| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07791840B2 |
Head suspension, load beam, and method of manufacturing load beam
In the manufacture of a load beam for reading and writing a hard disk in a hard disk drive which load beam has a body having a slope extending from a front end thereof and bent along a bend line in a direction opposite to the hard disk, a tab protruding from the slope and to be guided on a guide of the hard disk drive, and a box-bent portion extending along each side edge of the body and slope and passing through an end of the bend line. A first stage is preparing a load beam material that is flat and has a deformation control zone on a section to be processed into the box-bent portion of the load beam material corresponding to the section to be processed into the bend line so as to prevent the box-bent portion from deforming and protruding when the box-bent portion is formed. |
| US07791837B2 |
Thin film device having thin film coil wound on magnetic film
A thin film device is provided, in which inductance can be increased when a thin film coil wound on a magnetic film is provided. In a thin film coil wound on a magnetic film, thickness of lower coil portions is smaller than thickness of upper coil portions. Consequently, a magnetic property (permeability) tends to be hardly deteriorated. |
| US07791835B2 |
Multi-channel head
A multi-channel head includes a substrate and a plurality of recording elements arranged on the substrate in a track width direction. At least one of the recording elements satisfies BGW |
| US07791826B2 |
Optical assembly
An optical assembly supported in an arrangement, especially in an objective or in an illuminating or exposure system, in the interior of a housing comprising at least one optical element, especially a lens, a mirror, or an aperture, wherein the at least one element is influenceable by at least one manipulator is characterized in that the at least one manipulator is arranged either outside of the housing or in a holding means that is separated entirely or to a large extent by the help of a decoupling means, and that there is provided an effective coupling between the manipulator and the element to be influenced by the manipulator in the interior of the arrangement. |
| US07791824B2 |
Telephoto lens system
Provided is a telephoto lens system. The telephoto lens system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, which are arranged sequentially from an object side to an image side. Focusing is performed by moving the second lens group along an optical axis. The first lens group comprises (from object to image side) a positive lens having an object side surface whose radius of curvature is greater than that of an image side surface, a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface at the object side, a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface at the object side, and a positive lens having an object side surface whose radius of curvature is greater than that of an image side surface. The second lens group comprises (from object to image side) a doublet lens made up of a positive lens and a negative lens, and the third lens group comprises a doublet lens made up of a negative lens with a concave surface at the object side and a positive lens, and a positive lens. |
| US07791823B2 |
Substrate with recess portion for microlens, microlens substrate, transmissive screen, rear type projector, and method of manufacturing substrate with recess portion for microlens
A microlens substrate is provided having a plurality of first microlenses and a plurality of second microlenses which are located between the plurality of first microlenses. The second microlenses are smaller than the first microlenses. |
| US07791819B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the distance between the negative first lens group and the positive second lens group decreases, and the distance between the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group increases. The negative first lens group includes a negative first lens element, a negative second lens element having a weaker negative refractive power, and a positive third lens element, in this order from the object. The second lens element of the negative first lens group satisfies the following condition: 0<(ra−rb)/(ra+rb)<0.3 (1) wherein ra designates a radius of curvature of the object-side surface of the second lens element of the negative first lens group; and rb designates a radius of curvature of the image-side surface of the second lens element of the negative first lens group. |
| US07791816B2 |
Zoom lens and image taking apparatus
A zoom lens having a variable image magnification, for introducing object light from an object side toward a light receiving surface on an optical axis, is provided. An objective lens system has a positive refractive power, and includes a prism for reflecting the object light being incident to guide the object light on the optical axis, and an aperture stop control device for passing the object light, the objective lens system forming an intermediate image by focusing the object light nearer to the object side than the light receiving surface. A relay lens system has a positive refractive power, includes plural lens groups movable on the optical axis, is disposed behind the objective lens system as viewed from the object side, for zooming and refocusing the intermediate image. Also, a distance between the plural lens groups is shortest in zoom setting in the telephoto end position. |
| US07791815B2 |
Dielectric coatings for electrowetting applications
A dielectric coating is provided which has both a dielectric constant greater than 2.5 and a hydrophobic surface. The dielectric coating may be provided by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of organosilane, organosiloxane, organosilazane, organometallic, and/or hydrocarbon precursors. Methods are also provided for altering the contact angle of a liquid in contact with the dielectric coating, e.g., for electrowetting applications. |
| US07791812B2 |
Two-element fθ lens used for micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit
A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a meniscus lens of which the concave surface is disposed on a side of a MEMS mirror, the second lens is a biconcave lens, at least one optical surface is an Aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and the time into the linear relationship between the image spot distances and the time. Meanwhile, the two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved. |
| US07791809B2 |
Visor heads-up display
A wearable system is shown that presents one or more heads-up displays to the wearer. A data source provides information to an image generator that is sufficient to generate one or more display images, which are still or moving, characters or graphical displays. The output image from the image generator passes through a lens, reflects off a curved mirror, and passes back through the lens the other way. The image then passes through two non-doublet lenses, between which an intermediate image exists. The image reflects off the “lens,” or visor, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of the wearer's eye. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection. |
| US07791803B2 |
Antireflection film, optical element and optical system
An antireflection film includes a multilayer film having six layers, in total, provided between an optical substrate and an adhesion layer. The respective layers of first to sixth layers are laminated in order from one side of the adhesion layer. A refractive index of the antireflection film as a whole is lower than that of the optical substrate and higher than that of the adhesion layer. The first and third layers are low refractive index layers having a refractive index of 1.35 to 1.50 at d line. The second, fourth and sixth layers are middle refractive index layers having a refractive index of 1.55 to 1.85 at the d line. The fifth layer is a high refractive index layer having a refractive index, at the d line, that is in a range of 1.70 to 2.50 and that is higher than that of the middle refractive index layer. |
| US07791802B2 |
Optical identification element having a non-waveguide substrate
An optical identification element including a non-waveguide optical substrate. The optical substrate has a volume and includes an inner region surrounded by an outer region. The inner region has an index of refraction that prevents the optical substrate from forming an optical waveguide. The optical substrate includes a diffraction grating within the volume, and the grating provides an output signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light. |
| US07791801B2 |
Zoom lens system, lens barrel, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system comprising a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element, wherein an interval between at least any two lens units is changed so that an optical image is formed with a continuously variable magnification, the zoom lens system comprises a first lens unit having positive power, a second lens unit that includes a lens element having a reflecting surface and has negative power and subsequent lens units including at least one lens unit having positive power, and the condition: 0.50<(C−S)/H<1.00(C=√(2R·dR−dR2), S is a sag of the image side surface of the most object side lens element in the second lens unit at height H, H is one-half of an optical axial thickness of the lens element having a reflecting surface, R is a radius of curvature of the image side surface, and dR is an interval between the most object side lens element and the lens element having a reflecting surface) is satisfied. |
| US07791799B1 |
Hemispherical projection
A method of projection provides a frame structure that has a base and a top, couples a first membrane layer to the frame structure, and couples a second membrane layer to the first membrane layer, thereby forming a cavity enclosed by the first membrane layer and the second membrane layer. The method removes air from the enclosed cavity such that the second membrane layer is drawn toward the frame structure, and projects an image onto a surface of the second membrane layer. Some embodiments include a system for implementation of the foregoing. |
| US07791797B2 |
Peripheral filtering lens
A filter or lens for a star tracking telescope includes a clear center portion and an attenuating peripheral portion where the peripheral portion attenuation of off-axis images is nonidentical through any radial line extending from a center of the filter or lens to a circumference edge of the filter or lens for passing on-axis images with high signal to noise ratios and for attenuating off-axis images for attenuating but not completely blocking the off-axis images, which telescope with such a filter or lens is well suited for improved star tracking systems, and well suited for reducing off-axis glare in handheld optical apparatus such as binoculars, telescopes, cameras, and eyeglasses. |
| US07791792B2 |
Transient optical power suppressing apparatus, method, and network
An apparatus for suppressing optical power transients includes a variable optical attenuator receiving an input optical signal and outputting an output optical signal; an optical power sensing element coupled to the input optical signal and sensing a portion of the input optical signal; and a feedforward loop controller coupled to the variable optical attenuator and to the optical power sensing element; the feedforward control loop providing feedforward control of the variable optical attenuator to reduce optical power transients of the input optical signal and maintain a substantially constant output power based on the input optical power and a reference value; the variable optical attenuator having a default opaque state in which the input optical signal is substantially attenuated when power is not being supplied to said variable optical attenuator. Variations include feedback loop controllers and a combination feedback and feedforward loop controllers. |
| US07791791B2 |
Transparent electro-optic gain ceramics and devices
The present invention provides a rare-earth ions doped, especially erbium and ytterbium doped transparent electro-optic gain ceramic material consisting lead, zirconium, titanium and lanthanum. The electro-optic gain ceramic material either has a linear electro-optic coefficient or a quadratic electro-optic coefficient, which is greater than about 0.3×10−16 m2/V2 for the latter, a propagation loss of less than about 0.3 dB/mm, and an optical gain of great than 1.5 dB/mm at a wavelength of about 1550 nm while optically pumped by a 1.4 watts diode laser at a wavelength of 970 nm at 20° C. The present invention also provides electro-optic devices including a rare-earth ions doped, especially erbium and ytterbium doped, transparent electro-optic gain ceramic material consisting lead, zirconium, titanium and lanthanum. The present invention also provides lossless optical devices and amplifiers with an operating wavelength in the range of 1450 nm to 1700 nm while optically pumped at a wavelength in the range of 880 nm to 1020 nm. The materials and devices of the present invention are useful in light intensity, phase and polarization control at a wavelength of about 1550 nm. |
| US07791788B2 |
SPD light valves incorporating films comprising improved matrix polymers and methods for making such matrix polymers
A film suitable for use as the light-modulating element of an SPD light valve. The film comprises a cross-linked polymer matrix and has droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed in the cross-linked polymer matrix. The liquid light valve suspension comprises particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, wherein the polymer matrix includes at least one siloxane co-polymer comprised of one or more of each of the following units, (a) at least one selected from the group consisting of a silicon-containing, non cross-linkable monomer, a silicon-containing non cross-linkable oligomer and a combination of both the monomer and the oligomer; (b) at least one silicon-containing cross-linkable monomer; and (c) at least one silicon-containing monomer including a non-cross-linking pendent moiety comprising one or more unhindered polar groups capable of bonding to a substrate, wherein the polar groups do not prevent the matrix polymer as a whole from being cross-linked, The film exhibits a greater degree of adhesion to substrates it contacts than films which do not include a unit as recited in (c) above. Additional embodiments include a suspended particle device incorporating the film as a light modulating element, as well as a method of preparing the film according to the invention. |
| US07791787B2 |
Moveable micro-electromechanical device
A MEMS device is provided. The MEMS device may include a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The MEMS device may also include a first power supply configured to provide a voltage to the first plate and a second power supply configured apply a voltage to the second plate. In some embodiments, a third power supply may provide a voltage to the third plate. |
| US07791786B2 |
Afocal beam steering system corrected for excess diffraction due to phase error from microelectromechenical mirror offsets
An afocal beam system corrects excess diffraction from phase error in microelectromechanical mirror offsets. One invention aspect interposes an opposing phase difference, between rays reflected at adjacent mirrors, varying the difference with mirror angle to make it roughly an integral number of waves. Mirror-array (not one-mirror) dimensions limit diffraction. Another aspect sharpens by generating and postprocessing signals to counteract phase difference. A third has, in the optical path, a nonlinear phase-shift device introducing a phase shift, optically convolves that shift with others from mirrors, then deconvolves to extract unshifted signals. A fourth varies mirror position in piston as a function of mirror angle to hold phase difference to an integral number of waves. A fifth aspect has, in the path, at least one delay element—whose delay varies as a function of mirror angle. A sixth has another mirror array in series with the first, matching their angles to introduce opposing phase difference. |
| US07791782B2 |
Electro-optics displays, and processes for the production thereof
A sub-assembly for use in an electro-optic display comprises, in this order: a release sheet (500 or 510); a backplane (508) or a layer of an electro-optic medium (502); and a layer of lamination adhesive (504 or 512). |
| US07791780B2 |
Quantum coherent systems and operations
Nonlinear elements can efficiently implement quantum information processing systems such as controlled phase shifters, non-absorbing detectors including parity detectors, quantum subspace projections, non-absorbing Bell state analyzers, non-absorbing encoders/entanglers, and fundamental quantum gates such as CNOT gates. The non-absorbing detectors permit improvements in the efficiency of a probabilistic quantum gate by permitting reuse of the same photonic resources during multiple passes through the probabilistic gate. |
| US07791779B2 |
Hologram recording apparatus, hologram recording medium and hologram recording method
A hologram recording apparatus that records a hologram on a recording layer of a hologram recording medium by causing interference between signal light modulated in accordance with record data and reference light from the same light source as that of the signal light is provided. The apparatus includes: a signal light spatial light modulating section that displays a signal light pattern for causing the signal light; a reference light spatial light modulating section that displays a reference light pattern for causing the reference light; a control section that controls the form of the signal light pattern to be displayed on the signal light spatial light modulating section and the form of the reference light pattern to be displayed on the reference light spatial light modulating section and controls optical energy of the signal light and reference light; and a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the hologram recording medium. |
| US07791776B2 |
Spot color adjuster
A method is provided for adjusting color output in a digital press. The method comprises providing a digital press including a output color ink array configured to print a first spot color element on a media and including an input color array including a process color subarray and at least one custom color input. The first spot color element is printed on the media from the digital press via a spot color simulation of the at least one custom color input using the output color ink array. The first spot color element is adjusted by modifying, at the digital press, the at least one custom color input without adjusting the process color subarray of the input color array. |
| US07791774B2 |
Scanning optical apparatus
To provide a scanning optical apparatus, not requiring a lens in a complex figure, and also, capable of eliminating the bow of a beam light even when a plurality of correcting lenses are in an identical figure.Beam light L falls on Cross section K perpendicular to Rotational axis 1a of Polygon mirror 1 at an angle of 2° or less. When such an incident angle condition is satisfied, the figure of a cross section in the sub scanning direction of Scanning lens 9 is a spherical surface figure, and also, the curvature of Incident surface 9a and Outputting surface 9b with respect to the sub scanning direction is changed according to the position in the main scanning direction. Furthermore, Correcting lens 10 is arranged in a tilted (decentered) state with respect to the light axis of Beam light L. |
| US07791772B2 |
Image reading apparatus and multi-function machine
In an image reading device which includes a transmission light source and a pickup device which face each other with original platen glass for holding an original interposed therebetween, receives light irradiated from the transmission light source by the pickup device, and reads a light transmission original, a pickup device movement mechanism which reciprocally moves the pickup device in a predetermined direction is interlockingly connected to a light source movement mechanism which reciprocally moves the transmission light source in the predetermined direction in interlock with the reciprocal movement of the pickup device movement mechanism by a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism has a torque limiter function for generating sliding between the light source movement mechanism and the pickup device movement mechanism when torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value is delivered. |
| US07791771B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image reading unit, and light irradiation apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes: a light source configured with an array of plural point light sources; a light receiving sensor that receives reflected light from a document to which light has been applied from the light source; and shading members that shade main light in irradiation light applied to a position of document reading by the light receiving sensor from the plural point light sources constituting the light source. |
| US07791770B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method and program therefor
A scanned image is registered in a storage unit. Attribute information for managing a registered image is set in an attribute information table. The relationship between the registered image and a related image in the storage unit is set in a related information table together with the attribute information. The storage unit is searched for an image specified by attribute information embedded in the scanned image. An image related to the image found by a search is acquired from the storage unit by looking up the related information table, and the relation view of the images is created. An operation window including the created relation view is displayed. |
| US07791769B2 |
Method for providing film image and image display apparatus providing the film image
A method for providing a film image and an image display apparatus for providing the film image are provided. The method includes determining a scheme of an input image signal; if the input image signal is determined to be an interlaced image signal, converting the input image signal into a progressive image signal to generate a converted progressive image signal and converting a scanning rate the converted progressive image signal to generate an image signal having a selected scanning rate; if the input image signal is determined to be a progressive image signal, converting a scanning rate the input progressive image signal to generate the image signal having the selected scanning rate; and converting a color characteristic of the image signal having the selected scanning rate into an image signal having a color characteristic related to a selected type of a film. Accordingly, a general image can be viewed which has a similar effect to when a film image is projected on a screen. |
| US07791753B2 |
Client computer, printer driver generation method, and printer driver retrieval method
A client computer of the invention utilizes a printer driver for a distribution source printer to send a print job to the distribution source printer. The distribution source printer distributes each print job sent with setting of a preset second port number to multiple distribution destination printers. The client computer includes: a storage unit that stores a first printer driver with property information including specification of a port number, which is specified and used for transmission of each print job and is currently set to a preset first port number, as one printer driver for the distribution source printer; and a printer driver generation module that, in response to an externally given instruction, duplicates the property information of the first printer driver read from the storage unit and changes the port number included in the duplicated property information of the first printer driver to the preset second port number, which is different from the preset first port number, so as to generate a second printer driver as another printer driver for the distribution source printer. This arrangement enables the first printer driver and the second printer driver having the different settings of the port number included in the property information to be readily provided in the client computer as multiple different printer drivers for the distribution source printer. |
| US07791752B2 |
Dynamic offer generation based on print shop machine load
A variable price on-line printing system includes printing and finishing resources, and an on-line server to receive print job data and electronic requests for use of the printing/finishing resources from customer workstations. A dynamic price database includes data that describe current and anticipated future demand for the printing/finishing resources. An automated dynamic price offer generation process accesses the dynamic price database and derives a dynamic price for use of at least one of the printing/finishing resources based upon current and anticipated future demand as indicated in the dynamic price database. A user interface engine receives input from the automated dynamic price offer generation process and outputs price offers to the customer workstations, including the dynamic price associated with a printing/finishing resource, wherein the dynamic price is tailored to shape demand for the printing/finishing resource. The customer can accept or decline the dynamic price offer. In this manner, under-utilized printing/finishing resources, including turn-around options, are priced more attractively as compared to over-utilized printing/finishing resources to increase customer demand based upon real-time load/utilization/availability data for the printing/finishing resources of the on-line print shop. The printing/finishing resources can be geographically dispersed print shops of a printing enterprise, or certain resources of same. |
| US07791751B2 |
Printing systems
A printing system includes a plurality of printers, at least a first and a second of the plurality of printers printing in a first print modality. A scheduling system schedules printing of a set of pages by the plurality of printers. The set of pages, when assembled, may include pages where a high level of consistency is desired, such as facing pages or pages which are otherwise to be placed in close relationship. The scheduling system includes at least two scheduling modes, a first mode in which a consistency constraint is applied to the set of pages, and a second mode, different from the first mode, in which the consistency constraint is not applied. The printing system is configured for printing the set of pages in accordance with the first mode and in accordance with the second mode. |
| US07791750B2 |
Image processing system, method of controlling the image processing system, and program for a peripheral apparatus in the system
The image processing apparatus 1 at the manufacturing side can be accessed over the Internet 3 by the peripheral apparatuses 2A, 2B, and 2C at remote locations. When the image processing apparatus 1 receives from any of the peripheral apparatuses 2A, 2B, and 2C an image transmission command based on the HTTP protocol, it generates and transmits a response to the command carrying an image to the commanding peripheral apparatus 2A, 2B, or 2C. The peripheral apparatus 2A, 2B, or 2C upon being energized repeats an action of dispatching another image transmission command, an action of receiving the response, and an action of displaying the display image carried in the response in this order. |
| US07791748B2 |
Image communication control method, image communication control program, and image communication apparatus
When image communication is conducted by using one of a plurality of different image communication systems via a sending/receiving path including an IP network (101), a transmitter (105) and receivers (108, 108a, 112, 115) or devices (gateway (111, 113) or an IP network interface (109)) for relaying the image communication existing in the sending/receiving path store SDP media stream descriptions, which include different image communication systems usable by the transmitter and receivers, in an SIP message and send the SIP message, and select an image communication system for use in practical image communication in given order of priority and image communication control parameters to be used in the appropriate image communication system, on the basis of the SDP media stream descriptions. Whereby, an appropriate image communication system can be automatically selected from various image communication system that can be used between a calling terminal and a called terminal, without a need for a complicated operating procedure or setup procedure. |
| US07791737B2 |
Method and apparatus for interferometrically measuring the shape of a test object
Electromagnetic illumination radiation is produced and provided as an input wave. The input wave passes through a diffractive optical element and leaves as an incoming measuring wave, the wave front of the input wave being transformed such that the wave front of the incoming measuring wave is adapted to the desired shape of the effective reflection surface. Furthermore, the test object is disposed in a test position in which the incoming measuring wave is reflected back to the diffractive optical element as a reflected measuring wave, the reflected measuring wave passing through the diffractive optical element and leaving as an outgoing measuring wave, the propagation direction of the outgoing measuring wave being deviated in relation to the opposite propagation direction of the input wave. A reference wave branched off from the illumination radiation interferes with the outgoing measuring wave this interference being recorded by detector. |
| US07791736B2 |
Position measurement system
A position measurement system for measuring positional coordinates of a point under measurement includes a first noise removal unit, a parameter determination unit and a second noise removal unit. The first noise removal unit removes noise from the measured positional coordinates to acquire first positional coordinate values. The parameter determination unit determines a noise removal parameter on a basis of the first positional coordinate values. The second noise removal unit again removes noise from the first positional coordinate values with using the noise removal parameter, to acquire second positional coordinate values. |
| US07791734B2 |
High-resolution retinal imaging using adaptive optics and Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography
This invention permits retinal images to be acquired at high speed and with unprecedented resolution in three dimensions (4×4×6 μm). The instrument achieves high lateral resolution by using adaptive optics to correct optical aberrations of the human eye in real time. High axial resolution and high speed are made possible by the use of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography. Using this system, we have demonstrated the ability to image microscopic blood vessels and the cone photoreceptor mosaic. |
| US07791730B2 |
Surface plasmon resonance meter
A surface plasmon resonance meter is provided, including a backlight module, a line-slot plate, a parabolic mirror, a linear polarizer, a sensing chip, a prism and a photo detector array. The line-slot plate includes a light outlet. A light beam travels in the backlight module, and leaves the backlight module through the light outlet. The position of the line-slot plate is matched on a predetermined focal point of the parabolic mirror. The light beam is reflected by the parabolic mirror to be a parallel light beam, and travels trough the linear polarizer to the prism. The prism includes a light entering surface, a detection surface and a light exiting surface. The light beam enters the prism through the light entering surface, contacts the sensing chip with total internal reflection, and finally leaves the prism through the light exiting surface to be received by the photo detector array. |
| US07791725B2 |
Method and equipment for detecting pattern defect
An inspection apparatus and method includes a light source which emits an ultraviolet laser beam, an illuminating unit having a polarization controller and an object lens for illuminating a specimen with light emitted from the light source and passed through the polarization controller and the object lens, a detection unit having a sensor for detecting light from the specimen illuminated by the illuminating unit, a processor which processes a signal output from the sensor so as to detect a defect on the specimen, and a display which displays information output from the processor. The processor processes an image formed from the signal output from the sensor in which the image is reduced in speckle pattern. |
| US07791719B1 |
Using a fixed-frequency oscillation to detect and measure scene inhomogeneity
An optical system measures scene inhomogeneity. The system includes a mirror for receiving radiance of a field-of-view (FOV) of a scene, and reflecting a portion of the radiance to an optical detector. A controller is coupled to the mirror for changing the FOV. The optical detector provides a signal of the reflected portion of radiance of the scene. A processor determines scene inhomogeneity, based on amplitude of the signal provided from the optical detector. The controller is configured to modulate the FOV at a periodic interval, using a sinusoidal waveform, a pulse code modulated waveform, or a pseudo-random waveform. |
| US07791717B2 |
Reflective display device testing system, apparatus, and method
A system for testing a reflective display device includes a testing apparatus and a computer. The testing apparatus includes one or more light emitters, one or more light detectors, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module, and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The light emitters are for projecting light onto a reflective display device located on the testing apparatus. The light detectors are for sensing reflected light from the reflective display device, and generating electricity according to a luminance of the reflected light. The ADC module is for receiving the electrical signals from the light detectors, and producing a digital output according to voltages of the electrical signals. The MCU is configured for reading the digital output of the ADC module. The computer is for processing the digital output and displaying results after processing. |
| US07791716B2 |
System and method for liquid delivery evaluation using solutions with multiple light absorbance spectral features
A system and related method for improved liquid delivery evaluation using a solution containing one or more dyes such that the solution exhibits multiple distinct detectable light absorbance spectral features for calibrating or testing over extended volume or dilution ranges are described. The system includes: a photometric instrument capable of measuring optical absorbance at multiple wavelengths; one or more sample solutions to be dispensed using the liquid delivery system whose performance is being tested or calibrated; and vessels optionally pre-filled, or filled by the user, with diluent solution. The sample solutions contain one or more dyes, chosen so that multiple distinct detectable light absorbance spectral features, such as peaks and/or valleys and/or plateaus of the solution can be distinguished for volume or dilution ranges of interest. The concentrations of the dyes may be chosen so that a large volume delivery device is calibrated using a spectral feature in the solution with a low absorbance per unit pathlength, while a small volume delivery device is calibrated with the same sample solution but using a different spectral feature with a high absorbance per unit pathlength. |
| US07791710B2 |
System and method for determining maximum operational parameters used in maskless applications
A lithographic method and apparatus for determining operational parameters of a maskless lithography tool. In an embodiment, an amount of data in a datapath of the maskless lithography system is reduced. A maximum value of at least one operational parameter of the maskless lithography system is determined responsive to the reduced amount of data in the datapath. |
| US07791706B2 |
Bistable nematic liquid crystal display device
A bistable liquid crystal display device has a nematic liquid crystal which is switchable between two different stable molecular configurations. The liquid crystal has a mixture of finely-divided positively-charged particles and finely-divided negatively-charged particles dispersed therein. |
| US07791702B2 |
Display panel comprising sections of at least one of the connecting wires having different thicknesses and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of data lines, a driver integrated circuit, and a plurality of connecting lines. The data lines of the display panel are disposed on a display area of the substrate for signal transmission. The driver integrated circuit is electrically connected to the data lines for providing driving signals required for panel operations. Each data line of the display panel is electrically connected to the driver integrated circuit via a corresponding connecting line. A first connecting line of the connecting lines includes a first section and a second section, wherein a thickness of the second section is substantially thinner than that of the first section. |
| US07791696B2 |
Optical film and liquid crystal display using the same
Disclosed is an optically anisotropic film used for a liquid crystal display of a vertical alignment liquid crystal mode comprising a fatty acid cellulose aster film, a retardation value (Rt value) in the thickness direction of the fatty acid cellulose ester film is from 60 to 300 nm, and the number of luminescent points having a size exceeding 50 μm is zero per 250 mm2, and the number of luminescent points having a size of 5 to 50 μm is 200 or less per 250 mm2 when the fatty acid cellulose ester film is observed with two polarizing plates being provided on both surfaces of the fatty acid cellulose ester film so as to shield transmission light. |
| US07791692B2 |
TFT array panel having a first pixel region having first transmissive with first and third reflective electrodes and a second pixel region having second transmissive with second and fourth reflective electrodes where the area ratios of the first and third reflective electrodes to the second and fourth reflective electrodes are different
The present invention provides a thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel including a substrate, first and second transmissive electrodes formed on the substrate, first and second reflective electrodes connected to the first and second transmissive electrodes, respectively, and third and fourth reflective electrodes separated from the first and second transmissive electrodes and the first and second reflective electrodes. A first area ratio of the first and third reflective electrodes is different from a second area ratio of the second and fourth reflective electrodes. A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes the TFT array panel, and a method is provided for coinciding voltage-reflection curves of adjacent pixels in the LCD. |
| US07791684B2 |
Spatial light modulator display
An optical device for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The optical device has an optical element. The optical element includes a material body and at least one recess. The recess is formed in the material body and is configured to determine the light distribution of light to be directed towards the liquid crystal display. |
| US07791681B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate for liquid crystal display
A thin film transistor array substrate for a liquid crystal display includes a substrate, and a gate line assembly formed on the substrate to receive gate signals. The gate line assembly has gate lines proceeding in the horizontal direction, and gate electrodes connected to the gate lines. A storage capacitor line assembly proceeds in the horizontal direction. A gate insulating layer is formed on the substrate while covering the gate lines and the storage capacitor line assembly. A semiconductor pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer over the gate electrodes. A data line assembly is formed on the gate insulating layer. The data line assembly has data lines crossing over the gate lines to define pixel regions, source electrodes connected to the data lines while being placed on the semiconductor pattern, and drain electrodes facing the source electrodes around the gate electrodes while being placed on the semiconductor pattern. A protective layer covers the data line assembly and the semiconductor pattern with contact holes. Pixel electrodes are formed on the protective layer at the respective pixel regions such that the pixel electrodes are connected to the drain electrodes through the contact holes. The gate lines or the pixel electrodes are provided with repair members, and the repair members are partially overlapped with the front gate lines or the pixel electrodes. |
| US07791679B2 |
Alternative thin film transistors for liquid crystal displays
Alternative thin film transistors for liquid crystal displays are disclosed. The alternative transistors can be used for panels of displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), especially those having alternative pixel arrangements. These transistors can be oriented on a panel of an LCD using different, non-traditional configurations, while addressing misalignment and parasitic capacitance. |
| US07791678B2 |
Active device array substrate
An active device array substrate including a substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixels, a bus line and voltage pull-down circuits is provided. The pixels disposed on intersections of the scan lines and the data lines are arranged in array on the substrate and are electrically connected to the scan lines and the data lines. Each of the voltage pull-down circuits including a transistor and an electrostatic discharge protection device is electrically connected between the scan line and the bus line correspondingly. Each transistor includes a source, a drain, and a gate electrically connected to a next scan line. Each gate is electrically connected to the scan line, the source, the drain and the bus line correspondingly through the electrostatic discharge protection device. The electrostatic discharge protection of the active device array substrate is enhanced effectively by the electrostatic discharge protection device. |
| US07791677B2 |
Display apparatus
Provided is a novel structure of an active matrix TFT backplane. In order to form an auxiliary capacitor by a pixel electrode or a drain electrode of a TFT connected therewith, a base metal layer is formed on a glass substrate and a substrate insulating layer is formed on an entire surface thereof. By the structure, position alignment of the drain electrode with a counter electrode is unnecessary. An area for electrical capacitor formation is determined by size precision of the drain electrode, so a variation in electrical capacitance is suppressed to a small value. |
| US07791673B2 |
Method and system for polarity change count
A method for comparing pixels may comprise determining at least one polarity difference for at least one pair of neighboring pixels selected from a plurality of adjacent pixels, which are from different fields. A number of subsequent polarity changes may be calculated for the pair of neighboring pixels based on the determined polarity of difference. The adjacent pixels may be selected from a plurality of woven fields. A portion of the selected adjacent pixels may include pixels in neighboring fields. A portion of the selected adjacent pixels may include vertically adjacent pixels, horizontally adjacent pixels, and/or diagonally adjacent pixels. At least one pixel in the plurality of adjacent pixels includes a corresponding horizontally, vertically or diagonally located adjacent pixel in a different field. |
| US07791668B2 |
Digital camera
A digital camera includes: an evaluation value calculation unit that calculates a focal point evaluation value that changes in correspondence to a position assumed by a focus lens based upon image signals; a focal adjustment unit that executes an AF search by detecting a focus match position based upon resulting focal point evaluation values and driving the focus lens to the focus match position; a face recognition unit that recognizes a face of a person in an image by analyzing the image signals; a distance calculation unit that determines an approximate distance to the face based upon the recognized face size; and a lens position determining unit that determines a focus lens position to be set as a start point of the AF search by the focal adjustment unit based upon the approximate distance to the face having been determined by the distance calculation unit. |
| US07791667B2 |
Focus detection apparatus and image-pickup apparatus including the same
A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which can achieve excellent focus detection performance. The apparatus detects the focusing state of an image-pickup lens based on a phase difference in a plurality of images. The apparatus includes a field lens and a light-receiving element including plural focus detection areas. The light-receiving element includes at least first and second focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a first direction, and third and fourth focus detection areas which detect a phase difference in a second direction. The intersection position of the first focus detection area and the third focus detection area with respect to the center of the first focus detection area is different from the intersection position of the second focus detection area and the fourth focus detection area with respect to the center of the second focus detection area. |
| US07791665B2 |
Imaging apparatus and driving method of solid-state imaging device
A driving method of a solid-state imaging device including plural high-sensitivity pixels and plural low-sensitivity pixels that are arranged in mixed form in a manner of a two-dimensional array on a semiconductor substrate, the method including driving the solid-state imaging device in such a manner that an exposure period of the low-sensitivity pixels is set shorter than that of the high-sensitivity pixels. |
| US07791660B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device and image sensing device
A solid-state image sensing device includes: a pixel array in which pixels performing photoelectric conversion are arranged in rows and columns; and a column amplification section in which an image signal output from each pixel is amplified. The column amplification section includes amplifiers each of which is provided for each column, and the column amplification section is connected to a power supply voltage feed section and the ground. An impedance on the power supply side of the amplifier is greater than an impedance on the ground side. |
| US07791657B2 |
Dynamic range enhancement scheme for imagers
An imaging system implementing a scheme for enhancing the dynamic range of the device. An array of radiation detecting pixels produces an output in response to a stimulus. The signal from each pixel is read once for evaluation. If the voltage at an individual pixel satisfies a programmed condition, such as exceeding a predetermined threshold voltage at a particular time, that pixel is reset and begins producing an output signal anew. If the pixel output signal does not satisfy the condition, it is allowed to continue producing the signal without being reset. After the evaluation read, all of the pixels are then read row by row into a buffer and digitally processed. A memory register tracks which pixels have been reset, and the corresponding output signals are adjusted accordingly. This scheme allows the system to process input signals across a broader range of intensity without losing information due to pixel saturation or sacrificing sensitivity. |
| US07791655B2 |
Imaging apparatus with function of shading compensation
A photographing unit photographs an object “n” times respectively with exposure times T1(1) to T1(n) to generate “n” sheets of images of the same object per an exposure time T1, where “n” is a whole number and the exposure times T1(1) to T1(n) are obtained by dividing the exposure time T1 by the whole number of “n”, a displacement correcting unit (32a, 32b) calculates a correction value for correcting displacement of the images, and a limb-darkening compensating unit (32d) corrects a position of a limb-darkening characteristic component of each of the images, using the correction value. Meanwhile, the limb-darkening characteristic components of the images whose positions have been corrected are combined to generate a limb-darkening characteristic component for compensation. Limb darkening in a combined image is compensated for, using the limb-darkening characteristic component for compensation, whereby a time required for performing a limb-darkening compensating process is decreased. |
| US07791654B2 |
Digital still camera and method of controlling same with controlled charge sweep-out
In order to halt smear sweep-out in a case where the effects of smear charge are considered minor, it is determined whether the shutter is a high-speed shutter when a shutter-release button is pressed. If the shutter is not the high-speed shutter, a CCD is exposed and signal charge accumulates in the photodiodes of the CCD. Smear charge is swept out before the signal charge is shifted from the photodiodes to vertical transfer lines. The signal charge is thenceforth transferred to the vertical transfer lines and a video signal is output from the CCD. In the case of the high-speed shutter, smear sweep-out is halted and charge is shifted from the photodiodes to the vertical transfer lines. |
| US07791650B2 |
Image data recording apparatus and method
Information regarding free space on a recording medium is acquired. The free space is classified into a plurality of classes according to a writing speed. Then, image data is recorded at predetermined position on the recording medium determined on the basis of a bit rate of the image data to be recorded and the classified class. |
| US07791646B2 |
Image pickup device and control method therefor
A monitoring camera which can realize a tracing function that allows simple tracing of an object. An image shooting unit repeatedly executes a cycle of processing including a shooting processing, an image analyzing processing and a motor driving processing. An image analyzing unit analyzes an image. A motor control unit controls a motor. The monitoring has a first mode of causing the image analyzing unit to obtain a first motor driving target value and causing the motor to start turning during the motor driving processing, and a second mode of obtaining a second motor driving target value based on a motor driving history and causing the motor to start turning in parallel to the image analyzing processing. |
| US07791643B2 |
Sequenced response image stabilization
A method and apparatus are described wherein the composition responsiveness of a camera comprising an image stabilization system is adjusted. In example embodiments, the composition responsiveness may be adjusted in response to a particular photographic situation, including a scene condition, a camera optical configuration, a camera mode setting, or any combination of these. In another embodiment of the invention, the composition responsiveness is adjusted during a capture sequence used to take a photograph. |
| US07791642B2 |
Image-taking apparatus
Provided is an image-taking apparatus having an easier human machine interface than before. Instead of operating an operator, a mode for a flash condition among multiple shooting conditions displayed on a display panel of a liquid crystal display device is switched from an automatic mode to a forced on mode by shaking a digital camera vertically. Then, the shooting condition is switched to a focusing condition by shaking the digital camera horizontally. The shooting condition is switched from the focusing condition to a white balance condition by shaking this image-taking apparatus horizontally again. Thereafter, a mode for the shooting condition is switched from a macro mode to a macro-off mode by shaking this image-taking apparatus vertically again. Likewise, it is possible to set up various modes for the respective shooting conditions by shaking this image-taking apparatus. |
| US07791637B2 |
Data transmission system
Disclosed is a data transmission system to transmit digital data through a wireless transmission path, including: a first device including a communication condition detecting section, a data supplying section, a bit-rate converting section, a transmission buffer, a transmission communicating section and a channel switching section; and a second device including a reception communicating section, a reception buffer and a buffer storage amount detecting section, wherein the communication condition detecting section comprises a jamming detecting section, and when the jamming detecting section detects jamming, the bit-rate converting section lowers bit rate of the digital data to predetermined bit rate, and the channel switching section switches the communication channel to a channel where influence of the jamming is less, based on detection results by the buffer storage amount detecting section. |
| US07791635B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
In a disclosed image forming apparatus, a developing bias applied to a developer carrier or exposure energy with which an image carrier is exposed is adjusted such that an isolated one-dot image on the image carrier has a predetermined image density. When the image carrier is exposed to form dot images continuously arranged in a sub scanning direction, the exposure time period for each dot image is shorter than a time period for exposing the image carrier to form the isolated one-dot image. |
| US07791627B2 |
Printer
A ribbon supply shaft drive motor (8) and a ribbon take-up shaft drive motor (10) are drivingly controlled separately. If the state of a ribbon is not changed after a control cycle is repeated for a set time, the rotational speed of the drive motors (8, 10) is increased step by step. |
| US07791626B2 |
Print head pulsing techniques for multicolor printers
In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into segments, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the segments have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different segments by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head. |
| US07791618B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
In order to improve the operationality of a walk-through system using panorama photography images, the system is provided with a view calculating unit for calculating view information in accordance with a user instruction from an operation unit, the view information including view position information and view direction information; a panorama image storing unit for storing a plurality of panorama images; a path storing unit for storing path information of the panorama images; an advancable path calculating unit for calculating advancable path information at a next dividing point in accordance with the view information and the path information; and an image generating unit for generating a cut-out image from the panorama image in accordance with the view information, generating a sign figure representative of the advancable path in accordance with the advancable path information, and synthesizing the cut-out image and the sign figure to generate a display image. |
| US07791616B2 |
Method for efficiently transforming a raster image from one map projection to another map projection
A method and system for efficiently converting an image from a first map projection to a second map projection image. The method includes precomputing coordinates in the first map projection for a subset of the total number of pixels in an empty second map projection image and subsequently, finding the first map projection coordinates of each of the remaining pixels by linear interpolation using the precomputed first map projection coordinates of the nearest surrounding precomputed pixels. A color is assigned to the second map projection image pixel with bilinear interpolation using color values of surrounding first map projection pixels. If the first map projection has fiducials, only the area within the fiducials is considered. An embodiment converts a USGS DOQ in UTM format into Geodetic coordinates. |
| US07791613B2 |
Graphics memory switch
A graphics device delivers a graphics address to a graphics memory switch that includes a graphics random access memory translator and a graphics memory page table. The graphics memory address is delivered to the graphics memory switch via a point-to-point, packet based interconnect. The graphics memory switch generates a physical system memory address and delivers the physical address to a root complex. The physical system memory address is delivered to the root complex via a point-to-point, packet based interconnect. |
| US07791611B1 |
Asynchronous reorder buffer
A data buffer incorporated in the read return path between a processing pipeline and a frame buffer enables data reads from the buffer to be in a different order from data writes to the buffer. With this buffer, the frame buffer no longer is required to process read requests in any particular order and can be configured for improved processing speeds. The buffer includes a RAM to which data from the frame buffer is written according to a first order and from which data is read according to a second order. The buffer may be configured with multiple RAMs if the speed of data arriving from the frame buffer is greater than the write speed of the RAM. |
| US07791610B2 |
Display device and display system using the same
Provided are a display device with low power consumption which enables reduction of an operation processing amount of a GPU and which does not require a storage device for storing image data corresponding to one screen, and a display system using the display device. The display device is constituted by pixels each including storage circuits, an operation processing circuit, and a display processing circuit and circuits each having a function of storing image data in arbitrary storage circuits. The display system is constituted by the display device and an image processing device including the GPU. Image data is formed for each structural component through operation processing in the GPU in the display system. The formed image data is stored in the corresponding storage circuit for each pixel. The stored image data is subjected to composition processing by the operation processing circuit for each pixel. Then, the image data is converted into an image signal in the display processing circuit. |
| US07791607B1 |
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies in fantasy sports contest applications
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide play information and other related data to allow a user to generate animated videos using the user's own graphics processing equipment and graphics animation program. |
| US07791598B2 |
Hybrid pen mouse user input device
A novel hybrid pointing device combines elements of both a digital pen and a mouse, to collect the advantages of both types of devices in a single user input device. The hybrid input pointing device includes both a digital pen and a cradle. The cradle has a docking bay in which the digital pen can be docked, with an unobstructed path between the electromagnetic tracking signal receptor and a tracking surface on which the cradle is disposed. The electromagnetic signal receptor is enabled to receive tracking signals reflected off the tracking surface from an electromagnetic signal emitter. Information based on the reflected signal may be communicated to a computing device. A user can thereby use the digital pen in a pen-like user scenario, or dock the digital pen in the mouse-like cradle and use the combined device in a mouse-like user scenario. |
| US07791595B2 |
Touch screen assembly for a lighting control
A user interface for a load control device comprises a bezel, a touch sensitive device, and a touch sensitive actuator. The touch sensitive actuator is received in an opening of the bezel and comprises a plurality of force concentrator for actuating the touch sensitive device. A front surface of the touch sensitive actuator is operable to be actuated by a user of the load control device such that the touch sensitive actuator transmits the force from the front surface of the touch sensitive actuator to the touch sensitive device. Preferably, the touch sensitive actuator is provided in an opening of a faceplate of the load control device along a linear axis. The load control device is operable to control a connected electrical load in response to an actuation of the touch sensitive actuator. The load control device further comprises a plurality of status indicators mounted immediately behind the touch sensitive actuator and above the touch sensitive device. |
| US07791584B2 |
Thermal limited backlight driver
A system for powering and controlling an LED backlight, the system comprising: a control circuitry; a plurality of LED strings; a pulse width modulation functionality associated with the control circuitry and arranged to pulse width modulate a current flow through each of the plurality of LED strings; and a plurality of current limiters responsive to the control circuitry, each of the plurality of current limiters being associated with a particular one of the plurality of LED strings and operative to limit current flow of the pulse width modulated current there-through, the control circuitry being operative in the event of a thermal condition of one of the plurality of current limiters to reduce a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation functionality of the current flow through the one of the plurality of current limiters. |
| US07791582B2 |
Shift register turning off a signal generating circuit according to a signal from a feedback circuit
A shift register includes a signal generating circuit for generating an output signal at an output end of the shift register according to a first clock signal while the signal generating circuit is turned on; a driving circuit, electrically coupled to the signal generating circuit, for generating a driving signal to control the signal generating circuit according to an input signal received from an input end of the shift register; a feedback circuit, electrically coupled to a next stage shift register, for transmitting a control signal while the feedback circuit is turned on by the next stage shift register; and a control switch, electrically coupled to the signal generating circuit and the feedback circuit, for turning off the signal generating circuit while the control switch is turned on by the control signal from the feedback circuit. |
| US07791579B2 |
Automatic reset circuit
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a gate driver for supplying gate signals and a timing controller for generating a gate control signal to the gate driver. The LCD device further includes an automatic reset circuit which detects abnormal condition of the gate control signal and generates a reset signal. |
| US07791574B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
There is provided an electro-optical device including pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel having a plurality of color-display sub-pixels corresponding to a plurality of colors and a monochrome-display sub-pixel. The color-display sub-pixel and the monochrome-display sub-pixel can perform gray-scale display independently. One of the color-display sub-pixel and the monochrome-display sub-pixel displays images in a transmissive mode in which light emitted from a light source is modulated, while the other sub-pixel displays images in a reflective mode in which light incident from outside is modulated. |
| US07791573B2 |
Etching solution for multiple layer of copper and molybdenum and etching method using the same
An etching solution for a multiple layer of copper and molybdenum includes: about 5% to about 30% by weight of a hydrogen peroxide; about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of an organic acid; about 0.2% to about 5% by weight of a phosphate; about 0.2% to about 5% by weight of a first additive having nitrogen; about 0.2% to about 5% by weight of a second additive having nitrogen; about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight of a fluoric compound; and de-ionized water making a total amount of the etching solution 100% by weight. |
| US07791571B2 |
Light emitting device and driving method of the same
The invention provides a light emitting device which can suppress the reduction of luminance in accordance with the light emission time and light emission at a high luminance. Moreover, the invention relates to a driving method which can suppress the reduction of luminance in accordance with the light emission time and light emission at a high luminance. The light emitting device of the invention can display a plurality of colors of which brightness and chromaticity are different by visually mixing light emission of a plurality of light emitting elements of which light emission colors are different. When a visually mixed display color is formed, a white light emission is exhibited. |
| US07791564B2 |
Plasma display apparatus
A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including first, second and third electrodes, a data driver supplying a data signal to the third electrode during an address period, and a sustain driver. The sustain driver consecutively supplies a first signal of a positive polarity direction, a second signal of a negative polarity direction, a third signal of a positive polarity direction, and a fourth signal of a negative polarity direction to the first electrode, and supplies a reference voltage to the second electrode during a sustain period. A duration of a bias period of the first signal is shorter than a duration of a bias period of the third signal. |
| US07791561B2 |
Display systems having screens with optical fluorescent materials
Fluorescent screens and display systems and devices based on such screens using at least one excitation optical beam to excite one or more fluorescent materials on a screen which emit light to form images. The fluorescent materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials such as quantum dots. A screen may include a multi-layer dichroic layer. |
| US07791558B2 |
Self-secured antenna device
An antenna device for use with a wireless signal processing interface includes a main body; an antenna module received by the main body and having a first signal-receiving bar and a second signal-receiving bar pivotally protruding from a first surface and a second surface of the main body, respectively; and a securing member having a first portion coupled to the main body and a second portion to be detachably coupled to a supporting object. The securing member is made of an elastic material and distorted when coupled to the supporting object so as to provide a securing force to fix the antenna device onto the supporting object. |
| US07791555B2 |
High gain multiple polarization antenna assembly
An antenna assembly is provided for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in a range around a characteristic wavelength. A first radiative element, has a first end and a second end and is made from an electrically conductive material. The first end of the first radiative element is electrically connected to an antenna feed at an apex point and at least a portion of the first radiative element is disposed outwardly away from the apex point at an acute angle relative to, and on a first side of, an imaginary plane intersecting the apex point. A second radiative element has a first end and a second end and is comprised of an electrically conductive material. The first end of the first radiative element is electrically connected to the antenna feed and the first radiative element at the apex point. At least a portion of the second radiative element extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the imaginary plane. The antenna assembly further includes an electrically conductive ground reference. |
| US07791553B2 |
High wind elevation mechanism for a satellite antenna system
An elevation mechanism for a satellite antenna system. The elevation mechanism includes tilt links or arms, lift links, and a linear actuator with an adjustable length leg arrangement. Each tilt arm is pivotally mounted at its inner and outer end portions to the base or azimuth plate of the system and to the back of the dish of the system. Similarly, each lift link is pivotally mounted at its inner and outer end portions to the base and to the back of the dish. The linear actuator in turn is pivotally mounted at its inner end portion to the base and at its outer end portion to the lift links. In operation, the linear actuator can be moved between extended and retracted positions to cause the dish to move between its stowed position facing downwardly and a deployed position facing upwardly of the horizon at a targeted satellite. |
| US07791550B2 |
On-vehicle film antenna
An on-vehicle film antenna is constructed with a loop antenna and a monopole antenna and attached to a vehicle windshield. The loop antenna has a first element set in length to correspond to a first radio wave of a first frequency band. One end of the first element is connected to a power supply near a border section between a vehicle chassis and the vehicle windshield, and the other end of the first element is connected to the vehicle chassis. The monopole antenna has a second element set in length to correspond to a second radio wave of a second frequency band. One end of the second element is connected to the power supply near the border section in common with the one end of the first element, and the other end of the second element is disconnected from the vehicle chassis. |
| US07791549B2 |
Communication system with broadband antenna
A communication system including an antenna array with feed network coupled to communication electronics. In one example, a communication subsystem comprises a plurality of antennas each adapted to receive an information signal and a plurality of orthomode transducers coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of antennas, each OMT is adapted to provide at a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization. The communication subsystem also comprises a feed network that receives the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and provides a first summed component signal at a first feed port and a second summed component signal at a second feed port, and a phase correction device coupled to the first and second feed ports and adapted to phase match the first summed component signal with the second summed component signal. |
| US07791547B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device including a ground patch providing specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a dielectric substrate carried by the portable housing having a front side facing toward a user and a back side opposite the front side, and a ground plane carried by the dielectric substrate. The device may further include at least one circuit carried by the dielectric substrate, and an antenna carried by the dielectric substrate adjacent an end thereof and electrically connected to the at least one circuit. A ground patch may be adjacent the front side of the dielectric substrate that is electrically connected to the ground plane and spaced apart from and at least partially overlapping the antenna. |
| US07791546B2 |
Antenna device and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an antenna device includes a folded element and an end-free element wound around a core member. A feed potion for a folded element and an end-free element is located close to one end of the core member, and a ground portion for a folded element is located closer to the one end than the feed portion. A coaxial cable connected to the feed portion is led away the antenna device, and an external conductor of the coaxial cable is connected near the ground portion. |
| US07791540B2 |
RFID near field microstrip antenna
A near field antenna is disclosed which is configured to read an RFID label such that a localized electric E field emitted by the antenna at an operating wavelength resides substantially within a zone defined by the near field. The localized E field directs a current distribution along an effective length of the antenna corresponding to a half-wave to a full-wave structure. |
| US07791539B2 |
Radio-frequency system in package including antenna
A system comprising at least one antenna and a circuit, wherein the circuit is at least in part not a semiconductor chip or a die. The at least one antenna and the circuit are arranged on a package. Alternatively described is a system comprising at least one antenna and at least one circuit, wherein the at least one antenna and the at least one circuit are arranged on a package, wherein the at least one circuit performs a radio-frequency and optionally a base-band and/or a digital functionality. |
| US07791538B2 |
Location estimation method and system, and wireless device
A location estimation system in which the location of a target device is estimated from the known locations of a set of anchor devices and information obtained from wireless signals transmitted between the target device and the anchor devices. The estimation process makes use of parameters indicating propagation characteristics of the wireless signals. When the location of the target device has been estimated, new values are estimated for the parameters, based on the estimated location of the target device. The new parameter values are then used to estimate the location of the target device again. The location estimation and parameter estimation process is iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US07791537B2 |
Radio monitoring apparatus and method
Disclosed is radio monitoring apparatus which includes a radio station distinction unit, a direction measurement unit, a transmission source location estimation unit and a transmission source location classification unit. The radio station distinction unit outputs radio station distinction information for uniquely discriminating a radio station that is a transmission source of a transmitted signal from a received signal. The direction measurement unit measures an arrival direction of the transmitted signal. The transmission source location estimation unit estimates a location of the transmission source from results of the direction measurement and outputs an estimated location as transmission source location information. The transmission source location classification unit relates the radio station distinction information and the transmission source location information and outputs them. |
| US07791534B1 |
GNSS time fraction calibration of a real time clock
A generic navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal receiver having a fast time to first fix by calibrating a low power always-on real time clock (RTC). The receiver includes an RTC calibrator having a fraction calculator. The RTC calibrator may also include a time expander. Before the receiver is powered off, the fraction calculator uses the fine resolution of GNSS time for determining a time fraction for RTC time. When the receiver is powered back on, the time expander uses an estimate of RTC time drift during the time that GNSS receiver had power off and the time fraction for calibrating and increasing the resolution of the RTC time for an RTC time tick. A signal navigation processor uses the calibrated RTC time for assisting a first fix with code phase search, integration time periods, resolution of epoch integer and/or location-in-space of GPS satellites. |
| US07791530B2 |
Time duplex apparatus and method for radar sensor front-ends
A radar system and method for determining the range and, optionally, the azimuth of a target, while maintaining a high transmitting duty factor is provided. A waveform generator is connected to an antenna aperture by a transmit-receive switch, and the waveform is transmitted for more than half of the period of time of the sum of the transmission period and the receiving period. For a frequency-modulated continuous-wave waveform (FMCW), the receiver may be turned on for short intervals at a rate which is at least the Nyquist rate for the signal received from at target. A monopulse or frequency-scanned antenna may be used to determine azimuth as well as range. |
| US07791529B2 |
System for estimating the speed of an aircraft, and an application thereof to detecting obstacles
The invention relates to a method of determining an estimated speed of an aircraft relative to ground being overflown by the aircraft, in which use is made of the sum of an acceleration measurement of the aircraft plus a difference value, the difference value being obtained from observation data or signals relating to a region of the ground. |
| US07791523B2 |
Two-step sub-ranging analog-to-digital converter and method for performing two-step sub-ranging in an analog-to-digital converter
A two-step ADC is provided that achieves significant improvements in the settling time window available for CDAC conversion, FADC sub-ranging and FADC conversion without increasing the amount of chip area or power that are consumed by the ADC. The ADC uses interleaved sampler/buffer circuits to sample the incoming analog signal on different phases of the clock signal. MUXes provide the samples obtained by the sampler/buffer circuits to the CADC and FADC circuits in ping pong fashion in such a way that the CADC and FADC circuits are converting during every clock period. In addition, these improvements are achieved without increasing the number of potential sources of bit decision mismatches in the two-step sub-ranging ADC. |
| US07791518B2 |
Flicker noise reduction in continuous time (CT) sigma delta modulators (SDMS)
Embodiments of a system for processing a signal may include a receiver configured to receive an input analog signal and an up converter coupled with the receiver and configured to up convert the analog signal to an up converted analog signal. Embodiments may further include an amplifier coupled with the up converter and configured to amplify the up converted analog signal to generate an amplified signal and also a bandpass filter coupled with the amplifier and configured to filter the amplified signal to generate a filtered analog signal. According to embodiments, the filtered analog signal may be fed to a quanitizer of the ADC. Intermediate signals made thus avoid the flicker noise region typically associated with an integrator of the ADC and may minimize the quantization noise associated with converting higher frequency analog signals. |
| US07791515B2 |
Adapting filter to detected interference level
A receiver uses a sigma delta ADC (126) and an adaptable digital filter (132). Detector circuitry detects information about unwanted parts of the signal from an oversampled digital signal, before the filtering, and feeds forward the detected information to the filter, to adapt the filter. By feeding forward the detection information, rather than feeding back an output of the filter, the adaptation can respond much more quickly to rapid changes in the unwanted interference. This enables reduced filtering to save power when interference is low, without risking a sudden increase in interference causing an avalanche of errors before the filter can be adapted correctly. The filter receives the oversampled digital signal combines decimation and channel filtering in one stage. |
| US07791513B2 |
Adaptive combinatorial coding/decoding with specified occurrences for electrical computers and digital data processing systems
Embodiments described herein may include example embodiments of a method, article and apparatus for compressing data utilizing a combinatorial encoder with specified occurrences which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communication between computing platforms via a network or other interconnection medium. |
| US07791511B1 |
Constant weight coding of signals based on conjugate dissections
A method for encoding and decoding codes of constant weight that is based on conjugate dissections, which progressively modifies element values of an input vector to satisfy the constraint that each encoded symbol is to comprise integer component elements even when the encoded symbol is generated through processing that involved permuting. |
| US07791508B2 |
Enhanced control for compression and decompression of sampled signals
Control of signal compression is coordinated by selectively modifying control parameters affecting the bit rate, sample rate, dynamic range and compression operations. Selected control parameters are modified according to a control function. The control function can include a ratio parameter that indicates the relative or proportional amounts of change to the control parameters. Alternatively, the control function can be represented in a lookup table with values for the selected control parameters related by the control function. Downsampling the input signal samples according to a sample rate control parameter is followed by upsampling to the original sample rate. Errors are calculated between the upsampled and original signal samples. Encoding of the downsampled signal samples and the error samples is performed in accordance with a compression control parameter. The sample rate control parameter and compression control parameter are determined based on the control function. |
| US07791506B2 |
Configurable networked user interface and switch pack
A printed circuit board (PCB) has a plurality of switch interfaces on its top surface. Each interface is an array of sensors, such as proximity sensors, hall-effect sensors, or a series of inductor coils. The sensors in each array are closely mounted and are all the same for a given PCB. Each array may or may not mount a non-contacting switch selected from a plurality of different types of switches, such as a single push button switch, dual push button switch, a toggle switch, a 3-position rocker switch, a rotary switch, or other type switch. Each switch mounted on the PCB includes one or more indicators for sensing by the sensors or coils, with feedback to determine what type of switch is mounted in each position. The same PCB, or other mount, may thus be used for a variety of unique applications, such as switch packs used in vehicles. |
| US07791504B2 |
Rotary encoder and method of manufacturing the same
A rotary encoder includes a case made of insulating resin, a rotatable operation shaft, a slidable brush fixed to the operation shaft, and a signal contact embedded in a surface of the case. The slidable brush has a contacting section slidable on a surface of the case on a predetermined circumference according to a rotation of the operation shaft. The signal contact has an upper surface flush with the surface of the case, a first side surface connected to the upper surface at a first corner having a right angle, a second side surface connected to the upper surface at a second corner having a right angle, and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface. The first and side surfaces are positioned on the predetermined circumference. The lower surface has a width smaller than a width of the upper surface. This rotary encoder has a small size and outputs a signal precisely. |
| US07791503B2 |
Vehicle to infrastructure information conveyance system and method
System and method for conveying information from a vehicle to a fixed structure includes a data generating system arranged on the vehicle to obtain and/or generate information about conditions around the vehicle, one or more data processing facilities each arranged at a fixed structure or fixed location to process information about the vehicle, and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) and arranged to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet to the data processing facility. The data generating system may obtain or generate information about at least one of a road on which the vehicle is traveling, environmental conditions around the vehicle, traffic in the vicinity of the vehicle, and construction in the vicinity of the vehicle. |
| US07791502B2 |
Determining asset location via local triangulation
The present invention is a method for locating an asset in a facility. An example of an asset is a vehicle and an example of a facility is a parking facility. When the user enters the facility with the asset, the user receives a base and code from a base/code booth. The code may be stored on a removable card. The user secures the asset by entering the code. While the user is away from the facility, the present invention monitors the base for movement detected by the motion sensor. When the user returns to the facility, a locator panel displays the location of the asset. The present invention determines the location of the asset by triangulation using the locators. The user then returns to the asset, deactivates the motion sensor, returns the base and code to a base/code booth, pays for the storage services, and exits the facility. |
| US07791498B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving LED
Provided are an apparatus and method for driving LEDs. The apparatus comprise a plurality of red, green, and blue light emitting diodes connected, respectively; switching units turned on or off by an inputted pulse to turn on or off the red, green and blue light emitting diodes, respectively; and a control unit outputting respective pulses to sequentially delay a turn-on or turn-off time between the switching units. |
| US07791495B1 |
Service personnel communication system
A data processing system for analyzing customer and employee interactions in a service establishment is disclosed. The data processing system comprises a plurality of remote customer, employee units and a central unit. The units each include a transceiver to send and receive signals. The signals are all received by the central unit and relayed to the appropriate unit. The central unit time stamps and records all signals in a database. The system further comprises an evaluation program which analyzes the signal data to provide employee performance ratings and staffing recommendations. |
| US07791492B2 |
Wireless communication based safer street lamp control system
Disclosed is a street lamp control system, which cuts off power sources only around an abnormal street lamp where an electric leakage or dangerous situation occurs and allows the rest street lamps to be kept being turned on. The street lamp control system is positioned in a region divided by a plurality of areas where a predetermined number of street lamps are installed. A distribution panel is installed in each center of the areas, and includes two power source control switching circuits for controlling right and left power sources of the corresponding areas. The power source control switching circuit of the corresponding distribution panel turns off the right and left street lamps including the corresponding street lamp when an abnormal state is sensed on a specific street lamp of a specific area, and a power is supplied to the right and left street lamps to be turned on excluding the abnormal street lamp. |
| US07791491B2 |
Measuring alertness
A method and apparatus for measuring drowsiness particularly in vehicle operators measures the amplitude to velocity ratio for eyelids closing and opening during blinking as well as measuring duration of opening and closing. The average values for the amplitude to velocity ratios for opening and closing are weighted and added to give a drowsiness measure that is compared to a scale of drowsiness based on data collected from alert and drowsy subjects. Other eye movements can be used in the weighted algorithm. The scale of drowsiness predicts the onset of drowsiness levels that render an operator unfit to continue. |
| US07791490B2 |
Interactive packaging for development of personal hygiene habits
The disclosure is directed to an interactive packaging system for monitoring the usage of personal hygiene products, personal hygiene product packages, and restroom facilities. The interactive packaging system may include a plurality of usage monitoring devices each configured to detect physical stimulus associated with the usage of the product, package or facility with which the usage monitoring device is associate, and to transmit usage messages containing information relating to the detected physical stimulus. The interactive packaging system may further include a base station configured to receive the usage messages transmitted by the plurality of usage monitoring devices and to generate sensory perceptible outputs corresponding to the information contained in the usage messages. Either the usage monitoring devices or the base station may be configured to determine whether the products, packages or facilities are used appropriately based on the detected physical stimulus. |
| US07791488B2 |
Connectable electronic component comprising a transducer
A connectable electronic component comprising a transducer such as an RFID antenna, a status annunciator such as a short circuit to indicate the presence of the electronic component, and circuit means to propagate signals between the transducer, the status annunciator and an external control system, and circuit means to propagate signals between the external control system and other electronic components.A control system adapted to control one or more of said electronic components, comprising sensing means adapted to generate an interrogation signal to detect the presence of any electronic component, a subsystem adapted to generate a control signal to control the transducer of a detected electronic component, and routing means. |
| US07791487B2 |
Locating radio frequency identification tags in time and space
Estimating a location of a RFID tag in time and space using incomplete data. A signal is received from an RFID tag at a plurality of receivers over a time range. At any particular time within the time range the signal is received at less than three receivers. The signal is generated at specific times within the time range. Receipt of the signal at a given receiver at a given time within the time range comprises an event. In this manner, a plurality of events arises during the time range. Additionally, corresponding locations of the plurality of receivers are known. The plurality of events is received at a data processing system. An algorithm is executed on the data processing system to process the plurality of events. An estimated location in time and space of the RFID tag is then generated with the algorithm and based on the plurality of events. |
| US07791474B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer readable medium
The image processing apparatus is provided with: a geographic information holding unit that holds geographic information on an installation place where the image processing apparatus is installed; a form generation unit that generates an information registration form describing items for registering information on a disaster to be collected based on the geographic information held in the geographic information holding unit; and an output unit that outputs the information registration form generated by the form generation unit. |
| US07791473B2 |
Systems and methods for handling information from wireless nodes, including nodes for communication with aircraft
Systems and methods for handling information from wireless nodes, including nodes for communication with aircraft, are disclosed. A system in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a sensor configured to sense information corresponding to a characteristic of a wireless node. The wireless node can be one of a plurality of wireless nodes configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The wireless nodes can also be linked to a non-wireless network portion. The system can further include a transmitter configured to transmit the information via the network, and a receiver operatively coupled to the transmitter to receive the information via the network. Accordingly, the system can be used to automatically identify and track diagnostic information corresponding to the state of one or more wireless nodes. |
| US07791469B2 |
Short range wireless tracking and event notification system for portable devices
A method and system for tracking a portable device. A tracking system includes a portable device, a first Radio Frequency (RF) module, and a second RF module. The first Radio Frequency (RF) module is installed in the portable device for transmitting a wireless signal. The second RF module is used for receiving the wireless signal. When a received amplitude of the wireless signal that is received by the second RF module is less than a predetermined value, the second RF module generates an alert. |
| US07791467B2 |
Repeater providing data exchange with a medical device for remote patient care and method thereof
A repeater providing data exchange with a medical device for remote patient care and method thereof are provided. A plurality of interfaces include a medical device interface interconnected with a medical device, a wireless interface coupled to a wireless medium, and a wired interface coupled to a wired medium. An interface selector includes a test module operable over the wireless interface and the wired interface to evaluate conditions on each respective medium that could affect data exchange over each of the interfaces. The interface selector further includes a selection module specifying data exchange to occur using one of the wireless interface and the wired interface based on the evaluated conditions. An interrogator module exchanges data with the medical device over the medical device interface. A data transfer module exchanges the data with an external device over the specified interface. |
| US07791465B1 |
Graphical taillight system
A graphical taillight system for efficiently alerting a driver of a vehicle behind a signaling vehicle of the operations (e.g. braking, turning, reversing, etc.) of the signaling vehicle. The graphical taillight system generally includes a tail light cover including a rear surface, wherein the rear surface is comprised of a substantially nontransparent configuration. At least one signaling portion extends through the rear surface of the tail light cover, wherein the signaling portion is comprised of a substantially transparent configuration and wherein the signaling portion is graphically shaped to represent at least one operation of a vehicle. At least one light is aligned with the respective signaling portion, wherein the light shines through the signaling portion. |
| US07791463B2 |
Universal Help Light
The Universal Help Light is a rectangular shaped light that is positioned or mounted along the rear windshield of an automobile.When the light is connected to the vehicles flasher system, it flashes the word “H E L P” concurrently with the auto's hazard or emergency flashers.The light flashes as described, to give clear notice that help is needed and is being summoned. |
| US07791460B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring system with reliable wireless communication between wheel-based transceivers and vehicle body-based transceiver
According to the present invention, there is provided a tire pressure monitoring system that includes a first transceiver provided on a body of a vehicle and a second transceiver provided on a wheel of the vehicle. The first transceiver transmits a request signal conveying first information. The second transceiver receives the request signal and transmits, in response to receipt of the request signal, a response signal that conveys a tire pressure information indicating the inflation pressure of a tire fitted on the wheel and second information having a predefined relationship with the first information. The first transceiver receives the response signal, identifies the received response signal as being transmitted by the second transceiver based on the fact that the second information is conveyed by the received response signal, and determines the inflation pressure of the tire based on the tire pressure information contained in the identified response signal. |
| US07791457B2 |
Method and apparatus for an anti-theft system against radio relay attack in passive keyless entry/start systems
An apparatus and method is provided for identifying unauthorized access to a vehicle having a keyless-passive entry system. An interrogation signal is broadcast from a vehicle based transmission device. The interrogation signal includes a first pulse transmitted at a first amplitude and a second pulse transmitted at a second amplitude where the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude by at least a predetermined difference threshold. The interrogation signal is received by a portable communication device. A determination is made whether the second amplitude of the second pulse is greater than the first amplitude of the first pulse by a predetermined difference threshold. A determination is made that the interrogation signal is an authorized interrogation signal in response to the determination that the interrogation signal includes the first pulse transmitted at the first amplitude following by the second pulse transmitted at the second amplitude where the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude by at least a predetermined difference threshold. |
| US07791453B2 |
System and method for varying response amplitude of radio transponders
A system and method are provided for modifying the effective reading range of an radio frequency identification tag. The tag, a chip based tag, includes an antenna and a chip in communication with the antenna. The chip includes circuitry including field effect transistors that can modify the effective reading range of the tag by modifying characteristics of the tag including the modulation depth of the backscatter signal, the impedance characteristics of the tag front end electronics, the power consumption characteristics and the threshold power-on voltage of the tag. These characteristics are change either temporarily or permanently in response to commands communicated to the tag from a radio frequency identification reader. |
| US07791451B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing mutual authentication for radio frequency identification (RFID) security
Methods, systems and computer program products for providing mutual authentication for radio frequency identification (RFID) security. Methods include receiving an authentication request at a RFID tag from a requester, where the request includes an encrypted access role. An encrypted secret message is transmitted to the requestor in response to receiving the authentication request. The encrypted secret message is based on the encrypted access role received from the requester. An access request specifying a work area and including a random number that is encrypted is received from the requester at the RFID tag. The access request was generated by the requester in response to the RFID tag being successfully authenticated by the requestor using the encrypted secret message. The requester is authenticated at the RFID tag. The authenticating includes determining the value of the random number sent by the requester and verifying that the work area is valid for the encrypted access role. If the authenticating is successful, the RFID tag responds to the access request using the value of the random number as an encryption key. |
| US07791449B2 |
Varistor and light-emitting apparatus
A varistor comprises an element body, two external electrodes, and a metal conductor. The element body includes a portion having first and second faces opposing each other. Two external electrodes are arranged on the first face of the element body. The metal conductor is arranged on the second face of the element body. The metal conductor has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the element body. At least a region between the two external electrodes and metal conductor in the element body exhibits a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic. The heat transmitted to the varistor is efficiently diffused from the metal conductor in the varistor. |
| US07791446B2 |
Inductor device and method of manufacturing the same
An inductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate includes an inductor body penetrating the semiconductor substrate, taking a spiral shape and having a conductivity, and an insulating film provided between a side surface of the inductor body and the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07791439B2 |
Actuator
An actuator includes: a base member; a first slider that is placed slidably in a first axial direction with respect to the base member; a second slider that is placed slidably in a second axial direction with respect to the base member, the second axial direction being perpendicular to the first axial direction; a moving piece that is placed at a crossing point between the first slider and the second slider, and is capable of moving in a plane, the moving piece being slidably engaged with the first slider and the second slider; a magnet that is fixed to one end of the first slider, and a magnet that is fixed to one end of the second slider; and coils that are designed to allow the magnets to move inner spaces thereof. |
| US07791438B2 |
Millimeter and sub-millimeter wave waveguide interface having a junction of tight tolerance and a junction of lesser tolerance
A waveguide interface for millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave applications adapted to couple and uncouple abutting waveguide sections wherein said waveguide interface acts as both a mating surface and a precision alignment mechanism. The waveguide interface comprises a first member having a first waveguide defined therein, a second member having a second waveguide similar in cross-section to said first waveguide defined therein, a means for mating said first member and said second member comprising a centrally located precision mating surface through which propagates electromagnetic energy and additionally comprising at least one pair of diametrically opposed rotational alignment pins and holes located a specified distance from said centrally located precision-mating surface, and wherein said pins and holes are in mating relation of looser fitment than said centrally located precision mating surface. |
| US07791437B2 |
High frequency coplanar strip transmission line on a lossy substrate
A substrate having two high frequency components positioned on substrates typically used for lower frequency devices. A coplanar strip transmission line, providing for transmission of high frequency signals, comprises first, second and third parallel, spaced conductive traces positioned on a surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate defines a first slot extending from the first surface into the substrate and between the first and second parallel, spaced conductive traces and a second slot extending from the first surface into the substrate and between the first and third parallel, spaced conductive traces. Optionally, an antenna is coupled to the coplanar strip transmission line and comprises first and second antenna traces, the substrate defining a third slot therebetween. |
| US07791430B2 |
Low pass metal powder filter
A low pass filter having a coaxial structure of an inner conductor, an outer conductor and a metal powder composite interposed between the inner and outer conductor. Embodiments include a 50Ω characteristic impedance. The metal powder can be bronze, copper or other metals, mixed in an epoxy carrier. |
| US07791429B2 |
Equalizer and connector including the same
An equalizer includes a first resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel. The positive terminal of the capacitor is connected to a signal transmission line on a blah printed circuit board. The negative terminal of the capacitor is connected to ground through a second resistor. A connector including the equalizer and a printed circuit board including the connector are also provided. |
| US07791427B2 |
Systems and methods to minimize startup transients in class D amplifiers
Systems and methods for minimizing startup transients in digital audio controllers that may result in audible artifacts in the output of an audio amplification system. One embodiment comprises a digital PWM amplifier that includes a mechanism for controlling the amount of dead time in the audio output signal. When the amplifier starts up, the PWM signals provided to the output stage are simultaneously deasserted (i.e., there is dead time) for most of each switch period. The amount of dead time is gradually reduced over a series of switch periods until a nominal operating amount of dead time in each switch period is reached. Thus, the PWM signals are slowly ramped up from having a very large percentage of dead time (e.g., nearly 100%) to having a very small percentage of dead time (e.g., 1-2% to prevent shoot-through.) |
| US07791426B2 |
Frequency modulator
A clock frequency modulator for an oscillator having a digital circuit for the generation of a signal modulating the clock frequency, the digital circuit adapted to obtain, from the signal generated by the oscillator, a first pulse signal having a lower frequency than the clock frequency of the oscillator, a digital counter adapted to count the pulses of the first signal and to produce a digital signal and a digital-to-analog converter adapted to convert the digital signal in the signal for modulating the clock frequency of the oscillator. |
| US07791425B2 |
Two-level mounting board and crystal oscillator using the same
The present invention relates to a two-level mounting board in which a second substrate is supported horizontally by a metal pin above a first substrate having a mounting electrode on an outer base surface, the free, lower end of the metal pin is inserted in a hole provided in the surface of the first substrate, and the metal pin is affixed by solder to an annular electrode land provided on the surface of the first substrate to form an outer periphery of the hole, wherein part of the ring of the annular electrode land is cut away to open the same. This provides a two-level mounting board in which metal pins can be connected reliably to the first substrate to support the second substrate horizontally, and a crystal oscillator using the same. |
| US07791424B2 |
Crystal oscillator emulator
A crystal oscillator emulator integrated circuit comprises a first temperature sensor that senses a first temperature of the integrated circuit. Memory stores calibration parameters and selects at least one of the calibration parameters based on the first temperature. A semiconductor oscillator generates an output signal having a frequency, which is based on the calibration parameters, and an amplitude. An amplitude adjustment module compares the amplitude to a predetermined amplitude and generates a control signal that adjusts the amplitude based on the comparison. |
| US07791421B2 |
Surface-mounted piezoelectric oscillators
Surface-mounted piezoelectric oscillators are disclosed that include a package in which a piezoelectric vibrating piece and an electronic circuit (IC) are mounted. At least two external terminals are formed on the external surface of the package and electrically connected to the piezoelectric vibration piece and the electronic circuit. The front surfaces of the external terminals are recessed inwardly (ΔZ) from the external surface of the package. |
| US07791420B2 |
Phase-locked loop with start-up circuit
A circuit includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), which includes a voltage input node having an input voltage; and a start-up circuit. The start-up circuit includes a first current path and a second current path. The first current path has a first current and is configured so that the first current increases in response to a decrease in the input voltage and decreases in response to an increase in the input voltage. The second current path has a second current and is configured so that the second current decreases in response to the decrease in the input voltage and decreases in response to the increase in the input voltage. The VCO further includes a third current path combining a first proportion of the first current and a second proportion of the second current into a combined current; and a current-controlled oscillator (CCO) including an input receiving the combined current and outputting an AC signal. |
| US07791415B2 |
Fractional-N synthesized chirp generator
A fractional-N synthesized chirp generator includes a fractional-N synthesizer and a digital ramp synthesizer. The fractional-N synthesizer has a frequency synthesizer and a sigma-delta modulator module. The fractional-N synthesizer is configured to receive a reference frequency input signal and a frequency control value. The fractional-N synthesizer is configured to transform the reference frequency signal and the frequency control value to a chirped radio frequency (RF) output signal in a deterministic manner. The digital ramp synthesizer is configured to receive the reference frequency input signal and configured to generate the frequency control value utilizing the reference frequency input signal. The digital ramp synthesizer is further configured to provide the frequency control value to the fractional-N synthesizer. The frequency control value varies with time. |
| US07791410B2 |
Method and system for FET-based amplifier circuits
Amplifier circuits and methods are implemented using a variety of different embodiments. According to one such embodiment, a method is implemented using a field-effect transistor (FET) having a gate node, a source node and a drain node. A first circuit state is implemented in which the gate node, the source node and the drain node are connected to inputs that generate a stored charge at the gate node, the amount of stored charge at the gate node being responsive to a first voltage level. A second circuit state is implemented in which the drain node is connected to a voltage source, the source node is connected to a load, and while charge at the gate node is preserved, current between the drain node to the source node drives a voltage level of the load to a proportionally amplified version of the first voltage level. |
| US07791409B2 |
AM (amplitude modulation) demodulation system for RFID reader device
AM (Amplitude Modulation) demodulation system (36) for an RFID reader device (31), of the type comprising a demodulator (6) for receiving from a RFID tag (11) an AM (Amplitude Modulation) wave (20) having a predetermined frequency (f) and for retrieving, from the AM wave (20), a demodulated output (6a) associated to predetermined positive or negative Amplitudes of said AM wave (20). The AM demodulation system comprises at least a second demodulator (26) for receiving the AM wave (20) and retrieving a second demodulated output (26a) associated to Amplitudes opposite to the predetermined positive or negative Amplitudes and a block (27) having, in input, the demodulated output (6a) and the second demodulated output (26a) and returning, in output, an enforced demodulated output (30) with a frequency (f1) greater than the predetermined frequency (f). |
| US07791407B2 |
Technique for improving antialiasing and adjacent channel interference filtering using cascaded passive IIR filter stages combined with direct sampling and mixing
A technique of improving antialiasing and adjacent channel interference filtering uses cascaded passive IIR filter stages combined with direct sampling and mixing. The methodology and related architecture allows for increased passive IIR filtering without necessitating use of amplifier stages. |
| US07791406B1 |
Low leakage power management
A low leakage power management system is provided. An external voltage domain is selectively coupled to the internal voltage domain of an integrated circuit according to demand for the functions provided by the integrated circuit. An external voltage VDD is connected to the internal supply voltage plane of the integrated circuit when the integrated circuit is active. The external supply voltage VDD is disconnected from the integrated circuit chip during idle periods. A plurality of switch cells may be provided for connecting the external voltage VDD to the integrated circuit. A multi-step sequence is provided for connecting the external supply voltage VDD to the chip's internal supply voltage plane to prevent excessive current from flowing through any individual switch cell. |
| US07791405B2 |
Method for controlling an output voltage and voltage controller
A voltage controller for controlling an output voltage to a predetermined value. The voltage controller has a first terminal configured to connect a supply voltage, a second terminal configured to output the output voltage, a control voltage generating unit configured to provide a control voltage, and a control transistor. The control transistor is connected as a series controller between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control voltage can be applied to the control terminal of the control transistor, wherein the output voltage is controlled in a manner dependent on the supply voltage and the control voltage. Furthermore, an offset voltage is superposed on the control voltage. |
| US07791402B2 |
Electric fuse determination circuit and determination method
An electrical fuse determination circuit that can speedily and reliably incorporate an electrical fuse data and improve a reliability of electrical fuse device, includes a first electrical fuse device of which one end connects with a higher voltage, a second electrical fuse device of which one end connects with a lower voltage, a set portion that puts one of the first electrical fuse device and the second electrical fuse device in a conductive state, and a determination portion that determines a voltage level of a predetermined contact point connecting the other end of the first electrical fuse device and the other end of the second electrical fuse device. |
| US07791397B2 |
High speed digital level shifter
A high-speed digital level shifter is described. The preferred embodiment shifts an input signal with a lower amplitude to a signal with a higher amplitude. The level shifter includes a signal driver circuit to drive up the input signal to a driver signal having higher voltages. The driver signal is used to drive an output circuit that generates an output signal having amplitude of a high voltage power source. The output circuit has improved performance being driven by the driver input signal. A signal stepper is added to further improve the performance by pulling up the output voltage in two stages. |
| US07791395B2 |
DC offset correcting device and DC offset correcting method
A signal generator generates a test signal including a positive signal and a negative signal which have the same amplitude. The signal generator corrects a DC level of the test signal based on a DC offset correcting signal supplied thereto, and supplies the corrected test signal to a frequency converter. An amplitude detector detects the amplitudes of the positive and negative signals of the test signal processed by the frequency converter. A level compressor converts in level the amplitudes of the positive and negative signals which are detected by the amplitude detector, with a gain variable depending on an input level thereto. A comparator compares the amplitudes of the positive and negative signals which are converted in level by the level compressor, with each other. An offset adjuster supplies the DC offset correcting signal depending on a compared result from the comparator to the signal generator. |
| US07791387B1 |
Fine-resolution edge-extending pulse width modulator
Fine resolution pulse width modulation is achieved through feed-forward edge extending logic. A ring-oscillator produces phase-shifted versions of a system clock and two latches operate in parallel with the system clock output from the multiplexer clocking a first latch and a selected phase-shifted version of the system clock from the multiplexer clocking the second latch. The first latch receives a coarse output pulse equal to a selected number of clock periods as an input, while the second latch receives the output of the first latch as an input. A logic gate combines outputs from the latches to produce the output pulse having a trailing edge extended by a selected number of phase divisions. |
| US07791386B2 |
Externally synchronizing multiphase pulse width modulation signals
Waveform errors between multiphase PWM signals caused by external synchronization signals is solved by providing a capture register in a master time base circuit. The capture register is triggered by the external sync signal so as to “capture” the value of the master time base counter at the occurrence of the rising edge of the external sync signal. This captured counter value is then provided to the local time bases of each of the phase PMW signal generators as the effective PWM period instead of locally stored PWM period values of each PWM signal generator. The captured time base value provided to the individual PWM generator time bases insures that the individual PWM generators remain properly synchronized to the master time base throughout the PWM cycles of all of the phases. |
| US07791384B2 |
Phase synchronization apparatus
A phase synchronization apparatus includes a bias control unit configured to sequentially delay an input clock signal to generate bias control signals having multiple bits, a bias generation unit configured to generate a pull-up bias voltage having a level that corresponds to logical values of the bias control signals, and to generate a pull-down bias voltage in response to a control signal; and a voltage controlled oscillator configured to include a plurality of delay cells respectively having a pull-up terminal and a pull-down terminal to generate an output clock signal in response to the control voltage, wherein the pull-up bias voltage is supplied to the pull-up terminals of the respective delay cells and the pull-down bias voltage is supplied to the pull-down terminals of the respective delay cells. |
| US07791374B2 |
Apparatus and method of adjusting driving voltage for selective pre-charge
An output of a driving circuit is controlled by selectively outputting a first voltage or a second voltage as an N-th output voltage level in response to a first control signal and an N-th input voltage level, where N is a natural number, and pre-charging the selected N-th output voltage level to a third voltage or a fourth voltage, in response to a second control signal, the pre-charging being preformed based on the selected N-th output voltage level and a newly input (N+1)th input voltage level. |
| US07791372B2 |
Level shifter and level shifting method thereof
A level shifter includes a first level-switching device and a second level-switching device. The first level-switching device includes a first switch device, a second switch device, a first control switch and a third switch device. The first switch device is for receiving the input voltage and outputting a first voltage. The second switch device is coupled to the first switch device for outputting a first operational voltage as the output voltage according to the first voltage. The first control switch is coupled to the first switch device for receiving the first voltage. The third switch device is coupled between the first control switch and the first operational voltage and controlled by the output voltage. The second level-switching device is coupled to the first level-switching device for receiving the input voltage and accordingly outputting a second operational voltage as the output voltage. |
| US07791371B2 |
Level shift circuit and power semiconductor device
A level shift circuit includes a drive transistor, a first PMOS transistor, and first and second clamp transistors of PMOS type. The drive transistor, which drives the gate of the high-side NMOS transistor in a power semiconductor device, has a source-drain path coupled between a boot potential generated by a bootstrap circuit provided in the semiconductor device and a source potential of the high-side NMOS transistor. The first PMOS transistor has a source coupled to the boot potential, and a drain coupled to the gate of the drive transistor. The first clamp transistor has a gate coupled to the source potential of the high-side NMOS transistor, and a source coupled to the drain of the first PMOS transistor. The second clamp transistor has a gate coupled to the source potential of the high-side NMOS transistor, and a source coupled to the gate of the first PMOS transistor. |
| US07791369B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and operation method of the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit including on the same semiconductor substrate: a first circuit block including a switching transistor which is off when the first circuit block is inactive and on when the first circuit block is active, the first circuit block including internal circuits adapted to provide predetermined functions, the internal circuits being connected to a first power line maintained at a low-level source voltage; a second circuit block including internal circuits adapted to provide predetermined functions, the internal circuits being connected to a second power line maintained at a low-level source voltage; a power line switch section connected between the first and second power lines; and a control circuit adapted to control the power line switch section so that the first and second power lines are connected together at a later timing or gradually over a longer period of time than the switching transistor turns on. |
| US07791361B2 |
Planarizing probe card
A novel planarizing probe card for testing a semiconductor device is presented. The probe card is adapted to come into contact with a probe card mount that is in adjustable contact with the prober. The probe card includes a printed circuit board affixed to a stiffener and a probe head that is in electrical contact with the printed circuit board. The probe head also includes a plurality of probe contactor tips that define a first plane. The stiffener further contains at least two planarizing adjusters that comes into contact with the probe card mount. The adjusters may be actuated to alter the position of first plane. A surface of the semiconductor device under test may define a second plane, and the adjusters may be adjusted to position the first plane to be substantially parallel to the second plane. |
| US07791350B2 |
Ionization vacuum gauge
An ionization vacuum gauge includes a linear cathode, an anode, and an ion collector. The linear cathode, the anode, and the ion collector are concentrically aligned and arranged from center to outer, in that order. The linear cathode includes a linear base and a field emission film deposited coating on the linear base. The ionization vacuum gauge with low power consumption can be used in a high vacuum system and/or some special vacuum system that is sensitive to heat and light. Such a gauge can be used to determine, simply yet accurately, pressures at relatively high vacuum levels. |
| US07791348B2 |
Battery tester with promotion feature to promote use of the battery tester by providing the user with codes having redeemable value
Battery maintenance equipment is provided for use in maintaining storage batteries. The battery maintenance equipment includes battery maintenance circuitry. A redemption code output is provided and configured to provide an output having a redeemable value in response to the battery maintenance circuitry. A method includes outputting a redemption code in response to usage of battery maintenance equipment. |
| US07791344B2 |
Magnetic resonance RF transmission system and MR system and method using same
A radio-frequency transmission system for a magnetic resonance system has a radio-frequency amplifier and a signal splitter with two inputs and two outputs. The signal splitter is fashioned so that the power of a radio-frequency signal provided at one of the two inputs is divided between the two outputs. A first input the two inputs of the signal splitter is thereby coupled with the output of the radio-frequency amplifier, and the two outputs of the signal splitter respectively serve for connection to different inputs of a transmission antenna of the magnetic resonance system in order to feed the output signals present at the two outputs of the signal splitter into the transmission antenna. The second input of the signal splitter is terminated with a terminating resistor arrangement with a variable reflection factor. |
| US07791342B2 |
Cancellation of ringing artifacts and far field interference in nuclear quadrupole resonance
A device for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising a pulse generator for generating a three-pulse-composite-pulse to refocus signals that were excited by another pulse, an irradiator for irradiating a specimen with the three-pulse-composite-pulse, a detector for detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating the specimen, a coupler for transmitting the three-pulse-composite-pulse to the irradiating means, and a transformer for converting the free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal. A method for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising generating a three-pulse-composite-pulse, irradiating said specimen with said three-pulse-composite-pulse, detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating said specimen and converting said free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal. |
| US07791340B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method that produce a virtual total cylindrical maximum real measurement volume
A magnetic resonance apparatus has a basic field magnet that generates a basic magnetic field with a homogeneity region of the basic magnetic field in which the basic magnetic field is homogeneous and with a maximum real measurement volume contained in the homogeneity region. The apparatus has a movable patient bed and a control unit that controls the movable patient bed. The maximum measurement volume thereby exhibits a cylindrical shape. A virtual total measurement volume that is greater than the maximum real cylindrical measurement volume can be generated by the control unit together with the movable patient bed. |
| US07791339B2 |
RF-switched superconducting resonators and methods of switching thereof
A multimode resonator resonating at two or more frequencies is operated at cryogenic temperatures and composed of a superconducting material or a normal metal with a superconducting section serving as a RF superconducting switch. The multimode resonator is coupled to a NMR spectrometer and a RF switch power source, wherein its one frequency is selected to correspond to the operating frequency of the NMR spectrometer and at least a second frequency is tuned to a frequency of RF switch power source, unrelated to the spectrometer frequency, therefore power at this frequency does not perturb the operation of the spectrometer. When activated, the RF switch power source induces a current sufficient to approach or exceeds the critical current in one or more sections of the superconducting material of the multimode resonator, thereby increasing its resistance and reducing the Q factor of the multimode resonator. |
| US07791337B2 |
Metal detector
A vibration canceling circuit for a metal detector. The metal detector includes a transmit coil, first and second receive coils, a differential circuit coupled to the first and second receive coils, a controller coupled to the differential circuit, and a vibration canceling circuit coupled to the controller. The controller uses a signal provided by the vibration canceling circuit to remove a vibration component from a metal detection signal. |
| US07791336B2 |
Displaceable magnetic detection device
The purpose is to achieve size reduction, weight reduction and thickness reduction of a magnetic material detecting device (1). The device comprises a linearly displaceable magnet (12) and a Hall IC (14) for detecting the displacement of the magnet (12). When an iron piece (28) is positioned within a predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1), the iron piece (28) is strongly magnetized to attract the magnet (12) so that the latter is displaced toward the iron piece (28). Therefore, when the displacement of a magnet (14) is detected by the Hall IC (14), it is possible to detect the fact that the iron piece (28) has been positioned within the predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1). |
| US07791333B2 |
Absolute angle detecting apparatus
The disclosed absolute angle detecting apparatus includes: a rotating body A; a rotating magnet that rotates with the rotation of the rotating body A; and a magnetic sensor that outputs signals sin θ, cos θ, −sin θ, and −cos θ using a variation in the direction of a magnetic field according to the rotation angle θ of the rotating magnet. The first and second arc tangent signals tan−1θ having phases that deviate from each other by a quarter of the period of each output signal of the magnetic sensor are generated on the basis of the output signals of the magnetic sensor. The absolute angle detecting apparatus generates a sawtooth signal without using the vicinities of the switching positions of the two arc tangent signals tan−1θ, and detects the absolute angle of the rotating body A within one rotation of the rotating body A, on the basis of the sawtooth signal. |
| US07791332B2 |
Current-loop position sensor and rolling bearing equipped with the same
The invention concerns a system for determining the position of mobile element relative to a stationary structure, the system comprising an encoder configured to emit a pseudo-sinusoidal spatial signal representing the position of the encoder, a sensor (2) comprising a current-loop mount between at least two resistive elements (3) and a signal processing device Vi configured to supply two quadrature signals respectively SIN and COS of same amplitude. The invention also concerns an antifriction bearing equipped with such a system for determining the angular position of the rotating ring relative to the stationary ring. |
| US07791329B2 |
Vector/signal analyzer equalization apparatus and method
Disclosed is a method of equalization of a vector/signal analyzer including: providing a structured test signal within a selected frequency range. The structured test signal includes a plurality of frequency components each having a respective amplitude and phase. The method includes inputting the test signal to the analyzer; the analyzer operating to condition the test signal; determining information representative of frequency distortion of the conditioned test signal introduced by the analyzer; generating a set of equalization coefficients based on the information representative of the frequency distortion, the set of coefficients corresponding to the selected frequency range; and storing the set of equalization coefficients and the correspondence of the set of coefficients to the selected frequency range. |
| US07791328B2 |
Method and system for calibrating a motor control circuit to improve temperature measurement in an electrical motor
A method enables measurement of an inverter loss within a motor control circuit for an appliance. The method includes applying a constant DC current generated from a first AC supply voltage to a motor winding through an inverter at a first duty cycle, measuring a first voltage corresponding to the current through the motor at a motor current sense resistor, computing a first ratio of the first measured voltage at the motor current sense resistor to a first DC input voltage corresponding to the first AC supply voltage, identifying a second duty cycle from the first computed ratio, comparing the second duty cycle to the first duty cycle, and identifying a first inverter loss factor from the difference between the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle. |
| US07791317B2 |
Battery pack and method of calculating deterioration level thereof
A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes at least one battery, a switch section, a measurement section, and a deterioration level calculation section. The switch section turns on and off charging to the battery. The measurement section measures an open circuit voltage of the battery. The deterioration level calculation section calculates the deterioration level of the battery based on the open circuit voltage measured by the measurement section after the switch section has repeatedly turned on and off the charging 10 times or more. |
| US07791316B2 |
Battery with isolated charging circuit for LMR portable radio applications
A system of optimally recharging a battery cell while powering a device connected to the battery pack, in which an electronic switch connects a battery pack power-output either to the battery cells or to a second power-input contact. When not recharging, the battery-pack power-output contact is connected to the battery cells, thereby powering the device from the cells. When recharging via a charging unit, the battery pack's power-output terminal is uncoupled from the cells and coupled to a power source of the charging unit, thereby powering the device from the charging unit. At the same time, a voltage is supplied to the battery cells, thereby recharging them. The switching may be activated by a voltage supplied by the charging unit to a temperature monitoring thermistor in the battery pack. In this way, the battery pack's power output may be automatically switched whenever it is placed in the charging unit. |
| US07791310B2 |
Vehicle electrical system including battery state of charge detection on the positive terminal of the battery
In a vehicle electrical system powered by a battery for supplying a plurality of loads, an integrated module is provided between the positive terminal of the battery and the loads, and the integrated module includes an arrangement for detecting a state of charge of the battery, a control unit for power management of the vehicle electrical system, and at least one supply output for supplying power to the loads. |
| US07791304B2 |
Method and device for determining the duty-cycles of PWM control signals of an inverter
A method for determining duty-cycles of respective pulse width modulated (PWM), space vector modulated (SVM) control signals of an inverter, may include storing values of the duty-cycles as a function of a position of the multi-phase electric load in a look-up table. The method also may include determining a phasor angle representing applied sinusoidal voltages. The method also may include determining the duty-cycles as a function of the angle, and storing, in the look-up table, values of two pre-established waveforms relative to at least one duty-cycle as a function of the angle in at least two 60° degree angular sectors, by at least, identifying which of six 60° angular sectors the angle belongs, calculating a difference between the angle and an angular sector lower bound, and generating values as a function of the identified angular sector of the difference and the two pre-established waveforms stored in the look-up table. |
| US07791303B2 |
Electric motor controller with brush position detector
Provided are a method, computer-readable medium, and system for automatically determining a proper operational current input to an electric motor. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the proper operational current input includes sending a test signal to an input of an electric motor. A response to the test signal is measured using an output of the electric motor. Based on the measured response, a position of a brush that is capable of conducting current through a commutator of the electric motor is determined. The electric motor is supplied with a first current input if the brush is in a first position and a second current input if the brush is in a second position. |
| US07791302B2 |
Method for measuring a motor current
The invention relates to a method for measuring a current that flows through a motor, in which a power switch that supplies the motor with electric energy is controlled by a control unit via a pulse width-modulation signal. The pulse width-modulation signal comprises a cycle of operation and the motor current is determined in a feeder to the power switch or a feeder to the motor. Since exactly one measured value representing the motor current is sampled in each cycle of operation, this permits the provision of a method for measuring the motor current, which determines the motor current in a more rapid, more cost-effective manner than in prior art. The method is used for the motor control of direct current motors. |
| US07791300B2 |
Excessive temperature detecting system of electric motor controller
An electric motor controller for a vehicle has a voltage detecting section for detecting the voltage of a filter capacitor inserted on a direct current side of an inverter device including a semiconductor element for large electric power; an electric current detecting section for detecting an output electric current of the inverter device; and a temperature detecting section arranged in a cooling means of the semiconductor element for large electric power. Loss generated by a switching operation of the semiconductor element for large electric power is sequentially calculated by outputs of the detecting sections. Excessive temperature is detected when junction temperature of the large electric power semiconductor element calculated by this loss reaches an allowable temperature. |
| US07791291B2 |
Diamond field emission tip and a method of formation
A diamond field emission tip and methods of forming such diamond field emission tips, for use with cathodes that will act as a source of and emit beams of charged particles. |
| US07791287B2 |
Multiple-cell LED arrangement, related cell and manufacturing process
A LED arrangement includes:—a plurality of cells (0, 1, 2, 3) each including at least one respective LED having a binning class as a function of its emission wavelength (L1, L2) and brightness (B1, B2) characteristics, —a plurality of impedance elements (R0, R1, R2, R3) respectively coupled with the cells (0, 1, 2, 3), each impedance element (R0, R1, R2, R3) having an impedance value indicative of the binning class of the at least one LED included in the respective cell (0, 1, 2, 3), and —a controller (5) configured for sensing (6, 80, 81, 82, 83) the impedance values of the impedance elements (R0, R1, R2, R3) and adaptively drive each cell (0, 1, 2, 3) as a function of its binning class as indicated by the impedance element (R0, R1, R2, R3) coupled to the cell. |
| US07791286B2 |
Inverter circuit, fluorescent tube lighting apparatus, backlight apparatus, and liquid crystal display
A driving apparatus and a driving method are disclosed that are capable of uniformly lighting each entire fluorescent tube irrespective of the length or number of fluorescent tubes when simultaneously driving a plurality of fluorescent tubes in a fluorescent tube lighting apparatus. When two inverter circuits having respective transformers are provided at both ends of a fluorescent tube to light the fluorescent tube by push-pull driving, feedback windings of transformers not used in self-excited oscillation of each inverter circuit are connected together, with the transformer connection that connects together the feedback windings being either in-phase or in opposite phase, and the method of connection for fluorescent tubes connecting to secondary windings of each transformer can be changed in accordance with that connection method. |
| US07791284B2 |
Cold cathode tube drive device
A cold-cathode tube driving apparatus wherein the number of booster transformers has been reduced and the increase in installation space and in cost has been suppressed. This cold-cathode tube driving apparatus comprises a booster transformer (2); a plurality of cold-cathode tubes (3-1 to 3-N); and a time division control circuit (control circuit 6 and time division FETs 4-1 to 4-N) for lighting one or more of the plurality of cold-cathode tubes (3-1 to 3-N) in a time division manner by use of a high frequency voltage after boosted by the booster transformer (2). |
| US07791282B2 |
Motion sensor switch for 3-way light circuit and method of lighting control using the same
Systems and methods are provided for controlling light in a 3-way light circuit, where at least one of the switches in a 3-way light circuit includes an occupancy sensor and the on/off state of the load in the 3-way circuit is determined based on the voltage output of circuits configured to provide power to the 3-way light circuit. |
| US07791281B2 |
Method and apparatus for stabilizing a glow discharge plasma under atmospheric conditions
Method and apparatus for generating and sustaining a glow discharge plasma in a plasma discharge space comprising at least two spaced electrodes. The method and apparatus are arranged for performing the steps of introducing in the discharge space a gas or gas mixture under atmospheric pressure conditions, energizing the electrodes by applying an AC energizing voltage (Va) to the electrodes, and controlling the energizing voltage (Va) such that at plasma generation a sharp relative decrease of displacement current is provided. |
| US07791280B2 |
Plasma lamp using a shaped waveguide body
A plasma lamp for an electrodeless plasma lamp having a shaped dielectric waveguide body. The shaped body may have a relatively thin region containing a bulb, and a second region thicker than the first region. Microwave probes may be positioned in the second region to provide power to the waveguide body. The body may be shaped to intensify the electric field in the first region adjacent to the bulb to allow operation at a lower frequency than a solid cylindrical or rectangular waveguide body having the same volume and dielectric constant. |
| US07791277B2 |
Plasma display panel provided with grounding units for the assembly of the display panel and an electromagnetic interference shielding flim
Disclosed is a Plasma Display Panel (PDP). According to an example, the PDP includes a panel, a base film in the front surface of the panel, and an Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) shielding film in the base film. Another example of the PDP includes a panel with a panel grounding unit in the front surface, a base film in the front surface of the panel, an EMI shielding film on the base film, a back cover surrounding the panel, and a grounding unit for electrically connecting the panel grounding unit to the back cover. The panel grounding unit and the grounding unit are connected through a conductive substance. The PDP of this research can protect the panel from being damaged by the grounding unit and reduce production costs. Also, it can increase EMI shielding rate by grounding the EMI absorbed in the EMI shielding film. |
| US07791276B2 |
Light-emitting device with miniature elements
A light-emitting device includes a package housing, at least one light-emitting element, a plurality miniature elements, and a package filler. The package housing includes a recess. The light-emitting element is disposed in the recess. The miniature elements are formed on the light-emitting element. Light from the light-emitting element is output to the exterior of the recess in a predetermined direction by adjustment of the miniature elements. The package filler is filled in the recess and covers the light-emitting element and miniature elements. |
| US07791269B2 |
Display apparatus having light blocking layer, and electric device
A display apparatus is provided that prevents shortening of the life of the luminescent elements and has a superior contrast ratio. The display apparatus is composed by forming a plurality of luminescent elements on a substrate and providing bank sections between each of the luminescent elements. The bank sections are formed from a first bank layer located on the side of the substrate and a second bank layer formed on the first bank layer. A light blocking layer is then provided between the first bank layer and the second bank layer. |
| US07791267B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting display and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. One embodiment of the organic light emitting display includes a substrate including a pixel region and a cathode-on-driver (COD) region adjacent to the pixel region, a thin film transistor formed on the pixel region of the substrate, and a planarization film formed on an entire surface of the substrate to cover the thin film transistor. The organic light emitting display also includes an organic light emitting diode including a first pixel electrode formed on the planarization film and connected to the thin film transistor, an organic light emitting layer formed on the first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode formed on an entire surface of the substrate over the organic light emitting layer. The organic light emitting display further includes a pixel definition layer which is provided between the planarization film and the second pixel electrode. The pixel definition layer has an opening where the organic light emitting layer is located. Openings are formed through the planarization film and the pixel definition layer to provide a recess for separating the pixel region and the COD region from each other. The organic light emitting display further includes a conductive layer partially filling the recess for reducing the depth of the recess. |
| US07791266B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display having low data line capacitance
An organic electroluminescent display in which a power supply line for a power supply voltage is separated from data lines for data signals in a signal input portion is disclosed. The power supply line over the data lines is employed as a pixel electrode or a cathode to supply the power supply voltage. This arrangement decreases the parasitic capacitance between the two lines and reduces load on the data lines. |
| US07791265B2 |
Red-emitting luminescent substance and light source comprising such a luminescent substance
Disclosed is a luminescent substance which has the structure EA3N2Si2O4:D, wherein EA=(Sr,Ba,Ca) and D=Eu, provides red emission, and is characterized by great stability and a simple production process. Said luminescent substance can be used for many different types of light sources. |
| US07791260B2 |
Gas-fed hollow cathode keeper and method of operating same
A gas-fed hollow cathode keeper can reduce ion bombardment erosion by expelling gas through the keeper faceplate. The expelled gas effectively creates a high-pressure “shield” around the keeper such that bombarding ions suffer energy-reducing collisions before impacting the keeper. If the bombarding ion energy is reduced enough, the erosion is eliminated since sputtering is a threshold phenomenon. |
| US07791256B2 |
Multi-layer piezoelectric element
A multi-layer piezoelectric element of high durability wherein the internal electrodes and the external electrodes do not break even when operated continuously over a long period of time under high electric field and high pressure is provided. The first multi-layer piezoelectric element according to the present invention comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, and the external electrodes include an electrically conductive material and glass and is formed from a porous electrically conductive material that has a three-dimensional mesh structure. |
| US07791250B2 |
Method for ultra-fast controlling of a magnetic cell and related devices
The present invention relates to a device and corresponding method for ultrafast controlling of the magnetization of a magnetic element. A device (100) includes a surface acoustic wave generating means (102), a transport layer (104), which is typically functionally and partially structurally comprised in said SAW generating means (102), and at least one ferromagnetic element (106). A surface acoustic wave is generated and propagates in a transport layer (104) which typically consists of a piezo-electric material. Thus, strain is induced in the transport layer (104) and in the ferromagnetic element (106) in contact with this transport layer (104). Due to magneto elastic coupling this generates an effective magnetic field in the ferromagnetic element (106). If the surface acoustic wave has a frequency substantially close to the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency νFMR the ferromagnetic element (106) is absorbed well and the magnetization state of the element can be controlled with this FMR frequency. The device can be used in an RF-magnetic resonator, a sensor and a camera. The corresponding method can be used for ultrafast reading-out and switching of magnetic components and in magnetic logic. |
| US07791243B2 |
Direct current motor
A gear housing accommodates a worm shaft. A brush holder includes a base member and a retaining member loosely fitted to the base member. The base member is located between the gear housing and the retaining member. The retaining member retains a first brush and a second brush. The retaining member has a pair of positioning poles, and the gear housing has a pair of positioning projections. The positioning poles and the positioning projections are engaged with each other so as to prevent the retaining member from being moved in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft. |
| US07791240B2 |
Stir-welded rotors and methods of making
Provided are stir-welded rotors and methods of making these. An exemplary stir-welded rotor may include a stack of laminations that each has spaced-apart slots arrayed on an outer circumference. The slots register with slot bars that each has a first extremity extending above the stack of laminations and a second extremity extending below the stack of laminations. A first weld extends between first extremities of adjacent slot bars, and a second stir weld extending between adjacent second extremities of adjacent slot bars. |
| US07791236B2 |
Permanent magnet machine
A permanent magnet electric machine with optimum motoring efficiency is disclosed. It is adapted for use in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. An asymmetric magnetic flux distribution pattern in the rotor of the machine is established to improve operating efficiency of the machine when it is in a motoring mode. |
| US07791235B2 |
Variable magnetic coupling of rotating machinery
A system for transferring torque between a pair of independently, concurrently rotating shafts of a turbofan engine includes a magnetic gearbox. The magnetic gearbox has a first ring structure, a second ring structure and an intermediate ring structure. Each ring structure has an annular aperture therethrough and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein. The intermediate ring structure is disposed between the first and the second ring structures. Each ring structure is coaxially concentric with, and independently rotatable with respect to the remaining ring structures. The first and second ring structures are each coupled to separate ones of the rotating engine shafts, and the intermediate ring is operable to transfer torque between the pair of shafts. Preferably, the intermediate ring structure is coupled to a rotating machine. The rotating machine has a controller, and is operable for adjusting a ratio of torque transferred between the pair of shafts. |
| US07791232B2 |
Power tool having an electronically commutated motor and double insulation
A power tool has a housing a housing having an electronically commutated motor disposed therein. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The rotor has permanent magnets. The stator has a lamination stack and windings wound therein. Features are provided to provide double insulation. |
| US07791230B2 |
Heat transfer enhancement of dynamoelectric machine rotors
A rotor is provided for a dynamoelectric machine having one or more windings. The windings have one or more turns, and the turns have one or more outlet ducts that are located near a chimney. When the outlet ducts are stacked one on top of another, they form substantially radially oriented passages. The heat transfer performance of a portion of the rotor can be improved by locating two or more circumferentially spaced radial ducts near the chimney. A chimney can also be formed of one or more chimney slots defined in at least a portion of the turns, where one or more chimney slots extend in a substantially slanted direction to a radial direction of the rotor. A transition region of the rotor can also include one or more diagonal flow channels, which discharge into one or more chimneys. |
| US07791228B2 |
Energy supply of a measuring device
An energy supply unit for a measuring device for determining and/or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable of a medium. Included is at least one voltage limiting unit and/or at least one current limiting unit in the energy supply unit, wherein the voltage limiting unit is embodied in such a manner that arising voltages remain under a value, which leads to an explosion in an explosion-endangered area, and wherein the current limiting unit is embodied in such a manner that arising currents and/or heatings associated therewith remain under a value, which leads to an explosion in an explosion-endangered area. |
| US07791226B2 |
Bidirectional connection between a digital control circuit and an AC switch
A method and a circuit for controlling a switch intended to apply an AC signal, by application of a control signal on a terminal of a circuit, at least one signal of information as to the state of the switch or of a load that it controls being provided to said terminal in a time multiplexing with said control signal. |
| US07791225B2 |
Power switching circuit and liquid crystal display using same
An exemplary LCD (2) includes a control signal input terminal (210) configured for receiving a control signal; an output terminal (220) configured to be connected to a load circuit; a first direct current (DC) power supply (230); a first switching transistor (250) including a control electrode “b” connected to the control signal input terminal, a first current conducting electrode “c” connected to the DC power supply via a first bias resistor, and a second current conducting electrode “e” connected to ground; a second switching transistor (250) including a control electrode “G” connected to the first current conducting electrode of the first switching transistor, a first current conducting electrode “S” connected to the DC power supply, and a second current conducting electrode “D” connected to the output terminal; and a discharging resistor (225) configured to be connected between the output terminal and ground. |
| US07791224B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a voltage to a circuit
One embodiment of the invention provides a circuit. The circuit includes a switching unit configured to connect or disconnect a voltage domain to a supply voltage input. The switching unit includes a first switch, a second switch and a third switch. The circuit includes a control signal input configured to receive a switch control signal. The circuit includes a signal distribution unit that is configured to output the switch control signal to the first switch delayed by a first time interval and to output the switch control signal to the second switch and to the third switch delayed by a second time interval. |
| US07791217B2 |
Electric-powered vehicle chargeable by external power supply
An open/close detection unit detects whether a lid covering a charge connector is closed or opened, and outputs the result of detection to a vehicle control unit. A connection detection unit receives a first signal and detects whether a plug and the charge connector are connected or not based on the voltage of the first signal. The vehicle control unit determines, based on the result of detection by the connection detection unit and information about an external power supply indicated by a second signal, whether the first signal is normal. When the first signal is abnormal, the vehicle control unit determines, based on the result of detection by the open/close detection unit, whether the lid is closed. When the lid is closed, the vehicle control unit controls the vehicle state to be in the travel-enabled state. |
| US07791216B2 |
Method and system for use with a vehicle electric storage system
A method and system for controlling a vehicle having an electric powertrain and an electric energy storage system. The electric energy storage system includes a capacitor, DC/DC converter, and a battery. The electric energy storage system is controlled to maximize use of the capacitor relative to use of the battery. |
| US07791214B2 |
Adaptive tidal current power extraction device
A system is adapted to extract energy from flowing liquid. The system includes at least one vertically-extending vane adapted to move in response to the flowing liquid. The vane has a vertical length wherein at least a portion of the vane can be positioned below a surface of a body of liquid such that the vane forms a swept area defined at least partially by the vertical portion of vertical lengths of the vane positioned below the surface. The system further includes a mechanism adapted to selectively vary the swept area. |
| US07791212B2 |
Hybrid mounted device and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a hybrid mounted device that includes a element such as semiconductor laser diode (LD), and a board such as a silicon platform having formed thereon an optical waveguide. The LD is mounted to the silicon platform, and is optically coupled to the optical waveguide. The mounting position of the LD is determined by positioning first alignment marks formed on the board and second alignment marks formed on the LD. In this configuration, initial positional deviation amount measuring marks that can measure the initial positional deviation amount of the first alignment marks themselves are formed on the board. The mounting position of the is corrected to a position where the second alignment marks are shifted with respect to the first alignment marks according to the initial positional deviation amount measured from the initial positional deviation amount measuring marks. |
| US07791211B2 |
Flip chip package structure and carrier thereof
A flip chip package structure including a chip, a carrier, and a plurality of bumps is provided. The chip has a bonding surface and a plurality of bump pads thereon. The carrier is disposed corresponding to the chip and includes a substrate and a plurality of pre-solders. The substrate has a carrying surface and a patterned trace layer thereon. The patterned trace layer has a plurality of traces, and each of the traces has an outward protruding bonding portion corresponding to the bump. The line width of the bonding portion is greater than that of the trace. The pre-solders are disposed on the bonding portions, respectively. The bumps are disposed between the bump pads and the corresponding pre-solders such that the chip is electrically connected to the carrier through the bumps. |
| US07791209B2 |
Method of underfill air vent for flipchip BGA
This invention relates to ejecting an underfill resin at multiple semiconductor die edges such that vacuum suction provided at a laminate through hole located beneath a stage enables spread of underfill resin from each edge simultaneously for quicker spread and reduction of voids. The excess underfill resin intentionally suctioned through the through hole air vent on the underside of the laminate is attracted to re-usable tape. The attracted underfill resin is cleaned from a rotating head mechanism by a cleaning pad positioned beneath a lower surface of the head. |
| US07791207B2 |
Pass through via technology for use during the manufacture of a semiconductor device
Via structures are described which pass through a semiconductor substrate assembly such as a semiconductor die or wafer and allows for two different types of connections to be formed during a single formation process. One connection passes through the wafer without being electrically coupled to the wafer, while the other connection electrically connects to a conductive pad. To connect to a pad, a larger opening is etched into an overlying dielectric layer, while to pass through a pad without connection, a narrower opening is etched into the overlying dielectric layer. |
| US07791205B2 |
Interposers for semiconductor die packages with standard ball grill array footprint
Apparatus and methods for forming semiconductor assemblies. An interposer includes a perimeter wall surrounding at least a portion of an upper surface thereof to form a recess. An array of electrical connection pads is located within the recess. A semiconductor die can be flip chip attached to the interposer by at least partial insertion of the semiconductor die within the recess with discrete conductive elements between bond pads of the semiconductor die and electrical connection pads of the interposer. The electrical connection pads communicate with a number of other electrical contact pads accessible elsewhere on the interposer, preferably on a lower surface thereof. A low viscosity underfill encapsulant is disposed between the semiconductor die and the interposer and around the discrete conductive elements by permitting the same to flow into the space between the die and the perimeter wall. The encapsulant may form an underfill or substantially encapsulate the semiconductor die within the recess of the interposer. |
| US07791199B2 |
Packaged semiconductor chips
A chip-sized wafer level packaged device including a portion of a semiconductor wafer including a device, a packaging layer formed over the portion of the semiconductor wafer, the packaging layer including a material having thermal expansion characteristics similar to those of the semiconductor wafer and a ball grid array formed over a surface of the packaging layer and being electrically connected to the device. |
| US07791195B2 |
Ball grid array (BGA) package and method thereof
A board structure, a ball grid array (BGA) package and method thereof and a solder ball and method thereof. The example solder ball may include a solder portion and a grooved connection portion, formed through a partitioning process, configured to fit a corresponding protruding portion on a board. The example BGA package may include a plurality of the example solder balls. The example board structure may include the example BGA package connected to the board via the grooved connection portions and the protruding portions. |
| US07791194B2 |
Composite interconnect
A composite interconnect system includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a plurality of solder balls and standoff balls disposed on a first device to provide a connection to a second device. A die-attached substrate includes a substrate and one or more die disposed on the substrate by a die-attach composite interconnect. The die-attach composite interconnect includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, solder bumps, and standoff balls disposed on the die to provide one or more connections to the substrate. A PCB-attached substrate package includes a substrate package and one or more die disposed on the substrate package. The substrate package is disposed on a PCB by a PCB-attach composite interconnect. The PCB-attach composite interconnect includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes, solder balls, and standoff balls disposed on the substrate package to provide one or more connections to the PCB. |
| US07791193B2 |
Pad over active circuit system and method with meshed support structure
An integrated circuit and method of fabricating the same are provided. Included are an active circuit, and a metal layer disposed, at least partially, above the active circuit. Further provided is a bond pad disposed, at least partially, above the metal layer. To prevent damage incurred during a bonding process, the aforementioned metal layer is meshed. |
| US07791192B1 |
Circuit for and method of implementing a capacitor in an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit package has a substrate; a discrete capacitor coupled to a first surface of the substrate; an integrated circuit die coupled to the first surface of the substrate over the discrete capacitor; and a lid coupled to the substrate, the lid encapsulating the integrated circuit die and the discrete capacitor. |
| US07791191B2 |
Semiconductor device having multiple die redistribution layer
A semiconductor device and methods of forming same are disclosed having multiple die redistribution layer. After fabrication of semiconductor die on a wafer and prior to singulation from the wafer, adjacent semiconductor die are paired together and a redistribution layer may be formed across the die pair. The redistribution layer may be used to redistribute at least a portion of the bond pads from the first die in the pair to a second die in the pair. One die in each pair will be a working die and the other die in each pair will be a dummy die. The function of the integrated circuit beneath the redistribution layer on the dummy die is at least partially sacrificed. |
| US07791190B2 |
Substrate with crystal silicon array
An array of crystalline silicon dies on a substrate and a method for yielding the array are provided. The method comprises: delineating an array of die areas on a crystalline semiconductor wafer; implanting the die areas with hydrogen ions; overlying the die areas with a layer of polymer to form, for each die, an aggregate including a die area first wafer layer; polymerically bonding an optically clear carrier to the die areas; thermally annealing the wafer to induce breakage in the wafer; forming, for each die, an aggregate wafer second layer with a thickness less than the die thickness; and, for each die, conformably attaching the aggregate wafer second layer to a substrate. The substrate can have an area of up to approximately two square meters and the wafer second layer can have a thickness of greater than and equal to approximately 20 nanometers. |
| US07791189B2 |
Multipiece apparatus for thermal and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding enhancement in die-up array packages and method of making the same
An integrated circuit (IC) device package is presented. A frame body has opposing first and second surfaces and a central opening that is open at the first and second surfaces. The second frame body surface is mounted to a first stiffener surface. An IC die is mounted to the first stiffener surface within the central opening through the frame body. A planar lid has opposing first and second surfaces. The second lid surface is coupled to the first frame body surface. A first substrate surface is coupled to a second stiffener surface. An array of electrically conductive terminals is coupled to a second substrate surface. The stiffener, frame body, and lid form an enclosure structure substantially enclosing the IC die. The die enclosure spreads heat from the IC die, and shields EMI emanating from and radiating toward the IC die. At least one tab protrudes from the second surface of the frame body. At least one receptacle formed in the first surface of the stiffener corresponding to the at least one tab. The at least one tab is coupled with the at least one corresponding receptacle, whereby structural coupling of said frame body to said stiffener is substantially improved. |
| US07791184B2 |
Image sensor packages and frame structure thereof
A semiconductor package such as an image sensor package. A frame structure includes an array of frames, each having an aperture therethrough, into which an image sensor die in combination with a cover glass, filter, lens or other components may be installed in precise mutual alignment. Singulated image sensor dice and other components may be picked and placed into each frame of the frame structure. Alternatively, the frame structure may be configured to be aligned with and joined to a wafer bearing a plurality of image sensor dice, wherein optional, downwardly protruding skirts along peripheries of the frames may be received into kerfs cut along streets between die locations on the wafer, followed by installation of other package components. In either instance, the frame structure in combination with singulated image sensor dice or a joined wafer is singulated into individual image sensor packages. Various external connection approaches may be used. |
| US07791181B2 |
Device structure with preformed ring and method therefor
A device structure with preformed ring includes a sensor chip and a ring disposed and surrounded on periphery of sensitive area of an active surface thereof. The device structure with preformed ring may batchly bind and electrically connect to a carrier by a way of two-dimension array, and then a packaging process is performed. During the packaging process, the top portion of the ring can be used to against the inner side of a packaging mold, so as to stop the packaging material covering the device at outside of the ring and stick with the ring. Therefore, an opening is formed on the sensitive area surface of the device. Depending on the ring, the extra process for eliminating the packaging material on the sensitive area surface can be avoided in the conventional process. |
| US07791180B2 |
Physical quantity sensor and lead frame used for same
A lead frame made from a metallic thin plate, comprising: at least two stage portions on which a physical quantity sensor chip is mounted, and which have an area smaller than a mounting surface of the physical quantity sensor chip; a rectangular frame portion which encloses the stage portions; a plurality of leads including connecting leads which extend in a direction of the stage portion from the frame portion and are positioned on the periphery of the stage portion, and which connect the frame portion and each of the stage portions; and an easily deformed portion formed on the connecting leads which inclines the stage portion by becoming deformed; and the physical quantity sensor chip is mounted by superimposing the mounting surface on the stage portion and a portion of the plurality of leads in the direction of thickness of the frame portion. |
| US07791177B2 |
Electronic device
Embodiments provide an electronic device including a carrier defining a first major surface, a chip attached to the first major surface, an array of leads connected to the first major surface, and a thickness of encapsulation material disposed on the first major surface of the carrier. Each lead extends through the thickness of the encapsulation material. |
| US07791176B2 |
Power semiconductor component with trench-type second contact region
A power semiconductor component and method for producing it. The component has a semiconductor base body with a first doping and a pn junction formed by a contact region having a second doping with a doping profile in the base body. The second contact region is arranged at a second surface of the base body and extends into the base body. The base body has a trench-type cutout with an edge area and a base area, wherein the base area is formed as a second partial area of the second surface, and wherein the second contact region extends from the base area via the edge area as far as a first partial area. Furthermore, the pn junction has a curvature adjacent to the edge area. |
| US07791175B2 |
Method for stacking serially-connected integrated circuits and multi-chip device made from same
A multi-chip device and method of stacking a plurality substantially identical chips to produce the device are provided. The multi-chip device, or circuit, includes at least one through-chip via providing a parallel connection between signal pads from at least two chips, and at least one through-chip via providing a serial or daisy chain connection between signal pads from at least two chips. Common connection signal pads are arranged symmetrically about a center line of the chip with respect to duplicate common signal pads. Input signal pads are symmetrically disposed about the center line of the chip with respect to corresponding output signal pads. The chips in the stack are alternating flipped versions of the substantially identical chip to provide for this arrangement. At least one serial connection is provided between signal pads of stacked and flipped chips when more than two chips are stacked. |
| US07791169B2 |
Capacitor below the buried oxide of SOI CMOS technologies for protection against soft errors
Disclosed is a semiconductor structure that incorporates a capacitor for reducing the soft error rate of a device within the structure. The multi-layer semiconductor structure includes an insulator-filled deep trench isolation structure that is formed through an active silicon layer, a first insulator layer, and a first bulk layer and extends to a second insulator layer. The resulting isolated portion of the first bulk layer defines the first capacitor plate. A portion of the second insulator layer that is adjacent the first capacitor plate functions as the capacitor dielectric. Either the silicon substrate or a portion of a second bulk layer that is isolated by a third insulator layer and another deep trench isolation structure can function as the second capacitor plate. A first capacitor contact couples, either directly or via a wire array, the first capacitor plate to a circuit node of the device in order to increase the critical charge, Qcrit, of the circuit node. |
| US07791167B1 |
Inductively coupled integrated circuit and methods for use therewith
A circuit includes a first integrated circuit or die having a first circuit and a first inductive interface. A second integrated circuit or die has a second circuit and a second inductive interface. The first inductive interface and the second inductive interface are aligned to magnetically communicate signals between the first circuit and the second circuit. |
| US07791165B2 |
Planar inductor and method of manufacturing it
A planar inductor comprises a metal element (11-14) on a substrate (300, 310), said metal element being provided with at least one groove (20) extending along and into said element from at least one surface (2) of said element. Said groove or grooves (20) extend into the element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate (300, 310), giving rise to a higher Q value and a lower serial resistance are also achieved. The inductor may comprise grooved (11, 13, 14) and non-grooved (12) layers.The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the inductor. |
| US07791161B2 |
Semiconductor devices employing poly-filled trenches
Structure and method are provided for semiconductor devices. The devices include trenches filled with highly doped polycrystalline semiconductor, extending from the surface into the body of the device for, among other things: (i) reducing substrate current injection, (ii) reducing ON-resistance and/or (iii) reducing thermal impedance to the substrate. For isolated LDMOS devices, the resistance between the lateral isolation wall (tied to the source) and the buried layer is reduced, thereby reducing substrate injection current. When placed in the drain of a lateral device or in the collector of a vertical device, the poly-filled trench effectively enlarges the drain or collector region, thereby lowering the ON-resistance. For devices formed on an oxide isolation layer, the poly-filled trench desirably penetrates this isolation layer thereby improving thermal conduction from the active regions to the substrate. The poly filled trenches are conveniently formed by etch and refill. Significant area savings are also achieved. |
| US07791159B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for fabricating the same
A solid-state imaging device comprises an imaging region, a peripheral circuit region formed in an outer peripheral portion of the imaging region, a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate having the imaging region and the peripheral circuit region on a main surface thereof, a second conductivity type first semiconductor layer formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity type second semiconductor layer formed in first semiconductor layer, a through electrode formed in a through hole penetrating through the semiconductor substrate in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate, and a pad portion formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the through electrode. The through hole penetrates through a first conductivity type region of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07791158B2 |
CMOS image sensor including an interlayer insulating layer and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a CMOS image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The CMOS image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having photodiodes and transistors. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the resultant structure having the photodiodes and transistors, and light blocking patterns are formed on the interlayer insulating layer to surround the peripheries of the photodiodes. |
| US07791157B2 |
Energy conversion film and quantum dot film comprising quantum dot compound, energy conversion layer including the quantum dot film, and solar cell including the energy conversion layer
An energy conversion film and a quantum dot film which contain a quantum dot compound, an energy conversion layer including the quantum dot film, and a solar cell including the energy conversion layer. The films act as cut-off filters blocking light of a particular energy level using the light absorption and emission effects of quantum dots and can convert high energy light to low energy light. The efficiency of a solar cell may be improved by providing the cell with a film that converts light above the spectrum-responsive region to light in the cell's spectrum-responsive region. The absorption wavelength region of the films can be broadened by providing the quantum dot compound in a variety of average particle sizes, for example, by providing a mixture of a first quantum dot compound having a first average particle size and a first quantum dot compound having a second average particle size. |
| US07791156B2 |
Semiconductor device, optical measuring and detecting device, and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which is capable of preventing operation of the signal processing part from being unstable due to light not blocked by the light blocking layer by being obliquely incident on the signal processing part and preventing the operation of the signal processing part from being unstable due to stray charges occurring by light with which the light blocking layer is irradiated. In a light-incident part 12 having a light receiving element 36 and a signal processing circuit 38 that processes an output signal from the light receiving element 36, which are formed on a SOI substrate, a plurality of contact plugs 52 electrically connected to the light blocking layer 42 are laminated in the thickness direction of the SOI substrate along an edge of the light blocking layer that blocks the sunlight, with the uppermost of wiring layers on the signal processing circuit 38 as the light blocking layer 42. The plurality of contact plugs 52 have a ground or a potential sufficient to draw out stray charges occurring in the light blocking layer. |
| US07791155B2 |
Detector shield
An improved photodiode detector shielding apparatus and method are provided which shield a photodiode detector from electromagnetic interference and ambient light, without affecting the wavelengths of light that reach the photodiode. The improved photodiode detector shield has two layers. A bottom layer is substantially made from an electrically conducting material and is fixed over a photodiode in order to shield it from EMI and ambient light. A top layer is substantially made from a lustrous, shiny, reflective material that reflects an equal amount of light across a band of wavelengths. Both layers have areas with optically transmissive openings, which are aligned to allow for the unobstructed passage of light of a band of wavelengths to the photodiode. Light within a band of wavelengths is evenly reflected off the top of the first surface and also reaches the photodiode. In this regard, the detector shield blocks EMI and ambient light without affecting the wavelengths of light desired to reach the photodiode. |
| US07791146B2 |
Semiconductor device including field effect transistor and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a gate insulator and a gate electrode stacked on a substrate, a source/drain pattern which fills a recess region formed at opposite sides adjacent to the gate electrode, the source/drain pattern being made of silicon-germanium doped with dopants and a metal germanosilicide layer disposed on the source/drain pattern. The metal germanosilicide layer is electrically connected to the source/drain pattern. Moreover, a proportion of germanium amount to the sum of the germanium amount and silicon amount in the metal germanosilicide layer is lower than that of germanium amount to the sum of the germanium amount and silicon amount in the source/drain pattern. |
| US07791144B2 |
High performance stress-enhance MOSFET and method of manufacture
The invention relates to a semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing and more particularly to a CMOS device with a stress inducing material embedded in both gates and also in the source/drain of the PFET and varying thickness of the PFET and NFET channel. In one embodiment, the structure enhances the device performance by varying the thickness of the top Silicon layer respective to the NFET or the PFET. |
| US07791134B2 |
Power semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device which includes a set of trench gates each formed, from the top-side surface of a p base layer, perpendicularly with respect to a first main surface of an p-layer, to reach into a location of the n-layer. At the lower ends of each of the trench gates, bottom portions are provided to unilaterally extend a predetermined length in one direction parallel to the first main surface of the n-layer. In addition, the extending end of one of the bottom portions opposes that of the other bottom portion, on the extending side of the bottom portions, and the distance between each pair of adjacent bottom portions is set narrower than any other distance between the trench-gate parts that are perpendicularly formed with respect to the first main surface of the n-layer. |
| US07791115B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display, which includes a large quantity of a hydroscopic layer having a good hydroscopic ability by changing a mounting structure of the hydroscopic layer. An organic light emitting display includes a first substrate. An organic emission portion is formed at one surface of the first substrate. A second substrate is formed at a surface of the first substrate on which the organic emission portion is formed for sealing the organic emission portion from external air. A first hydroscopic layer is formed between the first and second substrates. A third substrate is formed at another surface of the first substrate for sealing the first substrate. A second hydroscopic layer is formed between the first and third substrates. |
| US07791113B2 |
CMOS image sensor and pixel of the same
A pixel of an image sensor includes a gate insulation layer formed over a substrate doped with first-type impurities, a transfer gate formed over the gate insulation layer, a photodiode formed in the substrate at one side of the transfer gate, and a floating diffusion node formed in the substrate at the other side of the transfer gate, wherein the transfer gate has a negative bias during a charge integration cycle. |
| US07791109B2 |
Metal silicide alloy local interconnect
A local interconnect is formed with a gate conductor line that has an exposed sidewall on an active area of a semiconductor substrate. The exposes sidewall comprises a silicon containing material that may form a silicide alloy upon silicidation. During a silicidation process, a gate conductor sidewall silicide alloy forms on the exposed sidewall of the gate conductor line and an active area silicide is formed on the active area. The two silicides are joined to provide an electrical connection between the active area and the gate conductor line. Multiple sidewalls may be exposed on the gate conductor line to make multiple connections to different active area silicides. |
| US07791100B2 |
Vertical gallium nitride based light emitting diode with multiple electrode branches
A vertical GaN-based LED includes an n-type bonding pad; an n-electrode formed under the n-type bonding pad; a light-emitting structure formed by sequentially laminating an n-type GaN layer, an active layer, and a p-type GaN layer under the n-electrode; a p-electrode formed under the light-emitting structure; and a support layer formed under the p-electrode. The light-emitting structure has or or more trenches which are spaced at a predetermined distance with the n-electrode from the outermost side of the light-emitting structure and in which the active layer of the light-emitting structure is removed. |
| US07791098B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device comprising an n-side nitride semiconductor layer and a p-side nitride semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, with a light transmitting electrode 10 formed on the p-side nitride semiconductor layer, and the p-side pad electrode 14 formed for the connection with an outside circuit, and the n-side pad electrode 12 formed on the n-side nitride semiconductor layer for the connection with the outside circuit, so as to extract light on the p-side nitride semiconductor layer side, wherein taper angles of end faces of the light transmitting electrode 10 and/or the p-side nitride semiconductor layer are made different depending on the position. |
| US07791096B2 |
Mount for a semiconductor light emitting device
A mount for a semiconductor device includes a carrier, at least two metal leads disposed on a bottom surface of the carrier, and a cavity extending through a thickness of the carrier to expose a portion of the top surfaces of the metal leads. A semiconductor light emitting device is positioned in the cavity and is electrically and physically connected to the metal leads. The carrier may be, for example, silicon, and the leads may be multilayer structures, for example a thin gold layer connected to a thick copper layer. |
| US07791095B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting diode
Provided is a semiconductor light emitting diode, in which a plurality of upper electrodes is formed on a surface of an upper doping layer or an emission layer and at least one lower electrode is formed on a surface of a lower doping layer or a substrate in a silicon-based light emitting diode or a nitride-based light emitting diode to enhance a spreading characteristic of current applied to the electrodes, thereby maximizing an emitting area of the emission layer and inducing an emission having a uniform intensity on an entire surface of the emission layer to further enhance the luminous efficiency of the light emitting diode. |
| US07791092B2 |
Multiple component solid state white light
A white light emitting lamp is disclosed comprising a solid state ultra violet (UV) emitter that emits light in the UV wavelength spectrum. A conversion material is arranged to absorb at least some of the light emitting from the UV emitter and re-emit light at one or more different wavelengths of light. One or more complimentary solid state emitters are included that emit at different wavelengths of light than the UV emitter and the conversion material. The lamp emits a white light combination of light emitted from the complimentary emitters and from the conversion material, with the white light having high efficacy and good color rendering. Other embodiments of white light emitting lamp according to the present invention comprises a solid state laser instead of a UV emitter. A high flux white emitting lamp embodiment according to the invention comprises a large area light emitting diode (LED) that emits light at a first wavelength spectrum and includes a conversion material. A plurality of complimentary solid state emitters surround the large area LED, with each emitter emitting light in a spectrum different from the large area LED and conversion material such that the lamp emits a balanced white light. Scattering particles can be included in each of the embodiments to scatter the light from the emitters, conversion material and complimentary emitters to provide a more uniform emission. |
| US07791089B2 |
LED packaging methods and LED-based lighting products
A method of packaging a light-emitting diode (LED) chip includes coupling the LED chip to a printed circuit board (PCB) and forming a conductor on a cover plate. Conductive epoxy is applied to at least one of the LED chip and the conductor. The cover plate is coupled to the PCB such that the conductive epoxy forms a circuit connection between the LED chip and the conductor. An LED-based lighting product includes a PCB with one or more LED chips mounted directly thereon. A cover plate has conductors that couple at least to the one or more LED chips and to the PCB, such that the conductors form electrical connections between the one or more LED chips and the PCB. |
| US07791088B2 |
Electro-optical device with connecting conductive film provided opposite to an end of an interlayer conductive film with insulating sidewall, the conductive film electrically connecting a pixel electrode to a lower electrode and method for making the same
An electrooptic device includes: a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines that intersect on a substrate; a pixel electrode provided for each of pixels corresponding to the intersection of the data lines and the scanning lines; a first conductive layer provided for each pixel and a second conductive layer provided above the first conductive layer and electrically insulated from the first conductive layer; a third conductive layer provided above the second conductive layer and electrically insulated from the second conductive layer; an insulating side wall provided at an end of the second conductive layer and extending along the thickness of the second conductive layer; and a connecting conductive film disposed opposite to the end with the side wall in between and extending along the thickness to electrically connect the first conductive layer with the third conductive layer. |
| US07791082B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology of controlling a threshold voltage of a thin film transistor in which an amorphous oxide film is applied to a channel layer. There is provided a semiconductor apparatus including a plurality of kinds of transistors, each of the plurality of kinds of transistors including a channel layer made of an amorphous oxide containing a plurality of kinds of metal elements; and threshold voltages of the plurality of kinds of transistors are different from one another by changing an element ratio of the amorphous oxide. |
| US07791076B2 |
Thin film transistor having a three-portion gate electrode and liquid crystal display using the same
A thin film transistor and a liquid crystal display, in which a gate electrode is formed to include at least one portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a gain growing direction in order to make electrical charge mobility of TFTs uniform without increasing the size of the driving circuit. A thin film transistor according to the present invention includes a semiconductor pattern a thin film of poly-crystalline silicon containing grown grains on the insulating substrate. The semiconductor pattern includes a channel region and source and drain regions opposite with respect to the channel region. A gate insulating layer covers the semiconductor pattern. On the gate insulating layer, a gate electrode including at least one portion extending in a direction crossing the growing direction of the grains and overlapping the channel region is formed. In a liquid crystal display, a plurality of thin film transistors forming a data driver circuit include thin films of polycrystalline silicon formed by sequential lateral solidification, at least one portion of a gate electrode of each thin film transistor extends in a direction crossing the grain growing direction, and at least one of the plurality of thin film transistors has a gate electrode having a pattern different from other thin film transistors. |
| US07791074B2 |
Field effect transistor using amorphous oxide film as channel layer, manufacturing method of field effect transistor using amorphous oxide film as channel layer, and manufacturing method of amorphous oxide film
An amorphous oxide containing hydrogen (or deuterium) is applied to a channel layer of a transistor. Accordingly, a thin film transistor having superior TFT properties can be realized, the superior TFT properties including a small hysteresis, normally OFF operation, a high ON/OFF ratio, a high saturated current, and the like. Furthermore, as a method for manufacturing a channel layer made of an amorphous oxide, film formation is performed in an atmosphere containing a hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas, so that the carrier concentration of the amorphous oxide can be controlled. |
| US07791073B2 |
Thin film transistor
In first and second gate electrodes constituting a gate electrode, the gate length of the second gate electrode is set shorter than the gate length of the first gate electrode and short enough to produce the short channel effect. The threshold voltage of a second transistor corresponding to the second gate electrode can thereby be made lower than the threshold voltage of a first transistor corresponding to the first gate electrode. When the same voltage is applied to the first and second gate electrodes, an electric field concentration at the channel edge on the drain side is reduced. This in result reduces the channel length modulation effect. |
| US07791071B2 |
Profiling solid state samples
Methods and apparatus may operate to position a sample, including an imager lens surface, within a processing chamber. Further activities may include creating a layer of reactive material in proximity with the imager lens surface, and exciting a portion of the layer of reactive material in proximity with the imager lens surface to form chemical radicals. Additional activities may include removing a portion of the material in proximity to the excited portion of the imager lens surface to a predetermined level, and continuing the creating, exciting and removing actions until at least one of a plurality of stop criteria occurs. |
| US07791053B2 |
Depressed anode with plasmon-enabled devices such as ultra-small resonant structures
Plasmon-enable devices such as ultra-small resonant devices produce electromagnetic radiation at frequencies in excess of microwave frequencies when induced to resonate by a passing electron beam. The resonant devices are surrounded by one or more depressed anodes to recover energy from the passing electron beam as/after the beam couples its energy into the ultra-small resonant devices. |
| US07791050B2 |
Method and apparatus for specimen fabrication
A specimen fabrication apparatus, including: an ion beam irradiating optical system to irradiate a sample placed in a chamber, with an ion beam; a specimen holder to mount a specimen separated by the irradiation with the ion beam; a holder cassette to hold the specimen holder; a sample stage to hold the sample and the holder cassette; and a probe to move the specimen to the specimen holder, wherein the holder cassette is transferred to outside of the chamber in a condition of holding the specimen holder with the specimen mounted. |
| US07791048B2 |
Ion implanting apparatus and method for implanting ions
In an ion implanting apparatus and a method for implanting ions are provided. The ion implanting apparatus includes an ion source part, a substrate holding part, a beam current adjusting part, a doping quantity measuring part, and an ion beam control part. The ion source part generates an ion beam. The ion beam is irradiated onto the substrate and the ions are implanted into the substrate. The beam current adjusting part is disposed between the ion source part and the substrate holding part, to adjust a beam current. The doping quantity measuring part is disposed on substantially the same surface as the substrate, to measure ion doping quantity. The ion beam control part is connected to the doping quantity measuring part, to control the ion source part and the beam current adjusting part. |
| US07791047B2 |
Method and apparatus for extracting ions from an ion source for use in ion implantation
Thermal control is provided for an extraction electrode of an ion-beam producing system that prevents formation of deposits and unstable operation and enables use with ions produced from condensable vapors and with ion sources capable of cold and hot operation. Electrical heating of the extraction electrode is employed for extracting decaborane or octadecaborane ions. Active cooling during use with a hot ion source prevents electrode destruction, permitting the extraction electrode to be of heat-conductive and fluorine-resistant aluminum composition. The service lifetime of the system is enhanced by provisions for in-situ etch cleaning of the ion source and extraction electrode, using reactive halogen gases, and by having features that extend the service duration between cleanings, including accurate vapor flow control and accurate focusing of the ion beam optics. A remote plasma source delivers F or Cl ions to the de-energized ion source for the purpose of cleaning deposits in the ion source and the extraction electrode. These techniques enable long equipment uptime when running condensable feed gases such as sublimated vapors, and are particularly applicable for use with so-called cold ion sources and universal ion sources. Methods and apparatus are described which enable long equipment uptime when decaborane and octadecaborane are used as feed materials, as well as when vaporized elemental arsenic and phosphorus are used, and which serve to enhance beam stability during ion implantation. |
| US07791046B2 |
High efficiency fiber-optic scintillator radiation detector
A fiber-optic scintillation radiation detector includes: a cladding; a core extending within the cladding; and a scintillator contiguous with the core within the cladding responsive to particle and/or photon radiation by providing scintillation photons, which are then primarily propagated in the core. |
| US07791041B2 |
Ion source, ion implantation apparatus, and ion implantation method
This ion source generates a ribbon-like ion beam whose dimension in the Y direction is larger than the dimension in the X direction. This ion source includes a plasma generating vessel having an ion extraction port extending in the Y direction, a plurality of cathodes arranged in a plurality of stages along the Y direction on one side in the X direction in the plasma generating vessel, a reflecting electrode arranged on the other side in the X direction in the plasma generating vessel opposite to the cathodes, and electromagnets for generating magnetic fields along the X direction in regions including the plurality of cathodes in the plasma generating vessel. |
| US07791040B2 |
Ion implanting apparatus for forming ion beam shape
Aimed at providing an ion implantation apparatus elongated in period over which failure of a target work, due to deposition and release of ion species typically to and from the inner surface of a through-hole shaping a beam shape of ion beam, may be avoidable, reduced in frequency of exchange of an aperture component, and consequently improved in productivity, an aperture component shaping a beam shape has a taper opposed to the ion beam, in at least a part of inner surface of at least the through-hole, and has a thick thermal-sprayed film formed so as to cover the inner surface and therearound of the through-hole. |
| US07791039B2 |
Radiation image capturing apparatus and method of detecting malfunction of radiation image capturing apparatus
A mammographic system as a radiation image capturing apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a solid-state detector for detecting radiation emitted from the radiation source and generating a radiation image based on such radiation, AEC sensors for detecting a radiation dose emitted from the radiation source, a radiation source controller for controlling the dose emitted from the radiation source based on output signals from the AEC sensors, a reference output storage unit for storing reference output ranges defining respective ranges of reference output signals for the solid-state detector and the AEC sensors, and a malfunction detector for comparing output signals generated by the solid-state detector and the AEC sensors with the respective reference output ranges to detect a malfunction of the solid-state detector, the AEC sensors, or the radiation source. |
| US07791021B2 |
Microstructured pattern inspection method
The edges of the reticle are detected with respect to the microstructured patterns exposed by the stepper, and the shapes of the microstructured patterns at the surface and at the bottom of the photoresist are detected. The microstructured patterns are evaluated by calculating, and displaying on the screen, the dislocation vector that represents the relationship in position between the detected patterns on the surface and at the bottom of the photoresist. Furthermore, dislocation vectors between the microstructured patterns at multiple positions in a single-chip or single-shot area or on one wafer are likewise calculated, then the sizes and distribution status of the dislocation vectors at each such position are categorized as characteristic quantities, and the corresponding tendencies are analyzed. Thus, stepper or wafer abnormality is detected. |
| US07791020B2 |
Multistage gas cascade amplifier
A novel detector for a charged particle beam system which includes multiple gas amplification stages. The stages are typically defined by conductors to which voltage are applied relative to the sample or to a previous stage. By creating cascades of secondary electrons in multiple stages, the gain can be increased without causing dielectric breakdown of the gas. |
| US07791018B2 |
Electronic read-out circuits for pixilated/resistive charge detectors
Methods and systems for measuring charges deposited on resistive and/or pixilated electrodes are described. The system includes a Time-of-Flight (TOF) detector with precise timing information provided by a discriminator implemented as a combination of a leading edge discriminator and a constant fraction discriminator. The discriminator initiates acquisition of the peak amplitude for accurate TOF measurements substantially independent of the signal amplitude at the input of the discriminator. The disclosed charge detection electronics has applications for space-based experiments. |
| US07791015B2 |
Motion-detecting module for combining a light-emitting function and a light-sensing function together
A motion-detecting module for combining a light-emitting function and a light-sensing function together includes a chip unit, a cover unit, and a light-guiding unit. The chip unit has a PCB, a light-emitting chip, and an image-sensing chip, and both the light-emitting chip and the image-sensing chip are electrically disposed on the PCB. The cover unit covers the light-emitting chip and the image-sensing chip. The cover unit has a receiving space for communicating the light-emitting chip and the image-sensing chip, a first opening for exposing the light-emitting chip, and a second opening for exposing the image-sensing chip. The light-guiding unit is disposed under the cover unit, and the light-guiding unit at least has a first refraction surface, a second refraction surface, a third refraction surface, a fourth refraction surface, and a reflection surface. |
| US07791014B2 |
Optical device and a method of manufacturing an optical device having a photoelectric conversion element and an optical adjustment element
The present invention provides an optical device that is miniature, is highly sensitive and has a simplified package, and a manufacturing method thereof with high production efficiency and high reliability. The present invention is an optical device comprising: a photoelectric conversion element (50) having at least one photoelectric conversion portion (1) which is formed on a substrate (10); a sealing material (14); and a connection terminal (3). The optical device comprises an optical window which is an interface between the photoelectric conversion element (50) and an outside of the optical device; and an aperture (6) formed in the sealing material 14, and whose bottom face is the optical window. An entire face of the optical window is exposed to the outside. An optical adjustment element (13) may be formed on the interface. In this case, the interface between the optical adjustment element (13) and the outside is the optical window. |
| US07791012B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising photoelectric conversion element and high-potential and low-potential electrodes
To suppress a decrease in photosensitivity of a photoelectric conversion element provided in a semiconductor device by reducing the parasitic resistance of an amplifier circuit. In addition, the amplifier circuit which amplifies the output current of the photoelectric conversion element is operated stably. A semiconductor device includes a photoelectric conversion element, a current mirror circuit having at least two thin film transistors, a high-potential power supply electrically connected to each of the thin film transistors, and a low-potential power supply electrically connected to each of the thin film transistors. When a reference thin film transistor is an n-type, the reference thin film transistor is placed closer to the low-potential power supply than an output thin film transistor is. When a reference thin film transistor is a p-type, the reference thin film transistor is placed closer to the high-potential power supply than an output thin film transistor is. |
| US07791006B2 |
Exo atmospheric intercepting system and method
According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a kill-vehicle to be used in an exo-atmospheric anti-missile interceptor aimed at hitting a target, the kill-vehicle having a main body and comprising: an electronic box; a sensor unit coupled to the electronic box and including at least one sensor for tracking the target at a certain field of view; an inertial measurement unit coupled to the sensor unit; and a divert system controlled by the electronic box for providing the kill-vehicle with thrust at a desired direction; said divert system and electronic box constituting said main body, wherein the kill-vehicle further comprises at least one gimbals unit coupled to the main body and to the sensor unit for controllably changing an angle between the sensor unit and the main body, and wherein said electronic box is configured to synchronically operate said divert system and gimbals unit such that the target remains in the field of view of said at least one sensor and the thrust is provided in a direction required for hitting the target. |
| US07791005B2 |
Coil constructions configured for utilization in physical vapor deposition chambers, and methods of forming coil constructions
The invention includes coil constructions configured for utilization in PVD chambers, and also includes methods of forming coil constructions suitable for utilization in PVD chambers. The coil constructions can include one or more cup projections extending from an outer periphery of a coil body. The cup projections are one-piece with the coil body, and have a recess extending therein with a projecting lip extending entirely around the recess. The cup projections further comprise a fastener receiver within the recess configured to receive a fastener for connecting the coil with the chamber. The methods of forming the coil construction can include identifying separate components of an assembly associated with a coil replacement kit, and forming a one-piece construction which can be substituted for at least two of the components. |
| US07791002B2 |
Battery powered cigarette lighter and process for using the same
A battery powered cigarette lighter having a switch which is activated by a change in air pressure or air flow is described. The change in air pressure or air flow, which is caused by the consumer forcing air through the air permeable cigarette, causes the switch to close thereby allowing the lighter's direct current power supply to increase the temperature of the lighter's heating element above the cigarette's ignition point. |
| US07791000B2 |
Method for welding a rotationally symmetrical part of a hub part
A method of connecting a rotationally symmetrical part (11) having precision-machined functional surfaces (16) to a hub part (21) by welding is to deliver a distortion-free end product. To this end, the rotationally symmetrical part (11) and the hub part (12), in their longitudinal sections, are dimensioned in such a way that, when the rotationally symmetrical part (11) is shrunk onto or pressed onto the hub part (12), stresses are produced in the former and said stresses produce deformations which are opposed to the stresses to be expected during the subsequent welding and to deformations caused by said stresses. This is achieved by one of the contact surfaces (14; 15) being conical or by shaping the rotationally symmetrical part (11). |
| US07790998B2 |
Vacuum insulated switchgear
A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a vacuum container accommodating at least a pair of movable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, wherein the movable contacts are capable of taking three positions, the switchgear being a double-break three-position type switch having breaking and disconnecting functions. |
| US07790997B2 |
Switch unit having a circuit breaker and a disconnector with common drive means
A switch unit comprising a circuit breaker and a disconnector disposed in one plane and fixed to a metal casing.Common drive means comprise: a single insulating drive bar adapted to move in a straight line in the same plane as the plane of straight line movement of the movable contacts of the circuit breaker and disconnector; and at least one mechanical assembly mounted in the metal casing, at least part of the mechanical assembly being driven by the single insulating drive rod while permitting non-simultaneous straight-line movement of the two movable contacts. |
| US07790992B1 |
Electronic scale with two different types of power on switches
A weight scale consistent with certain implementations has a case having a weight supporting surface that supports an object being weighed. An array of load cells is provided upon which the weight supporting surface rests. A weight measuring circuit receives output signals from the array of load cells and calculates a weight responsive thereto. A first switch trips when a weight is applied to the weight supporting surface while the weight scale is situated on a soft surface. A second switch trips when a weight is applied to the weight supporting surface while the weight scale is situated on a hard surface. A power source is provided and a turn-on circuit responsive to the first and second switch applies power from the power source to the weight measuring circuit upon detection that either the first or second switch has tripped as a result of a weight being applied to the weight supporting surface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since certain embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US07790987B2 |
Methods and apparatus for interconnecting a ball grid array to a printed circuit board
Methods and apparatus provide for connecting an integrated circuit having a ball grid array to a printed circuit board having a matrix of contact pads for electrical connection to the ball grid array. |
| US07790983B2 |
User-manipulated door mechanism for selectively covering an electrical socket
A user-manipulated door mechanism is mounted on the faceplate of an electronic module for allowing user access to an electrical socket disposed inboard of a faceplate aperture. An inwardly extending rectangular shoulder formed along one edge of the door is rotatably mounted about an axis inboard of the faceplate, and is resiliently engaged by the free end of a cantilevered spring blade inboard of the faceplate. The spring blade engages a first face of the shoulder that is substantially parallel to the door when the door is in a closed position covering the socket, and a second face of the shoulder that is substantially perpendicular to the door when the door is in an open position uncovering the socket. |
| US07790980B2 |
Dye for dye sensitized photovoltaic cell and dye sensitized photovoltaic cell prepared using the same
A dye for a dye sensitized photovoltaic cell is disclosed. A dye sensitized photovoltaic cell including the dye is also disclosed. The dye includes a metal composite treated with a cation selected from imidazolium cations, pyridinium cations, pyrrolidinium cations, and quinolidinium cations. |
| US07790978B1 |
Tandem filters using frequency selective surfaces for enhanced conversion efficiency in a thermophotovoltaic energy conversion system
This invention relates to the field of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) direct energy conversion. In particular, TPV systems use filters to minimize parasitic absorption of below bandgap energy. This invention constitutes a novel combination of front surface filters to increase TPV conversion efficiency by reflecting useless below bandgap energy while transmitting a very high percentage of the useful above bandgap energy. In particular, a frequency selective surface is used in combination with an interference filter. The frequency selective surface provides high transmission of above bandgap energy and high reflection of long wavelength below bandgap energy. The interference filter maintains high transmission of above bandgap energy and provides high reflection of short wavelength below bandgap energy and a sharp transition from high transmission to high reflection. |
| US07790975B2 |
Synchronizing a musical score with a source of time-based information
Disclosed is a method of synchronizing a musical score with a source of time-based information. The method comprises deriving a mapping between rhythmic positions associated with the musical score and a reference time base; and synchronizing the musical score and the source of time-based information using the derived mapping. The synchronization method can be used to synchronize the playback of a score with another source, such as a video clip. |
| US07790974B2 |
Metadata-based song creation and editing
Relating higher-level descriptive musical metadata to lower-level musical elements to enable creation of a song map, song model, backing track, or the like. The musical elements are queried based on input metadata to create a set of musical elements of varying types such as notes, chords, song structures, and the like. The set of musical elements is provided to a user for selection of particular musical elements The selected musical elements represent the song model. |
| US07790970B2 |
Stringed instrument braces with transverse openings
In accordance with the invention, a sound box for an instrument is provided exhibiting a 3-D bracing system. The bracing system comprises a plurality of braces on both the sound board and the bottom board of the sound box. The braces exhibit varying heights and configurations to, among other things, increase the strength without increasing the weight unnecessarily. |
| US07790963B2 |
Soybean cultivar 7132368
A soybean cultivar designated 7132368 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7132368, to the plants of soybean 7132368, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7132368 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7132368 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7132368, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7132368 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7132368 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US07790958B2 |
Genomic plant sequences and uses thereof
The present invention discloses rice genomic promoter sequences. The promoters are particularly suited for use in rice and other cereal crops. Methods of modifying, producing, and using the promoters are also disclosed. The invention further discloses compositions, transformed host cells, transgenic plants, and seeds containing the rice genomic promoter sequences, and methods for preparing and using the same. |
| US07790952B1 |
Inducible promoter which regulates the expression of a peroxidase gene from maize
The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for an inducible promoter for the gene encoding ZmPOX24. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stabling incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence. |
| US07790948B2 |
Method for obtaining a plant with a lasting resistance to a pathogen
Corresponding results were obtained with A method for obtaining a plant, in particular a cultivated lettuce plant (L. sativa), with a lasting resistance to a pathogen, in particular Bremia lactucae, comprising of providing one or more specific DNA markers linked to one or more resistance genes, determining the presence of one or more resistance genes in a plant using these DNA markers, subsequently crossing a first plant comprising one or more resistance genes with a second plant comprising one or more resistance genes, and selecting from the progeny a plant in which one or more resistance genes are present by using the DNA markers. The invention further relates to the plants obtained with this method, seeds and progeny of these plants, as well as progeny thereof. |
| US07790947B2 |
Absorbent article
An absorbent article has an absorbent material and an outer surface including an inhibitor which is partially bound to the absorbent material and substantially inhibits the colonization of bacteria within the absorbent article.An absorbent article has an absorbent material. The absorbent material has an outer surface. The absorbent article includes a pre-toxin limiting agent which is partially bound to the absorbent material and substantially retards the production of bacteria-produced toxins by the bacteria residing within the absorbent article.An absorbent article has an absorbent material. The absorbent material has an outer surface. The absorbent article includes a toxin enclosing agent. The toxin enclosing agent substantially inhibits the migration of toxin outwardly from within the absorbent article towards the outer surface of the absorbent article. |
| US07790945B1 |
Wound dressing with absorption and suction capabilities
A wound dressing having a suction member adaptable for connection to a source of vacuum pressure. The wound dressing preferably has a hydrophobic or biodegradable base layer and one or more absorptive layers for absorbing fluid from the wound. The absorptive layers are preferably quilted with patches containing desiccant, adsorbent, or absorbent material. Alternatively, the wound dressing may allow fluid to pass through the suction member. A semi-permeable cover is provided for allowing the wound to breathe while protecting the wound from undesirable substances such as bacteria, viruses, or fluids. The cover may have a bladder for distributing contact pressure away from the wound. Various sensors may be provided in the wound dressing for sensing various physiological parameters in the wound, such as oxygen saturation, blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood glucose, and serous fluid turbidity. Medicine may also be applied to the wound through the wound dressing. |
| US07790942B2 |
Process for continuous heterogeneously catalyzed partial dehydrogenation of at least one hydrocarbon to be dehydrogenated
A process for continuous heterogeneously catalyzed partial dehydrogenation of at least one hydrocarbon to be dehydrogenated in a reactor which is manufactured from a steel with specific elemental composition on its side in contact with the reaction gas, and also partial oxidations of the dehydrogenated hydrocarbon and the reactor itself. |
| US07790937B2 |
Process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol, in which a glycerol-containing stream, in particular a stream obtained on an industrial scale in the production of biodiesel, is subjected to a hydrogenation. |
| US07790932B1 |
Hydroformylation process
A catalyst, useful for the hydroformylation of allyl alcohol, is described. The catalyst comprises a rhodium complex and a 6-bis(3,5-dialkylphenyl)phosphino-N-pivaloyl-2-aminopyridine or a 3-bis(3,5-dialkylphenyl)phosphino-2H-isoquinolin-1-one. The invention also includes a process for the production of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde comprising reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and the catalyst. The process gives a high ratio of the linear product 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde to the branched co-product 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde. |
| US07790929B2 |
Chiral phenol derivative, liquid crystal medium containing said chiral phenol derivative
The invention relates to chiral phenols, preferably of formula (I), the different parameters having the meaning indicated in the description, liquid crystal media which contain said compounds as chiral doping agents and/or stabilizers, and the use thereof in electro-optical displays. |
| US07790928B1 |
Therapeutic dimethyl sulfoxide (aka DMSO) compositions and methods of use
The use of honey, and other sugar compositions, with pharmaceutical compositions containing DMSO is disclosed. The result is a reduction in the undesirable side effects normally associated with the application of DMSO compositions, enhancement of the desired physiological effects produced by DMSO compositions, and other benefits not present with the use of DMSO alone, and/or in conjunction with other additives. |
| US07790927B2 |
Processes for the preparation of optically active intermediates
This invention relates to processes for the production of optically active 2-(disubstituted aryl)cyclopropylamine compounds and optically active 2-(disubstituted aryl)cyclopropane carboxamide compounds which are useful intermediates for the preparation of pharmaceutical agents, and in particular the compound [1S-(1α,2α,3β(1S*,2R*),5β)]-3-[7-[2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-cyclopropyl]amino]-5-(propylthio)-3H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-3-yl)-5-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-cyclopentane-1,2-diol. |
| US07790924B2 |
Process for preparing alkylene oxide-adducted hydrocarbyl amides
A process is described for preparing alkylene oxide-adducted hydrocarbyl amides having less than 2 wt % of amine by-products by a) reacting a C4-C30 fatty acid or fatty acid lower alkyl ester with a mono- or di-hydroxy hydrocarbyl amine to form a hydrocarbyl amide; b) reacting the hydrocarbyl amide with alkylene oxide; and c) extracting the product of b) with water, acidic water, or water-containing inorganic salts or a combination thereof at a temperature from about 5° C. to 95° C. to yield an alkylene oxide-adducted hydrocarbyl amide having less than 2 wt % of amine by-products. |
| US07790915B2 |
Naphthalene compound with terminal hydrogen, liquid crystal composition including the compound, and LCD device including the liquid crystal composition
A liquid crystal (LC) compound having generally required physical properties, low viscosity, proper optical anisotropy, proper dielectric anisotropy and good compatibility with other LC compounds is described. An LC composition including the compound and an LCD device including the composition are also described. The compound is expressed by formula (1a): wherein the ring A1 and the ring A2 are independently 1,4-phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl or naphthalene-2,6-diyl, in which any hydrogen can be replaced by halogen; Z1, Z2 and Z3 are independently a single bond, —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)4—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —CF2O—, —OCF2—, —COO— or —OCO—; Xa, Xb, Xc, Xd, Xe and Xf are independently hydrogen or fluorine; Y is —OCH2F, —OCHF2, —OCF3, —SCH2F, —SCHF2, —SCF3, —CH2F, —CHF2, —CF3, fluorine or chlorine; La and Lb are independently hydrogen or fluorine; and “l” and “m” are independently equal to 0 or 1. |
| US07790910B2 |
Process for the preparation of 7α-alkylated 19-norsteroids
Processes useful in the preparation of pharmaceutical compounds such as fulvestrant and processes for the preparation of fulvestrant. |
| US07790905B2 |
Pharmaceutical propylene glycol solvate compositions
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising propylene glycol solvates of APIs. |
| US07790904B2 |
Substituted benzimidazole derivatives
The invention is concerned with novel substituted benzimidazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 to R10 and X are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds bind to FXR and can be used as medicaments. |
| US07790903B2 |
Process for production of optically active PPAR-activating compound and intermediate of the same
A process for obtaining a compound (1) and an intermediate thereof in high yield and high optical yield is provided.A process for producing a compound (4), the process including reacting a compound (2) with a compound (3) in the presence of a base; and a process for producing a compound (1), the process including reacting a compound (2) with a compound (3) in the presence of a base to yield a compound (4) and then deesterifying the compound (4). wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having 7 to 8 carbon atoms. |
| US07790901B2 |
Process for the preparation of a 2-pyridylethylcarboxamide derivative
Process for the preparation of a N-[2-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl]carboxamide derivative of general formula (I) or a salt thereof Intermediate of general formula (II) Intermediate of general formula (III). |
| US07790900B2 |
Method for producing an optically active nitro compound
An optically active nitro compound having two hydrogen atoms on its α-carbon atom and having β-asymmetric carbon atom can be produced by making α,β-unsaturated nitroolefin having a hydrogen atom on its α-carbon atom react with at least two organosilicon compounds having at least one silicon-hydrogen bond in the molecule in the presence of an asymmetric copper complex, or react with an organosilicon compound having at least one silicon-hydrogen bond in the molecule in the presence of an asymmetric copper complex and water. |
| US07790894B2 |
Mycobacterial inhibitors
The present invention relates to novel substituted quinoline derivatives according to the general Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof, wherein the variable moieties are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to a method of treating of mycobacterial diseases through administration of the claimed compounds and a process for preparing the claimed compounds. |
| US07790893B2 |
Modified carbocyanine dyes and their conjugates
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes incorporating an indolium ring moiety that is substituted at the 3-position by a reactive group or by a conjugated substance, and their uses, are described. Conjugation through this position results in spectral properties that are uniformly superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar dyes wherein attachment is at a different position. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens. |
| US07790889B2 |
DI-(4-vinylpyridine) metal phthalocyanine compound, composition comprising the same and preparation method thereof
Disclosed herein are a di-(4-vinylpyridine) metal phthalocyanine compound in which 4-vinylpyridines as ligands are included in a phthalocyanine having a metal, a composition comprising the same and a preparation method thereof. The di-(4-vinylpyridine) metal phthalocyanine compound has an excellent UV blocking effect together with low surface resistance and is prepared but by charging a powder phase with nitrogen, not by dissolving raw materials in an organic solvent as in the prior art. |
| US07790886B2 |
Polymorphic forms of ziprasidone and its hydrochloride salt and process for preparation thereof
The present invention is related to crystalline forms of ziprasidone and its hydrochloride salt and an amorphous form of ziprasidone hydrochloride and the process for the preparation thereof. The crystalline forms and amorphous form of the invention are suitable for pharmaceutical purposes in the treatment of psychosis. The processes of the invention are simple, non-hazardous and commercially suitable. |
| US07790885B2 |
Process for preparing phenoxypyridine derivatives
A process for preparing a compound represented by the formula (I): comprising reacting a compound represented by the formula (II) or salt thereof: with a compound represented by the formula (III): in the presence of a condensation reagent, wherein R1 represents 1) optionally substituted azetidin-1-yl, 2) optionally substituted pyrrolidin-1-yl, 3) optionally substituted piperidin-1-yl, etc.; R2, R3, R4 and R5 may be the same or different and each represents hydrogen or fluorine; and R6 represents hydrogen or fluorine. |
| US07790877B2 |
Antisense oligonucleotides with increased RNase sensitivity
Combinatorial libraries comprise first oligonucleotide analogs and second oligonucleotide analogs which are coupled together to form antisense molecules capable of binding target polynucleotides and activating an RNase, and ribozymes capable of cleaving polynucleotides. |
| US07790876B2 |
Sequences diagnostic for foot and mouth disease
Methods and materials for the detection of the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV). The methods may utilize PCR amplification, with or without an internal positive control, and appropriate primer pairs. The reagents to perform these methods can be supplied as a kit and/or in tablet form. |
| US07790874B2 |
Gene expression modulating element
The present invention provides a method of screening for the purpose of obtaining gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements. The invention includes a method of identifying gene expression modulating elements and gene insulator elements through use of the following steps: a) locating intergenic regions of a plant genome that are flanked by a gene on each side that have differing gene expressions b) taking that intergenic region or a portion of that intergenic region and adding it to a cassette comprising an isolated gene c) introducing the cassette into a plant cell d) analyzing expression of the isolated gene. The present invention also includes identified sequences that act as gene expression modulating elements. |
| US07790873B2 |
Expression cassettes for seed-preferential expression in plants
The present invention relates to expression cassettes comprising transcription regulating nucleotide sequences with seed-preferential or seed-specific expression profiles in plants obtainable from Arabidopsis thaliana gene described by the GenBank Arabidopsis thaliana genome loci At4g36700 (encoding a cupin domain-containing protein) and its orthologous gene from Brassica napus. |
| US07790870B1 |
Membrane-anchored GP41 peptides that inhibit subsequent HIV viral entry
The invention relates to the genetically engineered treatment of an HIV infection by the expression of membrane-anchored gp41 peptides. With this treatment vectors are made available for the first time which code for a fusion protein that contains a peptide derived from gp41 of HIV and a carboxy terminal by means of a trans-membrane anchor tagged to a flexible linker. |
| US07790869B2 |
Massive parallel method for decoding DNA and RNA
This invention provides methods for attaching a nucleic acid to a solid surface and for sequencing nucleic acid by detecting the identity of each nucleotide analogue after the nucleotide analogue is incorporated into a growing strand of DNA in a polymerase reaction. The invention also provides nucleotide analogues which comprise unique labels attached to the nucleotide analogue through a cleavable linker, and a cleavable chemical group to cap the —OH group at the 3′-position of the deoxyribose. |
| US07790867B2 |
Vaccinia virus-related nucleic acids and microRNA
The present invention relates to a group of viral RNA regulatory genes, here identified as “viral genomic address messenger genes” or “VGAM genes”, and as “genomic record” or “GR” genes. VGAM genes selectively inhibit translation of known host target genes, and are believed to represent a pervasive viral attack mechanism. GR genes encode an operon-like cluster of VGAM genes. VGAM and viral GR genes may therefore be useful in diagnosing, preventing and treating viral disease. Several nucleic acid molecules are provided respectively encoding several VGAM genes, as are vectors and probes, both comprising the nucleic acid molecules, and methods and systems for detecting VGAM genes, and for counteracting their activity. |
| US07790866B2 |
Cancer-associated gene
The present invention provides: a novel DNA, a carcinoma-associated gene comprising the DNA, a recombinant protein encoded by the DNA, an antibody binding to the protein, an anti-carcinoma agent comprising the antibody, a low-molecular-weight compound binding to the protein, and a screening system. An example of such a novel DNA is a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the following polypeptide (a) or (b): (a) a polypeptide, consisting of an amino acid sequence identical to or substantially identical to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polypeptide, consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or a plurality of amino acids and having biological activity substantially equivalent to the functions of the polypeptide (a). |
| US07790865B1 |
Eluting reagents, methods and kits for isolating DNA
Eluting reagents and methods for isolating DNA from biological materials are provided. |
| US07790864B2 |
Antibody to BACE455, an alternative splice variant of the human beta-secretase
The present invention relates generally to the fields of genetics, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry and medicine. The present invention more particularly discloses the identification of a human gene variant involved in neuropathological conditions, and methods for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of such diseases and related disorders, as well as for the screening of therapeutically active drugs. The present invention relates to catalytically active beta-secretase (Memapsin2, BACE) variants, and nucleic acids encoding them. The invention is useful in the identification of agents that inhibit the activity of a particular BACE isoform and thus agents and therapies affecting the genesis, development or progression of neuropathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. |
| US07790861B2 |
Prostate cancer-related compositions, methods, and kits based on DNA macroarray proteomics platforms
The invention relates to novel nucleic acids encoding a mammalian PCADM-1 gene, and proteins encoded thereby, whose expression is increased in certain diseases, disorders, or conditions, including, but not limited to, prostate cancer. The invention further relates to methods of detecting and treating prostate cancer, comprising modulating or detecting PCADM-1 expression and/or production and activity of PCADM-1 polypeptide. Further, the invention relates to novel assays for the identification of DNA-binding proteins and the double-stranded oligonucleotide sequences that specifically bind with them. Finally, the invention relates to DNAZYMs or DNA enzymes which specifically bind PCADM-1 mRNA to inhibit PCADM-1 gene expression and thereby destroy tumor cells and tumor tissue. |
| US07790860B2 |
Targeting and imaging tumor vasculature using conjugates that bind to aminophospholipids
Disclosed is the surprising discovery that aminophospholipids, such as phosphatidyserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are specific, accessible and stable markers of the luminal surface of tumor blood vessels. The present invention thus provides aminophospholipid-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic constructs for use in tumor intervention. Antibody-therapeutic agent conjugates and constructs that bind to aminophospholipids are particularly provided, as are methods of specifically delivering therapeutic agents, including toxins and coagulants, to the stably-expressed aminophospholipids of tumor blood vessels, thereby inducing thrombosis, necrosis and tumor regression. |
| US07790859B2 |
Human anti-IFN-γ neutralizing antibodies as selective IFN-γ pathway inhibitors
This invention provides antibodies that interact with or bind to human interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and methods for treating IFN-γ mediated diseases by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of antibodies to IFN-γ. Methods of detecting the amount of IFN-γ in a sample using antibodies to IFN-γ are also provided. |
| US07790857B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies and uses thereof
The technology relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in the identification of cancer cells. In one embodiment, mAbs with specificity for tumor antigens are provided. In one embodiment, methods for treating cancer using mAbs are provided. In another embodiment, methods for detecting cancerous cells are provided. In another embodiment, kits for detecting cancerous cells are provided. |
| US07790856B2 |
Humanized antibodies that recognize beta amyloid peptide
The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient. Preferred agents include humanized antibodies. |
| US07790848B2 |
T1R3 receptor binding assays for identification of T1R3 modulatory compounds
Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes. Further, methods for stimulating or blocking taste perception in a mammal are also disclosed. |
| US07790846B2 |
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry9 toxins
The invention provides Bacillus thuringiensis toxins having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Lepidoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated pesticidal proteins and pesticidal compositions. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. |
| US07790843B2 |
Cypin polypeptide and fragments thereof
Disclosed are novel materials and screening methods for diagnosing and monitoring cognitive disorders, as well as for identifying compounds for treating such disorders. |
| US07790842B2 |
Polymer treatment
A process for the separation of volatile material from particulate polymer discharged from a polymerisation reactor in the form of a polymer slurry and which has been substantially freed from unreacted monomer in an earlier separation step, comprising (a) feeding the particulate polymer to a purge vessel and causing it to move through the vessel in substantially plug-flow mode, (b) heating the particulate polymer in the purge vessel to a temperature greater than 30° C. but insufficiently high to cause the particles to become agglomerated, and/or maintaining the polymer at a temperature in this range in the purge vessel, (c) feeding gas to the purge vessel to remove volatile material therefrom, removing the particulate polymer from the purge vessel, wherein substantially all of the heating of the particles which occurs in the purge vessel is accomplished by preheating the gas fed into the purge vessel, and the polymer slurry discharged from the polymerization reactor is submitted to a pressure release such that diluent is evaporated and a polyolefin/gas mixture is formed in a collecting vessel, and a concentrator vessel is used between the collecting vessel and the purge vessel. |
| US07790836B2 |
Diamine compound having dendron side chain and liquid crystal aligning agent using same
Disclosed herein is a novel functional diamine compound having a dendron structure, polyamic acid which is produced using functional diamine, aromatic cyclic diamine, aliphatic cyclic acid dianhydride, and aromatic cyclic acid dianhydride, polyimide which is produced by imidizing polyamic acid, and an LC alignment film produced using polyimide. Even if the diamine compound is used in a small amount, it is possible to realize a high pretilt angle, thus the pretilt angle is easily controlled. Therefore, it can be used to produce an LC alignment film using a twisted nematic (TN) mode, in which the pretilt angle of liquid crystal is low, and a vertically aligned (VA) mode, which requires a high pretilt angle of about 90°. |
| US07790833B2 |
Processes for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate to poly(trimethylene glycol carbonate trimethylene glycol ether) diol
This invention relates to solventless processes for the polymerization of an unsubstituted or substituted trimethylene carbonate to an unsubstituted or substituted poly(1,3-propanediol carbonate 1,3-propanediol ether)diol, using one or more solid acid catalysts. |
| US07790832B2 |
Methods for purifying 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines
A method for purifying a 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine comprises contacting a crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine with a purification agent, removing a 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound from the crude 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine, and producing a purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine product comprising less than 200 parts per million of the 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound. The purification agent is selected from the group consisting of an acidic material, an organic acid chloride, an organic anhydride, or a combination thereof. The 2-aryl-3-(aminoaryl)-3-(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidine compound has a formula: wherein each R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbyl radical, a nitro radical, and a halogen atom; “a” is an integer from 0 to 4; and Ar1 and Ar2 are independently at each occurrence an aromatic radical. The purified 2-aryl-3,3-bis(hydroxyaryl)phthalimidines have low color, and are useful for preparing polymers, such as polycarbonates having a low color. The polycarbonates are useful for producing articles. |
| US07790830B2 |
Swellable sol-gels, methods of making, and use thereof
The present invention relates to a method of making a swellable sol-gel composition that involves the use of a bridged silane precursor. The resulting sol-gel includes residual silanols, which are derivatized with a reagent having at least one silanol-reactive group and at least one alkyl group; and the sol-gel is then dried. Sol-gels of the invention are demonstrated to swell up to about 8-10 times their original volume in the presence of a non-polar sorbate. The sol-gel compositions can be used in a sorbate-activated actuator or in a detector for non-polar sorbates. The sol-gel compositions can further be used to take up non-polar sorbates for purposes of chemical remediation, extraction from aqueous systems or vapor, and chemical sensing. |
| US07790829B2 |
Curable and cured silicone rubber compositions and methods therefor
A method for producing a functionalized silica, compositions and methods for forming curable silicone rubber compositions by using the functionalized silica are also disclosed. Compositions and methods for forming cured silicone resin compositions and products having high transparency, high tensile strength, desirable percent elongation, or a combination of the foregoing properties are also disclosed. |
| US07790824B2 |
High refractive index ophthalmic device materials
High refractive index copolymers suitable for use in ophthalmic devices are disclosed. The copolymers comprise two or more aryl hydrophobic monomers and a non-polymerizable propylene oxide-ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer surfactant having a molecular weight of approximately 3600 and approximately 40% ethylene oxide units by weight. The copolymers have a reduced tendency to form glistenings when stored in water at physiological temperatures compared to similar copolymers lacking the non-polymerizable surfactant. |
| US07790823B2 |
Acidic superabsorbent hydrogels
The present invention relates to novel hydrophilic swellable addition polymers comprising improved odor control, a process for their preparation and their use for absorbing aqueous fluids and a process for screening superabsorbents. |
| US07790822B2 |
Hyperbranched maleic anhydride-diene polymers
A hyperbranched polymer having pendent olefinic groups and comprising polymer units derived from one or more terminally-unsaturated, acyclic aliphatic diene and polymer units derived from maleic anhydride. Optionally, the hyperbranched polymer may further comprise polymer units derived from one or more 1-alkenes and/or a chain transfer agent. A process to prepare the hyperbranched polymer comprises contacting maleic anhydride with at least one terminally unsaturated acyclic aliphatic diene having at least 7 carbon atoms in the presence of an effective amount of a radical initiator in an aprotic solvent under dilute conditions. |
| US07790815B2 |
Vinyl alcohol copolymers for use in aqueous dispersions and melt extruded articles
In a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion selected from drilling fluids, hydraulic cement compositions, mineral pigment containing coatings, and papermaking furnishes or in a method of preparing a melt extrudate, the improvement comprising: a) producing a copolymer of vinyl alcohol (VOH) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid or a salt of such acid (AMPS) by steps including continuously feeding with agitation, vinyl acetate (VAM) and AMPS as comonomers, a free radical yielding polymerization initiator, and a solvent for said comonomers, initiator, and copolymer resulting from the copolymerization of said comonomers, maintaining the resulting reaction mass in said first reaction zone under polymerization conditions for a residence time sufficient for a major proportion of AMPS fed to said first reaction zone to polymerize, continuously feeding reaction mass from said first reaction zone with an additional supply of AMPS to a second reaction zone, maintaining the reaction mass in the second reaction zone for a residence time sufficient to polymerize a major proportion of the AMPS added to the second reaction zone, continuously withdrawing reaction mass from the second reaction zone, separating copolymer of VAM and AMPS from the latter reaction mass, and saponifying by hydrolysis and/or alcoholysis a major proportion of the acetate groups in said copolymer to form a copolymer of VOH and AMPS; and b) incorporating the saponified copolymer into the aqueous dispersion or melt extrudate. |
| US07790810B2 |
Vinyl functional olefin polymers
Vinyl functional olefin polymers are prepared by polymerizing hexadiene or copolymerizing C2-C4-α-olefin, e.g., propylene, and hexadiene in the presence of a 2,1-insertion catalyst. |
| US07790807B2 |
Fluorocarbon terminated oligo- and poly-carbonates as surface modifiers
The instant invention relates to new compounds of the formula I R1 and R2 are each independently of the other a fluorine containing group, R3 and R4 are each independently of the other hydrogen, a fluorine containing group, C1-C12alkyl, phenyl or R4, together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded, form a C5-C8-cycloalkylidene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 C1-C4alkyl groups; R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently of the other hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl or C3-C12alkenyl, X1 and X2 are each independently of the other a direct bond or C1-C12alkylene, m is 1 to 10,000, and n is 0 to 10,000. These new compounds of the formula I are useful as reducers of surface energy for organic materials such as polycarbonates, polyesters or polyketones or their mixtures, blends or alloys. Polymers with such a reduced surface energy possess an “easy to clean”, “self-cleaning” “antisoiling”, “soil-release” “antigraffiti”, “oil resistance”, “solvent resistance”, “chemical resistance”, “self lubricating”, “scratch resistance”, “low moisture absorption” and “hydrophobic” surface. |
| US07790806B2 |
Fluorine-containing resin composition inhibiting corrosiveness
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing resin composition for molding comprising a fluorine-containing resin (A) and a hydrofluoric acid scavenger (B), in which the hydrofluoric acid scavenger (B) is organopolysiloxane. According to the present invention, a fluorine-containing resin composition which can reduce an amount of hydrofluoric acid released from a fluorine-containing resin and inhibits corrosiveness can be provided. |
| US07790804B2 |
Process for stripping polymer polyols
The invention provides a process for the purification of polymer polyols that ensures a reduction of acrylonitrile, styrene as well as the residual amounts of optionally used chain regulator, and of occurring recombination products of the initiator when azo initiators are used, to levels of <25 ppm of acrylonitrile, <50 ppm styrene, <50 ppm chain regulator and <280 ppm of recombination products by stripping using packed columns. |
| US07790798B2 |
Solution masterbatch process using finely ground fillers for low hysteresis rubber
Methods are provided for making solution masterbatches containing a diene elastomer in an organic solvent and a silica filler, having a first average particle size, that is ground in an organic solvent to form a silica having a reduced second average particle size. Grinding of the silica in the organic solvent, with or without other ingredients including the elastomer, produces a solution masterbatch in which the silica is mixed with and well dispersed in the elastomer. The use of such desolventized solution masterbatches in vulcanizable rubber compounds results in excellent processing characteristics allowing for the reduced use of processing aids such as oil. The compound also demonstrates improved properties, including reduced hysteresis. |
| US07790796B2 |
Spackling composition containing polyaramid fibers and ceramic microparticles, and methods of repair and attachment
A spackling compound is provided that is easy to apply smoothly, can be applied in thicker layers than known spackling without cracking upon drying, and can be modified after drying without pitting, flaking, or crumbling, particularly at the edges of the applied spackling patch. The composition includes polyaramid fibers that act as structural strengtheners to provide the dried composition with exceptional strength and resistance to cracking. In a second embodiment, the composition further includes low aspect ratio (about equal to 1) ceramic microparticles that fill voids in the mixture to produce a smoother, more dense composition. Upon drying, the ceramic microparticles produce a very smooth surface that can be sanded without flaking or crumbling. Additionally, the invention provides methods of preparing and using the compositions to produce smooth repair patches with no cracks, are easy to sand without pitting or flaking, and to provide improved structural integrity to the repaired area. |
| US07790793B2 |
Amide nucleating agent compositions
A composition containing a) a natural or synthetic polymer and b) one or more compounds of the formula (I), (II) or (III) wherein R1, R2 and R3 or Y1, Y2 and Y3 or Z1, Z2 and Z3 are e.g. branched C3-C20alkyl. |
| US07790784B2 |
Composition of matter
Composition of matter for the production of simulated stone, masonry, and brick textured products. Exemplary embodiments of panels, wall structures, and other products may have contoured and textured surfaces and may simulate the appearances of conventional building or construction materials including, but not limited to, stone, bricks, masonry, concrete, stucco, wood, or other conventional building materials, and combinations of any of these materials are disclosed. The disclosed invention is not limited to products in the building or construction industries and may be applied in the manufacture of a wide variety of products in other industries. |
| US07790781B2 |
Condensation-crosslinkable dental material hardening to dimensionally stable casts
Condensation-crosslinked dental materials based on alkoxysilyl-functional and/or hydroxysilyl-functional polyethers are useful in dentistry for taking tooth impressions, bite registration, denture rebasing, or as temporary and permanent dental cement, temporary closure material, or dental prosthodontic material. The dental material has a composition containing at least one alkoxysilyl-functional and/or hydroxysilyl-functional polyether a), at least one catalyst b), and optionally water c) and at least one acidic compound d) that has a water solubility (20° C.) of no more than 150 g/l. |
| US07790780B2 |
Radically coupled PTFE polymer powders, and method for the production thereof
Radically coupled PTFE polymer powders useful, for example, as tribomaterials, and a method for production thereof. Radically coupled PTFE polymer powders are provided which, when incorporated into a matrix as PTFE polymer compound, exhibit improved wear resistances, and furthermore there is provided a simple and efficient method for the production thereof. Radically coupled PTFE polymer powders are provided comprising radiation-chemically and/or plasma-chemically modified PTFE powders, onto the particle surface of which homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers are radically coupled via a reaction in dispersion or in substance. A method is provided in which PTFE powders with reactive perfluoroalkyl-(peroxy) radical centers after a radiation-chemical and/or plasma-chemical modification are reacted in dispersion or in substance with the addition of polymerizable, olefinically unsaturated monomers, whereby during the reaction a polymer-forming reaction is obtained. |
| US07790779B2 |
Selective, controlled manipulation of polymers
The present invention provides partial and complete shielding approaches to alter the cross-linking characteristics of irradiated polymers, such as polyethylene. Irradiated polymers and fabricated articles, such as medical prosteses, comprising irradiated polymers also are provided. |
| US07790775B2 |
Process for use in gas phase reactions
A process for use in equilibrium exothermic gas phase reactions comprising the steps of (a) providing a recycle stream with the addition of make-up gas, to form a feed gas stream; (b) heating the feed gas stream; (c) passing the heated feed gas stream to a first reactor containing a catalyst for the exothermic gas phase reactions at conditions suitable for the reaction; (d) removing a product stream comprising product and unreacted gases from the first reactor; (e) cooling and partially condensing the product stream to form a gas phase and a liquid phase; (f) separating the liquid phase containing the desired product from the product stream and removing said liquid phase; (g) separating the gas phase from the product stream to form a gas stream; (h) optionally mixing the gas stream from the product stream with additional make-up gas; (i) heating the gas stream; (j) passing the heated gas stream to a final reactor containing a catalyst for the exothermic gas phase reactions at conditions suitable for the reaction; (k) removing a final product stream comprising product and unreacted gases from the final reactor; (l) cooling and partially condensing the final product stream to form a final gas phase and a mal liquid phase; (m) separating the final liquid phase containing the desired product from the final product stream and removing said final liquid phase; and (n) separating the gas phase from the final product stream and recycling the gas to step (a); and in which the gas stream from step (g) is compressed prior to heating in step (i). |
| US07790768B2 |
Method for increasing hair growth
The present invention provides a method for stimulating hair follicle growth, which comprises applying a composition containing a follicle stimulating effective amount of a creatine compound. The method can be used to treat and prevent conditions such as male pattern baldness, hair loss due to aging, or hair loss due to chemotherapy or drug exposure. |
| US07790767B2 |
Pleuromutilin derivatives containing a hydroxyamino- or acyloxyaminocycloalkyl group
The present invention relates to Compounds of general formula (I), wherein R is hydrogen and R1 is hydroxy or acyloxy, or R is acyl and R1 is hydroxy or acyloxy, X is sulphur, oxygen or NR10, wherein R10 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; Y is sulphur or oxygen; R2 is hydrogen or one or more substituents, e.g. including substituents such as conventional in organic, e.g. (pleuro)mutilin, chemistry; R4 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; R3 and R3′ are hydrogen, deuterium, or halogen; R6, R7 and R8 are hydrogen, halogen or deuterium; m is a number selected from 0 to 4, n is a number selected from 0 to 10, and p is a number selected from 0 to 10; with the proviso that n plus p are at least 1. These Compounds are usefül as pharmaceuticals, particularly as antimicrobials. |
| US07790765B2 |
Hydroxy sulfonate of quinone compounds and their uses
The present invention provides sodium 6-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-benzo(h)chromene-6-sulfonate, and its synthesis and uses in the treatment of cancer. |
| US07790763B2 |
Substituted phenyl methanone derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, n, and m, are as defined in the specification and to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. These compounds are good inhibitors of the glycine transporter 1 (GlyT-1) and are useful for the treatment of CNS disorders such as schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. |
| US07790760B2 |
Metabotropic glutamate receptor isoxazole ligands and their use as potentiators 286
Compounds in accord with Formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, methods of making, pharmaceutical compositions containing and methods for using the same. |
| US07790759B2 |
Glycyrrhetinic acid-30-amide derivatives and their use
The present invention relates to the field of a medicine for treating diseases associated with inflammation, immunity or infection, and in particular, to glycyrrhetinic acid-30-amide derivatives of general formula I and their preparation, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same. Said derivatives and composition exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-allergic, cough-preventing, liver-protecting and anti-viral properties, wherein each group is as defined in the description. |
| US07790758B2 |
Compounds which potentiate glutamate receptor and uses thereof in medicine
This invention relates to potentiation of the glutamate receptor by novel compounds of formula (I): The invention also relates to the use of the derivatives in treating diseases and conditions mediated by potentiation of the glutamate receptor, compositions containing the derivatives and processes for their preparation. |
| US07790756B2 |
Kinase inhibitors useful for the treatment of myleoproliferative diseases and other proliferative diseases
The present invention is concerned with novel compounds useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases and mammalian cancers, especially human cancers. The invention also pertains to methods of modulating kinase activities, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating individuals, incorporating or using the compounds. The preferred compounds are active small molecules set forth in formulae Ia-Iww. |
| US07790754B2 |
Alpha-hydroxy amides as bradykinin antagonists or inverse agonists
α-Hydroxy amide derivatives of the general formula (I) are bradykinin B1 antagonists or inverse agonists useful in the treatment or prevention of symptoms such as pain and inflammation associated with the bradykinin B1 pathway. R2a is selected from (1) a group selected from Ra. (2) (CH2)nNRbC(O)Ra. (3) (CH2)nNRbSO2Rd. (4) (CH2)nNRbCO2Ra. (5) (CH2)k-heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups independently selected from halogen.nitro, cyano.ORa.SRa.C1-4 alkyl and C1-3 haloakyl wherein said heterocycle is (a) a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring having a ring heteroatom selected from N.O and S. and optionally having up to 3 additional ring nitrogen atoms wherein said ring is optionally benzo-fused; or (b) a 6-membered heteromatic ring containing from 1 to 3 ring nitrogen atoms and N-oxydes thereof. Wherein said ring is optionally benzo-fused. (6) (CH2)kCO2Ra. and (7) (CH2)C(O)NRbRc. R2b is OH or a group selected from R2a; or R2a and R2b together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring optionally substituted with 1 to 4 groups independently selected from halogen. ORa. C1-4 alkyl and C1-4 haloalkyl. |
| US07790750B2 |
Bicyclic benzamides of 3- or 4-substituted 4-(aminomethyl)-piperidine derivatives
The present invention of compounds of formula (I) a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, R1 and R2 taken together form a bivalent radical of formula wherein in said bivalent radicals one or two hydrogen atoms may be substituted with C1-6alkyl; R3 is hydrogen or halo; R4 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; L is C3-6cycloalkyl, C5-6cycloalkanone, C2-6alkenyl, or L is a radical of formula -Alk-R6—, Alk-X—R7, -Alk-Y—C(═O)—R9, or -Alk-Y—C(═O)—NR11R12 wherein each Alk is C1-12alkanediyl; and R6 is hydrogen, cyano, C1-6alkylsulfonylamino, C3-6cycloalkyl, C5-6cycloalkanone, or a heterocyclic ringsystem; R7 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, or a heterocyclic ringsystem; X is O, S, SO2 or NR8; said R8 being hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R9 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or hydroxy; Y is NR10 or a direct bond; said R10 being hydrogen, or C1-6alkyl; R11 and R12 each independently are hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, or R11 and R12 combined with the nitrogen atom may form an optionally substituted pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl or 4-morpholinyl ring. Processes for preparing said products, formulations comprising said products and their use as a medicine are disclosed, in particular for treating conditions which are related to impairment of gastric emptying. |
| US07790749B2 |
Use of pleuromutilins for the treatment of disorders caused by Helicobacter pylori
A method of preventing or treating diseases mediated by Helicobacter pylori, comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of pleuromutilin. |
| US07790748B2 |
N-alkyl-4-methyleneamino-3-hydroxy-2-pyridones
Compounds of Formula (I): are effective in the treatment of a microbial infection. |
| US07790744B2 |
Cyclic peptide antifungal agents and process for preparation thereof
Provided are compounds of the formula (1): wherein R′ is hydrogen, methyl or NH2C(O)CH2—; R″ and R′″ are independently methyl or hydrogen; R adn Ry are independently hydroxy or hydrogen; R1 is hydroxy, hydrogen, or hydroxysulfonyloxy; R7 is hydroxy, hydrogen, hydroxysulfonyloxy or phosphonooxy; R2 is a novel acyl side chain. Also provided are novel formulations, methods of inhibiting fungal and parasitic activity, and a process for preparing dideoxy (R═H) forms of the compounds. |
| US07790743B2 |
Modulators of cellular adhesion
The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof; wherein R1-R4, n, p, A, B, D, E, L and AR1 are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of disorders mediated by the CD11/CD18 family of cellular adhesion molecules (e.g., LFA-1). |
| US07790737B2 |
Substituted pyrimidine compounds and their utility as CETP inhibitors
A compound represented by the following general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like, R6 represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group and the like, R7 and R8 represent hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a (lower cycloalkyl)(lower alkyl) group and the like, R9 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkoxy group and the like, R10 and R11 represent hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a halo(lower alkyl) group and the like, and A represents a heterocyclic ring constituted by 6 to 10 atoms, which has potent inhibitory activity on cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP). |
| US07790733B2 |
8-alkoxy or cycloalkoxy-4-methyl-3,4-dihydro-quinazolin-2-ylamines
The present invention relates to compounds of formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and n are as described in the specification and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The compounds of formula I can be used for the treatment of 5-HT5A receptor antagonists related diseases, which include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, pain, memory disorders, disorders of eating behaviors, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, withdrawal from abuse of drugs, motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dementia in Parkinson's disease, neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesias, as well as other psychiatric disorders and gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. |
| US07790730B2 |
Imidazo[4,5-d]pyrimidines, their uses and methods of preparation
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of viral infections comprising as an active principle at least one compound having the general formula (A): wherein U is N or C; X is selected from C1-C10 alkylene, C2-10 alkenylene or C2-10 alkynylene, where each may include one or more intrachain heteroatoms selected from O, S, or NR11, provided any such heteroatom is not adjacent to the N in the ring; R3 is selected from aryl, aryloxy, arylthio, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl-N(R10)—, or heterocycle, where each said substituent is optionally substituted with at least one R17, provided that for cycloalkenyl the double bond is not adjacent to a nitrogen; and the other substituents are described in the specification. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of compounds according to the invention having above mentioned general formula, their pharmaceutically acceptable formulations and their use as a medicine or to treat or prevent viral infections. |
| US07790727B2 |
Benzenesulfonanilide compounds suitable for treating disorders that respond to modulation of the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor
The present invention relates to novel benzenesulfonanilide compounds of the formulae I and I′ and physiologically tolerated acid addition salts and the N-oxides thereof. The compounds possess valuable therapeutic properties and are particularly suitable, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor. wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl R2 is hydrogen or methyl R3 hydrogen, fluorine C1-C2 alkoxy or fluorinated C1-C2 alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl or fluorinated C1-C4 alkyl; R5 is hydrogen, fluorine, C1-C2 alkyl, fluorinated C1-C2 alkyl, C1-C2 alkoxy or fluorinated C1-C2 alkoxy; and R6 is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine. |
| US07790726B2 |
Monocyclic and bicyclic compounds and methods of use
Compounds are provided that act as potent antagonists of the CCR1 receptor, and have in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The compounds are generally monocyclic and bicyclic compounds and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of CCR1-mediated diseases, and as controls in assays for the identification of competitive CCR1 antagonists. |
| US07790721B2 |
Pyrroloquinoxalinone inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase
Compounds of formula I where X is a bond; A1 and A2, together with the atoms to which they are attached, is pyrrole; and A3 and A4, together with the atoms to which they are attached, are benzene; are poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase inhibitors. The compounds of formula I are useful for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. |
| US07790720B2 |
Compounds comprising an oxazole or thiazole moiety, processes for making them, and their uses
The present invention relates to compounds comprising an oxazole or thiazole moiety of formula (I), processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and their uses as H3-receptor ligands, Formula (I), wherein, A1 is CH, C(alkyl), C-halogen or N; R1 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl or alkoxy; R2 is, Formula (II′), A3 is O or S; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl or alkoxy; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl, alkoxy or —O-L; R5 is hydrogen or —O-L, wherein L is an aminoalkyl group and at least one of R4 and R5 should be —O-L. |
| US07790717B2 |
Spiro-oxazolidinone compounds and their use as metabotropic glutamate receptor potentiators
Compounds in accord with Formula I: wherein R1, L, A, B, D, E, m, n, x and y are as defined in the description, processes for the preparation of such compounds and to new intermediates employed in the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and the use of such compounds in therapy and for the treatment of diseases mentioned in the specification. |
| US07790716B2 |
Fab I inhibitors
Compounds of the formula (I) are disclosed which are Fab I inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of bacterial infections. |
| US07790713B2 |
Inhibitors of interleukin-1β converting enzyme
The present invention relates to novel classes of compounds which are inhibitors of interleukin-1β converting enzyme. The ICE inhibitors of this invention are characterized by specific structural and physicochemical features. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for inhibiting ICE activity and consequently, may be advantageously used as agents against IL-1-, apoptosis-, IGIF-, and IFN-γ-mediated diseases, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, destructive bone disorders, proliferative disorders, infectious diseases, degenerative diseases, and necrotic diseases. This invention also relates to methods for inhibiting ICE activity, for treating interleukin-1-, apoptosis-, IGIF- and IFN-γ-mediated diseases and decreasing IGIF and IFN-γ production using the compounds and compositions of this invention. This invention also relates to methods for preparing-N-acylamino compounds. |
| US07790712B2 |
Substituted [1,4]diazepino[1,2-A]indoles and azepino[1,2-A]indoles as anti-cytokine inhibitors
The application relates to compounds of formula Ia and analogues thereof wherein R1 to R13 and X are as defined herein. The invention also relates to the use of the compounds of formula Ia as inhibitors of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activated Protein kinase-2 (MAPKAP-k2), and also to a method for preventing or treating a disease or disorder that can be treated or prevented by modulating the activity of MAPKAP-K2 in a subject and to pharmaceutical compositions and kits that include these MAPKAP-K2 inhibitors. |
| US07790711B2 |
Inhibitors of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase
Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, type II diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. |
| US07790706B2 |
Treatment of inflammation with 5α reduced metabolites
The present invention relates to the modulation of glucocorticoid metabolism. In particular the invention relates to the modulation of the functional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor by 5α reduced metabolic breakdown products of glucocorticoids. |
| US07790701B2 |
Silicon-based tocopherol derivatives
Silicon-based tocopherol derivatives are provided, as well as methods for making the same, in which the derivatives have a tocopherol molecule having a silicon-based group. The derivatives are useful in cosmetic compositions, have antioxidant properties, enhance solubility and compatibility in cosmetic formulations having silicon-based materials within the compositions. |
| US07790699B2 |
Self-gelling alginate systems and uses thereof
Kits and compositions for producing an alginate gel are disclosed. The kits and compositions comprise soluble alginate and insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles. Methods for dispensing a self-gelling alginate dispersion are disclosed. The methods comprise forming a dispersion of insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles in a solution containing soluble alginate, and dispensing the dispersion whereby the dispersion forms an alginate gel matrix. The methods may include dispensing the dispersion into the body of an individual. An alginate gel having a thickness of greater than 5 mm and a homogenous alginate matrix network and homogenous alginate gels free of one or more of: sulfates citrates, phosphates, lactatates, EDTA or lipids are disclosed. Implantable devices comprising a homogenous alginate gel coating are disclosed. Methods of improving the viability of pancreatic islets, or other cellular aggregates or tissue, following isolation and during storage and transport are disclosed. |
| US07790697B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting the synthesis or expression of MMP-1
The present invention relates to the specific inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) using agents which inhibit the synthesis or expression of MMP-1. Such agents are useful for suppressing invasion or metastasis of a tumor cell and in the treatment, prevention and management of cancer. |
| US07790687B2 |
Treatment for neurodegeneration
Polypeptides which are an N- and/or C-terminally truncated fragment of the human osteopontin (hOPN) sequence or species variant, and which minimally have a 15 amino acid sequence corresponding to amino acids 138 to 152 of hOPN, and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptide, are useful for treatment or prevention of neurodegeneration. |
| US07790686B2 |
Injection solution of an LHRH antagonist
An aqueous injectable solution of an LHRH antagonist, such as Cetrorelix, in an organic, pharmaceutically acceptable acid, such as gluconic acid. |
| US07790684B2 |
Method of inhibiting osteoclast activity
Methods for inhibiting osteoclastogenesis by administering a soluble RANK polypeptide are disclosed. Such methods can be used to treat a variety of different cancers, including bone cancer, multiple myeloma, melanoma, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer, hematologic cancers, head and neck cancer and renal cancer. |
| US07790680B2 |
Stable pharmaceutical composition containing factor VIII
The invention relates to a stable solid pharmaceutical composition comprising factor VIII. Such a composition is devoid of amino acids and comprises: (a) factor VIII; (b) a surfactant; (c) calcium chloride; (d) sucrose; (e) sodium chloride; (f) trisodium citrate; and (g) a buffer devoid of amino acids; and has a pH from 6 to 8 prior to lyophilization and after reconstitution in water for injection. The invention also relates to the liquid pharmaceutical composition obtainable after dilution of said stable solid pharmaceutical composition with sterile water optionally containing sodium chloride. |
| US07790676B2 |
Soluble IL-17RA/RC fusion proteins
Disclosed are antagonists of IL-17A and IL-17F. The antagonists are based on soluble IL-17RA and IL-17RC fusion proteins, including hybrid soluble receptors comprising portions of both IL-17RC and IL-17RA (“IL-17RC/IL-17RA”). Such antagonists serve to block, inhibit, reduce, antagonize or neutralize the activity of IL-17F, IL-17A, or both IL-17A and IL-17F. Also disclosed are methods of using such antagonists for treating disease, particularly inflammatory diseases mediated at least in part by IL-17A and/or IL-17F. |
| US07790674B2 |
Methods of treatment using specific binding agents of human angiopoietin-2
Disclosed are peptides that bind to Ang-2. Also disclosed are peptibodies comprising the peptides, methods of making such peptides and peptibodies, and methods of treatment using such peptides and peptibodies. |
| US07790669B1 |
Methods for treating neurological deficits by intrastriatal administration of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α)
The present invention features methods and compositions for treating a patient who has a neurological deficit. The method can be carried out, for example, by contacting (in vivo or in culture) a neural progenitor cell of the patient's central nervous system (CNS) with a polypeptide that binds the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and directing progeny of the proliferating progenitor cells to migrate en masse to a region of the CNS in which they will reside and function in a manner sufficient to reduce the neurological deficit. The method may include a further step in which the progeny of the neural precursor cells are contacted with a compound that stimulates differentiation. |
| US07790665B2 |
Highly concentrated, aqueous oligoester and polyester formulations
Disclosed are highly concentrated aqueous soil release polyester formulations containing 50 to 90 percent by weight of soil release polyester and 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of a polycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylate. Adding these highly concentrated polycarboxylic acids or polycarboxylates makes it possible to produce highly concentrated soil release polyester formulations which are stable while being provided with low viscosity. |
| US07790661B2 |
Dispersant viscosity modifiers containing aromatic amines
Reaction of a carboxylic acid-containing polymer with certain aromatic amines results in dispersant viscosity modifiers with improved soot handling performance in heavy-duty diesel engines, compared with reaction with non-aromatic amines. |
| US07790659B2 |
Lubricating oil compositions
Disclosed are lubricating oil compositions excellent in friction reducing effect and long drain properties and particularly suitable for internal combustion engines, which comprise a lubricating base oil, a specific phosphorus compound in an amount of 0.005 to 0.5 percent by mass in terms of phosphorus based on the total mass of the composition, and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of (C) metallic detergents, (D) ashless dispersants, and (E) anti-oxidants, and further contains (F) a sulfur-containing organic molybdenum complex and (G) an ashless friction modifier and which satisfy prescribed requirements and have a sulfated ash content not exceeding a specified level. |
| US07790654B1 |
Plant protection agents
Crop protection compositions, formulated as powder, granules or water-based, of active compounds having foliar or systemic action are characterized in that they comprise, in the case of herbicide preparations, at least one herbicide from the groups of the urea derivatives or sulphonylureas, the carbamates, biscarbamates, diphenyl ethers, pyridolylacetic acid derivatives, pyridazines, triazines, triazinones, uracils, benzofuran derivatives, glyphosate or glufosinate, in the case of fungicide preparations, at least one fungicide from the group of the morpholines, azoles, phthalimides or piperidines, in the case of insecticide preparations, at least one insecticide from the group of the pyrethroids, carbamates or organophosphates, or possible salts or esters of the abovementioned groups of active compounds, at least one inorganic adsorbent and at least one surfactant, preferably from the group of the ethoxylated C6-to C20-alcohols, preferably C8- to C16-alcohols, the ethoxylated castor oils or the alkyl ether sulphates. |
| US07790652B2 |
Process and catalyst for the hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock
A method of hydroprocessing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock using a hydroprocessing catalyst having specific properties making it effective in the hydroconversion of at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to lighter hydrocarbons. The hydroprocessing catalyst comprises a Group VIB metal component (e.g., Cr, Mo, and W), a Group VIII metal component (e.g., Ni and Co) and, optionally, a potassium metal component that are supported on a support material comprising alumina. The alumina has novel physical properties that, in combination with the catalytic components, provide for the hydroprocessing catalyst. The hydroprocessing catalyst is particularly effective in the conversion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The alumina is characterized as having a high pore volume and a high surface area with a large proportion of the pore volume being present in the pores within a narrow pore diameter distribution about a narrowly defined range of median pore diameters. The support material preferably does not contain more than a small concentration of silica. The alumina component is preferably made by a specific method that provides for an alumina having the specific physical properties required for the hydroprocessing catalyst. |
| US07790651B2 |
Porous silica and metal oxide composite-based catalysts for conversion of fatty acids and oils to biodiesel
A recyclable esterification or transesterification catalyst and methods for making and using the same are provided herein. The catalyst can be used to prepare biodiesel or methyl soyate from various feedstocks, including vegetable oils and animal fats. The catalyst can both esterify free fatty acids and transesterify mono-, di-, and triglycerides. The catalyst can also be combined with a metal oxide, and optionally calcined, prior to carrying out a catalytic reaction. |
| US07790649B2 |
Production process of exhaust gas purifying catalyst
The present invention relates to a production process of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst, comprising impregnating a support with a solution containing a metal salt and then drying it to load a particle of the metal salt on the support, (a) wherein a base having a less tendency to adsorb and coordinate to the metal salt particle than ammonia is incorporated into the solution to make the solution basic, and thereby the metal salt particle is caused to have a negative zeta potential; or (b) wherein an acid and a base that adsorbs and coordinates to the metal salt particle are incorporated into the solution to make the solution acidic, and thereby the metal salt particle is caused to have a positive zeta potential. |
| US07790647B2 |
Catalyst layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cell, process for producing the catalyst layer, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell
An electrode catalyst layer, capable of having high catalytic activity in a small thickness, for use in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an entangled (cobweb-like) structure. The electrode catalyst layer is produced through a process including a step of forming a thin film with a film-forming material containing a combination of platinum, oxygen, and nitrogen, a combination of platinum, oxygen, and boron, or a combination of platinum, oxygen, nitrogen, and boron, and a step of forming a catalyst material, which has the entangled structure and principally contains platinum as a main component by reducing the film-forming material. |
| US07790635B2 |
Method to increase the compressive stress of PECVD dielectric films
A method for forming a compressive stress carbon-doped silicon nitride layer is provided. The method includes forming an initiation layer and a bulk layer thereon, wherein the bulk layer has a compressive stress of between about −0.1 GPa and about −10 GPa. The initiation layer is deposited from a gas mixture that includes a silicon and carbon-containing precursor and optionally a nitrogen and/or source but does not include hydrogen gas. The bulk layer is deposited from a gas mixture that includes a silicon and carbon-containing precursor, a nitrogen source, and hydrogen gas. The initiation layer is a thin layer that allows good transfer of the compressive stress of the bulk layer therethrough to an underlying layer, such as a channel of a transistor. |
| US07790633B1 |
Sequential deposition/anneal film densification method
A silicon dioxide-based dielectric layer is formed on a substrate surface by a sequential deposition/anneal technique. The deposited layer thickness is insufficient to prevent substantially complete penetration of annealing process agents into the layer and migration of water out of the layer. The dielectric layer is then annealed, ideally at a moderate temperature, to remove water and thereby fully densify the film. The deposition and anneal processes are then repeated until a desired dielectric film thickness is achieved. |
| US07790631B2 |
Selective deposition of a dielectric on a self-assembled monolayer-adsorbed metal
Methods and apparatuses to selectively deposit a dielectric on a self-assembled monolayer (“SAM”) adsorbed metal are described. A wafer includes a device having a first electrode. A first self-assembled monolayer is deposited on the wafer covering the first electrode. Next, a portion of the first self-assembled monolayer is removed to expose the first electrode. The first self-assembled monolayer includes a hydrophobic layer. Further, second self-assembled monolayer is deposited on the first electrode. The second self-assembled monolayer includes a hydrophilic layer. Next, an insulating layer is deposited on the second self-assembled monolayer. Further, self-aligned contacts to one or more second electrodes of the device are formed. |
| US07790629B2 |
Atomic layer deposition of strontium oxide via N-propyltetramethyl cyclopentadiendyl precursor
A method of depositing oxide materials on a substrate is provided. A deposition chamber holds the substrate, where the substrate is at a specified temperature, and the chamber has a chamber pressure and wall temperature. A precursor molecule containing a cation material atom is provided to the chamber, where the precursor has a line temperature and a source temperature. An oxidant is provided to the chamber, where the oxidant has a source flow rate. Water is provided to the chamber, where the water has a source temperature. By alternating precursor pulses, the water and the oxidant are integrated with purges of the chamber to provide low contamination levels and high growth rates of oxide material on the substrate, where the pulses and the purge have durations and flow rates. A repeatable growth cycle includes pulsing the precursor, purging the chamber, pulsing the water, pulsing the oxidant, and purging the chamber. |
| US07790627B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and method of manufacturing metal compound thin film
A method of manufacturing a metal compound thin film is disclosed. The method may include forming a first metal compound layer on a substrate by atomic layer deposition, performing annealing on the first metal compound layer in an atmosphere containing a nitrogen compound gas, thereby diffusing nitrogen into the first metal compound layer, and forming a second metal compound layer on the first metal compound layer by atomic layer deposition. |
| US07790625B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor wafer, forming a semiconductor function element on the semiconductor wafer, drying the semiconductor wafer after forming the semiconductor function element by using an isopropyl alcohol vapor, heating the semiconductor wafer after drying the semiconductor wafer, and performing a cleaning on the semiconductor wafer after heating the semiconductor wafer by using a fuming nitric acid. |
| US07790624B2 |
Methods for removing a metal-comprising material from a semiconductor substrate
Methods for removing metal-comprising materials from semiconductor materials are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises providing a metal-comprising material overlying a semiconductor material and exposing the metal-comprising material to an aqueous non-chlorine-comprising acid solution having a pH of about less 7. |
| US07790621B2 |
Ion implantation for increasing etch rate differential between adjacent materials
Ion implantation is used to modify the chemical properties of portions of a material, such that the modified portions respond differently to a chemical etching operation than do the unmodified portions of the material. In a further aspect of the present invention, ion implants into a wafer are performed at different energies so as to form three-dimensional patterns of chemically modified material within the body of a wafer. In a still further aspect of the present invention, three-dimensional patterns of etched tunnels within a wafer are formed, and in some embodiments provide for reduced parasitic capacitance and/or reduced leakage currents for electronic circuits. |
| US07790620B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes: forming device isolation layers on a substrate; sequentially forming an anti-reflective coating layer and a photoresist layer on the substrate; patterning the anti-reflective coating layer and the photoresist layer to expose substrate regions in which active regions of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor will be formed; and recessing the exposed substrate regions in a predetermined thickness. |
| US07790615B2 |
Electronic component packaging
The invention relates to a method to seal a cavity, comprising a hole (6), comprising: the deposition on at least part of the cover, or an electrically conductive material (4, 5), the conveyance of part of this material by electro-migration into the hole (6) to form a plug (20). |
| US07790605B2 |
Formation of interconnects through lift-off processing
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a conducting layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate and having a via hole formed therein, a lower barrier film formed on an inside wall of the via hole, a first metal wiring formed on the lower barrier film, a second insulating film formed on the first metal wiring and the first insulating film, the second insulating film being provided with a trench which has a width greater than a width of the via hole, an upper barrier film formed on a lower surface of the trench, a second metal wiring formed on the upper barrier film, and a sidewall barrier film formed on sidewalls of the upper barrier film and the second metal wiring. The sidewall barrier film has an L-shaped mirror-symmetrical structure. |
| US07790597B2 |
Solder cap application process on copper bump using solder powder film
A method used during the formation of a semiconductor device assembly can include contacting an end of a conductive bump (which can be a pillar, ball, pad, post, stud, or lead as well as other types of bumps) with a conductive powder such as a solder powder to adhere the conductive powder to the end of the bump. The powder can be flowed, for example by heating, to distribute it across the end of the bump. The flowed powder can be placed in contact with a conductive pad of a receiving substrate and can then be reflowed to facilitate electrical connection between the bump and the conductive pad. |
| US07790595B2 |
Manufacturing method improving the reliability of a bump electrode
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises (a) forming a resin layer that includes at least a plurality of a first and a second resin parts, being separated from each other, over a semiconductor substrate having an electrode pad and a passivation film; (b) forming a resin projection in which the first and the second resin parts are integrated by curing the resin layer; and (c) forming a conductive layer that is being connected electrically to the electrode pad and extending over the resin projection, wherein in process (a), the second resin part is formed at least between the electrode pad and the first resin part at a width less than the first resin part. |
| US07790594B2 |
Electronic part and method of producing the same
It is an object of the invention to provide an electronic part capable of forming an accurate gap between opposing substrates while also capable of decreasing the area of the electronic part, and a method of producing the same. A second electrode portion (6), having a core pattern (7) and a bump pattern (8) covering the surface thereof, is provided on a device substrate (1), the core pattern (7) is made of a material having hardness greater than that of the bump pattern (8), a first electrode portion (5) of the same material as the bump pattern (8) is provided on a bonding substrate (2), and a functional portion of the device substrate (1) and the first electrode portion (5) are electrically connected by direct bonding of the first electrode portion (5) and the bump pattern (8). |
| US07790587B2 |
Method to reduce junction leakage through partial regrowth with ultrafast anneal and structures formed thereby
Methods and associated structures of forming a microelectronic device are described. Those methods may include creating an amorphous region in source/drain regions of a substrate by ion implantation with an electrically neutral dopant, annealing with a first anneal that removes defects without completely re-crystallizing the amophous region, ion implantation of electrically active dopant to a depth shallower than the remaining amorphous region, followed by a second anneal. |
| US07790585B2 |
Antiferromagnetic half-metallic semiconductor and manufacturing method therefor
An antiferromagnetic half-metallic semiconductor of the present invention is manufactured by adding to a semiconductor two or more types of magnetic elements including a magnetic element with a d-electron number of less than five and a magnetic element with a d-electron number of more than five, and substituting a part of elements of the semiconductor with the two or more types of magnetic elements. |
| US07790584B2 |
Method of growing semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film and method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor light emitting diode using the same
A method of growing a semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film. The method includes forming a semi-polar nitride single crystal base layer on an m-plane hexagonal system single crystal substrate, forming a dielectric pattern layer on the semi-polar nitride single crystal base layer, and growing the semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film on the semi-polar nitride single crystal base layer having the dielectric pattern layer in a lateral direction. The growing of the semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film in a lateral direction includes primarily growing the semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film in the lateral direction such that part of a growth plane on the semi-polar nitride single crystal base layer has an a-plane, and secondarily growing the semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film in the lateral direction such that sidewalls of the primarily grown semi-polar nitride single crystal thin film are combined to have a (11 22) plane. |
| US07790583B2 |
Clean process for an electron beam source
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for cleaning an electron beam treatment apparatus that includes: (a) generating an electron beam that energizes a cleaning gas in a chamber of the electron beam treatment apparatus; (b) monitoring an electron beam current; (c) adjusting a pressure of the cleaning gas to maintain the electron beam current at a substantially constant value; and (d) stopping when a predetermined condition has been reached. |
| US07790581B2 |
Semiconductor substrate with multiple crystallographic orientations
A pair of semiconductor structures and a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure each utilize a semiconductor substrate having a first crystallographic orientation, and a dielectric layer located thereupon. The method provides for epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate to encapsulate the dielectric layer. The method also provides for patterning the semiconductor layer to yield a semiconductor structure that comprises a bulk semiconductor structure and a semiconductor-on-insulator structure, or alternatively a patterned semiconductor layer that straddles the dielectric layer and contacts the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07790576B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming through hole vias in die extension region around periphery of die
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die. The semiconductor wafer is diced to separate the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die are transferred onto a carrier. A die extension region is formed around a periphery of the semiconductor die on the carrier. The carrier is removed. A plurality of through hole vias (THV) is formed in first and second offset rows in the die extension region. A conductive material is deposited in the THVs. A first RDL is formed between contact pads on the semiconductor die and the THVs. A second RDL is formed on a backside of the semiconductor die in electrical contact with the THVs. An under bump metallization is formed in electrical contact with the second RDL. Solder bumps are formed on the under bump metallization. The die extension region is singulated to separate the semiconductor die. |
| US07790569B2 |
Production of semiconductor substrates with buried layers by joining (bonding) semiconductor wafers
The invention relates to a method for producing semiconductor substrates by bonding. The aim of said method is to reduce the non-usable edge region on the bonded wafer component and to improve the edge geometry of the wafer composite. This is achieved by a method for joining two semiconductor wafers using a semiconductor wafer bonding process. The surfaces of the two semiconductor wafers that are to be bonded are provided with a border or edge geometry that has a special short front-end facet. After the bonding process, one of the two wafers is ablated to obtain an edge region that is as devoid as possible of defects and a usable wafer surface that is as large as possible. |
| US07790566B2 |
Semiconductor surface treatment for epitaxial growth
A method is disclosed for preparing a surface of a Group III-Group V compound semiconductor for epitaxial deposition. The III-V semiconductor surface is treated with boron (B) at a temperature of between about 250° C. and about 350° C. A suitable form for supplying B for the surface treatment is diborane. The B treatment can be followed by epitaxial growth, for instance by a Group IV semiconductor, at temperatures similar to those of the B treatment. The method yields high quality heterojunction, suitable for fabricating a large variety of device structures. |
| US07790564B2 |
Methods for fabricating active devices on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate utilizing multiple depth shallow trench isolations
Methods for fabricating a device structure in a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The method includes forming a first isolation region in the substrate device layer that extends from a top surface of the device layer to a first depth and forming a second isolation region in the semiconductor layer that extends from the top surface of the semiconductor layer to a second depth greater than the first depth. The method further includes forming a doped region of the device structure in the semiconductor layer that is located vertically between the first isolation region and the insulating layer. |
| US07790549B2 |
Configurations and methods for manufacturing charge balanced devices
This invention discloses a semiconductor power device disposed in a semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor substrate has a plurality of deep trenches. The deep trenches are filled with an epitaxial layer thus forming a top epitaxial layer covering areas above a top surface of the deep trenches covering over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor power device further includes a plurality of transistor cells disposed in the top epitaxial layer whereby a device performance of the semiconductor power device is dependent on a depth of the deep trenches and not dependent on a thickness of the top epitaxial layer. Each of the plurality of transistor cells includes a trench DMOS transistor cell having a trench gate opened through the top epitaxial layer and filled with a gate dielectric material. |
| US07790548B2 |
Methods of fabricating field effect transistors including recessed forked gate structures
A transistor includes substrate having an active region therein. The active region includes a recess therein having opposing sidewalls and a surface therebetween. A protrusion extends from the surface of the recess between the opposing sidewalls thereof. The transistor further includes a gate insulation layer on the protrusion in the recess, a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer in the recess, and source/drain regions in the active region on opposite sides of the gate electrode and adjacent to the opposing sidewalls of the recess. The gate electrode includes portions that extend into the recess between the protrusion and the opposing sidewalls of the recess. Related methods of fabrication are also discussed. |
| US07790544B2 |
Method of fabricating different gate oxides for different transistors in an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit and gate oxide forming process are disclosed which provide a gate structure that is simple to integrate with conventional fabrication processes while providing different gate oxide thicknesses for different transistors within the integrated circuit. For a flash memory, which may utilize the invention, the different gate oxide thicknesses may be used for lower voltage transistors, memory array transistors, and higher voltage transistors. |
| US07790540B2 |
Structure and method to use low k stress liner to reduce parasitic capacitance
A low k stress liner, which replaces conventional stress liners in CMOS devices, is provided. In one embodiment, a compressive, low k stress liner is provided which can improve the hole mobility in pFET devices. UV exposure of this compressive, low k material results in changing the polarity of the low k stress liner from compressive to tensile. The use of such a tensile, low k stress liner improves electron mobility in nFET devices. |
| US07790537B2 |
Method for creating tensile strain by repeatedly applied stress memorization techniques
By introducing additional strain-inducing mechanisms on the basis of stress memorization techniques, the performance of NMOS transistors may be significantly increased, thereby reducing the imbalance between PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors. By amorphizing and re-crystallizing the respective material in the presence of a mask layer at various stages of the manufacturing process, a drive current improvement of up to approximately 27% has been observed, with the potential for further performance gain. |
| US07790536B2 |
Dopant confinement in the delta doped layer using a dopant segregration barrier in quantum well structures
A device grade III-V quantum well structure and method of manufacture is described. Embodiments of the present invention enable III-V InSb quantum well device layers with defect densities below 1×108cm−2 to be formed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a delta doped layer is disposed on a dopant segregation barrier in order to confine delta dopant within the delta doped layer and suppress delta dopant surface segregation. |
| US07790534B2 |
Method to form low-defect polycrystalline semiconductor material for use in a transistor
A method is described for forming a thin film transistor having its current-switching region in polycrystalline semiconductor material which has been crystallized in contact with titanium silicide, titanium silicide-germanide, or titanium germanide. The titanium silicide, titanium silicide-germanide, or titanium germanide is formed having feature size no more than 0.25 micron in the smallest dimension. The small feature size tends to inhibit the phase transformation from C49 to C54 phase titanium silicide. The C49 phase of titanium silicide has a very close lattice match to silicon, and thus provides a crystallization template for the silicon as it forms, allowing formation of large-grain, low-defect silicon. Titanium does not tend to migrate through the silicon during crystallization, limiting the danger of metal contamination. In preferred embodiments, the transistors thus formed may be, for example, field-effect transistors or bipolar junction transistors. |
| US07790533B2 |
Laser irradiation method, laser irradiation apparatus, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention is to provide a technique that can increase productivity with high output power by combining a plurality of laser beams on an irradiation surface without any difficulties in optical alignment. According to this technique, laser beams having different wavelengths are combined using a plurality of laser oscillators and a dichroic mirror, or additionally a polarizer. For example, a first laser beam emitted from a first laser oscillator is combined with a second laser beam emitted from a second laser oscillator having different wavelength from the first laser beam in such a way that the first laser beam passes through a dichroic mirror and the second laser beam is reflected on the dichroic mirror, and the combined laser beam is projected to an irradiation surface. |
| US07790532B2 |
Method of manufacturing thin film transistor substrate
In a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate, a gate line and a gate electrode are formed on a substrate. A gate insulating layer is formed to cover the gate line and the gate electrode. A semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulating layer to overlap with the gate electrode. A data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode are formed on the gate insulating layer and the semiconductor layer. A photoresist layer is formed on the data line, the source electrode, and the drain electrode. The photoresist layer is patterned, and an organic layer is formed on the substrate having the photoresist layer pattern. Then, the photoresist layer pattern is removed. |
| US07790527B2 |
High-voltage silicon-on-insulator transistors and methods of manufacturing the same
In a first aspect, a first method of manufacturing a high-voltage transistor is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) providing a substrate including a bulk silicon layer that is below an insulator layer that is below a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer; and (2) forming one or more portions of a transistor node including a diffusion region of the transistor in the SOI layer. A portion of the transistor node is adapted to reduce a voltage greater than about 5 V within the transistor to a voltage less than about 3 V. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07790526B2 |
System for displaying images and method for fabricating the same
An exemplary embodiment of a system comprises an active matrix organic electroluminescent device, having a substrate, and a plurality of scan lines and data lines disposed on the substrate, for defining a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel structure comprises: a switching thin film transistor, a driving thin film transistor, and a storage capacitor. The switching TFT has a light-shielding layer adapted for preventing the sunlight from being incident into the switching TFT. The driving TFT is a bottom gate thin film transistor and have advantages of precisely controlling the current provided to the organic electroluminescent diode. Further, since the storage capacitor has a multilayer structure and occupies a reduced pixel area, the aperture ratio of the pixel structure can be increased. |
| US07790524B2 |
Device and design structures for memory cells in a non-volatile random access memory and methods of fabricating such device structures
Device and design structures for memory cells in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) and methods for fabricating such device structures using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. The device structure, which is formed using a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, includes a floating gate electrode, a semiconductor body, and a control gate electrode separated from the semiconductor body by the floating gate electrode. The floating gate electrode, the control gate electrode, and the semiconductor body, which are both formed from the monocrystalline SOI layer of the SOI substrate, are respectively separated by dielectric layers. The dielectric layers may each be composed of thermal oxide layers grown on confronting sidewalls of the semiconductor body, the floating gate electrode, and the control gate electrode. An optional deposited dielectric material may fill any remaining gap between either pair of the thermal oxide layers. |
| US07790521B2 |
Thin film semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same and display
A method of manufacturing a thin film semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a light reflection and absorption layer for reflecting and absorbing light on a substrate; patterning the light reflection and absorption layer in a prescribed shape; forming an insulating film covering the patterned light reflection and absorption layer; forming a semiconductor thin film containing a polycrystalline grain on the insulating film; and laser annealing the semiconductor thin film by irradiating pulse oscillated laser light to crystallize the semiconductor thin film. The laser annealing step includes a heating process, and a cooling process. |
| US07790520B2 |
Process for manufacturing a charge-balance power diode and an edge-termination structure for a charge-balance semiconductor power device
An embodiment of a process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device envisages the steps of: providing a body made of semiconductor material having a first top surface; forming an active region with a first type of conductivity in the proximity of the first top surface and inside an active portion of the body; and forming an edge-termination structure. The edge-termination structure is formed by: a ring region having the first type of conductivity and a first doping level, set within a peripheral edge portion of the body and electrically connected to the active region; and a guard region, having the first type of conductivity and a second doping level, higher than the first doping level, set in the proximity of the first top surface and connecting the active region to the ring region. The process further envisages the steps of: forming a surface layer having the first type of conductivity on the first top surface, also at the peripheral edge portion, in contact with the guard region; and etching the surface layer in order to remove it above the edge portion in such a manner that the etch terminates inside the guard region. |
| US07790519B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device has a MOS gate side surface structure, including a gate electrode filling a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate with an insulator film between the trench and the gate electrode, a gate insulator film covering the surface of the gate electrode, a buffer region of one conductivity type in contact with the semiconductor substrate, a base region of the other conductivity type adjacent to the buffer region on the gate insulator film, and an emitter region of the one conductivity type adjacent to the base region on the side opposite to the buffer region. The semiconductor device and the method of manufacturing thereof can further improve the tradeoff between the on-voltage and the turn-off loss by increasing the amount of electrons injected from a cathode on the surface to increase an amount of carriers on the cathode side in a stable turned-on state of the device. |
| US07790514B2 |
Manufacturing process for a chip package structure
A manufacturing process for a chip package structure is provided. First, a patterned conductive layer having a plurality of first openings and a first patterned solder resist layer on the patterned conductive layer are provided. A second patterned solder resist layer is formed on the patterned conductive layer such that the first patterned solder resist layer and the second patterned solder resist layer are disposed at two opposite surfaces of the patterned conductive layer. Chips are bonded onto the first patterned solder resist layer such that the first patterned solder resist layer is between the chips and the patterned conductive layer. The chips are electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer by a plurality of bonding wires passing through the first openings. At least one molding compound is formed and the molding compound, the first patterned solder resist layer and the second patterned solder resist layer are separated. |
| US07790510B1 |
Metal lid with improved adhesion to package substrate
A metal lid for packaging semiconductor chips is stamped to form a sloped sidewall with a set-back from the edge of a package substrate. After the metal lid is placed over the semiconductor chip, molding compound is formed around portions of the exposed perimeter of the package substrate and against the sloped sidewall of the lid. The molding compound securely attaches the lid to the package substrate, providing improved reliability to the lid-substrate joint. The lightweight lid also increases standoff when a solder ball-grid array is used to connect the packaged IC to a printed wiring board, improving the reliability of the ball-grid array connections. |
| US07790505B2 |
Semiconductor chip package manufacturing method and structure thereof
A semiconductor chip package manufacturing method and a structure thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes: providing a base having an image sensor chip and an encapsulant, in which the image sensor chip has pads and an active area; placing a transparent insulator on the active area; forming an insulation layer on an upper surface of the base; opening a plurality of openings to expose the pads; forming a plurality of through holes penetrating the insulation layer and the encapsulant outside of the image sensor chips; forming a metal layer on surfaces of the insulation layer, the openings, the pads and the through holes, and on a lower surface of the base, so as to extend the pads to the lower surface of the base; patterning the metal layer to expose a top area of the transparent insulator and remove a partial area of the metal layer on the lower surface of the base to form contacts; and sawing the base to form a package structure containing a single image sensor chip. |
| US07790500B2 |
Partially patterned lead frames and methods of making and using the same in semiconductor packaging
A method of making a lead frame and a partially patterned lead frame package with near-chip scale packaging lead-count, wherein the method lends itself to better automation of the manufacturing line and improved quality and reliability of the packages produced therefrom. A major portion of the manufacturing process steps is performed with a partially patterned strip of metal formed into a web-like lead frame on one side so that the web-like lead frame is also rigid mechanically and robust thermally to perform without distortion or deformation during the chip-attach and wire bond processes, both at the chip level and the package level. The bottom side of the metal lead frame is patterned to isolate the chip-pad and the wire bond contacts only after the front side, including the chip and wires, is hermetically sealed with an encapsulant. The resultant package being electrically isolated enables strip testing and reliable singulation. |
| US07790498B2 |
Process using a broken gelled composition
A process including: (a) providing a gelable composition comprising a gelable semiconductor polymer and a liquid, wherein the polymer is at a low concentration in the liquid; (b) gelling the gelable composition to result in a gelled composition; (c) breaking the gelled composition to result in a flowable, broken gelled composition, wherein the viscosity of the flowable, broken gelled composition is at least about 10 times greater than the viscosity of the liquid; and (d) liquid depositing the flowable, broken gelled composition. |
| US07790497B2 |
Method to prevent alloy formation when forming layered metal oxides by metal oxidation
The present method of fabricating a resistive memory device includes the steps of providing a first electrode, oxidizing a portion of the first electrode with an oxidizing agent, providing a metal body on the oxidized portion of the first electrode, oxidizing the entire metal body with an oxidizing agent, and providing a second electrode on the oxidized metal body. |
| US07790494B2 |
Method of fabricating a multi-bit electro-mechanical memory device
A memory device may include a substrate, a bit line, at least a first lower word line, at least a first trap site, a pad electrode, at least a first cantilever electrode, and/or at least a first upper word line. The bit line may be formed on the substrate in a first direction. The first lower word line and the first trap site may be insulated from the bit line and formed in a second direction crossing the bit line. The pad electrode may be insulated at sidewalls of the first lower word line and the first trap site and connected to the bit line. The first cantilever electrode may be formed in the first direction, connected to the pad electrode, floated on the first trap site with at least a first lower vacant space, and/or configured to be bent in a third direction. The first upper word line may be formed on the first cantilever electrode in the second direction with at least a first upper vacant space. |
| US07790488B2 |
Method for fabricating an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display (LCD) device, which reduces loss in transmittance and improves reflectance, and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The in-plane switching mode LCD device includes gate and data lines orthogonally crossing each other on a first substrate to define pixel regions having reflection portions and transmission portions; thin film transistors formed at the crossing of the gate and data lines; common electrodes formed at the transmission portions of the pixel regions; reflection electrodes formed at the reflection portions of the pixel regions; pixel electrodes formed parallel with the common electrodes at the transmission portions and formed above the reflection electrodes at the reflection portions; a second substrate facing and attached to the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates; and first and second polarizing films respectively attached to outer surfaces of the first and second substrates. |
| US07790487B2 |
Method for fabricating photo sensor
A method for fabricating a photo sensor on an amorphous silicon thin film transistor panel includes forming a photo sensor with a bottom electrode, a silicon-rich dielectric layer, and a top electrode, such that the light sensor has a high reliability. The fabrication method is compatible with the fabrication process of a thin film transistor. |
| US07790482B2 |
Light emitting diode package with diffuser and method of manufacturing the same
The invention relates to an LED package for facilitating color mixing using a diffuser and a manufacturing method of the same. The LED package includes a substrate with an electrode formed thereon, and an LED chip mounted on the substrate. The LED package also includes an encapsulant applied around the light emitting diode chip, containing a diffuser. The LED package further includes a lens part disposed on the light emitting diode chip and the encapsulant to radiate light in a wide angle. The LED package allows light from the light emitting diode chip to be emitted out of the package without distortion. The invention allows light to exit through the encapsulant containing the diffuser and the lens part, achieving uniform diffusion and emission of light from the LED chip, thereby increasing a radiating angle and obtaining a uniform light source. |
| US07790472B2 |
Fixed support for immobilizing biomolecules
The invention concerns a fixed support for immobilizing biomolecules, said support being covered, at least in some parts, with a polymer. The invention is characterized in that the polymer is an epoxy resin with functionality ranging between 4 and 15. The invention also concerns a method for making such a support. |
| US07790470B2 |
Stirring method, cell, and measuring apparatus using the same
A method capable of stirring a liquid sample and a reagent promptly and easily includes the following steps (A) and (B). In step (A), using a cell including: a liquid sample retaining section having a plurality of particles; and a liquid sample supply inlet, a liquid sample containing an analyte is supplied from the liquid sample supply inlet to the liquid sample retaining section. In step (B), the liquid sample and a specific binding substance capable of specifically binding to the analyte are stirred by the movement of the particles caused by the flow of the liquid sample in the cell resulting from the supply of the liquid sample, to obtain a liquid mixture. The electric charge of at least the surface of the particles and the electric charge of the specific binding substance have the same polarity in the liquid mixture. |
| US07790467B1 |
Diode laser based ketone and aldehyde detection
An apparatus and method for quantifying ketone or alydehyde concentrations of gas. The invention includes passing a gas sample through a reactor and an optical cell and determining a concentration of a gaseous reaction product. Using the concentration of the gaseous reaction product and a predetermined reaction conversion efficiency, a ketone or aldehyde concentration is calculated. This invention can be used for diabetes screening, diabetes maintenance, identification and quantification of ketosis, explosives detection and formaldehyde detection. |
| US07790462B2 |
Reaction vessel support having pivoting plates, an analyzing device comprising a support of this type, and corresponding analysis method
This reaction vessel support is of the type comprising at least one supporting plate (46, 48) designed to take one or more reaction vessels, and mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (R).In one aspect of the invention, the support comprises at least one control member (94, 96) comprising releasable means (100) of coupling to a movable actuating element (40) of an actuator (10), in such a way as to enable the control member (94, 96) to be moved by the actuator (10), with the control member (94, 96) and the supporting plate (46, 48) being connected together in such a way that a movement of the control member (94, 96) by the actuator (10) is able to bring about a rotation of the supporting plate (46, 84) about the axis of rotation (R) in at least one direction of rotation.Of particular application to supports for microassay plates comprising wells laid out in a matrix arrangement. |
| US07790461B2 |
Nano-emulsion technology for drug elution
Embodiments of the invention provide to apparatuses and media used in drug elution studies and methods for making and using them. One embodiment of the invention is a drug elution method that can be used for in-vitro studies of a matrix impregnated with a compound such as a drug blended polymer matrix. Such methods and materials can be used for example to assess and control the manufacturing process variability of drug eluting implantable devices such as cardiac leads. |
| US07790457B2 |
Solid cellulosic culture medium and process for producing the same
The present invention relates to a solid medium containing as a medium-solidifying component a cellulose gel, in particular a cellulose gel which is a porous cellulose gel structure containing cellulose as the skeletal part and having a cellulose concentration of 0.01% or higher and a porosity of 50% or higher, as well as a process for producing the same. The solid medium of the invention can be obtained by dispersing cellulose in a solvent, especially an aqueous thiocyanate salt solution, stirring and/or heating the dispersion to dissolve the cellulose, subsequently cooling the solution and/or removing the solvent to cause the solution to gel, and permeating nutrients into the resultant cellulose gel.The solid medium usable under a wide range of culture conditions where conventional solid media such as agar medium cannot be used, as well as a method for producing the same is provided. |
| US07790449B2 |
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 8 sequences, vectors containing the same, and uses therefor
Sequences of a serotype 8 adeno-associated virus and vectors and host cells containing these sequences are provided. Also described are methods of using such host cells and vectors in production of rAAV particles. rAAV8-mediated delivery of therapeutic and immunogenic genes, including Factor VIII, is also provided. |
| US07790444B2 |
Bioreactor for studying the effects of imposed stimuli on cellular activity
A bioreactor device for studying the effects of physical, chemical, mechanical and electromagnetic stimuli on the cellular activity. In particular, the device uses a sensorized premixing chamber (1), a culture chamber (2) for observing the development of the cells by a microscope (40). Output signals are transmitted to a control unit for amplifying and filtering the signals (50), which transmits the treated signals to a computer (52). To another control unit (51) actuating electrovalves (20), (21) and (22) are connected that adjust the introduction of gas in the premixing chamber. The culture medium is drawn from the premixing chamber (1) through a duct (4) and its flow is adjusted by a peristaltic pump (30). The culture medium crosses then the culture chamber (2) and continues its path in a duct (3), returning again in the premixing chamber (1). At the outlet of the culture chamber (2) the duct has a sample point (23) for picking up an amount of culture medium to analyze. Immediately before, along the duct, a temperature sensor is provided (24) that transmits a signal to the control unit (50) by an electrical cable (9). |
| US07790442B2 |
Bacteriorhodopsin-based photochromic sensor for detection of chemical and environmental toxins
A bacteriorhodopsin based chemical sensing architecture based upon the collective response of bacteriorhodopsin and a number of its mutants; the wild type protein and a selection of genetically-engineered variants was able to respond differentially to a selection of amines. The observable response to the presence of a target chemical was manifested through a modulation of bacteriorhodopsin's photokinetic properties, which are monitored through pump-probe techniques using a custom prototype flash photolysis system. Differential responsivity exists at two levels; (1) bacteriorhodopsin proteins (wild-type and genetically-engineered variants) respond differentially upon exposure of a target chemical, and (2) the response pattern exhibited by the proteins differs from chemical to chemical. This dichotomy forms the basis for a BR-mediated chemical sensing technology that is highly sensitive and selective and may therefore discriminate between different chemicals. |
| US07790440B2 |
Sensing switch and detecting method using the same
Provided are a sensing switch and a sensing method using the same. The sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. A target material need not be labelled, a signal processing of a fluorescent or electrical detection signal using an analysis apparatus is not required, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch. |
| US07790435B2 |
Chemical induction in quiescence in bacteria
Quiescence is induced in cells using indole compounds. Expression continues from extra-chromosomal vectors within the cells during quiescence, while chromosomal expression is suppressed. The cells may be used as factories for the production of large amounts of polypeptides of interest, particularly polypeptides which normally have an adverse effect on cell viability or growth. Expression from an extra-chromosomal vector of interest may be monitored, in view of the reduced background expression from the chromosome. Vector copy number may be amplified. Cell cycles may be synchronized. |
| US07790431B2 |
Methods and materials for the production of shikimic acid
Novel enzymes and novel enzymatic pathways for the pyruvate-based synthesis of shikimate or at least one intermediate thereto or derivative thereof, nucleic acids encoding the enzymes, cells transformed therewith, and kits containing said enzymes, cells, or nucleic acid. A KDPGal aldolase is used to perform condensation of pyruvate with D-erythrose 4-phosphate to form 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP); a 3-dehydroquinate synthase is used to convert the DAHP to 3-dehydroquinate (DHQ); DHQ dehydratase can then convert DHQ to the key shikimate intermediate, 3-dehydroshikimate. |
| US07790429B2 |
Robust multi-enzyme preparation for the synthesis of fatty acid alkyl esters
A process for the preparation of short-chain alkyl esters of fatty acids, preferably fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel) in solvent-free system is disclosed. In particular, the process comprises (a) providing a fatty acid source, (b) stepwise adding a short-chain free alcohol, preferably methanol, or any other alcohol donor, to said fatty acid source in the presence of a lipase preparation and (c) allowing the reaction to proceed under suitable conditions, until said fatty acid source triglycerides are converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The lipase preparation comprises at least two lipases. The two lipases being separately or jointly immobilized on a suitable support and wherein at least one of the lipases has increased affinity for partial glycerides and at least one of the lipases is sn-1,3 positional specific. |
| US07790428B2 |
Essential fungal polypeptide, CaYDR341c, and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides essential fungal polynucleotides and their encoded polypeptides, homologues thereof and their uses. Additionally, the invention provides methods for the identification of essential polynucleotides and fungal strains which may be used for drug screening. |
| US07790424B2 |
L-methionine producing microorganism and method of producing L-methionine using the microorganism
Disclosed herein are a method of preparing an L-methionine production strain by overexpressing proteins involved in L-methionine biosynthesis in an L-threonine production strain, a strain prepared by the method, and a method of producing L-methionine using the strain. |
| US07790421B2 |
Peptide acceptor ligation methods
Described herein are methods and reagents for the ligation of a peptide acceptor to an RNA, as well as the RNA-peptide acceptor products. |
| US07790420B2 |
Method for determining protein solubility
The present invention relates to methods of screening for expression of a soluble candidate protein within an expression library of candidate proteins. The method involves fusing each candidate protein in the library to a peptide substrate and identifying cells that express soluble candidate protein by detecting enzymatic modification of the peptide substrate. |
| US07790419B2 |
Antiviral vectors
A viral vector production system is provided which system comprises: (i) a viral genome comprising at least one first nucleotide sequence encoding a gene product capable of binding to and effecting the cleavage, directly or indirectly, of a second nucleotide sequence, or transcription product thereof, encoding a viral polypeptide required for the assembly of viral particles; (ii) a third nucleotide sequence encoding said viral polypeptide required for the assembly of the viral genome into viral particles, which third nucleotide sequence has a different nucleotide sequence to the second nucleotide sequence such that said third nucleotide sequence, or transcription product thereof, is resistant to cleavage directed by said gene product. The viral vector production system may be used to produce viral particles for use in treating or preventing viral infection. |
| US07790418B2 |
Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids on a solid support
Methods for isothermal amplification of nucleic acid by the means of a solid support are disclosed. These methods are useful for applications needing high throughput, in particular nucleic acid sequencing. |
| US07790416B2 |
Mutant E. coli strain with increased succinic acid production
The invention relates to a mutant strain of bacteria, which either lacks or contains mutant genes for several key metabolic enzymes, and which produces high amounts of succinic acid under anaerobic conditions. |
| US07790410B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining hemocompatibility
Provided herein are techniques for screening materials for hemocompatibility. Hemocompatible materials may be advantageous when incorporated into devices that may come into direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Such techniques take advantage of conformational changes in fibrinogen when adsorbed onto certain materials. As a result of conformational changes, the fibrinogen has altered responsiveness to cleavage by thrombin. Accordingly, the products of thrombin cleavage of fibrinogen may be assessed to determine the hemocompatibility of a material. |
| US07790407B2 |
Targeting of SALL4 for the treatment and diagnosis of proliferative disorders associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
The present invention discloses nucleic acids, proteins, and antibodies for SALL4 (including isoforms SALL4A, SALL4B, and SALL4C), a zinc finger transcriptional factor. Further, methods are disclosed which demonstrate that constitutive expression of SALL4 increases leukemogenic potential in cells of model animal systems. Moreover, constitutive expression of select isoforms (e.g., SALL4B) in transgenic mice demonstrate that these animals develop myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-like signs and symptoms, including subsequent acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is transplantable. The disclosure also provides methods for identifying and purifying embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, cancer stem cells, including leukemia stem cells, methods for identifying substances which bind to and/or modulate SALL4, methods for diagnosing MDS in a subject, and methods of treating a subject presenting MDS. |
| US07790406B2 |
Grating-based sensor combining label-free binding detection and fluorescence amplification and readout system for sensor
A grating-based sensor is disclosed that has a grating structure constructed and designed for both evanescent resonance (ER) fluorescence detection and label-free detection applications. One and two-dimensional gratings are also disclosed, including gratings characterized by unit cells with central posts, central holes, and two-level, two-dimensional gratings. A readout system for such sensors is also disclosed. Various applications for the biosensors are described, including cell-based assays for assessing the effect of drug compounds on cell function. A biosensor embodiment optimized for a luminescent response at two different wavelengths is also described. Such luminescent response could be produced by fluorescence (either native or from an attached fluorophore), phosphorescence, chemi-luminescence, or other luminescence technology. Two different luminescence technologies could be combined on the same biosensor chip. |
| US07790403B2 |
Methods for predicting preganancy outcome in a subject by hCG assay
The present invention provides a method of predicting pregnancy outcome in a subject by determining the amount of an early pregnancy associated molecular isoform of hCG in a sample. The present invention further provides a method for determining the amount of early pregnancy associated molecular isoforms of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a sample. The present invention also provides a diagnostic kit for determining the amount of early pregnancy associated hCG in a sample. The present invention additionally provides an antibody which specifically binds to an early pregnancy associated molecular isoform of human chorionic gonadotropin. Finally, the present invention provides methods for detecting trophoblast or non-trophoblast malignancy in a sample. |
| US07790402B2 |
Fetuin-A as a biomarker for multiple sclerosis
Biomarkers are disclosed that facilitate the mechanisms associated with central nervous system disease worsening or activity, specifically multiple sclerosis. Methods are also disclosed for identification of biomarkers associated with disease worsening or activity in multiple sclerosis. |
| US07790396B1 |
Methods and compositions for the treatment of psychotic disorders through the identification of the SULT4A1-1 haplotype
Methods and compositions relate to genetic markers of psychotic disorders, e.g., schizophrenia (SZ), are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for determinations of a SULT4A1-1 haplotype are described. Furthermore, the invention provides methods and compositions involving treatment of psychotic disorders using the haplotype status. |
| US07790388B2 |
Nucleic acid amplification method
A nucleic acid amplification method, and probes for use within the method are described. |
| US07790376B2 |
Heparanase specific molecular probes and their use in research and medical applications
Heparanase specific molecular probes which can be used for detection of the presence, absence or level of heparanase expression and methods of utilizing same are provided. |
| US07790373B2 |
Clean-up beads
The present invention provides a material for separating an analyte from an undesired constituent, which material comprises a solid phase and a coating, wherein the solid phase is capable of binding the undesired constituent, and wherein the coating covers the exposed surface of the solid phase to an extent that any binding of the solid phase to the analyte is impeded. A method for preparing the material, and uses of the material for separating an analyte from an undesired constituent are also provided. |
| US07790369B2 |
Method for producing polymers
The invention relates to a method for producing polymers, in particular synthetic nucleic acid double strands of optional sequence, comprising the steps: (a) providing a support having a surface area which contains a plurality of individual reaction areas, (b) location-resolved synthesizing nucleic acid fragments each having different base sequences in several of the individual reaction areas, and (c) detaching the nucleic acid fragments from individual reaction areas. |
| US07790362B2 |
Controlled platelet activation to monitor therapy of ADP antagonists
A method is provided of determining whether an individual has reduced ability to form platelet thrombi. An ADP platelet activator and one or platelet inhibitors are provided. At least one of the platelet inhibitors is Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). An alternate signal transduction pathway is produced. A final concentration of ADP is 2 to 35 μM and a final concentration of PGE1 is 2 to 30 nM, preferably 20 to 25 nM. |
| US07790360B2 |
Methods of forming multiple lines
Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask. |
| US07790357B2 |
Method of forming fine pattern of semiconductor device
A method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device includes forming a first photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate including an underlying layer. A cross-linking layer is formed on the sidewall of the first photoresist pattern. The first photoresist pattern is removed to form a fine pattern including a silicon polymer. A second photoresist pattern is formed that is coupled to the fine pattern. The underlying layer is etched using the fine pattern and the second photoresist pattern as an etching mask. As a result, the fine pattern has a smaller size than a minimum pitch. |
| US07790353B2 |
Multidirectional photoreactive absorption method
A method for enhancing photoreactive absorption in a specified volume element of a photoreactive composition. In one embodiment, the method includes: providing a photoreactive composition: providing a source of light (preferably, a pulsed laser) sufficient for simultaneous absorption of at least two photons by the photoreactive composition, the light source having a beam capable of being divided: dividing the light beam into a plurality of equal path length exposure beams: and focusing the exposure beams in a substantially non-counter propagating manner at a single volume element of the photoreactive composition simultaneously to react at least a portion of the photoreactive composition. In another embodiment, a method includes: providing a photoreactive composition capable of photoreactive absorption: and exposing the photoreactive composition to laser light from a plurality of substantially non-counter propagating directions simultaneously, wherein the light overlaps in time and space at a predetermined focus spot. |
| US07790348B2 |
Decomposable resin composition and flexographic printing plate precursor using the same
A decomposable resin composition containing a metathesis catalyst and a polymer compound. |
| US07790347B2 |
Multi-photon reacted articles with inorganic particles and method for fabricating structures
A three-dimensional shaped structure is prepared from a multi-photon reactive composition including: (a) at least one reactive species; (b) a multi-photon photoinitiator system; and (c) a plurality of substantially inorganic particles, wherein the particles have an average particle size of less than about 10 microns in diameter. |
| US07790341B2 |
Laser mask and method of crystallization using the same
Provided is a method for crystallizing using a laser mask for selectively crystallizing active regions without a laser shot mark, including: providing an array substrate in which N×M active regions are defined; positioning a laser mask having first and second blocks over the substrate, wherein the first and second blocks have first and second mask patterns, respectively, and the second mask pattern is a reverse pattern of the first mask pattern; irradiating a first laser beam onto the active regions through the first block; and irradiating a second laser beam onto the active regions through the second block. |
| US07790339B2 |
Photomask blank
A photomask blank has a light-shielding film composed of a single layer of a material containing a transition metal, silicon and nitrogen or a plurality of layers that include at least one layer made of a material containing a transition metal, silicon and nitrogen, and has one or more chrome-based material film. The high transition metal content ensures electrical conductivity, preventing charge-up in the photomask production process, and also provides sufficient chemical stability to cleaning in photomask production. The light-shielding film has a good resistance to dry etching of the chrome-based material film in the presence of chlorine and oxygen, thus ensuring a high processing accuracy. |
| US07790337B2 |
Photomask, pattern formation method using the same and mask data creation method
A principal pattern made of a plurality of isolated transparent portions is formed in a light-shielding portion disposed on a transparent substrate having a transparent property against exposing light. The principal pattern includes a first principal pattern and a second principal pattern adjacent to each other at a given distance, and a first auxiliary pattern made of a phase shifter portion for transmitting the exposing light in an opposite phase to the exposing light passing through the transparent portion is formed between the first principal pattern and the second principal pattern. |
| US07790334B2 |
Method for photomask plasma etching using a protected mask
A method for etching chromium and forming a photomask is provided. In one embodiment, a method for etching chromium includes providing a film stack in a processing chamber having a chromium layer, patterning a photoresist layer on the film stack, depositing a conformal protective layer on the patterned photoresist layer, etching the conformal protective layer to expose a chromium layer through the patterned photoresist layer, and etching the chromium layer. The methods for etching chromium of the present invention are particularly suitable for fabricating photomasks. |
| US07790327B2 |
Reinfored matrix for molten carbonate fuel cell and method for preparing the same
Provided is a reinforced matrix for molten carbonate fuel cell, wherein a mechanical strength of the matrix is increased by adding a reinforcing agent having a low melting point. |
| US07790325B2 |
Valve having valve element displaced by at least one of a movement of a diaphragm and a movement of an actuator, and fuel cell using the valve
A valve and a fuel cell using the same are provided, the valve having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flow path communicating therebetween, a valve element provided in the flow path, a diaphragm which is disposed so as to separate the inside from the outside of the flow path and which is to be deformed by the difference in pressure between the inside and the outside of the flow path, a valve shaft connecting between the valve element and the diaphragm, and an actuator provided for the diaphragm. In the valve described above, the valve element is displaced by at least one movement of the diaphragm and the actuator to open and close the valve. Accordingly, the valve has a simple structure which can be easily miniaturized and which is unlikely to be degraded even when a corrosive fluid flows through the valve. |
| US07790324B2 |
Separator plate and fuel cell
The invention relates to a separator plate for use in a fuel cell and to a fuel cell. The separator plate has: a passage groove group including a plurality of gas passage grooves 35 formed so as to extend in serpentine form; and a communicating groove 33 configured to provide fluid communication between adjacent portions of the gas passage grooves. Various separator plates have heretofore been disclosed in public by many documents and the blockage of the gas passage grooves caused by condensed water droplets formed therein is deemed to be properly prevented. However, the inventors think that those separator plates have a critical oversight in the behavior of a gas-liquid two phase fluid including a reaction gas and condensed water. That is, the condensed water is likely to concentrate in the vicinity of the gas passage grooves located in the downstream side of such separator plates and therefore these separator plates are liable to blockage. The invention intends to overcome the above problem by making the communicating groove 33 shallower than the gas passage grooves. |
| US07790321B2 |
Separator for use in high-energy batteries and method for the production thereof
The present invention relates to electrical separators, especially for use in lithium high energy batteries, and to a process for making them.Separators for use in lithium high energy batteries have to have a very low weight and a very low thickness. It has been found that, surprisingly, such separators having a weight of less than 50 g/m2 and a thickness of less than 35 μm are preparable by applying a ceramic coating to a polymeric web less than 30 μm in thickness, these separators being very useful in lithium high energy batteries when pyrogenic oxides of the elements Al, Si and/or Zr are used as a particulate pore-forming component. |
| US07790318B2 |
Positive active material for lithium secondary battery and method of preparing same
Disclosed in a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery including a compound represented by formula 1 and having a 10% to 70% ratio of diffracted intensity of diffraction lines in 2θ=53° (104 plane) with respect to diffracted intensity of diffraction lines in the vicinity of 2θ=22° (003 plane) in X-ray diffraction patterns using a CoKα-ray, LixCoO2-yAy (1) wherein, x is from 0.90 to 1.04, y is from 0 to 0.5, and A is selected from the group consisting of F, S and P. |
| US07790317B1 |
Silver vanadium oxide-fluoride material useful as a battery cathode
Metal oxide-fluoride material including silver, vanadium, oxygen and fluorine, such as Ag4V2O6F2, is made and useful as a cathode for a battery. The material is made by subjecting silver oxide, vanadium oxide, and aqueous solution of HF to superambient temperature in a pressure vessel. |
| US07790316B2 |
Silicon composite particles, preparation thereof, and negative electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell
Silicon composite particles are prepared by sintering primary fine particles of silicon, silicon alloy or silicon oxide together with an organosilicon compound. Sintering of the organosilicon compound results in a silicon-base inorganic compound which serves as a binder. Each particle has the structure that silicon or silicon alloy fine particles are dispersed in the silicon-base inorganic compound binder, and voids are present within the particle. |
| US07790314B2 |
Sulfonated polymer composition for forming fuel cell electrodes
A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is described. The materials for the membrane electrode assembly are formed from sulfonated polymers. A polymer dispersion ink containing the sulfonated polymer and a mixture of solvents is used to form the electrodes on the exchange membrane. The dispersion ink allows for the electrodes to be formed directly on the exchange membrane without significantly dissolving the exchange membrane. |
| US07790313B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator between the positive and negative electrodes is provided. The secondary battery further comprises a case for containing the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly connected to the case. The cap assembly comprises positive and negative terminals electrically connected to the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, respectively. Lead connectors are electrically connected to the positive and negative electrode plates and the positive and negative terminals. A support is connected to each end of the electrode assembly and surrounds the lead connectors. The supports are adapted to fit between the electrode assembly and the case. |
| US07790308B2 |
Manganese oxide composite electrodes for lithium batteries
An activated electrode for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell is disclosed with a precursor thereof a lithium metal oxide with the formula x{zLi2MnO3.(1−z)LiM′O2}.(1−x)LiMn2−yMyO4 for 0 |
| US07790300B2 |
R-Fe-B based thin film magnet and method for preparation thereof
An R—Fe—B based thin film magnet including an R—Fe—B based alloy which contains 28 to 45 percent by mass of R element (where R represents at least one type of rare-earth lanthanide elements) and which is physically formed into a film, wherein the R—Fe—B based alloy has a composite texture composed of R2Fe14B crystals having a crystal grain diameter of 0.5 to 30 μm and R-element-rich grain boundary phases present at boundaries between the crystals. The magnetization characteristics of the thin film magnet are improved. The R—Fe—B based thin film magnet can be prepared by heating to 700° C. to 1,200° C. during physical film formation or/and the following heat treatment, so as to grow crystal grains and form R-element-rich grain boundary phases. |
| US07790290B2 |
Intermediate film of laminated safety glass with antiglare function and novel neodymium compound
The present invention provides an intermediate film for use in laminated glass, comprising a resin composition containing polyvinyl butyral, a plasticizer and a neodymium compound having compatibility in both the plasticizer and a plasticized resin, where the neodymium compound is a neodymium salt of a polyvalent ester of a dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid wherein one carboxyl group is not esterified. The intermediate film is useful in producing a laminated glass. |
| US07790287B2 |
Light-scattering sheet having high light transmission and improved antistatic properties
A solid sheet comprising transparent polycarbonate matrix, particles of a transparent polymer and an antistatic agent is disclosed. Characterized in that the refractive index of said matrix differs from that of said polymer, the sheet is suitable in making diffuser plate in flat screens. |
| US07790286B2 |
External modification of composite organic inorganic nanoclusters
Modified and functionalized metallic nanoclusters capable of providing an enhanced Raman signal from an organic Raman-active molecule incorporated therein are provided. For example, modifications include coatings and layers, such as adsorption layers, metal coatings, silica coatings, and organic layers. The nanoclusters are generally referred to as COINs (composite organic inorganic nanoparticles) and are capable of acting as sensitive reporters for analyte detection. A metal that enhances the Raman signal from the organic Raman-active compound is inherent in the nanocluster. A variety of organic Raman-active compounds and mixtures of compounds can be incorporated into the nanocluster. |
| US07790282B2 |
Self-crimping fully drawn high bulky yarns and method of producing thereof
Self-crimping fully drawn high bulk yarns comprising fiber forming bicomponent filaments comprising two polymers having different crystallizability or differential orientation or combination thereof is disclosed herein. Further the present invention discloses a method for producing the self-crimping fully drawn high bulk yarns by single and two-stage process. The invention also discloses the fabric comprising the self-crimping fully drawn high bulk yarns. |
| US07790278B2 |
System for delivery of fibers into concrete
The present invention provides for twisted and rectangular dice forms of sheeted fibrous materials and a process for making the dice forms. Specifically, the invention teaches the use of dice forms and sheet materials in construction and cementitious materials. |
| US07790271B2 |
Dielectric ceramic composition, ceramic substrate, and method for producing the same
A dielectric ceramic composition includes about 10% to about 40% by weight of BaO, about 20% to about 65% by weight of SiO2, about 6% to about 40% by weight of Al2O3, about 1% to about 15% by weight of B2O3, about 0.3% to about 3% by weight of Cr2O3, and about 1% to about 40% by weight of ZrO2. A multilayer ceramic substrate has a laminated structure including an inner layer portion and outer layer portions that have a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than that of the inner layer portion. The use of the dielectric ceramic composition for the outer layer portions enables the ceramic to be resistant to erosion caused by a plating liquid used for plating external conductive films, thus maintaining good adhesiveness between the external conductive films and the outer layer portions. |
| US07790265B2 |
Surface-energy gradient on a fluid-impervious surface and method of its creation using a mixed monolayer film
A surface energy gradient on a fluid-impervious surface and method of its creation comprising the steps of a) Exposing a base surface having a proximal and a distal portion to a first solution comprising at least one molecule of the formula X-J-M1 wherein X and M1 represent separate functional groups and J represents a spacer moiety that, together, are able to promote formation from solution of a self-assembled monolayer for sufficient time to form a monolayer surface having a uniform surface energy on the base surface. b) Removing a portion of the monolayer of (a) such that a portion of the base surface is again fully or partially exposed. (c) Exposing the portion of the base surface from (b) to at least one other molecule including a functional group having a different surface energy from that of the functional group removed in(b) such that a surface energy gradient from a proximal location to a distal location is formed. |
| US07790261B2 |
Splice seam
A splice seam for joining various sections of fabric together is disclosed, wherein the fabric sections are initially delaminated into their constituent plies. The plies associated with each fabric section are then interleaved with each other, and bonded together. The amount of surface area between each interleaved plies can be adjusted as so as to achieve a desired level of load carrying strength between the fabric sections. Additionally, the splice seam may utilize an external and/or internal seam tape to increase the strength of the resultant seam. |
| US07790254B2 |
System and method of reinforcing diverter switches
A reinforced diverter switch is molded with a flange having a reinforcing material embedded therein. A shaft of a diverter switch is wrapped with a reinforcing material. The shaft of the diverter switch may be wrapped by first removing a portion of the epoxy resin to expose a conductor of the diverter switch, machining a portion of the epoxy resin, and then filament winding the reinforcing material over the portion of the epoxy resin machined. |
| US07790251B2 |
Cut resistant paper and paper articles and method for making same
The specification discloses a method for making a paper material having a reduced tendency to cut human skin. The method includes providing a papermaking furnish containing cellulosic fibers and from about 0.5 to about 5.0 wt % by weight dry basis expandable microspheres, forming a paperboard web from the papermaking furnish, drying the web, and calendaring the web to a caliper of from about 11.0 to about 18.0 mils and a density ranging from about 7.0 to about 12.0 lb/3000 ft2/mil. Papers formed according to the method and articles formed therefrom are also disclosed. |
| US07790249B2 |
Stretched cellulose ester film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display employing the same
A stretched cellulose ester film produced by stretching after film forming employing a cellulose ester including a polyester polyol obtained from (a) a glycol having an average carbon atom number of 2 to 3.5 and (b) a dibasic or an anhydrous dibasic acid having an average carbon number of 4 to 5.5, wherein the stretched cellulose ester film exhibits retardation value Ro in the range of 30 to 200 nm, and a retardation value Rt in the range of 70 to 400 nm, Ro and Rt are each defined by specific Formulas (1) and (2). |
| US07790247B2 |
Liquid-crystalline medium
Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium, which contains one or more compounds of formula I their use for electro-optical purposes, to displays containing this medium, and to novel LC compounds for use in LC media and displays. |
| US07790243B2 |
Method for producing large-diameter 3D carbon nano-onion structures at room temperature
A method includes imparting energy to a target in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at room temperature to provide a substrate facing the target with a carbonaceous coating that includes nested carbon structures. |