contains at least one (meth)acrylate group, in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts, each of which contains at least one directly bonded di(cyclo)alkylamino group. |
| US07659424B2 |
Process for the allylation of n-acylhydrazones
[PROBLEMS] To provide a novel method for the allylation of N-acylhydrazones by which enantioselectively allylated N-acylhydrazines can be efficiently obtained.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method for the production of enantioselectively allylated N-acylhydrazines represented by the general formula [3]: [wherein R0 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, or —COOR1 (wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group); R2 is acyl; R3 and R4 are each hydrogen, or one of R3 and R4 is hydrogen and the other is a hydrocarbon group; and R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group], characterized by reacting an N-acylhydrazone represented by the general formula [1]: [wherein R0 and R2 are as defined above] with an allylating agent such as allyltrichlorosilane or crotyltrichlorosilane in the presence of a chiral phosphine oxide. |
| US07659420B2 |
Dihydroxyacetone-based polymers
Chemically protected dihydroxyacetone and/or dimers are used to make polycarbonates, poly(acetal carbonate)s, poly(spiroacetal)s, polyesters and polyurethanes. |
| US07659418B2 |
Method of preparing organo dialkylalkoxysilane
The invention relates to the preparation of organodialkylalkoxysilane using a continuous method consisting in bringing an alkanol into continuous contact with an omega-haloalkyl dialkylhalosilane in a countercurrent reactor, such as a plate column or a packed column. The reaction is performed in the aforementioned countercurrent reactor in the presence or absence of a non-reactive solvent with scavenging of the hydrochloric acid formed. The omega-haloalkyl dialkylalkoxysilane thus formed is particularly suitable for use as a starting material for the preparation of organosilicon compounds containing sulphur having general formula (I) by means of sulphidisation reaction on an alkaline metal polysulphide. |
| US07659417B2 |
Process for obtaining halogenated monoorganoxysilanes which can be used in particular as synthesis intermediates
The invention concerns the preparation of halogenated monoorganoxysilanes, of formula (I), said compounds being useful as synthesis intermediate in organic chemistry. Said method for preparing monoorganoxysilanes consists in: using as starting product halogenoalkylsilanes of the (CH3)2SiCl2 type and in substituting the silicon with a radical bearing a divalent unit bound to an electrophilic reactive group capable of reacting with at least an appropriate nucleophilic agent to form a functionalised monoorganoxysilane of formula (II) |
| US07659415B2 |
Bridged bi-aromatic ligands, catalysts, processes for polymerizing and polymers therefrom
New ligands and compositions with bridged bis-aromatic ligands are disclosed that catalyze the polymerization of monomers into polymers. These catalysts with metal centers 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 into isotactic polypropylene. |
| US07659412B2 |
Benzofuran derivatives useful for treating hyper-proliferative disorders
The invention relates to novel benzofuran derivatives, processes for their preparation and their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders, especially of hyperproliferative disorders. |
| US07659410B2 |
Thiophene-containing compound and thiophene-containing compound polymer, organic electroluminescent device, production method thereof, and image display medium
Provided are a thiophene-containing compound represented by the following formula (X-1), and an organic electroluminescent device that includes a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed therebetween. The organic compound layer includes a charge-transporting polyester having a repeating structure containing at least one structure selected from the structures represented by the following formulae (I-1) and (I-2) as its partial structure. In formula (X-1), Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent aromatic group; and R1 to R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group; and n′ is an integer of 1 to 5. |
| US07659406B2 |
Process for preparing valsartan
A process for preparing valsartan. |
| US07659397B2 |
Pyrithione complex compound, process for producing the same and use thereof
Zinc pyrithione and copper pyrithione are highly evaluated in the market as an antidandruff agent for shampoo, or an antifouling agent for ship bottom paint and fish-farming net, or an antibacterial/antifungal agent or preservative/mildewcide for industrial products and household articles. For enhancing the market value thereof, there has been a demand for a product that not only attains an increase in conventional antibacterial/antifungal effects but also exhibits novel bioactive effects and that achieves improvement with respect to problems and drawbacks relating to properties, such as solubility in seawater, and stability, such as thermal stability and weather resistance, of polymer materials. There is provided a novel pyrithione complex compound obtained by converting the conventional pyrithione metal salt to a complex compound with an oxide or hydroxide of metal such as zinc, copper or aluminum. As compared with the conventional pyrithione metal salt, this complex compound exhibits superior antibacterial/antifungal effects, newly realizes a hair-regrowing effect and successfully attains improvement with respect to the solubility in seawater and thermal stability/weather resistance of polymer materials. |
| US07659394B2 |
Substituted morpholine compounds for the treatment of central nervous system disorders
This invention relates to compounds of the formulae I wherein R1-R8, A, X, and Z are defined as in the specification, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of central nervous system disorders. |
| US07659392B2 |
Method of separation using aromatic thioether ligands
The present invention is a method of separating nucleic acid molecules from contaminants, such as proteins, in a solution and isolating one or more desired nucleic acid molecules, which method comprises the following steps (a) providing an aqueous adsorption solution, which includes nucleic acids and a salt that forms lyotropic ions when dissolved; (b) passing said solution over a matrix to adsorb the nucleic acids onto the matrix, said matrix including an aromatic ring moiety and at least one thioether moiety; (c) passing an aqueous eluent over said matrix to desorb the nucleic acid molecules therefrom, which eluent includes a salt that forms lyotropic ions and a gradient of increasing ionic strength originating from an increasing concentration of a salt that forms less lyotropic ions when dissolved than the ones present in said aqueous adsorption solution; and (d) isolating a fraction comprising the desired nucleic acid molecules. |
| US07659389B2 |
RNA interference mediated inhibition of MYC and/or MYB gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating Myc and/or Myb gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of Myc and/or Myb gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of Myc and/or Myb (e.g., c-Myc, N-Myc, L-Myc, c-Myb, a-Myb, b-Myb, and v-Myb) genes. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and disorders. |
| US07659388B2 |
Method and compositions for detecting respiratory disease-causing bacterial species
Provided are a primer set for specifically amplifying target sequence(s) of twelve respiratory disease-causing bacterial species, a probe set specifically hybridizing with target sequence(s) of twelve respiratory disease-causing bacterial species, a microarray comprising the probe set, and a method of detecting a respiratory disease-causing bacterial species using the probe set. |
| US07659380B2 |
Method of isolation and purification of trypsin from pronase protease and use thereof
The present invention provides methods of isolation and purification of Streptomyces griseus trypsin (SGT) from PRONASE protease mixture in a single affinity chromatography step and uses of the purified SGT. |
| US07659379B1 |
Mutants of human fibroblast growth factor having increased stability and/or mitogenic potency
Mutants of human FGF-1 are disclosed having increased stability and mitogenic potency. In the FGF-1 polypeptide, primarily residues 12 and 134 are substituted with cysteine, valine or threonine to render the polypeptide more stable and/or to increase its mitogenicity. |
| US07659377B2 |
Nucleic acid and corresponding protein entitled 193P1E1B useful in treatment and detection of cancer
A novel gene (designated 193P1E1B) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 193P1E1B exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 193P1E1B provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 193P1E1B gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 191P1E1B can be used in active or passive immunization. |
| US07659376B2 |
Antibody that binds glyphosate resistance protein
Compositions and methods for conferring herbicide resistance to plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a polypeptide that confers resistance or tolerance to glyphosate herbicides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants. Compositions also comprise transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding glyphosate resistance proteins are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. |
| US07659366B2 |
Peptide with putative role in cytoskeletal protection
The invention relates to a novel peptide conjugate useful for stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton of mammalian cells. More particularly, the invention relates to a conjugate of a peptide found within the sequence of a bacterium's major outer sheath protein and bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the use of this conjugate for stabilizing the actin cytoskeleton of mammalian cells, and for preventing or controlling the migration of mammalian cells. |
| US07659365B2 |
Telechelic homopolyamino acids functionalized with hydrophobic groups, and their applications, especially therapeutic applications
The invention relates to novel materials based on biodegradable homopolyamino acids and which can be used for the vectorization of (an) active ingredient(s) (AI). The invention also relates to novel pharmaceutical, cosmetic, dietetic or phytosanitaty compositions based on homopolyamino acids. The invention can produce a novel polymer raw material which can be used for the vectoiization of Al that can optimally be: biocompatible, biodegradable, capable of becoming easily associated with a large number of active ingredients or solubilizing them and releasing the active ingredients in vivo. According to the present invention, which primarily relates to linear homopolyamino acids having aspartic or glutamic units and whose attachments can include hydrophobic groups having 8-30 carbon atoms. The homopolymers are amphiphilic and anionic and can easily be transformed at low cost into particles for the vectorization of active ingredients. The particles can form stable aqueous colloidal suspensions. |
| US07659362B2 |
Metal-binding motif compositions and methods
Disclosed herein are recombinant copper or zinc binding polypeptides containing at least one copper or zinc binding motif and a sequence heterologous to it. Also disclosed is a method to reduce the concentration of a free copper or zinc ion in a substrate by contacting it with a recombinant polypeptide containing a copper or zinc binding motif. A further method relates to reducing the concentration of a free copper or zinc ion in a substrate by contacting it with a host cell that expresses a recombinant polypeptide containing a copper or zinc binding motif. |
| US07659361B2 |
Maleamic acid polymer derivatives and their bioconjugates
The present invention is directed to maleamic acid derivatives of water soluble polymers, to chemically stable water-soluble polymer succinamic acid-active agent conjugates, and to methods for reproducibly preparing, characterizing and using such polymer reagents and their conjugates. |
| US07659359B1 |
Stabilization of isosorbide-based polycarbonate
An isosorbide-containing polycarbonate composition is provided. The composition contains a polycarbonate having repeat units derived from isosorbide, a polycarbonate-property-modifying additive, and a pH stabilizer. When a solution containing 10 wt. % of the composition dissolved in dichloromethane is prepared the solution has a non-aqueous pH in a range of equal to or between 0.8 below and 0.5 above the pH of the dichloromethane. |
| US07659355B2 |
Elastomeric compositions, air barriers, and processes for the making the same
The invention relates to novel air barriers made from elastomeric compositions. In particular, the invention relates to novel air barriers such as innerliners, air sleeves, and innertubes made from novel C4 to C7 isoolefin based polymers with new sequence distributions or that are substantially free of long chain branching. |
| US07659346B2 |
Process for maleating polymerization residues and products
A process for converting distillation residues obtained from polymerization processes to useful maleated products is provided. |
| US07659342B2 |
Polymer nano-particle with polar core and method for manufacturing same
The present invention provides a nano-particle comprising a shell and a polar core, their preparation, and their applications in ER fluids, polymeric product, rubber composition, tire product, hard disk drive gasket, matrix composition, and engine mount etc. The shell comprises a polymer formed from formula (I) monomers and the core comprises a polymer formed from formula (II) monomers, in which R1 and R2 are hydrogen; R3, R4, R5, R6, and up to three of R7, R8, R9, and R10 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl; and at least one of R7, R8, R9, and R10 is a polar group that is more polar than any one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 groups. |
| US07659338B2 |
Dispersions
Polychloroprene dispersions containing particles of urea derivatives having a particle size in the range of 10 to 400 nm, which can be used in adhesive compositions. The adhesive compositions can be used to provide substrates containing adhesive layers obtained from the compositions. |
| US07659336B2 |
Nucleating agent additive compositions and methods
A blend of two different compounds may be applied together to form a nucleating agent additive composition. This additive composition is useful as an additive in thermoplastics, polyolefins and/or polymer resins. A blend of a bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane dicarboxylate salt and a dicarboxylate calcium metal salt provide useful and beneficial physical property effects in molded polymeric articles in terms of shrinkage and crystallization temperature of polymer resin compositions. |
| US07659334B2 |
Impact resistant rigid vinyl chloride polymer composition and method of making the same
The instant invention is an impact resistant rigid vinyl chloride polymer composition, and method of making the same. The impact resistant rigid vinyl chloride polymer composition, according to instant invention, includes a vinyl chloride polymer, an impact modifier, and a lubricant system. The impact modifier includes a chlorinated olefin polymer, and an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. The lubricant system includes a first component, a second component, and a third component. The first component is a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of stearic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, blends thereof, and combinations thereof. The second component is a hydrocarbon wax selected from the group consisting of a paraffin wax, polyolefin wax, blends thereof, and combinations thereof. The third component is a metal soap selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, aluminum stearate, copper stearate, lithium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium stearate, zinc stearate, blends thereof, and combinations thereof. The process for preparing the impact resistant rigid vinyl chloride polymer composition of the instant invention includes the following steps: (1) providing a vinyl chloride polymer; (2) providing an impact modifier as described above; (3) providing a lubricant system as described above; (4) blending the vinyl chloride polymer, the impact modifier, and the lubricant system thereby forming the impact resistant rigid vinyl chloride polymer composition. |
| US07659329B2 |
Removing fluorosurfactant from aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions using monodisperse ion exchange resin
A process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of a stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising passing said stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion through a fixed bed of ion exchange resin beads comprising a polymer and functional groups to reduce fluorosurfactant content, the ion exchange resin beads being monodisperse. |
| US07659327B2 |
Coated microspheres and their use
The invention relates to microspheres coated with a phenolic novolak resin, a process for preparing them, and their use in making foundry shapes, e.g. molds, cores, sleeves, pouring cups, etc., which are used in casting metal parts. |
| US07659326B2 |
Antimicrobial paint
The present invention provides an antimicrobial paint including an effective amount of one or more UV light absorbers. The UV light absorber can be any UV light absorber able to prevent or reduce a change or destructive effect by UV light on a metal pyrithione, but is preferably a benzotriazole UV light absorber or a hindered amine light stabilizer (“HALS”). |
| US07659325B2 |
Functionalized dyes and use thereof in ophthalmic lens material
The invention relates to transparent polymer material containing a dye which absorbs light above 400 nm. It furthermore relates to methods for producing the polymer material and a lens comprising the polymer material. In particular, the invention relates to an intraocular lens (IOL) suitable for implantation in mammals, which IOL has visible light transmission properties comparable to those of the human crystalline lens. Provided is a transparent polymer material containing at least one covalently attached dye, said dye having the general formula I: |
| US07659322B1 |
Synthesis of anhydride containing polymers by microwave radiation
The invention provides a method for preparing a polyanhydride by irradiating one or more diacids with microwave radiation in the presence of a carboxylic anhydride so as to acylate the one or more diacids to yield at least one prepolymer, and irradiating the prepolymer with microwave radiation so as to polymerize said prepolymer to yield the polyanhydride, as a homopolymer or a copolymer. High purity polyanhydrides can be prepared by this method. Reaction times compared to conventional melt polycondensations can be significantly reduced. Copolymer polyanhydrides can also be prepared by the microware radiation techniques described herein. |
| US07659318B2 |
Polymer membrane for fuel cell, method of preparing the same, membrane-electrode assembly including the same, and fuel cell system including the same
The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, a method for manufacturing the polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell system including the membrane-electrode assembly. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a proton-conductive polymer membrane including a polymer micelle inside a hydrophilic channel. Herein, the micelle includes a vinyl-based polymer obtained from polymerization of a vinyl-based monomer and an anionic surfactant surrounding the vinyl-based polymer. |
| US07659316B2 |
Foam composition
Foams suitable for such uses as landfill coverage, frost protection, volatile emission control, gas control in mining, are composed of a hydrolyzable protein and a pre-gelatinized cationic modified starch along with other ingredients. The foam concentrate can be made at ambient temperature, is stable over time, can be easily tailored to achieve a desired foam stiffness and drain time characteristic over wide ranges, and can be easily diluted at ambient temperature to produce a foamable composition. |
| US07659314B2 |
PH-sensitive polymeric micelles for drug delivery
Mixed micelles containing poly(L-histidine)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer and poly(L-lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer are a pH-sensitive drug carrier that release the drug in an acidic microenvironment, but not in the blood. Since the microenvironment of solid tumors is acidic, these mixed micelles are useful for treating cancer, including those cancers exhibiting multidrug resistance. Targeting ligands, such as folate, can also be attached to the mixed micelles for enhancing drug delivery into cells. Methods of treating a warm-blooded animal with such a drug are disclosed. |
| US07659311B2 |
Disodium salts, monohydrates, and ethanol solvates for delivering active agents
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. The delivery agents have the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl(arylene), or substituted or unsubstituted aryl(C1-C12 alkylene). The hydrates and solvates of present invention also have surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents, such as heparin and calcitonin, than their corresponding monosodium salts and free acids. The present invention provides an alcohol solvate, such as ethanol solvate, of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. The invention also provides a hydrate of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate. |
| US07659309B2 |
Polymorphic forms of (1-{3-[3-(4-cyano-3-methoxy-phenyl) ureido]-phenyl}-ethyl)-carbamic acid-2-cyano-1-ethyl-ethyl ester
The present invention relates to polymorphic forms of (1-{3-[3-(4-cyano-3-methoxy-phenyl)ureido]-phenyl}-ethyl)-carbamic acid-2-cyano-1-ethyl-ethyl ester, processes therein, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and uses therewith. |
| US07659307B2 |
Heterocyclic carboxamides and their use as fungicides
Compounds of general formula (I), in which Het represents a five or six membered saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic ring containing between one and six heteroatoms of the group N, O, S, in which the heterocycle is substituted in an adjacent manner with —P-Q1-T-Q2, -GZ and Y, such that the substituant -GZ is adjacent to both, the other substituants being as defined in the description, process for preparing this compound, fungicidal composition comprising this compound, method for treating plants by applying this compound or composition. |
| US07659302B2 |
Methods of using (+)-2-[1-(3-ethoxy-4 methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethyl]-4 acetylaminoisoindoline 1,3-dione
Stereomerically pure (+)-2-[1-(3-Ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethyl]-4-acetylaminoisoindoline-1,3-dione, substantially free of its (−) isomer, and prodrugs, metabolites, polymorphs, salts, solvates, hydrates, and clathrates thereof are discussed. Also discussed are methods of using and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the (+) enantiomer of 2-[1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylsulfonylethyl]-4-acetylaminoisoindoline-1,3-dione are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating and/or preventing disorders ameliorated by the reduction of levels of TNF-α or the inhibition of PDE4. |
| US07659300B2 |
Monocyclic anilide spirolactam CGRP receptor antagonists
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: I (where A1, A2, B, J, K, m, n, R4, R5a, R5b and R5c are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved. |
| US07659299B2 |
Compounds inhibiting the binding of sap for treating osteoarthritis
Use of an agent capable of inhibiting SAP ligand binding activity or depleting SAP from the plasma of a subject for the production of a medicament for treatment or prevention of osteoarthritis in the subject. |
| US07659298B2 |
Pyrazole derivatives and use thereof as orexin receptor antagonists
The present invention relates to the orexin receptor antagonists compounds of the general formula (I) as well as to their isomers, salts and solvates, to the pharmaceutical compositions containing them and to the therapeutic application thereof. |
| US07659297B2 |
Tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives, process for their production and their use as anti-inflammatory agents
The invention relates to multiply-substituted tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives of formula (I) process for their production and their use as antiinflammatory agents. |
| US07659292B2 |
Fungicide compositions based on pyridylmethylbenzamide and propamocarb derivative
1) Fungicidal compositions comprising: a) at least one pyridylmethylbenzamide derivative of formula (I): in which the various radicals are as defined in the description, and b) at least one compound (II), which is propamocarb. 2) Method of curatively or preventively combating phytopathogenic fungi in crops, characterized in that an effective, nonphytotoxic amount of one of these fungicidal compositions is applied to the aerial parts of the plants. |
| US07659287B2 |
Benzamide derivatives and uses related thereto
Benzamide derivatives of formula I are described and have therapeutic utility, particularly in the treatment of diabetes, obesity and related conditions and disorders: |
| US07659285B2 |
Selective serotonin 2A/2C receptor inverse agonists as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases
Behavioral pharmacological data with the compound of formula (I), a novel and selective 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonist, demonstrate in vivo efficacy in models of psychosis and dyskinesias. This includes activity in reversing MK-801 induced locomotor behaviors, suggesting that this compound may be an efficacious anti-psychotic, and activity in an MPTP primate model of dyskinesias, suggesting efficacy as an anti-dyskinesia agent. These data support the hypothesis that 5HT2A/2C receptor inverse agonism may confer antipsychotic and anti-dyskinetic efficacy in humans, and indicate a use of the compound of formula (I) and related agents as novel therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease, related human neurodegenerative diseases, and psychosis. |
| US07659284B2 |
Thiazolopyridine kinase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to novel thiazolopyridines, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use thereof as inhibitors of ATP-protein kinase interactions. The thiazolopyridine compounds have the following Formula (I): |
| US07659282B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising dextromethorphan and quinidine for the treatment of neurological disorders
Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating neurological disorders by administering same are provided. The compositions comprise dextromethorphan in combination with quinidine. |
| US07659281B2 |
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
Compounds are provided of the following structure are HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and thus are active in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis, modulating blood serum lipids, for example, lowering LDL cholesterol and/or increasing HDL cholesterol, and treating hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and atherosclerosis wherein variables A and B are defined herein. |
| US07659271B2 |
Pyrimidine compound having dibenzylamine structure and medicament comprising the same
A compound represented by the following general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent hydrogen atom, a halo(lower alkyl) group, cyano group and the like, R6 represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group and the like, R7, R8, R9 and R10 represent hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a halo(lower alkyl) group and the like, R11 and R12 represent hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a (lower cycloalkyl) (lower alkyl) group and the like, and R13 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkoxy group and the like, which has potent inhibitory activity on cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP). |
| US07659270B2 |
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors
The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection. |
| US07659269B2 |
Substituted indolealkanoic acids
Disclosed are substituted indolealkanoic acids useful in the treatment of chronic complications arising from diabetes mellitus. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of treatment employing the compounds, as well as methods for their synthesis. |
| US07659266B2 |
Amidine derivatives and their applications as a medicament
The invention concerns amidine derivatives of general formula (I) exhibiting an inhibitory activity of calpains and/or a trapping activity of reactive forms of oxygen. |
| US07659264B2 |
CGRP receptor antagonists
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: Formula I: I and Formula II: (where variables R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B, J, Q, T, V, W, X and Y are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved. |
| US07659263B2 |
Thienopyrrole compound and use thereof as HCV polymerase inhibitor
The present invention relates to a thienopyrrole compound represented by the following formula [I] wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable a salt thereof, and a hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor and a therapeutic agent for hepatitis C containing this compound as an active ingredient. The compound of the present invention shows an anti-HCV activity based on the HCV polymerase inhibitory activity, and useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of hepatitis C. |
| US07659261B2 |
Combretastatin A-4 phosphate prodrug mono-and di-organic amine salts, mono-and di-amino acid salts, and mono-and di-amino acid ester salts
Provided herein are novel and useful combretastatin A-4 prodrug salts that increase the solubility of combretastatin A-4, readily regenerate combretastatin A-4 in vivo under normal physiological conditions, and which produce physiologically tolerable products as a result of the regeneration of combretastatin A-4. |
| US07659258B2 |
Double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotides useful for inducing apoptosis of osteoclasts for the treatment of osteopenic pathologies
The invention relates to a synthetic double-stranded oligonucleotide capable of modifying the molecular phenotype of osteoclasts and increasing the expression of the oestrogen alpha receptor gene. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the oligonucleotide according to the invention are also described, as well as therapeutic applications of that oligonucleotide, in particular for the treatment of osteopenic diseases such as for example osteoporosis. The oligonucleotide according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises the sequence 5′-ATTTATTTTCAATACTGACT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a fragment or a mutant thereof. |
| US07659257B2 |
Medicament for treating lung cancer
Lung cancer can be treated effectively by combination of amrubicin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof with cisplatin. |
| US07659256B2 |
Combination therapy for effecting weight loss and treating obesity
The present invention features a novel therapy for effecting weight loss which involves treating a subject with a sympathomimetic agent (e.g., phentermine or a phentermine-like drug) in combination with an anticonvulsant sulfamate derivative (e.g., topiramate) such that the subject experiences weight loss.The combination methods of the present invention also are effective against symptoms associated with Syndrome X. The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions and kits for use in the practice of these novel therapies. |
| US07659255B2 |
Methods of inhibiting glutamate receptors by administering the tripeptide KDI
The present invention relates to a method of using biologically active peptide compounds comprising the tri-peptide motif KDI derived from the neurite outgrowth-promoting domain of laminin-1 as inhibitors of ionotropic glutamate receptors. The peptide compounds are therefore useful in methods of treating disorders responsive to the blockade of these receptors, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS or stroke. |
| US07659254B2 |
Abuse-resistant amphetamine prodrugs
The invention describes compounds, compositions, and methods of using the same comprising a chemical moiety covalently attached to amphetamine. These compounds and compositions are useful for reducing or preventing abuse and overdose of amphetamine. These compounds and compositions find particular use in providing an abuse-resistant alternative treatment for certain disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADD, narcolepsy, and obesity. Oral bioavailability of amphetamine is maintained at therapeutically useful doses. At higher doses bioavailability is substantially reduced, thereby providing a method of reducing oral abuse liability. Further, compounds and compositions of the invention decrease the bioavailability of amphetamine by parenteral routes, such as intravenous or intranasal administration, further limiting their abuse liability. |
| US07659248B2 |
Stabilized compositions comprising tissue factor pathway inhibitor protein or tissue factor pathway inhibitor variant proteins
Stabilized aqueous compositions of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) or TFPI variants comprise a solubilizing agent, an antioxidant, and a buffer. The combination of a solubilizing agent and an antioxidant can lead to a significant improvement in the storage life of TFPI or TFPI variant compositions. The solubilizing agent and antioxidant substantially counteract the effects of TFPI or TFPI variant degradation through aggregation and oxidation. |
| US07659246B2 |
Treatment of osteoarthritis
This invention relates to methods of treatment of osteoarthritis, and especially to treatment of this condition with cyclic peptidic and peptidomimetic compounds which have the ability to modulate the activity of G protein-coupled receptors. The compounds preferably act as antagonists of the C5a receptor, and are active against C5a receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Particularly preferred compounds for use in the invention are disclosed. |
| US07659244B2 |
Rapamycin peptides conjugates: synthesis and uses thereof
The present invention relates to new rapamycin derivatives for the inhibition of cell proliferation. The compounds can advantageously target two proteins in dividing cells and interfere with cell cycle. There is thus provided derivatives of rapamycin in which the 42 position of rapamycin is linked to an amino acid or a peptide through a carbamate ester linkage. These rapamycin derivatives can be synthesized by reacting 42-O-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl) rapamycin and an amino acid or a free amino peptide under basic conditions. These rapamycin derivatives can be used to inhibit the cell cycle and are therefore useful for treating cell proliferation disorders. |
| US07659238B2 |
Fabric softener compositions comprising homo- and/or copolymers
This invention relates to fabric softener compositions comprising a fabric softener component or a mixture of fabric softener components and at least one polymer formed from the polymerization of c) a water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or blend of monomers comprising at least one cationic monomer and/or at least one non-ionic monomer, d) a cross-linking agent or a mixture of cross-linking agents in an amount of less than 5 ppm by the weight of component a), and c) optionally at least one chain transfer agent, with the proviso that (i) if the polymer is a cationic homopolymer then the amount of the crosslinking agent is always more than 0 ppm, as thickeners, as well as to new fabric softener compositions. |
| US07659235B2 |
Stable liquid cleansing compositions which may be prepared using fatty acyl isethionate surfactants
The invention provides liquid cleanser compositions which can use fatty acyl isethionates mixtures, regardless of free fatty acid content of isethionates mixture or chain length distribution of isethionates mixture. The key is to ensure a specific combination of liquid crystal inducer (of surfactant phase) and of modifier so that the isethionates will be stable at low and high temperatures. |
| US07659232B1 |
Garden tool maintenance fluid
A fluid safe to plants and the environment for maintenance facilitation of hand or power garden shear and saw tools. When the said fluid with a pleasant odor is sprayed onto the blades of said tools it will clean, lubricate, disinfect and inhibit rust in one step on said tools while repelling some types of flying insect pests. |
| US07659231B2 |
(PER) fluoropolyether compounds
Compounds having the following formula: wherein: A and A1, equal or different, are respectively H or an aromatic end group as defined below; optionally said aromatic group being substituted; n is an integer different from zero, such that the number average molecular weight of the compound of formula (I) is in the range 1,800-50,000, T is the bivalent group —Y—CH2—CFW1—O—Rf—CFW2—CH2—Y— wherein: Y=O, S; W1 and W2, equal or different, are F, CF3; Rf is a (per) fluoropolyoxyalkylene chain formed of one or more repeating units, statistically distributed along the chain; R1, R2, R3, equal to or different from each other, are selected from H; linear or branched C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl, linear or branched C1-C15 (per) fluorooxyalkyl; linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl; linear or branched C1-C8a oxyalkyl, optionally containing one or more oxygen atoms; NO2; CN. |
| US07659230B2 |
Thermoplastic resin composition containing mesoporous powders absorbed with lubricating oils
Thermoplastic resin compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a lubricating oil-impregnated mesoporous powder. The compositions comprise about 0.3 to about 2 weight percent of lubricating oil, based on the total weight of the composition and are able to maintain a low coefficient of friction and minimal wear over an extended period of use. |
| US07659226B2 |
Process for making photocatalytic materials
A method of making amorphous metal peroxide solution includes mixing hydrogen peroxide and an amorphous metal hydroxide mixture to form a hydrogen peroxide and amorphous metal hydroxide mixture, and simultaneously heating and applying pressure above atmospheric pressure to the hydrogen peroxide and amorphous metal hydroxide mixture for a period of time to form the amorphous metal peroxide solution. |
| US07659222B2 |
Optical glass
An optical glass comprising SiO2, B2O3 and La2O3 and one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of ZrO2, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5, having a refractive index of 1.83 or over and an Abbe number of 35 or over and being free of F. |
| US07659217B2 |
Durable and fire resistant nonwoven composite fabric based garment
The present invention is directed to the design and manufacturing of a field durable, repeatedly launderable and permanently fire resistant, comfortable and economical FR nonwoven composite fabric based garment, which meets the stringent requirements of military combat uniform clothing. The nonwoven based garment is designed to replace the traditional woven textile fabric used in the military today. The novel garment of the current invention is constructed using a unique spunlaced or hydroentangled FR nonwoven composite fabric that exhibits mechanical, physical, durability and comfort characteristics similar to or better than that of the current woven military uniform fabric. In particular, the present invention contemplates the nonwoven composite fabric used to make the garment is prepared by combining at least two separate nonwoven webs forming the inside and outside layers of the garment. An optional rip-stop element such as a loosely knitted fabric may be sandwiched between the two nonwoven webs to improve the dimensional stability of the entire garment. Hydroentangling process combines the individual nonwoven webs to form a coherent base nonwoven composite fabric before dyeing and printing which is then made fire resistant by application of a phosphate ester chemical in an ammonia-cure process to form the FR nonwoven composite fabric of the garment. |
| US07659214B2 |
Method for growing an oxynitride film on a substrate
A method for growing an oxynitride film on a substrate includes positioning the substrate in a process chamber, heating the process chamber, flowing a first wet process gas comprising water vapor into the process chamber, and reacting the substrate with the first wet process gas to grow an oxide film on the substrate. The method further includes flowing a second wet process gas comprising water vapor and a nitriding gas comprising nitric oxide into the process chamber, and reacting the oxide film and the substrate with the second wet process gas to grow an oxynitride film. In another embodiment, the method further comprises annealing the substrate containing the oxynitride film in an annealing gas. According to one embodiment of the method where the substrate is silicon, a silicon oxynitride film can be formed that exhibits a nitrogen peak concentration of approximately 3 atomic % or greater. |
| US07659213B2 |
Transistor having an embedded tensile strain layer with reduced offset to the gate electrode and a method for forming the same
By incorporating carbon by means of ion implantation and a subsequent flash-based or laser-based anneal process, strained silicon/carbon material with tensile strain may be positioned in close proximity to the channel region, thereby enhancing the strain-inducing mechanism. The carbon implantation may be preceded by a pre-amorphization implantation, for instance on the basis of silicon. Moreover, by removing a spacer structure used for forming deep drain and source regions, the degree of lateral offset of the strained silicon/carbon material with respect to the gate electrode may be determined substantially independently from other process requirements. Moreover, an additional sidewall spacer used for forming metal silicide regions may be provided with reduced permittivity, thereby additionally contributing to an overall performance enhancement. |
| US07659189B2 |
Method for forming fully silicided gate electrode in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor MOS device includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate oxide layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate; a fully silicided gate electrode disposed on the gate oxide layer; a composite thin film interposed between the fully silicided gate electrode and the gate oxide layer; a spacer on sidewall of the fully silicided gate electrode; and a source/drain region implanted into the semiconductor substrate next to the spacer. A method for forming the semiconductor MOS device is disclosed. |
| US07659182B2 |
Method of wafer-to-wafer bonding
Methods of wafer-to-wafer bonding are disclosed. These methods use a force-transposing substrate providing redistribution of the applied force to the local bonding areas across the wafer. Certain versions of the Present Invention also provide a compliant force-distributing member along with applying bonding material to bonding areas in select locations. A predetermined sequence of external force loading and temperature steps ensure creating bonds between the wafers in the bonding areas. The disclosed methods improve wafer bonding, by increasing its uniformity and strength across the wafer, increasing both reproducibility and yield process and decreasing cost of semiconductor and MEMS devices. |
| US07659176B2 |
Tunable temperature coefficient of resistance resistors and method of fabricating same
Tunable TCR resistors incorporated into integrated circuits and a method fabricating the tunable TCR resistors. The tunable TCR resistors including two or more resistors of two or more different materials having opposite polarity and different magnitude TCRs, the same polarity and different magnitude TCRs or having opposite polarity and about the same TCRs. |
| US07659174B2 |
Method to enhance device performance with selective stress relief
A structure and method of fabrication of a semiconductor device having a stress relief layer under a stress layer in one region of a substrate. In a first example, a stress relief layer is formed over a first region of the substrate (e.g., PFET region) and not over a second region (e.g., NFET region). A stress layer is over the stress relief layer in the first region and over the devices and substrate/silicide in the second region. The NFET transistor performance is enhanced due to the overall tensile stress in the NFET channel while the degradation in the PFET transistor performance is reduced/eliminated due to the inclusion of the stress relief layer. In a second example embodiment, the stress relief layer is formed over the second region, but not the first region and the stress of the stress layer is reversed. |
| US07659172B2 |
Structure and method for reducing miller capacitance in field effect transistors
A method for forming a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a gate conductor and gate dielectric on an active device area of a semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer including a buried insulator layer formed over a bulk substrate and a semiconductor-on-insulator layer initially formed over the buried insulator layer. Source and drain extensions are formed in the semiconductor-on-insulator layer, adjacent opposing sides of the gate conductor, and source and drain sidewall spacers are formed adjacent the gate conductor. Remaining portions of the semiconductor-on-insulator layer adjacent the sidewall spacers and are removed so as to expose portions of the buried insulator layer. The exposed portions of the buried insulator layer are removed so as to expose portions of the bulk substrate. A semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown on the exposed portions of the bulk substrate and the source and drain extensions, and source and drain implants are formed in the epitaxially grown layer. |
| US07659166B2 |
Integration approach to form the core floating gate for flash memory using an amorphous carbon hard mask and ArF lithography
Systems and methods are described that facilitate integrating ArF core patterning of floating gate structures in a flash memory device followed by KrF periphery gate patterning using a hard mask comprising a material such as amorphous carbon to facilitate core gate construction. The amorphous carbon hard mask can facilitate preparing such core gate structures while protecting periphery gate stacks such that the periphery stacks are ready for immediate KrF lithography upon completion of core gate formation without requiring additional resist deposition between core and periphery etches. |
| US07659164B1 |
Method for fabricating capacitor of semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a capacitor of a semiconductor device comprises forming a silicon nanowire structure having a large aspect ratio using a porous anodic alumina structure and applying the silicon nanowire structure to a bottom electrode, thereby obtaining a capacitor having secured capacitance. |
| US07659163B2 |
Semiconductor devices having recessed structures and methods of forming the same
A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a plurality of protrusions projecting from the substrate; forming a silicon layer over the substrate and each protrusion; performing an anisotropic etching to transfer the silicon layer into a silicon spacer positioned on a side wall of each protrusion; forming an oxide layer over the silicon spacer; and etching the substrate to form a recess on the substrate by using the oxide layer as a mask. |
| US07659162B2 |
Phase change memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a phase change memory device includes forming at least one active device on a substrate, forming a bottom electrode electrically connected to the at least one active device, forming a phase change material layer and a top electrode on the bottom electrode, forming a capping layer on an upper surface of the top electrode and on side surfaces of the top electrode and phase change material layer, removing a portion of the capping layer overlapping the upper surface of the top electrode to define capping layer sidewall portions, forming an interlayer insulation film on the capping layer sidewall portions and on the top electrode, removing a portion of the interlayer insulation film from the top electrode to form a contact hole through the interlayer insulation film, and forming a contact plug in the contact hole. |
| US07659159B2 |
Method of manufacturing a flash memory device
In a method of fabricating a flash memory device, a semiconductor substrate includes a tunnel insulating layer and a charge storage layer formed in an active region and a trench formed in an isolation region. A first insulating layer is formed to fill a part of the trench. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer so that the trench is filled. The first and second insulating layers are removed such that the first and second insulating layers remain on sidewalls of the charge storage layer and on a part of the trench. A third insulating layer is formed on the first and second insulating layers so that a space defined by the charge storage layer is filled. The third insulating layer is removed so that a height of the third insulating layer is lowered. |
| US07659158B2 |
Atomic layer deposition processes for non-volatile memory devices
Embodiments of the invention provide memory devices and methods for forming memory devices. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided which includes a floating gate polysilicon layer disposed over source/drain regions of a substrate, a silicon oxynitride layer disposed over the floating gate polysilicon layer, a first aluminum oxide layer disposed over the silicon oxynitride layer, a hafnium silicon oxynitride layer disposed over the first aluminum oxide layer, a second aluminum oxide layer disposed over the hafnium silicon oxynitride layer, and a control gate polysilicon layer disposed over the second aluminum oxide layer. In another embodiment, a memory device is provided which includes a control gate polysilicon layer disposed over an inter-poly dielectric stack disposed over a silicon oxide layer disposed over the floating gate polysilicon layer. The inter-poly dielectric stack contains two silicon oxynitride layers separated by a silicon nitride layer. |
| US07659156B2 |
Method to selectively modulate gate work function through selective Ge condensation and high-K dielectric layer
A semiconductor device is provided which comprises a semiconductor layer (109), a dielectric layer (111), first and second gate electrodes (129, 131) having first and second respective work functions associated therewith, and a layer of hafnium oxide (113) disposed between said dielectric layer and said first and second gate electrodes. |
| US07659150B1 |
Microshells for multi-level vacuum cavities
Microshells for encapsulation of devices such as MEMS and microelectronics. In an embodiment, the microshells include a planar perforated pre-sealing layer, below which a non-planar sacrificial layer is accessed, and a sealing layer to close the perforation in the pre-sealing layer after the sacrificial material is removed. The sealing layer may include a nonhermetic layer to physically occlude the perforation and a hermetic layer over the nonhermetic occluding layer to seal the perforation as a function of the dimension of the perforation to form cavities having different vacuum levels on the same substrate. |
| US07659147B2 |
Method for cutting solid-state image pickup device
In a method for cutting a solid-state image pickup device of the present invention, a glass cover plate is diced with a surface thereof being protected, so that chipping of the glass cover plate can be significantly prevented. In addition, since a CCD wafer is adhered after the glass cover plate is diced, no glass fragments scattered due to chipping of the glass cover plate touch the CCD wafer, or cause damage to the CCD wafer, thereby a cutting of solid-state image pickup device can be achieved with high accuracy and high quality. |
| US07659146B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
Performing electrolysis plating to a wiring is made possible, aiming at the increasing of pin count of a semiconductor device.Package substrate 3 by which ring shape common wiring 3p for electric supply was formed in the inner area of bonding lead 3j in device region 3v of main surface 3a is used. Since a plurality of first plating lines 3r and fourth plating lines 3u for electric supply connected to common wiring 3p can be arranged by this, the feeder for electrolysis plating can be arranged to all the land parts on the back. Hereby, it becomes possible to perform electrolysis plating to the wiring of main surface 3a of package substrate 3, and the back surface. Even if the land part of plural lines is formed covering the perimeter of the back surface, electrolysis plating can be performed to the all land parts. As a result, electrolysis plating can be performed to a wiring, aiming at the increasing of pin count of a semiconductor device. |
| US07659144B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which makes it easy to design a wiring pattern for a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor device is to be mounted. In manufacturing plural semiconductor devices for providing different amounts of output current, arrangements and numbers of leads to which semiconductor chips for power transistors of the semiconductor devices are to be electrically connected are changed according to output current requirements for the semiconductor devices, whereas arrangements and numbers of leads to which semiconductor chips for control circuits of the semiconductor devices are to be electrically connected are fixed to be common to the semiconductor devices. In this way, the probability of malfunction of control circuits (PWM circuits) of the semiconductor devices can be reduced, so that a semiconductor device which makes it easy to design a wiring pattern for a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor device is to be mounted can be provided. |
| US07659143B2 |
Dual-chip integrated heat spreader assembly, packages containing same, and systems containing same
A method includes mating a first heat spreader and a second heat spreader, such that the first heat spreader at a mating surface and second heat spreader at a mating surface become parallel and adjacent. The mated first heat spreader and second heat spreader have at least one convection channel disposed therebetween. A process includes placing a first die in a first die recess of the first heat spreader, and placing a second die on a second die site on the second heat spreader. The process includes reflowing thermal interface material between each die and respective heat spreader. A package is achieved by the method, with reduced thicknesses. The package can be coupled through a bumpless build-up layer. The package can be assembled into a computing system. |
| US07659139B2 |
Method for destruction of metallic carbon nanotubes, method for production of aggregate of semiconducting carbon nanotubes, method for production of thin film of semiconducting carbon nanotubes, method for destruction of semiconducting carbon nanotubes, method for production of aggregate of metallic carbon nanotubes, method for production of thin film of metallic carbon nanotubes, method for production of electronic device, method for production of aggregate of carbon nanotubes, method for selective reaction of semiconducting carbon nanotubes
A method for destruction of metallic carbon nanotubes is provided. The method includes irradiating a mixture of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and metallic carbon nanotubes with energy beams (such as laser light), thereby selectively destroying metallic carbon nanotubes or semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The energy beams have energy components for resonance absorption by the metallic carbon nanotubes or semiconducting carbon nanotubes. |
| US07659138B2 |
Method for manufacturing an organic semiconductor element
In manufacturing a device using an organic TFT, it is essential to develop an element in which a channel length is short or a channel width is narrow to downsize a device. Based on the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an organic TFT in which characteristic is improved. In view of the foregoing problem, one feature of the present invention is that an element is baked after an organic semiconductor film is deposited. More specifically, one feature of the present invention is that the organic semiconductor film is heated under atmospheric pressure or under reduced pressure. Moreover, a baking process may be carried out in an inert gas atmosphere. |
| US07659136B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing said solid-state imaging device
It is an object to provide solid-state imaging device, which can easily be manufactured and has a high reliability, and a method of manufacturing the solid-state imaging device. In the present invention, a manufacturing method comprises the steps of forming a plurality of IT-CCDs on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, bonding a translucent member to the surface of the semiconductor substrate in order to have a gap opposite to each light receiving region of the IT-CCD, and isolating a bonded member obtained at the bonding step for each of the IT-CCDs. |
| US07659134B2 |
Microelectronic imagers and methods for manufacturing such microelectronic imagers
Microelectronic imagers and methods of manufacturing such microelectronic imagers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a microelectronic imager can include irradiating selected portions of an imager housing unit. The housing unit includes a body having lead-in surfaces and a support surface that define a recess sized to receive a microelectronic die. The method also includes depositing a conductive material onto the irradiated portions of the housing unit and forming electrically conductive traces. The method further includes coupling a plurality of terminals at a front side of a microelectronic die to corresponding electrically conductive traces in the recess in a flip-chip configuration. The microelectronic die includes an image sensor aligned with at least a portion of an optical element carried by the housing unit and at least partially aligned with the recess. The method can then include depositing an encapsulant into the recess and over at least a portion of the microelectronic die. |
| US07659133B2 |
Method for manufacturing CMOS image sensor
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a CMOS image sensor, capable of preventing dopants implanted with high energy from penetrating into a lower part of a gate electrode when a photodiode is formed, thereby preventing current leakage of a transistor and variation of a threshold voltage. The method includes the steps of forming a gate electrode on a transistor area of a first conductive type semiconductor substrate including a photodiode area and the transistor area, forming a salicide layer on the gate electrode, and implanting second conductive type dopants for forming a photodiode in a photodiode area of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07659132B2 |
Semiconductor element holding apparatus and semiconductor device manufactured using the same
A semiconductor element holding apparatus includes a collet for suctioning a semiconductor element by negative pressure to hold the semiconductor element. The collet has a protrusion formed at the semiconductor element-holding surface thereof, and the protrusion is provided with a plurality of suction holes. The suction holes are opened to the semiconductor element-holding surface. The surface of the semiconductor element is held by the semiconductor element-holding surface of the protrusion of the collet. |
| US07659129B2 |
Fabricating method for quantum dot of active layer of LED by nano-lithography
The present invention is to provide a “fabricating method for quantum dot active layer of LED by nano-lithography” for fabricating out a new active layer of LED of nano quantum dot structure in more miniature manner than that of the current fabricating facilities to have high quality LED with features in longer light wavelength, brighter luminance and lower forward bias voltage by directly using the current fabricating facilities without any alteration or redesign of the precision. |
| US07659126B1 |
Electrical test method and apparatus
An electrical test method and apparatus are disclosed. In the method one or more ring oscillators are formed in one or more layers prior to formation of a metal 1 layer of a semiconductor wafer. The one or more layers comprise the formulation of transistors and local interconnects. One or more test structures are formed in one or more interconnect layers at or after the metal 1 of the semiconductor wafer. Each test structure is coupled to a corresponding one or more ring oscillators. A voltage is applied to one or more non-precision contacts to cause the ring oscillators to oscillate. At-speed performance of one or more test structures is determined from one or more measured signals obtained from the test structures. The electrical test apparatus includes one or more ring oscillators formed in one or more layers prior to formation of a metal 1 comprising the formulation of transistors and local interconnects of a semiconductor wafer and one or more test structures formed in one or more interconnect layers at or after the metal 1 of the semiconductor wafer. Each test structure is coupled to one or more corresponding ring oscillators. A non-precision contact is coupled to the one or more ring oscillators for applying voltage to one or more non-precision contacts to cause the ring oscillators to oscillate. |
| US07659122B2 |
Single population of simulated leukocyte granules, calibrators comprising the same and methods of preparing the same
Disclosed is a single population of simulated leukocyte granules prepared from mammalian whole white blood cells, which is useful in calibrators for a hematology analyzer, a calibrator which includes the single population of simulated leukocyte granules. Disclosed is also a method of preparing the single population of simulated leukocyte granules. The method of preparing single population of simulated leukocyte granules includes the actions of: obtaining mammalian whole white blood cells; treating the mammalian whole white blood cells with a hemolytic agent and a leukocyte treating liquid which includes an isotonic saline solution. The isotonic saline solution may include a fixative, an oxidizer, and a carbohydrate compound; fixing the treated mammalian whole white blood cells with a fixative; and suspending the fixed cells in a preservation medium for long-term preservation of fixed cells. |
| US07659121B2 |
Human salivary gland-origin stem cell
A novel human stem cell which can be differentiated to cells constituting a plurality of human organs including human liver is disclosed. The human stem cell according to the present invention is originated from human salivary gland, which is CD49f-positive, and which can be differentiated to (1) a nestin-positive and albumin-positive cell, (2) an insulin-positive cell and (3) a glucagon-positive cell by culture in vitro. |
| US07659116B2 |
Monoclonal antibody against frizzled receptor 4
The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof, which binds specifically and/or selectively to human receptors of the Frizzled (FZD) family. It further relates to a hybridoma cell that produces the antibody according to the invention. Another object of the present invention is a method for the detection and/or isolation of receptors of the FZD family or homologs or fragments thereof in a biological sample and a method for the identification and/or isolation of biological material comprising or expressing receptors of the FZD family or homologs or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the antibody according to the invention or fragments thereof for the specific and/or selective detection and/or isolation of receptors of the FZD family, a composition comprising the monoclonal antibody according to the invention or fragments thereof, and a kit comprising the monoclonal antibody according to the invention or fragments thereof. |
| US07659115B2 |
Nucleic acid encoding human transductin-1 polypeptide
The invention provides isolated or purified nucleic molecules consisting of a nucleotide sequence encoding human transductin-1 (TDC1), such as SEQ ID NO: 1. The invention also provides vectors comprising the isolated or purified nucleic acid sequences and cells comprising such vectors. |
| US07659110B2 |
DNA amplification device
A processing block 2 is composed of a base 5, where an upper substrate 6 formed with a metal material M and a lower substrate 7 formed with the metal material M or a ceramic material E are adhered, and cells C . . . supported by this base 5; and the cells C . . . are secured to the upper substrate 6 and/or the lower substrate 7 at least via cell positioners 6s . . . established in the upper substrate 6 for positioning the cells C . . . , respectively.At the same time, at least the thickness Ld of regions Xc . . . situated under the cells C . . . in the lower substrate 7 is selected to be 1.0 [mm] or thinner, and, a thermo-module(s) comes into contact with the lower surface of the base 5. |
| US07659108B2 |
Fermenter comprising an agitator
A plug-flow operated, horizontal fermenter for anaerobic fermentation of biogenic waste includes a fermenter tank having an inlet and an outlet that is configured to be filled with a biomass material. The fermenter also includes an agitator having a shaft passing through the fermenter tank in its longitudinal direction, wherein the shaft is mounted in end regions of the fermenter tank and is designed as a closed, hollow shaft having an inner space filled with gas or air. A plurality of agitator arms are arranged on the shaft. The inner space of the shaft is monitored with respect to a gas or air pressure to ensure that a buoyancy of the shaft in the filled fermenter tank at least approximately compensates for a sagging of the shaft. |
| US07659101B2 |
Alkaline Bacillus amylase
This invention relates to an amylase derived from Bacillus horikoshii. The amylase has a preference for soluble substrates, shows substantial exo-amylase activity and has a pH optimum of about 9.8. |
| US07659097B2 |
Production of isoprenoids
The present invention provides methods for a robust production of isoprenoids via one or more biosynthetic pathways. The invention also provides nucleic acids, enzymes, expression vectors, and genetically modified host cells for carrying out the subject methods. The invention also provides fermentation methods for high productivity of isoprenoids from genetically modified host cells. |
| US07659095B2 |
Methods for determining the presence or absence of elite event RF-BN1 in Brassica plant material
This invention relates to transgenic winter oilseed rape (WOSR) plants, plant material and seeds, harboring a specific transformation event. It pertains to winter oilseed rape plants, more particularly to a pair of winter oilseed rape plants, which is particularly suited for the production of hybrid seed. More specifically, one plant is characterized by being male-sterile, due to the presence in its genome of a male sterility gene, while the other is characterized by carrying a fertility-restorer gene, capable of preventing the activity of the male-sterility gene. The invention further provides a method for producing hybrid seed, a process for producing a transgenic WOSR plant oil or plant, and a method to identify a transgenic plant, cell or tissue. A kit for identifying the transgenic plants comparing the elite event of the present invention is also described. The WOSR plants of the invention combine the ability to form hybrid seeds with optimal overall agronomic performance, genetic stability and adaptability to different generic backgrounds. |
| US07659094B2 |
Nucleic acid sequences having gene transcription regulatory qualities
The invention is concerned with the systematic elucidation and identification of regulatory sequences. The invention provides among others screenings and detection methods with which regulatory sequences can be identified. The invention further provides regulatory sequences and use thereof in various fields such as, but not limited to, protein production, diagnostics, transgenic plants and animals, and the therapeutic field. |
| US07659092B2 |
Fusion proteins
A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide fusion proteins, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described. |
| US07659091B2 |
Diagnostic marker
An inflammatory peptide can be a marker for cardiac ischemia. |
| US07659090B2 |
Methods for the separation of streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 polysaccharides
The present invention provides improved methods for the reduction or removal of protein impurities from a complex cellular Streptococcus pneumoniae lysate or centrate comprising serotype 3 polysaccharides involving steps relating to post-lysis heating or pH adjustment. In certain methods, the lysate is heated for a time and at a temperature sufficient to denature proteins present in the lysate and cause their aggregation and precipitation. In one embodiment, the lysate is heated to at least 60° C. for at least 30 minutes to cause protein aggregation and precipitation, more particularly about 60° C. to about 70° C. for about 30 to about 50 minutes, and even more particularly about 65° C. for about 40 minutes. In other methods, the pH of the lysate or centrate is increased to at least 8.0 to improve filterability, more particularly about 8.0 to 8.4, and even more particularly about 8.2. In further methods, heating and pH adjustment steps are combined to cause the aggregation and precipitation of proteins as well as to improve filterability of the lysates or centrates. In other methods, the pH of the lysate or centrate is lowered to about 3.0 to about 5.0 to cause protein aggregation and precipitation. Such methods allow for the production of substantially purified serotype 3 polysaccharide-containing lysates or centrates. |
| US07659088B2 |
Assay for inositol phosphorylceramide synthase activity
Disclosed is a simple and reproducible method for assaying inositol phosphorylceramide synthase activity that employs a fluorescence resonance energy transfer pair for measuring enzyme activity. The invention also includes a novel method for identifying IPC synthase inhibitors. |
| US07659085B2 |
Methods and compositions for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes
Methods and compositions comprising immunoassays for the detection of antigens and antibodies in a sample are described. In particular, the present invention provides assays that are useful for the rapid and simultaneous detection of multiple different antigens and antibodies. In preferred embodiments, the assays include fluorescent labels of multiple wavelengths or intensities, which are used to label the antigens and antibodies directly and to label beads coated with molecules specific for the antigen or antibody. The detection of a fluorescence shift indicates the presence or identity of the antigen or antibody in the sample. |
| US07659083B2 |
Device for detecting molecules, method for detecting molecules
A construct is provided that is capable of binding a plurality of molecules, the construct comprising a first moiety with a first molecule binding region and a first molecule non-binding region; and a second moiety with a second molecule-binding region and a second molecule-non-binding region, whereby the first binding region and second binding region are at opposite ends of the construct. Also provided is a method for detecting protein having certain amino acid sequences, the method comprising supplying a collection of proteins each with unknown amino acid sequences, contacting the collection with a moiety having a plurality of binding sites capable of binding with the protein having certain amino acid sequences so as to form a moiety-protein complex, and mixing the complex with a marker specific for the moiety in an amount sufficient to indicate existence of the complex. |
| US07659082B2 |
Methods for identifying analgesic agents
The present invention relates to the discovery that mutations in SCN9A are causative of Congenital Indifference to Pain (CIP) in humans. The invention also relates to methods of utilizing the SCN9A gene and expression products thereof for the screening and identification of therapeutic agents, including small organic compounds, which are selective for SCN9A, and are useful in the treatment of pain and other disorders. The invention also relates to methods of using these compounds to treat or otherwise ameliorate such disorders. |
| US07659079B2 |
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy test reagents and methods
The invention provides improved methods and compositions for selectively binding and/or detecting an aggregating abnormal form of a protein in the presence of non-aggregating normal form of the protein. |
| US07659078B1 |
Method and kit for determination of prostacyclin in plasma
A solid-phase immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α, the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I2) is disclosed. Prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator with anti-platelet and anti-proliferative properties is an effective treatment for primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with scleroderma and scleroderma-like syndrome. Levels of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α can be directly correlated with levels of prostacyclin. Therefore, 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α has become the indicator of choice to measure prostacyclin levels. The single step immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α uses the bioluminescent protein, aequorin as a label. Analyte-label conjugates were constructed by linking the carboxyl group of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α and lysine residues of aequorin by chemical conjugation methods. The binding properties of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α towards its antibody and the bioluminescent properties of aequorin are retained in the conjugate. The concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α after extraction from plasma shows good correlation with the concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α obtained without prior extraction of the same plasma sample. The assay allows the measurement of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1α directly in plasma without any pre-treatment of the samples, which results in a much simpler method with a faster assay time. |
| US07659073B2 |
Forms of prostate specific antigens and methods for their detection
Inactive precursor forms of PSA (pPSA) have been identified to exist in serum and tissues of patients with prostate cancer. Antibodies specific for pPSA are provided. Methods for detecting inactive precursors of PSA in human physiological fluid and tissues are also provided, as well as diagnostic kits and methods useful in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. |
| US07659072B2 |
Methods for using riboprimers for strand displacement replication of target sequences
Methods, compositions and kits for amplifying a target sequence by strand displacement replication using strand-displacing primers. The method uses primers that have only ribonucleotides or purine ribonucleotides and at least one 2′-substituted pyrimidine-2′-deoxyribonucleotide. |
| US07659071B2 |
Methods and compositions relating to HPV-associated pre-cancerous and cancerous growths, including CIN
The present invention concerns the use of E6 and/or E7 peptides from human papilloma virus (HPV) to evaluate a cell-mediated response in a patient infected with HPV to determine the prognosis for that patient with respect to the development or recurrence of pre-cancerous or cancerous growths, including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). |
| US07659064B2 |
PNA chip using zip-codes and fabrication method thereof
A PNA zip-code chip in which PNA zip-code probes are immobilized on a substrate at high density using an epoxy compound as a linker, and method for fabricating such PNA chip. The use of PNA provides the chip with superior properties to DNA chips, allowing precise diagnosis of congenital diseases or base mutations with much higher sensitivity than is achievable with a DNA chip. The use of the PNA zip-code chip enables diagnosis of gene mutations in a simple manner, using only hybridization reaction, without the difficulties associated with processes in which probes must be immobilized directly on a substrate every time the target gene changes. |
| US07659063B2 |
High throughput assay system
The present invention relates to compositions, apparatus and methods useful for concurrently performing multiple, high throughput, biological or chemical assays, using repeated arrays of probes. A combination of the invention comprises a surface, which comprises a plurality of test regions, at least two of which, and in a preferred embodiment, at least twenty of which, are substantially identical, wherein each of the test regions comprises an array of generic anchor molecules. The anchors are associated with bifunctional linker molecules, each containing a portion which is specific for at least one of the anchors and a portion which is a probe specific for a target of interest. The resulting array of probes is used to analyze the presence or test the activity of one or more target molecules which specifically interact with the probes. In a preferred embodiment, a sample to be tested is subjected to a nuclease protection procedure before it is contacted with a combination of the invention. |
| US07659060B2 |
Method for identifying nucleotide polymorphism
A method for identifying a nucleotide polymorphism, the method comprising hybridizing a labeled oligonucleotide for a wild type or a mutant type to a nucleic acid containing a specific nucleotide polymorphic site in a sample; allowing a nucleic acid-specific label to act thereon; detecting an interaction between the label of the oligonucleotide and the nucleic acid-specific label; and identifying a nucleotide polymorphism, wherein the identification utilizes a difference due to the nucleotide polymorphism in conditions under which the hybridized oligonucleotide is separated into a single strand. |
| US07659058B2 |
Method for identifying target epitopes of the T cell mediated immune response and for assaying epitope-specific T cells
The present invention relates to a method for the detection of epitope-specific T-cells and target epitopes of reactive T-cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to vectors comprising a first promoter which is specifically inducible by the epitope-specific contact with a T-cell in antigen-presenting cells, a nucleic acid which is functionally linked to this first promoter and which encodes a marker gene, a second promoter which is constitutive in antigen-presenting cells, and a nucleic acid which is functionally linked to said second promoter. Furthermore, the present invention relates to antigen-presenting cells which are transduced with the vectors according to the invention. |
| US07659054B1 |
Methods for genetic analysis of DNA to detect sequence variances
The presently claimed invention concerns a method for biasing the amplification of the DNA molecules in a sample such that a nucleic acid molecule having a specific nucleotide at a selected position (e.g., a polymorphic site) is preferentially amplified relative to an otherwise identical nucleic acid molecule not having the specific nucleotide at the selected position. The method entails amplification of target nucleic acid molecules using a pair of primers one of which causes the incorporation into the amplification product of a sequence that interferes with amplification of nucleic acid molecules not having the specific nucleotide at the selected position. The method is useful for preferentially amplifying at least a portion of one allele of a gene relative to another, different allele of the gene in a sample containing both alleles of the gene. |
| US07659053B2 |
Methods of alteration of surface affinities using non-chemical force-creating fields
The present invention provides a series of methods, compositions, and articles for altering a property of a surface (for example, the cytophilicity and/or the hydrophilicity), by exposing at least a portion of the surface to a non-chemical, force-creating field and/or force, such as an electric field. The field/force may be created by any suitable technique. For instance, the field can be created by applying a voltage across the surface, by electrical induction, etc. In certain embodiments, the surface includes molecules attached thereto that can be detached when exposed to non-chemical, force-creating fields and/or forces, thereby altering the chemical composition of at least a portion of the surface. In one set of embodiments, the molecules attached to the surface may include molecules forming a self-assembled monolayer on the surface. In some embodiments, the molecules attached to the surface may include thiol moieties (e.g., as in an alkanethiol), by which the molecule can become attached to the surface. In certain cases, the molecules may be terminated at the unattached end with one or more hydrophilic groups, for example, unmodified ethylene glycol moieties. In some cases, the molecules attached to the surface may include one or more moieties that can bind to various entities such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, drugs, cells, etc. In certain embodiments, the techniques are used to enable novel assays for cell motility and/or spreading and screening tests for determining drugs and/or treatments effective in increasing or decreasing cell shape changes and/or motility on surfaces. |
| US07659046B2 |
Water-developable infrared-sensitive printing plate
The present invention provides an imageable element including a lithographic substrate and an imageable layer disposed on the substrate. The imageable layer includes a radically polymerizable component, an initiator system capable of generating radicals sufficient to initiate a polymerization reaction upon exposure to imaging radiation, and a polymeric binder having a hydrophobic backbone and including constitutional units having a pendant group including a hydrophilic poly(alkylene oxide) segment. The imageable element can be developed using an aqueous developer solution. Alternatively, the imageable element can be developed on-press by contact with ink and/or fountain solution. |
| US07659043B2 |
Composition for conductive materials, conductive material, conductive layer, electronic device, and electronic equipment
The object of the present invention is to provide a composition for conductive materials from which a conductive layer having a high carrier transport ability can be made, a conductive material formed of the composition and having a high carrier transport ability, a conductive layer formed using the conductive material as a main material, an electronic device provided with the conductive layer and having high reliability, and electronic equipment provided with the electronic device. The composition for conductive materials of the present invention comprising a compound represented by the following general formula (A1): wherein two R1s may be the same or different and each independently represents a straight-chain alkyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, four R2s may be the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, Y represents a group containing at least one substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon ring or substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle, and two X1s may be the same or different and each independently represents a substituent represented by the following general formula (A2): wherein n′ is an integer of 3 to 8, m1 s an integer of 0 to 3, and Z1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group. |
| US07659042B2 |
Full phase shifting mask in damascene process
A full phase shifting mask (FPSM) can be advantageously used in a damascene process for hard-to-etch metal layers. Because the FPSM can be used with a positive photoresist, features on an original layout can be replaced with shifters on a FPSM layout. Adjacent shifters should be of opposite phase, e.g. 0 and 180 degrees. In one embodiment, a dark field trim mask can be used with the FPSM. The trim mask can include cuts that correspond to cuts on the FPSM. Cuts on the FPSM can be made to resolve phase conflicts between proximate shifters. In one case, exposing two proximate shifters on the FPSM and a corresponding cut on the trim mask can form a feature in the metal layer. The FPSM and/or the trim mask can include proximity corrections to further improve printing resolution. |
| US07659039B2 |
Near-field exposure mask, method of producing that mask, near-field exposure apparatus having that mask, and resist pattern forming method
Disclosed is a near-field exposure mask having a light blocking layer formed on a substrate, the light blocking layer having an opening with an opening width narrower than a wavelength of an exposure light source, wherein exposure of an object to be exposed is carried out by use of near-field light to be produced at the opening while the exposure mask and the object to be exposed are placed in contact with each other, an important feature residing in that the light blocking layer is provided by a film that contains silicon in a range from 50% to 100% in terms of mole fraction. |
| US07659037B2 |
Nonaqueous secondary cell
Using a positive electrode active material including spinel type manganese oxide as the main constituent, a novel low cost and high output power flat type nonaqueous secondary cell for HEVs that has increased safety at overcharge, and superior storage properties and cycle life is provided. A flat type nonaqueous secondary cell that has increased safety and is superior in storage and cycle properties even though the cell is a laminate type cell which does not have a blocking mechanism can be obtained by blending the spinel type lithium manganese oxide of the positive electrode and 5 wt % to 40 wt % of layered type lithium manganese oxide, to suppress storage deterioration at a high temperature and to simultaneously achieve safety when overcharged, and further, by adding a Li compound having a structure as shown in Formula (1) structure, to suppress deterioration of a mixed positive electrode active material during a high temperature cycle. |
| US07659035B2 |
Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a cathode; an anode containing at least an anode active material and a conductive agent; and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the anode has an anode mixture, the anode mixture containing 1.5 wt % or more to 10 wt % or less aluminum oxide which has an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more to 5.0 μm or less. |
| US07659032B2 |
Cathode active material, cathode material having the cathode active material, secondary aqueous lithium-ion battery having the cathode material, and method for preparing the cathode active material
A cathode active material is provided, having d-MoS2(FeS2, ZnS) A cathode material is provided, including the cathode active material. A method for preparing the cathode active material is provided. A secondary aqueous lithium-ion battery (LIB) is provided, including the cathode material. Accordingly, it is possible to fabricate a secondary aqueous LIB which has an excellent charge/discharge performance and improves the charge/discharge cycles. |
| US07659030B2 |
Cell structure having improved heat dissipation and lower vibrations
A cell structure that can improve heat dissipation and the vibration-proofing nature of a cell without using a cooling medium while keeping the rigidity and the discharge current quantity of the cell includes at least one electrode having a positive pole active material layer, a current collector and a negative pole active material layer. The cell structure also includes a separator provided between each electrode; and a casing. The cell structure satisfies the inequality: S c × 1000 > b × 1000 S wherein b (mm) indicates a short-side length of the electrode, S (m2) indicates an electrode area, c (mm) indicates a cell structure thickness and 1000 (m2/mm) is a constant. The separators have a different Shore A hardness and the separator having the lowest Shore A hardness is placed at a center of the cell structure. |
| US07659029B2 |
Battery module with insulating plates nipping electrode tabs
A battery module has stacked therein a plurality of flat cells each formed by sealing a power generating element with a package member and deriving to the exterior electrode tabs from the package member and has the electrode tabs of the flat cells connected electrically. The battery module includes electrically insulated spacers adapted to nip the electrode tab from the opposite surface sides of the electrode tab along the stacking direction of the plurality of flat cells. The paired spacers nipping the electrode tab include an engaging member adapted to fasten the electrode tab by being passed through the electrode tab along the stacking direction. |
| US07659028B2 |
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell
This invention provides an electrode for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which fuel cell contains: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; electrode layers formed respectively on both faces of the electrolyte membrane; two reinforcing members which cover respective outer surfaces of the electrode layers; and a sealing member which covers, extending from respective end faces to respective end parts of the reinforcing members, whole peripheries of the two reinforcing members, wherein the electrolyte membrane, the electrode layers and the reinforcing members are integrally formed by the sealing member. |
| US07659027B2 |
Fuel cell and fuel cell stack
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fluid unit including a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas, before the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a casing for containing the fuel cell stack and the fluid unit. A first output terminal is electrically connected to one electrode, and provided adjacent to an end plate. A second output terminal is electrically connected to another electrode through a tightening member, and provided adjacent to the end plate. The fluid unit is provided adjacent to an end plate. |
| US07659024B2 |
Fuel cell having a separator with water-retaining groove portions
In a fuel cell composed of a pair of separators with a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched therebetween, gas passages having a plurality of generally linear passage portions, and bent passage portions each of which makes one end portion of the linear passage portions communicated with the other end portion of the linear passage portions, are formed so as to be communicative from a gas introducing port to a discharge port. In inner wall surfaces of the groove portions of the separators constituting the linear passage portions, water-retaining groove portions capable of retaining inside thereof at least part of water generated in the gas passage are formed in such a grooved configuration as to be substantially continuous along the passage portion. As a water drop generated within the gas passage makes contact with retained water within the water-retaining groove portions, growth of the water drop is suppressed to avoid any blockage of the gas passage, by which the anti-flooding property is improved. |
| US07659023B2 |
Multi-zone voltage fuel cell
The present invention is directed to an electrochemical fuel cell. The configuration of the fuel cell stack provides a multiple-legged current flow path therethrough. Electrically isolated zones are formed in the cells and one coupled in a serial manner. This configuration provides incremental voltage summing such that additional power converting element are not needed to match the stack output to the load. |
| US07659017B2 |
Drying method for fuel cell stacks
For various reasons, it can be desirable to subject fuel cells to drying procedures. In solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells for instance, drying may be carried out prior to storing at below freezing temperatures, or to recover cell performance lost following freeze/thaw events. An improved drying method involves drying the cell uniformly throughout. That is, the drying power over the length of the fuel cell is adjusted to be essentially uniform. This can be accomplished by using an appropriate set of operating conditions. The improved drying method can improve the lifetime of the fuel cell. |
| US07659014B2 |
Electrode assembly having super-capacitor and lithium secondary battery having the same
An electrode assembly having a super-capacitor for allowing high current charge/discharge operations and a lithium secondary battery having the same. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrode plates, a separator interposed between the first and second electrode plates; and a super-capacitor. Each plate has an electrode charge collector, an activation material layer formed on at least one surface of the electrode charge collector, and an electrode tap attached to the electrode charge collector. |
| US07659013B2 |
Plastic molding type secondary battery and method of forming the same
A method of forming a plastic molding type secondary battery. A protective circuit board is electrically connected to a bare cell, both mounted in a mold. The mold is capable of receiving the protective circuit board connected to the bare cell and at least of a part of the bare cell, and has an insertable core corresponding to the surface of an external I/O terminal, which is axially movable so as to contact the terminal surface. Supporting pins are trans-axially dispersed in the mold so that a lateral part of the pin is in contact with the back surface of the protective circuit board disposed in a correct position. A resulting plastic molding type secondary battery has pinholes formed on a part made of the plastic molding in the direction parallel to the protective circuit board so as to come into contact with one surface of the protective circuit board. |
| US07659011B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic appliance
An organic EL device includes a cathode, organic luminescent layers, and an electron-injection layer disposed between the cathode and the luminescent layers. The electron-injection layer contains an organic metal complex having a central atom of the same metal element as a constituent element of the cathode. A larger number of ligands than the valence of the central atom of the complex are coordinated to the central atom. |
| US07659010B2 |
Organic phosphorescent material and organic optoelectronic device
The invention provides a cyclometallated complex comprising the structure of formula I wherein: M is a d-block transition metal; B is a five- or six-membered aryl or heteroaryl ring which is optionally substituted and optionally fused to one or more other aryl or heteroaryl rings; A is a five- or six-membered heteroaryl ring comprising at least three nitrogen atoms; R1 is a group other than hydrogen; n is zero or an integer equal to or greater than one; and A and B are optionally fused or linked by one or more covalent bonds. The invention also provides the use of such complexes in optoelectronic devices, and in particular in organic light emitting devices. |
| US07659009B2 |
Thermally crosslinkable materials and multi-layered devices therefrom
The invention disclosed relates to cross-linkable composites of boronic acid or a boronic acid derivative such as a boronate, and an organic or organo-metallic moiety having a functionality such as hole transporting, electron transporting and light emitting, to cross-linked composites and to methods for making same. Multi-layer materials and optoelectronic devices including such cross-linked composites are also disclosed. |
| US07659006B2 |
Laminated polyester film and manufacturing process thereof
A laminated polyester film comprising a coating layer formed on at least one side of a polyester film, this coating layer comprising a polymer binder and inorganic-organic composite particles having an average particle diameter of 200 to 2,000 nm. This film has excellent scratch resistance, adhesion, transparency and slipperiness and is useful as an adhesive film for optical use. |
| US07659005B2 |
Heat-resistant label applicable at high temperature
The present invention relates to compositions for heat-resistant labels that are attachable under high-temperature conditions of 300° C. to 1100° C., heat-resistant labels, products with the labels attached, and methods for producing the labels. The invention employs, as a sticking layer of heat resistant labels, a hardened coating film including a silicone resin (A) and at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polymetallocarbosilane resin, zinc powder, tin powder, and aluminum powder (B), thereby providing heat resistant labels that can be attached at high temperature conditions. |
| US07659003B2 |
Silicone composition and a pressure sensitive adhesive film having a pressure sensitive adhesive layer made from the composition
A pressure sensitive adhesive film comprising a substrate film and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on a surface of the substrate film, said pressure sensitive adhesive layer being prepared from (A) a silicone composition comprising a diorganopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule and (C) a polyorganosiloxane having an SiH bond, characterized in that the alkenyl groups are contained in an amount of from 0.0007 to 0.05 mole per 100 g of the diorganopolysiloxane (A) and that the polyorganosiloxane (C) is contained in such an amount that a molar ratio of the SiH bond to the alkenyl group of the diorganopolysiloxane (A) ranges from 0.5 to 20. |
| US07659000B2 |
Adhesion technique for incompatible polymers using modified polymer tie layers
A coextrusion employing a tie layer between two layers of different polymer materials. The tie layer is formed in the extrusion melt of a composition comprising one of the two polymer materials and a coupling agent that includes functional groups that are reactive at least with functional groups on the second polymer. The coupling agent may be incorporated into the tie layer material in amounts above 5% by weight. |
| US07658998B2 |
Method of preparing sustained release microparticles
The present invention relates to a method for preparing an injectable composition of microparticles for the sustained release of a biologically active agent. The microparticles include a biocompatible polymer and a biologically active agent. The invention provides an improved process for the preparation of microparticles, wherein the physical characteristics of the microparticles, for example, the morphology, density and size, are independent of the process used to prepare the initially formed polymer/drug matrix. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a polymer/biologically active agent matrix; (b) compressing the polymer/biologically active agent matrix, thereby forming a compressed matrix; and (c) fragmenting the compressed matrix, thereby forming an injectable microparticle composition. The polymer/drug matrix can be provided by any suitable method. |
| US07658996B2 |
Ultrafine particle brittle material having polycrystal structure obtained by mechanical and thermal treatment
A method for forming an ultrafine particle brittle material at low temperature which includes the steps of applying a mechanical impact force or a pressure to a ultrafine particle brittle material so as to have a percentage in the ultrafine particles having a primary particle diameter less than 50 nm in all the particles of 10 to 90%, subjecting the resulting brittle material to a heat treatment at a temperature not higher than the sintering temperature thereof so as to have the above percentage of 50% or less, and then applying a mechanical impact force not less than the crushing strength to the resultant material, to crush the material, thereby joining the ultrafine particles in the brittle material with one another, to form a formed article of the ultrafine particle brittle material; and an ultrafine particle brittle material for use in the method. |
| US07658994B2 |
Substrates and compounds bonded thereto
Articles and methods for the use of such articles are described for use in immobilizing nucleophile-containing materials. In one aspect, the invention provides an article comprising: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; and a phosphonitrilic tethering group affixed to the first surface of the substrate, the phosphonitrilic tethering group comprising a reaction product of a complementary functional group on the first surface of the substrate with a phosphonitrilic tethering compound. A method of immobilizing a nucleophile-containing material to a substrate is also described, the method comprising: providing a phosphonitrilic tethering compound; providing a substrate having a complementary functional group capable of reacting with phosphonitrilic tethering compound; preparing a substrate-attached phosphonitrilic tethering group by reacting the phosphonitrilic tethering compound with the complementary functional group on the substrate resulting in an ionic bond, covalent bond, or combinations thereof; and reacting the substrate-attached phosphonitrilic tethering group with a nucleophile-containing material to immobilize the nucleophile-containing material. |
| US07658988B2 |
Printed circuits prepared from filled epoxy compositions
Compositions and processes for the preparation of printed circuits from epoxy compositions are provided. The epoxy compositions exhibit low viscosity in the uncured state and low coefficient of thermal expansion in the cured state. The low dielectric constant compositions of the invention are well-suited for use in multi-layer printed circuit boards. |
| US07658977B2 |
Method of fabricating inkjet printhead having planar nozzle plate
A method of fabricating an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a partially-fabricated printhead having a first nozzle plate comprised of a first material spanning a plurality of nozzles, the first nozzle plate having a plurality of cavities; (b) filling the cavities with a filler, such that an upper surface of the first nozzle plate and an upper surface of the filler together define a contiguous planar surface; and (c) depositing a second material onto the planar surface to form a second nozzle plate having a planar exterior surface. |
| US07658976B2 |
Method for printing of three-dimensional objects
A method to help control the quality of printed three-dimensional objects is provided. The method may include dispensing building material in consecutive slices using a building material dispensing head which dispenses material in the printing X direction; and combining printing of two or more consecutive slices to provide high resolution printed layer in the non-printing Y direction, according to a high resolution pixel map. |
| US07658974B2 |
Process for making urethane-containing structures and the structures made thereby
There is provided a two-pack composition for making urethane-containing structures, said composition comprising (a) a first pack comprising at least one reaction product of at least one polyisocyanate and at least one polyol, wherein said first pack has %NCO of 6% or greater, and (b) a second pack comprising at least one polyol and at least one amine catalyst, wherein the reactive mixture formed by admixing said first pack and said second pack is capable of curing in the absence of water; and wherein said reactive mixture comprises less than 3% solvent by weight based on the weight of said reactive mixture. Also provided are methods of making such urethane-containing structures, and the urethane structures made thereby. |
| US07658971B2 |
Method of producing carbon nanostructure
A method of producing a carbon nanostructure is provided which can increase evenness of a shape and a purity of the carbon nanostructure and can reduce a production cost. In a method of producing a carbon nanostructure, a carbon crystal is grown by vapor phase epitaxy from a crystal growth surface of a catalyst base including a catalyst material, and the catalyst base is formed by diameter-reduction processing. The catalyst base is preferably formed as an aggregate including an arrangement of a plurality of catalyst structures each formed with a non-catalyst material, a material not having a substantial catalytic function for growth of the carbon crystal, formed on at least a portion of a side surface of the catalyst material of a columnar shape having the crystal growth surface as a top surface. In addition, a non-catalyst material is preferably formed on at least a portion of a side surface of the aggregate, and the catalyst structures preferably have variations of at most CV 10% in surface areas of the catalyst material on the crystal growth surface. |
| US07658966B2 |
Balloon catheter for delivering therapeutic agents
A drug delivery device for delivering therapeutic agents and a method of making such a device is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable balloon having a plurality of holes formed in the wall of the balloon. A microporous coating covers a portion of the outer surface of the wall of the balloon. The thickness of the coating and the size of the micropores can permit controlled delivery of a substance from the micropores of the coating and into the tissue of a patient's lumen. |
| US07658965B2 |
Use of acid stable protease in animal feed
The present invention relates to acid-stable proteases homologous to those derived from strains of the genus Nocardiopsis, their use in animal feed, feed-additives and feed compositions containing such proteases, and methods for the treatment of vegetable proteins using such proteases. |
| US07658964B2 |
Dietary supplement and method for increasing the colostrum immunoglobulin levels in equine mares
A novel dietary supplement and methods for the manufacture and administration of the same are disclosed for feeding to equine mares and other animals prior to parturition to boost the colostrum immunoglobulin level in lactating equine mares and other animals and thereby enhance the passive transfer of immunity to neonatal equine foals and other neonatal animals. The dietary supplement of the present invention is effective in substantially increasing the level of colostrum immunoglobulins produced by mares and other animals, which is essential for the health of neonatal equine foals and other animals. The dietary supplement of the present invention consists of safe and natural ingredients rather than drugs, and is orally administrable. The ingredients of the dietary supplement of the present invention when combined provide a synergistic efficacy which greatly exceeds the sum of the efficacies of the individual ingredients, making the dietary supplement of the present invention highly effective in promoting the enhanced production of colostrum immunoglobulins in the equine mares and other animals. |
| US07658963B1 |
Compositions for foods, process for producing the same and functional foods and drinks containing the same
Black currant anthocyanin-containing compositions for foods comprising 1 to 25% by weight of black currant anthocyanin on the basis of solid matters; a process for producing a black currant anthocyanin-containing composition for foods characterized by purifying and concentrating black currant juice employed as a starting material by using a charged reverse osmosis membrane; functional foods and drinks characterized by containing the above compositions for foods; and the above-described compositions for foods and the above-described functional foods and drinks having an effect of improving visual function, a function of improving blood fluidity, and/or a function of lowering blood pressure. The conventional black currant anthocyanin compositions have a low black currant anthocyanin content, strong acidity and poor stability, which makes them unsuitable as additives for foods and drinks. However, the production process according to the present invention makes it possible to provide black currant anthocyanin-containing compositions for foods which have a high black currant anthocyanin content, an adequate acidity, and a high stability and can be added to foods and drinks. Moreover, functional foods and drinks containing these compositions, which have an effect of improving visual function, a function of improving blood fluidity, or a function of lowering blood pressure, can be provided. |
| US07658951B2 |
Method of improving cardiac function of a diseased heart
A method of treating heart failure and improving cardiac function by administering stem cell products to a heart in need of treatment, whereby the stem cell products improve cardiac muscle function thereby treating heart failure and improving cardiac function. A method of enriching or regenerating damaged myocardium by administering stem cell products to damaged myocardium. Stem cell products for use in treating heart failure are also provided. A composition for enriching and regenerating damaged myocardium, the composition having stem cell products in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
| US07658950B2 |
Material for treating mammalian joint maladies by biological fluid transplantation
Disclosed is a product and method for transplanting biological fluids into a host animal (including humans) that have been collected from donor animals. These biological fluids have been purified and processed so that they are acellular, sterile, pathogen free, and a form that can be stored for considerable periods of time without degradation. In one embodiment, synovial fluid is harvested from a large number of donors to produce the transplantation compound. Donor fluid is collected from a number of joints per animal, and initially screened for obvious abnormalities (clarity, color, viscosity . . . etc.) and accepted or rejected on a joint-by-joint basis at the time of collection. The collected fluid is frozen in the field. Once in a laboratory setting, the fluid is warmed and spun down in a centrifuge. The supernate is collected, filtered, and mixed in large batches while the permeate is discarded. The supernate is re-frozen, lyophilized (freeze-dried) to form a cake and packaged as an individual dose under vacuum. The product is sterile, stable, has a long shelf life and can be readily reconstituted and injected into a joint. |
| US07658949B2 |
Surface modification of lactose excipient for use in powders for inhalation
The invention relates to a process for the surface-energy passivation of lactose which is intended for use as an excipient in the production of inhalable powders, and the use of such optimised carrier materials in the manufacture of inhalable powders. |
| US07658948B2 |
Foaming granule and method for making same
A foaming granule is provided that includes an acid, a gas-evolving acid neutralizing agent, a surfactant foaming agent, and an active agent that is a plant growth enhancer, pest control agent, de-icer or anti-icer. Upon wetting a granule, the acid and neutralizing agent are brought into contact releasing gas that is trapped in the surfactant to form a foam that disperses the active agent to a greater area and more uniformly than a conventional nonfoaming granule containing a like amount of active agent. Dispersal of granules followed by sufficient time for foaming to occur represents a typical use methodology. |
| US07658941B2 |
Warming and nonirritating lubricant compositions and method of comparing irritation
This invention relates to substantially anhydrous warming, non-toxic and nonirritating lubricating compositions containing polyhydric alcohols and an insulating agent as well as gel and jelly compositions related thereto. The invention also relates to methods of using such compositions for lubrication, administration of active ingredients and for preventing or treating dysmenorrhea. |
| US07658940B2 |
Calcium phosphate cements comprising autologous bone
Aspects of the invention include methods for producing flowable compositions, e.g. pastes, that set into calcium phosphate containing products, where the products include autologous bone. Aspects of the invention further include compositions produced by the methods, as well as kits for preparing the same. The subject methods and compositions produced thereby find use in a variety of applications, including hard tissue repair applications. |
| US07658935B2 |
Methods and compositions for stimulating the immune system
Methods for stimulating the immune system of an individual to produce and release antimalignin antibody are disclosed. The method comprises administering an amount of a composition containing malignin, recognin M, recognin L, or a peptide having the immunological specificity thereof. Also disclosed is a device for removing cancer cells from the body of a subject. |
| US07658933B2 |
Non-cytotoxic protein conjugates
The present invention is directed to non-cytotoxic protein conjugates for inhibition or reduction of exocytic fusion in a nociceptive sensory afferent cell. The protein conjugates comprise: (i) a Targeting Moiety (TM), wherein the TM is an agonist of a receptor present on a nociceptive sensory afferent cell, and wherein the receptor undergoes endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; (ii) a non-cytotoxic protease or a fragment thereof, wherein the protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; and (iii) a Translocation Domain, wherein the Translocation Domain translocates the protease or protease fragment from within the endosome, across the endosomal membrane, and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the protein conjugates, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described. |
| US07658930B2 |
Kit for detecting the antibody of HCV and its preparing method
A kit and its preparing method concerning dual-antigen sandwich method are used for detecting the antibody against HCV, and its detecting mode is ‘carrier-first antigen-antibody against HCV to be detected-second antigen-marker-distinguishable signal’. The kit ant its preparing method characterize in that the second antigen is the complex of a HCV and a tag. |
| US07658919B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting H. pylori adhesion and infection
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing bacterial infections. Also provide by the invention are genetically modified cell expressing Lewisb carbohydrate epitope. |
| US07658918B1 |
Stable digestive enzyme compositions
Compositions of the present invention, comprising at least one digestive enzyme (e.g., pancrelipase) are useful for treating or preventing disorders associated with digestive enzyme deficiencies. The compositions of the present invention can comprise a plurality of coated particles, each of which is comprised of a core coated with an enteric coating comprising at least one enteric polymer and 4-10% of at least one alkalinizing agent, or have moisture contents of about 3% or less, water activities of about 0.6 or less, or exhibit a loss of activity of no more than about 15% after six months of accelerated stability testing. |
| US07658917B2 |
Modulators of amyloid aggregation
Compounds that modulate the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides are disclosed. The modulators of the invention can promote amyloid aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural amyloid aggregation. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds modulate the aggregation of natural β amyloid peptides (β-AP). In a preferred embodiment, the β amyloid modulator compounds of the invention are comprised of an Aβ aggregation core domain and a modifying group coupled thereto such that the compound alters the aggregation or inhibits the neurotoxicity of natural β amyloid peptides when contacted with the peptides. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural β-AP aggregation when the natural β-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed. |
| US07658915B2 |
Selected cell delivery for heart failure
This invention provides methods of increasing blood flow to tissue in a subject in need thereof, methods of regenerating tissue in a subject, methods of treating diseased tissue in a subject, methods of forming new blood vessels in tissue and new tissue, such as myocardial tissue, in a subject in need thereof, methods of increasing angiogenesis in diseased tissue in a subject, and methods of preventing heart failure in a subject, which methods comprise: a) isolating autologous mononuclear cells from the subject; b) selecting from the isolated autologous mononuclear cells of step (a) lineage negative (Lin−) mononuclear cells; and c) transplanting locally into or adjacent to the tissue an effective amount of the Lin− autologous mononuclear cells, resulting in formation of new blood vessels in the tissue and formation of new tissue. Additional methods provided for such uses further select from the isolated autologous mononuclear cells of step (a) lineage negative (Lin−) mononuclear cells a subset of Lin− mononuclear side population (SP) cells and transplant locally into or adjacent to the tissue an effective amount of the Lin− SP cells. In other aspects, methods using tissue other than mononuclear cells for these uses are provided, which comprise (a) obtaining a cell suspension from the tissue or a second tissue of the subject; (b) selecting from the cell suspension step (a) side population (SP) cells; and (c) transplanting locally into or adjacent to the tissue an effective amount of the SP cells, resulting in formation of new blood vessels in the tissue and formation of new tissue. |
| US07658912B2 |
Spatial evolution of neural activity
A method for identifying a candidate drug includes administering a test compound to test subjects and having the test subjects perform a sustained task. A first evolution of neural activity in the test subjects is then determined and compared with a second evolution of neural activity. This second evolution of neural activity is obtained from control subjects performing the sustained task in the absence of the test compound. The test compound is then designated to be a candidate drug when a difference between the first and second evolutions of neural activity is above a difference threshold. |
| US07658910B2 |
Preparation of radiolabelled haloaromatics via polymer-bound intermediates
According to a first aspect of the invention, a process is disclosed for the preparation of radiolabelled haloaromatic compounds. According to a second aspect of the invention, intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds used in the preparation of the radiolabelled haloaromatics are disclosed, as well as processes for the preparation of the intermediate precursor insoluble polymer compounds. |
| US07658908B2 |
Method of removing carbon monoxide and operating a fuel cell system
A carbon monoxide removing catalyst such as a ruthenium supporting catalyst is provided for removing, through oxidation thereof, carbon monoxide from an alcohol reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be supplied to a fuel cell. For its activation, the catalyst is caused to contact an inactive gas or a hydrogen-containing inactive gas consisting of less than 50 volume % of hydrogen gas and the remaining volume of inactive gas, thereby to avoid poisoning of the electrode of the fuel cell with carbon monoxide. |
| US07658906B2 |
Sulfur recovery plant
Novel sulfur recovery plants, and processes utilizing these plants are disclosed. These apparatuses eliminate the use of a condenser between the waste heat boiler and first Claus catalytic reactors, and also eliminate the use of reheaters in between Claus catalytic reactors. |
| US07658905B2 |
Method of preparing cadmium sulfide nanocrystals emitting light at multiple wavelengths, and cadmium sulfide nanocrystals prepared by the method
A cadmium sulfide nanocrystal, wherein the cadmium sulfide nanocrystal shows maximum luminescence peaks at two or more wavelengths and most of the atoms constituting the nanocrystal are present at the surface of the nanocrystal to form defects. |
| US07658899B2 |
Production method of nanoparticle
A production method of nano-sized silicon crystal particles comprising the step of allowing monosilane to be oxidized in a bulk liquid phase to form the nano-sized silicon crystal particles within the bulk liquid phase, wherein a liquid of the bulk liquid phase is an unsaturated hydrocarbon free from an oxidizing gas; and isolating the nano-sized silicon crystal particles from the bulk liquid phase. |
| US07658897B2 |
Process and apparatus for treating flue gas from sintering plants
The invention reveals a process and an apparatus for treating flue gas from sintering plants, in which dry additive consisting at least of adsorbent and recirculated material is added by the entrained-flow process to the flue gas from a sintering plant in a flue gas duct, and the additive is then separated out of the flue gas by fabric filters and at least partially recirculated. In this context, it is provided that additive is introduced at least one location in the opposite direction to the direction of flow of the flue gas. |
| US07658896B2 |
Method for attacking bauxite enhancing filterability of sludge in attack output
Process for the treatment of bauxite (10) by alkaline digestion, typically using the Bayer process in order to obtain alumina hydrate, characterized in that ground bauxite (11, 15) is added directly into an alkaline solution (21a) that is drawn off and that will be reinserted into the Bayer aluminate liquor circuit (20), the said alkaline solution (21a) being heated at a temperature such that after the said ground bauxite (11, 15) and the said alkaline solution have been brought into contact, the temperature of the slurry resulting from this mix is greater than a temperature close to the boiling temperature at atmospheric pressure, in other words typically greater than 95° C. and preferably greater than or equal to the boiling temperature at atmospheric pressure. |
| US07658895B2 |
Process for recovering base metals from spent hydroprocessing catalyst
A method for recovering metals from a spent dispersed catalyst originating from a Group VIB metal sulfide catalyst containing at least a Group VB and Group VIII metal for hydrocarbon oil hydroprocessing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: contacting the spent dispersed catalyst with a leaching solution containing ammonia and air to dissolve the group VIB metal and the Group VIII metal into the leaching solution at sufficient temperature and pressure; forming a slurry containing at least a group VIB metal complex and at least a group VIII metal complex, ammonium sulfate and solid residue containing at least a Group VB metal complex and coke; separating and removing the solid residue containing ammonium metavanadate and coke from the pressure leach solution (PLS); precipitating from the PLS at least a portion of the Group VIB metal and at least a portion of the Group VIII metal by controlling the pH at a pre-selected pH to selectively precipitate as metal complexes the Group VIB and Group VIII metals. |
| US07658890B2 |
Perfluoride processing apparatus
A plurality of etchers such as poly-etchers 3 or the like are installed within a clean room 2. A duct 7 that is connected to all the etchers is connected to a PFC decomposition device 9, which is installed outside of the clean room 2. An exhaust gas which contains PFC as drained out of all the etchers within the clean room 2 is supplied by the duct 7 to the inner space of PFC decomposition device 9. After having heated up within the PFC decomposition device 9, the PFC is decomposed by the action of a catalyst which is filled within the PFC decomposition device 9. It is no longer required to provide a space for installation of the PFC decomposition device 9 in the clean room 2 with the semiconductor fabrication apparatus or the liquid crystal manufacturing apparatus installed therein, thus enabling size reduction or “downsizing” of the clean room. It is possible to reduce the size of a clean room in which a semiconductor fabricating apparatus or a liquid crystal manufacturing apparatus is installed. |
| US07658889B2 |
Device for redistribution of catalyst in the FCC risers
In a catalytic FCC cracking unit comprising a vertically disposed riser housing a reaction zone, the improvement comprising at least one device for redistribution of catalyst inside said reaction zone, the catalytic cracking unit being equipped at a plane with feedstock injectors, and an upper plane, with mixed temperature control (MTC) injectors, wherein said device has the general shape of a continuous ring adjacent the riser wall and along the inside periphery of said wall, said device creating a restriction in the cross section of the riser ranging between 30% and 45%, having a profile section at least partially rectilinear, and being located a) either in a zone encompassed between the plane of the feedstock injectors and the plane of the MTC injectors, b) or at a height of between 0.1 and 5 meters above the plane of the MTC injectors. |
| US07658886B2 |
Universal filtration plate
The present invention relates to a multiwell plate having a series of wells, each well having an inner bore, an open top and a bottom, the bottom being sealed with a liquid permeable filter, and an insert contained within the inner bore of each well, each insert having an outer dimension the same or larger than that of the inner bore and a through bore of a dimension less than that of the outer dimension of the insert. The use of inserts allows one to take a standard one-piece plate design with a heat sealed membrane and arrange for a universal plate format. The insert may act as a base for an extension plate that can be adhered, heat sealed or overmolded over the plate top and insert top to form a deep well plate. The plate conforms to the Society of Biological Standards Microplate Standards. Additionally, the inserts may be configured to give one a different well diameter (smaller, tapered, etc), to include various media such as chromatography resins, to include multiple layers of membrane and the like. A variety of inserts may be used in the same plate to create a minilab on a plate that is capable of conducting several steps of a process on the same (e.g (e.g. filter, wash, bind, elute, label, etc). |
| US07658883B2 |
Interstitially strengthened high carbon and high nitrogen austenitic alloys, oilfield apparatus comprising same, and methods of making and using same
Novel carbon-plus-nitrogen corrosion-resistant ferrous and austenitic alloys, apparatus incorporating an inventive alloy, and methods of making and using the apparatus are described. The corrosion-resistant ferrous and austenitic alloys comprise no greater than about 4 wt. % nickel, are characterized by a strength greater than about 700 MPa (100 ksi), and, when being essentially free of molybdenum (<0.3 wt. %), have minimum Pitting Resistance Equivalence (PRE) numbers of 20 and minimum Measure of Alloying for Corrosion Resistance numbers (MARC) of 30 because of the use of both carbon and nitrogen. The ferrous and austenitic alloys are particularly formulated for use in oilfield operations, especially sour oil and gas wells and reservoirs. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07658877B2 |
Manufacturing micro-structured elements
According to the invention, a micro-structured element is manufactured by replicating/shaping (molding or embossing or the like) a 3D-structure in a preliminary product using an replication tool (1). The replication tool comprises a spacer portion (1c) protruding from a replication surface (1a). The replica (the micro-structured element, for example the micro-optical element or micro-optical element component) may be made of epoxy, which is cured—for example UV cured—while the replication tool is still in place. The replication process may be an embossing process, where the deformable or viscous or liquid component of the preliminary product to be shaped is placed on a surface and then the replication tool is pressed against this surface. As an alternative, the replication process may be a molding process. |
| US07658876B2 |
Method to fabricate a seamless tube
The present disclosure relates to a process for making a seamless tube from a liquid. A mandrel may be provided having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a length. A liquid material may be applied to the outer surface of the mandrel by one or more doctor blades, spaced apart from the mandrel outer surface and inclined at an angle α with respect to the mandrel longitudinal axis, which may be moved along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel while rotating the mandrel around its longitudinal axis. One or a plurality of fingers may overly the mandrel and be positioned upstream of the one or more of blades, relative to the direction of movement of the blades along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The liquid material may then be converted to form a seamless tube. |
| US07658875B2 |
Biaxially-oriented metallocene-based polypropylene films having reduced thickness
A polymer film having a thickness of 10 microns or less and improved barrier characteristics to both water vapor and oxygen is formed from a biaxially-oriented polypropylene film of isotactic polypropylene. The polypropylene is prepared by the polymerization of propylene in the presence of an isospecific metallocene catalyst. The film has a permeability to water vapor of less than about 2.5 g/m2 day/25 μm and a permeability to oxygen of less than about 2200 cc/m2 day/25 μm. The film also has a haze properties of less than about 1%. The polypropylene contains 0.1 to 1% 2,1 insertions and has an isotacticity of at least 96% meso pentads. The isotactic polypropylene thus produced is then extruded into a sheet that is biaxially-oriented by stressing the sheet in the transverse and longitudinal directions to a draw ratio of at least about 6:1 in the transverse direction, and at least about 4:1 in the longitudinal direction. |
| US07658870B2 |
Polymer matrix composites with nano-scale reinforcements
Embodiments of the present invention provide polymer matrix nanocomposites reinforced with nano-scale materials such as nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes and methods of fabricating. The nanomaterials are provided within relatively low weight fractions, for example in the range of approximately 0.01 to about 0.4% by weight and distributed within the matrix by a magnetic mixing procedure to provide substantially uniform reinforcement of the nanocomposites. Advantageously, these nanocomposites provide significantly enhanced tensile strength, strain to failure, and fracture toughness over corresponding neat matrices. |
| US07658867B2 |
Membrane-electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell
A membrane-electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells, in which a sulfonic acid is an ion exchange group, and the heat resistance is superior, is provided. The membrane-electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells contains a polymer including a principal chain that forms polyphenylene structure, a branched chain having a sulfonic acid group, and a branched chain having a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group. It is preferred that a branched chain having a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group is a structure expressed by the general formula (D) below. |
| US07658865B2 |
Conducting liquid crystal polymer matrix comprising carbon nanotubes, use thereof and method of fabrication
Conducting liquid crystal polymer matrix comprising carbon nanotubes aligned in the matrix is provided, along with use thereof and method of fabrication. |
| US07658864B2 |
Liquid crystal composition, optical compensation film and liquid crystal display device
An optical compensation film capable of contributing to improvement in a viewing angle characteristic of a liquid crystal display device, especially an IPS mode liquid crystal display device is proposed. A composition comprises at least one onium salt, at least one rod-like liquid crystalline compound, and at least one additive capable of promoting a vertical alignment of molecules of the rod-like liquid crystalline compound at an air interface; and an optical compensation film comprising an optically anisotropic layer formed of the composition are disclosed. |
| US07658862B2 |
Dust suppressant composition
The present invention relates to a dust suppressant composition comprising a aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic-based latex, glycerin, silicone based surfactant and a polysiloxane-based wetting agent. Preferably, the composition comprises from about 10 to about 46% of polyvinyl alcohol, from about 20 to about 60% of an acrylic-based latex, from about 0.6 to about 7.0% of glycerin, from about 0.1 to about 1.5% of silicone-based surfactant and from about 0.001 to about 0.5% of polysiloxane-based wetting agent. The composition provides a polymer film over a dusting material thus forming a homogeneous and resistant layer. The instant composition, which is applied over the dusting material (preferably sprayed over the material) and dried at room temperature, presents a low surface tension resulting in better wetting of the particulates and agglomeration of the material. The latter two properties ensure that there is less breakage of the polymer film during continuous use or application (e.g. during transportation of the dusting materials). Said surface tension is between about 20 and about 27 dynes/cm, and preferably of about 25 dynes/cm. |
| US07658861B2 |
Corrosion-inhibiting deicer composition
A deicing composition comprises a mixture of a deicing agent and a corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor comprises an effective amount of a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid, preferably an aldaric or aldonic acid. The salts of aldaric and aldonic acids are much more potent corrosion inhibitors for deicing than agricultural by-products or refined sugars that are today commonly used as corrosion inhibitors, and therefore can be used at lower concentrations to obtain the same effect as a higher concentration of a simple sugar. The deicing composition can be used as a deicer, anti-icer, or a pre-wetting agent. The deicing agent can include a deicing salt such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and/or calcium chloride. Further, a method of making a deicing composition includes mixing a deicing agent and a corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor can be dissolved in a liquid, such as brine, which can be sprayed on a solid deicing salt. |
| US07658855B2 |
Apparatus and process for water conditioning
A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system, such as an evaporative cooling system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water and in some embodiments is routed through a sidestream inlet from the top of the reaction chamber to its lower portion. A buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, and in some embodiments is added upstream of a pH sensor. A fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In another embodiment, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer. |
| US07658852B2 |
RO membrane cleaning method
Direct-osmosis (DO) method for cleaning a semi-permeable membrane in a RO separation module, the membrane having a feed side with foulant located thereon, and an opposite permeate side. A normal RO separation process in the same module includes: feeding, under gauge pressure PGr, raw saline solution having osmotic pressure POr to the membrane feed side; collecting permeate (solvent) having osmotic pressure POp from the permeate side, under gauge pressure PGp; and removing residual brine from the membrane feed side. The method comprises feeding to the feed side of the membrane, for a predetermined injection time, super saline solution having osmotic pressure POs>POr, such that backward flow of permeate towards the feed side of the membrane is provided so as to lift the foulant from the feed side. |
| US07658843B2 |
Deep sea water harvesting method, apparatus, and product
Sea water is extracted from a depth in excess of 400 meters below the sea surface and desalinated to produce potable water. A system to extract, desalinate and store the desalinated sea water is mounted aboard a ship. |
| US07658834B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating hypochlorous acid (HOCL)
A hypochlorous acid generator includes a brine tank for holding salt and a brine solution, the brine tank having a water inlet in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water, a brine solution outlet and a salt fill port to allow salt to be added to the brine tank. The generator also includes an anode chamber in fluid communication with the brine solution outlet of the brine tank for receiving brine solution therefrom, and for generating anolyte, the anode chamber having an outlet for providing hypochlorous acid therefrom, and a cathode chamber in fluid communication with the brine solution outlet of the brine tank for receiving brine solution therefrom and for generating catholyte. The generator further includes a catholyte recirculating pump in fluid communication with the cathode chamber and the anode chamber, the recirculating pump being responsive to a control signal to recirculate catholyte generated by the cathode chamber to the anode chamber. |
| US07658828B2 |
Regeneration of adsorption media within electrical purification apparatuses
The present disclosure generally relates to methods, systems, and devices for electrically purifying liquids containing species such as minerals, salts, ions, organics, and the like. One aspect of the invention provides methods of regenerating media within an electrical purification device, for example, exposing the media to one or more eluting solutions, and/or selectively desorbing ions, organics, and/or other species from the media by exposing the media to certain eluting conditions. In yet another aspect, methods of selectively removing one or more ions, organics, and/or other species from a liquid to be purified are provided, e.g., by selective removal of one or more ions, or organics, and the like from solution that can easily precipitate, and/or cause scaling or fouling to occur. In still another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating a solution containing ions, organics, and/or other species using an electrical purification apparatus in a continuous or semi-continuous fashion, while also performing regeneration of media contained within the apparatus. |
| US07658827B2 |
Rapid assembly casting system for slab gels
Flat plates serving as molds and enclosures for slab gels are held together by a clamping frame in which the side edges of the plates slide into facing channels and are clamped by lever-operated cams that compress the channel walls against the plate surfaces. The joined plates are held on a vertical support rack containing a finger-operated spring-loaded notched clamp that presses down on the plates to seal the opening at the bottom edges of the plates against a gasket. A well-forming comb for insertion between the plates contains flexible outwardly angled fingers to seal against the spacers between the plates. |
| US07658823B2 |
Interdigitated electrochemical gas generator
The invention relates to an electrochemical gas generator including a substrate for providing a surface for electrode deposition, a first electrode deposited on the surface for providing an electrical connection with a conducting medium, a second electrode deposited on the substrate for generating a gas, and a plurality of members extending from at least one side of the first electrode placed alternately with a plurality of extensions protruding from at least one side of the second electrode for improving generator efficiency. |
| US07658815B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus capable of controlling plasma emission intensity
An antenna electrode having a substantially circular shape, is arranged on a plane of a processing vessel, which is located opposite to a stage for mounting a sample within the processing vessel, and positioned parallel to the stage. An emission monitor monitors emission intensity of plasma present in at least 3 different points along a radial direction of the antenna electrode. A control unit adjusts an energizing current supplied to an external coil for forming a magnetic field within the processing vessel. The control unit adjusts the energizing current supplied to the external coil based upon the monitoring result obtained from the emission monitor so as to control the emission intensity of the plasma to become uniform emission intensity. |
| US07658814B2 |
Irrigation pipe splice sleeve and method
An irrigation pipe splice is formed from two sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly including a sleeve mated to a pipe section. Each sleeve has an inner wall and an outer wall connected by a rim, the outer wall surrounding at least a portion of the inner wall and forming a gap therewith. In the pipe splice, the inner and outer walls sandwich a pipe wall within the gap. |
| US07658812B2 |
System for producing pressure sensitive intermediate web assembly having regularly occurring discontinuous segments produced in a continuous fashion
A continuous manufacturing system is provided for producing an intermediate web assembly having a series of regularly occurring preprinted segments that are disposed on a surface of the web. The segments are initially produced in a sheet form which is prepared by rendering high quality images in discrete areas representative of the portions to be subsequently separated to form the segments. The individual segments are cut from the sheet and then are provided to a placer mechanism that sequentially places the segments individually on the web to create an intermittently laminated web assembly. |
| US07658810B2 |
Method for sealing edges of a core of a composite sandwich structure
A composite sandwich structure is produced by providing a core structure, applying cover layers on opposite sides of the core structure, and forming an edge seal. The core structure has a folded cell structure with fold valleys forming continuous open channels with open ends and/or open channel sides at edges of the core structure. The channels extend along and are bounded between the fold valleys and the cover layers. The edge seal is formed to have a limited spatial volume in an edge region at an edge of the core structure, to close and seal open ends and/or open channel sides of the channels of the core, without an uncontrolled penetration of the seal material from the edge region to a greater depth into the open channels. |
| US07658809B2 |
Tire and method of securing an object thereto
A tire and a method of securing an object thereto includes a two-piece fastening system having a first portion which is applied to an innerliner of a green tire prior to the green tire being cured and a second portion which includes an object, such as a radio frequency identification chip, attached thereto. The first portion of the two-piece fastening system is attached to the innerliner of the tire with an adhesive or by curing. The green tire is then cured and the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with the object attached thereto is then attached to the first portion of the two-piece fastening system. In an alternative embodiment, the object may be sandwiched between the first and second portions of the fastening system. |
| US07658806B2 |
Dishwasher having avatar display portion
A dishwasher having an avatar display portion is provided. The dishwasher includes a tub for housing dishes, a pump for forcing wash water into the tub, a system microcomputer for controlling loads of the dishwasher including the pump and controlling an avatar image display operation, and a display unit including an avatar display portion for displaying a selected avatar image according to an operating state and a load state of the dishwasher under control of the system microcomputer. |
| US07658805B2 |
Concrete cleaning and preparation composition
A concrete cleaning and preparation composition is described, which includes urea hydrochloride, surfactant, water, and one or more glycol ethers. Also described is a method of preparing a concrete surface, including pre-wetting a concrete surface, using a cleaning and preparation composition, including urea hydrochloride, a surfactant, water, and one or more glycol ethers, and rinsing the concrete surface. Furthermore, a kit for cleaning, preparing, and coating concrete including a cleaning and preparation composition including urea hydrochloride, and a coating is also described. |
| US07658804B1 |
Duct brush and duct cleaning system
A duct cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning and maintaining the interior of most types of ducts, including chimneys, air conditioning and heating ducts, dryer ducts, vents, plumbing and rain gutter ducts. The apparatus is made up of a flexible rope (24) connected to a cleaning brush (10) or tool further connected to a retrieval parachute (30). The flexible rope (24) can be extended through the use of additional attached ropes (26) to create an infinitely long cleaning apparatus. The cleaning brush (10) may be configured in a variety of sizes with differing configurations of bristles (14) or appendages for specific applications. The cleaning appendages are connected to a rope (24) or line B, the length of which extends beyond the length of the duct (12) to be cleaned. One end of the rope (24) or line A is connected to the parachute (30) adapted with a wind-expanded periphery greater than that of the perimeter of the inside wall (22) of the duct (12) to be cleaned. A method is described for preparing the duct (12) for cleaning with the brush (10) by threading a rope or line A through the duct (12) using the parachute (30) and applying a vacuum from a machine (36). |
| US07658797B2 |
Lightweight concrete compositions
A lightweight ready-mix concrete composition that contains 8-20 volume percent cement, 11-50 volume percent sand, 10-31 volume percent prepuff particles, 9-40 volume percent coarse aggregate, and 10-22 volume percent water, where the sum of components used does not exceed 100 volume percent. The prepuff particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.02 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3. The slump value of the composition measured according to ASTM C 143 is from 2 to 8 inches. After the lightweight ready-mix concrete composition is set for 28 days, it has a compressive strength of at least 1400 psi as tested according to ASTM C39. |
| US07658796B2 |
Cementitious mixtures and methods of use thereof
A cementitious mixture that is comprised of class C fly ash and other industrial waste product such as either bottom ash or economizer ash. The mixture is preferably 15-35% weight class C fly ash based on the total weight of the mixture. The mixture excludes Portland cement, or other similar cement products. The dry mixture is placed in a desired location or form. Water is then added to the mixture when desired in order to harden the mixture in place. The cementitious mixture is particularly useful for securing fence posts, or the like, in the earth as the workability of the mixture is maintained by adding the water to the mixture only after the position has been properly plumbed and placed in the hole. The cementitious mixture thus provides an inexpensive alternative to standard blended cement products, and provides a convenient and effective way of securing fence posts to the earth. |
| US07658790B1 |
Concentrated electroless solution for selective deposition of cobalt-based capping/barrier layers
An electroless solution for deposition of a cobalt-based alloy on a substrate is provided. The electroless solution may be formed by mixing first and second solutions, with the first and second solutions being prepared from concentrated precursors. In one embodiment, the first solution contains a cobalt (Co) ion source and a complexing and deposition selectivity agent. In one embodiment, the cobalt concentration in the first solution is at least 90 millimoles per liter. The second solution contains a reducing agent. In one embodiment, the reducing agent is dimethylamineborane (DMAB) having a concentration of at least 10 grams per liter. In other embodiments, the first solution also contains a tungsten (W) ion source, and either the first or second solution also contains a phosphorous (P) ion source. |
| US07658787B2 |
Exhaust filter module with mechanically positionable scan probe
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a filter module having a mechanically positionable test probe disposed therein and a method for testing a filter. In one embodiment, a filter module includes a housing adapted to receive a filter element. A sample probe suitable for leak testing the filter element is disposed in the interior volume of the housing. The sample probe may be moved to scan the filter by an actuator. In another embodiment, a method for testing a filter includes challenging a room side of a filter element disposed in a housing with a test aerosol, moving a probe disposed within the housing to obtain samples for testing and determining if the samples exceed a predefined leak criteria. |
| US07658786B2 |
Method for improving the air quality in the limited space and the equipment using thereof
The present invention provides a method for improving the air quality in the limited space and the equipment using thereof. The said method is that the air suctioned from the limited space is transferred to the outside of the limited space and acts as an air source for making oxygen. The oxygen is extracted from the said air source and the waste gas generated thereby is directly discharged to the outside of the limited space. The oxygen extracted is transferred into the limited space and offered the said space by means of the oxygen-supply controller. In addition, the atmosphere is supplemented into the limited space when the air inside is suctioned out. The equipment for the said method includes an indoor machine positioned in the limited space, an outdoor machine and an atmosphere supplement equipment. The present invention can supplement the atmosphere into the limited space while suctioning the air from the space, and can circulate, cool (heat), dehumidify and disinfect the air in the limited space at the same time. Consequently the quality of the said air in the limited space is improved effectively and the oxygen concentration in the limited space is ensured at a prescribed range. |
| US07658780B2 |
Method of treatment of wood ash residue
A method of treatment of wood ash residue. A first step involves wetting the wood ash residue. A second step involves reacting the wetted wood ash residue with carbon dioxide gas. Mineral oxides and hydroxides are converted to carbonates, thereby reducing the caustic nature of the wood ash residue. A third step involves continuing to react the wetted wood ash residue until the resulting ash residue is substantially carbonated. |
| US07658778B2 |
Ceramic filters formed from photocurable pre-ceramic polymers
A method for making high temperature filter media includes the steps of melt-spinning a plurality of fibers of pre-ceramic thermoplastic polymer to form a non-woven textile web of the fibers, curing and cross-linking the thermoplastic polymer to a thermo-set polymer and thermally decomposing the thermo-set polymer to ceramic. |
| US07658775B2 |
Method for making negative electrode component including a carbonaceous material for use in a nonaqueous secondary battery
A method for making a negative electrode component used in a nonaqueous secondary battery that includes the steps of polishing the surface of the negative electrode component by irradiating the surface with light to produce a negative electrode that includes a carbonaceous material in which the ratio RG=Gs/Gb is at least 4.5, where Gs is the degree of graphitization the carbonaceous material as determined by a surface-enhanced Raman spectrum and Gb is degree of graphitization of the carbonaceous material as determined by a Raman spectrum measured using argon laser light and both Gs and Gb are measured under set parameters. |
| US07658771B2 |
Coloring agents for keratin fibers
The present invention relates to agents for coloring keratin fibers which comprise at least one cationic azodye of the general formula (I). |
| US07658767B2 |
Hinged orthopaedic prosthesis
A hinged orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, and a bearing component positioned between the femoral and tibial components. A hinge assembly is coupled to the femoral component to constrain the movement of the femoral component relative to the tibial component. |
| US07658763B2 |
Heart valve holder and method for resisting suture looping
An improved holder and method for implanting a tissue-type prosthetic mitral heart valve that prevents suture looping and ma y also constrict the commissure posts of the valve. An upstanding or shaft member axially positioned on the holder causes the lengths of attachment sutures to extend axially beyond the commissure post tips to create a tent and prevent looping of any of an array of pre-implanted sutures around the tips during deployment of the valve. The shaft member may be axially movable such that it can be initially retracted and then actuated just prior to valve deployment. The shaft member may have notches on its distal tip for capturing the attachment sutures, which are crossed over along the valve axis to ensure engagement by the notches. The attachment sutures may be strands or filaments, or may be wider bands of flexible biocompatible material. If bands are used, they desirably cover the commissure post tips to further help prevent suture looping thereover. The flexible lengths of material extend directly between commissures of the valve, or may extending radially inward from each commissure to a central upstanding member. |
| US07658761B2 |
Balloon expandable superelastic stent
A balloon expandable superelastic stent is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb (the content of Nb being at least 3 at %) shape memory alloy. A shape recovery temperature of the stent is lower than a living body temperature in an unloaded state after shape memory treatment. The shape recovery temperature exceeds the living body temperature after the stent is mounted to a catheter and released from the catheter in a living body. |
| US07658760B2 |
Thermoelastic and superelastic Ni-Ti-W alloy
A radiopaque nitinol stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element including tungsten. The added tungsten in specified amounts improve the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. Furthermore, the nitinol stent has improved radiopacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility. |
| US07658754B2 |
Method for the correction of spinal deformities using a rod-plate anterior system
An anterior instrumentation method of treating spinal deformities involves a combination of a spinal rod anterior system and one or two spinal plates fixed on the cephalad and caudal end vertebrae of the instrumented segment. Deformities are treated by the anterior rod system through compression, distraction and derotation. Two spinal plates are fixed to the cephalad and caudal end vertebrae respectively to prevent the end vertebrae from rotating into kyphosis. A number of cancellous screws are inserted into the cephalad and caudal end vertebrae and their adjacent vertebrae through the spinal plate to provide several points of fixation on the end vertebrae to prevent implant failure and loss of correction. |
| US07658747B2 |
Medical device for manipulation of a medical implant
This invention relates to medical devices for manipulating medical implants such as, for example, stents, distal protection filters, and septal occluders in a patient's body, and the methods of use thereof. Generally, a medical device of the invention includes a sleeve and an expandable component joined to the sleeve which transitions between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration for capturing a medical implant in a patient's body. |
| US07658744B2 |
Multiple balloon catheter
A balloon catheter may be provided with multiple balloons. At least one of the balloons may include at least one blade. The multiple balloons may be inflated by a common inflation lumen, or by separate inflation lumens. In some embodiments, a predilation balloon may be provided to predilate a lesion prior to placement of a bladed balloon within the lesion. |
| US07658741B2 |
Multi-positionable cut guide
A multi-positionable cut guide including a bone attachment device, base, and guide member. Bone attachment device is adapted to be coupled to the bone and has a base receiving portion. Base includes a mounting portion slideably coupled to base receiving portion such that base is slideable relative to attachment device along at least one dimension. Guide housing is pivotally mounted to base and guide member is rotatably mounted to guide housing. Guide member defines an axis about which it is rotatable. Guide member defines an elongated guide slot extending along the axis and adapted to receive and guide a saw for resecting the end of the bone. Guide slot defines a cut guide plane, the position of which is adjustable relative to the bone via sliding of base along at least one dimension, pivoting of the guide housing relative to base, and rotation of guide member about the axis. |
| US07658732B2 |
Dual-layered disposable garment
The present invention relates to improvements in structure of disposable garments. The disposable garments of the invention may include an outer layer and an elastic inner layer. The elastic inner layer has an elastic inner layer perimeter and defines an opening, which may be in the form of a slit or aperture, located in an internal position to the elastic inner layer perimeter. The elastic inner layer perimeter may be bonded to the outer layer. |
| US07658724B2 |
Apparatus and method for rapid auto-injection of medication
An auto-injector for rapid delivery of a bolus of injectable medication has a generally flat, sealed housing with small peripheral dimensions, approximating those of a credit card. A syringe, configured to be contained within the flat housing is pre-filled with the medication. The housing contains a mechanism that, when triggered, automatically drives the syringe and needle forwardly to an injection position and then continues to compress the volume of the syringe to effect rapid injection. The forward injection end of the device includes an actuator that also conceals and protects the needle at all times and, prevents post-injection hazards. The flat faces of the device have graphic symbols and other visual indicia relating to the operation and condition of the device. The device enables a simple three-step operation that reduces the risk of improper use. |
| US07658721B2 |
Sublingual drug delivery device
A drug delivery device that aerosolizes a dry powder formulation so that it forms a fine coating in the oral cavity and, more specifically in the sublingual region of the oral cavity is described herein. In the preferred embodiment, the device contains five main parts: (i) a compressed gas canister, (ii) a dispenser body (also referred to herein as the main housing ), (iii) a means for storing one or more doses of a drug formulation, (iv) a means for releasing a dose of the drug formulation such as a gas canister or spring piston and (v) a mouthpiece. Preferred configurations include circular, tubular, and rectangular. The means for storing the drug formulation may be configured to separately store one or more materials. In one embodiment, the means for storing the active agent is in the form of one or more drug discs, where the drug discs contain a plurality of blister packs, each storing one dose of the drug formulation. In another embodiment, the means for storing the active agent is a dosage cartridge containing a single dose of the drug formulation. In yet another embodiment, the drug formulation is stored on a ribbon containing a plurality of blister packs, each storing one dose of the drug formulation. |
| US07658718B2 |
Biopsy needle with integrated guide pin
A biopsy needle assembly for use in a biopsy gun includes coaxially slidably engaged outer needle and inner needles. The inner needle defines a cavity adjacent its distal end for receiving a tissue sample. A first hub is attached to the proximal end of the inner needle, and a second hub is attached to the proximal end of the outer needle. An elongated pin having a first end and a second end is fixedly attached to the first hub at the first end of the pin. The second end is in sliding contact with the second hub so that the second hub and the pin are slidable relative to each other. A stop engagement is provided between the second end of the pin and the second hub and is configured to prevent disengagement of the outer and inner needles and to maintain a specific physical relationship between the hubs. |
| US07658713B2 |
Synthetic elevation aperture for ultrasound systems and methods
Multiple scanning modes are provided. In a survey mode, imaging is provided without synthetic elevation aperture processing. For greater detailed imaging, imaging is responsive to synthetic elevation aperture processes with different elevation focusing and scanning. |
| US07658712B2 |
Vaginal speculum
A speculum (1) for internal examination of a body cavity such as a vagina (25), comprising at least two spoons (3,4), each comprising a spoon blade that can be inserted in the body cavity (25), which spoons (3,4) attached to one another via a hinge pin (7) and are hingeable between a closed position in which the spoon blades (3,4) are essentially in contact with one another and a spread position in which the spoon blades (3,4) are some distance apart, and at least one operating handle (5) which is located outside the body cavity (25) during use, a body rest being provided which, in conjunction with the operating handle (5), effects spreading of the spoon blades. |
| US07658709B2 |
Shape memory alloy actuators
A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes a groove formed in a surface of a shape memory alloy (SMA) substrate establishing a trace pattern for a layer of conductive material formed over an electrically insulative layer. The trace pattern includes a first end, a second end, and a heating element disposed between the first and second ends. The SMA substrate is trained to deform at a transition temperature achieved when electricity is conducted through the conductive material via first and second interconnect pads terminating the first and second ends of the trace pattern. |
| US07658706B2 |
Vascular graft sterilization and decellularization
The present technology is related to the field of sterilization and decellularization of allografts or xenografts, specifically to processes that achieve effective removal of the cells contained within a vascular tissue matrix and an effective reduction in potential harmful organisms to create grafts suitable for human implantation. In some embodiments, vascular grafts, vascular tissue and/or blood vessels are contacted with cleaning solution under conditions suitable conditions to reduce immune reaction in patients. More specifically, the present technology is directed to sterilization and decellularization of vascular grafts. |
| US07658700B2 |
Training device for exercising muscle groups of the entire body
A training and/or exercise device and method for exercising muscle groups of the entire body is disclosed herein that is portable, easy to use, can work the muscles of the entire body, and does not have complicated integrating parts when in use. The device and method allows a free range of motion about a vertical axis without substantial resistance. The device allows a wide variety of movement using a single device, and particularly allows for balancing movements that are advantageous for strengthening the core. Further, the training device is particularly advantageous for use in a home gym and may be stored under a bed or within the overhead compartment of an airplane. |
| US07658699B1 |
Punching bag assembly
A punching bag assembly includes a support stand having a pair of spaced-apart leg assemblies and a support frame carried by the leg assemblies, a body punching bag assembly carried by the support frame and having a body punching bag and a speed bag assembly having a speed bag carried by the support frame generally adjacent to the body punching bag assembly. The body punching bag assembly and the speed bag assembly are selectively positional with respect to each other along the support frame. |
| US07658698B2 |
Variable stride exercise device with ramp
A non-impact exercise device comprising a framework, at least one ramp assembly, a pair of foot support assemblies, a foot location control assembly, and means for adjusting the maximum stride length of the foot support assemblies. The foot support assemblies may advantageously be coupled to the foot location control assembly by a flexible cable linkage. The foot support assemblies each include a foot platform for the user to stand on. The foot support assemblies are coupled to the one or more ramp assemblies of the exercise device. The user exercises by putting force into the device through the foot platforms and/or handles. This causes the foot platforms to roll along the ramps while the user is standing upon the foot platforms. The user may readily vary the length and frequency of the reciprocating stride. |
| US07658696B2 |
Multipurpose therapeutic device
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a multipurpose therapeutic device for managing musculoskeletal pain and administering traction. In one embodiment of the present invention, a multipurpose therapeutic device includes a front side, a rear side, a first end, and a second end. An outer gripping surface is positioned in proximity to each of the two ends and a number of invaginating contact surfaces extend from the perimeter of the front side and/or the rear side. In one embodiment of the present invention, a user may place his or her neck against one of the contact surfaces. The user may then grip the outer gripping surfaces with his or her hands and move the multipurpose therapeutic device superiorly and inferiorly along his or her neck while applying pressure against his or her neck to massage sore neck muscles or to stretch his or her spine. |
| US07658693B2 |
Method for the operation of a drivetrain
A method for the operation of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, having an automatic transmission and a drive motor, to improve the shift speed. Successive upshifts or successive downshifts are carried out with overlap during a first upshift or downshift. At least one shift element required for a subsequent second upshift or downshift is prepared during the first upshift or downshift, in progress, when a synchronization point is reached. The subsequent second upshift or downshift are carried out immediately. Two successive upshifts or two successive downshifts are carried out by actuation of four shift elements of the automatic transmission. |
| US07658692B2 |
Double differential assembly for a motor vehicle driven by a plurality of axles
A double differential assembly having a first differential drive (3) with a differential carrier (5) drivable around an axis of rotation (A), a plurality of first differential gears (6) rotatably supported therein, as well as two output gears (7, 8) which are coaxially arranged relative to the axis of rotation (A) and engage the first differential gears (6). It also includes a second differential drive (4) with a cage element (22) which is firmly connected to one of the output gears (8) of the first differential drive (3) and is drivable thereby around the axis of rotation (A), a plurality of second differential gears (25) which are rotatably held in the cage element (22), and two sideshaft gears (26, 27) which are arranged coaxially relative to the axis of rotation (A) and engage the second differential gears (25). At least one of the two differential drives (3, 4) is a crown gear differential. |
| US07658688B2 |
Extreme baseball game
A unique playing field and method of playing extreme baseball, a game of traditional baseball modified by rules to allow two teams to play at the same time on the same field, is disclosed. |
| US07658686B2 |
Golf club head with concave insert
A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. |
| US07658682B2 |
Golf club handle grip with ball marker
A grip for a golf club and a golf club is provided. The grip has an elongate gripping handle defining a cavity sized to surround an end of a shaft of a golf club. An end surface of the grip is provided with a magnet recessed into the end surface. A ball marker having a magnetic material is magnetically held in place on the end surface by the magnet. A ridge partially defines an outline of the ball marker so that the ridge at least partially surrounds the ball marker when the ball marker is positioned on the end surface, holding the ball marker in place on the end surface of the grip of a golf club when the ball marker is not needed. |
| US07658681B1 |
Golf swing aid apparatus
A golf swing aid apparatus includes a first plate and a second plate. Each of the first and second plates has a top side, a first end edge, a second end edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. The top sides of each of the first and second plates are concavely arcuate. A hinging assembly hingedly couples the first end edge of the first plate to the second end edge of the second plate to substantially align the top sides of the first and second plates when the first and second plates are in an unbent orientation with respect to each other. The hinging assembly allows the first and second plates to bend with respect to each other after a predetermined amount of force is exerted on the hinging assembly. A strap assembly releasably secures the first and second plates to a golfer's arm. |
| US07658676B2 |
Game apparatus and storage medium having game program stored thereon
A game apparatus obtains acceleration data representing an acceleration vector in at least two predetermined axial directions of the input device repeatedly, then calculates a change amount of each of the acceleration vectors represented by acceleration data obtained during a predetermined swing period, and then calculates an accumulated value obtained by accumulating the calculated change amounts. A swing strength of the input device is calculated based on the accumulated value. The game processing is executed using the calculated swing strength. |
| US07658670B1 |
Combined window screen and ventilation system for vehicles
A combined window-screen and ventilation system includes first and second non-corrosive conduits that are conjoined to the vehicle's existing air circulating system. The conduits are in fluid communication with the air circulating system such that air can flow therethrough. The conduits terminate rearward of a vehicle's front window and are provided with spaced apertures so that air is discharged towards side door window openings and a sunroof opening. Window screens are interfitted within the door window and the sunroof openings. A mechanism is included for circulating stagnant air within the vehicle. The air circulating mechanism is seated within the vehicle interior, is conjoined to the sunroof, is independently and contemporaneously operable with the vehicle air-circulating system, and is remotely operable up to 50 feet away, for example. |
| US07658669B2 |
Aircraft cabin pressure controls with an open-loop motor control system: non-linear control law logic to compensate for excessive motor loads or motor degradation
A cabin pressure control system (CPCS) software control logic modification may boost the voltage applied to a motor when conditions are sensed indicating a combination of larger than normal cabin pressure and cabin rate error conditions. The motor may be part of an open-loop system for operating a butterfly valve that may regulate outflow from the aircraft cabin. The larger than normal cabin pressure and cabin rate error conditions may be an indication that the outflow valve is not responding in a normal manner, potentially caused by excessive loading to the motor or motor degradation. By boosting the motor voltage during excessive load conditions or with a degraded motor, CPCS performance and robustness may be improved. |
| US07658664B2 |
Exercise or toy foam sword and method of making same
A foam sword having a sword blade made from a flexible, soft foam material is provided. The blade includes a reinforcing rod that extends partially therethrough to provide some rigidity and to which the sword handle and hilt guard are connected. |
| US07658663B2 |
Low cost electronic toys and toy components manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials
Toys and toy components are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are metals or conductive non-metals or metal plated non-metals. The micron conductive fibers may be metal fiber or metal plated fiber. Further, the metal plated fiber may be formed by plating metal onto a metal fiber or by plating metal onto a non-metal fiber. Any platable fiber may be used as the core for a non-metal fiber. Superconductor metals may also be used as micron conductive fibers and/or as metal plating onto fibers in the present invention. |
| US07658659B1 |
Hybrid water sport footwear
An apparatus includes an upper portion, a sole and a fin. The upper portion is configured to at least partially cover a foot. The sole is coupled to the upper portion and defines a cavity. The fin has a first portion and a second portion. The fin is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the fin is substantially within the cavity defined by the sole, and the first portion of the fin at least partially overlaps the second portion of the fin. When in the second configuration, the fin extends substantially outside the cavity defined by the sole. |
| US07658658B2 |
Electrical connector with depressible contact stably retained
An electrical connector (1) comprises a dielectric housing (2) and a plurality of conductive contacts (3). The dielectric housing (2) comprises a plurality of contact passages (20) having retaining means (206) therein. Each conductive contact (3) comprises a retaining portion (30) engaging corresponding the contact passage (20) and a resiliently depressible contacting portion (34). When inserting, the conductive contact (3) is respectively inserted in the contact passages (20) along an inserting direction while the retaining portion (30) along a first path, the contacting portion (34) along a second path, but the retaining means (206) is not on the first path and second path and engages the inserted conductive contact (2). |
| US07658655B2 |
Electrical splice connector
An electrical connector union coupler assembly including a coupling subassembly and a collet retainer. The coupling subassembly includes a coupling sleeve rotatably connected to a coupling body. The coupling body includes a first end with a threaded section and a first surface adapted to press against a first set of electrical connector wedges. The coupling sleeve is constrained on the coupling body for substantially only rotational movement relative to the coupling body. The collet retainer has a first end movably connected to the coupling sleeve by a threaded connection. The collet retainer includes a second end with a threaded section and a second surface adapted to press against a second set of electrical connector wedges. |
| US07658648B2 |
Method for accommodating plugs with different contact layout geometries
A method is provided for automatically accommodating plugs having different contract layouts. Steps of the method include providing a jack assembly supporting a plurality of contacts accessible to a plug-receiving space, the plurality of contacts including eight contacts in side-by-side relation and two additional contact pairs positioned in opposed corners of the plug-receiving space, four central contacts of the eight side-by-side contacts defining bi-sectional members, and at least one capacitive element being provided in electrical communication with front end portions of at least two of the bi-sectional members. Noise generated through insertion of a plug into the plug-receiving space is automatically compensated for, whether the plug is an RJ-45 plug configured to interact with the eight contacts in side-by-side relation, or an IEC 60603-7-7 compliant plug configured to interact with at least the two additional contact pairs positioned in opposed corners. |
| US07658647B2 |
Cable arrangement with shielded cables
Connector apparatus electrically connects together a plurality of shielded cables, including a housing containing a chamber including a first opening for receiving one end of a first shielded cable, and at least two second openings receiving the one ends of at least two second shielded cables, respectively. A conductive shield associated with the housing connects together the shielding layers of all of the cables, and a printed circuit board arranged in the housing connects at least one conductor of at least two of the second cables with a corresponding conductor of the first cable. |
| US07658646B2 |
High-speed electrical connector with raised supporting wall
An electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing (10) having a forward mating port (100) in a suspension manner, a plurality of recesses (112), arranged in a matrix manner, formed in the housing (10) under the mating port (100) so as to form a plurality of corresponding partitions (111) among the recesses (112) for support of the mating port (10). The matrix array of recesses (112) is arranged to strengthen the rigid of the housing (10) under the mating port (100) so as to prevent the deformation of the mating port (100), which is influenced from the insert force under a condition when the electrical connector mates with a complementary connector. |
| US07658644B2 |
Structure of power terminal for ABS connector
The present invention features a power terminal for ABS connector. Preferably, the power terminal for ABS connector is inserted into and secured to an insertion pipe of a male connector for an ABS and has a conductive terminal body. The conductive terminal body has, at one end thereof, a mounting element for mounting a first waterproofing member and a first barrel for securing a power wire, guide projections, projectedly formed at a middle portion thereof, for guiding insertion of the conductive terminal body, and, at the other end thereof, a hook for maintaining an inserted state of the conductive terminal body using an elastic property thereof. The portion of the conductive terminal body that is positioned between the guide projections and the hook is lengthened, a second waterproofing member is mounted to the portion, and a second barrel for securing one end of the second waterproofing member is formed on the conductive terminal body. |
| US07658643B2 |
Connector fastening arrangement for printed circuit boards
A connector fastening arrangement locks a connector housing to a printed circuit board, thereby to effect engagement between a resilient contact on the housing and a corresponding electrical element on the adjacent top surface of the printed circuit board. A rotary locking member carried by the connector housing extends within a locking bore contained in the adjacent surface of the printed circuit board, the locking member being rotatable between locked and unlocked positions relative to the connector housing. In a preferred embodiment, the locking bore is a through bore, and the locking member extends completely through the locking bore. When the locking member is rotated toward the locked position, an eccentric locking device carried by the extremity of the locking member extends in locking engagement beneath the bottom surface of the printed circuit board. In a second embodiment, the locking device comprises a bayonet fitting arrangement. |
| US07658640B2 |
Cable connector, method of connecting a cable connector and a cable
A cable connector 1 includes a cover insulator adapted to clamp a cable. The cable has an end portion bent by a bending angle α. The cover insulator is coupled to a base insulator. The base insulator holds a terminal having an end portion bent by a bending angle β. Herein, the angles α and β satisfy the relationship given by β<π−α (rad) so that the end portion of the cable is pressed by the end portion of the terminal. |
| US07658638B2 |
Connector
A connector capable of preventing an engaging portion of an ejection mechanism from being damaged even when a card-type electronic component is inserted obliquely with respect to a card inserting/ejecting direction. A cover is mounted on a housing having a card accommodating portion for accommodating a memory card in a manner covering the card accommodating portion. The ejection mechanism ejects the memory card from the card accommodating portion. The ejection mechanism has a locking portion that is engaged with the memory card such that part of the memory card remains within the card accommodating portion during ejection of the memory card. The cover is provided with a guide for guiding a front end of the memory card in the card inserting/ejecting direction when the memory card is inserted into the card accommodating portion obliquely with respect to the card inserting/ejecting direction C. |
| US07658637B2 |
Connector having coupling guides for establishing connection with memory connector at right position
A connector installed in a casing containing an electronic device such as a car navigation device is coupled to another connector installed in a memory device such as a hard disc. The connector includes a support member composed of a back plate and side plates connected to the back plate. The connector is disposed on the back plate, and coupling guides to be coupled to guiding grooves formed on the memory device are formed integrally with the side plates. The coupling guides are slid into the guiding grooves to correctly position the connector relative to the memory-side connector when the memory device is coupled to the casing containing the connector. Thus, the connector is surely coupled to the memory-side connector at a right position to establish electrical connection between two connectors. |
| US07658636B2 |
Board mounted electrical connector
A board-to-board electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first printed circuit board for receiving a plug portion of a second connector mounted on a second printed circuit board. The connectors are mateable in a mating direction. A plurality of first conductive terminals are mounted on the housing of the first connector along the receptacle for engaging a plurality of second conductive terminals mounted along the plug portion of the second connector. A first retention member is mounted on one of the connectors and is engageable with a second retention member on the other connector in the mating direction. The first retention member includes a flexible engaging portion which extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the mating direction. The second retention member includes a rigid engaging portion for engaging and flexing the flexible engaging portion to hold the connectors in mated condition. |
| US07658634B2 |
Zero insertion force connector with an improved driver member
An electrical connector (1) for connecting an IC package to a printed circuit board (PCB) comprises an insulating base (10) arranged a plurality of terminals therein, a cover (11) moveable assembly on the base and a driver mechanism disposed on the insulating base and driving the cover to slide relatively to the insulating base. The driver at least comprises a hollow driver member (12) and the driver member (12) is rotated by an exterior force. |
| US07658633B1 |
Socket having clip with attaching portion
A socket adapted for electrically connecting an IC package and a PCB, comprising: a body mounted on the PCB for electrically connecting the IC package, two bolts mounted on the PCB and beside the body and a clip for retaining the IC package in the body. The bolt has a header portion on the top with biggest size, a middle portion and a screw portion engaging with the PCB. The clip has two attaching portions, each defining a hatch at a free end thereof, the clip links with the bolt by inserting the attaching portion toward the bolt to make the middle portion be received in the hatch and the header portion be upon the hatch to prevent the attaching portion from upward movement. |
| US07658631B2 |
Four wire elastomeric seal and fuel injector using same
A fuel injector includes first and second electrical actuators positioned within an injector body. First and second pairs of electrical conductors extend from a socket connector outside of the injector body to the first and second electrical actuators, respectively. The electrical conductors extend through an elastomeric sealing member that seals against fuel leakage from the fuel injector. The elastomeric sealing member provides annular sealing ridges in sealing contact with an access passage of the injector body and includes individual conductor seal passages that form seals around the outer surface of the individual electrical conductors. The elastomeric sealing member includes features that facilitate assembly of the fuel injector in a manner that reduces risk of damage to the sealing strategy. |
| US07658622B2 |
Circuit board having configurable ground link and with coplanar circuit and ground traces
A transition circuit board for transitioning a cable to a connector is provided. A circuit board has an outer surface with a circuit trace, ground plane and ground link provided thereon. A cable pad and a contact pad are provided at opposite ends of the circuit trace. The ground link is electrically common with the ground plane and is located adjacent to, and separated by a space from, the circuit trace. An insulating coating is provided over at least part of the circuit trace, the ground plane and the outer surface of the circuit board. The insulating coating has a mask aperture there-through exposing an uncoated portion of the circuit trace and the ground link. A conductive jumper material is provided on the uncoated portion of the circuit trace and the ground link to electrically join the circuit trace with the ground plane. |
| US07658616B2 |
Groups of land grid interposers of different heights having metal-on elastomer hemi-torus shapes providing for electrical contact with at least one component on an opposite side of an electrically insulating carrier plate mounting interposers
A land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and interposer groupings of different height being mounted on a first surface of said carrier plane. Each interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. A plurality of electrically-conductive elements are arranged about the surface of each hemi-toroidal interposer and extend radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane. |
| US07658612B2 |
Body conformable electrical network
An entirely wearable electrical connector for power/data connectivity. The principal element of a modular network is the wearable electrical connector, which is integrated into a personal area network with USB compatibility. |
| US07658608B2 |
Method of forming a candle with imbedded images
An application for a method of making a candle includes providing a candle core and adding a base layer of wax to the candle core. Next, an image area is cut out of the base layer large enough to contain an image and the base layer is peeled away from the candle core in the image area. An adhesion layer of wax is added to the candle core. An image is installed in the image area. A clear layer of wax is added to the candle core, also covering the image. An outer layer of wax is added to the candle core, also covering the image area then the image area is cut out of the outer layer and the outer layer is peeled away from the candle core in the image area. |
| US07658607B2 |
Cross-over nozzle system for stack molds
A crossover nozzle system for transferring molten plastic from an inlet at the center of the stationary platen of an injection machine to the main manifold of the molding chambers of the stack molds of the injection molding machine. The crossover nozzle system relies on molten plastic pressure within the system to actuate the primary sprue shut-off valve, and thus to open and close the flow of molten plastic to the molds. Therefore, a drool-free valve mechanism is created without needing an external actuation of the shut-off valve like, for instance, a hydraulic or a pneumatic cylinder. |
| US07658605B2 |
Edge gated injection molding apparatus
An injection molding apparatus includes an injection manifold having a melt channel. A hot runner injection nozzle includes an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with the manifold melt channel. The nozzle further includes at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle to the central axis. At least two nozzle tips are provided, and each includes a nozzle tip melt channel in communication with one of the angled melt channels. An axial valve pin is disposed coaxially with the central axis and is disposed outside of the axial melt channel. Lateral valve pins movable within the nozzle tip melt channels are disposed at an angle to the valve pin. A linkage system connects the lateral valve pins to the axial valve pin. Movement of the axial valve pin is transmitted through the linkage system to the lateral valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates. |
| US07658604B1 |
Specific-light-cured and pressure-differential embossing apparatus
A specific-light-cured and pressure-differential embossing apparatus for embossing a specific-light-cured layer on a substrate includes a housing assembly, a mold, an elastic driving module, a pressure-difference generating module, and a specific light providing module. The substrate and the mold are disposed in a chamber of the housing assembly. The mold faces the specific-light-cured layer on the substrate. The elastic driving module is disposed in the chamber to divide the chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. The pressure-difference generating module, connected to the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber, generates a pressure difference between the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber, and drives the elastic driving module to move and thus to drive the mold to move and press the specific-light-cured layer. The specific light providing module provides specific light to the specific-light-cured layer to cure the specific-light-cured layer. |
| US07658602B2 |
Apparatus for forming a center-filled confectionery and method
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for the continuous production of center-filled confectionery products. The apparatus may include an extruder for forming a continuous extrudate having a plurality of center-filled confectionery ropes. The apparatus may also include a forming device for forming individual confectionery pieces, and sealed center-filled confectionery pieces in particular. The forming device provides improved coordination and control of extrudate formation and extrudate feed into the forming device. The apparatus and method of the present disclosure increases product output and reduces the amount of unacceptable product. |
| US07658601B2 |
Pattern forming apparatus
A pattern forming apparatus maintaining alignment between a mold and a substrate. The pattern forming apparatus includes a press pressing the mold against the substrate in a pressing direction, and a mechanism to maintain orientation of the mold and the substrate perpendicular to the pressing direction. |
| US07658600B2 |
Scroll compressor with thrustplate peeling prevention
There is provided a scroll compressor in which reliability and durability is increased by preventing peeling of a coating layer applied to a thrust plate, to maintain a desired level of lubrication for a long period of time. The scroll compressor has a thrust plate, a coating which is applied to a surface of the thrust plate, a housing having a thrust bearing face to which the thrust plate is attached, an orbiting scroll member having a slide face which is supported by the thrust plate and which orbits while sliding, and a peeling prevention part which reduces a sliding pressure acting on an edge portion of the thrust plate from the slide face. |
| US07658592B1 |
Slots in fan housing to reduce tonal noise
A fan housing is provided with slots formed in the enclosure of the fan housing. The slots are sized appropriately to filter the noise generated during operation of the cooling fan; e.g., tonal noise produced by the rotation of the blades. The slots may either be vented to the outside of the enclosure or closed off. |
| US07658590B1 |
Turbine airfoil with micro-tubes embedded with a TBC
A turbine airfoil with a thermal barrier coating applied to the surface for protection from a hot gas flow, where the TBC includes a plurality of micro-tubes extending from a cooling hole in the airfoil substrate and passing through the TBC to provide both reinforcement to and cooling of the TBC. The micro-tubes extend out from a separate hole and open onto the surface of the TBC, or a plurality of micro-tubes extends from a common hole and spread out from the hole. The micro-tubes are formed from nickel or another high temperature resistant material and have a diameter of about 0.009 inches. |
| US07658584B2 |
Bookbinding apparatus
There are provided bookbinding apparatuses that wrap a bundle of sheets with a cover and form back corners, and have a detecting unit for detecting a wave amount of a bundle of sheets. A type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Still another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period and pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. |
| US07658582B2 |
Precise linear fastener system and method for use
The present invention provides a linear fastening system capable of rapid engagement and disengagement. More specifically, the system utilizes a cooperating collet member and a compression ring member which are constructed and arranged to slip easily over a shank member. The fastener system is secured by linearly traversing a compression member in an overlapping fashion over the collet member thereby utilizing ribbed surfaces to compress the collet member to grip the outer surface of the shank member. In this manner, the linear fastener system is capable of providing a precise, secure, and reproducible connection between multiple components without the need to apply rotational torque to the assembly. |
| US07658581B2 |
Joining assembly including a plastic support member and a plastic threaded element
A threaded element of plastic material for a joining assembly has a uniquely formed thread profile of a small profile angle between 30° and 50° and a rounded crest of a relatively large radius of curvature. The gap between the revolutions of the thread is of a volume which exceeds that of the thread. In order to provide for a specific cutting geometry of the thread profile the threaded element comprises a plurality of angular segments which are radially offset with respect to each other such that adjacent angular segments provide cutting edges. Furthermore, a tool and a method for making such a joining assembly are disclosed. |
| US07658579B1 |
Nut and retainer fastener assembly
A nut and retainer fastener assembly includes a one-piece retainer having a flat base with an opening and a plurality of retainer clips extending from the base around the opening. At least one flange nut is secured to the base between adjacent clips and offset from the opening in the base. The opening preferably is polygonal, most preferably rectangular (including square), and the clips preferably are disposed at corners of the opening. The clips preferably have integral spring fingers that extend from ends of the clips toward the base and at an angle away from the opening to capture the mounting wall between the base and the ends of the spring clips. The base preferably has an ear extending away from the opening, most preferably laterally opposed ears extending away from the opening, and a flange nut mounted on each of the ears for alignment with a fastener opening in the mounting wall when the nut and fastener assembly is secured to the wall. The preferred but exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is for securing the end of a shock absorber to the mounting wall and includes a shock absorber mount secured by fasteners that extend through fastener openings in the mounting wall into threaded engagement with the flange nuts. |
| US07658576B1 |
Hole saw having efficient slug removal
A hole saw having efficient slug removal preferably includes a saw cup, a shank portion and a pilot cutting device. A cutting surface is formed on an open end of the saw cup. An inside surface of the saw cup is given a low friction treatment and preferably an outside surface thereof. The shank portion is retained on a closed end of the saw cup. The pilot cutting device is preferably a drill, but other cutting devices may also be used. A second embodiment of a hole saw having efficient slug removal preferably includes a saw cup, a shank portion and a pilot cutting device. The saw cup includes a prior art saw cup, at least two side openings and a cutting surface. The at least two side openings are formed through the prior art saw cup to remove a substantial portion of a side wall. |
| US07658575B2 |
Machine reamer
A machine reamer has a plurality of slender blades erected on the outer peripheral part of a reamer head body. Each blade of a pair of blades facing each other in a radial direction are different in material kind from each other. One of the blades treated as a pair is made of super-hard alloy and the other blade is made of one kind of material selected from the group of sintered ceramic, cermet, and microcrystalline diamond sintered material. |
| US07658567B2 |
Automatic pencil
Au automatic pencil comprising an outer pencil tube, a pencil head, a clipping device, a guiding tube and a pencil lead cylinder, characterized in that a resilient element is mounted between the guiding tube and the clipping device allowing the guiding tube to reciprocate upward and downward within the stopper. The resilient element urges the guiding tube to rise upward if the pencil lead cylinder is not depressed, and to keep a distance from the pencil lead, and to allow another pencil lead to be inserted. The pencil lead cylinder can adapt a plurality of pencil lead. |
| US07658565B2 |
Combination tire sidewall protectant dispenser and applicator
A tire applicator for applying treatment fluid to sidewall of a vehicle tire, which is constructed with an applicator head including a dispenser housing having a bottom bearing surface and an applicator pad affixed thereto, and which may be configured to complementally and releasably receive an associated container. |
| US07658563B2 |
Image forming apparatus having unit housing permitting mechanism
An image forming apparatus including: an apparatus body; a first unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the body along a first direction and which includes at least a part of an image forming section for forming an image and/or of a sheet transporting section for transporting a sheet onto which the formed image is transferred, and; a second unit which can be pulled/pushed from/to the first unit along a second direction in a state where the first unit is pulled from the body, the second direction being different from the first direction; and a housing permitting mechanism for permitting the first unit to be pushed into the body by a predetermined operation, the housing permitting mechanism being provided for at least one of the body and the first unit. |
| US07658562B2 |
Modified-QWERTY letter layout for rapid data entry
Data entry arrangements that include twenty-six letters of the Roman alphabet arranged in matrices including six rows of three to six letters per row and in five column matrices. The transposition of the letters of the Roman alphabet on a standard three-row QWERTY keyboard into six row matrices and five column matrices utilizes spacing between the letters wherein a vertical distance between adjacent letters is at least the same. |
| US07658561B2 |
Modified keyboard arrangement with distinct vowel keys
A key arrangement includes a plurality of keys associated with alphabetic characters that include consonants and vowels. Each key within the plurality of keys is associated with a plurality of consonants and no more than one vowel. The plurality of keys is arranged in a grid pattern having at least five keys. The consonants are arranged in a standard keyboard format. Numbers may also be associated with the keys. A mobile communication device includes the key arrangement, a display, a processor, a housing, and a plurality of toggle switches associated with the keys. A method of using a key arrangement is also described. |
| US07658560B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
An interface transport mechanism uses an upper hand when transporting a substrate from a substrate platform to an exposure device before exposure processing by an exposure device, and uses a lower hand when transporting the substrate from the exposure device to the substrate platform after the exposure processing by the exposure device. That is, the lower hand is used to transport a substrate to which a liquid is attached after exposure processing, and the upper hand is used to transport a substrate to which no liquid is attached before exposure processing. |
| US07658556B2 |
Panoramic camera mount
A panoramic device includes a base member having a flat lower surface suitable to be supported by a tripod. A clamp member has a flat upper surface rotatably interconnected within a single plane of rotation with the base that includes a first rotatable knob to selectively inhibit the rotation of the clamp member with respect to the base. The flat upper surface includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of the flat upper surface. The clamp includes a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto. The one of the opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to the clamp member. The other one of the opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to the clamp member using a second rotatable knob. The first knob and the second knob are rotatably connected with respect to one another. The panoramic device includes a level bubble visible on an upper surface at a location exterior to the central region of the clamp. |
| US07658555B1 |
Aerial video mount
A stabilizing and vibration-isolating mount to facilitate the manual operation of a camera from mobile platforms such as aircraft, motor vehicles, and watercraft. The camera mount comprises a carriage assembly that allows the roll axis of rotation to pass through the optical axis of the camera lens, thus eliminating the pendulum or over-the-center phenomenon that characterizes moving images filmed while the camera is moving about the roll axis. Movement around all three axes of rotation can be stabilized by gyrostabilizers that can be adjustably positioned through the centerlines of the pan, roll, and tilt axes. |
| US07658550B2 |
Optical fiber, optical fiber connecting method, and optical connector
An optical fiber which, at an optical fiber connecting end having a plurality of voids around the periphery of a core, has a light-permeable substance, such as a resin or glass whose refractive index is lower than that of quartz type substances, filled in the voids adjacent to the connecting end. An optical fiber connecting section where an optical fiber having a plurality of voids in a clad around the periphery of a core is connected to another optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is connected end-to-end to aforesaid another optical fiber through a refractive index matching agent whose refractive index at the minimum temperature in actual use is lower than that of the core. |
| US07658546B2 |
Bearing assembly
A bearing assembly comprising a housing and a ball at least partially housed within the housing. The housing comprises a race having a concave bearing surface, a sleeve surrounding the race, and a resilient member disposed between the race and the sleeve. The surfaces of the race and sleeve adjacent the resilient member and the surfaces of the resilient member preferably include at least one pair of a co-operating protrusion and recess. Alternatively, or additionally, the surfaces of the race and the sleeve adjacent the resilient member have different curvatures. |
| US07658540B2 |
Imaging assembly stabilization device and method of use
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for gantry support. Certain embodiments provide a mobile imaging system. The system includes a base and a gantry member moveably attached to the base. The gantry member includes an imaging source. The system also includes a gantry support positioned on the base for supporting the gantry member. The gantry support contacts the gantry member at one or more points in a range of motion for the gantry member. Certain embodiments provide a method for gantry member stabilization. The method includes providing a gantry support on a gantry base to provide support for an imaging system gantry member. The imaging system gantry member is attached to the gantry base. The method further includes positioning the gantry support with respect to the gantry member to support the gantry member along at least a portion of a path of movement of the gantry member. |
| US07658539B2 |
Temperature sensor configuration detection in process variable transmitter
A process variable transmitter for measuring a temperature of a process includes a first, a second, third, and fourth terminal configured to couple to the temperature sensitive element. Measurement circuitry measures an electrical parameter between a pair of the terminals. A microprocess identifies a location of the temperature sensitive element coupled to at least two of the terminals based upon an electrical parameter measured by the measured circuitry between two terminals. In another configuration, the process variable transmitter measures temperature of a process using a thermocouple. A heating element is configured to heat terminals coupled to the thermocouple. A microprocessor determines polarity of the thermocoupled based upon a measured electrical parameter between the terminals in response to applied heat. |
| US07658534B2 |
Lamp holding tool, lighting device for display device using the same, display device using the same and liquid crystal display device using lighting device for display device
A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a base member includes a mounting plate having a pair of locking portions protruding to a base side. The locking portion is inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and capable of being locked to a peripheral edge on its back side. Abutting portions, which protrude to the base side and are capable of abutting the base at the time of mounting, are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting plate that is an opposing surface to the base. The abutting portions are provided at three spots with one of the locking portions interposed therebetween. At the time of mounting, each of the abutting portions abut the base, and the mounting plate is elastically deformed so as to be warped, whereby the locking surface of the locking portion is kept in the state in which it is locked to a peripheral edge of a back side of the mounting hole by its elastic force. |