Document Document Title
US07715376B2 Routing system and method for managing forwarding information therein
A routing system and a method for managing forwarding information therein includes a table for storing the index of the output interface table which contains the output interface information for transmitting the packets respectively received at the routing controller and the forwarder to the next hop and the index of the MAC table which contains the MAC information necessary to transmit the received packets to the next hop is provided, thereby preventing the packet from being lost during the backup of the forwarding information which is performed by the rebooting of the routing controller. Accordingly, there is no need for a memory for respectively storing the forwarding information before and after the rebooting of the routing controller.
US07715371B2 Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
Service resource items (49) for use in call setup in a telephone system are held on servers (58) that are connected to a computer network which is logically distinct from the telephone system infrastructure, this computer network may, for example, make use of the Internet. Each service resource item (49) is locatable on the network at a corresponding URI and is associated with a particular telephone number. A mapping is provided between telephone numbers and the URIs of associated service resource items. When it is desired to access a service resource item (49) associated with a particular telephone number, this mapping is used to retrieve the corresponding URI (step 55) which is then used to access the desired service resource item (56, 57, 59).
US07715370B2 Method and system for subscribing a user to a service
For subscribing a user to a service offered by a first application server (SIP-AS1) of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, a request for the service, addressed to a public service identifier of the service, is received from the user in a Call Session Control Function unit (S-CSCF). The request is evaluated based on filter criteria (iCF) associated with the user. In absence of the filter criteria (iCF) associating the service with the first application server (SIP-AS1), the request is forwarded to a second application server (SIP-AS2) based on addressing information obtained from filter criteria (FC) associated with the public service identifier. The second application server (SIP-AS2) transmits to the user a message that includes means for enabling the user to subscribe to the service. Users can be subscribed to a service at the time they desire to use the service, immediately preceding usage of the service. IMS user profiles are used as the basis for deciding whether or not a user is subscribed to a service, consequently, there is no need to provide interfaces to data repositories of multimedia services for determining the subscription status of a user. Subscription mechanisms for multimedia services can be centralized in a dedicated application server.
US07715369B1 Common backplane for physical layer system and networking layer system
A backplane having a switch card interface and an adapter card interface where the switch card interface has input/outputs in an arrangement that functionally mate to a networking layer system switch card and a physical layer system switch card. The adapter card interface is coupled to the switch card interface. The adapter card interface has input/outputs in an arrangement that functionally mates to a networking layer system adapter card and a physical layer system adapter card. A method that involves forming a first and second backplane according to a manufacturing process, integrating the first backplane into a networking layer system switch, and integrating the second backplane into a physical layer system switch.
US07715367B2 IP telephone system, IP telephone apparatus and communications method
An IP telephone system includes an IP telephone apparatus, a Web server and an ENUM server. The IP telephone apparatus is connected to an IP network. The Web server registers talk volume information corresponding to a telephone number assigned to the IP telephone apparatus. The ENUM server registers a NAPTR resource record in which a URI specifies link data related to the talk volume information registered in the Web server. In the IP telephone system, the IP telephone apparatus that has received a call transmits, to the ENUM server, a query for a NAPTR record corresponding to a targeted recipient phone number. The IP telephone apparatus then transmits, to the Web server, a request for the talk volume information corresponding to the targeted recipient phone number according to the returned NAPTR resource record, and adjusts the talk volume according to the returned talk volume information.
US07715366B1 User based message prioritization
A communication system including a call control system, a plurality of network nodes, and a gateway coupled to the call control system and coupled to the plurality of network nodes. The gateway is configured to interwork communications between the plurality of network nodes and, responsive to a first status change associated with a first network node of the plurality of network nodes, transfers a first update message to the call control system wherein the first update message indicates the gateway, the first status change, and the first network node. The call control system, responsive to receiving the first update message, processes the first update message to determine a first user associated with the first network node and to determine a first priority for the first update message based on the first user associated with the first network node.
US07715365B2 Vocoder and communication method using the same
Disclosed is a communication vocoder. An encoder and a decoder in a first format, and a decoder in a second format are formed in the communication vocoder. The encoder in the first format encodes voice signals into voice packets in the first format, and the decoder in the first format decodes the voice packets in the first format into voice signals. When voice packets in the second format are input to the communication vocoder, the decoder in the second format decodes the voice packets in the second format into voice signals. The decoders in the first and second formats are formed as subroutines in the communication vocoder.
US07715359B2 Method for realizing metering pulse in NGN
A method for realizing metering pulses in Next Generation Network (NGN), which enables an MGC (media gateway controller) to cooperate with an MG (media gateway), so as to realize the metering pulse service. When it is necessary to initiate the charging, the MGC transmits the metering pulse signal to the MG, and then the MG transmits the first metering pulse to the user equipment immediately, and periodically transmits the subsequent pulses according to the Pulse Count and Pulse Interval specified by the signal parameter.
US07715357B2 Radio LAN system using communication apparatus, and method for setting operation mode
A radio LAN system includes a server configured to hold a file; an access point connected with the server; a LAN terminal connected with the access point by radio; and a client terminal configured to issue a file transfer request to the server. An operation mode between the access point and the LAN terminal is set to a non-compression mode in which compression of the file is not performed, when the file is in a compressed state, and to a compression mode in which compression of the file is performed, when the file is in a non-compressed state. The file is transferred from the server to the client terminal in the operation mode in response to the file transfer request.
US07715356B2 Distributed infrastructure for wireless data communications
A mobile user terminal 402 accesses a packet data network 450 through one or more of several network access points 404-412. One or more control points 432-440 determines which network access point or points the user terminal is to access. Control may be retained in the current control point, or transferred to another control point, whenever it is convenient. There are preferably several routers, each having an associated home agent 418-420 which determines which foreign agents need to be accessed on behalf of each user terminal. There are several foreign agents 422-430, which forward packets received from a user terminal's home agent to the control point currently controlling communications with the user terminal.
US07715351B2 Extended call handling functionality using multi-network simulcasting
A method and apparatus supporting the handling of calls using simulcasting of multimedia information via a broadband access gateway are disclosed. A broadband access gateway supporting both a personal area network and a broadband network may receive multimedia information simultaneously exchanged by an associated access device via a wide area network. The broadband access gateway may store the received multimedia information locally, within the broadband access gateway, or may communicate the multimedia information to storage accessible from the broadband access gateway. The broadband access gateway may cause a user of the access device to be notified of the availability of multimedia information for a recorded call, and may communicate the multimedia information to the access device for playback. A user may be notified if storage and bandwidth for the recording of a call is not available.
US07715350B2 Classifier for communication device
Classifier for communication device. A communication device includes a classifier and a number of PHY (physical layer) receivers communicatively coupled thereto that enable the communication device to process various received signal types. Each of the PHY receivers is operable to perform pre-processing of a received frame (or packet) of data and to calculate a confidence level indicating whether the received frame is intended for that particular PHY receiver; this pre-processing does not involve processing (e.g., demodulation and/or decoding) of the received frame. Those PHY receivers having sufficiently high confidence levels assert claims to the classifier for the received frame. The classifier is operable to arbitrate between competing claims by 2 or more PHY receivers and to ensure that the received frame is provided to the PHY receiver for which it is intended.
US07715349B2 Method and apparatus for bit mapping enhanced-dedicated physical control channel (E-DPCCH) information in UMTS wireless communication system
In a 3GPP standards Release 6 UMTS system, in order to avoid searching at NodeB for a maximum E-DPCCH-associated metric at discrete possible valid index values, or over disjoint possible valid index regions, at the UE the three different sources of information, the fixed number bits that comprise the RSN, TFI and the H-bit components of the E-DPCCH bit field, are mapped so that the decimal equivalents of the possible E-DPCCH indices lie within a continuous range of values.
US07715346B2 Communication system, communication terminal, routing control method, and router
A mobile terminal according to the present invention judges, based on a router advertisement transmitted from an access router, whether handover is to be executed between access points connected to the access router, and transmits a link moving notification, which indicates that handover is executed under control of the access router, to the access router. Further, the access router updates only routing information based on the received link moving notification.
US07715345B2 Radio communication system
The normalities of access points including antenna facilities thereof are confirmed.An access point includes a terminal function unit which has the transmission/reception functions of a radio terminal. A radio signal is transmitted from the terminal function unit to the signal processing unit of an access point through the antenna of the access point, and a process for the calling connection between the terminal function unit and a test server is executed through the antenna of the access point, and the antenna and signal processing unit of the access point (along a path). The normalities of the antenna of the access point and the access point, or the abnormality of any of them is judged in accordance with the success or failure of the calling connection.
US07715343B2 Radio terminal
There is provided with a radio terminal which carries out data transmission using frequency bands licensed to other licensed radio terminals, including: a judging section configured to carry out a modulation analysis on a radio signal for each frequency band to judge whether the radio signal is a radio signal from a licensed radio terminal or not; a selection section configured to select a plurality of frequency bands; a schedule generation section configured to generate a schedule for intermittent data transmission; a data transmission section configured to transmit data according to the schedule; a carrier sensing section configured to carry out carrier sensing on a frequency band in which data is transmitted before data transmission for each the intermittent data transmission; and a control section configured to stop, when a radio signal from a licensed radio terminal is detected in a certain frequency band, data transmission using at least the certain frequency band.
US07715342B2 Location of packet data convergence protocol in a long-term evolution multimedia broadcast multicast service
A system for compressing an Internet Protocol (IP) header for a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) is provided. The system includes an access gateway and a plurality of cells, each of which has an enhanced node B (ENB). When the quantity of cells that will provide the MBMS is known to be one, execution of a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)-based data compression function for the IP header occurs in the ENB of the one cell. When the quantity of cells that will provide the MBMS is not known to be one, execution of the PDCP-based data compression function occurs in the access gateway.
US07715341B2 Optimized scheduling method for delay-sensitive traffic on high speed shared packet data channels
The present invention supports a scheduling protocol on a wireless communication network to transmit data packets stored in a queue from a user. Two performance metrics are generated and summed to provide a priority. The performance metrics are based on the delay for the data packets stored in the queue and the rate that the data packets can be transmitted on the network. The user with the higher calculated priority for the current time slot has its data packets transmitted.
US07715339B2 PDP context error handling method
Method and apparatus for dealing with a connection context request to establish a connection between a mobile station (MS) and a network gateway element. The gateway (such as a GGSN) determines whether binding information is required, then ascertains whether such information has been supplied. If the information is not supplied, the GGSN responds to the request on the basis of a policy determined by the operator of the network. This can include, for example, rejecting the request.
US07715337B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method, and computer program
A wireless communication system is constructed by autonomous distributed operation of communication stations without having a relation of a controlling station and controlled stations. In the wireless communication system, each communication station checks a state of time synchronization with a neighboring station, determines whether the time synchronization needs to be corrected, and carries out one of methods of surely performing a time synchronization correcting process and performing the correcting process with a predetermined probability when the time synchronization needs to be corrected.
US07715336B2 Method of operation for a three-dimensional, wireless network
A method of operation for wireless transmission of data to one or more destination devices across a network that includes a plurality of access points disposed about a building, each access point having a first transmission range of maximum bandwidth and a second transmission range of signal interference, the access points being arranged in a topology wherein each access point is spaced-apart from a nearest neighboring access point by a first distance less than the first transmission range. The data is transmitted by a first access point; then it is repeated by a series of additional access points that extends across the topology. Re-transmission of the data occurs in a manner wherein any pair of access points transmitting on the same channel is separated by a distance greater than the second transmission range. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07715334B2 Method to sustain TCP connection
The present invention relates to network communication systems for managing client/server connections in a wireless environment. In accordance with the invention, a mobile communication unit (i.e., client), deploys keepalive packets at selected times in order to reset a keepidle timer of a server (e.g., host computer). By periodically resetting the keepidle timer a current connection between the mobile communication unit and server can be maintained as long as desired even when the mobile communication unit is in a power suspend mode. When in a power suspend mode, the mobile communication unit can briefly awake long enough to activate its transmitter and send a keepalive packet to the server to maintain the current connection. In this manner, the mobile communication unit can obtain the power savings of being in primarily a power suspend mode, but still prevent the current connection from timing out.
US07715319B2 Default assignment of scheduled transmissions
Methods and apparatuses are presented for conducting communications over a shared communication medium, involving (a) sending a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include (i) a request signal space including request segments each having a different location within the request signal space and (ii) a scheduled transmission signal space including scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment, (b) obtaining an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment, (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request, and (d) the plurality of scheduled transmission segments including at least one default use segment available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments.
US07715312B2 Methods and systems for maintaining quality of service (QOS) levels for data transmissions
A system is provided for maintaining Quality of Service (“QoS”) parameters of data transmissions. A packet-switched network framework is provided. The network framework includes at least one router for routing the data transmissions over the network framework. The network framework also includes multiple links, including a first link and a second link. The first link forms at least part of a first path over the network framework, and the second link forms at least part of an alternate, second path over the network framework. A link utilization monitor is configured to monitor a link utilization rate of the first link and to determine whether the rate has exceeded a predetermined maximum utilization threshold. The router is configured to reroute data transmissions over the second link when the rate is determined to have exceeded the predetermined maximum utilization threshold.
US07715306B2 Multi-layer restoration method using LCAS
Provided is a multi-layer restoration method using a LCAS (Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme) in a synchronous network having a mesh structure. The method includes: performing a hardware restoration method if a network failure is detected; performing a pre-planned restoration method if the network failure is not repaired by performing the hardware restoration method; determining whether channels that pass along a line where the network failure occurs use the LCAS if the network failure is not repaired by performing the pre-planned restoration method; and applying the LCAS to the channels if the channels are determined to use the LCAS, and performing a dynamic restoration method if the channels are not determined to use the LCAS. The multiplayer restoration method minimizes data loss due to an increase in restoration time and overcomes service disconnection caused by failure to obtain a spare channel.
US07715304B2 Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US07715303B2 Recording apparatus for optical data
A recording apparatus for optical data includes a photo detection IC for producing a plurality of phase signals; a plurality of sample/hold (S/H) circuits electrically connected to the photo detection IC; a plurality of limiter circuits electrically connected to the photo detection IC; a channel signal generator connected to the S/H circuits; and a level shift circuit connected to an output of the channel signal generator. The recording apparatus for optical data prevents the interference of servo signal during high speed operation and ensures normal operation of S/H circuits thereof.
US07715302B2 Optical element and optical pickup apparatus
An optical element for use in an optical pickup apparatus includes a substrate made of resin; an antireflection layer coating the substrate and having a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer, wherein the resin includes a polymer with an alicyclic structure, the low refractive index layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide; aluminum fluoride; yttrium fluoride; magnesium fluoride; a mixture of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide; and a mixture thereof, the high refractive index layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of scandium oxide; niobium oxide; lanthanum oxide; praseodymium titanate; lanthanum titanate; lanthanum aluminate; yttrium oxide; hafnium oxide; zirconium oxide; tantalum oxide; a mixture of tantalum oxide and titanium; silicon nitride; and a mixture thereof.
US07715299B2 Objective optical system, optical pickup apparatus and optical information recording/reproducing apparatus with diffraction structure and optical path difference-generating structure
The objective optical system of the present invention includes a first diffraction structure that applies diffraction to the light fluxes of wavelength λ1, wavelength λ2 and wavelength λ3 so that the diffracted lights of the L-th order (L: odd number), M-th order (M: integer) and N-th order (N: integer) each will have the maximum diffraction efficiency, and a first optical path difference-generating structure that substantially provides a phase difference to or two of the light fluxes of wavelength λ1, wavelength λ2 and wavelength λ3.
US07715298B2 Optical pickup and optical information reproducing apparatus using same
An optical pickup module with enhanced aberration correctability is disclosed. This pickup includes more than two different types of laser light sources, an objective lens for collecting and focusing any one of the laser beams leaving the light sources onto an optical disc, and an aberration correction device of the liquid crystal (LC) type, which is disposed between the light sources and the objective lens. The aberration corrector has a surface on which multiple spaced-apart electrodes are patterned for enabling aberration correction relative to incident beams. The corrector controls the potential of a voltage being applied to each electrode in deference to incident beam properties and variations occurrable thereto, e.g., wavelength, effective beam diameter and relative incidence position offsets, thereby to optimally correct beam aberrations, such as coma aberration or wavefront aberration. An optical information reproduction apparatus using the pickup is also disclosed.
US07715294B2 Optical recording and reproducing apparatus and optical recording and reproducing method
An optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a recording-pulse-shift setting unit that shifts a front edge and a rear edge of a recording pulse and sets a write strategy of the recording pulse, an mark-edge-position evaluating unit that detects a front edge and a rear edge of a mark formed and detects a front mark edge position error and a rear mark edge position error, an assuming unit that assumes that the front mark edge position error is represented by a first linear function and assumes that the rear mark edge position error is represented by a second linear function, a sensitivity calculating unit that executes test recording and calculates sensitivities, and a write-strategy calculating unit that calculates a write strategy of the recording pulse on the basis of the sensitivities.
US07715290B2 Method for correcting write strategy data of an optical disc and optical disc drive using the same
A method for correcting write strategy data of an optical disc may include setting initial values, measuring and storing the width of a generated write enable signal, and calculating an offset correction value. The initial values may include a data write rate, a number of write strategy data, a maximum number of steps of a time parameter to be applied to the write strategy data, step sizes of the steps in the time parameter, and a generated modulated signal. A write enable signal may be generated whenever the time parameter is varied by a step size, and a width thereof may be measured and stored. The offset correction may be determined by calculating an offset correction value corresponding to a difference between the stored width of the write enable signal and a predetermined value of the write enable signal.
US07715287B2 Optical disk apparatus
Provided is an optical disc apparatus including an interference-type optical disk signal detection system, which allows an optical path difference between two kinds of light to be controlled easily, which has a high signal amplification effect, and which is suitable for miniaturization of an optical system. An interference-type optical system is integrally formed to stabilize an optical path difference between signal light and reference light. At the same time, means for controlling an optical path length of the reference light is attached to a reference mirror, and thereby controls signal amplitude so as to be constantly set the maximum in response to a change in the optical path length with time due to a variation in the thickness of a cover layer of an optical disk, a temperature and the like. Moreover, the optical system is miniaturized by using a Twyman-Green type interference optical system.
US07715286B2 Optical pickup spherical aberration compensating method, optical pickup spherical aberration focus offset compensating method, and optical pickup device
An optical pickup (20) projects a read beam onto an optical disc (40) as an optical storage medium which is driven to rotate by a spindle motor (30) and receives its reflection. A laser beam from a laser producing element (21) passes through a liquid crystal panel (25) and guided to an objective lens (26). The panel (25) is provided to correct spherical aberration caused by an irregular thickness of a transparent substrate of the optical disc (40). A control circuit (50) changes a spherical aberration correction signal SA to carry out sampling more than once, covering a range of the output of an optical sensor (31) where the output shows large changes. The circuit (50) determines the position of a peak of an approximation curve through calculation and designates that position as the magnitude of correction. Thus, the optical pickup (20) can quickly and accurately detect the magnitude of the correction of the spherical aberration caused by an irregular thickness of the optical disc (40).
US07715283B2 Method for recording information, in particular audio signals, received via radio, in particular broadcast radio
A method for storing information, in particular audio signals, received via radio, in particular broadcast radio, the received information being written to a first memory, where the information stored in the first memory is overwritten by newly received information, preferably no later than when the memory capacity of the first memory is exceeded by the sum of the information stored in the first memory, and where in response to a record command all or part of the information present in the first memory is transferred into a second memory. As a result, even when playback of information which is of interest to the user has already begun, the latter can nevertheless record the entire information unit, for example the whole piece of music, part of which has already been played back, in its entirety right from the beginning.
US07715280B2 Electronic clock
The invention provides a rechargeable electronic timepiece that restarts the operation of a clock circuit by inputting a power source, thereby securely confirming the clock operation. The electronic timepiece includes a first power source (2), a clock circuit (8) connected to the first power source, a power source input detecting circuit (86) for detecting an input of a second power source (3), a switch circuit (7, 9) for connecting the first power source and the second power source, and a control circuit (87) for controlling the switch circuit to connect the first power source and the second power source so that the first power source is charged by the second power source thereby operating the clock circuit when the power source input detecting circuit detects an input of the second power source.
US07715279B2 Time correction device, timepiece having a time correction device, and time correction method
A time correction device has a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites orbiting the Earth; a time correction information storage unit that stores time correction information for correcting time information produced by a time information generating unit; and a time information correction unit for correcting the time information based on the time correction information. The satellite signals are transmitted by individual positioning information satellites, and contain a time-related information part denoting time-related information that is kept by each satellite, and a satellite information part denoting satellite information other than the time-related information. The time correction information is generated based on the time-related information. The reception unit receives the satellite signal during the signal period in which the time-related information part can be received, and does not receive the satellite signal during the signal period in which the satellite information part can be received.
US07715274B2 Wide area seabed analysis
A seabed region (18) that lies under a seabed surface area of over one square meter, is analyzed by comparing a core sample taken near the middle of the region and/or data from a geotechnical insitu cone penetrometer installed at the middle of the region, to an acoustic analysis of the region. Locations of the acoustic analysis are precisely correlated to the location of the core test sample or cone test by mounting an acoustic imaging apparatus (16) that holds acoustic transducers (44, 46), on a carriage (26) that is positioned on the core drill (12) or cone penetrometer barrel staff. The carriage of the acoustic imager apparatus is clamped to the core drill when the core drill is not rotating. An arm (30 and/or 32) is supported on the carriage through a frame (28), with at least one acoustic generator (44) and one acoustic echo detector (46) mounted on the arm. The arm can be rotated to positions lying about the drill axis (14) to accurately scan a wide area.
US07715271B1 Using dedicated read output path to reduce unregistered read access time for a FPGA embedded memory
A memory unit includes width decoding logic enabling data to be accessed in a memory array at different data widths. To improve memory access speed, the memory unit also includes dedicated read output paths for accessing data at the full data width of the memory array. The dedicated read output paths bypass the width decoding logic and provide data from the memory array directly to a data bus, thereby providing improved memory performance when width decoding is not needed. The memory unit can be incorporated in programmable devices and a programmable device configuration can select either the read bypass paths or the width decoding logic. Hardware applications that require width decoding and improved memory access speed can utilize additional programmable device resources outside the memory unit to register the full width data from the memory unit and convert it to a different data width.
US07715266B2 Memory detecting circuit
A memory detecting circuit includes five switch elements and two indication devices. A first switch element is connected to a standby power, and also connected to memory sockets of a first channel to receive a first memory detecting signal. A second switch element is connected to the first switch element and the standby power. A third switch element is connected to the second switch element and the standby power, and also connected to memory sockets of a second channel to receive a second memory detecting signal. A fourth switch element is connected to the third switch element and the standby power. A fifth switch element is connected to the fourth switch element and the standby power. When there are memories installed into the memory sockets of the first channel and the second channel, the second indication device indicates that the memories run in a dual channel mode.
US07715263B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array and a voltage generation circuit for generating a voltage applied to the memory cell array, in which a plurality of drive MOS transistors having different width dimensions are selectively connected in parallel between an output line and the ground. The voltage is adjusted in response to the surrounding temperature in such a way that a prescribed number of drive MOS transistors selected from among the plurality of MOS transistors are normally and simultaneously driven. Thus, it is possible to precisely adjust the voltage in units of adjustment corresponding to differences of width dimensions without degrading the performance of the semiconductor memory device in a low current consumption mode.
US07715262B2 Hybrid DRAM
In one embodiment, a hybrid DRAM is provided that includes: a sense amplifier including a differential amplifier and regenerative latch, wherein the differential amplifier and regenerative latch are constructed using core transistors that have a relatively thin gate oxide; and a plurality of memory cells coupled to the sense amplifier through a pair of bit lines, wherein each memory cell includes an access transistor coupled to a storage cell, the access transistor having a relatively thick gate oxide, whereby the storage capacitor is capable of being charged to a VIO power supply voltage that is greater than a VDD power supply voltage for the core transistors.
US07715259B2 Word line driving circuit and method of testing a word line using the word line driving circuit
A method of testing a word line using a word line driving circuit comprising; activating a word line by activating a word line driving signal; floating the word line by activating a test mode signal after the activating of the word line; recording data having a predetermined logic value into a memory cell by inputting a write command while the word line is floated; and reading out data from the memory cell by inputting a read command after the recording of data.
US07715257B2 Test method and semiconductor device
A test method and a semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides sending out a test signal by a semiconductor device. A reflected signal generated in reaction is compared to the test signal with a first threshold value. The reflected signal is compared with a second threshold value differing from the first threshold value.
US07715255B2 Programmable chip enable and chip address in semiconductor memory
Memory die are provided with programmable chip enable circuitry to allow particular memory die to be disabled after packaging and/or programmable chip address circuitry to allow particular memory die to be readdressed after being packaged. In a multi-chip memory package, a memory die that fails package-level testing can be disabled and isolated from the memory package by a programmable circuit that overrides the master chip enable signal received from the controller or host device. To provide a continuous address range, one or more of the non-defective memory die can be readdressed using another programmable circuit that replaces the unique chip address provided by the pad bonding. Memory chips can also be also be readdressed after packaging independently of detecting a failed memory die.
US07715252B2 Synchronous semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A synchronous semiconductor memory device including a data alignment reference pulse generating unit configured to generate a data alignment reference pulse in response to a data strobe signal (DQS), an alignment hold signal generating unit configured to generate an alignment hold signal, which is activated during a period corresponding to a postamble of the data strobe signal, in response to the data alignment reference pulse and a data input clock, and a data alignment unit configured to align input data in response to the data alignment reference pulse and the alignment hold signal.
US07715249B2 Semiconductor memory having an output driver equipped with a threshold voltage detecting circuit for adapting the drive capability thereof
An output driver of a semiconductor memory apparatus comprises a voltage dividing block configured to generate divide voltages by dividing an internal voltage, a threshold voltage detecting block configured to generate a detecting voltage corresponding to a change in a threshold voltage of a transistor, a drive capability control signal generating block 300 configured to generate a compare signal by comparing the levels of the detecting voltage with the divide voltage and generate a control signal in response to an input signal when the compare signal is enabled, and a drive capability controlling block comprising a driver configured to perform a driving operation in response to the input signal, and a control driver configured to perform a driving operation in response to the control signal.
US07715237B2 Method, system and circuit for operating a non-volatile memory array
As part of the present invention, a memory cell may be operated using reference cells having a threshold offset circuit. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a threshold offset value may be determined for a memory cell to be operated based on a location (e.g. memory segment within a memory array) of the memory cell. An input offset circuit of a global reference cell may be adjusted by the threshold offset value for the memory cell; and the memory cell may be operated (e.g. read, written or erased) using the global reference cell whose input offset circuit has been adjusted by the threshold offset value. According to some embodiments of the present invention global reference cells may consist of multiple sets of reference cells, wherein, according to some aspects, each set of the multiple sets of reference cells may be used for operating a different memory array segment. According to other aspects, each set of the multiple sets of reference cells may be used for operating a different state of memory array cells.
US07715234B2 Reducing effects of program disturb in a memory device
A selected word line that is coupled to cells for programming is biased with an initial programming voltage. The unselected word lines that are adjacent to the selected word line are biased at an initial Vpass. As the quantity of program/erase cycles on the memory device increases, the programming voltage required to successfully program the cells decreases incrementally. Vpass tracks the decrease of the programming voltage.
US07715233B2 Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device is provided. In an aspect, the non-volatile memory device includes two or more common source lines that are included in one memory cell block in order to distribute the current that could have been concentrated on one common source line. As a result, the bouncing phenomenon generated by the nose of the source line can be reduced. That is, at the time of a verifying operation performed during a program operation, the current concentrated on a common source line can be distributed and, therefore, the occurrence of under-programmed cells can be prevented.
US07715229B2 Memory device
A memory device includes a memory unit comprising a substrate supporting mobile charge carriers. Insulative features formed on the substrate surface define first and second substrate areas on either side of the insulative features areas being connected by an elongate channel defined by the insulative features. The memory unit is switchable between first and second states in which the channel respectively provides a first conductance and a second, different conductance between the first and second areas at a predetermined potential difference between said first and second. A write circuit is arranged to apply a first potential difference across the first and second areas for changing the memory unit to the first state, and a second, different potential difference for changing the memory unit to the second state. A read circuit is arranged to apply the predetermined potential difference across the first and second areas for reading the state.
US07715227B2 Programmable ROM using two bonded strata
A read only memory implemented as a 3D integrated device has a first stratum, a second stratum, and bonded inter-strata connections for coupling the first stratum to the second stratum. The physical bonding between the two strata implements the programming of the read only memory. The stratum may be in wafer form or in die form. The first stratum includes functional active devices and at least one non-programmed active device. The second stratum includes at least conductive routing to be associated with the at least one non-programmed active device. The bonded inter-strata connections include at least one bonded programmable inter-strata connection for programming the at least one non-programmed active device and for providing conductive routing to the programmed active device. The two strata thus form a programmed ROM. Other types of programmable storage devices may be implemented by bonding the two strata.
US07715226B2 Memory device including electrical circuit configured to provide reversible bias across the PMC memory cell to perform erase and write functions
An integrated circuit including circuitry configured to perform erase and write functions. One embodiment includes a programmable metallization memory cell, a conductive line connected to a first node of the memory cell, and a bitline connected to a second node of the memory cell. The memory device also includes circuitry configured to perform a write operation by applying a first voltage to the conductive line and a second voltage to the bitline, perform an erase operation by applying the second voltage to the conductive line and the first voltage to the bitline, and apply a voltage midway between the first voltage and the second voltage to the conductive line when the write operation and the erase operation are not being performed.
US07715225B2 Memory cell using spin induced switching effects
According to an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a magneto-resistive memory cell. The magneto-resistive memory cell includes: a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and a nonmagnetic layer being disposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The integrated circuit further includes a programming circuit configured to route a programming current through the magneto-resistive memory cell, wherein the programming current programs the magnetizations of the first ferromagnetic layer and of the second ferromagnetic layer by spin induced switching effects.
US07715224B2 MRAM with enhanced programming margin
An MRAM that is not subject to accidental writing of half-selected memory elements is described, together with a method for its manufacture. The key features of this MRAM are a C-shaped memory element used in conjunction with a segmented bit line architecture.
US07715223B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
The invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with an SRAM that satisfies the requirements for both the SNM and the write margin with a low supply voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit device include: multiple static memory cells provided in correspondence with multiple word lines and multiple complimentary bit lines; multiple memory cell power supply lines that each supply an operational voltage to each of the multiple memory cells connected to the multiple complimentary bit lines each; multiple power supply circuits comprised of resistive units that each supply a power supply voltage to the memory cell power supply lines each; and a pre-charge circuit that supplies a pre-charge voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage to the complimentary bit lines, wherein the memory cell power supply lines are made to have coupling capacitances to thereby transmit a write signal on corresponding complimentary bit lines.
US07715220B2 Memory apparatus
A memory apparatus is provided that includes a storage element configured to store and retain information based on the state of an electric resistance, and a circuit element connected in series to the storage element as a load. In the memory apparatus, a resistance value is set to one of a plurality of different levels by controlling a voltage or a current applied to the circuit element or the storage element upon the writing. The storage element includes levels having low resistance values and levels having high resistance values obtained after erasing, to each of which different information is allocated. One storage element may store information having a ternary value or more. When erasing the information from the levels excluding the level having the lowest resistance value, a level is initially changed to the level having the lowest resistance value, and subsequently changed to that having a higher resistance value.
US07715208B2 Configurable multi-faceted input/output panel
A configurable multi-faceted input/output (I/O) panel may be used in a computer or electronic device to present multiple I/O interfaces to a user. The configurable multi-faceted I/O panels may be configured by a user such that one of a plurality of different I/O faces is accessible to the user. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07715207B2 Rack architecture and management system
One embodiment of the invention provides a fully distributed, scaleable and modular rack architecture and management system. One feature of the invention provides device management throughout the rack system with a vertical interface column integrated into the rack cabinet. Within each rack unit (U) of the vertical interface column, the vertical interface column may deliver connectivity to a device housed within the rack cabinet thereby eliminating runs of cable typically necessary for management of such devices. The vertical interface column can be expanded as necessary to provide connectivity to more devices using hot-swappable interface modules. A rack management system allows both local and remote management access to all devices mounted in the rack cabinet and coupled to the vertical interface column. The rack management system may also access to devices mounted in other rack cabinets.
US07715206B2 System board with edge connector
A system comprises a chassis and a system board contained within the chassis. The system board has an edge connector adapted to receive an add-in card in a configuration in which the system board and add-in card are substantially co-planar.
US07715201B2 Housing or frame-like holding element with an inscribed strip
A housing or a frame-like holding element for, in particular, electronic or electrical components, including a frame that surrounds an opening, a holding fixture that, while extending in a longitudinal direction, is formed in the front side of at least one profile. An inscribed strip is placed inside the holding fixture and supports a holding strip that forms a viewing surface on the front side. This invention provides a holding element that can be easily assembled while having a visually appealing layout of the inscribed strip. This invention provides frame limbs forming the frame in the form of frame profiles, of which the holding fixture for the inscribed strip is formed on at least one, and the holding strip, on a rear side facing away from the viewing side, has two longitudinally extending resilient detent webs which are parallel to one another and which have detent elements that engage in a locking manner within detent mating elements formed on the holding fixture.
US07715194B2 Methodology of cooling multiple heat sources in a personal computer through the use of multiple fluid-based heat exchanging loops coupled via modular bus-type heat exchangers
A cooling system is used to cool heat generating devices within a personal computer. The cooling system has a first fluid loop and an expandable array of one or more second fluid loops. For each of the second fluid loops, heat generating devices transfer heat to fluid flowing through corresponding heat exchanging devices in the loop. Heat is transferred from the fluid in each second fluid loop to a thermal bus of the first fluid loop via a thermal interface. The second fluid loop can be a pumped fluid loop or can include a heat pipe. Within the first fluid loop, a fluid is continuously pumped from the thermal bus to a fluid-to-air heat exchanging system and back to the thermal bus. Heat transferred to the thermal bus from the first fluid loop is transferred to the fluid in the second fluid loop passing through the thermal bus. The heated fluid is pumped through the fluid-to-air heat exchanging system where the heat is transferred from the fluid to the ambient. The thermal bus provides a modular, scalable cooling system which allows for the expansion of cooling capacity without breaking the fluid lines.
US07715193B1 Electronic device and air regulation apparatus thereof
An electronic device includes a chassis enclosing a fan and a sliding member. The chassis defines an air intake aligned with an inlet of the fan, and an opening. The sliding member is slidably mounted to the chassis and includes an operation part exposing through the opening. The sliding member is capable of either fully or partially covering and uncovering the air intake of the chassis via manipulating the operation part to slide in the opening.
US07715192B2 Strap attachable mobile device
A mobile device includes a pair of cabinet half-bodies 10, 6 configuring a cabinet 1; a metal coupling member 2 for coupling the cabinet half-bodies 10, 6; and a synthetic resin cover body 3 opened with at least two pass holes 30, 30 through which a strap 4 is passed, and arranged with a strap receiving piece 31 between the pass holes 30, 30. The strap receiving piece 31 has a lower surface reinforced by contacting at least one part of the coupling member 2, and a space through which the strap 4 from one pass hole to the other pass hole passes is formed below the coupling member 2.
US07715189B2 Laptop-type personal computer
A laptop-type personal computer operable on power supplied from at least one of an AC adaptor and a battery pack includes a memory card loader configured to detachably load a memory card powered by at least one of the AC adaptor and the battery pack; a cover mechanism configured to cover and uncover the memory card loader; a detector configured to detect whether the memory card loader is covered by the cover mechanism; and a controller configured to control the power supply to a memory card loaded on the memory card loader when the cover mechanism uncovers the memory card loader.
US07715187B2 Methods and apparatuses for docking a portable electronic device that has a planar like configuration and that operates in multiple orientations
A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal.
US07715184B2 Notebook and assembling and dissembling mechanism for data storage device thereof
An assembling and dissembling mechanism for a data storage device suited to assemble and disassemble a data storage device in a casing having an opening includes a fastener having a connecting portion and a first fastening portion and a push button slidingly disposed at the opening of the casing. The connecting portion is fixed at the data storage device and is connected to the first fastening portion. The push button has a second fastening portion and a pushing portion which are disposed in the casing. The second fastening portion is suitable to be fastened with the first fastening portion to install the data storage device in the casing. When the push button slides by a predetermined distance, it drives the second fastening portion to be separated from the first fastening portion, and the pushing portion pushes the first fastening portion to disassemble the data storage device.
US07715170B2 Electrostatic chuck with separated electrodes
Electrostatic clamping devices and methods for reducing contamination to a workpiece coupled to an electrostatic clamping device are disclosed. According to an embodiment an electrostatic clamping device for coupling a workpiece comprises: an embossment portion on a surface of a body to contact the workpiece; and at least two electrodes within the body; wherein the two electrodes are separated by a separation portion below the embossment portion.
US07715161B2 Device for storing electrical energy
The invention relates to a device consisting of a storage device for storing electrical energy. This may, for example, be a battery, an accumulator or another electrical storage device, for example a capacitor (double-layer capacitor). In the present application, the object is now pursued of keeping the consumption of electrical energy as low as possible, to economize relative to previous solutions and to bring about a great simplification from the point of view of manufacturing. Device consisting of a storage device for storing electrical energy, a device for monitoring the output current from the storage device and a controllable switch, by means of which the current output can be interrupted, wherein the switch is opened and the current output is therefore interrupted, when the device for monitoring the output current detects that for a predetermined time, for example, 30 seconds to 2 minutes, a predetermined current characteristic is present, for example, the output current does not fluctuate, or only extremely slightly.
US07715157B2 Semiconductor device and trimming method of the same
A small-scale semiconductor device having several trimming portions is disclosed. The device includes an auxiliary voltage regulator circuit outputting an output voltage and having a first trimming unit for adjusting the output voltage output from the auxiliary voltage regulator circuit; an auxiliary circuit comparing a first voltage with a second voltage and performing a prescribed operation based on the compared result, where the first voltage is in proportion to the output voltage of the auxiliary voltage regulator circuit and the second voltage is generated by a detecting unit, the auxiliary circuit including a second trimming unit for adjusting the first voltage; and a single test terminal, connected to receive any one of the first voltage and the second voltage, provided as an external terminal of the semiconductor device so as to adjust both the first and the second trimming units.
US07715155B2 Thin-film magnetic head and manufacturing method thereof
A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an MR multi-layered structure formed on the lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers, an insulation layer formed to surround the MR multi-layered structure, an additional metal layer laminated on at least the MR multi-layered structure, an upper electrode layer made of a soft magnetic material laminated on the additional metal layer and the insulation layer, and an upper magnetic shield layer laminated on the upper electrode layer. The additional metal layer has a multi-layered structure including a nonmagnetic metal layer and a soft magnetic layer laminated on the nonmagnetic metal layer, and has a length along a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure larger than a width of a magnetization-free layer in the MR effect multi-layered structure.
US07715149B1 Disk drive including an actuator latch with a catch portion and a crash stop portion of lesser material stiffness than the catch portion
A disk drive includes an actuator rotatably coupled to a disk drive base. A fixed member is in fixed spatial relation to the base. A latch is rotatably coupled to the base. The latch includes a catch portion in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and not in contact the actuator with the latch open. The catch portion comprises a first material. The latch includes a crash stop portion comprising a second material having a lesser stiffness than the first material. The crash stop portion includes a stop portion and a pusher portion. The stop portion is in contact with the fixed member with the latch closed and not in contact with the fixed member with the latch open. The pusher portion is in contact with the actuator with the latch closed and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position.
US07715146B2 Self-centering clamp
An apparatus and associated method for clamping an article to a rotatable motor hub. A clamp has a web portion and a plurality of protuberant members extending away from the web portion. Distal ends of the protuberant members are radially disposable within a concentric ring to a clamp axis of rotation, the ring being sized for an interference fit with an outer diameter of the motor hub. The clamp is placed upon the motor so that the protuberant members contactingly engage the motor hub. Advancing a fastener moves the clamp axially to compressingly engage against the article, and resultingly moves the clamp radially to clearingly disengage the protuberant members from the motor hub.
US07715144B2 Track error measurement and recovery
A method of measuring a track value is shown. The track value is related to track mis-registration, and is compared to a track value limit to assess a condition of the track. In example embodiments, the track value is determined as a function of multiple position error signals from previous wedges in the track. During a self servo writing operation, the track value and the track value limit are used to selectively perform a recovery action. In example embodiments, the track value limit is dynamically adjusted.
US07715142B2 Hard disk drive controller, image forming apparatus and storage medium with recorded computer program
A hard disk drive controller including a determining unit that determines an external dimension of a hard disk drive that is provided with a motor for rotating a hard disk and a head that is retractable from the hard disk; and a changing unit that changes control of the hard disk drive device according to the external dimension that has been determined by the determining unit. An image forming apparatus is also disclosed which includes the determining unit, the changing unit, and an energy saving shifting unit that shifts the image forming apparatus into an energy saving mode in certain conditions which have been determined in advance. A storage medium on which a program for execution on a computer is stored, the program having the function of the determining unit and the function of the changing unit, is also disclosed.
US07715141B2 Shield biasing for MR devices
A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having a reader, the reader further comprising a shield, a sensor, and leads coupled to the sensor; a charge clamp circuit electrically coupling the shield to the leads; and a bias circuit for passing a bias current through the sensor via the leads; wherein the bias circuit maintains a potential of the shields at about a ground potential.
US07715137B2 Servo patterns for patterned media
Servo patterns for patterned media. The servo pattern includes specification of cylinder/track ID with and without a Gray code. The servo pattern space is minimized by the optimum usage of the islands. This is achieved by island allocation rules to take advantage of non-magnetic island. The island allocation also provides for easier lift-off. Logic is used to encode and decode the Gray code. Further, the Gray code is designed to stabilize the magnetic island/non-magnetic island ratio to allow for easier manufacture.
US07715135B1 Methods, circuits, apparatus, and systems for read channel synchronization and/or fly height measurement
Methods, circuits, and systems for processing a preamble field in a read channel (e.g., in a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive). The methods generally include the steps of (a) reading the preamble field, wherein the preamble field comprises a repetitive bit pattern having a logical transition every x bit periods, where x is an integer of at least 3 when d is 0 or 1, or where x is an integer of at least d+2 when d is greater than 1, and (b) processing the repetitive bit pattern. The methods may further relate to processing the preamble for synchronization with the read channel and/or for measuring the fly height of a read/write head. The invention also relates to methods of enabling read channel synchronization and/or fly height measurement. The circuitry for fly height measurement generally includes (a) reading logic configured to read a preamble field from a read channel, wherein the preamble field comprises a repetitive bit pattern, (b) determination logic configured to determine a characteristic of the repetitive bit pattern, and (c) correlation logic configured to correlate the characteristic to the fly height. The systems generally comprise those that include a circuit embodying one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The present invention advantageously provides improved resolution of signals resulting from the preamble fields and of harmonics of said signals, and enables fly height measurement and improved channel synchronization without consuming dedicated tracks, platters, etc. on a magnetic recording medium.
US07715132B2 Prism sheet
An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The first surface of transparent main body defines a plurality of first elongated arc-shaped grooves and a plurality of second elongated arc-shaped grooves. The first elongated arc-shaped grooves intersect with the second elongated arc-shaped grooves. The second surface defining a plurality of rectangular structures. Each rectangular structure defining four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions.
US07715128B2 Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel includes: an image pickup optical system including a plurality of lenses. The plurality of lenses includes an adjusting lens for a shift adjustment in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the image pickup optical system. The lens barrel further includes a lens frame holding the adjusting lens; and a housing holding the lens frame and including a wall portion. The lens frame comprises a plurality of protrusions coming contact with the wall portion and each of the plurality of protrusions has a protruding amount which differs from the other for correcting a tilt of an optical axis of the adjusting lens.
US07715125B2 Mechanism for translating a night vision goggle
A mechanism for adjusting the position of an optical device with respect to a field helmet along an axis of translation is provided. The mechanism comprises an optical device mounting component for coupling to the optical device. A field helmet mounting component for coupling to the field helmet is slideably coupled to the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation. A lever configured for selectively engaging a surface of either mounting component permits translation of the optical device mounting component along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet. The optical device mounting component is configured to translate along the axis of translation with respect to the field helmet between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the optical device is proximal to the helmet in the retracted position and distal to the helmet in the extended position.
US07715124B2 Optical element driving device and imaging apparatus
A lens driving device includes a lens, a moving member that supports the lens, a stationary member that movably supports the moving member, a pitch drive mechanism that drives the moving member in the pitch correction direction, and a yaw drive mechanism that drives in the yaw correction direction. The pitch drive mechanism has first and second magnets provided to the stationary member, and first and second coils provided to the moving member. The yaw drive mechanism has a third magnet provided to the stationary member, and a third coil provided to the moving member. The first and second coils are arranged on opposite sides of the lens when viewed in a third direction that is perpendicular to the pitch and yaw correction directions, and the third coil is arranged on the same side as the first coil with respect to the lens when viewed in the third direction.
US07715121B2 Optical system and optical apparatus including optical system
An optical system used for an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup element is provided. The optical system includes a negative lens disposed furthest away on the enlargement conjugation side and satisfies the following condition: 80 degrees<2ω, where 2ω (degrees) denotes an angle of view of the optical system. In addition, the following parameters of the optical system are optimally determined: a lens open angle θ of a surface of the negative lens on the reduction conjugation side, an index of refraction Ndn and an Abbe number νdn of a material of the negative lens for a d-line, and a relative partial dispersion θgFn of the material of the negative lens for a g-line and an F-line.
US07715120B2 Lens module and camera module
Provided is a camera module. The camera module includes an aperture stop, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and an image sensor. The first lens has a positive refractive power to transmit light that has passes through the aperture stop, and the second lens has a negative refractive power to transmit light that has passed through the first lens. The third lens has a negative refractive power to transmit light that has passed through the second lens. The image sensor detects light that has passed through the third lens.
US07715118B2 Macro lens system
A macro lens system includes a positive first lens group, a diaphragm, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group. Upon focusing from an object at an infinite distance to an object at a closer distance, the positive first lens group and the positive second lens group integrally move toward the object without changing a distance therebetween with respect to the negative third lens group which is stationary with respect to an imaging plane in a camera body. The positive first lens group includes a negative first lens sub-lens group and a positive second sub-lens group which are divided at a maximum distance between lens elements in the positive first lens group. The macro lens system satisfies specified conditions.
US07715117B2 Optical system and image pickup apparatus using the same
An optical system includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. The second lens unit includes a front lens unit, a stop, and a rear lens unit. The front lens unit includes a biconvex positive lens located closest to the image side. A back focus during focusing on an infinitely-distant object point (BF), a focal length of the entire optical system (f), a focal length of the positive lens of the front lens unit located closest to the image side (fp), a focal length of the front lens unit (f2a), a refractive power of a surface of the rear lens unit located closest to the object side (φf), and a refractive power of the entire optical system (φ) satisfy the following conditions: 1.0
US07715115B2 Lens device
A lens device comprises: an image-formation optical system that converges an incident luminous flux at an imaging element, to form an image; a diaphragm mechanism provided in the image-formation optical system; and a filter section that is provided on a subject side of the imaging element and through which the luminous flux incident on the image-formation optical system travels, wherein the filter section comprises: an infrared-ray cutoff filter; and a neutral density filter, and wherein the lens device further comprises a filter switching mechanism that places the infrared-ray cutoff filter and the neutral density filter in a range through which the luminous flux travels at the time of photographing of a high-luminance subject.
US07715108B2 Image forming optical system and electronic image pickup apparatus using image forming optical system
In an image forming optical system having a positive lens group, a negative lens group, and an aperture stop, the negative lens group is disposed at an image side of the of the aperture stop, the negative lens group has a cemented lens which is formed by cementing a plurality of lenses, and in a rectangular coordinate system in which, a horizontal axis is let to be Nd and a vertical axis is let to be νd, when a straight line indicated by Nd=α×νd+β (where, α=−0.017) is set, Nd and νd of at least one lens forming the cemented lens are included in both of areas namely, an area which is determined by a line when a lower limit value is in a range of a following conditional expression (1), and a line when an upper limit value is in a range of the following conditional expression (1), and an area determined by following conditional expressions (2) and (3). 1.45<β<2.15  (1) 1.30
US07715106B2 Liquid-control optical element and manufacturing method thereof and device having the same
A liquid-control optical element is provided herein. The optical element includes two liquids with different phases. The two liquids are immiscible and have different optical index. By applying a voltage through electrodes to form an electric field, the slope of an interface between the two liquids is changed. The purpose of changing the slope is to change the shape of the interface or the moving or rotating direction. Thus, according to the law of total internal reflection or the law of refraction, the liquid-control optical element can be used as a liquid shutter device, or a liquid scanner device if a scanning is performed after penetrating the element.
US07715105B2 Acylindrical optical device
A lens structure and method for manufacture of such a lens. A lens element has multiple sawn planar faces between image forming surfaces so the lens element has a polygonal cross section. The manufacture includes the step of utilizing oversized conventional cylindrical lens elements and other optical elements formed into lens systems. The faces are sawn to reduce the overall size. The sawing can be applied to integral lens elements or assemblies or lens arrays.
US07715102B2 Display apparatus and electronic device
In the present display apparatus, the directivity of light emitted from a backlight is set high in the direction along which a pixel pitch is long, and such light is caused to spread by a lenticular lens. In this manner, in the present display apparatus, the light entering the lenticular lens is parallelized by increasing the directivity of the light emitted from the backlight. For this reason, an amount of light whose traveling direction can be controlled by the lenticular lens (i.e. light focusing on pixels) can be increased, as compared to a display apparatus in which light emitted from a backlight has a low directivity. With this arrangement, both the frontal brightness and the viewing angle of a liquid crystal panel can be increased.
US07715101B2 Electromagnetic radiation pulse duration control apparatus and method
Apparatus and methods are used for controlling electromagnetic radiation pulse duration in a lithographic apparatus. A dividing element is arranged to divide an electromagnetic radiation pulse into a first portion and a second portion. A prism receives, refracts, and subsequently emits the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation pulse. A directing element is arranged to direct the first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation pulse parallel to a common optical axis. The first portion combines with the second portion to form a combined radiation beam pulse. The combined radiation beam pulse has a longer pulse duration than the divided electromagnetic pulse and experiences no corresponding loss in intensity.
US07715100B2 Method and apparatus for generating radically and/or azimuthally polarized light beams
A method and an apparatus for generating a polarized light beam to be projected onto an object plane are provided. A converging or diverging light beam (18) is generated. The converging or diverging light beam is projected through a member (22, 52) comprising an uniaxial birefringent material, the uniaxial birefringent material having a symmetry axis essentially parallel to the optical axis (12) of the light beam, and the member being placed at a distance from the object plane. Thereby, it is possible to create, for example a radially polarized beam that can be used for various optical purposes, e.g. for optical data reading/writing or for microscopy.
US07715099B2 Optical birefringence coronagraph
Systems and methods for attenuating light from undesired sources in a coronagraph apparatus are provided. The coronagraph includes a first imaging lens that receives light representing a desired image and an undesired central image and a reimaging system that mitigates the undesired central image. The reimaging system includes a composite half-wave plate assembly that includes a plurality of angular half-wave plate sections. Each of the plurality of angular half-wave plate sections have two congruent sides that meet at an apex substantially at a center of the composite half-wave plate. A characteristic c-axis associated with a given angular half-wave plate section is aligned differently from the respective characteristic c-axes of at least two angular half-wave plate sections in substantial contact with the two sides of the given angular half-wave plate section. A fixation element engages the half-wave plate sections to maintain the angular half-wave plate sections in a desired arrangement.
US07715096B2 Light diffusing screen
A light diffusing screen for a single light source-type rear projection television, for use in combination with a Fresnel lens sheet, which can reduce scintillation and, regulate the surface roughness of the screen and provide good images. The light diffusing screen includes: a lens layer which can horizontally refract projected light; and a light diffusing layer provided on a light outgoing side as compared with the lens layer. The light diffusing layer includes a light transparent matrix and light diffusing fine particles formed of a light transparent material dispersed in the light transparent matrix. The light diffusing layer has a multilayer structure of which the outermost layer on the light outgoing side of the light diffusing layer is a layer which diffuses light most strongly, the outermost surface layer on the light outgoing side in the light diffusing screen having a surface roughness Ra of 0.2 μm≦Ra≦1.0 μm.
US07715093B2 Individual band gain equalizer for optical amplifiers
A control apparatus comprises a light monitoring unit for dividing a signal wavelength band into at least a band in which output light power of an optical amplifier tends to decrease at an decrease in the number of signal wavelengths and a band including a gain deviation band, and for monitoring inputted light power for the individual divided bands, a calculation unit for obtaining the number of signal wavelengths in the individual divided bands based on a monitor result, and a target gain correction unit for correcting a target gain based on a result of the calculation. This suppresses a transient variation of signal light level due to SHB or SRS at a high speed with a simple configuration without deteriorating noise characteristic, thus enabling optical amplifiers to be further disposed in a multi-stage fashion, which can lengthen the transmission distance of a transmission system including an optical add/drop unit.
US07715091B2 Spatially-fed high power amplifier with shaped reflectors
A spatially-fed high-power amplifier comprises one or more shaped reflectors to reflect an initial wavefront, and an active array amplifier to amplify the reflected wavefront to generate a high-power planar wavefront. The shaped reflectors provide the reflected wavefront with substantially uniform amplitude when incident on the active array amplifier. The initial wavefront may be a substantially spherical wavefront, and the shaped reflectors may compensate for any amplitude taper of the initial wavefront to provide the reflected wavefront with substantially uniform amplitude components for incident on the active array amplifier. In some embodiments, the shaped reflectors may also contour the illumination to fit the shape of the active array amplifier to help minimize spillover.
US07715090B2 Laser source
An optical device for generating a beat frequency between two optical wavelengths includes two waveguides (2a, 2b) of different width and a grating layer (4) that is common to both wave guides.
US07715088B2 Electrophoretic display
This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises: a) partition walls; b) an electrophoretic fluid filled therein; c) a polymeric sealing layer to enclose the electrophoretic fluid within the cell; and d) an interface between the electrophoretic fluid and the sealing layer.
US07715086B2 Display method, and display medium and display device using the method thereof
The invention provides a display method, and a display medium and a display device using the method thereof. The display method displays an image through a process for depositing fine metal particles, in which fine metal particles are deposited on a solid surface from an electrolyte by giving one stimulus to the electrolyte, wherein the particle size distribution of the fine metal particles that are deposited on the specific area of the solid surface, has one or more maximum peaks, and at least one of the maximum peaks satisfies the following formula (1): Pp(±30)/Pp(T)≦0.5  (1) where, Pp(T) means the height of the highest peak among the maximum peaks, and Pp(±30) means the height of the distribution curve at the particle size that is ±30% from the particle size of the fine metal particles at the height of the highest peak.
US07715080B2 Packaging a MEMS device using a frame
A package structure and method of packaging for a MEMS device is described. A transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator array formed thereon is shown. A single or dual-layered backplate is joined to a frame that circumscribes the modulator array. The frame is bonded to the transparent substrate and to the backplate to provide a hermetic package.
US07715076B2 Micromirror device with a hybrid actuator
A hybrid electro-static actuator for rotating a two-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical micro-mirror device about two perpendicular axes includes a vertical comb drive for rotating the micro-mirror about a tilt axis, and a parallel plate drive for rotating the micro-mirror about a roll axis. The rotor comb fingers of the comb drive extend from a sub-frame of the micro-mirror, which is only rotatable about the tilt axis, while one of the parallel plate electrodes is mounted on the underside of a main platform, which generally surrounds the sub-frame. The vertical comb drive rotates both the sub-frame and the main platform about the tilt axis, while the parallel plate drive only rotates the main platform about the roll axis.
US07715073B2 Hologram recorder
A hologram recorder is provided, in which coherent light from a light source is split into a signal beam and a reference beam, and the signal beam is modulated by a spatial light modulator to be directed to a hologram recording medium, while the reference beam is directed to the hologram recording medium to overlap with the signal beam for recording a hologram on the hologram recording medium. The hologram recorder includes a beam phase modulator provided with a plurality of optical devices (20p, 20p′) each configured to assume one of two modes such as ON mode and OFF mode, the ON mode for causing the reference beam to be passed or reflected in a predetermined direction toward the hologram recording medium, the OFF mode for causing the reference beam to be blocked or directed in another direction other than the predetermined direction. Each optical device (20p, 20p′) provides a phase difference 0 or π. A phase modulation controller is also provided for individually controlling the optical devices (20p, 20p′) to cause each of the optical devices to assume the ON mode or the OFF mode, thereby modulating the reference beam into a beam having a predetermined phase pattern.
US07715072B2 Hologram retrieval method and holographic recording and reproducing apparatus
Provided is a hologram retrieval method and a holographic recording and reproducing apparatus for preventing an increase in SNR, a decrease in retrieval accuracy, or the retrieval itself from being made impossible, which would otherwise occur because of a small size of data used for retrieval. Digital information is recorded on a holographic recording medium as data pages DP formed of a two-dimensional bit map image with each page being multiplexed. The data page DP is divided into a plurality of equal data blocks DB11 to 13, DB21 to DB23, and DB31 to DB33, and each data block DB is provided with a data image that is encoded by an encoding method for providing a certain number of ON pixels within each data block DB. A spatial light modulator allows the to-be-retrieved data image to be encoded by the encoding method and displayed as block information on a retrieval data block associated with the data block, and a signal beam to be thereby modulated. Of resulting diffracted beams, the diffracted beam of the maximum intensity is used to detect the target data image and the address of the reference beam.
US07715069B2 Method for measuring density, printing method, method of calculating correction value, method of manufacturing printing apparatus and method for obtaining correction value
A method for measuring density, includes: forming on a medium a pattern that consists of a plurality of dot rows formed respectively in a plurality of row regions lined up in a direction intersecting a movement direction in which a plurality of nozzles move, by forming each of the dot rows in the row region arranged in the movement direction by ejecting ink from the nozzles; reading the pattern by a scanner; measuring density of each of the row regions of the read pattern; calculating respective modification values corresponding to each of the row regions, based on at least a part of a measurement result of the density of the plurality of the row regions; and modifying respective measured values of the density of each of the row regions based on the respective modification values corresponding to each of the row regions.
US07715060B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus accurately determines the positions of image forming mirrors formed with an off-axis reflecting surface, while enabling any thermal expansion caused by a rise in temperature due to a rise in the surrounding temperature to be absorbed. Each image forming mirror formed with an off-axis reflecting surface comprises respective and independent units for determining the positions in the longitudinal direction, in the lateral position, and in the direction orthogonal to the reflecting surface. Holes with which the longitudinal position determining units and the lateral position determining units engage have gaps in the directions orthogonal to the position determining directions to absorb the thermal expansion caused by a rise in the temperature of the image forming mirror when the position determining units engage with the holes. Determination of the position of the reflecting surfaces of the image forming mirrors is carried out by urging faces provided on the reflecting surface side against the housing.
US07715056B2 Method, apparatus, and system for controlling image, image forming apparatus, and computer product
An image control system includes an image control apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The image control apparatus includes a pattern generating unit that generates a pattern based on a preset process for preventing a fraudulent use of an image; and an image combining unit that combines the image with the pattern to generate a combined image. The image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that prints out the combined image received from the image control apparatus.
US07715055B2 Detection of undesired document alteration and duplication, and generating verification data for such detection
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an image processing apparatus, system, method, computer program and product, capable of generating verification data for detecting document alteration, generating a protected document embedded with the verification data, and detecting document alteration using the verification data. Other exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an image processing apparatus, system, method, computer program and product, capable of generating verification data for detecting image alteration or document duplication, generating a protected document embedded with the verification data, and detecting image alteration or document duplication using the verification data.
US07715054B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an input section and a binarizing section. The input section inputs multilevel image data. The binarizing section binarizes multilevel image data to generate output image data representing halftone dots each having a hollow-structure. The binarizing section enlarges the halftone dots in a predetermined direction preferentially in accordance with the input multilevel image data.
US07715043B2 Multilevel print masking method
A method of computing swath data in response to a digital image having a plurality of rows and columns of pixels, each pixel having a multitone code value, the swath data suitable for commanding an inkjet printer containing at least one printhead having plurality of nozzles, wherein the inkjet printer is capable of ejecting ink drops in response to the swath data.
US07715042B2 Color separation into a plurality of ink components including primary color ink and spot color ink
Utilizing an ink set that includes a plurality of chromatic primary color inks that, when used in combination, can reproduce achromatic color, and at least one spot color ink of hue different from any of the plurality of chromatic primary color inks. Color to be reproduced on a print medium according to any one input color is termed “reproduction color”, and the combination of ink quantities in the ink set for reproducing the reproduction color on the print medium is termed the “color separation ink quantity set.” The ink quantity of the spot color ink included in the color separation ink quantity set is adjusted in accordance with a lightness parameter value which is correlated to lightness of reproduction color, so as to reduce ink quantity at a rate of change greater than the rate of change of the lightness parameter in the direction of increasing brightness.
US07715035B2 Generating a form for allowing handwritten interaction with computer software
A system for enabling user interaction with computer software. The system includes a computer system that determines information and an identity, which are at least partially indicative of a text field. The computer system then determines a layout defining an arrangement for coded data indicative of the identity and information, and transfers print data to a printer to thereby cause the printer to print a form by printing the coded data and the information. The coded data is printed to be substantially coincident with the information such that when a sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the information, the sensing device can sense the coded data and generate indicating data at least partially indicative of the text field.
US07715029B2 Printing support system for reducing environmental load, printing support program for reducing environmental load, and printing support method for reducing environmental load
A printing support system for reducing an environmental load that changes an input load of a print operation depending on data representing the environmental load includes: an environmental load calculation basis information storage unit that stores environmental load calculation basis information used to calculate the data representing the environmental load; a print request input unit through which a print request including a print setting is input; an environmental load calculation unit that calculates the data representing the environmental load on the basis of the print request input by the print request input unit and the environmental load calculation basis information stored in the environmental load calculation basis information storage unit; a print operation input unit through which a print operation for instructing to start printing is input; and a determination unit that, when it is determined that the print operation through the print operation input unit has been input more than a predetermined condition on the basis of the data representing the environmental load calculated by the environmental load calculation unit, allows printing according to the print request input by the print request input unit.
US07715028B2 Card type memory, image forming apparatus, and starting method therefor
A card type memory includes a file system for use in an image forming apparatus, outside the file system, an operating system that starts a program installed in the image forming apparatus, an image formation program that executes image formation, and a start program that starts the program are also included in the card type memory outside the file system.
US07715026B2 Method, apparatus, and system for non-contact manual measurement of a wheel profile
A method, apparatus and system for non-contact measurement of a railway wheel profile are disclosed herein. To measure the wheel profile, a laser having a distance displacement sensor and angular displacement sensor projects a beam of light onto the surface of a railway wheel to measure the wheel profile. In an alternate embodiment, a rail thickness measurement gauge is provided. In another alternate embodiment, a witness groove measurement gauge is provided.
US07715025B2 Optical displacement measuring apparatus
An optical displacement measuring apparatus includes a light source, a collimate lens, a mirror, and a truncated cone shaped prism, and includes an imaging lens and a pinhole optical device for extracting light parallel to an optical axis of incident light from light returned from an object through the truncated cone shaped prism, and an optical position detector. The truncated cone shaped prism has optical properties of converting only light returned to a truncated conical circumference surface at a fixed angle corresponding to an apex angle into light parallel to an optical axis of incident light. The parallel light is offset from an optical axis of incident light in accordance with a displacement of the object relative to the truncated cone shaped prism. The optical position detector detects an offset amount to measure the displacement of the object.
US07715021B2 Microscope and microscope microexamination procedure method for the measurement of the surface profile of an object
The invention provides a microscope for measuring the surface profile of an object, including (1) an illumination module which directs illumination radiation with different wavelengths to different surface portions of the object in such a way that a predetermined object intersection length range is illuminated for every portion, and (2) a detection module which detects sample radiation of every portion successively in time. Wherein the detection module directs the sample radiation into a detection beam path via a scanner and confocally images another wavelength of the sample radiation in a plane for every intersection length to be detected. The detection module also detects the intensity of the confocally imaged sample radiation in a wavelength-dependent manner and derives therefrom the position of the corresponding surface portion of the object. Wherein the detection module has a color module arranged between the scanner and the plane, through which the sample radiation passes.
US07715016B2 Image invariant optical speckle capturing device and method
An image invariant optical speckle capturing device and method. A highly coherent light is used to illuminate a surface and is scattered by the surface, and is captured from the direction with a ±10° from the angle of specular reflection. A light restrictive module is designed to confine the angular field of view of the sensor, when the speckle capturing device has a relative motion with respect to the surface, the speckle only move on the image but the shape and the intensity are almost keep constant, that is favorable for high accuracy optical pattern recognition and positioning.
US07715009B1 Optical instrument
An apparatus for measuring an optical property of a fluid. The apparatus may comprise a light source for projecting a beam of optical energy through the fluid and a reflector positioned opposite the fluid from the light source. The apparatus may also comprise receiver optics defining a receiver aperture. The reflector may be selected to under-fill the receiver aperture by a factor of at least 2.5. According to various embodiments, the apparatus may also comprise a reflector purge nozzle positioned at least partially between the reflector and the fluid. In addition to, or instead of the under-fill factor described above, the reflector may be selected to have a diameter less than a diameter of the reflector purge nozzle by a factor of at least 6.
US07715008B2 System and method of optically monitoring contamination of a machine component
A system and method for optically monitoring contamination of machinery includes an optical illumination source, a photodetector and an analysis module. The system and method can monitor a fuser roll, a fuser belt, or other printer module component. The optical illumination source can emit at least one illuminating frequency. The at least one illuminating frequency is configured to cause a contaminant marker to fluoresce at least one fluorescing frequency and is also configured to at least partially illuminate the machine component. The machine component contains the contaminant marker when at least partially contaminated. The photodetector is responsive to the at least one fluorescing frequency and detects the at least one fluorescing frequency emitted from the contaminated machine component. The analysis module is in operative communication with the photodetector and is figured to receive a signal therefrom. The analysis module is configured to estimate contamination of the machine component as a function of the signal from the photodetector.
US07715007B2 Lateral shift measurement using an optical technique
Alignment of layers during manufacture of a multi-layer sample is controlled by applying optical measurements to a measurement site in the sample. The measurement site includes two diffractive structures located one above the other in two different layers, respectively. The optical measurements include at least two measurements with different polarization states of incident light, each measurement including illuminating the measurement site so as to illuminate one of the diffractive structures through the other. The diffraction properties of the measurement site are indicative of a lateral shift between the diffractive structures. The diffraction properties detected are analyzed for the different polarization states of the incident light to determine an existing lateral shift between the layers.
US07715002B2 Method for classifying scientific materials such as silicate materials, polymer materials and/or nanomaterials
A method is provided for characterizing a scientific material, such as a silicate material, a polymer material and/or nanomaterial. The method can include the steps of irradiating a measuring light of a predetermined wavelength range into material specimens, recording the measuring light reflected and/or reemitted by the material specimens, determining a ratio depending on the wave lengths of irradiated to detected measuring light (spectrum), and numerical-mathematical processing of spectral data of single material specimens for determining the characteristic features of the material specimens.
US07714999B2 High resolution wafer inspection system
A method for inspecting a region, including irradiating the region via an optical system with a pump beam at a pump wavelength. A probe beam at a probe wavelength irradiates the region so as to generate returning probe beam radiation from the region. The beams are scanned across the region at a scan rate. A detector receives the returning probe radiation, and forms an image of the region that corresponds to a resolution better than pump and probe Abbe limits of the optical system. Roles of the pump and probe beams may be alternated, and a modulation frequency of the pump beam may be changed, to produce more information. Information extracted from the probe signal can also differentiate between different materials on the region.
US07714998B2 Image splitting in optical inspection systems
In an optical inspection tool, an image of an object under inspection, such as a semiconductor wafer, may be obtained using imaging optics defining a focal plane. Light comprising the image can be split into portions that are detected using multiple detectors which each register a portion of the image. The image of the object at the focal plane can be split into two, three, or more parts by polarization-based beam splitters and/or lenses positioned tangent to the focal plane. The splitting apparatus may comprise a pair of arrays of half-cylinder lenses comprising a convex side and a flat side. The arrays can be positioned with the cylinder axes perpendicular to one another and the flat sides facing each other. Thus, the pair of arrays can divide incoming light into a plurality of rectangular portions without introducing non-uniformities which would occur if several spherical lenses are configured for use in a rectangular array.
US07714995B2 Material independent profiler
A material independent profiler system and method for measuring a slope on the surface of an object such as a thin film disk, a silicon wafer, or a glass substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an electromagnetic energy source to generate a beam of electromagnetic energy, a polarizer to polarize the beam of electromagnetic energy into a first component having a first polarization orientation and a second component having a second polarization orientation, a radiation targeting assembly to direct the first component onto the surface in a first direction and a first plane of orientation, direct the second component onto the surface in a second direction and a second plane of orientation, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction, a radiation detector assembly to generate a first signal from a portion of the first component reflected from the surface, generate a second signal from a portion of the second component reflected from the surface, and a processor to generate a surface measurement from the first signal and the second signal.
US07714988B2 System and method for absorbance modulation lithography
A lithography system is disclosed that provides an array of areas of imaging electromagnetic energy that are directed toward a recording medium. The reversible contrast-enhancement material is disposed between the recording medium and the array of areas of imaging electromagnetic energy.
US07714986B2 Laser beam conditioning system comprising multiple optical paths allowing for dose control
A radiation beam conditioning system comprising at least three optical paths in which the radiation is conditioned.
US07714985B2 Projection optical system
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projection optical system that projects an image of a pattern of a first object onto a second object includes a first image forming optical system, a second image forming optical system, and a light-shielding member. The first image forming optical system forms an intermediate image of the pattern, and includes a concave mirror and a reflecting mirror. The concave mirror has a reflecting surface opposing the second object. The reflecting mirror directs light from the first object to the concave mirror. The second image forming optical system forms an image of the intermediate image onto the second object, and includes a lens. The light-shielding member is disposed between the concave mirror and the lens.
US07714984B2 Residual pupil asymmetry compensator for a lithography scanner
A uniformity correction system may be used as an actuator for the correction of asymmetry scan-integrated illumination pupil fill that varies in the non-scanning direction of a lithography system. Instead of minimizing asymmetric opaque element insertion, opaque elements are inserted into an illumination beam to introduce an additional pupil asymmetry into the illumination beam. The compensating pupil asymmetry substantially nulls the original pupil asymmetry. To introduce the pupil asymmetry, a first opaque element can be moved into or out of the illumination beam in tandem with a second, opposing opaque element. Iterative feedback of both uniformity and pupil asymmetry ensure that both are substantially simultaneously optimized.
US07714980B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and exposure system
An exposure apparatus has a projection optical system configured to project an image of a reticle pattern onto a substrate, and exposes the substrate via liquid supplied to a space between the substrate and the projection optical system. The exposure apparatus includes an oxygen removal unit configured to reduce dissolved oxygen in the liquid by bringing the liquid into contact with a gas other than oxygen, and a degassing unit configured to reduce a dissolved gas in the liquid.
US07714973B2 Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention prevents certainly disconnection and electrical short of a wiring pattern of a flexible wiring board, and enhances bond strength between a liquid crystal panel and the flexible wiring board. A liquid crystal panel is provided with substrates, a liquid crystal and external connection terminals formed on one substrate. A flexible wiring board includes a wiring pattern connected with the external connection terminals of the liquid crystal panel. An anisotropic conductive film electrically connects between the external connection terminals of the liquid crystal panel and the wiring pattern of the flexible wiring board. And the anisotropic conductive film is extended from a formation area of the external connection terminals to an outside area along the flexible wiring board.
US07714970B2 Liquid crystal display device having a pixel including four sub-pixels
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) device includes a white sub-pixel that has a smaller size than other sub-pixels thereby increasing the brightness and the color purities of the other colors, which improves image quality. An LCD device has the common and pixel electrodes on the same substrate and may be formed of a transparent conductive material to increase the brightness further.
US07714969B2 Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device having a first planar electrode and a second electrode formed on the first electrode with an insulating film in between, the response time of a liquid crystal is made shorter than that in a related art.A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate having a first electrode, an insulating film provided in an upper layer than the first electrode, and a second electrode provided in an upper layer than the insulating film; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device drives the liquid crystal by generating an electric field by the first electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode has plural slits closed at both ends, the first electrode is a planar electrode superimposed on the plural slits, and, given that the length of the respective slits is Ls, the length Ls of the respective slits satisfies 12 μm≦Ls≦30 μm, more preferably, 12μm≦Ls≦20 μm.
US07714965B2 Method of plasma beam bombardment of aligning films for liquid crystals
Methods for treating aligning substrates produces uniform alignment of liquid crystals in at least two modes. The method is based on the treatment of liquid crystal aligning substrates with a collimated or partially collimated plasma beam. In one embodiment, the method comprises a step of bombarding an aligning substrate with at least one plasma beam from a plasma beam source at a designated incident angle to align the atomic/molecular structure or the surface profile of the aligning substrate in at least one aligned direction.
US07714964B2 Transflective liquid crystal display
A transflective LCD having a transmissive area and a reflective area according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the first substrate and including a plurality of reflective electrodes having protrusion patterns and depression patterns, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a plurality of color filters formed on the second substrate and having a light hole in the reflective area, and a common electrode formed on the color filters. The size of the protrusion patterns in a first reflective area having the light hole is different from that in a second reflective area having no light hole, and the size of the protrusion patterns at the center of the first reflective area may be larger than that in the second reflective area.
US07714962B2 Homeotropic alignment type semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device has a pair of substrates disposed at an observer side and at the opposite side to the observer side, a plurality of pixel electrodes and an opposing electrode which are formed on the internal surfaces of the pair of substrates, a reflective layer, and liquid crystal sealed between these substrates. Each pixel electrode has a reflective display region corresponding to the reflective layer for reflecting light that enters from the observer side to the observer side, and a transmissive display region for allowing light that enters from the opposite side to pass therethrough to the observer side. A liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer is formed on the internal surface of the substrate at the observer side, for setting the liquid crystal layer thickness in the reflective display region to be smaller than the liquid crystal layer thickness in the transmissive display region.
US07714961B2 Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes: a first substrate including a gate line and a data line crossing the gate line, a pixel portion formed in a display region and electrically connected to the gate and the data line and a gate driving part formed on a first peripheral region and electrically connected to the gate line; a second substrate having a light blocking layer formed on an area of the second substrate corresponding to the first peripheral region; and a seal line formed between the first substrate and the second substrate to confine a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the seal line being formed in an area outside an outer peripheral edge of the display region, the area outside the outer peripheral edge of the display region being closer to an outer peripheral edge of the light blocking layer than to the outer peripheral edge of the display region.
US07714960B2 Liquid crystal display and substrate thereof
Disclosed is liquid crystal display, a substrate for a liquid crystal display and a method for manufacturing the substrate. The substrate comprises a transparent electrode formed on the insulating substrate, and a black matrix formed on the transparent electrode and performing the function also of protrusions. The method comprises the steps of forming a transparent electrode on a substrate, forming a black matrix layer, depositing a photosensitive material on the black matrix layer to form a photosensitive layer, patterning the photosensitive layer, and etching the black matrix layer using the photosensitive layer as a mask. The liquid crystal display comprises, among other things, redundant data lines formed on a same layer as the pixel electrodes; an insulating second substrate provided opposing the first substrate at a predetermined distance; a common electrode formed on the second substrate; and a protrusion pattern formed on the common electrode in at least regions corresponding to the positions of the redundant data lines, the protrusion pattern being made of an insulating material.
US07714959B2 Liquid crystal panel and projection liquid crystal display apparatus having particular light-shielding film
A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate having pixels defining a pixel region, and pixel electrodes and a common electrode disposed in the pixel region on the first substrate. The pixel electrodes are disposed for the respective pixels. The liquid crystal panel also includes a second substrate opposing the first substrate and a light-shielding film disposed on the second substrate. The light-shielding film includes a frame portion surrounding the pixel region and a middle portion disposed at least in the pixel region. The middle portion is made of a material having a higher specific resistance than the frame portion. The frame portion is made of a material having a higher light-shielding property than the middle portion.
US07714946B2 Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens and stereoscopic display device using the same
An liquid crystal lens for improving a viewing angle and reducing crosstalk caused at the center of an electrode in a multi-view stereoscopic display fashion using an increased number of views per a viewing zone, and a stereoscopic display device using the same are disclosed. The display device includes a display panel having a plurality of sub-pixels in a matrix pattern to emit a 2-dimensional image signal, and an electrically-driven liquid crystal lens located at an upper surface of the display panel and including lens regions having a crosswise width equal to “m”, a multiple of a crosswise width of a single sub-pixel and a lengthwise width equal to “n”, a multiple of a lengthwise width of the sub-pixel, the lens regions of one line being shifted more than the lens regions of a following line by a distance “a” when viewed from a column direction.
US07714941B2 Control system and controlled apparatus and control apparatus adapted to the system
A control system includes a controlled apparatus adjusting its operation based on a control signal from an independently cased control apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes an indicator light projector projecting indicator light in an invisible wavelength region so that an exiting direction thereof has a known regularity and change over time, a response signal receiver receiving a response signal in response to light reception from the control apparatus having received the indicator light, a relative position recognizer recognizing a relative position of the control apparatus to its housing based on the response signal, and an adjuster performing predetermined adjustment based on the recognition. The control apparatus includes an indicator light receiver receiving the indicator light, a response signal forming unit forming a response signal for the relative position recognizer, and a response signal transmitter transmitting the response signal toward the response signal receiver of the controlled apparatus.
US07714937B2 Channel equalizer and digital television receiver using the same
Disclosed are a channel equalizer and digital television receiver using the same. The equalizer comprises a channel estimator, a channel distortion compensator and noise canceller. The channel estimator estimates an impulse response of a transmission channel from a received signal. The channel distortion compensator transforms and processes the received signal and the estimated impulse response. The noise canceller predicts and eliminates amplified noise generated during equalization.
US07714934B2 Transmission method, transmission system, sending device and reception device
Digital audio data which have a predetermined packet structure are divided into units including a predetermined number of bits; each unit of the divided digital audio data is converted into specific data to be encoded; the encoded data are arranged in blanking intervals of video data; the digital audio data are transmitted as well as the video data using a transmission line for the video data, and the video data and the audio data may be simultaneously and favorably transmitted, adopting an existing video-data transmission format such as the DVI standard.
US07714933B2 Digital broadcast receiver and method for processing caption thereof
A digital cable broadcast receiver and a method for automatically processing caption data of various standards and types, is disclosed. The digital broadcast receiver includes: a demultiplexer for dividing a received broadcast stream into video data, audio data, supplementary information; a controller for determining whether caption data included in the video data is digital caption data or analog caption data on the basis of caption information included in the supplementary information, and outputting a control signal according to a result of the determining; a digital caption decoder for extracting and decoding digital caption data from the video data according to the control signal; and an analog caption decoder for extracting and decoding analog caption data from the video data according to the control signal.
US07714931B2 System and method for mounting an image capture device on a flexible substrate
A digital camera module includes an image capture device mounted on a flexible circuit substrate. In one embodiment of the digital camera module, the image capture device is mounted directly (e.g., by an adhesive) on the flexible circuit substrate. A stiffener (e.g., a piece of circuit board material) is mounted to the back of the flexible circuit substrate to support wire bonding of the image capture device onto the flexible circuit substrate and/or to support the mounting of additional components (e.g., a lens housing).
US07714930B2 Control method for digital photographing apparatus for efficient setting operation and digital photographing apparatus using the method
A control method for a digital photographing apparatus is provided in which one of operating modes associated with a button is set according to the length of time the button is pressed and a digital photographing apparatus using the method. The method includes setting a next operating mode in a forward direction if a first setting signal is generated by pressing the button and setting a next operating mode in a reverse direction if a second setting signal including the first setting signal is generated by pressing the button. Also, a system for controlling the operation of a digital photographing apparatus is provided. The system includes means for a digital photographing apparatus to operate in at least two selectable operating modes, means for showing the available operating modes in both a forward and reverse direction and means for selecting one of the operating modes.
US07714928B2 Image sensing apparatus and an image sensing method comprising a logarithmic characteristic area and a linear characteristic area
An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion characteristic having a linear characteristic area where an electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to an amount of an incident light and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light; an evaluation value detector for detecting exposure evaluation values concerning an exposure control based on a luminance information of a subject; and a central control unit for controlling the exposure based on the exposure evaluation values detected by the evaluation value detector. The central control unit includes an exposure amount control parameter calculating section for controlling an exposure amount in accordance with the photoelectric conversion characteristic using the exposure evaluation values and a dynamic range control parameter calculating section for controlling a dynamic range in accordance with the photoelectric conversion characteristic using the exposure evaluation values. Accordingly, a subject image can be picked up while an optimal exposure is made for the subject and a specified dynamic range is attained.
US07714924B2 Picture display controlling apparatus and picture display controlling method
Disclosed herein is a picture display controlling apparatus capable of improving the user's ease of operation upon selecting picture data on a small-size screen of digital cameras or the like. Picture data items held in a data holding unit (310) are sorted into picture groups. The location of the picture data item most recently displayed from any of the picture groups is held as a picture resume pointer in a resume pointer holding unit (320). With an operation input accepted from the user by an operation inputting device (340), a display controlling unit (390) causes a displaying unit (350) to display the picture designated by the operation input while effecting transition from the current display status retained in a status holding unit (330). If the operation input designates transition from a first picture group to a second picture group, the location of the picture data item currently displayed from the first picture group is placed into the resume pointer holding unit (320), and the location of the picture data item to be displayed anew from the second picture group is retrieved from the resume pointer holding unit (320).
US07714920B2 Solid-state imaging device driving method
Photosensitive cells each includes a photodiode (1), a transfer gate (2), a floating diffusion layer portion (3), an amplifying transistor (4), and a reset transistor (5). Drains of the amplifying transistors (4) of the photosensitive cells are connected to a power supply line (10), and a pulsed power supply voltage (VddC) is applied to the power supply line (10). Here, a low-level potential (VddC_L) of the power supply voltage has a predetermined potential higher than zero potential. Specifically, by making the low-level potential (VddC_L) higher than channel potentials obtained when a low level is applied to the reset transistors (5), or channel potentials obtained when a low level is applied to the transfer gates (2), or channel potentials of the photodiodes (1), a reproduced image with low noise is read.
US07714919B2 Solid-state image pickup device and camera
A solid-state image pickup device includes an adder adding signals from pixels to achieve a high S/N, while performing both static image and moving image pickup. The device has a pixel unit having pixels arranged two-dimensionally and outputs pixel signals derived by photoelectric conversion. The device operates in a first mode of reading a pixel signal of every pixel, and a second mode of adding and reading a plurality of pixel signals. Variable gain column amplifiers perform readout at different gains in the first and second modes. The device also has output lines where output signals from the pixels arranged in one line are outputted respectively, and at least one of the variable gain amplifier is connected to each of the output lines. The gain at the time of readout in the second mode is higher than the gain at the time of readout in the first mode.
US07714918B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of two-dimensionally disposed pixel cells each for effecting photoelectric conversion of an incident light; an electronic shutter scanning circuit for outputting to the pixel section a second line select signal for selecting second lines of a subject which an operation setting corresponding to an exposure time is effected; and a scanning control section for controlling selection of the first lines through the line scanning circuit, controlling, including as subject of selection the first lines and lines to be omitted in a skipping read, selection of the second lines through the electronic shutter scanning circuit, and controlling timing at which the pixel cells belonging to the second lines are reset in accordance with the exposure time.
US07714917B2 Method and apparatus providing a two-way shared storage gate on a four-way shared pixel
A pixel array includes a first photosensor for generating charge in response to applied light, a second photosensor for generating charge in response to applied light, and a first and second storage transistor having a common first storage gate respectively connected to said first and second photosensors for storing charge from said first and second photosensors in respective first and second storage regions.
US07714915B2 Solid-state image device having multiple PN junctions in a depth direction, each of which provides and output signal
A solid-state image device is provided which has a semiconductor substrate, pixels A each containing a photoelectric conversion portion in which at least two PN junction parts are provide in a depth direction of the semiconductor substrate, pixels B each containing a photoelectric conversion portion in which at least one PN junction part is provided, first color filters provided above the pixels A, second color filters provided above the pixels B; and a detection mechanism for detecting a first color signal and a second color signal from the two PN junction parts of each of the pixels A and a third color signal from the PN junction part of each of the pixels B. According to the above solid-state image device, light can be more efficiently used than a color filter separation method, and superior color reproducibility to that of a three-well structure can be realized.
US07714914B2 Method and device for the correction of the brightness of a raw image generated by a sensor matrix
The invention relates to a method for the correction of the brightness of a raw image generated by a sensor matrix, in which an intensity matching is carried out at picture elements defined by a line coordinate and a column coordinate and at least one intensity value. The intensity matching comprises the application to the intensity values of the picture elements to be corrected of two intensity corrections independent of one another, in dependence on the line coordinate, on the one hand, and in dependence on the column coordinate, on the other hand. The invention furthermore relates to an optoelectronic sensor comprising a correction device. This correction device is matched to carry out the initially described intensity matching.
US07714908B2 Identifying and tracking digital images with customized metadata
A method of tracking digital images includes inputting data identifying a subject of an image into a camera, acquiring an image with the camera, and storing the image and the inputted data, as metadata, in an image file when the image is acquired. The method can be implemented using a scanner, a digital camera, and a data processor. The scanner obtains the identifying data and transmits the data to the camera. The camera obtains digital images and embeds the data into digital image files encoding the digital images. The identifying data has a format different from any of the formats processable by the digital camera. The data processor converts the format of the identifying data to one of the plurality of formats processable by the digital camera loads the converted information into the digital camera as metadata.
US07714896B2 Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
An image processing apparatus that provides multiple services for users who issue various requests on a network, while maintaining the real-time nature of the apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a developing unit for developing image data to time-varying image data, an image processing unit for performing image processing of the time-varying image data, a network interface for sending out the time-varying image data processed by the image processing unit onto a network, and a network control unit for controlling the time-varying image data for which multiple different image processing operations have been performed by the image processing unit, to be outputted to the network interface within one picture period.
US07714893B2 Image stabilization mechanism and image pickup apparatus
An image stabilization mechanism moves a movable lens or an imager in first and second directions perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to a light axis of the lens or an incident light axis of the imager. The mechanism includes a support member for supporting the movable lens or imager, a base member, a guide shaft secured to the base member and extending in the first direction, where the guide shaft is disposed in an elongate hole formed in the support member in a slidable manner in the first and second directions, an anti-rolling member fitted into the guide shaft in a slidable manner in its axis direction and engaged with the support member in a slidable manner in the second direction so as to prevent rolling of the support member about the light axis, and two drivers for moving the support member independently in the first and second directions.
US07714892B2 Systems, devices and methods for digital camera image stabilization
Disclosed are various systems, devices and methods for digital camera image stabilization. In one embodiment, a digital camera captures a plurality of digital images of a subject simultaneously or near-simultaneously and stores the captured images in memory as individual digital data sets. While the digital images are being captured simultaneously or near-simultaneously by means of a plurality of rolling shutters, a relative position determination device such as an angular rate sensor is employed to sense and save to memory data representative of the relative positions of the digital camera at the moments the individual digital images or frames are being exposed. Spatial shift directions and magnitudes are calculated in a processor of the camera on the basis of such data, and then applied to the individual data sets to form aligned data sets comprising aligned data points. To compensate for camera shake occurring while the individual images were being captured, the aligned data sets are added together to form an output data set representative of an output image.
US07714886B2 Systems and methods for obtaining improved accuracy measurements of moving rolling stock components
Reference markers are attached to rails and/or other dynamically moving components of railroad tracks, and/or located at fixed and stationary positions adjacent to the track. When images of railway rolling stock are obtained, the reference marker(s) appear in the image. Accordingly, measurements of various aspects and parameters of various components of the railway rolling stock can be obtained at high precision and/or accuracy relative to the railroad track component to which the reference marker is attached and/or relative to the stationary position. The reference markers allow one or more images, obtained at some intervening time interval, to be accurately and precisely aligned relative to the reference marker(s) regardless of the dynamic motion of the railroad track component(s) and/or of the rolling stock that occurred as the images were captured. The reference markers can include optical, thermal or other indicia. The indicia have known dimensions and/or known distances from an image capture device.
US07714885B2 Endoscope imaging apparatus
An endoscope imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit in which an imaging optical unit that contains at least one optical lens in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed is airtightly joined to an imaging element unit that contains at least one imaging element in a rigid member the one end side of which is airtightly sealed through a tubular member to which a bellows portion having an elastic force is formed.
US07714882B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming process
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a photoconductor, a charging unit configured to charge the photoconductor, a writing unit configured to form a latent electrostatic image, a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image by developing the latent electrostatic image, the toner image forming unit having a plurality of developing devices housing a plurality of color developers for each color, a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto a transfer material, and a fixing unit configured to fix the transferred toner image on the transfer material, wherein the time spent by an arbitrary point on the photoconductor in moving from a position in which to face the writing unit to a position in which to face the developing unit is shorter than 50 ms and longer than the transit time of the photoconductor.
US07714878B2 Apparatus and method for multimedia content based manipulation
An apparatus and method for multimedia content based manipulation. The method comprises the masking at least one part of the segment of an interaction, said masking can include the hiding, blurring, or alternatively, the enhancing or focusing on a region of interest.
US07714874B2 Color management method and apparatus thereof
Disclosed are a color management method, an apparatus thereof and a color management computer program for executing the method that enable a user to conveniently and easily select and/or change colors desired by the user in diverse ways. The color management method includes displaying a color scheme list that is a list of color schemes for providing a standard for converting the colors that constitute an image, and if a selection manipulation of one among the color schemes that constitute the displayed color scheme list is input, storing the color scheme selected by the selection manipulation.
US07714870B2 Apparatus and method for selectable hardware accelerators in a data driven architecture
A method and apparatus employing selectable hardware accelerators in a data driven architecture are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of processing elements (PEs). A plurality of hardware accelerators are coupled to a selection unit. A register is coupled to the selection unit and the plurality of processing elements. In one embodiment, the register includes a plurality of general purpose registers (GPR), which are accessible by the plurality of processing elements, as well as the plurality of hardware accelerators. In one embodiment, at least one of the GPRs includes a bit to enable a processing element to enable access a selected hardware accelerator via the selection unit.
US07714869B2 Techniques for animating complex scenes
Techniques that enable users (e.g., animators) to accurately animate models in a scene without having to load all the models involved in the scene concurrently in computer memory. For a particular model that a user wishes to animate, only a minimal set of models involved in the scene that are needed for the particular model to evaluate correctly are determined and loaded into computer memory. Additionally, if a particular model is to be unloaded from computer memory, then all models that depend, either directly or indirectly, on the particular model and that are loaded in memory are also unloaded from memory in order to avoid incorrect animation.
US07714866B2 Rendering a simulated vector marker stroke
An apparatus, method, and article of manufacture are configured to display a vector marker stroke. A stroked fill of vector splines and polygons having faces along the spline are created based on a user input marker stroke. A stencil buffer is created indicating the number of vector faces incident at each pixel. When the number indicates that a pixel has overlapping faces, a pixel shader (that determines an opacity value for the pixel in a mask) is executed as many times as the number. When the number indicates that a pixel has at least one face and is at a beginning or an ending of the stroke, the shader is executed to add to the opacity value. A blur shading operation is executed on each of the pixels. The stroked fill is rendered and a wet color is rendered, using the mask, on top of the stroked fill.
US07714863B2 Multidimensional visualization of information and messages in a messaging system
The invention relates to a method and a computer program for displaying a plurality of electronic messages in a message system with the electronic messages being called up from one or more directories for electronic messages. In this case, a multidimensional diagram is first of all created on a graphics user interface, after which the electronic messages are converted to graphics symbols, and the graphics symbols are finally displayed on the multidimensional diagram on the basis of at least one characteristic of the respective electronic message.
US07714861B1 Method of producing electronically readable documents with updatable pie charts
A method for drawing pie charts illustrating comparative data on the display of a client computer in a client-server environment with horizontal parallel lines each having a height of one pixel. A circular or elliptical pie is first defined in an array of endpoints of a set of horizontal lines from which the pie is constructed. Each slice of the pie is assigned a start angle and a stop angle as a function of the datum that it represents and its proximity to other slices. Pixels on the horizontal lines forming the pie are then tested to define segments of the horizontal lines for inclusion in the slices. The pixels of each line segment are illuminated on the display to form an image of a pie with each slice proportional in area to its respective datum.
US07714859B2 Occlusion reduction and magnification for multidimensional data presentations
A method in a computer system for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, the original image being a collection of polygons having polygons defined by three or more shared edges joined at vertex points, the method comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region across which the magnification decreases, the focal and shoulder regions having respective perimeters; subdividing polygons in the collection of polygons proximate to at least one of the perimeters, as projected with the polygons onto a base plane, by inserting one or more additional vertex points and additional edges into the polygons to be subdivided; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation by displacing the vertex points onto the lens and perspectively projecting the displacing onto a view plane in a direction aligned with a viewpoint for the region-of-interest.
US07714858B2 Distributed rendering of interactive soft shadows
The disclosed embodiments relate to a rendering cluster that renders an image of a scene object. The rendering cluster may comprise an illumination node that produces illumination output based on lighting properties of the scene object and a material node that produces material output based on material properties of the scene object. The illumination output is combined with the material output to form the image.
US07714854B2 Method and apparatus for driving liquid crystal display device
A driving apparatus for a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of data lines and gate lines arranged in a matrix configuration, a data driver for supplying video data to the data lines, a gate driver for supplying gate pulses to the gate lines, and a timing controller for controlling polarity of the video data by supplying a polarity inversion signal to the data driver and controlling a timing of the data driver and the gate driver according to a number of horizontal synchronization signals supplied during a data blanking period, wherein a plurality of the polarity inversion signals are different from each other.
US07714853B2 Display device and method thereof
A display device and its method are proposed in the present invention. First, at least one input parameter sent from a host is received and the display device then produces an output image according to the input parameter for displaying the output image. The display device includes a scaling module and a digital display module. The scaling module receives the input parameter. Next, the scaling module receives an input image sent from the host to produce the output image in accordance with the input parameter. Finally, the output image is transmitted to the digital display module to display the output image.
US07714852B1 Systems and methods for blanking a display screen on a display device of a computer system
In an exemplary method, a filter driver on a computer system receives notification of an event during which a display screen on a display device of the computer system should be blank. An example of such an event is a remote management operation being performed on the computer system. The filter driver receives messages that are directed to a display driver for the display device. The filter driver receives the messages before they are received by the display driver. Some of the messages may comprise a power on message that, if received by the display driver, would cause the display screen to be powered on. The filter driver discards each power on message that is received during the event so that the display driver does not receive any power on messages during the event.
US07714849B2 Control of vehicle functions
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle utilizing a member such as a touch pad or touch screen for receiving inputs of the driver thereof, which member is generally located on the dashboard of the vehicle and may be plastic and curvilinear and may contain actuation devices such as knobs, sliders and switches. A computer analyzes data inputted by the driver and an active tactile feedback signal may be provided to the touch member to signal the driver.
US07714846B1 Digital signal processed touchscreen system
Digital signal processed touchscreen system. The invention employs amplitude ramped signals across a touchscreen. The pattern to which the amplitude ramped electric signals are provided may be located on the surface of the touchscreen, or alternatively on the backside of the touchscreen. The signal processing employed by the invention, using digital signal processing techniques, is operable to discern a user's touch and to determine its location. A dielectric, protective surface is used to enable implementation into a wide variety of applications, including those applications that are environmentally rugged and have, until now, been too rugged for prior art touchscreen systems. The invention employs a user generated unbalanced capacitive load generated on the touchscreen to identify the location of the user's touch.
US07714844B2 Dynamic self-switchable CPI resolution for an optical mouse sensor
An optical mouse employs an optical mouse controller and an optical mouse sensor. In operation, the optical mouse sensor generates an image sensing report signal indicative of a movement of the optical mouse over a surface of an object and communicates the image sensing report signal to the optical mouse controller based on a CPI resolution setting of the optical mouse sensor. To be responsive to varying applications, the optical mouse sensor detects a dynamic movement variable associated with the movement of the optical mouse over the surface of the object and controls a switching of the CPI resolution setting among at least two different CPI resolutions based on a detection of the dynamic movement variable.
US07714843B1 Computer input device with a self-contained camera
A method and system for visually tracking a point of contact of an optical output from a computer input device includes an internal camera configured to visually track the point of contact of the optical output against a surface and an optical source to transmit the optical output from the computer input device. The camera also transmits the position of the point of contact as a computer input. In one form, the computer applies the position of the point of contact as an input to an application operating on the computer, such as a gaming application. In one form, the camera can visually track the movement of the computer input device along a surface.
US07714841B2 Wireless mouse
A wireless mouse includes a rotatable backdoor, a damper and a clasping member. The backdoor has an engaging element. The damper is mounted onto the lower base and includes a rotary member. When the clasping member is engaged with the engaging element, the backdoor is closed. Due to the rotational resistance provided by the damper, the backdoor can be slowly opened.
US07714840B2 Positional scrolling
A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.
US07714836B2 Force reflecting haptic interface
A six degree of freedom force reflecting haptic interface includes three powered axes and three free axes, all of which are tracked so that the position of a user connection element in the work volume can be determined. The interface includes cable drives with polymer composite or metallic cables, automatic cable tensioning devices, and grounded actuator capstans. A nested hub and transfer drive provide a compact, weight balanced interface. User comfort and safety features are also provided.
US07714824B2 Multi-primary display with spectrally adapted back-illumination
Some embodiments of the invention provide a device, system and method for displaying a color image. According to some exemplary embodiments of the invention a device for displaying a color image may include an illumination source including a plurality of light-producing elements able to produce light of each of m different wavelength spectra, wherein m is equal to or greater than three. The device may also include an array of attenuating elements able to spatially selectively attenuate the light produced by the illumination source according to an attenuation pattern corresponding to a gray-level representation of the color image, and an array of color sub-pixel filter elements able to receive selectively attenuated light from the array of attenuating elements, each sub-pixel filter element able to transmit light of one of n different primary colors, wherein n is equal to or greater than four.
US07714822B2 Liquid crystal display device capable of switching scanning frequencies
A liquid crystal display device includes a noise-receiving module for receiving external noise signals, a liquid crystal display module, and a frequency-switching means for switching scanning frequencies of the liquid crystal display module according to frequencies of the noise signals received by the noise-receiving module.
US07714817B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device for reducing the number of lines of an organic light emitting diode panel is provided. The OLED display device includes first and second data lines; a power voltage supply line supplied with a power supply voltage; a gate line crossing the first data line, the second data line and the power voltage supply line; first and second organic light emitting diodes commonly connected to the power voltage supply line; a first organic light emitting diode driving circuit for driving the first organic light emitting diode with a data voltage from the first data line in response to a scanning signal from the gate line; and a second organic light emitting diode driving circuit for driving the second organic light emitting diode with a data voltage from the second data line in response to the scanning signal from the gate line.
US07714816B2 Display device, display module, electronic apparatus and driving method of the display device
To provide a display device which can apply a voltage at which an operating point becomes a saturation region even when a light-emitting element deteriorates without applying a voltage to a driving TFT and the light-emitting element larger than necessary. A monitor pixel has a monitor pixel power supply line, a first light-emitting element, and a first TFT, while a pixel in the display region has a power supply line, a second TFT as a driving TFT, a signal line which gives a signal to a gate of the second TFT, a third TFT, and a second light-emitting element. A potential of the monitor pixel power supply line and a gate potential of the first TFT of the monitor pixel are sampled to be set as a potential of the power supply line of the pixel and a potential of the signal line of the pixel, respectively.
US07714814B2 Method and apparatus for driving electro-luminescence display panel with an aging pulse
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for driving an electro-luminescence display panel capable of doing an aging operation upon driving.A method of driving an electro-luminescence display panel according to the present invention includes: a scan period when electro-luminescence cells formed at a cross of both a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines are line-sequentially emitted; and an aging period when an aging is performed in the electro-luminescence cells at the same time by applying a reverse bias, wherein the scan period and the aging period are repeated for each frame.
US07714813B2 Pixel circuit, display device, and method for driving pixel circuit
A pixel circuit, display device, and method of driving a pixel circuit enabling source-follower output with no deterioration of luminance even with a change of the current-voltage characteristic of the light emitting element along with elapse, enabling a source-follower circuit of n-channel transistors, and able to use an n-channel transistor as a drive transistor of a light emitting element while using current anode-cathode electrodes, wherein a capacitor C111 is connected between a gate and source of a TFT 111 as a drive transistor, a source side of the TFT 111 is connected to a fixed potential (for example GND) through the TFT 114, the gate and drain of the TFT 111 are connected through the TFT 113 to cancel the threshold value Vth, the threshold value Vth is charged in the capacitor C111, and the input voltage Vin is coupled with the gate of the TFT 111 from the threshold voltage Vth.
US07714810B2 Electro-optical apparatus and method of driving the electro-optical apparatus
The invention provides an electro-optical apparatus that can prevent a shift in a threshold voltage of an amorphous silicon transistor while driving an organic EL device in a pixel circuit including the amorphous silicon transistor. A characteristic-adjustment circuit can be provided, which has a function of returning a shift in the threshold voltage of the amorphous silicon transistor included in the pixel circuit to the original state.
US07714807B2 Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a driver supplying a first signal and a second signal to a scan electrode during a reset period of at least one of a plurality of subfields of a frame. The first signal gradually rises from a first voltage to a second voltage with a first slope, and then falls from the second voltage to a third voltage with a second slope. The second signal rises from the third voltage to a fourth voltage, and then gradually rises from the fourth voltage to a fifth voltage with a third slope.
US07714801B2 Foldable electronic device and a flexible display device
An electronic device, which comprises: at least two parts foldable in relation to each other, which can be turned into a first position and into a second position around a rotation axis; and a flexible display device, which extends over at least two foldable parts, covering them either entirely or partly. The flexible display device comprises: a folded position, to which the display device settles in the first position, and in which it folds around a first direction, which is parallel in relation to the rotation axis; and a curved position, to which the display device settles in the second position, and in which it curves around a second direction, which is transverse in relation to the rotation axis. A flexible display device can also be used with an electronic device.
US07714798B2 Nanostructured antennas and methods of manufacturing same
An antenna for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic radiation is provided. The antenna includes a body portion, which can be flexible to permit incorporation of the antenna into a material. The antenna also includes an aggregate of extended length nanotubes along the body portion, and a plurality of contact points between adjacent nanotubes to permit transmission of electromagnetic radiation, while reducing resistivity along the antenna at a high frequency, for example, above 100 MHz. A method of manufacturing an antenna is also provided.
US07714797B2 Phased array antenna
A phased array antenna for a telecommunications satellite, that is deployable from a retracted condition to a deployed condition when the satellite is on-station, comprising a base member of hexagonal form, and a plurality of deployable antenna panels stacked one on top of the other on the base member in the retracted condition, each antenna panel being connected to a respective side edge region of the base by means of a respective back flap hinge, and the hinges having pivot points that are offset relative to one another, such that the antenna panels can be hinged sequentially one after the other from the stick to a position in which each panel is adjacent a respective base side edge region to provide an extended flat two-dimensional area when deployed.
US07714781B2 Method and system for analog beamforming in wireless communication systems
A method and system for analog beamforming in wireless communication system, is provided. Analog beamforming coefficients are constructed by performing an iterative beam acquisition process based on beam search training, and determining optimized beamforming weighting coefficients based on the iterative beam acquisition process.
US07714780B2 Beamforming RF circuit and applications thereof
A beamforming radio frequency (RF) circuit includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of amplifiers and an adjust module. The plurality of antennas is operably coupled to interrelate a plurality of beamformed signal components with a beamformed signal. The plurality of amplifiers is operably coupled to interrelate the plurality of beamformed signal components with a plurality of adjusted signal components. The adjust module is operably coupled to interrelate coordinates of a signal with the plurality of adjusted signal components.
US07714778B2 Wireless location gateway and applications therefor
A system for wirelessly locating mobile station/units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments. MS location difficulties resulting from poor location accuracy/reliability and/or poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.
US07714775B2 Method for accurate auto-calibration of phased array antennas
A method and apparatus is disclosed that is capable of verifying on site the health, calibration and integrity of individual phased array modules of a phased array antenna system and, in certain cases, enabling the phased array antenna system to overcome element failures by use of a beam-steering computer. The present disclosure provides a test probe or RF radiator in or adjacent the antenna array for supplying and receiving test and calibration signals.
US07714774B2 False lock filter for pulsed radar altimeters
A false lock filter circuit for a pulsed altimeter is provided. The circuit includes a low pass filter having a relatively low bandwidth (LBW LPF), a low pass filter having a relatively high bandwidth (HBW LPF) and a false lock controller. The LBW LPF has an input that is coupled to receive a detector output. The HBW LPF has an input that is coupled to receive the detector output. The false lock controller is coupled to receive outputs from the LBW LPF and HBW LPF. Moreover, the false lock controller is configured to sample an output of the HBW LPF and apply a statistical analysis on the samples to determine if a valid target has been detected.
US07714770B2 Filtering NAGC response to noise spikes
A method and apparatus for dealing with noise spikes in a radar system is provided. The method includes monitoring a noise channel in the radar system. Controlling gain with a control loop based at least in part on the monitored noise channel and ignoring noise spikes detected in the noise channel when controlling gain with the control loop.
US07714768B2 Non-statistical method for compressing and decompressing complex SAR data
Provided is a non-statistical method for compressing and decompressing complex SAR data derived from reflected energy. The method includes selecting a first FFT to provide a target ratio of pixel spacing to resolution. A second FFT is then selected which is smaller than the first FFT. The data is zero-padded to fill the second FFT and transformed to provide at least one transfer frequency. This transfer frequency is then transferred to the at least one remote site. At the remote site the second FFT is inverted to restore the data from the received transfer frequency. The restored data is then zero-padded again to fill the first FFT. The first FFT is then used to transform the zero-padded restored data to provide a data set of points with the target ratio of pixel spacing to resolution.
US07714765B2 Synthetic aperture perimeter array radar
A perimeter antenna array for a radar, in particular a slope monitoring radar, formed from a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements and a pair of parallel linear arrays of receiver elements, together forming a rectangle of receiver and transmitter elements. Signals are switched to the transmitter elements and received by the receiving elements. The signals are processed to obtain signals for virtual elements located equidistant between transmitting and receiving elements. The signals from the virtual elements are analyzed to produce a radar image.
US07714764B2 Analog to digital converter which uses tunneling magneto-resistive devices
An A/D converter is provided. The A/D converter determines a digital output value according to the resistance of the TMR device, resistance of which changes according to the magnetic field generated by at least one electrode into which current flows according to an analog input signal. Accordingly, an A/D converter to implement high resolution and high speed with low power consumption can be provided.
US07714763B2 Circuit and method for preventing bang-bang error, calibration circuit including the circuit, and analog-to-digital converter including the circuit
A circuit including a comparing unit for comparing a target voltage with a stepwise-varying tracking voltage, a counting unit for counting a code according to the comparison result of the comparing unit and a control signal generating unit for generating a signal for controlling a counting operation of the counting unit.
US07714761B2 Voltage error correction system
A voltage error correction system includes a voltage converter, a first and a second analog to digital converters, a subtracter, an adder, and a digital voltage generator. The voltage converter adjusts an input voltage proportionally, adds the adjusted input voltage to a reference voltage to obtain a positive voltage, and outputs the positive voltage. The first analog to digital converter converts the positive voltage into a first digital voltage, the second analog to digital converter converts the reference voltage into a second digital voltage, the subtracter subtracts the second digital voltage from the first digital voltage and outputs a difference voltage, and the adder outputs a corrected voltage by adding the difference voltage of the subtracter to a compensation voltage.
US07714760B2 Apparatus and methods for direct quadrature sampling
Methods and apparatuses are provided for performing direct quadrature sampling. One method for sampling quadrature baseband components of a bandpass signal includes receiving a bandpass signal, sampling the bandpass signal using a first sampling clock and a second sampling clock, where the first and the second sampling clocks have the same frequency and are offset by a predetermined phase, and aligning the sampled signals temporally to produce in-phase and quadrature samples corresponding to baseband in-phase and quadrature components. An apparatus for directly sampling baseband quadrature components of a bandpass signal is also presented, which includes a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive a bandpass signal, a second ADC configured to receive the bandpass signal, where the second ADC has a clock having a phase offset with respect to clock signal of the first ADC, and an interpolator coupled to the first ADC configured provide coincident samples.
US07714758B2 Digital-to-analog converter and method thereof
An integrated circuit may include an operation amplifier, a first capacitor, a plurality of second capacitors, and/or a switching circuit. The operational amplifier may have a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and/or an output terminal. The first capacitor may have a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of the first capacitor may be connected to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier. The plurality of second capacitors may each have a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of each of the second capacitors may be connected to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier. The switching circuit may include a plurality of switches configured to switch in response to a plurality of switching signals. The switching circuit may be configured to transmit a reference voltage to the first terminal of the first capacitor and the first terminals of the second capacitors and/or connect the first input terminal of the operational amplifier to the output terminal of the operational amplifier during a first period. The switching circuit may be configured to isolate the first terminal of the first capacitor from the reference voltage, transmit a voltage selected from at least two selection voltages to the first terminals of the second capacitors, and/or connect the first terminal of the first capacitor to the output terminal of the operational amplifier during a second period.
US07714753B2 Scalable context adaptive binary arithmetic coding
One embodiment of the invention concerns performing renormalization in content adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) only after multiple bins are processed.
US07714752B2 Variable length coding method and variable length decoding method
An image coding apparatus provides a run-length encoding unit RLE1 that subjects quantized coefficients which are obtained by quantizing frequency components of an image signal to a variable length coding process by using a run value Run that indicates the number of successive zero coefficients and a level value Lev that indicates a value of a non-zero coefficient following the zero coefficients. The run-length encoding unit RLE1 includes a reordering unit Lreodr for reordering level values Lev; a variable length coder LVLC for coding reordered level values ROLev by using a code table that is selected according to the value of a quantization parameter QP; a reordering unit Rreodr for reordering run values Run from high frequency component of the quantized coefficients to low frequency component; and a variable length coder RVLC for coding reordered run values RORun by using a code table that is selected according to the number of already-processed run values.
US07714748B1 Systems and methods for constructing high-rate constrained codes
A high-rate constrained code is provided to encode/decode channel data. A transformer translates binary channel data into an arbitrary alphabet size. The transformer selects an indicator word and makes forbidden prefix substitutions in the data to be transformed. A finite-state encoder imposes some user-defined constraint on the transformed data before the data is transferred to the channel. The high-rate constrained coding technique may be used to produce high-rate DC-limited and run-length-limited codes. The high-rate code can be used in tandem with error-correcting codes.
US07714747B2 Data compression systems and methods
Systems and methods for providing fast and efficient data compression using a combination of content independent data compression and content dependent data compression. In one aspect, a method for compressing data comprises the steps of: analyzing a data block of an input data stream to identify a data type of the block, the input data stream comprising a plurality of disparate data type; performing content dependent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is identified; performing content independent data compression on the data block, if the data type of the data block is not identified.
US07714741B2 Method and system for performing operations and for improving production in wells
A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the operations responsive to signals from the identification devices. The method also includes the steps of providing a process tool, and transporting the process tool and the reader device through the well. The reader device is programmed to control the process tool upon reception of a response signal from a selected identification device. The method can be used to perform perforating processes, packer setting processes, bridge plug setting processes, logging processes, inspection processes, chemical treating processes, and cleaning processes. In addition, the method can be performed dynamically by controlling the tool as it moves through the well, or statically by stopping the tool at a particular location within the well. A system for performing the method includes the identification devices, the reader device, the process tool, and a computer or controller. In addition the identification devices can be placed in casing collars of the well and can be configured as passive devices or as active devices.
US07714737B1 Warning system for child left unattended in vehicle
A warning system for notifying another person when a child is left in a child safety seat. The system recognizes a child in a child safety seat by either a pressure pad or a secured child seat lap belt. The system is activated by the release of the driver's seat belt. Should a child remain in the seat when the driver's seat belt is disengaged, the system alarms notifying the driver of such. The alarm would include a calm audio output such as a lullaby, a song, or a story. The system can be integrated into the OEM features to provide an alert escalation process using a local alert, a vehicle alert, a wireless alert and ultimately a 911 alert.
US07714736B2 Adaptive filter algorithm for estimating battery state-of-age
A system for and method of estimating the state-of-age of a secondary cell utilizing an adaptive group filter algorithm, includes battery current, voltage, and temperature sensors, a communication device, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensors and device, configured to filter data by analyzing only sample data points from instantaneous charge or discharge events, selecting only a sample of n instantaneous points for further regression, including n/2 charge event points and n/2 discharge event points, and separately averaging the charge and discharge event points, and further configured to determine the state-of-age by determining a resistance slope based on the rate of current and voltage change between the averages of the points, and matching the slope to a calibrated scalar or relational database.
US07714735B2 Monitoring electrical assets for fault and efficiency correction
A system and method of monitoring a plurality of electrical assets comprise an electricity distribution infrastructure, including a plurality of electrical asset sensors coupled to the electrical assets for monitoring an operating condition of the electrical assets as well as any fault conditions. The sensors may include a current transformer for obtaining a current waveform, a GPS receiver for applying a synchronized time-stamp to the waveform data, and a mesh network radio for transmitting the time-stamped waveform data. Data from the plurality of sensors may be encrypted and transmitted over a mesh network to one or more gateways that are in communication with a central command processor. In response to an abnormal operating condition of any electrical asset, the central command processor may determine a probable fault location, a probable fault type, and a fault response.
US07714732B2 Optical switch
An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing, The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.
US07714730B2 Water activated safety light and flotation device using same
There is disclosed a flotation device such as a life vest or inflatable raft for keeping a user afloat when in water, the flotation device comprising a light source attached to the flotation device, a water activated switch, wherein the light source is illuminated when the water activated switch is submersed in the water, and a control panel mounted to an outer surface of the flotation device and comprised of at least one user activated switch, wherein the light source is extinguished when the user activated switch is depressed, the control panel having instructions printed thereon.
US07714727B2 RFID antenna design that can selectively enable and disable the antenna
Methods and apparatuses for assembling and implementing tamper indicating RFID devices are presented. An RFID device includes a substrate, an electrically conductive pattern formed on the substrate configured to operate as an antenna by separating a portion of a first device section from a second device section, and an electrical circuit mounted on the substrate that is electrically coupled to the antenna. The electrical circuit stores an identification code.
US07714724B2 Radio frequency identification device support and its manufacturing method
A radio frequency identification device support (2) featuring an antenna (12) screen-printed on a support (20) and a chip (10) connected to the connection terminals (17 and 19) of the antenna. According to a main characteristic of the invention, a thermoplastic layer (22) and a top layer of synthetic paper (24) are laminated on the antenna support (20) so that the antenna and the chip are trapped in the thermoplastic and the three layers (20, 22, and 24) cannot be separated and so that the device is resistant to water and humid environments.
US07714723B2 RFID dense reader/automatic gain control
A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.
US07714715B2 Apparatus and method for receiving emergency alert signals
An apparatus such as a television signal receiver provides an emergency alert function, according to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal receiver includes a first tuner for tuning a first channel when the television signal receiver is in an on mode. A second tuner is provided for tuning a second channel when the television signal receiver is in the on mode and an off/standby mode. The second channel provides emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency alert function.
US07714714B2 Systems and methods for situational feature set selection for target classification
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for improved signal processing within a remote sensor system. The system includes a detection component and a classification component. The detection component is adapted to detect an event. The classification component is adapted to classify the event based at least in part on a situation. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for improved signal processing within a remote sensor system. The system includes determining a situation, detecting an event, and classifying the event based at least in part on a situation.
US07714700B2 Ambient condition detector with selectable pitch alarm
The pitch of tones within tonal patterns emitted by ambient condition detector units and systems in the alarm or testing state is not always optimum to be heard by a wide range of users. An ambient condition detector outputs an alarm comprising a tonal pattern whereby a user can select at least one pitch tone emitted within a tonal pattern alarm when the detector senses an ambient condition. Options include verbal output.
US07714693B2 Slow blow fuse and electric junction box
A fuse element comprising a pair of female terminal portions into which the other pair of terminals is plugged, and which are disposed in parallel, and a blowout portion for coupling the pair of female terminal portions in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the other pair of terminals is plugged. A slow blow fuse comprising the fuse element accommodated in a housing made of an insulating resin and is provided with the insertion ports in which the other pair of terminals is plugged into the pair of the female terminal portions in the opposed surfaces of the housing.
US07714690B2 Coil component
A coil component has a first coil part and a second coil part, a middle member, and a shield member. Each of the first and second coil parts includes a drum core and a winding. The middle member is located between the first and second coil parts arranged in a state in which axes of winding drums in the respective first and second coil parts are parallel to each other. The shield member is formed at least in part of an outside surface of the winding in each of the first and second coil parts and is a resin containing a magnetic material powder. The magnetic permeability of the middle member is lower than that of the core and the shield member.
US07714689B1 Transformer structure
A transformer structure includes an iron core set, a main bobbin, and two sub-bobbins. The main bobbin includes a primary winding area for winding a first coil, a main bobbin through hole longitudinally mounted in and penetrating through the main bobbin, and two assembling troughs respectively formed at two ends of the main bobbin through hole. The two sub-bobbins are respectively accommodated in the two assembling troughs and respectively include a secondary winding area for winding a second coil and a sub-bobbin through hole communicated with the main bobbin through hole for penetrating the iron core set. Therefore, the sub-bobbins are mounted in two extended assembling troughs of the main bobbin, the first coil is wound on the primary winding area at the outer side of the main bobbin, and the first coil is separated from the second coils not only by horizontal distance but also by the assembling troughs.
US07714687B2 Transformer
In a transformer including a coil part having a first bobbin to which a coil is mounted, a second bobbin to be fitted to the first bobbin combined to each other, the coil part being sandwiched between magnetic cores from above and below, the first bobbin includes at least one lead drawing through holes on a periphery on the inner peripheral side of a coil mounting surface, and at least one of coil-drawn-leads of the coil is drawn through the lead drawing through hole. With this transformer, coming out of the coil-drawn-lead, displacement, and erroneous wiring are prevented, and hence the inserting capability of the coil is improved. Therefore, the workability is remarkably improved, and hence a product which is low in price can be provided.
US07714675B2 All digital Class-D modulator and its saturation protection techniques
Methods and systems for modulating an input electrical signal are disclosed and may comprise modulating input signals utilizing a digital Class-D modulator and generating a digital output signal that is proportional to the input signals. The digital Class-D modulator may be comprised of four stages. To avoid integrator saturation, the output of at least one integrator stage may be limited by utilizing limiters in integrator feedback loops. The digital Class-D modulator utilizes a pulse width modulation technique. For increased signal to noise ratio (SNR) at a desired output power, the magnitude of a triangular waveform oscillator voltage may be greater than the magnitude of an integrated input signal. The digital output signal may be fed back to an input of at least one of the four stages in the digital Class-D modulator. The triangular waveform oscillator frequency may be adjusted to match desired output frequency.
US07714673B2 Control method for operation modes of oscillator and the apparatus thereof
The present invention relates to a control method for the operation modes of an oscillator and the apparatus thereof, for which the method and the apparatus can be applied to the electronic circuits with multi-operation modes of the oscillator so as to correctly choose the desirable oscillator operation mode. Furthermore, an oscillator checking circuit sets up the oscillation mode automatically and judges if the oscillator operates properly. Hence, there is no need for the user to set up the oscillator operation mode manually.
US07714669B2 Phase alignment circuit for a TDC in a DPLL
The present disclosure relates to circuits and methods for accelerating a new frequency lock-in process of a digital phase-locked loop.
US07714658B1 Method and system for variable-gain amplifier
Method for a variable-gain amplifier (VGA). A plurality of attenuator nodes is serially connected via a first set of resistors between adjacent attenuator nodes to form an attenuator ladder and coupled to an AC input of the variable-gain amplifier. Each of the attenuator nodes includes a transistor and an RC circuitry that couples drain, gate, and source terminals of the transistor to a control signal for the attenuator node. The VGA also includes an amplifier that has an output produced based on an input to the amplifier connected to a plurality of coupled terminals, each of which is respectively from one of the plurality of attenuator nodes. The RC circuitry for each attenuator node is configured to pass a control signal to the gate terminal of the transistor of the attenuator node in accordance with a first time scale and permit the gate terminal to float in accordance with a second time scale so as to yield a reduction of distortion contributed by the transistor while the transistor is transitioning between on and off states.
US07714656B2 Operational amplifier
An operational amplifier including an input amplifier configured to amplify at least one differential input signal, a first common mode feedback amplifier configured to amplify a first common mode voltage, a cascode amplifier configured to cascode-amplify output signals from the input amplifier and the first common mode feedback amplifier, a first common mode voltage generator configured to generate a central voltage of the output signal from the cascode amplifier and input the central voltage to the first common mode feedback amplifier, and a frequency compensator configured to feedback the output signal of the cascode amplifier to the first common mode feedback amplifier so as to compensate a frequency of the first common mode feedback amplifier.
US07714653B2 Differential amplifier
A differential amplifier includes: a constant current source; first and second field effect transistors whose respective gates are imparted with positive-phase and negative-phase input signals and whose sources commonly connected to each other, the constant current source being connected to a common node of the sources; first and second loads serving as current paths for respective drain currents of the first and second field effect transistors; an amplifying unit which outputs positive-phase and negative-phase output signals which are amplified in response to the respective drain voltages of the first and second field effect transistors; and a current path generator which generates first and second current paths parallel to the respective first and second field effect transistors for a predetermined period of time at the time of start-up of the differential amplifier.
US07714652B2 Method for adjusting threshold voltage and circuit therefor
A method and circuit for changing a threshold voltage of a transistor. The circuit includes a sense circuit coupled to a switching transistor, a circuit transistor and to one terminal of a resistor. The other terminal of the resistor is connected to a body contact. The switching transistor directs current along one of two different paths in response to an input voltage sensed by the sense circuit. When the switching transistor directs a first current along one path, the first current is steered towards the resistor and flows through the resistor in one direction and when the switching transistor directs a second current along the other path, the second current is directed towards the resistor and flows through the resistor in the opposite direction from the first current. Steering the currents varies the potential of a body with respect to the potential at the source of the circuit transistor.
US07714650B2 Method and device for performing offset cancellation in an amplifier using floating-gate transistors
An operational amplifier including: a differential pair of transistors coupled to a pair of input signals; and a pair of floating-gate transistors coupled to the differential pair of transistors, wherein the pair of floating-gate transistors are operable for reducing an offset voltage of the operational amplifier.
US07714648B2 Amplifying system
The performance of an amplifying system is improved by achieving adequate matching. The amplifying system for amplifying signals includes distributing means 1 that distribute a signal, a carrier amplifier 2 that amplifies the distributed first signal in Class AB, a peak amplifier 4 that amplifies the distributed second signal in Class B or Class C, a first transmission line having a given electric length and being connected to an output of the carrier amplifier, a second transmission line having a given electric length and being connected to an output of the peak amplifier, and a combining end 18 for combining an output of the first transmission line and an output of the second transmission line. An impedance of the combining end is differentiated from a parallel impedance of load impedances of the carrier amplifier and the peak amplifier at the maximum power converted respectively by the first transmission line and the second transmission line, or is set as a parallel impedance in which the load impedances of the carrier amplifier and the peak amplifier at the maximum power are changed.
US07714643B1 Tuning of analog filters
Apparatus and methods tune analog filters that are parts of systems. When an analog filter is inserted into a system, the analog filter can be difficult to tune because of the difficulty in observing the analog filter's characteristics without being interfered by other circuits in the system. In one embodiment, analog filters are bypassed, and a response is determined. To this response, a time-invariant digital filter is applied to generate a reference response, such as an ideal response. The analog filters are then enabled and adjusted so that the difference between the response of the system and the reference response is minimized. This technique can be applied to arbitrary-order analog filters and can be used even when other circuits affect the observed filter response.
US07714642B2 Integrated virtual voltage circuit
The present invention provides an integrated virtual voltage circuit for use with a sub-circuit. In one embodiment, the integrated virtual voltage circuit includes a MOS transistor switch coupled to a supply voltage and configured to employ a drain to provide an operating voltage for the sub-circuit during switch activation. Additionally, the integrated virtual voltage circuit also includes a connection unit coupled to the MOS transistor switch and configured to provide a standby voltage for the sub-circuit during deactivation of the MOS transistor switch wherein the standby voltage is based on a static coupling of the drain to a body region of the MOS transistor switch. In an alternative embodiment, the connection unit is further configured to connect a voltage reference between the supply voltage and the drain of the MOS transistor switch to determine the standby voltage.
US07714641B2 Voltage regulator arrangement
A voltage regulator arrangement having a first voltage regulator, whose input connection is connected to the supply potential connection and whose output connection is connected to a first supply potential connection of a circuit arrangement, with the first voltage regulator supplying the circuit arrangement with a supply voltage in a rest state. A second voltage regulator is also provided, whose input connection is connected to the supply potential connection, and whose output connection is connected to a second supply potential connection of the circuit arrangement, with the second voltage regulator supplying the circuit arrangement with a supply voltage during its normal operation.
US07714636B2 Charge pump circuit and cell thereof
A charge pump cell with an input and output nodes includes a first, second, and third equalization units, and a first, second, and third capacitors. The input node is coupled to the inputs of the first, second and third equalization units, and the output node is coupled to the second equalization unit. One end of the second capacitor is coupled to the control end of the first equalization unit for enabling or disabling the first equalization unit, and also coupled to the output of the third equalization unit. One end of the third capacitor is coupled to the output of the second equalization unit. One end of the first capacitor is coupled to the control ends of the second and third equalization units, and also coupled to the output of the first equalization unit.
US07714634B2 Pseudo-differential active RC integrator
A pseudo-differential active RC integrator is described. The pseudo-differential active RC integrator includes a common-mode feedback sub-circuit to control the common-mode output signal of the integrator. The common-mode feedback subcircuit may be coupled to one or more virtual ground nodes of the pseudo-differential active RC integrator, and may include one or more transconductors.
US07714633B2 Limiter and semiconductor device using the same
By using a stacked gate transistor including a floating gate in a limiter, a threshold voltage Vth of the stacked gate transistor can be corrected by controlling the amount of charge accumulated in the floating gate of the stacked gate transistor even in the case where there are variations in the threshold voltage Vth of the stacked gate transistor.
US07714632B2 Clock control circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same
A clock control circuit includes a first signal generation block for outputting a first internal clock signal, which is enabled after delay of a first time from a rising edge of a first input clock signal and has a high level pulse width shorter by a second time than a high level pulse width of the first input clock signal, and a second signal generation block for outputting a second internal clock signal, which is enabled after delay of the first time from a rising edge of a second input clock signal and has a high level pulse width shorter by the second time than a high level pulse width of the second input clock signal.
US07714625B2 System and method for fast re-locking of a phase locked loop circuit
A system and method for reducing the re-lock time of a phase locked loop (PLL) system, the system including a circuit having a capture control voltage module, a force control voltage module, a loop filter module, and a timer. The capture control voltage module compares the control voltage (voltage input of VCO) with predefined voltage levels during the lock time of the PLL and simultaneously stores the voltage level closest to the control voltage. The stored voltage becomes stable after the PLL has been locked. After power-down is applied and then released, the force control voltage module forces the stored control voltage on the loop filter in a very short time, thereby reducing the re-lock time of the PLL. The loop filter module stabilizes the control voltage. The timer then turns off the force control voltage module by sending a timeout signal after a pre-defined number of clock cycles.
US07714624B2 Method for controlling vertical type MOSFET in bridge circuit
A method for controlling a vertical type MOSFET in a bridge circuit is provided to reduce diode power loss and improve a reverse recovery characteristic. The method includes controlling a forward voltage of a built-in diode of the vertical type MOSFET to be a first forward voltage by setting a gate voltage of the vertical MOSFET to a first gate voltage, so that the vertical type MOSFET is switched into a first off mode; and controlling the forward voltage of the built-in diode of the vertical type MOSFET to be a second forward voltage by setting the gate voltage of the vertical MOSFET to a second gate voltage, so that the vertical type MOSFET is switched into a second off mode.
US07714622B2 Integrated circuit input stage
An input stage of an integrated circuit, includes a comparator for comparing the voltage of an input signal of the input stage with a reference voltage, and supplying a binary output signal the value of which depends on the result of the comparison of the input signal with the reference voltage. The input stage comprises a feedback circuit measuring a parameter representative of the operation of the comparator, and raising the reference voltage while the measured parameter reveals a faulty operation of the comparator.
US07714617B2 Signal driver circuit having an adjustable output voltage
Processor-based systems, memories, signal driver circuits, and methods of generating an output signal are disclosed. One such signal driver circuit includes a signal driver configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal and a transistor coupled to the signal driver that is configured to couple and decouple the output node and the voltage supply according to a control signal. A voltage comparator circuit coupled to the output node and the transistor is configured to generate the control signal to control coupling and decoupling of the output node and the voltage supply through the transistor based on a voltage of the output signal relative to the reference voltage.
US07714616B2 Semiconductor device and display appliance using the semiconductor device
In order to provide a semiconductor device having a circuit for operating normally even when the amplitude of a signal voltage is smaller than the amplitude of a power source voltage, a correcting circuit is provided before a digital circuit to be operated normally. As for a signal outputted from the correcting circuit, when a transistor in the objective digital circuit is required to be turned OFF, the correcting circuit outputs a corresponding signal, namely a first power source potential. At this time, the transistor is turned OFF. On the other hand, when the transistor is required to be turned ON, the correcting circuit outputs a first input potential. Consequently, the objective digital circuit is turned OFF when it is required to be in an OFF state while turned ON when it is required to be in an ON state. Thereby, the objective digital circuit can be normally operated.
US07714615B2 De-emphasis circuit for a voltage mode driver used to communicate via a differential communication link
A circuit for de-emphasizing information transmitted via a differential communication link includes a voltage mode differential circuit and a bi-directional current source circuit. The voltage mode differential circuit includes a first and second output terminal. The voltage mode differential circuit provides a first voltage via the first output terminal and second voltage via the second output terminal in response to a differential input voltage. The bi-directional current source circuit is operatively coupled between the first and second terminals. The bi-directional current source circuit selectively provides current in a first and second direction between the first and second terminals based on the first and second voltage.
US07714613B2 Level converter
A level converter includes a cross-coupled section for holding data and a first switching section connected in series with the cross-coupled section and supplied with a differential input signal. The level converter has a second switching section, a current mirror connection section, a third switching section, and an input/output matching evaluation section. The second switching section is connected in parallel with the cross-coupled section, and the current mirror connection section is connected in a current-mirror configuration with a transistor in the second switching section. The third switching section is connected in series with the current mirror connection section, and the input/output matching evaluation section is used to control a transistor in the third switching section by receiving the input signal and an output node signal.
US07714612B1 Integrated circuit with pin-selectable mode of operation and level-shift functionality and related apparatus, system, and method
An apparatus includes a digital interface circuit configured to provide a digital interface. The digital interface is configurable based on a mode of operation of the digital interface circuit. The apparatus also includes input and output level-shift circuits. The input level-shift circuit is configured to shift a voltage level of an input signal for the digital interface circuit. The output level-shift circuit is configured to shift a voltage level of an output signal from the digital interface circuit. The input level-shifting and the output level-shifting are based on first and second level-shift input voltages. The apparatus further includes a mode detector configured to identify at least two modes of operation for the digital interface circuit based on the first and second level-shift input voltages. For example, the digital interface circuit could be configured to function as a serial or parallel interface depending on which level-shift input voltage is greater.
US07714608B1 Temperature-independent, linear on-chip termination resistance
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit, such as an FPGA, has one or more programmable termination schemes, each having a plurality of resistive termination legs connected in parallel, and a calibration circuit designed to control each termination scheme for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. A sense element in the calibration circuit and each resistive leg in each termination scheme has a transistor-based transmission gate connected in series with a non-silicided poly (NSP) resistor. The negative temperature coefficient of resistivity of each NSP resistor offsets the positive temperature coefficient of resistivity of the corresponding transmission gate to provide a temperature-independent sense element and temperature-independent termination legs. The temperature-independence and constant IV characteristic of the sense element and termination legs enable a single calibration circuit to simultaneously control multiple termination schemes operating at different termination voltage levels.
US07714606B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A plurality of MOS transistors each having an SOI structure includes, in mixed form, those brought into body floating and whose body voltages are fixed and variably set. When a high-speed operation is expected in a logic circuit in which operating power is relatively a low voltage and a switching operation is principally performed, body floating may be adopted. Body voltage fixing may be adopted in an analog system circuit that essentially dislikes a kink phenomenon of a current-voltage characteristic. Body bias variable control may be adopted in a logic circuit that requires the speedup of operation in an active state and needs low power consumption in a standby state. Providing in mixed form the transistors which are subjected to the body floating and the body voltage fixing and which are variably controlled in body voltage, makes it easier to adopt an accurate body bias according to a circuit function and a circuit configuration in terms of the speedup of operation and the low power consumption.
US07714601B2 Apparatus for controlling substrate voltage of semiconductor device
Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus capable of raising detection sensitivity of a leakage current detection circuit and improving response. A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus has a substrate voltage control block that supplies a substrate voltage to an internal circuit and controls NchMOS transistor threshold voltage of the internal circuit, and a leakage current detection circuit constituted by a leakage current detection NchMOS transistor supplied with a high potential side supply voltage to a drain, that has a source connected to a constant current source, and that is applied with an arbitrary stabilizing potential to a gate in such a manner that the substrate voltage is controlled by the substrate voltage control block, and a comparator comparing the source potential of the leakage current detection NchMOS transistor and a predetermined reference potential.
US07714599B2 Integrated circuit burn-in test system and associated methods
An integrated circuit burn-in test system includes an integrated circuit and a tester. The integrated circuit includes operating circuitry, a heater for heating the operating circuitry, and burn-in test circuitry for testing the operating circuitry while being heated. A package surrounds the operating circuitry, the heater and the burn-in test circuitry. The burn-in test circuitry causes the operating circuitry to operate and generate data related thereto. The tester receives data from the burn-in test circuitry. The heater may be configured within the package to heat at least one predetermined portion of the operating circuitry.
US07714580B2 Shim for imaging magnets
An arrangement for producing an imaging region of increased maximum radial diameter in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising a solenoidal magnet arrangement (30) comprising primary magnet coils (32) arranged symmetrically about an axis (A-A) and a shim coil set.
US07714577B2 Method and apparatus for high-gain magnetic resonance imaging
A method and apparatus for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR). Imaging and/or Radio Frequency receiving coils include a ballistic electrical conductor such as carbon nanotubes, the ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, system designs with smaller static magnetic field strength can be constructed for the same quality of imaging, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost, as well as to enhanced imaging with existing MRI systems.
US07714573B2 Nuclear quadrupole resonance logging tool and methods for imaging therewith
An instrument for investigating properties of an earth formation includes a body housing a nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) probe, the probe having at least one coil wound around a core material and an electronics coupling, the body being adapted for insertion into a wellbore within the earth formation. A method and computer program product are provided.
US07714568B2 Power supply
A power supply is for receiving an AC voltage and outputting a DC voltage and an output current to an electronic device. The power supply includes an input module, an output module, a measuring interface, a measuring interface, and a switch module. The input module is for receiving the AC voltage. The output module is for outputting the DC voltage and the output current to the electronic device. The measuring interface is for electrically contacting with a part of the electronic device. The measuring module is for measuring the DC voltage, the output current, and a voltage and a current of the part of the electronic device. The switch module is for choosing one of the output module and the measuring interface to be electrically connected to the measuring module.
US07714563B2 Low noise voltage reference circuit
A low noise voltage reference circuit is described. The reference circuit utilizes a bandgap reference component and may include at least one of a current shunt or filter to reduce high and low noise contributions to the output. Further modifications may include a curvature correction component.
US07714562B2 Hysteretic switching regulator
A switching regulator circuit including a high-side switch and a low-side switch; an inductor having a first terminal coupled to a common terminal between the high-side switch and the low-side switch, and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the switching regulator circuit; a low-pass filter coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, where the low-pass filter is operative for generating a ramp signal based on the voltage signal present at the first terminal of the inductor; and a hysteretic comparator coupled to the low pass filter, where the hysteretic comparator receives the ramp signal as an input signal, and generates an output signal which is operative for controlling the operation of the high-side switch and the low-side switch.
US07714561B2 Driver for DC-to-DC converter with controller interface
A driver for a DC-to-DC converter that may utilize a flyback or buck-boost converter circuit. The driver includes a driver circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit has a sensor sensing an input voltage from a DC supply and generating a sensor signal to a driver selector. The driver selector compares the sensor signal to a comparison voltage to determine the type of converter circuit and then transmits a selector signal to a driver circuit where it is used to control one or more of the components of the driver circuit, such as the logic circuit which is used for driving the converter to regulate the converter output. The sensor includes a sense resistor along with a current-sense amplifier, which is adapted for connection to a high side or a low side of a power supply while still producing a substantially equivalent output voltage or sensor signal.
US07714560B2 Step-down switching regulator
In a control circuit which turns on/off the switching device elements included in a synchronous rectifier step-down switching regulator, a hysteresis comparator compares the detection voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of the step-down switching regulator with a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage. A light-load detection circuit detects whether or not a load is in the light-load state. A driver circuit turns on/off the switching device elements according to the pulse signal output from the hysteresis comparator. Upon the light-load detection circuit detecting the light-load state, the hysteresis comparator shifts the second threshold voltage toward the higher-voltage side by a predetermined voltage difference.
US07714554B2 Forward power converter controllers
This invention relates to control techniques and controllers for resonant discontinuous forward power converters (RDFCs).A method of controlling a resonant discontinuous forward converter (RDFC), said converter including a transformer with primary and secondary matched polarity windings and a switch to, in operation, cyclically switch DC power to said primary winding of said transformer, said converter further having a DC output coupled to said secondary winding of said converter, said method comprising: sensing a transformer signal, said transformer signal representing a voltage across a winding of said transformer or a resonant current in a winding of said transformer; calculating a resonance period of said RDFC from said sensed transformer signal; and controlling an off duration of said switch in response to said calculated resonance period such that a sub-harmonic oscillation in said resonant voltage across said primary winding is reduced.
US07714551B2 High PSRR linear voltage regulator and control method thereof
A linear voltage regulator comprises a transistor for converting a supply voltage to an output voltage. By directly monitoring the supply voltage and thereby rapidly responding when the supply voltage suffers a ripple, the linear voltage regulator enhances the stability of the output voltage.
US07714548B1 Adaptive switch timing circuits for zero voltage switching power converters
The subject invention reveals new adaptive gate drive timing circuits that are optimal for both sufficient energy and insufficient energy conditions for optimal turn on transition timing of a power mosfet in a zero voltage switching power supply. The circuit does not rely on a rectifier connected to the drain of the power mosfet to detect the zero voltage condition of the mosfet. The circuit relies on the detection of a discharge current in a capacitance connected to the drain of the power mosfet. Turn on of the mosfet is held off while discharge current exists and the gate of the mosfet is enabled at the instant that the discharge current drops to zero. In one embodiment of the invention discharge current of the intrinsic gate drain capacitance of the mosfet is relied upon as the source of timing information.
US07714544B2 Switching device for bi-directionally equalizing charge between energy accumulators and corresponding methods
A switching device for bi-directionally equalizing charge between energy accumulators, particularly between capacitive energy accumulators in a motor vehicle electric system, includes: an integrated starter generator; a first connection coupled to the integrated starter generator; a second connection coupled to an energy source; a controllable transfer gate having a first load current-conducting path connected between the first and second connection, and a controllable switching controller having a second load current-conducting path connected between the first and second connection in parallel to the first load current-conducting path. There is also provided a motor vehicle electric system with such a switching device, and the implementation and use of a switching controller in a transfer gate for such a switching device.
US07714541B2 Systems and methods for intelligent charging and intelligent conditioning of a high voltage battery
The technology described herein provides a stand-alone intelligent battery charger and intelligent conditioner for use with a high-voltage battery, such as those used in hybrid automotive vehicles. Additionally, in various exemplary embodiments, this technology provides a system and method for validating the capacity of a high voltage battery. Other comparable uses are also contemplated herein, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.
US07714540B2 Apparatus and method for detecting voltage of assembled battery
An assembled battery voltage detecting apparatus includes a sampling switch section which samples a voltage of each of single batteries, capacitors charged with voltages of single batteries, a transfer switch section to transfer a charge voltage charged in each of the capacitors, a ground potential setting switch section which, in the case of reading the voltage charged in the capacitor, connects a reference electric potential of the capacitor to a grounding terminal of a voltage detecting apparatus, and a voltage detecting circuit which controls a switching timing of each of the above switches, and then reads a voltage of each capacitor.
US07714535B2 Power storage device
In the field of portable electronic devices in the future, portable electronic devices will be desired, which are smaller and more lightweight and can be used for a long time period by one-time charging, as apparent from provision of one-segment partial reception service “1-seg” of terrestrial digital broadcasting that covers the mobile objects such as a cellular phone. Therefore, the need for a power storage device is increased, which is small and lightweight and capable of being charged without receiving power from commercial power. The power storage device includes an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave, a capacitor for storing power, and a circuit for controlling store and supply of the power. When the antenna, the capacitor, and the control circuit are integrally formed and thinned, a structural body formed of ceramics or the like is partially used. A circuit for storing power of an electromagnetic wave received at the antenna in a capacitor and a control circuit for arbitrarily discharging the stored power are provided, whereby lifetime of the power storage device can be extended.
US07714534B2 Multiple function current-sharing charging system and method
Multiple function current-sharing charging systems and methods are provided. Where first and second rechargeable power supplies are connected to a charging system, a first charging current is provided to the first rechargeable power supply and a second charging current is provided to the second rechargeable power supply. Upon detection of a predetermined charge level of one of the rechargeable power supplies, a third charging current is provided to the first rechargeable power supply and a fourth charging current is provided to the second rechargeable power supply.
US07714532B2 Battery charger and charge control method
Safety against error setting of a primary battery in a dedicated battery charger for secondary batteries can be assured even when the battery charger is of a timer type advantageous for cost reduction. A switching circuit (2) is connected between terminals (13, 15), and terminals (14, 16) are connected. Terminals (15, 17) are connected, and terminals (16, 18) are connected. The positive pole of a battery (3) set in position is connected to the terminal (17), and the negative pole is connected to the terminal (18). A battery discriminating circuit (4) connects to the positive pole and the negative pole of the battery (3) set in position; and judges whether the battery (3) is a primary battery or a secondary battery. Depending upon the result of the discrimination, the battery discriminating circuit (4) supplies a switching signal to the switching circuit (5) to turn it on or off. A capacitor (6) and a resistor 7 are connected in parallel between a timer circuit (9) and a ground potential. The switching circuit (5) and a resistor (8) are connected in series between the timer circuit (9) and the ground potential. Once the switching circuit (2) turns on, a constant voltage source circuit 1 supplies a charging direct current to the secondary battery.
US07714531B2 Power system and management method thereof
A power system including an electrochemical device, a load device, a power generator, and a charge/discharge controller of the electrochemical device. The electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte. The charge/discharge curve of the electrochemical device has at least one step, and a given step of the at least one step has an inflection point. A voltage corresponding to the inflection point or a point adjacent to the inflection point is set as a threshold value, and the charge/discharge controller is configured to control charge/discharge of the electrochemical device such that the voltage of the electrochemical device approaches the threshold value.
US07714530B2 System and method for controlling a synchronous electric motor, particularly for household appliances
The system (ECS) comprises a rectifier circuit (RC) to supply a direct current voltage (VB) as output; a driver circuit (DC) which is connected to a rectifier circuit (RC) and includes a plurality of controlled switches (SW1-SW4) which can permit passage of a current in the stator winding (W) selectively in one direction and in the opposite direction; a sensor (PS) which can supply a signal (H) which is indicative of the angular position of the rotor (R); and a control circuit (CC) which is designed to receive a signal (RS) which is indicative of the speed of rotation required (ωref) for the motor (M), and is connected to the position sensor (PS). The control circuit is designed to generate, from the passage of the rotor (R) to a predetermined position, a counting signal (N) which is a function of the time (t), and to reset this signal (N) when it reaches a predetermined value (Nref) corresponding to the speed of rotation required (ωref) for the motor (M); and then to control the driver circuit (DC) selectively on the basis of the position signal (H) of the rotor or on the basis of the counting signal (N), when the speed of rotation (Δ) of the motor (M) is respectively lesser and greater than the speed required (Δref).
US07714526B2 Control device for a closure member of a vehicle
The control device for a closure member of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: estimated load calculation means (8b) for obtaining an estimated load from a rotation speed, acceleration, and drive voltage of a DC motor (3) for driving a closure member (9); motor torque calculation means (8b) for calculating a motor torque from the rotation speed and drive voltage of the motor; reference torque calculation means (8f) for calculating a reference torque based on a stationary state of the motor torque; and pinching determination means (8c) for determining a pinching of an object based on the estimated load, motor torque and reference torque, wherein the pinching determination means determines that there is no pinching when at least one of the estimated load and the motor torque is below the reference torque even when the estimated load is greater than a prescribed threshold value.
US07714524B2 System and method for controlling multiple DC fans
A system and method for controlling multiple cooling fans is presented. The circuitry for directly driving each of the motors is removed from the motor casings, thus increasing air flow and reducing replacement costs should a motor fail. The system includes a common processor for centrally controlling the speeds of the motors and monitoring the performance of each of the multiple motors.
US07714522B2 Method and circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp
A method and a circuit arrangement operate a discharge lamp, such as a high-intensity discharge lamp (HID) or ultra high performance lamps (UHP). The discharge lamp has first and second operating phases with a higher first or a lower second frequency of the lamp's alternating current (AC). The operating phases are activated alternatively at defined intervals and for defined periods of time, in order to achieve a stable arc discharge and only a low burnout or rise in burning voltage of the lamp during its life by configuring certain forms of electrode tips.
US07714519B2 Illuminance stabilization apparatus for vehicle headlamp
An illumination stabilization apparatus for a vehicle headlamp is disclosed. The illumination stabilization apparatus supplies stable power to a headlamp using a SEPIC, thus increasing the lifespan of a headlamp, and reducing the dimming of light generated by the headlamp.
US07714518B2 Ballast for cold cathode fluorescent lamp
A ballast includes a drive circuit, a half-bridge inverter, a transformer, and a filter. The drive circuit is configured for generating a drive signal on receiving a power. The half-bridge inverter is configured for generating a power AC signal according to the drive signal generated by the driver. The power AC signal is fed back to the drive circuit, for determining a non-overlap time of the drive signal. The transformer is configured for generating a high frequency signal based on the power AC signal. The high frequency signal is configured for lightening a lamp, and maintaining the lightening of the lamp. The filter is used for filtering out noise in the feedback power AC signal.
US07714513B2 Electron beam induced resonance
We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.
US07714508B2 Plasma display panel with enhanced bus electrode alignment
A plasma display panel is provided. The plasma display panel includes a front glass substrate, a transparent electrode formed on the front glass substrate, a black layer formed on an upper part of the transparent electrode, and a bus electrode formed on an upper part of the black layer. The width of the bus electrode is less than the width of the black layer.
US07714506B2 Organic electroluminescence display device
An organic electroluminescence display device is disclosed wherein plural organic electroluminescence elements each having an anode, a cathode and an organic layer sandwiched in between the anode and the cathode, the plural organic electroluminescence elements including organic electroluminescence elements developing different colors in a row direction, and at least one of the organic layers having an outer edge of a conic section at an end portion in a column direction thereof, the outer edge of the conic section becoming narrower gradually in its width in a row direction of vapor deposition thereof toward an extreme end at an end portion in a column direction thereof. The organic electroluminescence display device can improve the vapor deposition accuracy and the degree of design freedom.
US07714502B2 Flat panel display device
A flat panel display device capable of implementing an ultra-slim flat panel display device having an improved aperture ratio by attaching two substrates having independently drivable OLED display elements respectively formed thereon to emit light in the same direction, without a separate sealing process, and preventing image sticking due to a reduction of lifetime of the emission layer, by using the OLED display elements in different uses.
US07714501B2 Light emitting element, light emitting device and electronic equipment
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element which can reduce defective operation due to crystallization of a compound. One of the light emitting elements of the present invention has a layer, which generates electrons, between a first electrode and a second electrode. The layer generating electrons includes a phenanthroline derivative represented by the general formula (1) and a metal oxide. The metal oxide shows an electron donating property to the phenanthroline derivative represented by the general formula (1). Herein, in the general formula (1), R1 to R5 individually represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen group, and further at least one of R1 to R5 represents a halogen group.
US07714497B2 Color liquid crystal display apparatus
Disclosed is a color liquid display (LCD) employing a transmissive color liquid display panel. The display includes a complementary color light emitting diode, which is one of a cyan light emitting diode (21C), emitting cyan light, a yellow light emitting diode, emitting yellow light, and a magenta light emitting diode, emitting magenta light, in addition to light emitting diodes emitting three prime colors, as a light source. The display also includes a complementary color filter, having at least one of a cyan filter CFC having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the cyan light, a yellow filter CFY having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the yellow light and a magenta filter CFM having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the magenta light, in addition to a tristimulus color filer, as a color filter (19).
US07714496B2 Field emission display device and field emission type backlight device having a sealing structure for vacuum exhaust
A field emission display device and a field emission type backlight device having a sealing structure for a vacuum exhaust are provided. The field emission display device is constructed with a cathode substrate and an anode substrate attached to each other and facing each other and a vacuum-exhausted panel space formed therebetween to generated a visual image. Also, the field emission display device is constructed with a sealing member disposed along edges of the cathode substrate and the anode substrate to seal the panel space. At least one inlet exposed to the panel space and an exhaust passage through which the inlet communicates with an outside of the field emission display device are formed in the sealing member. The field emission display device and the field emission type backlight device according to the present invention has a reduced number of manufacturing processes and is suitable for a compact, slim and lightweight design, and a large screen by having the sealing structure for the vacuum exhaust.
US07714495B2 Electron emission display having an optically transmissive anode electrode
An electron emission display includes first and second substrates facing each other, a plurality of election emission regions provided on the first substrate, a black layer formed on a first surface of the second substrate between the phosphor layers, and an anode electrode coupled to the phosphor and black layers. The anode electrode has a light transmissivity ranging from about 3% to about 15%. A method of forming the anode electrode includes forming an interlayer on the phosphor and black layer, depositing a conductive material on the second substrate, and removing the interlayer through a firing process.
US07714492B2 Electron emission material and electron emission panel having the same
An electron emission material includes an electron emission material main body, a base metal layer disposed on the electron emission material main body, and a thermal electron emission layer disposed on the base metal layer.
US07714489B2 Spark plug including ground electrode with arcuately curved face
A spark plug comprising: a center electrode extending in a direction of an axis of said spark plug; a cylindrical insulator which has a shaft hole, and which holds said center electrode in said shaft hole in a state where a tip end of said center electrode is projected from a tip end face of said insulator; a metal shell which holds said insulator; and a ground electrode in which one end is joined to a tip end face of said metal shell, and which extends from said one end toward another end, wherein said ground electrode has an inner side face which faces said center electrode, and an outer side face which is a back face with respect to said inner side face, said outer side face is formed as an arcuately curved face when viewed from a side of said another end in an extending direction of said ground electrode, and a columnar noble metal tip is joined to said inner side face.
US07714486B2 Angular velocity sensor and angular velocity sensing device
The present invention provides an angular velocity sensor in which higher sensitivity for sensors is available even with a smaller base portion. The angular velocity sensor includes a fixed portion fixed to the top surface of a sensor element supporting portion of a casing, an upper detection arm and a lower detection arm, each of them being connected to the fixed portion on sides opposite to each other and extending along a plane parallel to the top surface of the sensor element supporting portion, and a pair of upper vibration arms connected to the fixed portion in such a manner as to form a pair of arms with the upper detection arm in between and extending in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the upper detection arm.
US07714485B2 Piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device and information processing unit using the same
A piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device formed of a piezoelectric thin film of AlN on the +C plane and having the polarization strength of not lower than 0.63×10−20 F/V and an information processing unit using the same are disclosed. This is the result of the inventors having studied the factors other than the C-axis orientation affecting the electromechanical coupling factor and developing a method of improving the electromechanical coupling factor in view of the occasional fact that the electromechanical coupling factor cannot be improved by improving the C-axis orientation and the electromechanical coupling factor required for the piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device is not obtained. In such a case, the receiving sensitivity of the receiving system may be deteriorated and the transmission strength of the transmission system is required to be increased undesirably having an adverse effect on the power saving efforts.
US07714483B2 Fuel injector having piezoelectric actuator with preload control element and method
A fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator subassembly having a casing and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing. The piezoelectric element has an operating temperature range and includes a thermally contractive material having a negative thermal expansion coefficient over a second temperature range overlapping with the operating temperature range. A preload control element is coupled with the piezoelectric element and includes a thermally expansive material having a positive thermal expansion coefficient over the second temperature range. The preload control element maintains a constant preload on the piezoelectric element over a wide temperature range to inhibit temperature induced variability in operation, and can axially lengthen in opposition to axial shortening of the piezoelectric element, responsive to a temperature increase.
US07714480B2 Piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane sensor
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane sensor is provided, wherein a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body contains an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and a sulfide and the main component of terminal electrodes are contained near the surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. A voltage equal to or higher than a withstand voltage is hardly applied to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and consequently, the sensor is prevented from dielectric breakdown. In addition, the sensor is hardly electrostatically charged, and thus prevented from electrostatic discharge damage and attraction of dust, dirt or the like.
US07714479B2 Segmented composite rotor
A composite rotor for an axial airgap, permanent magnet dynamoelectric machine comprises a plurality of magnet subassemblies adhesively bonded together to form the rotor. Each magnet subassembly comprises a rotor permanent magnet and an optional spacer. A fibrous belt is wrapped around the periphery of each subassembly to provide high tensile strength at least along the radial sides of the subassembly. The belt is preferably infiltrated with an adhesive agent, such as an epoxy resin, that is used to bond the subassemblies. The rotor is thereby provided with high strength and low mass, making it suitable for use in a high-speed, high pole count electric machine.
US07714475B2 Multiple phase claw pole type motor
In a multiple phase claw pole type motor which includes: a plurality of claw poles including a claw portion extending in an axial direction and having a magnetic pole surface facing a rotor in a state of being separated from the rotor by a small gap, a radial yoke portion extending radially outwardly from this claw portion, and an outer peripheral yoke extending from this radial yoke portion in the same direction as the direction of extension of the claw portion; a stator core formed by alternately placing the claw poles in a circumferential direction so that a distal end of each claw portion faces the outer peripheral yoke of an adjacent one of the claw poles; and a stator constructed by sandwiching an annular coil with the adjacent claw poles of this stator core, a multiple phase claw pole type motor characterized in that the claw poles are formed by compacting a magnetic powder and are formed of a magnetic compact having a DC magnetizing property of its flux density becoming 1.7 teslas or more when 10000 A/m of magnetic field is applied.
US07714471B2 Magnetizing method, and motor and method of manufacturing motor
A motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is relative to the stator, and has a rotation axis. A magnet and a magnetic-material member magnetically interact with each other. The magnet and the magnetic-material member are provided for enabling the stator and the rotor to magnetically attracting each other. The magnet has a shape of a ring, and is coaxial with the rotation axis. The magnet has an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The inner circumference and an outer circumference have a common center. The magnet has a plurality of N and S poles alternately arranged along a circumferential direction thereof. At least one of boundaries between the N and S poles extends on a straight line out of the common center. A method of manufacturing the motor, and a method of magnetizing a raw member for the magnet are also disclosed.
US07714469B2 Motor and storage disk drive using the same
In the base bracket of the motor, the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket includes a first bottom-inner area arranged over a circuit board attaching portion of a bottom-outer surface to which the circuit board is attached, and a second bottom-inner area arranged other than the first bottom-inner area in a level axially lower than the first bottom-inner area. The second bottom-inner area defines a base of the concave portion arranged in the bottom-inner surface of the base bracket. A characteristic frequency of the disk storage device using the motor with the base bracket is preferably adjustable by changing the depth or width of the concave portion while the strength of the base bracket is preferably maintained.
US07714463B2 Device for controlling single-phase power conditioner for renewable energy system
A device for controlling a single-phase power conditioner for a renewable energy system is disclosed. The device comprises: a power system, providing alternating current (AC) utility power; a renewable energy system, using a natural resource so as to generate direct current (DC) power; a DC-to-DC converter, accepting the DC power generated by the renewable energy system so as to convert an input DC voltage of the DC power to an output DC voltage at a voltage level different from the DC input voltage; a grid-tied power conditioner, transforming voltage levels of the AC power and DC power; a controller, issuing a control signal for controlling the grid-tied power conditioner; and a load, consuming electricity by way of the grid-tied power conditioner.
US07714462B2 Composite backup-type power supply system
A composite backup-type power supply system can be configured and assembled to become a small backup-type power supply system or a large backup-type power supply system according to actual requirements. In a condition of a lower loading requirement, one power supply unit consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be selected to connect to a main power panel to form the small backup-type power supply system. When the load increases, extra N sets of power supply units each consisting of M+P sets of power supply devices can be added, and N+1 sets of power supply units are connected to the main power panel so that all the base power supply devices and backup power supply devices can be integrated to form the large backup-type power supply system.
US07714456B1 Road vehicle actuated energy device
A road vehicle actuated energy device for use in a path of a vehicle includes an actuator for transverse disposal in a cavity of a road across the path of the vehicle, wherein the actuator includes a bent member having a first end and a second end and when so disposed in the road the first end moves between a first position above the road and a second position below the first position, a rotatable drive shaft, a one-way clutch ring operably connected to the second end of the bent member wherein the one-way clutch ring has an inner opening configured to receive the drive shaft therethrough and engage the drive shaft in a manner to cause one-way rotation thereof when the first end is moved from the first position to the second position and freely releases the drive shaft when moving from the second position to the first position and an energy generator operably connected to the drive shaft in a manner to generate energy upon rotation of the drive shaft.
US07714455B2 Semiconductor packages and methods of fabricating the same
Provided are semiconductor packages and methods of fabricating the same. An exemplary semiconductor package includes a die pad including a dimple filled with an insulating material in an upper surface or a lower surface thereof. A semiconductor chip is mounted on the upper surface of the first die pad. A package body encapsulates the first die pad and the first semiconductor chip and includes a pinhole. A bottom surface of the pinhole terminates at the insulating material.
US07714453B2 Interconnect structure and formation for package stacking of molded plastic area array package
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for improved integrated circuit packages are described. An integrated circuit (IC) package includes a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, an IC die, a plurality of conductive elements, and an encapsulating material. The substrate has a plurality of contact pads on the first surface that are electrically coupled to a plurality of electrically conductive features on the second surface. The plurality of conductive elements is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The IC die is located on the first surface of the substrate. The encapsulating material encapsulates the IC die and a portion of each element of the plurality of conductive elements.
US07714451B2 Semiconductor package system with thermal die bonding
A semiconductor package system includes providing a substrate having a plurality of thermal vias extending through the substrate. A solder mask is positioned over the plurality of thermal vias. A plurality of thermally conductive bumps is formed on at least some of the plurality of thermal vias using the solder mask. An integrated circuit die is attached to the plurality of thermally conductive bumps. An encapsulant encapsulates the integrated circuit die.
US07714446B2 Single mask via method and device
A method of connecting elements such as semiconductor devices and a device having connected elements such as semiconductor devices. A first element having a first contact structure is bonded to a second element having a second contact structure. A single mask is used to form a via in the first element to expose the first contact and the second contact. The first contact structure is used as a mask to expose the second contact structure. A contact member is formed in contact with the first and second contact structures. The first contact structure may have an aperture or gap through which the first and second contact structures are connected. A back surface of the first contact structure may be exposed by the etching.
US07714444B2 Conductive resin composition, connection method between electrodes using the same, and electric connection method between electronic component and circuit substrate using the same
The present invention provides a conductive resin composition for connecting electrodes electrically, in which metal particles are dispersed in a flowing medium, wherein the flowing medium includes a first flowing medium that has relatively high wettability with the metal particles and a second flowing medium that has relatively low wettability with the metal particles, and the first flowing medium and the second flowing medium are dispersed in a state of being incompatible with each other. Thereby, a flip chip packaging method that can be applied to flip chip packaging of LSI and has high productivity and high reliability is provided.
US07714440B2 Metal interconnection structure of a semiconductor device having low resistance and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a metal interconnection structure of a semiconductor device, including a first metal film pattern disposed on an upper part of an insulation film of a semiconductor substrate; an intermetallic dielectric film having a metal contact plug in which a barrier layer, a metal film for contact plug and a second metal film are sequentially disposed, on the first metal film pattern; and a second metal film pattern disposed on the metal contact plug and intermetallic dielectric film and connected to the metal contact plug.
US07714438B2 Bistable molecular mechanical devices with a band gap change activated by an electrical field for electronic switching, gating, and memory applications
Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device or a pair of electrodes to which the molecular system is linked by linking moieties. The crossed-wire device comprises a pair of crossed wires that form a junction where one wire crosses another at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species connecting the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The connector species comprises the molecular system, which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in its electrical conductivity, that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible electronic switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits, which provide memory, logic, and communication functions.
US07714437B2 Semiconductor device and method for mounting semiconductor chip
A semiconductor device includes a rigid substrate, a flexible solid-state image sensor and bumps. The bumps are aligned along a pair of opposing edges of the rigid substrate, and the diameter of the bumps gradually increases from the center to the ends of the edges. Owing to the difference in diameter of the bumps, the solid-state image sensor is curved convexly to the rigid substrate.
US07714433B2 Piezoelectric cooling of a semiconductor package
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a semiconductor package having a plurality of fan blades embedded within a first surface of the package, where a first group of the fan blades extend from a first side of the package and a second group of the fan blades extend from a second side of semiconductor package. The fan blades may be powered by piezoelectric devices to cause motion of the fan blades. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07714428B2 High power semiconductor package and method of making the same
A high power semiconductor package includes a substrate including a base metal layer, a base insulation layer formed on the base metal layer, and a plurality of conductive patterns formed on the base insulation layer. In one embodiment one or more high power semiconductor chips are mounted on the substrate, each including a plurality of bonding pads, one or more first package leads having end portions that are electrically connected to the corresponding conductive patterns, and a second lead having an end portion electrically which may be connected to either the base insulation layer or the base metal layer.
US07714424B2 Stacked-type semiconductor package
Corresponding parts to a first path portion in a first signal transmission path to a first semiconductor chip are an interconnection member and a second path portion a second signal transmission path to a second semiconductor chip and are not formed on the first tape. An electric length of the second signal transmission path is allowed to be adjusted independently of the first tape, so that the electric length of the second signal transmission path can be easily made equal to or substantially equal to that of the first signal transmission path.
US07714421B2 Small structure and method for fabricating the same
A small structure which uses bonding wires to prevent disturbance and provide support and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The small structure includes a floating body having a plurality of first contact pads, a base having a plurality of second contact pads, and a plurality of bonding wires electrically connecting the first and second contact pads and elastically supporting the floating body. The method of fabricating the small structure includes preparing a base, forming a sacrificial layer on the base, disposing a floating body on the sacrificial layer, connecting the base and the floating body with bonding wires, and removing the sacrificial layer. Thereby, fabrication costs of the small structure are reduced.
US07714419B2 Integrated circuit package system with shielding
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing an elevated tiebar; forming a die paddle connected to the elevated tiebar; attaching an integrated circuit die over the die paddle adjacent the elevated tiebar; attaching a shield over the elevated tiebar and the integrated circuit die; and forming an encapsulant over a portion of the elevated tiebar, the die paddle, and the integrated circuit die.
US07714418B2 Leadframe panel
An improved leadframe panel suitable for use in packaging IC dice is described. The described leadframe panel is configured such that the amount of leadframe material that is removed during singulation of the leadframe panel is reduced.
US07714417B2 Substrate for mounting semiconductor element and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor element mounting substrate 101 including: a base substrate 1 having a region 2 for mounting a semiconductor element 11, the region 2 being set on the major surface of the base substrate 1; a plurality of wiring patterns 3 formed on the base substrate 1 and connected to the semiconductor element 11; and a dummy pattern 8 formed like a frame in the region 2 for mounting the semiconductor element 11 and not connected to the wiring patterns 3.
US07714415B2 Leadframe structures for semiconductor packages
A semiconductor package includes a lead structure upon which a semiconductor die is mounted with at least some portion of at least some of the leads extending to, at, or across an axis or axis of the package to militate against thermally induced growth of the package and the reduce or minimize strain within the package and reliability issuse associated therewith.
US07714412B2 MOS varactor using isolation well
The present invention provides a varactor that has increased tunability and a high quality factor Q as well as a method of fabricating the varactor. The method of the present invention can be integrated into a conventional CMOS processing scheme or into a conventional BiCMOS processing scheme. The method includes providing a structure that includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and optionally a subcollector or isolation well (i.e., doped region) of a second conductivity type located below an upper region of the substrate, the first conductivity type is different from said second conductivity type. Next, a plurality of isolation regions are formed in the upper region of the substrate and then a well region is formed in the upper region of the substrate. In some cases, the doped region is formed at this point of the inventive process. The well region includes outer well regions of the second conductivity type and an inner well region of the first conductivity type. Each well of said well region is separated at an upper surface by an isolation region. A field effect transistor having at least a gate conductor of the first conductivity type is then formed above the inner well region.
US07714408B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a semiconductor device mounted with memory which can be driven in the ranges of a current value and a voltage value which can be generated from a wireless signal. Another object is to provide write-once read-many memory to which data can be written anytime after manufacture of a semiconductor device. An antenna, antifuse-type ROM, and a driver circuit are formed over an insulating substrate. Of a pair of electrodes included in the antifuse-type ROM, the other of the pair of the electrodes is also formed through the same step and of the same material as a source electrode and a drain electrode of a transistor included in the driver circuit.
US07714407B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming a semiconductor device
A high voltage/power semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer having a high voltage terminal end and a low voltage terminal end. A drift region extends between the high and low voltage terminal ends. A dielectric layer is provided above the drift region. An electrical conductor extends across at least a part of the dielectric layer above the drift region, the electrical conductor being connected or connectable to the high voltage terminal end. The drift region has plural trenches positioned below the electrical conductor. The trenches extend laterally across at least a part of the drift region in the direction transverse the direction between the high and low voltage terminal ends of the semiconductor layer, each trench containing a dielectric material. The trenches improve the distribution of electric field in the device in the presence of the electrical conductor.
US07714405B2 Layered CU-based electrode for high-dielectric constant oxide thin film-based devices
A layered device including a substrate; an adhering layer thereon. An electrical conducting layer such as copper is deposited on the adhering layer and then a barrier layer of an amorphous oxide of TiAl followed by a high dielectric layer are deposited to form one or more of an electrical device such as a capacitor or a transistor or MEMS and/or a magnetic device.
US07714402B2 Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus using the same
A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first pixel with a green color filter, a second pixel with a blue color filter and a third pixel with a red color filter. The first pixel includes a first area for generating an electric signal by photoelectric conversion, disposed in a first trench that is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a first transistor area that outputs the electric signal obtained from the first area. The second pixel includes a second area formed in a flat shape on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second transistor area that outputs the electric signal obtained from the second area. The third pixel includes a third area formed in a flat shape on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a third transistor area that outputs the electric signal obtained from the third area.
US07714400B2 Tunnel transistor having spin-dependent transfer characteristics and non-volatile memory using the same
A MISFET the channel region of which is a ferromagnetic semi-conductor has a feature that the drain current can be controlled by the gate voltage and a feature that the transfer conductance can be controlled by the relative directions of magnetization in the ferromagnetic channel region and the ferromagnetic source (or the ferromagnetic drain, or both the ferromagnetic source and ferromagnetic drain). As a result, binary information can be stored in the form of the relative magnetization directions, and the relative magnetization directions are electrically detected. If the magnetism is controlled by the electric field effect of the channel region of a ferromagnetic semiconductor, the current needed to rewrite the information can be greatly reduced. Thus, the MISFET can constitute a high-performance non-volatile memory cell suited to high-density integration.
US07714392B2 Method for forming an improved low power SRAM contact
A semiconductor device includes a semiconducting substrate having CMOS transistors thereon. A composite etch stop layer including a lowermost silicon oxynitride portion and an uppermost silicon nitride portion is disposed on the semiconducting substrate including the CMOS transistors. At least one dielectric layer is on the composite etch stop layer. A first contact opening extends to a first level through the composite etch stop layer thickness and a second contact opening extends to a second level deeper than the first level through the composite etch stop layer.
US07714391B2 Thin film transistor and method for fabricating the same
A thin film transistor formed by using a metal induced lateral crystallization process and a method for fabricating the same. The thin film transistor comprises an insulating substrate, an active layer formed of polycrystalline silicon and having source/drain regions and a channel region, and a gate electrode formed on a gate insulating layer. The active layer has at least two metal induced lateral crystallization (MILC) regions.
US07714387B2 Semiconductor device with thin-film transistors and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device with a TFT includes a substrate, an island-shaped semiconductor film serving as an active layer of the TFT on or over the substrate, a pair of source/drain regions formed in the semiconductor film, and a channel region formed between the pair of source/drain regions in the semiconductor film. The pair of source/drain regions is thinner than the remainder of the semiconductor film other than the source/drain regions. The thickness difference between the pair of source/drain regions and the remainder of the semiconductor film is in a range from 10 angstrom (Å) to 100 angstrom. The total process steps are reduced and the operation characteristic and reliability of the device are improved.
US07714386B2 Carbon nanotube field effect transistor
A carbon nanotube field effect transistor includes a substrate, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube forms a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The carbon nanotube field effect transistor also includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is separated from the carbon nanotube by the gate dielectric, and an input radio frequency voltage is applied to the gate electrode.
US07714385B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device, including a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type having a plurality of trenches formed therein. A second semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type composed of an epitaxial layer is buried in the trenches in the first semiconductor layer. The trench has surface orientations including a surface orientation of a sidewall at an upper stage made slower in epitaxial growth speed than a surface orientation of a sidewall at a lower stage.
US07714382B2 Trench gate semiconductor with NPN junctions beneath shallow trench isolation structures
A trench gate semiconductor device, which is capable of securing a sufficient margin for a photo process while achieving an enhancement in gate-source leakage characteristics, is disclosed. Embodiments relate to a trench gate semiconductor device including an oxide film buffer filling a trench in an upper surface of an epitaxial layer over a semiconductor substrate; a gate poly formed in a gate trench, the gate trench extending from the oxide film buffer to the epitaxial layer; NPN junctions formed beneath the oxide film buffer at opposite sides of the gate poly; and poly plugs to electrically connect P type portions of the NPN junctions to upper metal electrodes.
US07714379B2 SONOS floating trap memory device formed in recess with the lower surface of the conductive gate formed higher that the upper surface of the active region
In an example embodiment, a semiconductor substrate has a plurality of active regions separated by a plurality of trenches. A gate insulation film fills at least a portion of the trenches, and a conductive gate film is formed over the gate insulation film. In an example embodiment, the gate insulation film, may include a tunneling insulation film, a charge storage film, and a blocking insulation film. The example embodiment may also include field isolation films, which partially fill the trenches of the semiconductor substrate, such that the upper surfaces of the active regions or the substrate are higher than the upper surfaces of the field isolation films.
US07714377B2 Integrated circuits and methods of manufacturing thereof
Embodiments of the invention relate to integrated circuits having a memory cell arrangement and methods of manufacturing thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit has a memory cell arrangement which includes a fin structure extending in its longitudinal direction as a first direction, including a first insulating layer, a first active region disposed above the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed above the first active region, a second active region disposed above the second insulating layer, a charge storage layer structure disposed at least next to at least one sidewall of the fin structure covering at least a portion of the first active region and at least a portion of the second active region, and a control gate disposed next to the charge storage layer structure.
US07714375B2 Flash memory with 4-bit memory cell
A memory device having at least one memory cell, and each memory cell is configured to store multiple bits. Each bit is stored in a charge storage layer of the memory cell. The memory device can include a double gate structure that can store 4-bits per cell that expands the density of the non-volatile memory device such as flash memory.
US07714371B2 Shielded capacitor structure
A method and apparatus if provided for shielding a capacitor structure formed in a semiconductor device. In a capacitor formed in an integrated circuit, one or more shields are disposed around layers of conductive strips to shield the capacitor. The shields confine the electric fields between the limits of the shields.
US07714370B2 Semiconductor storage device having an SOI structure
A semiconductor storage device includes: a MOSFET formed on an SOI layer of the transistor forming region; and a MOS capacitor formed on the SOI layer of the capacitor forming region. The MOSFET includes: a gate insulating film formed; a floating gate electrode; a source layer and a drain layer formed; a channel region; a high-concentration diffusion layer, and impurities of a same type as impurities which are diffused in the channel region are diffused at a high concentration in the high-concentration diffusion layer; and a silicide layer covering the high-concentration diffusion layer and the source layer. The MOS capacitor includes a capacitor electrode at the SOI layer. The capacitor electrode of the MOS capacitor is disposed so as to oppose an end portion of the floating gate electrode of the MOSFET, with the gate insulating film therebetween.
US07714369B2 Semiconductor chip having a photodiode
A semiconductor chip that has a photodiode formed on it, a semiconductor device including the semiconductor chip, and manufacturing methods thereof. A second semiconductor region 11 is formed in light-receiving region R of first semiconductor region 10. First bumps 12 are formed outside light-receiving region R. Second bump 13 is formed in a ring-shape around light-receiving region R between region R and first bumps 12. Semiconductor chip T is assembled on assembly substrate S, and resin layer 30 is formed between chip T and substrate S in the region outside of said light-receiving region R.
US07714362B2 Semiconductor device with two or more bond pad connections for each input/output cell and method of manufacture thereof
A semiconductor device including a plurality of input/output cells and having a first bond pad and at least one second bond pad coupled to each input/output cell. The first bond pads comprise a first pattern, and the at least second bond pads comprise at least one second pattern, wherein the at least one second pattern is different from or the same as the first pattern. Either the first bond pads, the at least second bond pads, or both, may be used to electrically couple the input/output cells of the semiconductor device to leads of an integrated circuit package or other circuit component.
US07714358B2 Semiconductor structure and method of forming the structure
Disclosed are embodiments of an n-FET structure with silicon carbon S/D regions completely contained inside amorphization regions and with a carbon-free gate electrode. Containing carbon within the amorphization regions, ensures that all of the carbon is substitutional following re-crystallization to maximize the tensile stress imparted on channel region. The gate stack is capped during carbon implantation so the risk of carbon entering the gate stack and degrading the conductivity of the gate polysilicon and/or damaging the gate oxide is essentially eliminated. Thus, the carbon implant regions can be formed deeper. Deeper S/D carbon implants which are completely amorphized and then re-crystallized provide greater tensile stress on the n-FET channel region to further optimize electron mobility. Additionally, the gate electrode is uncapped during the n-type dopant process, so the n-type dopant dose in the gate electrode can be at least great as the dose in the S/D regions.
US07714351B2 Nanowire light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
The invention provides a nanowire light emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. In the light emitting device, first and second conductivity type clad layers are formed and an active layer is interposed therebetween. At least one of the first and second conductivity type clad layers and the active layer is a semiconductor nanowire layer obtained by preparing a layer of a mixture composed of a semiconductor nanowire and an organic binder and removing the organic binder therefrom.
US07714350B2 Gallium nitride based semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same
A gallium nitride based semiconductor device comprises: a first gallium nitride based semiconductor film doped with magnesium; and a second gallium nitride based semiconductor film provided on the first gallium nitride based semiconductor film and doped with magnesium. The first gallium nitride based semiconductor film has substantially flat distributions of magnesium concentration and hydrogen atom concentration, and the magnesium concentration is higher than the hydrogen atom concentration. The second gallium nitride based semiconductor film has a first region in which the magnesium concentration decreases and the hydrogen atom concentration increases toward the surface, and the magnesium concentration in the first region is higher than the hydrogen atom concentration in the first region and higher than the magnesium concentration in the first gallium nitride based semiconductor film.
US07714348B2 AC/DC light emitting diodes with integrated protection mechanism
A highly reliable, high voltage AC/DC LED device with integrated protection mechanism is disclosed. The protection element can be a current-limiting resistor, monolithically integrated on LED chip, or a discrete resistor assembled in the lamp package or submount. The protection elements may also include other parts integrated on a submount.
US07714344B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a silicon substrate, a p-type semiconductor layer provided on the silicon substrate, a n-type semiconductor layer provided on the silicon substrate, the n-type semiconductor layer adjoining the p-type semiconductor layer, and a light emitting section formed at a p-n homojunction between the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-n homojunction is substantially perpendicular to a major surface of the silicon substrate. The p-n homojunction is corrugated with a period matched with an integer multiple of an emission wavelength at the light emitting section.
US07714343B2 Light emitting device
An upper electrode is formed on one surface of a semiconductor multilayer structure including a light emitting layer. An interface electrode is formed at a region of another surface of the semiconductor multilayer structure except a region right under the upper electrode. A center of the interface electrode coincides with a center of the upper electrode. At least a part of the interface electrode has a similar shape to a shape of an outer periphery of the upper electrode. A current blocking layer is formed at another region of another surface of the semiconductor multilayer structure except the region where the interface electrode is formed. A reflecting layer for reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light emitting layer is electrically connected to the interface electrode. A conductive supporting substrate is electrically connected to the semiconductor multilayer structure.
US07714339B2 Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a first type epitaxial layer, a light emitting layer, a second type epitaxial layer and a plurality of nano-particles. The first type epitaxial layer is disposed on the substrate. The light emitting layer is disposed on the first type epitaxial layer. The second type epitaxial layer is disposed on the light emitting layer and has one surface formed with a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions. The nano-particles are disposed on the protrusions of the second type epitaxial layer.
US07714338B2 Semiconductor light emitter
A semiconductor light emitter includes a quantum well active layer which includes nitrogen and at least one other Group-V element, and barrier layers which are provided alongside the quantum well active layer, wherein the quantum well active layer and the barrier layers together constitute an active layer, wherein the barrier layers are formed of a Group-III-V mixed-crystal semiconductor that includes nitrogen and at least one other Group-V element, a nitrogen composition thereof being smaller than that of the quantum well active layer.
US07714336B2 LED device and method by which it is produced
A LED device formed of LED chips bonded to an exoergic member by the LED chips being bonded to an Au—Sn alloy layer formed on an upper surface of the exoergic member with columnar crystals being formed within the Au—Sn alloy layer extending in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the exoergic member. The method of producing the LED device forms an Sn film directly on the upper surface of the exoergic member, an Au film on a lower surface of the LED chips, mounts the LED chips with the Au film thereon onto the Sn film formed on the upper surface of the exoergic member, and the exoergic member with LED chips mounted thereon is heated in an atmosphere in which a forming gas flows, so that the LED chips are bonded to the exoergic member.
US07714334B2 Polarless surface mounting light emitting diode
A polarless surface mounting light emitting diode comprises a substrate; an upper surface of the substrate being etched with four independent metal thin film blocks; a lower surface of the substrate being formed with two independent metal thin film blocks; two ends of the substrate being formed with electroplated through holes; a plurality of metal thin films adhered upon the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate; two light emitting assemblies, each light emitting assembly being formed by a chip resistor and a chip light emitting diode; and a package layer. The connection of the polarless surface mounting light emitting diode of the present invention is not limited by the polarity. Any end of the polarless surface mounting light emitting diode can be connected to positive electrode or negative electrode.
US07714333B2 Solid-state element and solid-state element device
A solid-state element has: a semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, the semiconductor layer having a first layer that corresponds to an emission area of the solid-state element to and a second layer through which current is supplied to the first layer; a light discharge surface through which light emitted from the first layer is externally discharged, the light discharge surface being located on the side of the substrate; and an electrode having a plurality of regions that are of a conductive material and are in ohmic-contact with the second layer.
US07714330B2 Si nanowire substrate
A silicon nanowire substrate having a structure in which a silicon nanowire film having a fine line-width is formed on a substrate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the same. The method of manufacturing the silicon nanowire substrate includes preparing a substrate, forming an insulating film on the substrate, forming a silicon film on the insulating film, patterning the insulating film and the silicon film into a strip shape, reducing the line-width of the insulating film by undercut etching at least one lateral side of the insulating film, and forming a self-aligned silicon nanowire film on an upper surface of the insulating film by melting and crystallizing the silicon film.
US07714326B2 Electrical antifuse with integrated sensor
The present invention provides structures for antifuses that utilize electromigration for programming. By providing a portion of antifuse link with high resistance without conducting material and then by inducing electromigration of the conducting material into the antifuse link, the resistance of the antifuse structure is changed. By providing a terminal on the antifuse link, the change in the electrical properties of the antifuse link is detected and sensed. Also disclosed are an integrated antifuse with a built-in sensing device and a two dimensional array of integrated antifuses that can share programming transistors and sensing circuitry.
US07714325B2 Trench isolation structure
A method for forming a thermal oxide layer on the surface of a semiconductor substrate exposed during a semiconductor fabricating process. The thermal oxide layer is to be thin to minimize silicon substrate defects caused by volume expansion. A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) layer is then formed on the thin thermal oxide layer, creating a required thickness. The thin thermal oxide layer and the CVD material layer are formed in the same CVD apparatus. As a result, a process can be simplified and a particle-leading pollution can be prevented.
US07714324B2 Organic thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same
An organic TFT that has an improved contact between source and drain electrodes and an organic semiconductor layer, a method of manufacturing the same, and an organic light emitting display device having the organic TFT are disclosed. The organic TFT includes a substrate, a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, a gate insulating film covering the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the gate insulating film, a peel-off preventive layer disposed on the gate insulating film to contact at least a portion of end surfaces of the source and drain electrodes, and an organic semiconductor layer that contacts the source and drain electrodes.
US07714313B2 Resistive RAM having at least one varistor and methods of operating the same
Resistive memory devices having at least one varistor and methods of operating the same are disclosed. The resistive memory device may include at least one bottom electrode line, at least one top electrode line crossing the at least one bottom electrode line, and at least one stack structure disposed at an intersection of the at least one top electrode line and the at least one bottom electrode line including a varistor and a data storage layer.
US07714306B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation source configured to emit radiation to form a radiation beam, the radiation being of a type which can create plasma in a low pressure environment in the apparatus, and an optical component configured to condition the radiation beam, impart the conditioned radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, and/or to detect radiation. The optical component is provided with a plasma quenching structure, the plasma quenching structure being configured to provide electron-ion recombination in, on and/or near the optical component.
US07714304B2 Computed tomography measuring arrangement and method
A computer tomography measuring device includes a radiation source for generating invasive radiation, in particular X-rays, and a rotating device which is embodied and arranged in such a way that it enables a measurement object to be rotatable about an axis of rotation of the rotating device, thereby enabling the invasive radiation to penetrate into the measurement object at different angles. A detecting device detects the radiation penetrating through the measurement object. A positioning device provided with an adjusting element is used for adjusting the position of the measurement object with respect to the rotating device.
US07714303B2 Methods and systems for analyzing fluorescent materials with reduced authofluorescence
Mitigative and remedial approaches to reduction of autofluorescence background noise are applied in analytical systems that rely upon sensitive measurement of fluorescent signals from arrays of fluorescent signal sources. Such systems are for particular use in fluorescence based sequencing by incorporation systems that rely upon small numbers or individual fluorescent molecules in detecting incorporation of nucleotides in primer extension reactions.
US07714299B2 Particle detector
A particle detector for detecting a particle beam includes a negatively charged electrode plate having a first side facing the particle beam, a second side opposite to the first side, and a through-hole extending from the first side to the second side for receiving the particle beam. A detection device adjacent to the second side of the electrode plate detects signals corresponding to the particle beam approaching the through-hole.
US07714297B2 Particle detection systems and methods
Techniques, apparatus and systems for detecting particles such as muons and neutrons. In one implementation, a particle detection system employs a plurality of drift cells, which can be for example sealed gas-filled drift tubes, arranged on sides of a volume to be scanned to track incoming and outgoing charged particles, such as cosmic ray-produced muons. The drift cells can include a neutron sensitive medium to enable concurrent counting of neutrons. The system can selectively detect devices or materials, such as iron, lead, gold, uranium, plutonium, and/or tungsten, occupying the volume from multiple scattering of the charged particles passing through the volume and can concurrently detect any unshielded neutron sources occupying the volume from neutrons emitted therefrom. If necessary, the drift cells can be used to also detect gamma rays. The system can be employed to inspect occupied vehicles at border crossings for nuclear threat objects.
US07714296B2 Image detecting device and image capturing system
A radiation solid-state detecting device includes a cooling panel disposed on a surface of a sensor substrate that is irradiated with radiation, or on a rear surface of the sensor substrate opposite to the irradiated surface thereof. The cooling panel comprises a plurality of cooling units. Cooling units, which face (pixels depending on) the recording areas in which radiation image information is recorded in the sensor substrate, are energized to cool the recording areas.
US07714291B2 Method of and software for calculating a scatter estimate for tomographic scanning and system for tomographic scanning
The method calculates a scatter estimate for annihilation photons in a subject having a distribution of attenuation. The method can be used for scatter correction of detection data from a positron emission tomographic scanner. The method uses the following steps: —select a first scatter point S1 and a second scatter point S2, —determine a first scatter probability for scattering of a photon at scatter point S1 and a second scatter probability for scattering of a photon at scatter point S2, —determine an integral of the attenuation over a line connecting S1 and S2, —multiply the integral and the scatter probabilities and use the product in the calculation of the scatter estimate.
US07714289B2 Charged particle beam apparatus
When conditions for an electron gun mainly represented by extraction voltage V1 and accelerating voltage V0 are changed, a charged particle beam is once focused on a fixed position by means of a condenser lens and a virtual cathode position is calculated from a lens excitation of the condenser lens at that time and the mechanical positional relation of the electron gun to set an optical condition. For more accurate setting of the optical condition, a deflecting electrode device is provided at a crossover position of the condenser lens and a voltage is applied to the deflecting electrode device at a constant period so as to control the lens excitation of the condenser lens such that the amount of movement of an image is minimized on an image display unit such as CRT.
US07714288B2 Charged particle beam apparatus
Electrification affected on a surface of a sample which is caused by irradiation of a primary charged particle beam is prevented when plural frames are integrated to obtain an image of a predetermined area of the sample in a charged particle beam apparatus. The predetermined area of the sample is scanned with a primary electron beam from an electron gun, and plural frames are generated and integrated while detecting generated secondary electrons with a detector to obtain the image of the predetermined area. If it is determined by a detection signal of the detector that an electrification amount at the predetermined area becomes a specified value when generating plural frames, an electricity removal voltage is applied to a boosting electrode to remove or reduce the electrification, prior to generation of the next frame. Accordingly, the signal-to-noise ratio of the image obtained by integrating plural frames can be improved.
US07714281B2 Apparatus for holding solids for use with surface ionization technology
The present invention is a device to restrict the sampling of analyte ions and neutral molecules from surfaces with mass spectrometry and thereby sample from a defined area or volume. In various embodiments of the present invention, a tube is used to sample ions formed with a defined spatial resolution from desorption ionization at or near atmospheric pressures. In an embodiment of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to direct ions to either individual tubes or a plurality of tubes positioned in close proximity to the surface of the sample being analyzed. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes can be used in combination with a vacuum inlet to draw ions and neutrals into the spectrometer for analysis. In an embodiment of the present invention, wide diameter sampling tubes in combination with electrostatic fields improve the efficiency of ion collection.
US07714278B2 Ion mobility spectrometer
An ion mobility spectrometer is described having an ion filter in the form of at least one ion channel having a plurality of electrodes. A time-varying electric potential applied to the conductive layers allows the filler to selectively admit ion species. The electric potential has a drive and a transverse component, and in preferred embodiments each of the electrodes is involved in generating a component of both the drive and transverse fields. The device may be used without a drift gas flow, Microfabrication techniques are described for producing microscale spectrometers, as are various uses of the spectrometer.
US07714276B2 Methods for direct biomolecule identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry
The present invention relates to the use of post source decay (PSD) or collision induced dissociation (CID) direct tissue (DT) MALDI-TOF or DT-MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrographic identification of biological molecules in a tissue or cellular sample without the need for further protein extraction. This method provides for studying cells or tissues by direct tissue MALDI (DT-MALDI), thereby substituting in situ protein release for further protein extraction. Mass/intensity data was processed with Mascot© software interrogation of the NCBI database. These results are proof of principle that DT-MALDI, combined with bioinformatics, can directly identify proteins in cells and tissues from their mass spectra.
US07714274B2 Integrated micro fuel processor and flow delivery infrastructure
Apparatus for transporting a fluid, atomizers, reactors, integrated fuel processing apparatus, combinations thereof, methods of atomizing reactants, methods of moving fluids, methods of reverse-flow in a reactor, and combinations thereof, are provided. One exemplary apparatus for transporting a fluid, among others, includes: a channel for receiving a fluid; a sensor for determining an internal condition of the fluid in the channel; and a channel actuator in communication with the sensor for changing a cross-sectional area of the channel based on the internal condition, wherein the change in cross-sectional area controls a parameter selected from a pressure and a fluid flow.
US07714266B2 Method and apparatus for measuring source follower gain in an image sensor array
Disclosed embodiments provide a method and apparatus for measuring the gain of output transistors of pixels in an imager device. Source/drain terminals of the output transistor and a reset transistor are driven with various input voltages to generate pixel output voltages. The slope of a line representing the relationship between the output voltages and the input voltages is determined. A component of the slope corresponding to gain not caused by the output transistor is removed from the slope to determine the gain of the output transistor.
US07714262B2 Digital camera with integrated ultraviolet (UV) response
There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.
US07714260B2 Stackable heliostat frame structure
A heliostat includes a pedestal, a transmission system, a heliostat frame assembly, and a mirror assembly. The heliostat frame assembly generally includes a first heliostat frame set and a second heliostat frame set mounted to the transmission system which is mounted upon the pedestal. Each heliostat frame set includes a stackable heliostat inner frame assembly and a stackable heliostat outer frame assembly. Each stackable heliostat inner frame assembly is identical and each stackable heliostat outer frame assembly is identical such that a multiple of heliostat inner frames and a multiple of heliostat outer frames are readily stackable in a nested arrangement for storage and transport.
US07714258B2 Useful energy product
A useful energy product created by a process where a chemical species flow passes through a macroscopic artificial dielectric structure for a gas-permeable susceptor having (a) first regions in the structure that are primarily transparent to applied electromagnetic energy and (b) second regions in the structure that are not primarily transparent to applied electromagnetic energy.
US07714256B2 Flat heating element
The present invention relates to a heating element for heating at least one surface contacted at times by a user, with a plurality of heating conductors or heating conductor sections that are directly or indirectly connected electrically to one another, at least in part by mutual contact, with at least one heating conductor or heating conductor section which, upon exceeding a permissible maximum temperature, at least temporarily loses its electrical conductivity at least in part. It is provided that the electrical resistance of at least two heating conductors or heating conductor sections is dependent at least in part on its mechanical strain, that these heating conductors or heating conductor sections are electrically connected to one another in parallel, and that they are separated from one another at least in sections by a spacing zone in order to prevent electrical connection between them in spacing zone.
US07714253B2 Method and apparatus for the uniform resistance heating of articles
A method for providing a controlled heating profile in an article being heated in a resistance heating process is provided. The method includes contacting the article with a plurality of electrodes, selecting a first correlated group that includes at least two electrodes, and establishing a flow of electrical current between the electrodes of the first correlated group. The method also includes selecting a second correlated group that includes at least two electrodes, the second correlated group differing from the first correlated group. A flow of electrical current is also established between the electrodes of the second correlated group for the purpose of providing a controlled heating profile for an article undergoing resistance heating.
US07714252B2 System and method for a temperature dependent duty cycle within a welding-type apparatus
A duty cycle controller having a processor configured to control a welding-type apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the processor may be configured to control the welding-type apparatus according to a variable maximum duty cycle to substantially delay entry into a thermal shutdown mode of the welding-type apparatus based on at least one operating condition. Various additional devices and methods are also disclosed.
US07714250B2 System and method of machining objects using a laser
A system for machining objects using a laser, including a supply of objects, an object support tray, a galvanometric head, a laser source, and a computer on which a shape recognition software is installed. The galvanometric head includes a first wide field camera, with a first filter located at the output of the first camera, a second narrow field camera, with a second filter located at the output of the second camera, guide mirrors, and a lens that displays at least one object or the part to be machined, located on the support tray.
US07714249B2 Laser beam processing machine
A laser beam processing machine comprising a laser beam application means for applying a laser beam to the top surface of the workpiece held on the chuck table, the laser beam application means comprising a processing laser beam oscillation means for oscillating a processing laser beam and a condenser for converging the processing laser beam oscillated by the processing laser beam oscillation means, wherein the laser beam processing machine further comprises a focal point position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the focal point of the processing laser beam converged by the condenser, a height position detection means for applying a detection laser beam to the workpiece through the focal point position adjusting means to detect the height position of the top surface of the workpiece based on its reflected light, and a control means for controlling the focal point position adjusting means based on the detection value of the height position detection means.
US07714246B2 Key button, key assembly using the key button and portable electronic device using the keypad assembly
A portable electronic device (10) is provided. The portable electronic device includes the keypad assembly (20). The keypad assembly includes key buttons (30 or 60). Each key button includes a key portion (32 or 62), a supporting portion (34 or 66), a switching portion (35 or 64), a pad portion (36 or 67), and a circuit board portion (38 or 68). The supporting portion defines a first through hole (344 or 664). The switching portion includes at least one switching elastic sheet (354 or 644). The pad portion includes a base body (362 or 672) and a protruding portion (364 or 674). The circuit board portion includes a first contacting point (3821 or 6821), a contacting sheet (384 or 684), and at least one second contacting point (3822 or 6822).
US07714243B2 Push button doorbell switch apparatus
The push button doorbell switch is used interchangeably within the decorative plates of a doorbell button assembly. Each insert of the push button doorbell switch is capable of being interchanged in a congruent aperture of a variety of decorative plates. These doorbell switch assemblies allow for the user to interchange a plurality of button shapes without having to repurchase and install a new decorative plate. The plurality of doorbell button shapes, associated with the interchangeable doorbell button switch, can increase the variety of push button doorbell switch assemblies that can be created and installed as house décor.
US07714237B2 Electrical apparatus and supporting frame for wall-mounting same
An electrical apparatus that can be fixed to a supporting frame having a mounting window to receive the electrical apparatus includes a main body having a substantially box-like shape and first fixing elements provided on first and second opposite sides of the body to engage with corresponding second fixing elements the frame and facing the mounting window. The first fixing elements include guiding fixing elements to permit axial and guided sliding of electrical apparatus with respect to the frame in inserting the apparatus into the mounting window. The first fixing elements further include snap-in fixing elements to block axial sliding of the electrical apparatus with respect to the frame once a predetermined snap-in position has been reached.
US07714234B2 Alternating micro-vias and throughboard vias to create PCB routing channels in BGA interconnect grid
A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having a plurality of circuit layers including outer layers and intervening layers with through-vias and micro-vias used to translate a portion of the signal connections of the grid, thereby creating a set of diagonal routing channels between the vias on internal layers of the board and a BGA package mounted on the printed circuit board.
US07714230B2 Laminated bus bars and methods of manufacture thereof
A method of assembling a multilayer bus bar assembly includes coating a dielectric layer with a molten reactive hot-melt adhesive, placing the dielectric layer between first and second subassemblies, wherein the first and second subassemblies comprise a conductive element, adhering the molten reactive hot-melt adhesive to the subassemblies by applying a pressure of at least about one bar to the multilayer bus bar assembly for at least about one minute prior to the adhesive cooling to room temperature to provide a bonding strength between the dielectric material and a selected one of the first and second subassemblies of at least 1500 Newtons on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter sample when tested in accordance with ASTM D-1062.
US07714229B2 Coaxial connector and coaxial cable connector assembly and related method
A method of making a coaxial cable assembly is disclosed, the assembly comprising a coaxial cable and a connector, or connector termination, at least one end of the cable. A connector, comprised of connector components, is also disclosed. The method comprises placing connector components into contact with the cable before the connector components are assembled into a connector. The connector is assembled simultaneously with securing the connector to the cable to make a coaxial cable assembly. A method of preparing coaxial cable in a manner suitable for making coaxial cable assemblies is also disclosed. The coaxial cable assembly can be a jumper, or a lead.
US07714227B2 Cable junction box configured to store one or more coils of cable
A cable junction box has a curved shape to at least part of its enclosure allowing for coiling of extra cable length into a desired service loop within the enclosure. The cable junction box has a cover with a mud ring integrated with a wall plate bracket to allow for interfacing with a wall and has a cable input to receive cabling into the enclosure. Attachment plates are located on the periphery of the enclosure to be selectively used to attach the cable junction box to a mounting bracket coupled to a wall stud. The attachment plates allow for flexibility in positioning of the cable junction box to be attached to the wall stud. The enclosure has connection locations for the front cover and other connection locations for the cable inlet to allow for further flexibility in positioning of the front cover and the cable inlet.
US07714221B2 Booklet page turning apparatus
A page turning apparatus having a vacuum pad to vacuum suck the uppermost page of a booklet, a drive link plate to move the vacuum pad to pick up the uppermost page of a booklet at a predetermined angle in the direction of opening around a bound edge, a pinch-roller which goes under the uppermost page picked up at a predetermined angle, and a control unit which releases the vacuum suction of the vacuum pad, and moves the vacuum pad in the direction retreating from the uppermost page, after the pinch-roller goes under the uppermost page, and conveys a booklet so that the uppermost page is brought into contact with the pinch-roller, and opened.
US07714219B2 Enhanced comfort headless tambourine
An improved tambourine has a rigid, enclosed, jingle-supporting frame that defines a center of gravity and a number of pairs of percussion jingles connected to the frame at determined locations around one of the frame's segments. A handle for manually grasping the frame is connected to a second segment of the frame. The second segment is closer to the center of gravity of the tambourine than is the first segment, which is arcuate in shape. The second segment includes radial, inwardly turned portions and a handle-bearing portion that is substantially parallel to a chord formed between the ends of the arcuate first segment and spaced a determined distance from the geometric center of the handle.
US07714213B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH333290
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH333290. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH333290, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH333290 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 CH333290.
US07714210B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH169228
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH169228. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH169228, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH169228 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 CH169228.
US07714209B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH200570
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH200570. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH200570, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH200570 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 CH200570.
US07714206B1 Inbred corn line LLR24
An inbred corn line, designated LLR24, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line LLR24, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line LLR24 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LLR24 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLR24, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLR24 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US07714204B1 Inbred corn line 5RQ675
An inbred corn line, designated 5RQ675, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line 5RQ675, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line 5RQ675 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line 5RQ675 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 5RQ675, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line 5RQ675 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US07714200B1 Soybean cultivar S07-03JR108295
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-03JR108295 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-03JR108295 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-03JR108295.
US07714196B1 Pea line 08510617
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated 08510617. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line 08510617, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line 08510617 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line 08510617, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US07714191B2 Transformation of allium sp. with agrobacterium using embryogenic callus cultures
The present invention relates to a method for transforming Allium species with a heterologous gene using Agrobacterium.
US07714188B2 Glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase (GAT) genes
Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate.
US07714187B2 Phytate polynucleotides and methods of use
Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the level of phytate in plants. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of modulating the level of phytate utilizing nucleic acids comprising Ins (1,3,4,5,6)P52-kinase (IP2K) nucleotide sequences to modulate the expression of IP2K in a plant of interest. The compositions and methods of the invention find use in agriculture for improving the nutritional quality of food and feed by reducing the levels of phytate and/or increasing the levels of non-phytate phosphorus in food and feed. The invention also finds use in reducing the environmental impact of animal waste.
US07714185B2 Method for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids
The present invention relates to an improved process for the specific production of poly-unsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a process for the production of triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids having at least two double bonds and a 20 or 22 carbon atom chain length. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, hav-ing an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids containing C20- or C22-fatty acids with a delta-5, 7, 8, 10 double bond, respectively due to the expression of a delta-8-desaturase and a delta-9-elon-gase from organisms such as plants preferably Algae like Isochrysis galbana or Euglena gracilis. In addition the invention relates to a process for the production of poly unsaturated fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic, Arachidonic, Docosapentaenoic or Doosahexaenoic acid through the co-expression of a delta-8-desaturase, a delta-9-elongase and a delta-5 desaturase in organisms such as microorganisms or plants. The invention additionally relates to the use of specific nucleic acid sequences encoding for the aforementioned proteins with delta-8-desaturase-, delta-9-elongase- or delta-5-desaturase-activity, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms containing said nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides having an increased content of at least 1% by weight of unsaturated fatty acids and use thereof.
US07714184B2 Maize antimicrobial nucleic acids useful for enhancing plant resistance to pathogens
Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from a pathogen, particularly a fungal pathogen, are provided. Compositions include novel amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for antipathogenic polypeptides that were isolated from maize. Nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that encode the antipathogenic polypeptides of the embodiments are also provided. A method for inducing pathogen resistance in a plant using the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein is further provided. The method comprises introducing into a plant a DNA construct comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antipathogenic polypeptide of the embodiments. Compositions comprising an antipathogenic polypeptide or a transformed microorganism comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments in combination with a carrier and methods of using these compositions to protect a plant from a pathogen are further provided. Transformed plants, plant cells, seeds, and microorganisms comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antipathogenic polypeptide of the embodiments, or variant or fragment thereof, are also disclosed.
US07714183B2 Use of honey in dressings
A flexible dressing for direct application to a wound for absorbing exudates. The dressing comprises an alginate fiber sheet having honey fully impregnated through the fiber sheet such that the dressing has moist surfaces, and on application to the wound, the dressing becomes gel-like as exudate is absorbed.
US07714181B2 Process to separate colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture
Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, wherein between the feed and permeate sides of the membrane a pressure difference is applied, thereby passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture from the feed side to the permeate side and obtaining at the permeate side of the membrane a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, and by removing the hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane, wherein during selected time intervals the removal of hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane is stopped so that the pressure difference over the membrane is temporarily substantially lowered.
US07714180B2 Process and apparatus for recovering olefins
A process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream is disclosed. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
US07714179B2 Method for the production of C5 aldehydes and propene from a C4 stream containing 1-butene and 2-butene
Processes for preparing a C5 aldehyde and propene are disclosed, the processes comprising: (a) providing a feedstream, the feedstream comprising butane, 1-butene, 2-butene and 1,3-butadiene, the 1,3-butadiene present in the feedstream in an amount up to 1000 ppm; (b) contacting the feedstream with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to form a 2-butene-rich butane stream and a C5 aldehyde; (c) separating the 2-butene-rich butane stream and the C5 aldehyde; and (d) contacting the 2-butene-rich butane stream with ethene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst to form a propene-containing hydrocarbon stream.
US07714176B2 Methanol production process
A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding an amount of a hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock to a partial oxidation reactor to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; adding an amount of a hydrogen feedstock to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide; and, subjecting the synthesis gas stream to methanol synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream wherein reformation is not used to provide hydrogen as a product. Reformation may be used to consume hydrogen so that carbon dioxide preferably obtained as a by product of another process so that the instant process becomes effectively a temporary carbon sink to convert carbon dioxide, which would otherwise be released to the atmosphere, to a stored carbon source.
US07714170B2 Use of compounds and compositions for the treatment of amyloid diseases
Bis- and tris-dihydroxyaryl compounds and their methylenedioxy analogs and pharmaceutically acceptable esters, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in the treatment of amyloid diseases, especially Aβ amyloidosis, such as observed in Alzheimer's disease, use in the reduction of Aβ peptide in vivo, use in modulating APP processing, and use in modulating the activity of APP secretase.
US07714165B2 Method for the continuous production of unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides
The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides of general formula (I): R—C(O)—O—C(O)—R (I), wherein R is an unsaturated organic group with 2 to 12 C atoms, by reaction of a ketene with an unsaturated carboxylic acid of general formula (II): R—COOH (II), wherein R is defined as above, in an apparatus which has a reaction zone (1) for the reaction of a ketene with an unsaturated carboxylic acid of general formula (II), and a reaction zone (2) for the subsequent reaction of the crude anhydride mixture and a rectification column with an upper, a middle and a lower zone, in the sump of which an inert boiling oil is present.
US07714164B2 Method for producing (meth) acrylic acid
In a production method in which an acrylic acid-containing solution obtained from an acrylic acid-containing gas (or an acrylic acid-containing liquid obtained simply by subjecting the acrylic acid-containing solution to a separation process of reaction by-products) is directly subjected to a crystallization process, the crystallization process can't be carried out smoothly in an unsteady state (when the concentration of water in the acrylic acid-containing solution is high). The present invention aims to provide a method for collecting the purified acrylic acid having high purity in good yield even in an unsteady state.When the acrylic acid-containing solutions 18 and 16 have a concentration of water higher than 10 mass % (unsteady state), the purified acrylic acid 20 and 22 or the acrylic acid-containing solution 23 containing 10 mass % or less of water is mixed therewith to make the concentration of water 10 mass % or less [a] [b]. Alternatively, when the acrylic acid-containing solutions 18 and 16 have a concentration of water higher than 10 mass %, it is used as an absorption liquid [c]. Thereafter, the crystallization process is carried out.
US07714161B2 Sirtuin activating compounds and methods for making the same
The present invention includes methods for preparing resveratrol, resveratrol esters and substituted and unsubstituted stilbenes of the formula given below; where each Y is —O or halogen, each Z is —O or halogen, each n and each m is independently the value of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, each A and each B is independently selected from Pn, R or absent, each V and each W is independently selected from Pn, straight or branched alkyl of from (2) to (6) carbon atoms and cycloalkyl of from (3) to (8) carbon atoms, alkoxy, phenyl, benzyl or halogen, R is independently selected from the group comprising alkyl with at least one carbon atom, aryl and aralkyl, Pn is an alcohol protecting group and diastereoisomers of the foregoing. The compounds are made from a multi-step process including a N-heterocyclic carbene-type ligand coupling in the presence of a base with benzyol halide and styrene coupling partners. These compounds show increased stability for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
US07714158B2 Ibandronate polymorph
The present invention relates to a new polymorph crystal form of 3-(N-methyl-N-pentyl) amino-1-hydroxypropane-1 1-diphosphonic acid monosodium salt monohydrate (Ibandronate) with the following formula.
US07714148B2 Process for the preparation of liquid, storage-stable organic isocyanates containing carbodiimide and/or uretoneimine groups
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of liquid, storage-stable isocyanate mixtures of low color number and which contain carbodiimide (CD) and/or uretonimine (UI) groups, the isocyanate mixtures obtainable by this process, and to a process for the preparation of blends of these isocyanates with additional isocyanate components and to a process for the preparation of prepolymers containing isocyanate groups and of polyurethane plastics, preferably polyurethane foams.
US07714142B2 Process for production of (4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-Y) thio-carboxamidine salts
To provide a method for producing a (4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl)thiocarboxamidine salt compound simply, safely and in good yield, whereby drawbacks of prior art have been solved.A method for producing a (4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl)thiocarboxamidine salt compound of the formula (2): wherein each of R1 and R2 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, each of R3 and R4 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, provided that R1 and R2, or R2 and R3, may be bonded to each other to form a cycloalkyl group together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded, and X2 is a halogen or an anionic residue derived from an acid, which comprises reacting a 3-halogeno-4,5-dihydroisoxazole compound of the formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined above, and X1 is a halogen, with thiourea in the presence of an acid.
US07714141B2 Processes for production of optically active PPAR-activating compounds and intermediates for production thereof
The invention provides a process for producing an optically active butyric acid compound and a production intermediate therefore at high yield and high purity.The present invention provides a process for producing Compound (6), including reacting Compound (1) with optically active 2-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxybutyrolactone (2a) in the presence of a base or reacting optically active 2-hydroxybutyrolactone (2b) under Mitsunobu reaction conditions, to thereby form Compound (3); reacting Compound (3) with an alcohol and a halogenating agent, to thereby form Compound (4); dehalogenating Compound (4), to thereby form Compound (5); and de-esterifying Compound (5).
US07714135B2 Tetrahydropyridothiophenes for the treatment of proliferative diseases such as cancer
Compounds of a certain formula (I), in which Ra and Rb have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective compounds with anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing activity.
US07714129B2 Methods of preparing anhydrous aripiprazole form II
Provided is a method of preparing aripiprazole anhydrous Form II from aripiprazole.
US07714128B2 Crystalline form of linezolid
The present invention relates to a novel crystalline form of linezolid, to processes for its preparation and to a pharmaceutical composition containing it.
US07714127B2 Process for making heteroaryl amine intermediate compounds
Disclosed are processes to produce a compound of the formula (I):
US07714121B2 Meningococcal antigens
The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis (strains A & B), including amino acid sequences, the corresponding nucleotide sequences, expression data, and serological data. The proteins are useful antigens for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, and/or diagnostics.
US07714120B2 Humanized anti-IL-1 beta antibodies
The present invention encompasses isolated antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, that specifically bind mature human IL-1 Beta. These antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, generally exhibit high binding affinities (low kooff values), reduced deamidation compared to the native antibody, and can be used to treat various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or neuroinflammation.
US07714119B2 AAV vector compositions and methods for enhanced expression of immunoglobulins using the same
Single AAV vector constructs for expression of an immunoglobulin molecule or fragment thereof and methods of making and using the same are described. The AAV vectors comprise a self-processing cleavage sequence between a first and second immunoglobulin coding sequence allowing for expression of a functional antibody molecule using a single promoter. The vector constructs may further include an additional proteolytic cleavage sequence which provides a means to remove the self processing peptide sequence from an expressed immunoglobulin molecule or fragment thereof. The vector constructs find utility in enhanced production of biologically active immunoglobulins or fragments thereof in vitro and in vivo.
US07714118B2 Polynucleotides encoding the fkbB gene of the FK-520 polyketide synthase gene cluster
Host cells comprising recombinant vectors encoding the FK-520 polyketide synthase and FK-520 modification enzymes can be used to produce the FK-520 polyketide. Recombinant DNA constructs comprising one or more FK-520 polyketide synthase domains, modules, open reading frames, and variants thereof can be used to produce recombinant polyketide synthases and a variety of different polyketides with application as pharmaceutical and veterinary products.
US07714115B2 Method of deprotection
The invention provides a method for the synthesis of an 18F-labelled product comprising deprotected of a protected 18F-labelled compound using a deprotection agent comprising a weak acid and wherein neutralisation and buffering of the deprotected product are carried out by the addition of a neutralisation agent. The deprotected product is buffered in a pH range suitable for subsequent autoclaving and formulation into an injectable radiopharmaceutical.
US07714114B2 Conjugates of an EPO moiety and a polymer
Conjugates of an EPO moiety and one or more non-peptidic water-soluble polymers are provided. Typically, the non-peptidic water-soluble polymer is poly(ethylene glycol) or a derivative thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising such conjugates, methods of making conjugates, and methods of administering compositions comprising such conjugates to a patient.
US07714110B2 Polypeptides and antibodies derived from chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and uses thereof
Cancer treatments use a therapy that: 1) interferes with the interaction between CD200 and its receptor to block immune suppression thereby promoting eradication of the cancer cells; and 2) directly kills the cancer cells either by complement-mediated or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or by targeting cells using a fusion molecule that includes a CD200-targeting portion. The therapy includes the administration of novel antibodies, functional fragments thereof or fusion molecules containing portions thereof.
US07714108B2 Mammalian tumor susceptibility gene products and their uses
The present invention provides methods and compositions for regulating ubiquitination in a cell. In particular, the present invention provides purified polypeptides comprising an ubiquitination-regulating domain. The invention also provides methods of using such polypeptides for screening for agents, for producing antibodies, and for treatment of diseases, e.g., proliferative diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disease and developmental abnormalities. The invention further provides antibodies that bind an ubiquitination-regulating domain and agents and antibodies that regulate ubiquitination in cells, e.g., by modulating the interaction between a TSG101 protein and an MDM2 protein.
US07714107B2 Freeze-dried fibrin matrices and methods for preparation thereof
The present invention relates to porous freeze-dried fibrin matrices substantially devoid of external anti-fibrinolytic agents, and methods of producing such matrices. Resilient matrices, also known as sponges, that are particularly beneficial for supporting three dimensional cell growth are obtained from plasma proteins substantially devoid of plasminogen or from partially purified plasma proteins, thus obviating the need for exogenous anti-fibrinolytic agents. Furthermore, incorporation of glycosaminoglycans and bioactive agents during the formation of the matrix results in a sponge having advantageous biological, mechanical and physical properties. The compositions of the present invention are useful clinically, without cells or as a cell bearing implants.
US07714106B2 Neuropeptides and their use for pest control
The present invention discloses novel pest control compounds comprising NPF polypeptides and methods for using such compounds in the control of pests.
US07714097B2 Polymer synthesis from macrocycles
A synthetic route is provided to prepare poly(ω-hydroxycarboxylic acid) polymers via the ring-opening polymerization of ω-hydroxycarboxylic acid cyclic oligomers. The cyclic oligomers can be prepared directly from biorenewable sources, such as 3-hydroxypropionic acid. The method can be used to prepare high molecular weight polymers from the cyclic oligomers. Good molecular weight control can be obtained for both solution state and melt polymerizations.
US07714090B2 (Meth)acrylate compound and process for the production thereof, (meth)acrylate copolymer and process for the production of (meth)acrylate copolymer, and soft intraocular lens
A (meth)acrylate copolymer obtained by copolymerization of a monomer mixture containing a monomer (A) of the general formula (I), wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or methyl, R2 is a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and Y is a single bond or an oxygen atom, a monomer (B) copolymerizable with the monomer (A) and a crosslinking monomer (C).
US07714087B2 Polar group-containing olefin copolymer, process for preparing the same, thermoplastic resin composition containing the copolymer, and uses thereof
A polar group-containing olefin copolymer having excellent adhesion properties to metals or polar resins and excellent compatibility therewith, a process for preparing the copolymer, a thermoplastic resin composition containing the copolymer, and uses thereof. The polar group-containing olefin copolymer comprises a constituent unit derived from an □-olefin of 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and a constituent unit derived from a straight-chain, branched or cyclic polar group-containing monomer having at the end a polar group such as a hydroxyl group or an epoxy group and/or a constituent unit derived from a macromonomer having at the end a polymer segment obtained by anionic polymerization, ring-opening polymerization or polycondensation. The polar group-containing olefin copolymer can be prepared by polymerizing the α-olefin with the polar group-containing monomer and/or the macromonomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst. The polar group-containing olefin copolymer and the thermoplastic resin composition containing the copolymer are used for films, sheets, modifiers, building/civil engineering materials, automobile exterior trim, electric/electronic parts, coating bases, compatibilizing agents, etc.
US07714084B2 Catalysts for catalytic chain transfer
Cobaloxime derivatives and methods of producing cobaloxime derivatives are disclosed herein. Methods of producing decolorized homo- and co-polymers through polymerization of monomers in presence of the cobaloxime derivatives and decolorization of the produced polymer by exposing the polymer to a sorbent and, optionally, a solvent are also disclosed herein.
US07714074B2 Polyethylene pipe fitting resins
Polyethylene resin suitable for formation into pipes or pipe fittings having an M15 of from 0.40 to 0.70 g/10 min, and including from 47 to 52 wt % of a low molecular weight polyethylene fraction, and from 48 to 53 wt % of a high molecular weight polyethylene fraction. The high molecular weight polyethylene fraction includes a copolymer of ethylene and 1-hexen or 1-octene, and the resin has a density after granulation and addition of additives of between 957 kg/m3 and 963 kg/m3.
US07714070B2 In-reactor produced polypropylene blends
Polypropylene resin compositions are provided that are useful in the production of thermoformed articles and biaxially oriented polypropylene films (BOPPs), tapes and fibers. The resins of the present invention are blends of high crystalline (low solubles) polypropylene homopolymer and an ethylene/propylene random copolymer (RCP). These blends can be used to replace standard high solubles BOPP grade polypropylene homopolymers. In addition, the use of high crystalline polypropylene homopolymers in the blends imparts improved stiffness to the finished films while maintaining good processability of the blends. Such polypropylene compositions are effectively produced by in-reactor blending of a high crystalline propylene homopolymer and a propylene/ethylene random copolymer.
US07714066B2 Polycarbonate molding compositions
An impact-modified polycarbonate composition is disclosed. The composition features good processing stability, low temperature toughness and chemical resistance to stress cracking. It includes two copolymers of a vinylaromatic compound and a functionalized vinylolefinic compound and is suitable for the production of complex components.
US07714061B2 Postcrosslinking of water absorbing polymeric particles
The present invention relates to a process for postcrosslinking water-absorbing polymeric particles in the absence of oxidizing gases, to the water-absorbing polymers preparable by the process and to their use in hygiene articles and packaging materials.
US07714056B2 Railroad tie and method for making same
Thermoplastic polymers, rubbery polymeric components and reinforcing fillers are mixed and heated to a range of 380° F. to 440° F. The resulting mixture is then fed into a Banbury mixer, with the resulting mixture fed into a diverter feeding two molds. The velocity of the piston of each mold being filled is controlled to thereby control the density of the molded product along its length. As each mold is filled, it is deposited in a cool water bath (50° F.-60° F.) while the next mold is being filled. The molds are sequentially transferred to an air cooling rack to complete the process. A texture, generally comprising indentations perpendicular to the longitudinal axis on the molded object, provides a frictional surface between the railway crosstie and the ballast beneath the crosstie.
US07714054B2 Process for making strain-hardened polymer products
A process which subjects a body of polymer to deformation to produce strain hardened polymeric products including blending a polymer and a nanoparticle material to produce a polymeric composition, forming a film from the polymeric composition, and subjecting the composition to strain hardening. The resulting product has improved clarity, dimensional stability, uniform thickness, due to the “self-leveling” properties of the polymeric composition.
US07714053B2 Rubber compound
A method for producing a rubber compound wherein the mechanical properties thereof are improved. In particular, the rubber compound has an increased elongation at rupture and/or increased tensile strength and/or increased tear strength and also a reduced compression set (DVR). The rubber compound includes a rubber which has at least two functional groups which can be cross-linked by hydrosilylation, a cross-linking agent consisting of hydrosiloxane or a hydrosiloxane derivative or a mixture of several hydrosiloxanes or derivatives, which include at least two SiH-groups per molecule in the center, a hydrosilylation catalyst system, at least one filling material and a coagent which can be cross-linked by hydrosilylation.
US07714051B2 Rubber compounds containing polyoxyalkylene amines
The present invention is directed to a rubber compound, such as for use in tires, containing one or more polyoxyalkylene amines, such as to reduce the amount of silane coupling agent conventionally used therein. The presence of the polyoxyalkylene amine(s) allows for the silane coupling agent to be present in a low percent by weight of silica without substantially sacrificing the performance characteristics of the rubber compound. In one embodiment, the rubber compound includes 100 phr of a natural elastomer, a synthetic elastomer, or combinations thereof, no less than about 20 phr silica, a silane coupling agent present in an amount no more than 8% by weight of the silica, and about 2 phr to about 10 phr of at least one polyoxyalkylene amine defined by a primary amino group attached to the terminus of a polyether backbone.
US07714048B2 Biodegradable resin composition
A biodegradable resin composition that exhibits excellent antistatic properties and antifogging properties while maintaining its molecular weight to such a degree as to provide practically satisfactory strength of a molded article molded even according to a kneading process.
US07714043B2 Tire innerliners having improved cold temperature properties
Provided are elastomeric compositions, such as a tire innerliner, comprising at least one isobutylene based elastomer and at least one hydrocarbon fluid additive (“HFA”). The compositions have improved cold temperature properties and are particularly useful as tire innerliners for an aircraft tire. The use of a HFA in the elastomeric composition may allow for the use of reduced amounts of secondary elastomers, such as natural rubber, while allowing for an improved balance in the composition's brittleness and permeability properties. Examples of useful HFAs include polyalphaolefins, high purity hydrocarbon fluids, and water white group III mineral oils.
US07714038B2 Modified polyolefin waxes
Polyolefin waxes bearing (meth)acrylate groups, process for preparing them and their use.
US07714036B2 Sequentially cross-linked polyethylene
A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume. When applied to a preform, such as a rod, the annealing of the bulk polymer part of the rod from which the finished part is made must take place on the rod before the implant is machined therefrom and exposed to oxygen.
US07714034B2 Photopolymerizable dental materials with bisacylphosphine oxides as initiators
Polymerizable dental material which contains at least one radically-polymerizable monomer and at least one bisacylphosphine oxide of the Formula I, in which R1 is a linear or branched C2 to C14 alkyl residue, which can be interrupted by one or more O atoms, PG-Y—R2—X— or a substituted or unsubstituted, aromatic C6 to C14 radical; R2 is absent or a linear or branched C1 to C20 alkylene radical, which can be interrupted by one or more O atoms; R3 is H, a linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl residue or PG-Y—R2—X—; R4 is a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl or —O—C1-C6 alkyl residue; R5 is H or PG-Y—R2—X—; R6 is H or PG-Y—R213 X—; PG is a polymerizable group; X is absent, O or S; Y is absent, O, S, an ester, amide or urethane group; the bisacylphosphine oxide having at least one PG-Y—R2—X group and X and/or Y being absent if R2 is absent.
US07714027B2 Crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane and method for producing same
An aromatic polymer film substrate, or a grafted aromatic polymer film substrate having a monomer introduced therein as graft chains is irradiated with ionizing radiation to impart a crosslinked structure. The aromatic polymer film substrate or the grafted aromatic polymer film substrate, provided with the crosslinked structure, is directly sulfonated to obtain a crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane. The crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane has low water uptake, high proton conductivity, low methanol permeability, high chemical stability, and excellent mechanical characteristics. A method for producing the crosslinked aromatic polymer electrolyte membrane is also provided.
US07714026B2 Pharmaceutical composition containing bakuchiol for treating woman osteoporosis
The present invention discloses a novel use of bakuchiol or an extract containing bakuchiol in preventing or treating a woman suffering osteoporosis. An embodiment of this novel use is a pharmaceutical composition containing bakuchiol or an extract containing bakuchiol, which can be in the dosage forms of topical use, oral administration, injection or sustained release. The present invention also discloses a novel use of bakuchiol or an extract containing bakuchiol in preventing or treating a woman suffering breast cancer.
US07714014B2 Targeting GLI proteins in human cancer by small molecules
This invention provides compositions, methods and kits for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers expressing a GLI polypeptide, and in particular a GLI1, GLI2 or GLI3 polypeptide. The invention provides small molecule compounds mimicking the transcriptional activation domain of a GLI polypeptide. The small molecule inhibitors of the invention specifically block the activator function of a GLI polypeptide, but not the repressor function of GLI3.
US07714013B2 Azole derivatives and fused bicyclic azole derivatives as therapeutic agents
This invention provides certain compounds, methods of their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and their use in treating human or animal disorders. The compounds of the invention are useful as modulators of the interaction between the receptor for advanced glycated end products (RAGE) and its ligands, such as advanced glycated end products (AGEs), S100/calgranulin/EN-RAGE, β-amyloid and amphoterin, and for the management, treatment, control, or as an adjunct treatment for diseases in humans caused by RAGE. Such diseases or disease states include acute and chronic inflammation, the development of diabetic late complications such as increased vascular permeability, nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and retinopathy, the development of Alzheimer's disease, erectile dysfunction, and tumor invasion and metastasis.
US07714009B2 Nitrogen-containing fused heterocyclic compounds
There is provided a CRF receptor antagonist comprising a compound of the formula (I): wherein, ring A is a 5-membered ring represented by the formula (A′): wherein X is a carbon and X1 is an oxygen, a sulfur or —NR5—, or formula (A″): wherein X is a nitrogen and R6 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, R1 is an amino substituted by two optionally substituted hydrocarbyl groups, R2 is an phenyl, Y1 is CR3a or a nitrogen, Y2 is CR3b or a nitrogen and Y3 is CR3c or a nitrogen, provided that one or less of Y1, Y2, and Y3 is nitrogen, W is a bond, —(CH2)n-, and Z is a bond, —NR4—, etc.; or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof.
US07714006B1 Methods of modifying the bioavailability of metaxalone
A method of increasing the bioavailability, and decreasing the effect of age on the bioavailability, of metaxalone, by administration of an oral dosage form with food is provided, as well as an article of manufacture comprising an oral dosage form of metaxalone in a suitable container and associated with printed labeling which describes the increased bioavailability, and decreased effect of age on bioavailability, of the medication in the container, when taken with food.
US07714001B2 Arylvinylazacycloalkane compounds and methods of preparation and use thereof
Novel vinylazacycloalkane compounds of Formula (I) are disclosed. The compounds are ligands of various nAChRs. The compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used to prepare pharmaceutical compositions and/or medicaments intended to prevent or treat disorders associated with dysfunction of nAChRs, especially within the central nervous system or the gastrointestinal system. Examples of types of disorders that can be treated include neurodegenerative disorders, including central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorders, motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, drug addiction, behavioral disorders and inflammatory disorders within the gastrointestinal system. The compounds can also serve as analgesics in the treatment of acute, chronic or recurrent pain.
US07713998B2 Nitrogenous heterocyclic compound and pharmaceutical use thereof
The present invention relates to a compound that has p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity useful as drug medicine, represented by the general formula (I): wherein all the symbols are as defined in the description, or its salt, N-oxide or solvate, or a prodrug thereof. Further, there are provided a process for producing the same and usage thereof. The compound of the general formula (I) has a p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity and is useful for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in which an abnormal production of cytokine, such as inflammatory cytokine or chemokine, or an over-reaction thereto would be instrumental in the cause and aggravation of pathologic condition thereof, namely, cytokine-mediated diseases, for example, inflammatory diseases, respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, central nervous diseases, etc.
US07713996B2 Indolyl derivatives which are L-CPT1 inhibitors
The invention is concerned with novel heterobicyclic derivatives of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, A, X and Y are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds inhibit L-CPT1 and can be used as medicaments.
US07713989B2 Glucocorticoid receptor modulators
The present invention provides non-steroidal compounds of formula I which are selective modulators (i.e., agonists and antagonists) of a steroid receptor, specifically, the glucocorticoid receptor. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods for using these compounds to treat animals requiring glucocorticoid receptor agonist or antagonist therapy. Glucocorticoid receptor modulators are useful to the diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation and others as described below. The present invention also provides intermediates and processes for preparing these compounds.
US07713985B2 Adenosine Aa2 receptor antagonists
Compounds having the structural formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X1 and X2 are 1-3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, halo, —CF3, —OCF3, alkoxy, —OH and —CN; n is 0, 1 or 2; and R and R1 are H or alkyl; also disclosed is the use of the compounds in the treatment of CNS diseases such as Parkinson's disease, alone or in combination with other agents for treating CNS diseases, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and kits comprising the components of the combinations.
US07713984B2 Pharmaceutical uses
The invention relates to the pharmaceutical use of specific substance P antagonists, in particular 1-acylpiperidine substance P antagonists, especially N-benzoyl-2-benzyl-4-(azanaphthoyl-amino)-piperidines, e.g. of formula wherein X and Y are each independently of the other N and/or CH and the ring A is unsubstituted or mono- or poly-substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, nitro and trifluoromethyl; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the absence of serotonin agonist/selective serotonin reuptake inhibitory therapy, or for the treatment of fibromyalgia or associated functional symptoms.
US07713983B2 Quinazolines useful as modulators of ion channels
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels and calcium channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US07713982B2 Xanthines with HM74A receptor activity
The present invention relates to a therapeutically active xanthine derivative compound of formula (I): corresponding pharmaceutical formulations containing, manufacture processes for, methods or uses of such compounds in therapy, in particular for treatment of diseases where under-activation of the HM74A receptor contributes to such diseases or where activation of the HM74A receptor will be beneficial.
US07713980B2 Crystalline modifications of N-α-(2,4,6-triisopropyl-phenylsulfonyl)-3-hydroxyamidino-(L)- phenylalanine 4-ethoxycarbonylpiperazide and/or salts thereof
The present invention relates to novel crystalline modifications of N-α-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenylsulfonyl)-3-hydroxyamidino-(L)-phenylalanine 4-ethoxycarbonylpiperazide and/or salts thereof, which can be used as pharmaceutical agents, and to pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses comprising these novel crystalline modifications.
US07713974B2 Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
The present invention provides for compounds useful for treating an HIV infection, or preventing an HIV infection, or treating AIDS or ARC. The compounds of the invention are of formula I wherein A is A1, A2, A3 or A4 and R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, Ar, X1, X2, X4, X4 and X5 are as herein defined. Also disclosed in the present invention are methods of treating an HIV infection with compounds defined herein and pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds.
US07713973B2 Kinase inhibitors
Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits are provided for use with kinases that comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of: wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US07713971B2 1,2,4-triazine derivatives, preparation and use thereof in human therapy
The invention relates to 3,5-dioxo-(2H,4H)-1,2,4-triazine compounds of formula I in which the variables are defined herein, as well as additive salts with pharmaceutically acceptable bases and the various enantiomers of compounds having asymmetrical carbons, as well as their mixtures in all proportions, including racemic mixtures in particular.
US07713957B2 Pharmaceutical composition containing gabapentin or pregabalin and N-type calcium channel antagonist
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful for preventing/treating pain, which comprises combination of gabapentin or pregabalin, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and N-type calcium channel antagonists or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof such as a compound having the following structure.
US07713953B2 2-methylene-(22E)-25-(1-methylene-hexyl)-26,27-cyclo-22-dehydro-19-nor-vitamin D analogs
This invention discloses 2-methylene-(22E)-25-(1-methylene-hexyl)-26,27-cyclo-22-dehydro-19-nor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-(22E)-25-(1-methylene-hexyl)-26,27-cyclo-22-dehydro-19-nor-1α,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits relatively high transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also shows lower activity in vivo on bone calcium mobilization and intestinal calcium transport activity compared to the native hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.
US07713950B2 Antibacterial 1-(4-mono-and di-halomethylsulphonylphenyl)-2-acylamino-3-fluoroproponals and preparation thereof
Novel florfenicol compounds having the chemical structure: or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, or prodrug thereof, wherein R1 is CHCl2, CHClF, CHF2, CHBrCl, CH3, CH2N3, CH2CN, CH(R2)NH2 or CHX1X2; where R2 is H, CH3 or CH2OH, and X1 and X2 are independently selected halogens; and R3 is CH2Cl, CH2F, CHF2, CHCl2 or CH2OH are disclosed. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of bacterial infections in a broad range of patients such as, without limitation, birds, fish, shellfish and mammals.
US07713947B2 Cladribine regimen for treating multiple sclerosis
The present invention is related to the use of Cladribine for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, especially relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or early secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, wherein the preparation is to be orally administered and wherein re-treatments are possible.
US07713946B2 Partial and full agonists A1 adenosine receptors
Disclosed are novel compounds a compound of Formula I that are partial and full A1 adenosine receptor agonists, useful for treating various disease states, in particular dyslipidemia, diabetes, decreased insulin sensitivity, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Stein-Leventhal syndrome, and obesity.
US07713942B2 Cage-like microparticle complexes comprising sterols and saponins for delivery of polynucleotides
The present invention pertains to complexes comprising sterols and saponins. The complexes are capable of binding a genetic determinant including a polynucleotide. The complexes may further comprise a lipophilic moiety, optionally a lipophilic moiety comprising a contacting group and/or a targeting ligand, and/or a saccharide moiety. The complexes may further comprise an immunogenic determinant and/or an antigenic determinant and/or a medicament and/or a diagnostic compound. The complexes may in even further embodiments be encapsulated by an encapsulation agent including a biodegradable microsphere. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of an individual by therapy and/or surgery, methods of cosmetic treatment, and diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body.
US07713938B2 Crystalline form of 1-chloro-4-(β-D-glucopyranos-1-yl)-2-[4-((S)-tetrahydrofuran-3-yloxy)-benzyl]-benzene, a method for its preparation and the use thereof for preparing medicaments
The invention relates to a crystalline form of 1-chloro-4-(β-D-glucopyranos-1-yl)-2-[4-((S) -tetrahydrofuran-3-yloxy)-benzyl]-benzene, to a method for the preparation thereof, as well as to the use thereof for preparing medicaments.
US07713937B2 Synthetic peptide amides and dimeric forms thereof
The invention relates to synthetic peptide amides that are ligands of the kappa opioid receptor and particularly to agonists of the kappa opioid receptor that exhibit low P450 CYP inhibition and low penetration into the brain. The synthetic peptide amides of the invention conform to the structure: wherein Xaa is a D-amino acid and G is selected from the following three groups: The compounds are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of pain, pruritis and inflammation associated with a variety of diseases and conditions.
US07713936B2 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.
US07713935B2 Compounds that modulate TRH actions
The invention relates to compounds that inhibit thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) degrading ectoenzyme and/or enhance, and/or mimic the biological actions of TRH. The compounds find therapeutic application, particularly in conditions involving neuronal cell injury and disturbances in neurobiological function.
US07713928B1 Ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions
Ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, methods of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, and methods of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprise bivalirudin and one or more stabilizing agents. The one or more stabilizing agents may be buffering agents having a pKa of about 2.5 to about 6.5, pH-adjusting agents, polymers, preservatives, antioxidants, sugars or polyols, or a combination thereof. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions may also comprise [9-10]-cycloimido bivalirudin, [11-12]-cycloimido bivalirudin, or a combination thereof. The method of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises administering the ready-to-use compositions to a patient in need thereof. Further, the method of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises mixing bivalirudin with one or more stabilizing agents.
US07713923B2 Self-assembling peptides incorporating modifications and methods of use thereof
The invention provides a self-assembling peptide comprising (a) a first amino acid domain that mediates self-assembly, wherein the domain comprises alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids that are complementary and structurally compatible and self-assemble into a macroscopic structure when present in unmodified form; and (b) a second amino acid domain that does not self-assemble in isolated form. In certain embodiments of the invention the second amino acid domain comprises a biologically active peptide motif, e.g., a peptide motif found in a naturally occurring protein, or a target site for an interaction with a biomolecule. In certain embodiments of the invention the naturally occurring protein is a component of the extracellular matrix, e.g., a component of the basement membrane. The invention further provides scaffolds comprising the self-assembling peptides and methods of using the scaffolds including for cell culture, tissue engineering, and tissue repair.
US07713919B2 Method of cleaning firearms and ordnance
A composition for removing copper from a surface comprises a polyphosphonic acid, a primary amine, and water. Optionally, the composition may also comprise a dialkanolamine and/or a trialkanolamine, a degreaser, and/or a surfactant. The pH of the composition is between 9.0 and 12.5. The method of removing copper from a surface, which may be a gun bore, involves contacting the surface with the composition.
US07713916B2 Orthoester-based surfactants and associated methods
Provided are treatment fluids that comprise a base fluid and an orthoester-based surfactant. In some instances, the treatment fluid may have a pH of about 8.5 or greater. Also provided are emulsified treatment fluids that comprise an oleaginous phase, an aqueous phase having a pH of about 8.5 or greater, and an orthoester-based surfactant. Methods of using the treatment fluid and methods of facilitating flow through a conduit also are provided.
US07713908B2 Porous composite metal oxide and method of producing the same
A method of producing a porous composite metal oxide comprising the steps of: dispersing first metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, in a dispersion medium by use of microbeads each with a diameter of not larger than 150 μm, thus obtaining first metal oxide particles, which are 1 nm to 50 nm in average particle diameter, and not less than 80% by mass of which are not larger than 75 nm in diameter; dispersing and mixing up, in a dispersion medium, the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide powder, which is an aggregate of primary particles each with a diameter of not larger than 50 nm, and which is not larger than 200 nm in average particle diameter, thus obtaining a homogeneously-dispersed solution in which the first metal oxide particles and second metal oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed; and drying the homogeneously-dispersed solution, thus obtaining a porous composite metal oxide.
US07713907B2 Method of preparing size-selected metal clusters
The invention provides a method for depositing catalytic clusters on a surface, the method comprising confining the surface to a controlled atmosphere; contacting the surface with catalyst containing vapor for a first period of time; removing the vapor from the controlled atmosphere; and contacting the surface with a reducing agent for a second period of time so as to produce catalyst-containing nucleation sites.
US07713904B2 Composition for desulfurization
This invention relates to a composition with desulfurization property, in which the desulfurization component is a kind of molecular sieves with incorporation of vanadium into the skeleton. The composition has high hydrothermal stability and the vanadium is hard to lose.
US07713902B2 Method of preparing a platinum catalyst for use in fuel cell electrode
The present invention provides methods of preparing an improved platinum catalyst for use in fuel cells. The method includes preparing a platinum-loaded template of mesoporous alumina, and preparing a platinum catalyst using said alumina template. To prepare the template, a platinum solution and an aluminum alkoxide-butanol solution are combined to form a mixture and the mixture is then subjected to hydration and condensation reactions. To prepare the platinum catalyst, the template and carbon precursors are subjected to polymerization, and the resultant composite subjected to heat treatment. Due to the uniform platinum particle size and high specific surface area achieved, the method of the invention can produce a platinum catalyst with high catalytic activity and thermal stability and in turn improve the performance of the fuel cell in which the catalyst is used.
US07713900B2 Chiral tertiary aminoalkylnaphthols
The present invention provides bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds of the formula wherein R is optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R′ and R″ are independently optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or an enantiomer thereof; or an enantiomeric mixture thereof. The compounds of the formula (I) are chiral atropisomeric bipyrimidinyl diphosphine compounds and, thus, may be employed as ligands to generate chiral transition metal catalysts which may be applied in a variety of asymmetric reactions, e.g., in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The compounds of the present invention are easily accessible in high enantiomeric purity according to the methods disclosed herein.
US07713899B2 Method of producing membrane electrode assemblies for use in proton exchange membrane and direct methanol fuel cells
Compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrodes for fuel cells. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for the manufacture of anodes and cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, particularly direct methanol fuel cells. The methods can utilize direct-write tools to deposit ink compositions and form functional layers of a membrane electrode assembly having controlled properties and enhanced performance.
US07713898B2 Method of making a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst
A catalyst is formed from a phosphorus-containing ZSM-5-type zeolite. The ZSM-5-type zeolite has a silica/alumina molar ratio of at least 200. The phosphorus-containing ZSM-5-type zeolite also has a phosphorus content of at least 8% by weight of zeolite and has multiple phosphorus species exhibited by at least two 31P MAS NMR peaks with maxima at from about 0 to about −50 ppm. The catalyst may be used in aromatic alkylation by contacting the catalyst with a feed of an aromatic hydrocarbon and an alkylating agent under reaction conditions suitable for aromatic alkylation.
US07713896B2 Method for producing ceramic green compacts for ceramic components
A method for preparing ceramic green compacts for ceramic assemblies, especially ceramic multilayer assemblies. First, a dispersing agent solution is prepared by homogenizing a dispersing agent in a solvent mixture. Then, a binder solution is prepared by homogenizing a solvent mixture, a binder made of acrylatemethacrylate polymer and a softener. After preparing a first dispersion by homogenizing a ceramic powder and the dispersing agent solution and subsequent deagglomerization, a second dispersion is prepared by homogenizing the first dispersion and the binder solution, and subsequently removing air and highly volatile solvent components from the second dispersion.
US07713893B2 Three-dimensional woven integrally stiffened panel
An integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two directions constructed from a woven base fabric having first, second and third woven fabrics. A plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the first and second fabrics such that the first fabric is foldable relative to the second fabric. An additional plurality of yarns are interwoven over a region between the second and third fabrics such that the third fabric is foldable relative to the second fabric. Upon folding of the woven base fabric, the integrally woven three-dimensional preform with stiffeners in two directions is formed.
US07713887B2 Method for forming isolation layer in semiconductor device
A method for forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first liner nitride layer on an exposed surface of the trench, forming a first high density plasma (HDP) oxide layer such that the first HDP oxide layer partially fills the trench to cover a bottom surface and a side surface of the trench and an upper surface of the first liner nitride layer, etching overhangs generated during the forming of the first HDP oxide layer by introducing a hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution into the semiconductor substrate, forming a second liner nitride layer over the first HDP oxide layer, removing the second liner nitride layer formed on the first HDP oxide layer while forming a second HDP oxide layer to fill the trench, and subjecting the second HDP oxide layer to planarization, so as to form a trench isolation layer.
US07713885B2 Methods of etching oxide, reducing roughness, and forming capacitor constructions
The invention includes methods in which one or more components of a carboxylic acid having an aqueous acidic dissociation constant of at least 1×10−6 are utilized during the etch of oxide (such as silicon dioxide or doped silicon dioxide). Two or more carboxylic acids can be utilized. Exemplary carboxylic acids include trichloroacetic acid, maleic acid, and citric acid.
US07713884B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device that includes forming metal oxide film on semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor wafer is placed in a chamber of a film-deposition apparatus, and gas in the chamber is exhausted from a gas exhaust outlet. Then, with interrupting the exhaust, an inert gas is introduced into the chamber so that the chamber has a pressure of 133 Pa or higher and lower than 101325 Pa, and then a mixed gas of an inert gas and a source gas for depositing a metal oxide film is introduced into the chamber. Then, after exhausting the gas in the chamber, an oxidation gas is introduced into the chamber to react with the molecules of the source gas absorbed on the semiconductor wafer to form a metal oxide film on the semiconductor wafer. By repeating these steps, a metal oxide film having a desired film thickness is deposited on the semiconductor wafer with a film-thickness distribution by an ALD method.
US07713881B2 Process sequence for doped silicon fill of deep trenches
A method for void free filling with in-situ doped amorphous silicon of a deep trench structure is provided in which a first fill is carried out in a way so that film deposition occurs from the bottom of the trench upwards, with step coverage well in excess of 100%. In a second fill step, deposition conditions are changed to reduce the impact of dopant on deposition rate, and deposition proceeds at a rate which exceeds the deposition rate of the first fill. In an application of this method to the formation of deep trench capacitor structures, the intermediate steps further including the capping of the void free filled trench with a thick layer of amorphous silicon, planarization of the wafer thereafter, followed by a thermal anneal to re-distribute the dopant within the filled trench. Thereafter, additional steps can be performed to complete the formation of the capacitor structure.
US07713875B2 Variable salicide block for resistance equalization in an array
The present invention facilitates memory devices and operation of dual bit and single bit memory devices by providing systems and methods that employ a salicide block to vary and equalize the resistance of a memory array during fabrication. The present invention includes utilizing a common charge dissipation region to mitigate charge-loss by providing protection against charging up of the various lines as a result of further plasma etching processes. The salicide block equalizes the charge dissipation in the memory array by providing each wordline path with a varied amount of resistance in addition to the total path resistance. Because the charge protection provided to each wordline otherwise varies depending on the resistance path to a common discharge element, a salicide block for resistance equalization provides greater reliability and predictability during processing. Other such shapes conducive for any desired resistance path fall within the scope of the invention.
US07713872B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A silicon substrate has a protective film formed on each side. A semiconductor surface opening not smaller than a given region is formed by removing the protective film. A through-hole having an inner size smaller than the given region is formed in the opening by laser machining. Thereafter, the inner size of the through-hole is increased by anisotropic etching, and the etching is ended when the inner size of the through-hole reaches the given size. In this way, a through-hole of a given size can be formed without allowing reversely tapered crystal planes to appear from a surface of the substrate toward the inside of the through-hole.
US07713869B2 Manufacture method for semiconductor device suitable for forming wirings by damascene method and semiconductor device
An interlayer insulating film having a concave portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A tight adhesion film is formed on the inner surface of the concave portion and the upper surface of the insulating film. The surface of the adhesion layer is covered with an auxiliary film made of Cu alloy containing a first metal element. A conductive member containing a second metal element other than the first metal element is embedded in the concave portion, and deposited on the auxiliary film. Heat treatment is performed to make atoms of the first metal element in the auxiliary film segregate on the inner surface of the concave portion. The adhesion layer contains an element for enhancing tight adhesion of the auxiliary film more than if the auxiliary film is deposited directly on a surface of the interlayer insulating film. During the period until the barrier layer having also the function of enhancing tight adhesion, it becomes possible to retain sufficient tight adhesion of a wiring member and prevent peel-off of the wiring member.
US07713866B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a method of forming a barrier layer. The method of forming the barrier layer includes providing a workpiece, forming a first material layer over the workpiece, the first material layer comprising a nitride-based metal compound. A second material layer is formed over the first material layer. The second material layer comprises Ta or Ti. The barrier layer comprises the first material layer and at least the second material layer.
US07713857B2 Methods of forming an antifuse and a conductive interconnect, and methods of forming DRAM circuitry
A first via opening is formed to a first conductor and a second via opening is formed to a second conductor. The first and second via openings are formed through insulative material. Then, the first conductor is masked from being exposed through the first via opening and to leave the second conductor outwardly exposed through the second via opening. An antifuse dielectric is formed within the second via opening over the exposed second conductor while the first conductor is masked. Then, the first conductor is unmasked to expose it through the first via opening. Then, conductive material is deposited to within the first via opening in conductive connection with the first conductor to form a conductive interconnect within the first via opening to the first conductor and to within the second via opening over the antifuse dielectric to form an antifuse comprising the second conductor, the antifuse dielectric within the second via opening and the conductive material deposited to within the second via opening. Other aspects are contemplated.
US07713855B2 Method for forming bit-line contact plug and transistor structure
A method for forming a bit-line contact plug includes providing a substrate including a transistor which includes a gate structure and a source/drain at both sides of the gate structure; forming a conductive layer, a bit-line contact material layer and a hard mask layer; performing an etching process using the conductive layer as an etching stop layer to etch the bit-line contact material layer and the hard mask layer and forming the bit-line contact plug on the source/drain. A transistor structure includes a gate structure and a source/drain at both sides of the gate structure, a conductive layer covering part of the gate structure and connected to the source/drain, and a bit-line contact plug disposed on the conductive layer and directly connected to the conductive layer.
US07713854B2 Gate dielectric layers and methods of fabricating gate dielectric layers
A method of forming a gate dielectric layer includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate. The gate dielectric layer is processed with carbon-containing ions. The gate dielectric layer is thermally processed, thereby providing the gate dielectric layer with a level of carbon between about 1 atomic % and about 20 atomic %.
US07713853B2 Method for manufacturing electronic devices integrated in a semiconductor substrate and corresponding devices
A method for manufacturing electronic devices on a semiconductor substrate with wide band gap that includes the steps of: forming a screening structure on the semiconductor substrate to include at least a dielectric layer that leaves a plurality of areas of the semiconductor substrate exposed, carrying out at least a ion implantation of a first type of dopant in the semiconductor substrate to form at least a first implanted region, carrying out at least a ion implantation of a second type of dopant in the semiconductor substrate to form at least a second implanted region inside the at least a first implanted region, carrying out an activation thermal process of the first type and second type of dopant with low thermal temperature suitable to complete the formation of the at least first and second implanted regions without diffusing the at least first and at least second type dopants in the substrate.
US07713850B2 Method for forming a structure provided with at least one zone of one or several semiconductor nanocrystals localised with precision
Method for forming a structure provided with at least one zone of one or several semiconductor nanocrystals (13). It consists in: exposing with a beam of electrons (11) at least one zone (12) of a semiconductor film (1) lying on an electrically insulating support (2), the exposed zone (12) contributing to defining at least one dewetting zone (10) of the film (1), annealing the film (1) at high temperature in such a way that the dewetting zone (10) retracts giving the zone of one or several nanocrystals (13).
US07713847B2 Method for forming AlGaN crystal layer
A method for preparing an AlGaN crystal layer with good surface flatness is provided. A surface layer of AlN is epitaxially formed on a c-plane sapphire single crystal base material by MOCVD method, and the resulting laminated body is then heated at a temperature of 1300° C. or higher so that a template substrate applying in-plane compressive stress and having a surface layer flat at a substantially atomic level is obtained. An AlGaN layer is formed on the template substrate at a deposition temperature higher than 1000° C. by an MOCVD method that includes depositing alternating layers of a first unit layer including a Group III nitride represented by the composition formula AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1) and a second unit layer including a Group III nitride represented by the composition formula AlyGa1-yN (0≦y≦1 and y≠x) such that the AlGaN layer has a superlattice structure.
US07713846B2 Process applied to semiconductor
A process applied to grinding, dicing, and/or stacking semiconductors is disclosed. One of its features is that after transparent material is stuck on its active surface, a semiconductor is ground from another surface thereof to become thinner, then take advantage of transparency of the transparent material to cut the transparent material and the semiconductor, to obtain at least one smaller semiconductor unit such as die or chip. Another feature is that the transparent material remains sticking to the active surface of the die by an adhesion layer until the die is attached to a carrier or another die, and then the transparent material and the adhesion layer are removed by taking advantage of a function of the adhesion layer: receiving a ray to lose adhesion between it and the active surface. Preferably the ray reaches the adhesion layer via the transparent material stuck on the active surface of the die.
US07713842B2 Method for producing bonded wafer
In a method for producing a bonded wafer by bonding a wafer for active layer to wafer for support layer and then thinning the wafer for active layer, a terrace grinding for forming a terrace portion is carried out prior to a step of exposing the oxygen ion implanted layer to thereby leave an oxide film on a terrace portion of the wafer for support layer.
US07713838B2 SOI wafer and its manufacturing method
Since a supporting wafer contains boron of 9×1018 atoms/cm3 or more, therefore a part of the metal impurities in an active layer wafer and the metal impurities in the wafer can be captured by the boron during the heat treatment for bonding. As a result, metal contamination in the active layer can be reduced. Moreover, the wafer strength is enhanced, thus preventing the wafer slipping. Since the wafer has no COP, micro voids are not detected in the LPD evaluation of the active layer, thereby improving the reliability of the evaluation. Such a bonded wafer can be manufactured at a low cast.
US07713837B2 Low temperature fusion bonding with high surface energy using a wet chemical treatment
Described is a wet chemical surface treatment involving NH4OH that enables extremely strong direct bonding of two wafer such as semiconductors (e.g., Si) to insulators (e.g., SiO2) at low temperatures (less than or equal to 400° C.). Surface energies as high as ˜4835±675 mJ/m2 of the bonded interface have been achieved using some of these surface treatments. This value is comparable to the values reported for significantly higher processing temperatures (less than 1000° C.). Void free bonding interfaces with excellent yield and surface energies of ˜2500 mJ/m2 have also be achieved herein.
US07713836B2 Method for forming conductive layer and substrate having the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A separation layer is formed over a substrate having a depressed portion, using a silane coupling agent; a conductive layer and an insulating layer that covers the conductive layer are formed in the depressed portion over the separation layer; and a sticky member is attached to the insulating layer, then the conductive layer and the insulating layer are separated from the substrate. Alternatively, after these steps, a flexible substrate is attached to the conductive layer and the insulating layer.
US07713835B2 Thermally decomposable spin-on bonding compositions for temporary wafer bonding
New spin-on, bonding compositions and methods of using those compositions are provided. The cured bonding compositions comprise a crosslinked oxazoline (either crosslinked with another oxazoline or with a crosslinking agent), and can be used to bond an active wafer to a carrier wafer or substrate to assist in protecting the active wafer and its active sites during subsequent processing and handling. The compositions form bonding layers that are chemically and thermally resistant, but that can be thermally decomposed at 285° C. or higher to allow the wafers to slide apart at the appropriate stage in the fabrication process.
US07713834B2 Method of forming isolation regions for integrated circuits
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) utilizes a shallow trench isolation (STI) technique. The shallow trench isolation technique is used in strained silicon (SMOS) process. The liner for the trench is formed from a semiconductor or metal layer which is deposited in a low temperature process which reduces germanium outgassing. The low temperature process can be a ALD process.
US07713833B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a first film on a target film; forming resist patterns on the first film; processing the first film with the resist patterns to form first patterns including: periodic patterns; and aperiodic patterns; removing the resist patterns; forming a second film over the target film; processing the second film to form second side wall patterns on side walls of the first patterns; removing the periodic patterns; and processing the target film with the aperiodic patterns and the second side wall patterns, thereby forming a target patterns including: periodic target patterns; aperiodic target patterns; and dummy patterns arranged between the periodic target patterns and the aperiodic patterns and arranged periodically with the periodic target patterns.
US07713831B2 Method for fabricating capacitor in semiconductor device
A method for forming a capacitor in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a storage node electrode on a semiconductor substrate, forming a dielectric layer having a high dielectric constant on the storage node electrode, depositing a plate electrode on the dielectric layer, thereby forming by-product impurities, and removing by-product impurities remaining on the plate electrode by introducing a hydrogen (H) atom-containing gas onto the semiconductor substrate while depositing a capping layer on the plate electrode.
US07713828B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions on the semiconductor substrate, and contact plugs connected to the source and drain regions. The contact plugs includes first impurity-diffused epitaxial layers that contact with the source and drain regions.