| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07792018B2 |
Intelligent load balancing and failover of network traffic
A hash engine in a network device driver maintains data on the utilization and error rate for each network interface card (“NIC”) within a local computing device. From this data, the hash engine intelligently selects transmit NICs and receive NICs based on various networking parameters provided from a software driver program. Transmit packets sent from the operating system in a local computing device to a remote computing device are intercepted, modified and redirected to transmit NICs selected by the hash engine for transmission to remote computing devices. Similarly, address resolution protocol (“ARP”) response packets sent by the operating system in response to ARP request packets are intercepted, modified and redirected to receive NICs selected by the hash engine for transmission. By selecting receive NICs and transmit NICs in this fashion, the hash engine is able to intelligently load balance transmit and receive traffic in the local computing device, thereby improving overall network performance relative to prior art techniques. |
| US07792016B2 |
Network relay device for relaying data in a network and control method for the same
In the case of detection of failure on a direct link interconnecting Master and Backup upstream switches, a control module of the Master upstream switch sends a partial failure message representing the occurrence of partial failure in the Master upstream switch via any of multiple lines connected to multiple ports of the Master upstream switch to the Backup upstream switch. Upon reception of the partial failure message from the Master upstream switch, a control module of the Backup upstream switch identifies partial failure occurring in the Master upstream switch and keeps the Backup operating status of the Backup upstream switch. Upon no reception of the partial failure message from the Master upstream switch, on the other hand, the control module of the Backup upstream switch identifies total failure occurring in the Master upstream switch and switches over the operating status of the Backup upstream switch from Backup to Master. In the event of failure occurring in the Master upstream switch, this arrangement effectively prevents unintentional interruption of data communication but ensures normal data communication in a network without causing the double-master state and the control loop in the network. |
| US07792014B2 |
Method of skipping nullified packets during mass replay from replay buffer
In PCI-Express and alike network systems, back-up copies of recently sent packets are kept in a replay buffer for resending if the original packet is not well received by an intended destination device. A method for locating the back-up copy in the retry buffer comprises applying a less significant portion of the sequence number of a to-be-retrieved back-up copy to an index table to obtain a start address or other locater indicating where in the retry buffer the to-be-retrieved back-up copy resides. A method for skipping replay of late nullified packets includes deleting from the index table, references to late nullified packets. |
| US07792011B2 |
Storage device and method for scanning a storage medium
A storage device and a method for scanning a storage medium. A storage medium for storing data in the form of marks is scanned by an array of probes for mark detecting purposes in a scanning mode. The storage medium has fields with each field to be scanned by an associated one of the probes. At least one of the fields has marks representing operational data for operating the scanning mode. Scanning parameters are computed from the operational data and the scanning mode is adjusted according to the computed parameters. |
| US07792000B2 |
Method of generating a digital photo slide show from an optical disc
Before generating a digital photo slide show, both original digital photos and related media playing packages are burnt into a same optical disc. While the optical disc is loaded by a disc playing device, a media playing module installed on the optical disc playing device loads both the original digital photos and the related media packages on the optical disc, and generates a required digital photo slide show according to digital photos and media playing packages, both of which are chosen by a user, for preventing the problem of causing damage of resolution of the digital photos by repeatedly encoding said digital photos, and for management and reuse of said digital photos on the optical disc hereafter. |
| US07791999B2 |
Writing condition optimizing method and apparatus, and optical recording medium
A method of optimizing a writing condition of an optical recording medium, including writing test pattern data with the writing condition on the optical recording medium, comparing an error pattern binary signal detected by reproducing the written test pattern data with a correct pattern binary signal of the test pattern data, and determining an optimum writing condition of the optical recording medium based on a result of the comparison. |
| US07791998B2 |
Information recording device, information recording method, and information recording program
Based on actual recording power information obtained during test writing, a recording power is efficiently controlled with high accuracy during actual recording. An information recording apparatus irradiates a laser light onto an information recording medium such as an optical disc to record data and reproduce the recorded data. In recording actual data such as data designated by a user, the information recording apparatus temporarily stops recording at the time when predetermined amount of data is recorded, and confirms recording quality. Namely, the apparatus reproduces the recorded data and determines the recording quality based on the reproduced data. When it is determined that the recording quality is within an appropriate range, the recording of the actual data is continued at the recording power. Meanwhile, when it is determined that the recording quality is out of the appropriate range, the recording power is corrected so that the recording quality becomes within the appropriate range, and the actual data is recorded. Thereby, even when the optimum recording power is changed due to some causes and condition change after recording start of the actual data, the recording power can be correspondently corrected, and accurate information recording with the appropriate recording power can be realized. |
| US07791992B2 |
Method for controlling the record speed of a multi-layered optical disc
A method for controlling the recording speed of a multi-layered optical disc divides a multi-layered optical disc into a plurality of zones with each zone having a corresponding recording speed. It is then determined which zones need the recording speed to be reduced according to the quality of the optical disc. When the optical drive records data onto an inferior quality zone, it reduces the recording speed to guarantee the reliability of recorded data and enhance recording quality. When the optical drive records data on the next recording layer and has passed the zone that corresponds to the inferior quality zone of the previous recording layer, it increases the recording speed. Thereby the method ensures both quality and efficiency. Furthermore, the recording speed of each subsequent zone of the next recording layer corresponds to the recording speed of each previous zone of the recording layer. |
| US07791985B2 |
Objective lens driving apparatus
An objective lens driving apparatus comprising: an actuator movable unit that is configured such that a driving coil is mounted on a lens holder with an objective lens, and is supported on an actuator frame displaceably and elastically; a magnetic circuit that includes a magnet fixed to the actuator frame to form an effective magnetic field for the driving coil; and a rolling canceling coil that is so mounted on the lens holder as to act on the effective magnetic field formed by the magnetic circuit so effectively that a driving force is generated in a tilt direction that cancels rolling generated when a drive signal is supplied to a tracking coil to drive the actuator movable unit in a tracking direction. |
| US07791982B2 |
Impact energy powered golf ball transmitter
Electrical power can be generated from impact based energy, such as from a golf ball being struck by a golf club. One or more piezo-electric devices, which are embedded in the core of the golf ball, are stressed by the impact and generate energy. Each piezo-electric device generates energy when stressed, which is then rectified and stored in a capacitor circuit. The stored energy in the capacitor circuit is used to power a transmitter to emit energy via an antenna, including all necessary electronics such as an oscillator, a modulator, and various control and logic circuits. The transmitted signals can be received by a hand held locator device. The described impact generated energy powers the transmitter a sufficiently long amount of time for the golfer to locate the golf ball. The impact based energy generation can also be used for other non-golf applications. |
| US07791977B2 |
Design structure for low overhead switched header power savings apparatus
A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes a tri-state power gating apparatus for reducing leakage current in a memory array. The apparatus includes a first distributed header device coupled to the memory array, the first distributed header device is configured for limiting leakage current through the memory array; and a header driver operatively coupled to the first distributed header device for enabling tri-state operation of the first distributed header device, wherein tri-state operation includes sleep mode, wake mode, and retention mode. |
| US07791974B2 |
Recovery of existing SRAM capacity from fused-out blocks
A system includes an interconnect within an integrated circuit, and a first fuse-disabled design block within the integrated circuit that has an internal static random access memory (SRAM). The first fuse-disabled design block is coupled to the interconnect. The system also includes a memory controller that is coupled to the interconnect. The memory controller is capable of selecting the internal SRAM and allocating the internal SRAM for storage accessible by one or more devices external to the first fuse-disabled integrated peripheral. |
| US07791971B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having replica circuit
A semiconductor memory device includes first and second cell arrays which have memory cells arrayed in row and column directions, first and second bit lines which are connected to the memory cells arrayed in the column direction, and first and second sense amplifiers which are connected to the first, second bit lines, respectively. The device also includes first and second dummy cell arrays which have dummy cells arrayed in the row and column directions, a dummy word line which is connected to the dummy cells arrayed in the row direction, first and second dummy bit lines which are connected to the dummy cells arrayed in the column direction and receive an output from the dummy word line, and first and second sense amplifier activation circuits which activate the first, second sense amplifiers in accordance with first and second control signals output from the first and second dummy bit lines, respectively. |
| US07791968B2 |
Determining history state of data in data retaining device based on state of partially depleted silicon-on-insulator
An integrated circuit and a design structure are disclosed. An integrated circuit may comprise: a data retaining device; a partially depleted silicon-on-insulator (PD SOI) device electrically coupled to the data retaining device; and a measurement device coupled to the PD SOI device for measuring a state of the PD SOI device indicating a body voltage thereof, the measuring device being communicatively coupled to a calculating means which determines a history state of a data in the data retaining device based on the measured state of the PD SOI device. |
| US07791957B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of allocating codes
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of terminals, a first latch configured to, upon being uniquely specified by a first predetermined number of bits that are part of a plurality of bits entered through the terminals, store a second predetermined number of bits that are at least part of remaining bits left after excluding the first predetermined number of bits from the plurality of bits, and a second latch configured to, upon being uniquely specified by a third predetermined number of bits that are part of the plurality of bits entered through the terminals, store a fourth predetermined number of bits that are at least part of remaining bits left after excluding the third predetermined number of bits from the plurality of bits, wherein the first predetermined number is different from the third predetermined number, and the second predetermined number is different from the fourth predetermined number. |
| US07791954B2 |
Dynamic erase state in flash device
Flash memory systems and methodologies are provided herein for facilitating a single logical cell erasure and dynamic erase state. The single logical cell erasure can be accomplished on a basis of a single program and erase entity which is a combination of neighboring drain/source regions of two adjacent physical memory cells. The dynamic erase state can involve an indicator bit that indicates an erase direction of a low voltage state or a high voltage state. The single logical cell erasure can be performed by changing a voltage state of a single program and erase entity according to the indicated erase direction. By employing the indicator bit with the single program and erase entity decoding scheme, the methods and systems can reduce erase time and/or a number of cycles, thereby increasing system reliability, efficiency, and/or durability. |
| US07791952B2 |
Memory device architectures and operation
Non-volatile memory devices logically organized to have erase blocks of at least two different sizes provide for concurrent erasure of multiple physical blocks of memory cells, while providing for individual selection of those physical blocks for read and program operations. In this manner, data expected to require frequent updating can be stored in locations corresponding to first erase blocks having a first size while data expected to require relatively infrequent updating can be stored in locations corresponding to second erase blocks larger than the first erase blocks. Storing data expected to require relatively more frequent updating in smaller logical memory blocks facilitates a reduction in unnecessary erasing of memory cells. In addition, by providing for larger logical memory blocks for storing data expected to require relatively less frequent updating, efficiencies can be obtained in erasing larger quantities of memory cells concurrently. |
| US07791949B2 |
Refresh method for a non-volatile memory
A refresh method for a non-volatile memory for preventing disturb phenomenon includes reading data of a memory unit of the non-volatile memory at a first time point within a predefined period and storing the data in a buffer, determining whether data of the memory unit and data of the buffer are identical at a second time point within the predefined period, so as to generate a determination result, and refreshing the memory unit according to the determination result. |
| US07791948B2 |
Channel carrier discharging in a NAND flash memory on an insulating substrate or layer
A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor layer provided on an insulating substrate or an insulating layer; active areas each defined in the semiconductor layer with a device insulating film buried therein; and NAND cell units formed on the active areas, each NAND cell unit including a plurality of electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells connected in series, both ends of each NAND cell unit being coupled to a source line and a bit line, wherein the device has such a carrier discharging mode as to discharge channel carriers in the NAND cell unit to at least one of the source line and the bit line. |
| US07791947B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and methods of using
The present disclosure adjusts the voltage threshold values of select gates of NAND strings. The select gates of the NAND string can be read, erased, and programmed. |
| US07791934B2 |
Method for driving multi-level data to a phase change memory device
A phase change memory device including a phase change resistor senses a crystallization state that is changed according to supplied currents to store data corresponding to the crystallization state. The phase change memory device may receive and store multi-level data. The multi-level data is driven to the phase change memory device by reading cell data of a selected cell. The cell data is compared to multi-level data to be written to the cell. A high resistance reset state is written to the phase change resistor by applying a write voltage that corresponds to a threshold voltage when the cell data is different from the multi-level data. The multi-level data is then written to the phase change resistor by writing and verifying a set state that corresponds to the multi-level data. |
| US07791932B2 |
Phase-change material layer and phase-change memory device including the phase-change material layer
A phase-change memory device includes a substrate having a contact region, an insulating interlayer on the substrate, a lower electrode electrically connected to the contact region, a phase-change material layer pattern formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the phase-change material layer pattern. The phase-change material layer pattern includes a chalcogenide compound doped with carbon and at least one of nitrogen and metal. The phase-change memory device may have a considerably reduced driving current without increasing a set resistance thereof. Further, the phase-change material layer pattern may have an increased crystallization temperature so as to ensure improved data retention characteristics of the phase-change memory device. |
| US07791930B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory
A MRAM includes a first magnetoresistive effect (MR) element that takes a low and high resistance states. A second MR element is fixed to a low or high resistance state. First and second MOSFETs are connected to the first and second MR elements, respectively. A sense amplifier amplifies a difference between values of current flowing through the first and second MOSFETs. A current circuit outputs reference current whose value lies between current flowing through the first MR element of the low and high resistance states. A third MOSFET has one end that receives the reference current and is connected to its own gate terminal. The gate terminal of the second MOSFET receives the same potential as the gate terminal of the third MOSFET. A first resistance element is connected to the others end of the third MOSFET and has the same resistance as the second magnetoresistive effect element. |
| US07791928B2 |
Design structure, structure and method of using asymmetric junction engineered SRAM pass gates
A design structure, structure and method of using and/or manufacturing structures having asymmetric junction engineered SRAM pass gates is provided. The method includes applying a voltage through asymmetric pull-down nFETs with high junction leakage from their body to their source and low junction leakage from the body to their drain; applying a voltage through asymmetric pull-up pFETs with high junction leakage from their body to their source and low junction leakage from the body to their drain; and applying a voltage through asymmetrical pass gates which provide low leakage SOI logic. |
| US07791926B2 |
SEU hardening circuit and method
An SEU hardening circuit and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a semiconductor memory component having a pair of pMOS transistors and a pair of nMOS transistors, tying a first pMOS body terminal of a first pMOS transistor of the pair of pMOS transistors to a second pMOS gate terminal of a second pMOS transistor of the pair of pMOS transistors, and tying at least a first pre-designated body terminal of at least one transistor selected from the group including essentially of a pair of pMOS transistors and a pair of nMOS transistors to at least a second pre-designated terminal of at least one pre-designated transistor selected from the group including essentially of the pair of pMOS transistors and the pair of nMOS transistors. |
| US07791923B2 |
Multi-state resistive memory element, multi-bit resistive memory cell, operating method thereof, and data processing system using the memory element
A multi-bit memory cell stores information corresponding to a high resistive state and multiple other resistive states lower than the high resistive state. A resistance of a memory element within the multi-bit memory cell switches from the high resistive state to one of the other multiple resistive states by applying a corresponding current to the memory element. |
| US07791916B2 |
Prism-type electrical converter for the generation, transmission, distribution and suppy of electric current, and production method thereof
The invention relates to a prism-type electrical converter for the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electric current. The electrical converter includes two systems, a magnetic system and an electrical system, plus an additional thermal control or cooling system. As a result, the converter has three-phase side. |
| US07791906B2 |
DC to DC converter module
Lower surface terminals are disposed at the lower surface of a magnetic substrate. An upper surface electrode is disposed at the upper surface of the magnetic substrate. A control circuit, an input capacitor, and an output capacitor are mounted on the upper surface electrode. The control circuit contains a switching element. A smoothing choke is disposed inside the magnetic substrate. The connection wiring of connecting the upper surface electrode and at least one of the input terminal, the output terminal, and the ground terminal is constructed using an inner conductor passing through the inside of the magnetic substrate, and the connection wiring forms an inductor. |
| US07791898B2 |
Security apparatus
A method and device for data security including a printed circuit board and an integrated circuit each having a conductive trace layer shielded by a electrical shield layer. Tampering with either side of the device causes disturbance of a current flowing through a conductive trace layer used as an electrical shield. This triggers a security circuit to erase the data stored in the integrated circuit and stop data flow between the printed circuit board and the integrated circuit. |
| US07791895B2 |
Surface mount component having magnetic layer thereon and method of forming same
A microelectronic assembly, a surface mount component and a method of providing the surface mount component. The assembly comprises: a substrate having bonding pads disposed on a mounting surface thereof, the bonding pads including a ferromagnetic material therein; solidified solder disposed on the bonding pads; and a surface mount component bonded to the substrate by way of the solidified solder and including a magnetic layer disposed on a substrate side thereof, the magnetic layer being adapted to cooperate with the ferromagnetic material in the bonding pads to establish a magnetic force of a sufficient magnitude to hold the surface mount component on the substrate before and during soldering. |
| US07791890B2 |
Computer system
A computer system includes a rack, a computer module and an interface-dedicated module to be mounted therein, and an intra-rack management module. The rack has a rear panel for power supply to and signal connection among modules, and the modules permit plug-in mounting onto the rear panel of the rack. The computer module has behind the computer a dedicated adapter which makes possible plug-in mounting of the computer onto the rack and coordinates signals between the computer and the rear panel. |
| US07791889B2 |
Redundant power beneath circuit board
One embodiment includes an electronic assembly having a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second PCB. The second PCB has at least two processors and is coupled to and disposed on a first side of the first PCB. A thermal dissipation device dissipates heat away from the processors. First and second power modules are coupled to and disposed on a second side of the first PCB, the first and second power modules providing redundant power to the two processors on the second PCB. |
| US07791887B2 |
Contour surface cooling of electronics devices
The present invention provides a cooling device including a heat generating device having a device surface with a device surface contour on at least a portion of the device surface and a base having a base surface with a base surface contour on at least a portion of the base surface. The device surface contour and the base surface contour are substantially similar such that at least a portion of the device surface and the base surface fit in close proximity to each other. |
| US07791886B2 |
Heat-dissipating structure for an optical isolator
A heat-dissipating structure for an optical isolator is capable of suppressing an increase in temperature caused by light absorption in a magnetic garnet crystalline film by radiation fins extending from the inside of an external heat conducting cover. The heat-dissipating structure for the optical isolator is formed by housing a magnetic garnet crystalline film (12), first and second heat conductive plates (6, 7, 8 and 9) and magnet 18 in the external heat conducting cover, placing the radiation fins (10 and 11) on the second heat conductive plate, attaching the first heat conductive plates (6 and 7) onto either side of the magnetic garnet crystalline film, arranging the second heat conductive plates (8 and 9) on the outer surface of the first heat conductive plates, and passing the radiation fins through guide openings (2a and 2b) in the isolator holder 2 to the outside of the external heat conductive cover from the extracting opening (3c) to be brought into contact with the outer grooves (4d and 5d). |
| US07791877B2 |
Portable apparatus incorporating a sound output device
A portable apparatus includes a display housing, a main housing, and a sound output device. The display housing has a pivot side. The main housing includes a pivot portion that defines a pivot axis and that is coupled to the pivot side of the display housing such that the display housing is pivotable relative to the main housing about the pivot axis. The pivot portion is formed with a receiving space. The sound output device is disposed in the receiving space of the pivot portion and outputs sound in a sound propagating direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis. |
| US07791873B2 |
Storage component of a server arrangement with a plurality of hard disk drives
A storage component of a server arrangement includes a backplane and a plurality of trays, each of the plurality of trays including at least one frame, at least one frame having at least one hard disk drive mounted thereto, and all of the plurality of trays being configured to receive at least one hard disk drive. Each of the plurality of trays includes a connector adapted to connect the at least one hard disk drive to the backplane. |
| US07791869B2 |
Electronic device including a rotation unit
A rotation unit is supported to a device main body unit so as to rotate about a rotation supporting point. The rotation unit is rotated from a closure posture close to the device main body unit until a rotation limit position at 180 degrees. A magnet is fixed to the rotation unit at a position away from the rotation supporting point, and the device main body unit is provided with a detector capable of distinctly detect magnetic fields in two directions. When the rotation unit is rotated from the closure posture at a predetermined angle, a first open detection output is obtained form the detector and a display unit provided to the rotation unit is turned ON. The rotation unit is further rotated and when a second open detection output is obtained from the detector, the display content of the display unit is switched to be turned upside down. |
| US07791867B2 |
Portable electronic device having sliding keyboard
A portable electronic device having a sliding keyboard includes a first body, a second body and a sliding positioning device. The first body includes a keyboard area and a plurality of hot keys. The second body is slidingly disposed on the first body. The sliding positioning device is connected to the first body and the second body to position the second body at a plurality of locations relative to the first body. The second body hides the hot keys and exposes the keyboard area when the second body is located at one of the locations. |
| US07791865B2 |
Electronic system having a release control and method
Various embodiments of an electronic system and method for removing a power module from an electronic system are provided. The electronic system includes a power module that supplies power to a load and is movable along an axis from an enabling position to a disconnected position. The electronic system also includes a release control that restricts the movement of the power module along the axis when the power module is moved beyond a disabling position located between the enabling position and the disconnected position. |
| US07791864B2 |
Electrical power control outlet and system
Devices, systems and methods for regulating the distribution of electricity at events such as trade shows to prevent exhibitors from utilizing electricity not purchased from the convention center or other entity controlling electricity distribution, including lockable electric outlet boxes having a lockable fuse holder containing a fuse that restricts or limits a specific electrical outlet box or group of outlet boxes to a maximum electrical current or amperage. |
| US07791863B2 |
Switchgear cabinet assembly or rack assembly
A switchgear cabinet assembly or rack assembly including an electric supply device that can be or is connected to a primary power supply. Equipment that is housed in at least one switchgear cabinet or rack on the user side, or equipment that is to be supplied with electricity can be or is connected to the electric supply device. To achieve simple and reliable connection options, a sub-distribution device is located in the switchgear cabinet or rack or in a separate cabinet or rack. The device has at least one sub-distribution unit that can be or is connected to the primary power supply, having a housing or frame and being retained and secured by a mounting unit. According to this invention, the sub-distribution unit can be or is connected to primary supply lines that lead to the primary power supply and to pre-fabricated connection lines that lead to the rack. |
| US07791862B2 |
Electrical switchgear assembly and basic module for an electrical switchgear assembly
The invention relates to an electric switching system which comprises a housing and components which are arranged therein and which are embodied as a control and/or measuring unit. Said components are arranged in modular-type drawers. At least one base module comprises at least one module support profile, in addition to lateral walls and front-sided insertion elements. One front wall of the base module, preferably the front side thereof, is formed by a control unit and the opposite front wall thereof of the measuring unit, and the dimensions of the control and measuring unit are adapted to the size of the module. |
| US07791856B2 |
Method and apparatus for moving material
A method and apparatus for moving magnetic material includes an electromagnet for lifting the magnetic material where upon its release, the residual magnetic flux of the lifted magnetic material is reduced. The apparatus includes a generator coupled to the electromagnet. The generator includes a control input and an armature having a voltage output. A controller has an output coupled to the generator's control input and armature voltage output, whereupon receiving a release material signal from an operator interface panel to release the magnetic material from the electromagnet, the controller transmits a plurality of control signals, one of which is at least partially dependent upon the duration of a previously transmitted control signal, to effectively alternate the polarity and reduce the magnitude of the magnetizing force of the electromagnet. |
| US07791855B2 |
Voltage surge protection device and electronic circuit comprising one such a device
The voltage surge protection device comprises at least one input designed to be connected to an electric power supply system, at least one output designed to be connected to an electric circuit to be protected, and voltage surge limiting means connected between the inputs and outputs to protect said electric circuit against voltage surges able to be applied on the inputs. The voltage surge limiting means comprise bidirectional series electronic limiting means comprising at least two inputs/outputs connected in series with at least one of said inputs, and which are turned on when a low voltage drop occurs when a circulating current is lower than a current limiting value, and limiting said circulating current by increasing a voltage drop between said inputs/outputs. |
| US07791851B1 |
Cascode combination of low and high voltage transistors for electrostatic discharge circuit
A method and apparatus to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to electronic circuits using a combination of low voltage and high voltage transistors. |
| US07791849B2 |
Redundant trip activation
A redundant trip activation scheme whereby at least one pre-trip condition must be satisfied before a trip signal is sent to a trip solenoid of a motor circuit protector. To provide a layer of protection against spurious or nuisance tripping caused by software errors or external events such as EMF effects, a trip module sets a trip variable upon detection of a trip signal. Instead of tripping the MCP, the trip module requires at least an additional trip signal to be detected. The next time a trip signal is detected, the trip module checks whether the trip variable has been set, and, if so, sends a trip signal to a trip circuit, causing the solenoid to be activated. To ensure that a trip actually occurs, the solenoid can be tripped from the microcontroller via the trip circuit or from an over-voltage protection circuit in the event of a system failure, which operates independently of the trip circuit. |
| US07791847B2 |
Fault-sensing and protecting apparatus for soft start circuit of inverter and method for the same
Fault-sensing and protecting apparatus for soft start circuit of inverter and method for the same are proposed. The soft start circuit of inverter includes a soft-starting resistor and a relay. The relay has a normally-open end connected to the soft-starting resistor in parallel. The fault-sensing and protecting apparatus for soft start circuit includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a photo coupler. The CPU is electrically connected to the inverter and an input end of the relay, respectively. The photo coupler includes a light emitting diode (LED) and a photo transistor. The LED is first electrically connected to a resistor in series and then electrically connected to the soft-starting resistor in parallel. The photo transistor is electrically connected to CPU. After the inverter starts to work, the CPU cuts out voltage applied to the inverter if the LED is lit. Therefore, the inverter can be prevented from damage. |
| US07791846B2 |
Arc flash detection system, apparatus and method
An arc flash system for a circuit breaker and a method of operation is provided. The arc flash system includes a first sensor such as a photo-detector and a second sensor that detects a circuit breaker parameter. The arc flash system is responsive to signals from the first sensor and second sensor to determine if an arc flash event is occurring to avoid nuisance tripping of the circuit breaker. |
| US07791839B2 |
Thermally-assisted perpendicular magnetic recording system with write pole surrounding an optical channel and having recessed pole tip
A thermally-assisted perpendicular magnetic recording head and system has a head carrier that supports an optical channel for the transmission of radiation to the recording layer, a write pole for directing a magnetic field to the recording layer, and an electrical coil for inducing the magnetic field from the write pole. The optical channel has a radiation exit face with an aperture at the recording-layer-facing surface of the head carrier. The write pole has a pole tip with an end face that is recessed from the recording-layer-facing surface. The write pole tip is tapered down to the end faces. The pole tip taper and the recession of the end face concentrates the write field at the middle of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer where the radiation from the optical channel is incident. The characteristic dimension of the aperture and the spacing between the aperture and the recording layer are both less than the wavelength of the radiation. The radiation source may be a laser diode mounted to the head carrier. |
| US07791836B2 |
Thin film magnetic device having strip-shaped magnetic films with their magnetization easy axes arranged orthogonal to a thin film coil and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a thin film magnetic device realizing effective improvement in magnetic permeability in a high frequency area. The thin film magnetic device includes a thin film coil and a plurality of strip-shaped magnetic films disposed along a plane in which the thin film coil extends. The plurality of strip-shaped magnetic films are disposed to extend in one direction only in a pair of areas facing each other. The pair of areas is selected from four areas obtained by dividing, in the winding direction, the area where the thin film coil extends. |
| US07791832B1 |
Self-servo write stitching system
A control system includes a write head and a control module configured to signal the write head to write a servo test track on a rotating medium at a position relative to a reference servo track on the rotating medium. The servo test track is written on the rotating medium subsequent to an interrupt event. The reference servo track having been written to the rotating medium prior to the interrupt event, detects the position of the servo test track relative to the reference servo track and signals the write head to write a new servo track on the rotating medium based on the detected position of the servo test track relative to the reference servo track. |
| US07791830B2 |
Signal processing circuit and magnetic storage apparatus
A signal processing circuit performs processing for an analog signal output from a head. The signal processing circuit includes: a conversion section that generates a digital signal based on the analog signal; a first filter that equalizes the output of the conversion section; a demodulation section that demodulates data from the output of the first filter; a modulation section that modulates a waveform based on the data demodulated by the demodulation section; a second filter that equalizes the output of the modulation section; and an adaptation section that adapts the response of the second filter such that the output of the second filter becomes equal to the output of the conversion section. |
| US07791829B2 |
Apparatus for assisting write operation using high frequency magnetic field in disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive having a spin torque oscillator and designed to perform high frequency assisted writing. The disk drive has a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a coil, and a drive current controller. The drive current controller controls a drive current to supply to the spin torque oscillator. To record data magnetically in the disk, the drive current controller supplies to the spin torque oscillator the drive current that changes in synchronism with the polarity inversion of the recording current supplied to the coil, which excites the recording magnetic pole of the magnetic head. |
| US07791828B2 |
Lens assembly and imaging apparatus
An O-ring 12 is disposed on an image-side second outer peripheral surface 11—1b, which is subjected to a smoothing process, of a taking lens 11—1. The O-ring 12 is pressed by an inner surface 13a of a lens frame 13 toward the second outer peripheral surface 11—1b. |
| US07791827B2 |
Miniature actuator and optical apparatus
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an actuator to adjust a position of a lens. |
| US07791825B2 |
Macro objective
A description is given of a macro objective (M) with a corrective compensation of aberrations (Continuous Aberration Suppression; CAS). The macro objective has a first positive optical subassembly (A), a second nearly afocal optical subassembly (B), a stop (APE), a third nearly afocal optical subassembly (B′) and a fourth positive optical subassembly (A′). The third optical subassembly (B′) and the fourth positive optical subassembly (A′) are designed with mirror symmetry relative to the optical subassemblies (A, B) upstream of the stop (APE). The nearly afocal optical subassemblies (B, B′) are displaced jointly inside the macro objective (M) along the optical axis (OA) with the aid of mechanical means in conjunction with linear magnifications of β′≠−1. As a result, the macro objective (M) achieves outstanding imaging properties both over a wide range of linear magnifications (β′=−2.0 to −0.5) and over a wide wavelength spectrum. |
| US07791822B2 |
Focusing method and image-taking apparatus
An optical system has a plurality of optical surfaces and an aperture stop, and has an eccentric reflective surface as at least one of the plurality of optical surfaces. For different conjugate distances, focusing for keeping a position of an entire image surface substantially constant while keeping substantially constant an axial imaging position and an angle of incidence of an axial principal ray on an image surface is performed by parallel and rotational movement of a group provided as a focusing group having at least one surface as the eccentric reflective surface. |
| US07791821B2 |
Lens drive apparatus
A lens drive apparatus includes: a base member; a holder having a cylindrical shape and movably supported in an optical axis direction relative to the base member; a cam member and moving the holder in the optical axis direction by abutting with the holder; and a biasing member urging the holder such that the holder 40 comes into contact with the cam member 50. The holder is formed such that a lens frame holding a lens is inserted and assembled into the holder from one side of the holder to another side of the holder. The cam member is disposed close to the one side with respect to the holder. |
| US07791818B2 |
Zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes, arranged sequentially from an object side, a first lens group including at least one reflective optical member changing the optical path of an incident light ray, and having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, and during a magnification change from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position, the first lens group and the third lens group are not moved, the second lens group is moved from the object side towards an image side, and the fourth lens group is linearly moved from the image side towards the object side. |
| US07791817B2 |
Electronic image pickup apparatus
An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising a zoom lens system and an image pickup device disposed on an image side of the zoom lens system and which converts an image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal, the zoom lens system having, in order from an object side, a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a negative third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit, the first lens unit having, in order from the object side, a negative lens and a reflective optical element which reflects an optical path, and during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, each space between the lens units which are adjacent with each other being changed, the first lens unit being arranged in a fixed position to the image pickup device, and at least the second lens unit and the third lens unit being moved. |
| US07791813B2 |
Microfluidic imaging array
A projection-type imaging array comprising a plurality of microfluidic devices (1, 1′) are provided, each microfluidic device having a reservoir (30) containing first and second fluids (10 and 20) that are immiscible with respect to teach other. A drive unit (40) is provided for each microfluidic device to selectively displace the surface formed at the interface between the first and second fluids. Accordingly, when a particular microfluidic device is turned OFF according to the drive unit, the interface surface is positioned to redirect incoming light (via reflection/refraction) away from a display surface (80). Conversely, when the microfluidic device is turned ON, the interface surface is positioned so that the incoming light is directed toward the display surface. |
| US07791811B2 |
Lens blank and lens elements as well as method for their production
A method for manufacturing a preferably asymmetrical lens element (5a) from a tempered blank (1) is characterized by: producing the lens element (5a) from a first partial volume (1a) of the tempered blank (1), whose thickness d is less than approximately 70%, preferably less than approximately 60%, particularly preferably less than approximately 50% of the thickness D of the tempered blank (1). Preferably, from a second partial volume (1b) of the tempered blank (1) at least a further lens element (5a′) is produced, wherein before the lens elements (5a, 5a′) are produced the tempered blank (1) is divided into the first and second partial volume (1a, 1b). |
| US07791810B2 |
Scanned beam display having high uniformity and diminished coherent artifacts
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, time averaged Moiré patterns may be utilized in a scanned beam display having a Gaussian beam profile or the like in order to tailor uniformity of the image by controlling both the near field and far field regions of the display to result in a stable and uniform scanned beam display image. Consideration is made regarding the light source parameters of focus numerical aperture, profile, shape, and/or wavelength to achieve higher uniformity and stability without resulting in significant visible coherent artifacts such as tiled intensity patterns and/or Moiré. |
| US07791807B2 |
Avoiding interference artifacts in a head-up display or a reflected see-through type display
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a birefringent layer may be utilized in conjunction with a head-up display (HUD) for a vehicle or the like, for example where the birefringent layer is disposed in or on the windshield. The birefringent layer may impart a change in the polarization of light emerging from a projector of the head-up display in order to reduce or minimize interference between beams from the display and reflecting off of two or more surfaces that are combined at the viewer's eye, and/or to reduce or minimize the effect of polarizing sunglasses on the viewability of the image projected by the display. In one or more embodiments, the birefringent layer alters the polarization of the light reaching the viewer's eye if the user is wearing polarizing glasses or lenses so that less light from the display is blocked. |
| US07791805B2 |
Multifocal lens array and three-dimensional stereoscopic image display apparatus
A multifocal lens array and a three-dimensional stereoscopic image display apparatus, which has a low cost, simple structure. A two-dimensional image is displayed on a display apparatus and is incident on a multifocal lens array. The array includes a plurality of lenses arranged on a planar surface, respective focal distances of the lenses being selected so that a focal point-containing surface is formed at a surface inclined relative to the planar surface. A stereoscopic diffusing panel including six transparent panels is disposed at the focal point-containing surface, and is moved periodically in a depth direction, so that sectional images of a three-dimensional stereoscopic image are rendered on the stereoscopic diffusing panel through image light from the apparatus, and hence a person viewing light reflected from the stereoscopic diffusing panel can see the three-dimensional stereoscopic image due to an after-image effect. |
| US07791795B2 |
Microscope with a focusing assist apparatus
A microscope for focusing by inserting a split prism at a focusing support time. The image of an iris stop is branched into such two images by the angle deflecting action of the split prism as are individually shifted and focused at symmetric positions across the optical axis of the microscope. These two branched images of the iris stop are further focused on an objective lens through a beam splitter by the focusing action of a lens. The operation unit of a vertical motion device is operated to move an optical system up and down so that the images of a focused pattern are viewed to move in opposite directions from each other in the field of view. |
| US07791790B2 |
Wavelength converter
A wavelength converter including a fiber provided with a laser active substance and formed with first and second fiber gratings embedded in the fiber, a laser light source that allows pumping light to be incident on the fiber, a laser resonator formed by optically connecting the fiber and the laser light source, and a wavelength conversion element that converts the fundamental wave of a laser beam emitted from the laser resonator into a higher harmonic wave. The fiber absorbs a part of an output of the fundamental wave or the pumping light, and heats the second fiber grating. The temperature of the second fiber grating is adjusted in accordance with an output of the higher harmonic wave outputted from the wavelength conversion element. |
| US07791784B2 |
Electrically-controllable device with variable optical and/or energy properties
Electrically controllable device having variable optical/energy properties in transmission or in reflection, comprising at least one carrier substrate provided with a stack of electrochromically functional layers, including at least two electrochromic active layers, separated by an electrolyte, the said stack being placed between two current leads, namely the lower current lead and the upper current lead respectively (“lower” corresponding to the current lead closest to the carrier substrate, as opposed to the “upper” current lead that is furthest from the said substrate), characterized in that the stack of functional layers is joined to at least one polymer film, the percentage shrinkage of which is between 0.6 and 2.0% and preferably between 0.8 and 1.5%. |
| US07791765B1 |
Method and apparatus for optical dithering
A method for optical dithering and a dither device comprising a mounting structure, a refractive optic, an optic mounting structure surrounding the optic, and one or more linear drive motors. Four linear coils are preferably employed together with a control system operating in open loop mode. The dither device and method provides double resolution to a detector receiving output therefrom. The invention can operate in a single axis or in two axes. |
| US07791764B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus detecting plural types of images based on detecting plural types of halftone dot areas
An image processing apparatus includes an automatic document type discrimination section for estimating a type of input image data. The automatic document type discrimination section is capable of detecting whether each of plural types of halftone dot areas exists or not in the image data, and the automatic document type discrimination section estimates the type of the image data. Therefore, the image processing apparatus can exactly estimate the type of the image. |
| US07791763B2 |
Color separation method and image processing device
A dark and light color separation of four fundamental colors into color materials containing light ink is realized at high speeds. A cross patch where a discrete color material amount with regard to two kinds of color materials having a different density is distributed in a cross pattern is printed by an image output device. In addition, there are produced a density characteristics map and a color material amount characteristics map. Accordingly, the cell of the equal color material amount is searched within a range not exceeding a target color material use amount from the color material characteristics map and the cell of the equal density is searched within a range not exceeding a target density from the density characteristics map. As a result, it is possible to determine a combination of a color material amount of each of a dark color material and a light color material. |
| US07791760B2 |
Recording-medium profile correction to achieve color matching
Color appearances do not satisfactorily match between recording paper sheets with different gloss characters even using a colorimetric matching process. Hence, the differences between the gloss characters of the recording paper sheets are obtained as correction amounts, and a media profile indicating correspondence between color signals of an image forming apparatus and calorimetric signals corresponding to recording paper is corrected on the basis of the obtained correction amounts. |
| US07791756B2 |
Methods for identifying marks using a digital master document and scanned image enhancement
To reduce errors introduced by a scanner, an unmarked, digital master document may be generated and stored in digital form so that subsequent scanning of the document is unnecessary to place it in digital form for comparison to a marked version of the document. Additionally, regions or fields, rather than the entire digital master document, may be individually created, stored, and subsequently used for comparison to corresponding portions of a marked version. Further, test targets or patterns may be inserted into the content of a digital master document. Characteristics of image quality degeneration and distortion can be extracted from printed versions of the test targets or patterns and used to effect closed loop control to digitally reduce image quality degeneration caused by the scanner. |
| US07791755B2 |
Document creation method and document creation apparatus for reflecting a document structure of a paper document in an electronic document
A document creation method according to this invention includes an image capturing step of capturing image data of each page, a boundary image specifying step of specifying a boundary image serving as the boundary between sets of pages from image data captured in the image capturing step, and a document creation step of creating, on the basis of the image data captured in the image capturing step, an electronic document divided into different chapters at the position of the boundary image specified in the boundary image specifying step. The electronic document created in the document creation step is divided into a plurality of chapters, and boundary pages are set between the plurality of chapters. |
| US07791754B2 |
Operation request accepting apparatus, computer-readable program, computer-readable storage medium, control method for operation request accepting apparatus, communication system and operating method for communication system
An operation request accepting apparatus is provided with a reading part to read from a detachable recording medium setting information that is used when a remote end sends an operation request with respect to the operation request accepting apparatus, and an accepting part having an essential setting that does not accept the operation request from the remote end if the setting information is non-readable from the recording medium. |
| US07791749B2 |
Printer having a communication section for obtaining print information necessary to print
A printer 10 provided with communication section 11 for obtaining print information necessary to print, from plural host devices 30 through transmission route 50, is characterized by comprising; a host ID getter 12 to get host ID able to distinguish host device which outputted said print information from other host device, with using the print information itself obtained; a trouble detector 14 able to detect trouble with judging whether printing based on said print information is possible or not; a presenter 16 to present said host ID obtained by said host ID getter 12 when printing was not judged possible by said trouble detector 14. |
| US07791745B2 |
Information processing apparatus on which printer driver can be installed, information processing apparatus, control method, program, and storage medium
An information processing method is provided for an information processing apparatus on which a printer driver that runs on an operating system is installed. The method includes a step of reading a module upon reception of an instruction for adding the module to the printer driver, a step of storing the read module into a storage area in an operating system corresponding to the printer driver, a step of registering the module by adding a name of the module stored in the storage area to configuration information of the printer driver and by adding the module to the printer driver, and a step of controlling a print service of the operating system to recognize the registered module. |
| US07791744B2 |
Apparatus for and method of print resuming following a print interruption event
The invention is directed to resuming printing on a printer following a print interruption event. An apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a scanner configurable to communicate with a printer and a printing application, wherein the scanner is configured to scan a printing at the printer upon receipt of a printing error. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a printing error when printing a document; scanning the actual printing of the document at a printer; and notifying an application of results of the scanning. |
| US07791742B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, program, and computer-readable storage medium
A digital camera 100 groups items of image data matching in their image pickup condition into a group and generates a list of the grouped image data. The digital camera 100 selects a representative image from the grouped image data and transfers the representative image and the list to a PC 150. An application 160 runs on the PC 150. A user can use the application 160 to browse the grouped image data and cause any items of image data other than the representative image to be transferred from the digital camera 100 to the PC 150. |
| US07791740B2 |
Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure. |
| US07791739B2 |
System and method to enable eye-safe laser ultrasound detection
A system and method that replaces safety requirements of a laser detection system by shifting the wavelength of a detection laser. An optical wavelength converter that shifts the optical wavelength of a detection laser from a first wavelength within the Infrared “A” portion of the spectrum to a more eye-safe wavelength. The detection laser is directed to the surface of a remote target. Ultrasonic displacements at the surface scatter the filtered detection laser. Collection optics then gather phase modulated light scattered by the surface and direct the phase modulated light to an optical processor that produces a signal representative of the ultrasonic displacements. Signal processors then determine the internal structure of the remote target based on the signal. |
| US07791735B2 |
Pointing device
There is provided a pointing device including a light source that provides incident light for illuminating a front surface of a substrate at a predetermined angle of incidence, the substrate having a rear surface as well as the front surface and being transparent to the wavelength of the incident light, a detector that detects the intensity of speckle light from the front and rear surfaces, the speckle light generated from the incident light, and legs that are in contact with the substrate and charge the front surface of the substrate through friction between the legs and the substrate. |
| US07791729B2 |
Attenuated total reflection probe and spectrometer therewith
An attenuated total reflection probe has a prism and a supporter. The prism is made of an optical material which transmits light in far ultraviolet region, and has a contact plane to be in contact with a sample, and an incoming plane and an outgoing plane both not to be in contact with the sample. The supporter has an opening and is connected hermetically with the prism around the opening and eventually exposes the contact plane facing the opening. The contact plane, the incoming plane and the outgoing plane of the prism are formed such that light transmitting the incoming plane enters the contact plane at an incident angle larger than critical angle and that the light totally reflected by the contact plane goes out through the outgoing plane. |
| US07791728B2 |
System for optically analyzing a substance with a selected single-wavelength
A microfluidic analysis system for optically analyzing a substance includes a light source having a plurality of selectable single-wavelength light sources, a substance presentation member optically coupled to the light source, and an optical detection system associated with the substance presentation member. |
| US07791727B2 |
Method and apparatus for angular-resolved spectroscopic lithography characterization
An apparatus and method to determine a property of a substrate by measuring, in the pupil plane of a high numerical aperture lens, an angle-resolved spectrum as a result of radiation being reflected off the substrate. The property may be angle and wavelength dependent and may include the intensity of TM- and TE-polarized light and their relative phase difference. |
| US07791724B2 |
Characterization of transmission losses in an optical system
The illumination profile of a radiation beam is initially measured using a CCD detector. A reference mirror is then placed in the focal plane of the high aperture lens and the reflected radiation measured. By comparing the illumination profile and the detected radiation it is possible to determine the transmission losses for S and P polarisation which can then be used in scatterometry modeling. |
| US07791723B2 |
Optical measurement using fixed polarizer
Optical measurement method and systems employing a fixed polarizer are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing at least one optical detection system having a fixed polarizer having a first type polarization; providing a first target on a substrate and a second target on the substrate; optically measuring the first target and the second target using the at least one optical detection system with the first target being positioned at a right angle relative to the second target to obtain a first measurement with the first type polarization and a second measurement with a second type-equivalent polarization; and combining the first measurement and the second measurement to obtain the optical measurement. |
| US07791721B2 |
Surface inspection with variable digital filtering
A semiconductor wafer, which is an inspection object, is stuck by vacuum on a chuck and this chuck is mounted on an inspection object movement stage consisting of a rotational stage and a translational stage, located on a Z-stage. The rotational stage provides a rotational movement and the translational stage provides a translational movement. And when a foreign particle or a defect on an inspection object surface is detected, the parameter of digital filtering is dynamically changed during inspection, and the foreign particle or the defect is differentiated using the result after removing a low frequency fluctuation component to be a noise component. |
| US07791720B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing peripheral verification tool
Apparatus and methods for verification of the dimensions of a semiconductor manufacturing peripheral are disclosed, in which the peripheral, e.g., a wafer cassette, is positioned between, and is enveloped by, an emitter housing and an opposing receiver housing adapted for emitting and receiving, respectively, light from a selected portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, preferably infrared. The measured light is used to verify the dimensions of the target peripheral in comparison with a pre-selected standard. |
| US07791715B1 |
Method and system for lossless dealiasing in time-of-flight (TOF) systems
Time-of-flight (TOF) phase-derived data is dealiased by operating the TOF system using at least two close-together modulation frequencies f1 and f2 that are close to the TOF system maximum modulation frequency fm. On one hand, phase data acquired by the TOF is associated with a desirably long aliasing interval range ZAIR normally associated with a rather low modulation frequency. On the other hand, phase data acquired by the TOF system is also associated with the high precision certainty as to Z value normally associated with high modulation frequency. Preferably the TOF system operates always close to fm such that TOF operating efficiency is high, and system signal/noise ratio is not substantially degraded using the present invention. |
| US07791714B2 |
Device and method for recording distance-measuring images
A recording device for distance images becomes multi-target-enabled by means of the arrival of light pulses reflected at object regions at different distances being temporally resolved. This is done using extrema of the gradient of a correlation function between the received light pulses and a time window during which sensor elements of a camera are activated. |
| US07791712B2 |
Chromatic confocal sensor fiber interface
A fiber interface configuration for a chromatic point sensor optical pen is provided wherein a detector aperture element provides an aperture that is smaller than the light-transmitting core diameter of an optical fiber that is connected to the optical pen. The detector aperture element is fixed relative to the chromatically dispersive optics of the optical pen, the optical fiber abuts the aperture element, and the optical fiber core is aligned to the aperture. The aperture element and the end of the fiber may be inclined relative to the axis of the fiber, to deflect spurious reflections away from the optical signal path. The configuration provides high measuring resolution without using a tapered optical fiber, and provides interchangeability of the optical fiber connected to the optical pen. |
| US07791711B2 |
Projection method including pupillary filtering and a projection lens therefor
Processes for producing semiconductor components and/or other finely structured components include providing a projection objective having a mirror that is located within a predetermined proximity to a pupil surface of a projection objective. In one variant, an image of a pattern is projected onto a light-sensitive substrate in multiple exposures, in which a first pupil filter function is set on the mirror during a first exposure and, during a subsequent, second exposure, a different, second pupil filter function is set by local changes of geometric reflective properties of the mirror in a locally resolving manner. |
| US07791708B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, substrate table, and method for enhancing substrate release properties
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system constructed and arranged to condition a radiation beam, and a support constructed and arranged to support a patterning device. The patterning device is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. The apparatus also includes a substrate table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate, and a projection system constructed and arranged to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The substrate table includes a chuck having a plurality of protrusions constructed and arranged to support corresponding parts of a bottom surface of a wafer. The top surface of at least one of the protrusions includes a plurality of elements that define a reduced contact area between the substrate and the top surface of the protrusion. |
| US07791707B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus includes an illumination optical system configured to illuminate an original with exposure light from an exposure light source, a projection optical system configured to project a pattern of the original onto a substrate, and a measuring unit configured to measure a relative position between the original and the substrate via the projection optical system using the exposure light as measurement light. The exposure apparatus exposes the substrate using the exposure light with a plurality of wavelengths or a broadband wavelength upon aligning the original and the substrate based on the measurement result obtained by the measuring unit, and the measuring unit switches a wavelength of the exposure light as the measurement light to a specific wavelength or a narrow-band wavelength in measuring the relative position between the original and the substrate. |
| US07791705B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus is divided into a display area on which an image is displayed and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The LCD apparatus includes an organic insulating layer partially formed in the non-display area. A portion of the organic insulating layer is not formed, obtaining a vent space through which to exhaust air trapped when a first substrate is combined with a second substrate of the liquid crystal display apparatus. The LCD apparatus may rapidly and easily exhaust the trapped air from the display area and uniformly maintain the cell gap between the first and second substrates, improving display quality of the LCD apparatus. |
| US07791704B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel which exhibits excellent durability by protecting portions of a substrate which are liable to be most easily cracked or chipped. In a liquid crystal display panel arranging a sealing material between a TFT substrate and a CF substrate, and holding a liquid crystal layer between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, the CF substrate has one-side surface thereof formed in a recessed shape as viewed from above, a flexible printed circuit board is connected to a region of the TFT substrate where the CF substrate and the TFT substrate do not overlap with each other, and a sealing material is formed along a shape of the CF substrate. Portions where the TFT substrate and the CF substrate overlap with each other and correspond to both sides of the portion where the flexible printed circuit board is arranged can be formed such that the sealing material is filled in the portions with no gap. |
| US07791700B2 |
Liquid crystal display on a printed circuit board
The present invention features a liquid crystal display device including a printed circuit board, PCB, substrate composed of non-conductive material and having a front surface and having an opposing back surface that contains electrical circuitry and is located near the back of the display device. A liquid crystal display is disposed on the front PCB substrate surface and includes first and second electrode layers and a dispersion layer disposed between the first and second electrode layers. The dispersion layer includes liquid crystal (e.g., cholesteric liquid crystal) dispersed in a polymer matrix. Electrical through-conductors extend between the front substrate surface and the back substrate surface. The through-conductors are in electrical contact with the first and second electrode layers. Drive electronics are disposed on the PCB substrate and are adapted to apply voltage pulses to the first and second electrodes effective to form images on the liquid crystal display. In one aspect the front of the PCB substrate is a non-component surface free of drive electronics. In another aspect, the PCB substrate is the only substrate of the display device. Also featured are methods of making the display device, including forming the display as a transfer film, which forms an electrical connection when the first electrode layer is applied to the PCB substrate. Another method forms the device by printing or coating the display component layers on the PCB substrate. |
| US07791698B2 |
Color active matrix type vertically aligned mode liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A big screen display suitable for moving image displaying that has an excellent viewing angle property, an excellent reliability and a productivity, and a quick speed of response, and has a bright and excellent contrast is realized at low cost. Vertically aligned mode liquid crystal display comprises a scan wiring, a video signal wiring, a pixel electrode, an alignment directional control electrode, and a thin film transistor element formed in a position where a scan wiring and a video signal wiring intersect with each other, and a common electrode formed in opposing substrate side. An electric field distribution formed with three electrodes comprising an alignment directional control electrode, and a pixel electrode, and a common electrode formed in an countering substrate side may control motion directions of vertically aligned anisotropic liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric constant. |
| US07791697B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged on a viewer side, and a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates. A light guide plate is arranged on a back surface of the first substrate, a polarization plate is arranged between the first substrate and the light guide plate, and a prism sheet is arranged between the light guide plate and the polarization plate with prisms being provided on a light guide plate side thereof. A diffusion layer is arranged between the prism sheet and the polarization plate, and a light control sheet is arranged between the diffusion layer and the polarization plate. The light control sheet, which is a λ/2 retardation plate, rotates a polarization of light emitted from the diffusion layer, is arranged in contact with the polarization plate. |
| US07791690B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a black matrix between first and second substrates, the black matrix having openings defined therein, color filters between the first and second substrates and aligned with the openings defined in the black matrix, the color filters including first filters having a first color, second filters having a second color, and third filters having a third color; and spacers configured to maintain a predetermined cell gap. The second filters have a recess, such that the second filters have an area that is less than an area of the first filters, the spacers are aligned with regions of the black matrix adjacent to the recesses in the second filters, and alignment layers are on the first and second substrates. |
| US07791689B2 |
Liquid crystal display with color units having different width
An exemplary liquid crystal display (2) includes a liquid crystal panel (20), and a backlight module (22) located adjacent to the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate assembly (24) and a second substrate assembly (26) parallel to the first substrate assembly. The second substrate assembly includes a color filter layer (262). The color filter layer includes red units, green units, and blue units. The red, green and blue units are approximately strip-shaped. A ratio of a width of each red unit to a width of each green unit is in direct proportion to a ratio of the wavelength of red light to the wavelength of green light. A ratio of the width of each green unit to a width of each blue unit is in inverse proportion to a ratio of the wavelength of green light to the wavelength of blue light. |
| US07791683B2 |
Backlight systems for liquid crystal displays
A backlight system for a liquid crystal display includes a substantially planar, refractive waveguide having a first major face and a second major face opposite the first major face. The waveguide includes a viewable region corresponding to a viewable area of the liquid crystal display. The system further includes a light source positioned proximate to the second major face and within the viewing region for producing light. An injection feature is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the light into the waveguide such that the light becomes waveguided light. A plurality of extraction features is proximate to one or more of the second major face and the first major face and within the viewing region to optically couple the waveguided light out of the waveguide. |
| US07791682B2 |
Display device
A display device which may include a bottom chassis receiving a display panel, at least one printed circuit board mounting parts for controlling the display panel, and a reinforcing chassis attached to the printed circuit board. |
| US07791670B2 |
Method of operation for a vision-based occupant sensing system
Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination. |
| US07791664B1 |
Methods for reading a pixel and for writing to a pixel and a device having pixel reading capabilities and pixel writing capabilities
Methods for reading a pixel and writing to a pixel and devices having pixel reading capabilities and pixel writing capabilities. A method for reading a pixel includes: activating a second transistor that is coupled to a second node while maintaining an input transistor inactive; wherein the first transistor is coupled between the second node and a photo-detector; inactivating the second transistor; compensating for second node voltage change resulting from the inactivating of the second transistor by providing a feedback signal via at least one capacitance that capacitively couples the pixel node to the second node; and activating the input transistor and measuring a pixel output signal. |
| US07791662B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, recording medium, and program
An image acquisition unit acquires multiple image data sets of pixels in array, having subject distortion due to focal plane shutter effects, corresponding to images taken at continuous exposure timings; a coefficient storage unit stores coefficients, determined by which number-in-order of multiple images that the image data set corresponds to, and by each pixel position in the image; a multiplying unit multiplies a pixel value of a predetermined pixel in the image data sets, by the coefficient stored in the coefficient storage means; and an adding unit adds each pixel value of a predetermined number of the image data sets. The coefficients include a coefficient wherein, at the earliest image data set, pixels exposed earlier are weighted less and pixels exposed later are weighted more, and a coefficient wherein, at the latest image data set, pixels exposed earlier are weighted more and pixels exposed later are weighted less. |
| US07791659B2 |
Solid state imaging device and method for producing the same
A solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each of the pixels including: a substrate; a photoelectric conversion element for converting light to electric charges; and a color filter formed on the photoelectric conversion element for color separation. The color filter is a layered color filter including a dye-contained color filter layer and a pigment-dispersed color filter layer formed on the dye-contained color filter layer, the dye-contained color filter layer and the pigment-dispersed color filter layer having the same hue. |
| US07791656B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and image processing method
An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensing device for sensing light representing a subject image; a first component extractor for extracting a first component having a predetermined frequency out of a photographic image obtained by the image sensing device; a second component extractor for extracting a second component having a frequency higher than the frequency of the first component out of the photographic image; a compressor for compressing a dynamic range of the first component extracted by the first component extractor with a predetermined compression ratio; an image generator for generating an image based on a compressed first component obtained by compressing the dynamic range of the first component by the compressor, and the second component extracted by the second component extractor; and a compression correction coefficient calculator for calculating a compression correction coefficient used in compressing the first component, using the second component extracted by the second component extractor, wherein the compressor determines the compression ratio in such a manner that the larger compression correction coefficient increases the compression ratio based on the compression correction coefficient calculated by the compression correction coefficient calculator, and compresses the dynamic range of the first component based on the determined compression ratio. |
| US07791651B2 |
Brightness adjustment method and image processing apparatus
An adjustment amount of a brightness level is determined for each pixel of an image based on the value of each pixel of a luminance distribution image which represents the distribution of luminance of the image. A portion contributing to adjustment of brightness and a portion contributing to adjustment of saturation are determined for each pixel of the image so that the sum thereof is equal to the adjustment amount of the brightness level. Then, an adjustment value of saturation, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel in the image based on the portion contributing to saturation, and an adjustment value of brightness, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel in the luminance distribution image, which corresponds to each pixel of the image, based on the portion contributing to brightness are added to the value of each pixel of the image. |
| US07791649B2 |
Apparatus, medium, and method with automatic white balance control
An automatic white balance control image apparatus, medium, and method. The automatic white balance control imaging apparatus may include a color space conversion unit converting the input image data into color space data having a chromatic component, a gray region extraction unit extracting a gray region for the input image data based on gray regions for light sources, the gray regions being detected based on plural light sources and a predetermined color checker, a detection unit extracting initial light source information using a color gamut average value and a color gamut center value, and adjusting the initial light source information in order for a chromatic component introduced into the extracted gray region to be excluded, a gain control unit calculating gains to scale the input image data based on the adjusted initial light source information, and controlling a white balance by applying the calculated gains to the input image data. |
| US07791648B2 |
Method and system for de-mosaicing artifact removal, and computer program product therefor
Color image signals, as derived, e.g., by interpolating the output from a color filter array are arranged in pixels, each pixel having associated detected color information for a first color as well as undetected filled-in color information for at least a second and a third color. The images are thus exposed to false color and zipper effect artifacts, and are subject to processing preferably including the steps of: checking the images for the presence of zipper effect artifacts, and i) if the checking reveals the presence of zipper effect artifacts, applying a zipper effect removal process to the image signals; ii) if the checking fails to reveal the presence of zipper effect artifacts, applying a false color removal process to the image signals. False color and zipper effect artifacts are thus preferably both reduced by adaptively using the zipper effect removal process and the false color removal process. |
| US07791647B2 |
Image capturing apparatus which converts incident light to first electric signals according to a plurality of photoelectronic conversion characteristics and image capturing method
There is described an image capturing apparatus and method, in which the electric signals originated from the logarithmic conversion source are converted into those originated from the linear conversion source and which makes it possible to prevent the apparatus from capsizing. The apparatus includes an image sensor that includes a plurality of pixels to convert incident light to first electric signals according to a plurality of photoelectronic conversion characteristics, based on intensity of the incident light; and a signal processing section to apply signal processing to the first electric signals. The signal processing section has: a linearization section to convert the first electric signals to second electric signals, which represent such electric signals that are linearly converted from the incident light; and a compression section to compress a predetermined range component corresponding to a predetermined signal value range, among the first electric signals outputted from the image sensor. |
| US07791645B2 |
Imaging system and system control method
An imaging system includes plural portable terminals managed by a server; and the portable terminal to be imaged is notified that an imaging operation has been performed on a portable terminal which can communicate with a facility camera through a camera-terminal network. The notification is also provided to portable terminals belonging to the same group as the portable terminal. |
| US07791639B2 |
Control apparatus, video processing apparatus, and control method thereof
A video processing apparatus includes an output terminal, a reception unit and a control unit. The reception unit receives one of a first command and a second command from a control apparatus, wherein the first command is for locking a data format of data output from the output terminal to a predetermined data format, and the second command is for not locking the data format of the data output from the output terminal to the predetermined data format. The control unit controls to lock the data format of the data output from the output terminal to the predetermined data format, if the first command is received by the reception unit. The control unit controls not to lock the data format of the data output from the output terminal to the predetermined data format, if the second command is received by the reception unit. |
| US07791636B2 |
Scanning optical module and image forming apparatus equipped therewith
Disclosed is a scanning optical module, which includes a light source, a rotatable multifaceted mirror adapted to scanningly deflect a scanning beam emitted from the light source, in a given direction, a driving device adapted to drivingly rotate the rotatable multifaceted mirror through a shaft thereof, a plate-shaped member formed with a driving device-mounting portion mounting thereto the driving device in such a manner as to absorb heat generated in the shaft, an air blower adapted to generate an airstream, and an airstream passage-defining member adapted to direct the airstream from the air blower, toward the driving device-mounting portion of the plate-shaped member. |
| US07791633B2 |
Optical scanning unit and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning unit irradiates a polygon mirror with a plurality of light beams emitted from a light source according to image data, and scans and exposes a plurality of photoreceptors with the plurality of light beams as scanning lights. The optical scanning unit comprises a primary optical system unit including an optical system that emits the plurality of light beams, which are emitted from the light source toward the polygon mirror, and a secondary optical system unit including an optical system that emits the light beams, which are reflected by the polygon mirror toward the photoreceptors. The arrangement is such that the primary optical system unit is fitted removably to the secondary optical system unit, and that a combined unit of the primary optical system unit and the secondary optical system unit is removably fitted to an image forming apparatus having the photoreceptors. |
| US07791629B2 |
Exposure device, printing apparatus employing an exposure device and method for adjusting a non-impact printing apparatus
An exposure device for a non-impact printing apparatus which includes a plurality of light-emitting elements for forming images, a driver element for individually applying energy output levels to the light-emitting elements, lens for focusing the light emitted by the light-emitting elements, storage ability for storing a list of setting values for setting the energy output levels, wherein the list includes a plurality of series of setting values, each one of the series enabling to attribute at least one setting value to each one of the light-emitting elements, each one of the series being selectable as a function of an exposure device condition. A method is also provided for adjusting a non-impact printing apparatus which includes the step of selecting the most adequate series of setting values on the basis of an analysis of the optical density of printed images on a receiving medium. |
| US07791624B2 |
Thermal activation device, printer, thermal activation method, and method of producing a self-adhesive label
Provided is a thermal activation device capable of preventing a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet from being partially excessively heated, keeping a short distance between a contact between a thermal head and a platen roller, and a discharge port, and preventing a structure of the thermal activation device from being complicated and a size thereof from increasing. While a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2) is transported along a transport path (15) through rotations of insertion rollers (3) and a platen roller (5), a heat-generating portion (4a) of the thermal head (4) is caused to generate heat, thereby thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2). When a trailing edge of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2) reaches a position where the trailing edge thereof is not in contact with the platen roller (5), a transporting force is not transmitted to the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2), thereby stopping transportation thereof. At that time, an adhesion prevention member (6) is allowed to enter the transport path (15) to lift and hold the trailing edge of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet (2) to a position where the trailing edge thereof is not in contact with the thermal head (4). |
| US07791623B2 |
Optical component bowing device, optical device, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
An optical component bowing device is configured to include a bending moment generating structure that generates a bending moment in a supported portion of an optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam. |
| US07791622B2 |
Display output device
There are included a communication unit, a resolution adjustment unit, a storage unit, a video signal output unit, and a resolution information correction unit.The communication unit requests an image display device that displays an image to transmit first resolution information specifying the resolutions at which the image display device can perform output, and receives the first resolution information. The resolution adjustment unit adjusts the resolution when outputting a video signal outputted to the image display device. The image display device and the display output device conform to a standard for transmission and reception of video signals at one predetermined resolution or more which are determined in advance. The storage unit stores the first resolution information. If the predetermined resolution determined by the standard is not included in the received first resolution information, the resolution information correction unit appends the predetermined resolution determined by the standard to the first resolution information, which it stores in the storage unit. |
| US07791621B2 |
Systems and methods for providing driving voltages to RGBW display panels
Systems and methods providing driving voltages to an RGBW display panel. A representative system comprises a data driver with a reference voltage generation circuit that is operative to provide reference voltages according to a white component signal (W) extracted from three color input signals (R,G,B), and a digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion unit that is operative to generate driving voltages according to the reference voltages, the three color input signals and the white component signal. |
| US07791620B2 |
Systems and methods for rendering symbols using non-linear scaling
Systems and methods are provided for rendering a symbol with non-linear scaling, the symbol comprising one or more elements. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for rendering a symbol and may comprise the steps of receiving a scaling instruction to scale the symbol, the scaling instruction including at least one scaling factor, determining whether to exclude one or more elements of the symbol from the scaling factor to be applied to the symbol, wherein a determination to exclude one or more elements is based on whether an element is tagged as being non-scalable, and rendering the symbol on a canvas with non-linear scaling, such that the elements of the symbol that are determined to be tagged are not scaled according to the scaling factor. |
| US07791619B2 |
Display apparatus and system comprising pivot sensing apparatus, and method for sensing a pivot angle
A display apparatus having a display to display a picture thereon comprises a pivot sensor comprising a weight body, a housing in which the weight body is accommodated and movable as the display is pivoted, and a contact sensor placed in the housing and generating a sensing signal according to a pivoted angle of the display when contacting the weight body. A pivot sensing controller applies a predetermined driving voltage to the pivot sensor, and determines the pivot angle of the display on the basis of the sensing signal generated corresponding to the applied driving voltage. The pivot sensing apparatus requires a reduced number of pivot sensors and peripheral circuits to sense a pivot angle of a display panel. A display apparatus and system comprising the pivot sensing apparatus, and a method for sensing a pivot angle, are also disclosed. |
| US07791609B2 |
Apparatus and method providing automatic display control in a multimedia system
An apparatus and a method providing an automatic display control in a multimedia system. The apparatus includes a memory that stores predetermined display information; a controller that includes a communication module to perform data communication with an external device, set to be in a master mode to write the display information to the memory in an initialize mode and set to be in a slave mode to analyze display control data for a predetermined automatic display control function which is transmitted by the external device, in other modes, and generates a display control signal used to perform a function that corresponds to the result of analyzing the display control data; and a video signal processor that receives video signals from the external device, converts the format of the video signals to another format suitable for the display characteristics of a display means, and processes the converted video signals according to the control signal. |
| US07791606B2 |
Goal-directed cloth simulation
A method of simulating a cloth includes: determining a first shape for the cloth at a first time; determining a first goal shape for the cloth at the first time; determining a first goal-directed force for the cloth at the first time from the first shape and the first goal shape, wherein the first goal directed force includes a component that measures a difference between the first shape and the first goal shape; and determining a second shape for the cloth at a second time from the first shape and the first goal-directed force by dynamically advancing the cloth from the first time to the second time. |
| US07791604B2 |
Graphics drawing apparatus and method of same
A graphics drawing apparatus able to reduce the amount of data transferred, able to realize a lower power consumption, and consequently able to achieve an improvement of performance of the system as a whole, provided with address generator for automatically generating addresses of drawing parameter registers required for the drawing in a defined sequence of drawing parameters according to address data and a specified drawing type; a register address selector for selecting either of the address data for specifying the register addresses of the address generator transferred through a general purpose bus or the address data for specifying the register address of the address generator by a former engine and inputting the same to the address generator; and a drawing data selector for selecting either of the drawing parameter data transferred through the general purpose bus or the drawing parameter data from the former engine and inputting the same to the drawing engine, and a method of the same. |
| US07791602B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing level of detail with ray tracing
The present invention relates to computer graphics applications involving scene rendering using objects modeled at multiple levels of detail. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a ray tracer implementation allows users to specify multiple versions of a particular object, categorized by LOD ID's. A scene server selects the version appropriate for the particular scene, based on the size of the object on the screen for example, and provides a smooth transition between multiple versions of an object model. In one example, the scene server will select two LOD representations associated with a given object and assign relative weights to each representation. The LOD weights are specified to indicate how to blend these representations together. A ray tracer computes the objects hit by camera rays associated with pixels in the camera window, as well as secondary rays in recursive implementations, and rays striking LOD objects are detected and shaded in accordance with the weights assigned to the different representations. Embodiments are disclosed for level of detail control using both forward ray tracing and backward ray tracing, including handling of camera rays, reflected rays, refracted rays and shadow rays. |
| US07791601B2 |
Efficient object storage for zone rendering
Similar, contiguous primitives are stored as a single primitive in zone rendering bins. A primitive packet used in the bin is allowed to vary in length and the currently open type of primitive is recorded on a per-bin basis. A special code is used to specify a variable number of subsequent indices. With this mechanism, the hardware is able to start outputting and replicating primitive commands into bin lists on the fly without requiring the buffering of the entire primitive. Given the variable nature of the primitive instruction, multiple similar/sequential primitives can be concatenated using a single primitive command header. |
| US07791600B2 |
Driving power-supply circuit
The object of the present invention is reducing power consumption of a driving power supply circuit.In the case where the driving voltage Vi is higher than the reference voltage ViH, The signal S3P, S3N of the differential amplifier 30P, 30N become level “L” concurrently, and the signal S4P, S4N of the output circuit 40P, 40N become level “H”. Subsequently, the NMOS 62 becomes on-state and decreases the driving voltage Vi of the node N6. At the above stage, the control signal CP becomes level “L”, then the operation of the constant current circuit 20P is halted.In the case where the driving voltage Vi is lower than the reference voltage ViL, the PMOS 61 becomes on-state and increases the driving voltage Vi, and concurrently the operation of the constant current circuit 20P halts. At the same time, in the case where the reference voltage ViL is lower than the driving voltage Vi and the driving voltage Vi is lower than the reference voltage ViH, the signal S4P, S4N become level “H”, respectively, the PMOS 61 and the NMOS 62 become off-state, however, the control signal CP, CH become level “H”, then monitoring the driving voltage Vi is conducted by the comparing circuits thereof. |
| US07791599B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof that are adaptive for detecting a presence and a frequency range of an input signal applied to the liquid crystal display. In the device, a timing controller is provided with a signal presence determiner for detecting an application of an input signal from an interface. The signal presence determiner is provided with an oscillator for generating a reference clock having the same frequency as a horizontal synchronizing signal and a pre-synchronizing signal having the same frequency as a vertical synchronizing signal, a period detector for comparing a data enable signal from the exterior thereof with the reference clock to output a period of the input signal with the aid of a detection reference signal and the pre-synchronizing signal, a period comparator for comparing a period range between a desired maximum value and a desired minimum value of the input signal, and signal presence/absence comparing means for determining a presence/absence of the input signal in response to a pulse number of the input signal detected within a period range between the maximum value and the minimum value during an application interval of the detection reference signal. |
| US07791594B2 |
Orientation based multiple mode mechanically vibrated touch screen display
A system and method is disclosed for reconfiguring the graphical user interface (GUI) of a mechanically vibrated touchscreen display associated with a portable mobile communications device that is operable in a variety of modes. The reconfiguration of the GUI is based on the orientation of the portable mobile communications device. An orientation sensing mechanism senses whether the portable mobile communications device is currently in a portrait or landscape orientation. An orientation sensing application accesses an orientation profile that associates each mode of operation with either a portrait or landscape orientation and determines which mode of operation is the default mode for the sensed orientation of the portable mobile communications device. The GUI of the mechanically vibrated touchscreen display is then reconfigured for the default mode of operation. |
| US07791593B2 |
Machine-differentiatable identifiers having a commonly accepted meaning
Embodiments include an article of manufacture, apparatus, device, system, computer-program product, and method. In an embodiment, system is provided that includes at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers, each identifier of the at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers being respectively keyed to a data recipient and associatable with a hand-formed mark on a surface. The system also includes a commonly accepted meaning respectively associated by a group of users with each machine-differentiatable identifier of the at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers. The system may include a surface displaying the at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers. The system may include a surface displaying the at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers and the commonly accepted meaning respectively associated by a group of users with each machine-differentiatable identifier of the at least two machine-differentiatable identifiers. |
| US07791590B1 |
Optical mouse with uniform level detection
An optical mouse includes a housing movable across a work surface with a source of non-coherent light in the movable housing for illuminating the work surface at a low or grazing angle of incidence, and may include a two dimensional array of photodetectors, each of which may produce an output in response to light reflected from surface irregularities on the illuminated work surface. The housing may include a memory for storing the photodetector outputs captured at one or more times. Circuitry in the housing may track movement of the housing relative to the work surface by comparing at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a first time with at least some of the photo detector outputs captured at a second time depending upon whether a characteristic condition in the photo detector outputs, such as uniformity, is detected. The circuitry may track movement of the housing by comparing light reflected from the surface irregularities a first time with light reflected there from at a second time unless a detectable image is not included therein. |
| US07791589B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying electronic document including handwritten data
A display apparatus (50) that appropriately displays a dynamic layout type electronic document having a handwritten memo additionally input to a main body even in different environments includes: a display unit (74) also serving as a handwritten data input unit (76); a layout calculating unit (72) calculating a layout of the dynamic layout type electronic document and giving a display on the display unit (74); a user writing processing unit (78) causing handwritten data of a user input through handwritten data input unit (76) to be displayed overlapping the electronic document that is being displayed; and a user data input/output unit (66) storing user data used for displaying the handwritten data in a user data storing unit (64) in relation to the electronic document. The user data includes shape data of the handwritten data, write area information specifying an area in the electronic document where the handwritten data was written, and layout information at the time of writing specifying the display layout of the electronic document when the handwritten data was formed. |
| US07791588B2 |
System and method for mapping instructions associated with haptic feedback
An embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for mapping instructions associated with haptic feedback. An apparatus having a controller including an effect mapper is disclosed. The controller is configured to receive effect instructions from at least one application. The effect mapper is in communication with the controller, and is configured to produce multiple haptic instructions in response to at least a portion of the received effect instructions. The haptic instructions are at least partially based on a physical characteristic of a haptic device. |
| US07791587B2 |
Input apparatus, information terminal apparatus, and mode switching method
A display portion 3 and a camera portion 4 are disposed in a main body 1. A housing of the main body 1 is made of an non-electroconductive material. One side surface of the main body 1 is an information input surface 5 of an input apparatus. Disposed in the housing on the side surface of the information input surface is a light, thin-film shaped electrostatic sensor. By moving a finger tip 6 on the information input surface 5 upward and downward while contacting thereon, a cursor moves on the display portion 3. Tap positions U, C, and L into which the information input surface 5 is divided in its height direction are defined. When each tap position is lightly tapped one time, releasing and touching states of the finger tip 6 are detected by the sensor and a tap operation is recognized. The tap operation includes a confirmation of a menu at the cursor position, a shutter operation, and so forth. The difference of tap positions can be detected by the sensor. |
| US07791586B2 |
Entertainment system mountable in a vehicle seat
An entertainment system includes a housing adapted for being mounted within a seat of a vehicle and a media unit housed within the housing and pivotably coupled to the housing. The housing includes at least one of a groove formed within a sidewall of the housing adapted to engage a movable latch of the media unit, a first flexible member provided on a sidewall of the housing to engage a portion of the media unit for snapping the media unit into place within the housing, or a second flexible member disposed in a face of the housing to provide a spring force on the media unit in a direction away from the housing. |
| US07791585B2 |
Method of fabricating flexible display
A method of fabricating a flexible display, the method comprising selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet; and forming a number of magnetic display elements having magnetically controllable reflectivity between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet. In some embodiments, a display includes pixels having a magnetically controllable reflectivity. The pixels are formed between a pair of flexible non-conductive sheets. Each of the magnetically controllable pixels includes a flexible ring located between the flexible non-conductive sheets. Each of the magnetically controllable pixels also includes magnetic particles located within the flexible ring. The location of the magnetic particles with respect to the flexible non-conductive sheets determines the reflectivity of the pixel. The display is especially suitable for use in connection with portable electronic devices. |
| US07791583B2 |
Flat panel display having overdrive function
A method of operating a display includes deriving first pixel data for overdriving pixel circuits of the display from initial gray levels to target gray levels based on values in the first and second lookup tables, rendering the second lookup table unavailable in memory in response to a change in a temperature of the display, and deriving second pixel data using the first lookup table for overdriving the pixel circuits when the second lookup table is unavailable in the memory. |
| US07791577B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for driving the same
Each pixel includes first and second subpixels with different luminances. Each subpixel includes a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor counter electrodes of the subpixels (such as those of the first subpixel of an arbitrary pixel and the second subpixel of a vertically adjacent pixel) are electrically independent. A storage capacitor counter voltage supplied through each storage capacitor trunk has a first period (A) with a first waveform and a second period (B) with a second waveform within one vertical scanning period (V-Total) of an input video signal, where V-Total=A+B. The first waveform oscillates between first and second voltage levels in a first cycle time PA, which is an integral number of times, and at least twice, as long as one horizontal scanning period (H). The second waveform is defined such that the effective value of the storage capacitor counter voltage has a predetermined constant value every predetermined number of (but 20 or less) consecutive vertical scanning periods. Thus, the viewing angle dependence of the γ characteristic can be reduced. |
| US07791575B2 |
Circuit for driving display panel with transition control
A driving circuit for driving a display panel including a plurality of pixels. The driving circuit includes a selecting signal generator to generate a plurality of selecting signals according to a first and a second pixel data, a voltage divider to provide a plurality of sub-transition voltages, and a voltage selector coupled to receive the plurality of sub-transition voltages and the selecting signal, and to selectively output a plurality of sub-transition voltages serially according to the selecting signals. A drive buffer is coupled to receive the outputted sub-transition voltages serially and to serially generate a plurality of sub-transition driving voltages according to the outputted sub-transition voltages during a transition time period. |
| US07791570B2 |
Electrical circuit arrangement for a display device
Disclosed is a method for addressing a display pixel and an electrical circuit arrangement for the display device. In some embodiments, the electrical circuit arrangement includes an input terminal for receiving a first signal; a first memory element for storing information about the first signal; a driver element coupled to the first memory element for outputting a second signal via an output terminal in accordance with the information about the first signal; and a calibration circuit coupled between the driver element and the input terminal for matching a potential difference between the driver element and the input terminal during a calibration phase prior to receiving the first signal. |
| US07791567B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent device and driving method thereof.The method of driving an electroluminescent device having a plurality of pixels formed on emitting areas crossed by data lines and scan lines comprises detecting a gray scale of a data current according to a display data inputted from outside, and discharging the data lines to a discharging level corresponding to the display data according to the detected gray scale.The organic electroluminescent device and driving method thereof according to the present invention can emit the pixels as desired brightness independently of a gray scale by making the discharging circuit regulate the discharge level according to the gray scale. |
| US07791566B2 |
Signal line driving circuit and light emitting device
Dispersion occurs in the characteristics of the transistors. The invention is a signal line driving circuit having a first and a second current source circuits corresponding to each of a plurality of signal lines, a shift register, and a constant current source for video signal, in which the first current source circuit is disposed in a first latch and the second current source circuit is disposed in a second latch. The first current source circuit includes capacitive means for converting the current supplied from the constant current source for video signal into a voltage, according to a sampling pulse supplied from the shift register, and supplying means for supplying the current corresponding to the converted voltage. The second current source circuit includes capacitive means for converting the current supplied from the first latch into a voltage, according to a latch pulse, and supplying means for supplying the current corresponding to the converted voltage. |
| US07791563B2 |
Plasma display and method for floating address electrodes in an address period
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same. The plasma display apparatus according to the present invention includes a plasma display panel in which data electrodes are formed; and a data voltage controller for applying a data voltage as a floating state or a first state voltage to the data electrodes. The method of driving a plasma display apparatus according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) applying a first voltage to the data electrodes; and (b) applying a voltage as a ground level or a floating state to the data electrodes. |
| US07791562B2 |
Display unit and methods of displaying an image
The present invention provides a method of displaying an image on a display device having first and second sides, said image including an light restricting silhouette pattern having a plurality of first transparent or translucent areas, and at least one design layer having at least one color, said at least one design layer being visible from one side of said display device and substantially less visible from the other side, said image being substantially transparent or translucent as viewed from the other side, comprising the steps: 1) providing at least a definition of said design layer to a computer; 2) generating a computerized version of said design layer with the computer; 3) outputting the computerized version of said design layer to said display device, the computerized version of said design layer being modified to subdivide said design layer into a plurality of second discrete transparent or translucent areas and other areas, and 4) displaying said modified design layer and said silhouette pattern with said first and second transparent areas being in registry. Articles produced in accordance with the method are also described.Printers, raster image processing methods and systems, computer graphics systems are described for producing the article. |
| US07791560B2 |
Image transfer apparatus
An apparatus includes a light source configured to provide a path of light and a spatial light modulator located in the path of light and configured to modulate the light source. Relay optics are configured to receive the modulated light from the spatial light modulator and to project a computer generated image to a nominal image plane. The light source is configured to illuminate the spatial light modulator with collimated light. |
| US07791557B2 |
Multiple antenna energy harvesting
Energy harvesting circuits and associated methods are provided that employ multiple antennas to optimize the amount of energy that is harvested while at the same time making efficient use of tag space. In some embodiments, matching networks are chosen in a manner that optimizes the DC energy that is created from the harvesting process. In other embodiments, phase shifts are introduced into the received signals to allow the signals to be more efficiently combined after they are rectified. |
| US07791556B2 |
Transmission line distributed oscillator
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit antenna array includes: a substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; and an RF network adjacent the substrate, the RF feed network coupling to a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate, wherein the RF feed network and the distributed plurality of amplifiers are configured to form a resonant network such that if a timing signal is injected into an input port of the RF network, the resonant network oscillates to provide a globally synchronized RF signal to each of the antennas. |
| US07791554B2 |
Tulip antenna with tuning stub
The tulip antenna has two orthogonally intersecting conductive plates. Each intersecting plate has two ends, and one of these ends is smoothly tapered. The intersecting plates intersect such that the tapered end of both plates together form a tapered side when the intersecting plates intersect. An inner conductor of a coaxial cable is connected to the two intersecting plates at the tapered side of the intersecting plates. The inner conductor and the surrounding insulator pass through a tuning stub and then through a metallic ground plate. The tuning stub is connected to the ground plate. An aperture in the ground plate is sized such that the insulator can pass through it, just as the insulator can pass through the tuning stub. The tuning stub increases the upper frequency limit over which the antenna operates. The outer conductor of the coaxial cable is attached to the ground plate. |
| US07791552B1 |
Cellular reflectarray antenna and method of making same
A method of manufacturing a cellular reflectarray antenna arranged in an m by n matrix of radiating elements for communication with a satellite includes steps of determining a delay φm,n for each of said m by n matrix of elements of said cellular reflectarray antenna using sub-steps of: determining the longitude and latitude of operation, determining elevation and azimuth angles of the reflectarray with respect to the satellite and converting theta0 (θ0) and phi0 (φ0), determining Δβm,n, the pointing vector correction, for a given inter-element spacing and wavelength, determining Δφm,n, the spherical wave front correction factor, for a given radius from the central element and/or from measured data from the feed horn; and, determining a delay φm,n for each of said m by n matrix of elements as a function of Δβm,n and Δφm,n.. |
| US07791551B2 |
Wireless audio signal receiver device for a hearing instrument
A receiver device for receiving audio signals from a remote source has a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit. The antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-shaped conductor on an at least partially flexible insulating substrate. A first portion defines a first plane and a second portion defines a second plane, the first plane and second planes being oriented at an angle of 60° to 120° relative to each other. |
| US07791548B2 |
On-board antenna device
An on-board antenna device comprises: a radiation element (302) formed on an inner-surface of a widow glass (51) for a vehicle (50); a base plate (305) fixed on the inner-surface of the widow glass (51) so as to surround the radiation element (302); a circuit board (308) having a conductive layer in a surface (308a) thereof, which is opposed to the radiation element (302), and a component mounting surface electrically connected to the radiation element (302) in the other surface (308b) thereof; and a housing (312) assembled onto the base plate (305), and the circuit board (308) being contained therein; wherein the circuit board (308) has a cutout portion (308f) to incorporate a connector (324) for a transmission line connection. |
| US07791545B2 |
Multiband antenna
A multiband antenna with the broadband function has a radiator, a feed cable, a first extension conductor, and a second extension conductor. The radiator has a microwave substrate, a coupling conductor, a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a connecting conductor. The coupling conductor is connected with a positive signal wire of the feed cable. The third conductor is connected with a negative signal of the feed cable for transmitting electrical signals. The radiator generates the multiband mode of the antenna. By connecting the first extension conductor and the second extension conductor with the radiator, the surface current distribution and impedance variation of the antenna can be effectively adjusted to achieve the broadband effect. |
| US07791542B2 |
Skeleton equalizing antenna, RFID tag and RFID system using the same
The problems to be solved by the present invention are to provide an antenna which is applied to a wireless identification system wherein there is a long distance between a device to execute identification and a device attached to an object to be identified and which does not cause deterioration in aesthetic terms and covering of a meaningful symbol, and further to provide a wireless system using the antenna. According to the present invention, there are provided an antenna having a circularly polarizing function and a frequency equalizing function achieved by a grid structure having roughness and fineness around a feeding point and density which allows visible light to pass through, an RFID tag using the antenna, and an RFID system using the tag. |
| US07791536B2 |
High power phased array antenna system and method with low power switching
Embodiments of a switchable high-power transmit module to selectively provide a high-power microwave signal in excess of one kilowatt to one of first and second output paths are disclosed herein. The module includes a switch to receive a lower-power microwave signal from a source, a first ninety-degree coupler for directing power from the switch to first and second paths, a first high-power amplifier disposed in the first path, a second high-power amplifier disposed in the second path, and a second ninety-degree coupler to receive output signals of the first and second amplifiers. The switch is configured to selectively couple the lower-power microwave signal between first and second input ports of the first ninety-degree coupler. When the switch couples the lower-power microwave signal to a selected one of the input ports of the first coupler, signals generated by the first and second high-power amplifiers are combined in the second ninety-degree coupler to provide the high-power microwave output signal on only one of the output paths. |
| US07791526B2 |
Determining scan strategy for digital card
A method is provided for determining a scan strategy to receive data for a digital unit associated with an electronic support measure receiver. The receiver scans a surrounding environment to detect and receive emitted signals while utilizing the digital unit to improve emitter identification. The digital unit is provided with the data according to requirements of digital signal processing algorithms implemented by the unit. |
| US07791525B2 |
Time-to-digital conversion with calibration pulse injection
A time-to-digital converter having at least one chain of delay elements, wherein a status of the chain of delay elements represents a digital signal relating to a time interval to be converted, wherein the time-to-digital converter having an injector for injecting a calibration pulse of known position and/or known duration in time into the chain of delay elements, wherein a first status of the chain of delay elements being expected in response to the calibration pulse, the time-to-digital converter further having a capturer for capturing the actual status of the chain of delay elements in response to the calibration pulse, a calculator for calculating a deviation between the expected first status and the actual status, and a combination unit for taking into account the deviation when converting the time interval to the digital signal. |
| US07791524B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, semiconductor integrated circuit, and signal processing method
A solid-state imaging device includes: pixel circuits arranged in a matrix which perform photoelectric conversion on received light; and an AD conversion unit converting the resultant signal voltage of the photoelectric conversion. The AD conversion unit includes: a reference voltage generation unit generating plural reference voltages which are different from each other within a possible range for a signal voltage; a most significant bit conversion unit that identifies a voltage section including the signal voltage from among the voltage sections each having a corresponding one of the reference voltages as a base point and determines the identified result as the value of the most significant bit of the digital signal; and a least significant bit conversion unit that converts, into the least significant bit of the digital signal, the difference voltage between the signal voltage and the reference voltage as the base point of the identified voltage section. |
| US07791519B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor device testing apparatus, and semiconductor device testing method
In a pass/fail judgment test for a semiconductor IC having plural DACs, there is a problem that the test time is undesirably increased due to an increase on the number of DACs or an increase in resolution.When testing two DACs, i.e., DAC1 and DAC2, a control unit (170) alternately increases the digital input values of the DAC1 and DAC2, whereby the output of a comparator 1 to which the analog output values of the DAC1 and DAC2 are inputted repeats inversion between “0” and “1”. It is judged whether the DACs are conforming or not by judging with a judgment unit (180) whether the output pattern of the comparator 1 matches an expected value or not. |
| US07791517B2 |
Fully differential delta sigma modulator
A fully differential delta sigma modulator is provided. The fully differential delta sigma modulator has an integrator in which a comparator replaces an operational amplifier for decreasing power consumption. The integrator extends to a fully differential implementation with the addition of a common-mode feedback circuit for improving equivalent input and signal-to-noise ratio. |
| US07791516B2 |
Temperature compensated delta-sigma modulators with logarithmic dynamic range
A delta sigma (ΔΣ or DS) modulator includes at least a first proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) element that conditions an input signal, and a second PTAT element that conditions a reference signal. |
| US07791509B2 |
Preprocessing variable-length code (VLC) bitstream information
An information handling system includes a processor that may perform preprocessing on a variable-length code (VLC) bitstream before decoding the bitstream. The bitstream includes multiple codewords. The processor analyzes incoming VLC bitstream information and generates codeword table information for storage in a system memory or a VLC codeword tables location. The processor generates a VLC lookup table from the information in the VLC codeword tables and stores that VLC lookup table in a system memory of the IHS. The VLC lookup table may exhibit two dimensional indexing by leading zero count and bit-length possibility. |
| US07791507B2 |
Coder and a method of coding for codes with a parity-complementary word assignment having a constraint of d=1 , r=2
A coder converts M-bit information words into N-bit code words by generating a first and a second provisional code sequence using a coding rule by which, code words are logically assigned to information words so that a two's complement of a sum of coding bits included in the first provisional code sequence, is always different from a two's complement of a sum of coding bib included in the second provisional code sequence, when a first code state of the first sequence encoded starting from a predetermined original state is identical to a second code state of the second sequence encoded starting from said predetermined original state. Then, selecting either the first sequence or the second sequence depending on a value of at least one parameter that correlates with a DC content of the coded bit stream. |
| US07791501B2 |
Vehicle identification, tracking and parking enforcement system
A system for monitoring and tracking vehicles in parking locations, public roadways and highway entrances and exits and other public vehicle access areas is provided, such as to monitor and track vehicles in parking spaces, public roadways and highways without the need for parking or traffic personnel. The system includes a meter system that generates image data of a vehicle in a parking space, public roadway and highway entrances and exits such as by creating an array of pixel data in a predetermined field of view that includes a vehicle identification tag and facial imaging. An enforcement and tracking system receives the image data and generates a vehicle license number, vehicle tag identification number and facial image from the image data, such as by analyzing the image data to identify the vehicle license number, vehicle tag identification number and facial image based on the expected location of the license tag, identification tag and field of view image data characteristics of the license tag, facial image or other suitable data. From the image data acquired, monitoring of parking spaces is performed and violation citations or notices are generated for errant vehicles in parking locations as well as notification to law enforcement and homeland security agencies of vehicles and facial images identified as being on a watch list. |
| US07791500B2 |
Providing sponsorship information alongside traffic messages
A method and system for providing sponsorship information to a user of a traffic message receiver is disclosed. Sponsorship messages are sent to the traffic message receiver and include data to be stored in the memory of the receiver. The transmission of the sponsorship messages is performed as a background routine to the regular transmission of traffic messages. The sponsorship data stored in the traffic message receiver is provided to the user of the traffic message receiver based on a triggering event, such as the end-user entering a point of interest string into the user interface of his navigation system or receipt of a message that includes an activated trigger flag. |
| US07791499B2 |
Dynamic siren detection and notification system
A monitoring and notification system detects and informs vehicle occupants of sirens. The system may adjust radio, phone, or other device settings in the vehicle in conjunction with the notification. The notification may take an audible or visual form, and the monitoring system may perform its analysis across multiple types of sirens. In addition, the system may adapt its processing based on location to take into account locally expected siren formats. |
| US07791496B2 |
Plug-in speaker for emergency notification and voice evacuation
An alarm indicating output appliance can be releasably affixed to a mounting plate. The plate carries wire receiving terminals which couple to the appliance. In the absence of the appliance, at least two of the terminals can be short circuited. |
| US07791494B2 |
Voltage monitoring device
A voltage monitoring device includes a comparison voltage generating circuit for providing a comparison voltage, a comparator, an electronic switch, and an LED. The comparator outputs a control signal in response to a comparing result between the comparison voltage and a voltage output by a power supply. The electronic switch includes a first terminal receiving the output of the comparator, a second terminal connected to a reference voltage, and a third terminal connected to ground. The LED includes an anode connected to the reference voltage, and a cathode connected to the second terminal of the first electronic switch. |
| US07791489B2 |
Electronic-ink based RFID tag for attachment to a consumer item and displaying graphical indicia indicating whether or not said consumer items has been read and its integrated RFID module has been activated or deactivated
An electronic-ink based RFID tag for attachment to a consumer item and displaying graphical indicia indicating whether or not the item has been read and its integrated RFID module has been activated or deactivated. In response to privacy concerns of consumers, the present invention provides new way of and means for allowing a consumer to readily determine the state of an RFID tag on a consumer item (i.e. activated or deactivated) through the use of a visual indicator integrated with the electronic-ink based RFID tag. The RFID tag has an addressable display label employing a layer of electronic ink, for displaying a first visual indicator when its RFID module has been activated to indicate that the unique identifier associated consumer item has not yet be read, and a second visual indicator when the RFID module has been deactivated to indicate that the unique identifier associated the consumer item has been read. |
| US07791485B2 |
Decommissioning bin for automatic decommissioning of electronic tags
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to electronic tag decommissioning and provide a method, system and computer program product for electronic tag decommissioning. In one embodiment of the invention, an electronic tag decommissioning system can be provided. The system can include a database housing link data associating a plurality of electronic tags with respective objects, and a decommissioning bin. The decommissioning bin can include an electronic tag reader coupled to decommissioning logic programmed to decommission the electronic tag in the database. |
| US07791484B2 |
System for tamper detection
The present invention relates to a system for tamper detection. A tamper detection system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a passive electronic sensor including a circuit having first, second, and third nodes; a load connected between the first and second nodes of the circuit; a friable electrical connection element connected between the second and third nodes of the circuit; and a storage unit, connected to the second node of the circuit, for storing an identification code of the sensor; wherein in use a voltage is applied across the first and third nodes of the circuit, and when the friable electrical connection element is intact, the second node of the circuit is at a first voltage, and when the friable electrical connection element is broken, the second node of the circuit is at a second voltage. |
| US07791483B2 |
Game system using RFID tags
A game can comprise a board with multiple RFID antennas and a game piece with a RFID antenna. When one of the multiple RFID antennas is adjacent to the RFID antenna in the game piece, the response characteristics of these RFID antennas can change so that the position of the game piece can be determined. |
| US07791482B2 |
Using RFIDs to detect material dilution
A material is laced with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags at a known concentration of RFID tags per unit of material. Subsequently, if an interrogation of the RFID tags reveals a reduced concentration of RFID tags in the material, then a conclusion is drawn that the material has been diluted. |
| US07791480B2 |
Process control monitoring systems, industrial plants, and process control monitoring methods
A system comprises a valve; a plurality of RFID sensor assemblies coupled to the valve to monitor a plurality of parameters associated with the valve; a control tag configured to wirelessly communicate with the respective tags that are coupled to the valve, the control tag being further configured to communicate with an RF reader; and an RF reader configured to selectively communicate with the control tag, the reader including an RF receiver. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US07791479B2 |
RFID point of sale and delivery method and system
A method and system for providing point-of-sale and point-of-delivery and/or distribution of products in a restricted access unit near the customer. The method and system utilize products equipped with radio frequency tags and reduce the effects of energy sharing, shadowing, and nulls. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF tagged products are placed within a refrigerator, cabinet, or other micro-warehouse that has a door or opening that can detect access to the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, one or more antennas are positioned within the door. Each antenna may have a transmission line of sight and be configured to emit a signal at predefined frequencies. Each antenna generates an electromagnetic field within the micro-warehouse. In one embodiment, the products are positioned in one or more bins, compartments, or similar devices located within the micro-warehouse such that at least two of the plurality of products are spaced a distance from each other to reduce energy sharing. The electromagnetic field is moved or altered within the micro-warehouse through the use of reflectors, devices that move the antennas, or other mechanisms. |
| US07791477B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing video data of a security system based on infrared data
A security system comprises a surveillance unit comprising a visible light camera detecting video data from within a first field of view (FOV) and an infrared (IR) imager detecting IR data within the first FOV. An IR detection module determines whether at least a portion of the IR data is one of within a predetermined IR range, above a predetermined IR threshold, and below a predetermined IR threshold. A processor identifies a region of interest (ROI) within the video data to be further analyzed based on an output of the IR detection module. |
| US07791476B2 |
Occupant sensor and method for seat belt or other monitoring
The change in voltage or current of the antenna is measured by the time to reach a particular voltage level. Using either charging and/or discharging, the times to reach two or more different levels of the total charge are measured. By providing sensor electronics with each sensor or antenna, a more versatile system may be provided. The sensors and associated electronics communicate using a bus or other communication path to a processor. The processor determines an occupant state based on the received sensor information. Different numbers of sensors may be used with the same system. |
| US07791470B2 |
Spin around direction and distance locator
A hand-held remote locator (RL) device is used to locate a transponder or micro-transponder (MT). The user activates the RL to transmit a multi-frame ping to the MT in a slow ping mode, where the MT transmits reply messages when the multi-frame ping is received The RL calculates a distance between the RL and the MT using the time-of-flight (TOF) between the transmission of a ping and the receipt of a reply. The user can then engage a fast ping mode, where the RL transmits the multi-frame ping at an increased rate. The user then extends the RL device away from their body and turns through at least a partial arc length about their center line such that data is collected including compass readings, Doppler information, and distance calculations. The directional location for the MT is determined by the RL using the collected data. |
| US07791468B2 |
Power line communication system having time server
A system for bi-directional power distribution line communication. The system is configured for data communication with an endpoint transceiver located at a customer premise. The system comprises a time server in electrical communication with the transceiver, the time server configured to retrieve the time. A substation controller is in electrical communication with a power distribution line. The substation controller includes a transceiver and a programmable circuit. The programmable circuit includes a substation clock. The programmable circuit is programmed to periodically retrieve the time from the time server to calibrate the substation clock to the retrieved time, and to control the transceiver to transmit the time to the endpoint transceiver. |
| US07791466B2 |
System and method for event detection utilizing sensor based surveillance
The present invention includes a method, system, and program product for detecting an event that includes receiving at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, selecting a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, recording the data input stream on a recordable medium, specifying a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and detecting at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule. |
| US07791464B1 |
Tractor-trailer rig deployable sign
A method of providing a user controllable sign, on the trailer of a tractor-trailer rig. The tractor includes a cab and the trailer is electrically connected to the tractor by way of a jack that provides a set number of electrical connections between the tractor and the trailer. The method begins with the installation of a manual input device in the cab. This device creates a signal that can be overlaid on a jack input without disrupting the input and is electrically connected to a jack input. Also, a signal receiving unit is installed in the trailer, and is connected to a wire electrically connected to the jack input that receives the user signal from the manual input device. This unit is able to determine the presence of the signal from the manual input device. Also installed in the trailer, is a sign deployment controller that is at least in part responsive to the user signal receiving unit. Finally, a sign assembly, controlled by the sign deployment controller, is installed. |
| US07791462B2 |
Occupant detecting apparatus
An occupant detecting apparatus includes a detecting portion detecting whether an occupant is seated on a seat, and a judging portion judging whether the occupant occupies the seat on the basis of information detected by the detecting portion. The judging portion judges that the seat is unoccupied by the occupant when a state where a detection that the occupant is not seated on the seat by the detecting portion continues for a judgment time after the detecting portion detects that the seat is occupied by the occupant. |
| US07791461B2 |
Tire management system with data demanding signal and tire status value transmitting at different cycles
A tire management system includes a sensor module secured to inside of a tire that is mounted on a vehicle, for measuring a tire state value and transmitting the measured data to the vehicle side, and a receiver module secured to the vehicle side for transmitting a signal demanding the measured data to the sensor module at a predetermined cycle and receiving the measured data transmitted from the sensor module. The sensor module measures a tire status value at a predetermined cycle, judges whether the measured data is out of a predetermined normal range, and immediately transmits the measured data and an abnormal state data through a predetermined channel exclusively used for transmitting the abnormal state data to the receiver module, if the data is judged to be out of the normal range. With this structure, if an abnormal state occurs, the receiver module can receive the abnormality without any delay, while preventing shortening of the cell life. |
| US07791459B2 |
Vehicle light control system
The vehicle light control system includes a light device emitting an illumination light around an object vehicle on which the vehicle light control system is mounted, an information obtaining device obtaining integrated information including at least vehicle information indicating a behavior of the object vehicle, a control unit including an illumination target candidate setting function of setting a plurality of illumination target candidates which a driver of the object vehicle should pay attention on the basis of the integrated information, the plurality of the illumination target candidates being given a risk degree respectively, and a determination function of selecting an illumination target from among the plurality of the illumination target candidates on the basis of the risk degree, and an actuator device controlling the light device such that the illumination light is emitted in a direction of the illumination target. |
| US07791456B2 |
Vibrator
A vibrator includes a voice coil and a vibrating member that vibrates along the axial direction of the voice coil when it is excited by application of an alternating current thereto. A suspension supports the vibrating member vibratably in the axial direction. A casing houses the voice coil, the vibrating member, and the suspension. A buffering member is provided so that the vibrating member strikes the buffering member when the vibration amplitude of the vibrating member has exceeded a predetermined value in a resonance region around the resonance point of the vibrating member. |
| US07791455B1 |
Method and apparatus for autonomous detection of a given location or situation
A method and apparatus is provided for sensing a given situation such as the presence of operational aircraft for deactivation, or other modification, of a device such as wireless communication circuitry signal transmission circuitry while in the presence of the operational aircraft. The sensing of a situation may be by the presence of a predetermined signal, the arrival at a given location, a measurable change in air pressure and so forth. The sensor circuitry, upon detecting conditions suggestive of operational aircraft, operates to activate, deactivate or otherwise modify the performance of a device while in the presence or immediate vicinity of aircraft or other predetermined situation. |
| US07791454B2 |
Engine starting switch and portable device
A switch for urging a driver to perform an operation that is required when the smart ignition function is invalid. The switch is used by a driver to start the engine of a vehicle when the vehicle communicates with a portable device to verify the portable device. The portable device has an end portion. The switch includes a push button pushed by the driver. The push button includes a guide portion engaged with the end portion of the portable device. |
| US07791452B2 |
Wireless access control and event controller system
A wireless access control system and method is described which permits wireless communication between a remote access controller and a central access controller on an “on demand” basis. The remote access controller can determine the state of the locking mechanism without communication to the central access controller when a valid access request is presented. However, if an invalid access request is presented, a remote wireless communicator will be placed in its transmission mode to request updated user control data from the central access controller. The remote wireless communicator can also be placed in its transmission mode to request updated user control data from the central access controller by a communication command input at a remote programming mode device. |
| US07791445B2 |
Low profile layered coil and cores for magnetic components
A low profile magnetic component with planar coil portion, polymer-based supporting structure and methods of fabrication. |
| US07791443B1 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, which has plural front and rear rows of accommodating troughs for receiving electrical conductive terminals, and two protective blocks protruded upwardly. The accommodating portion has a first accommodating portion, a second accommodating portion extending laterally from the first accommodating portion, and a third accommodating portion extending rearwards from the first accommodating portion. A rear row of the second accommodating portions are located behind the adjacent front row of third accommodating portions. The electrical conductive terminal has a base, a material-belt connecting portion extending from one side of the base, an elastic arm extending from the elastic arm. The elastic arm is adjacent to and exceeds the material-belt connecting portion. The elastic arms of the rear row of the electrical conductive terminals are located between the two adjacent elastic arms of the front row of the electrical conductive terminals. |
| US07791442B2 |
Electronic transformer used in low-voltage lamps
An electronic transformer used in low voltage lamps mainly includes an outer case, an electronic controlling circuit and a voltage switch isolating transformer. Therein, the outer case consists of an upper cover plate (1) and a lower cover plate (2); the electronic controlling circuit and the magnetic core coil (6) of the voltage switch isolating transformer are put between the upper cover plate (1) and the lower cover plate (2); characterized in that the outside of the lower cover plate (2) provides concaving grooves (9) adapting to coil winding, the corresponding line passage holes (10) and a center hole (12) of the lower cover plate; the windings of the voltage switch isolating transformer are embedded in the grooves (9) through the center hole (12) of the lower cover plate, the line passage holes (10) and the center hole of the magnetic core coil (6), the upper cover (1) plate and the lower cover plate (2) are embedded with each other. The electronic transformer in accordance with the invention is portable, thin, beautiful, convenient, with better heat dispersion, and up to the correlative international safety standard. |
| US07791441B1 |
Magnetically powered spinning magnet
A magnetic field is generated by a magnetic field that is rotated axially. A second magnet spins in response to the rotating magnetic field generated by the axial rotation of the first magnetic field. The second magnet is remote from and is not physically connected to the first magnetic field. The spin or rotation of the second magnet is responsive to the rotation of the first magnetic field by the interaction of the respective magnetic fields. |
| US07791434B2 |
Acoustic resonator performance enhancement using selective metal etch and having a trench in the piezoelectric
An acoustic resonator that includes a substrate, a first electrode, a layer of piezoelectric material, and a second electrode. The substrate has a first surface and the first electrode is adjacent the first surface of the substrate. The layer of piezoelectric material is adjacent the first electrode. The second electrode is adjacent the layer of piezoelectric material, and the second electrode lies in a first plane and has an edge. The layer of piezoelectric material has a recessed feature adjacent the edge of the second electrode. |
| US07791433B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product providing edgeless carbon nanotube resonator arrays
A nanotube apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a first electrode having a first edge. An array of nanotubes distributed in a closed path are also included. The closed path surrounds the first electrode and adjacent to the first edge. The closed path is also locally straight. Each of the nanotubes has an end that is free to oscillate. The apparatus also includes a second electrode having a second edge surrounding both the first electrode and the array of nanotubes. Methods are also described. |
| US07791432B2 |
Contour-mode piezoelectric micromechanical resonators
A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer. |
| US07791428B2 |
All-digital phase-locked loop, loop bandwidth calibration method, and loop gain calibration method for the same
For decreasing errors within an analog phase-locked loop, an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with digital components and digital operations is used. The ADPLL may also be used for direct frequency modulation (DFM). By defining a proportional path gain of an ADPLL by a bandwidth and a reference frequency of the ADPLL, by a TDC gain, a DCO gain, a dividing ratio of a frequency divider, a gain of an amplifier or a combination thereof, the gain of the amplifier may be adjusted so that an optimal loop bandwidth of the ADPLL may be well calibrated. For achieving the aim of entirely digital of the ADPLL, the gains of the TDC and the DCO may be further adjusted in a digital manner. |
| US07791423B2 |
Two-frequency switchover type crystal oscillator
The present invention relates to a two-frequency switchover type crystal oscillator in which first and second IC chips and first and second crystal resonators are connected to wiring patterns of a circuit substrate to form first and second oscillation circuits, and the first and second oscillation circuits are selectively operated in accordance with a selection mechanism; a two-frequency switchover type crystal oscillator in which surfaces opposite to circuit function surfaces of the first and second IC chips are connected to form a two-stage structure; IC terminals of the circuit function surface of the first IC chip are directly connected both electrically and mechanically to the wiring patterns; and IC terminals of the circuit function surface of the second IC chip are connected electrically by wire bonding to the wiring patterns; wherein those wiring patterns of the wiring patterns that are connected to power source, output, and ground terminals of the first and second IC chips are connected in common with respect to the first and second oscillation circuits. This configuration reduces the mounting surface area of the first and second IC chips, facilitating the wiring patterns thereof, thus making it possible to provide a two-frequency switchover oscillator in which the surface area of the external plan view is reduced. |
| US07791419B1 |
Timing calibration for crystal oscillators within a mesh network
Timing calibrator is disclosed. A first oscillator includes an output. The first oscillator includes a mechanically resonant element. A second oscillator includes an output. The second oscillator includes a quartz resonator. A frequency relater has an output, a first input, and a second input. The frequency relater has the first input coupled to the first oscillator output and the second input coupled to the second oscillator output. |
| US07791417B2 |
Mixed-mode PLL
A mixed-mode PLL is disclosed. The mixed-mode PLL comprises an analog phase correction path and a digital frequency correction path. The analog phase correction path comprises a linear phase correction unit (LPCU). The digital frequency correction path comprises a digital integral path circuit. |
| US07791414B1 |
Low voltage current feedback amplifier with near rail to rail input common mode voltage range
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a current feedback amplifier. The amplifier is coupleable with a first supply rail and a second supply rail. The current feedback amplifier includes an input stage configurable to provide a first input and a second input for the current feedback amplifier, wherein the first and second inputs are operable to receive input voltages within 800 mV of the first supply rail or the second supply rail. The amplifier further includes a first current mirror coupled with the input stage, a second current mirror coupled with the input stage, and an output stage coupled with the first and second current mirrors. The output stage is operable to provide an output for the current feedback amplifier. |
| US07791412B2 |
Gain control methods and systems in an amplifier assembly
A Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) amplifies an input signal according to a gain, to produce an amplified signal. A detector module detects a power indicative of a power of the amplified signal. A comparator module compares the detected power to a high threshold, a low threshold and a target threshold intermediate the high and low thresholds. A controller module changes the gain of the VGA so as to drive the detected power in a direction toward the middle threshold when the comparator module indicates the detected power is not between the high and low thresholds. |
| US07791408B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic frequency correction
A method and apparatus for automatic frequency correction in a demodulation circuit. The apparatus includes a demodulator, a frequency offset estimator, a frequency controller, and an oscillator. The oscillator provides a receiver clock signal which the demodulator employs to demodulate a modulated signal. The frequency offset estimator estimates an offset between a carrier wave frequency of the modulated signal and a frequency of the receiver clock signal. The frequency controller provides a frequency control signal to the oscillator for adjusting the frequency of the receiver clock. While the estimated offset is outside of an adjustment range, the frequency controller maintains the frequency control signal at its previous value. The frequency controller also adjusts the adjustment range based on past error signal values. |
| US07791396B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and semiconductor package module having the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first clock pin controller that receives a mirror function signal and a test mode signal to generate a first input buffer control signal in response to the mirror function signal in a normal mode. A second clock pin controller receives the mirror function signal and the test mode signal to generate a second input buffer control signal, which is an inverted signal of the first input buffer control signal, in response to the mirror function signal in the normal mode. An input buffer unit generates output signals of first and second pins in response to the first input buffer control signal and the second input buffer control signal, respectively. |
| US07791394B2 |
Decentralised fault-tolerant clock pulse generation in VLSI chips
The invention relates to a method for distributed, fault-tolerant clock pulse generation in hardware systems, wherein the system clock pulse is generated in distribution by a plurality of intercommunicating fault-tolerant clock pulse synchronization algorithms (TS-Algs), in which an arbitrary number of such TS-Algs exchange information between one another via a user-defined and permanent network (TS-Net) of clock pulse signals, susceptible to transient faults, and each TS-Alg is assigned to one or more functional units (Fu1, Fu2, . . . ), whose local clock pulses are generated by it, and further all local clock pulses are synchronized with respect to frequency in an assured manner, and a specified number of transient and/or permanent faults may occur in the TS-Algs or in the TS-Net, without adversely affecting the clock pulse generation and/or the synchronization accuracy, and the system clock pulse automatically achieves the maximum possible frequency. The invention further relates to such a hardware system. |
| US07791393B1 |
Precision falling edge generator
A clock generating circuit includes a source clock, a first clock generated from the source clock through a first header, a second clock generated from the source clock through a second header and an inverter, wherein the second clock is out of phase with respect to the first clock, a first delayed falling edge clock, wherein the first delayed falling edge clock corresponds to the first clock with a first delayed falling edge, and a second delayed falling edge clock, wherein the second delayed falling edge clock corresponds to the second clock with a second delayed falling edge. The first delayed falling edge clock is generated from a first leading edge path and a first falling edge path, both originating from the source clock, that are inputted to a first delay chain. |
| US07791392B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating internal signal with variable pulse length according to period of external clock signal
An apparatus for generating a pulse which generates an internal signal. The apparatus includes a latch circuit latching an input signal to output a first signal. A clock period detector detects a period of an external clock signal to output a period detecting signal and a delay controller adjusts a delay time of the first signal to output a second signal in response to the period detecting signal. A signal generator receives the first signal and the second signal to output a pulse signal. |
| US07791389B2 |
State retaining power gated latch and method therefor
A circuit has first latch, a second latch, a coupling circuit, and a power down circuit. The first latch has an input/output coupled to a data node. The second latch has an input/output. The coupling circuit is coupled between the input/output of the second latch and the data node. The coupling circuit is enabled during a normal operation of the circuit and disabled during a power down mode of the circuit. The power down control circuit is for disabling the first latch during the power down mode and for a time period after a transition from the power down mode to the normal operation. This allows the second latch to set the state of the first latch when transitioning from the power down mode to the normal mode. Thus normal operation can be fast, and the power down mode can have low leakage current. |
| US07791383B2 |
Semiconductor device having input circuits activated by clocks having different phases
Input circuits connected to an external input terminal PAD via resistor elements are activated in response to the level transition of the clock signals supplied thereto for accepting input signals. In order to input signals applied to the external input terminal PAD clock signals having different phases are supplied to the respective input circuits. The cycle time of each one input circuit can be made longer by sequentially assigning the serial data supplied to the external input terminals in response to the clock signals having different clock signals. Since the input circuits are isolated from each other by means of the resistor elements, the influence of the kick back signal which occurs at first stage of each the input circuit upon the other input circuit can be made very small. |
| US07791381B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention comprises a clock tree circuit for delay-adjusting a clock signal using various delay amounts, and a clock synchronizing circuit to which the delay-adjusted clock signal is supplied. The clock tree circuit comprises a first clock tree cell provided in a poststage of a clock signal introducing terminal, a second clock tree cell provided in a prestage of the clock synchronizing circuit and a poststage of the first clock tree cell, and a clock ramification point provided in a prestage of the second clock tree cell. The clock synchronizing circuit comprises a first clock synchronizing circuit to which the clock signal delay-adjusted by the second clock tree cell and thereafter outputted from the clock tree circuit is supplied, and a second clock synchronizing circuit to which the clock signal outputted from the clock tree circuit at the clock ramification point is supplied. |
| US07791380B2 |
Current sampling method and circuit
A current sampling circuit including a current sampling transistor, a capacitor arrangement between the gate and source of the current sampling transistor and an amplifier provided in a feedback loop between the gate and source of the current sampling transistor. A switch controls the circuit to sample a gate-source voltage corresponding to a current being sampled onto the capacitor arrangement. The capacitor arrangement comprises a first capacitor circuit for sampling a gate source voltage in a first sampling phase and a second capacitor circuit, with the first and second capacitor circuits arranged for together sampling the gate source voltage in a second sampling phase. The operating point of the amplifier is shifted between the first and second phases based on the gate source voltage sampled in the first sampling phase. |
| US07791379B1 |
High-speed reduced-output-swing self-biased fully-complementary CMOS comparator with rail-to-rail input common-mode range
A CMOS comparator having a high-speed reduced-output-swing is provided. The high-speed reduced-output-swing comparator may have a fully complementary CMOS design, be self-biased, and have a rail-to-rail input common-mode range. The self-biasing scheme yields a robust comparator with a low sensitivity to temperature, processing variations, supply-voltage variations, and common-mode input voltages. The fully-complementary design leads to a physically small device with low power consumption. The rail-to-rail input common-mode range leads to a versatile comparator which may take a wide range of inputs. The high-speed reduced-output-swing allows for a quick output response to changes in the input. |
| US07791378B1 |
Phase detector
In one embodiment, a phase detector is provided comprising a first input, a second input, and first circuitry in communication with the first and second inputs, the first circuitry operative to provide an indication of a phase difference between a first signal supplied by the first input and a second signal supplied by the second input, wherein an aberration in one of the first and second signals results in an incorrect indication of phase difference. The phase detector also comprises second circuitry in communication with the first circuitry, the second circuitry operative to provide a correct indication of phase difference despite the aberration in the at least one of the first and second signals. In another embodiment, a differential phase detector is provided. |
| US07791377B2 |
Hierarchical time to digital converter
A time to digital converter having a hierarchical structure is provided. The time to digital converter includes: a plurality of delay stages for sequentially delaying a first signal for a specific delay time; a plurality of flip-flops for comparing delay signals of the first signal delayed by the delay stages with a second signal, and generating different outputs before and after a phase difference between the delay signals of the first signal and the second signal becomes smaller than a resolution of the phase detector; a selection signal generator for generating a selection signal for selecting a signal most similar to the second signal among the delay signals of the first signal from the outputs of the flip-flops; and a Multiplexer (MUX) for receiving the delay signals of the first signal and the selection signal, and outputting the signal most similar to the second signal among the delay signals of the first signal. |
| US07791370B1 |
Clock distribution techniques for channels
A circuit includes a first area, a second area, and a third area. The second area includes a locked loop circuit that generates a clock signal. The locked loop circuit receives a supply voltage that is isolated from noise generated in the first area. The third area includes multiple quads of channels and a clock line coupled to route at least one clock signal generated in the second area to the channels in each of the quads. The third area is separate from the second area in the circuit. |
| US07791365B2 |
Remotely configurable chip and associated method
A method for configuring a chip having a plurality of on-chip configurable features. The plurality of on-chip configurable features is disabled before delivery of the chip to a new location. The chip is delivered to a new location where a unique hardware identifier and data for at least one of the on-chip configurable features is retrieved. The unique hardware identifier and the data are transmitted to an enabling entity. The enabling entity sends the enablement configuration to the chip. The chip is programmed with the enablement configuration, which enables the at least one on-chip configurable feature at the new location. |
| US07791364B2 |
Electronic device probe card with improved probe grouping
The probe card includes a plurality of probes arranged on one surface side of a board. These probes belonging to any one of a first probe group including a plurality of probes contacting respective electrodes in a first electrode row of an electronic device, a second probe group including a plurality of probes contacting respective electrodes in a second electrode row of the electronic device, and a third and fourth probe groups respectively including a plurality of probes contacting respective electrodes in a middle electrode row of the electronic device alternately. |
| US07791362B2 |
Inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus includes a movable mounting table having a temperature control device, an elevation drive unit for vertically moving the mounting table, a controller for controlling the elevation drive unit and a probe card having probes arranged above the mounting table. The elevation drive unit includes first and second driving shafts connected to each other through coupling members to drive the mounting table, a motor for driving the first and second driving shafts, and a torque detection unit for detecting a torque between the first and second driving shafts based on a contact load between the probes and the at least one device. The controller includes a torque controller for controlling the torque based on detection results of the torque detection unit when the probe card expands or contracts due to temperature variation. |
| US07791360B2 |
Connection unit, a board for mounting a device under test, a probe card and a device interfacing part
A connection unit for electrically connecting a DUT mounting board, on which an IC socket is mounted, with a testing apparatus for testing an electronic device inserted into the IC socket, the connection unit has a holding substrate provided to face the DUT mounting board and a connection-unit-side connector, which is provided on the holding substrate to be able to change a position of the connection-unit-side connector on the holding substrate, for being connected to a performance-board-side connector included in the DUT mounting board. |
| US07791357B2 |
On silicon interconnect capacitance extraction
The present invention relates to a on-chip circuit for on silicon interconnect capacitance (Cx) extraction that is self compensated for process variations in the integrated transistors. The circuit (10) comprises signal generation means (20) for generating a periodical pulse signal connected to first and to second signal delaying means (31, 32) for respective delaying said pulse signal, wherein said second signal delaying means (32) are configured to have a delay affected by said interconnect capacitance (Cx); a logical XOR gate (35) for connecting respective first and said second delay signals of said respective first and second delay means (31, 32), said logical XOR gate (35) being connected to signal integrating means (40); and said signal integrating means (40) being connected to analog to digital converting means (50). Whilst the error in conventional uncompensated systems, like delay line only, the error can be up to 30%, in the circuit according to the invention, the error due to process variations in the front-end is about 2%. Further, an output is provided in a digital format and thus, can be measured quickly with simple external hardware. Furthermore, the pulse signal frequency can be used as a monitor to measure process variations in the front-end. Moreover, since the circuit (10) is remarkably accurate and very easy to measure, it is the best choice as a process monitor for every chip fabricated in the future. |
| US07791356B2 |
Capacitive proximity switch and household appliance equipped therewith
A capacitive proximity switch has an electrically conductive sensor surface, which is covered by an electrically non-conductive covering plate and which serves as a part of a capacitor with a capacitance that varies with proximity. The proximity switch includes a reference sensor surface for generating a reference signal for determining an actuation state of the proximity switch. Signal portions of the reference signal are proportional to the capacitance of a reference capacitor formed with the reference sensor surface, and the capacitance of the reference capacitor is determined by surrounding conditions of the sensor surface. |
| US07791353B2 |
Ground loop locator
Described is a ground loop locator. A readout on the ground loop locator indicates the presence of a ground loop when a ground loop exists in conductors linked by a current transformer of an exciter portion and a Rogowski coil of a detector portion. Also described are how to make and use the ground loop locator and methods of use for the ground loop locator. |
| US07791351B2 |
Method for detecting electrical ground faults
A method of testing live AC circuits for neutral-ground, neutral-isolated ground, and isolated ground-ground faults, involves measuring impedances of circuit portions, including hot-neutral, neutral-ground, neutral-ground and isolated ground loops. In general either a test current generating a driving voltage is used, or in the case of hot-neutral, a load current generating a load voltage, and the voltage without current are use to measure voltage drop. These voltages are proportionate to the impedances of the circuits, which are expressed as ratios indicating the presence of faults. The method is reliable, despite much variation in circuit characteristics, including oversized neutral, shared neutral same phase, shared neutral opposed phase, supply line impedance, and high impedance grounds, it is easily able to detect faults across conductors and shared neutral loads. |
| US07791349B2 |
Fuel cell diagnostic apparatus and diagnostic method
A fuel cell diagnostic apparatus that diagnoses a fuel cell in which a plurality of power generating cells are stacked together includes a voltage applying device that applies voltage from outside of the fuel cell; a magnetic field measuring device that measures a magnetic field in or around the fuel cell when external voltage is being applied; and a diagnostic device that diagnoses the state of the fuel cell from the measurement results of the magnetic field. By diagnosing an in-plane distribution of current in the power generating cells by measuring the magnetic field, the distribution of water in an electrolyte membrane after power is generated can be diagnosed based on the diagnostic results of that in-plane distribution of the current. |
| US07791345B2 |
Rectangular-wave transmitting metal detector
A metal detector including transmit electronics having a plurality of switches for generating a repeating transmit signal cycle for transmission by a transmit coil. The repeating transmit signal cycle includes at least a high voltage period, and at least a low voltage period, the low voltage period followed by a substantially zero voltage period. The output impedance of the transmit electronics is less than three times the equivalent series resistance of the transmit coil during the low voltage period and the substantially zero voltage period. |
| US07791343B2 |
Superconductor with enhanced high magnetic field properties, manufacturing method thereof, and MRI apparatus comprising the same
A superconductor exemplarily described herein includes a superconducting material containing magnetic impurities and non-magnetic disorders formed in the superconducting material. The superconductor described herein is suitable for use in magnet applications and power transmission. |
| US07791338B2 |
MRI method of determining time-optimal gradient waveforms with gradient amplitude as a function of arc-length in k-space
A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. A scanning path is specified. Gradient amplitude is determined as a function of arc-length along the scanning path in k-space. A time optimal gradient waveform for scanning the scanning path is calculated from the gradient amplitude. The scanning path is scanned using the time optimal gradient waveform. |
| US07791335B2 |
Resolver, motor, power steering apparatus and method of manufacturing the resolver
A resolver includes a stationary unit centered about a center axis, and a rotary unit disposed inside or outside the stationary unit to be rotatable around the center axis with respect to the stationary unit. The stationary unit includes teeth radially arranged around the center axis, and an insulator covering surfaces of the teeth. The stationary unit further includes output coils formed on the teeth by winding at least one of two output wires around each of the teeth via the insulator in a first number of turns and in multiple layers, and excitation coils formed on the teeth by winding an excitation wire around the output coils in multiple layers and in a second number of turns less than the first number of turns. |
| US07791331B2 |
Use of magneto-impedance on a contactless position sensor and corresponding sensor
According to the intended use, an electrical conductor (1) having a magnetically sensitive surface (10) subjected to the magnetic force of a permanent magnet (11) is produced, the area of this surface varying according to its relative position with respect to the magnet, said relative position between the magnet and the magnetically sensitive surface is varied, which causes at least one physical characteristic of this conductor, to vary, and said variation in physical characteristic(s) of the electrical conductor is recorded, this variation being in correlation with the position of the magnet (11). |
| US07791327B2 |
Voltage converter
A voltage converter includes a pulse width modulation controller chip, an enabling transistor, a first resistor, a pull-up transistor, a pull-down transistor, and a low pass filter. The pulse width modulation controller chip includes a plurality of pins, a gate control logic circuit, an enabling comparator, a first gate driver, a second gate driver, a current source, a first comparator, a power-on reset circuit, an inductor current sensor, a counter and current step generator, and an oscillator. The plurality of pins include a Vcc pin, a BOOT pin, a PHASE pin, a UGATE pin, a LGATE pin, and a pin OCSET. The current source, the first resistor, the inductor current sensor, the counter and current step generator, the oscillator, and the pull-down transistor constitute a light-load circuit. |
| US07791326B2 |
AC-powered, microprocessor-based, dimming LED power supply
A dimmable, light-emitting diode (LED) power supply adapted to provide a direct current (DC), constant current (“constant current source”) from a conventional, phase-controlled 120 VAC, 60 Hz power source is disclosed. The constant current source of the present invention utilizes two processes to control dimming. In a first process, the phase angle of the input voltage is used to control the duty cycle of a line frequency pulse width modulation (PWM). In a second process, a proportional-current limit adjustment is used to control the average current to the LED during the ON time of the line frequency by PWM. As a result, at relatively low phase angles, peak currents can be lowered, reducing flicker and improving the audible noise levels generated by the circuit. |
| US07791325B2 |
Voltage supply arrangement and method for production of electrical power
A voltage supply arrangement is proposed, which provides a voltage from a first power range in a first operating mode and from a second power range in a second operating mode, to a first electrical load. The voltage supply arrangement includes a voltage converter which is coupled on the input side to a voltage input of the voltage supply arrangement and on the output side to a first connection of a first switch, which is connected at a second connection to a voltage output of the voltage supply arrangement for connection of a first electrical load. The voltage supply arrangement further includes a second switch, which is coupled at a first connection to the voltage input and at a second connection to the voltage output, and a drive circuit, which is configured to set the first and the second switch to the first or the second operating mode in response to a control signal. |
| US07791321B2 |
Coupled-inductor multi-phase buck converters
In a multi-phase power converter, efficiency is increased and ripple reduced while maintaining transient response and dynamic performance improved by electrically coupling secondary windings of transformers or provided for inductors of respective phases such that current to a load is induced in each phase by current in another phase. Magnetic coupling can also be provided between phases using a multi-aperture core of a configuration which minimizes primary winding length and copper losses. Efficiency at light load is enhanced by controlling current in the series connection of secondary windings in either binary or analog fashion. |
| US07791320B2 |
Voltage regulator for use in nonvolatile semiconductor memory
The invention relates to a voltage regulator for operation of a semiconductor memory device. In embodiments, the voltage regulator includes a standby regulator unit and an active regulating unit. Embodiments of the invention decouple the operation of the standby regulating unit and the active regulating unit of a voltage regulator so that both can operate simultaneously, for example during a read operation. In embodiments of the invention, the standby regulating unit includes a short pulse generator and a feedback loop to disable the standby regulating unit for a predetermined amount of time. |
| US07791319B2 |
Circuit and method of operation for an electrical power supply
A battery charging circuit comprising: a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery; a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of the semiconductor switch, the current output of the battery charge controller being controllable; and a voltage sensing circuit for: measuring the voltage drop across the battery charge controller; and responding to the voltage drop across the battery charge controller by modulating the semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to the rechargeable battery when the voltage drop is too great; whereby the total power dissipated by the battery charge controller is controlled, the portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and the rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power. |
| US07791314B2 |
Power management topologies to control power between a DC power source and one or more batteries to a system load
A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US07791312B2 |
Non-contact charger available of wireless data and power transmission, charging battery-pack and mobile device using non-contact charger
Disclosed is a non-contact charger. The present invention provides a non-contact charger capable of wireless data communication and power supply between a non-contact charger capable of computer UBS communication and a charging battery-pack of a mobile device, using an induced electromotive force, thereby to enable data communication and power supply at the same time and to make good signal transmission without other poor contacts in the contact transmission. |
| US07791309B2 |
Motor controller and method of controlling the motor
The present invention relates a motor controller and a motor control method of controlling a motor having a stator coil and a rotator. The motor controller includes: an activating operator receiving an operation command with a prescribed target frequency while the motor remains stationary, activating the motor at a prescribed voltage and a voltage phase, and then gradually increasing an operation frequency of the motor; an operation exchanger switching an activation operation into a normal operation when the operation frequency reaches a prescribed frequency lower than the target frequency; an evaluator evaluating a location of the rotor included in the motor and the operation frequency based on a current or voltage detected from the motor; a normal operator operating the motor in a normal manner based on the evaluated rotor location; an error determiner determining during the normal operation whether there is an error on the motor based on at least one of the detected current, the detected voltage, and the evaluated operation frequency; and an operation controller enabling the motor to stop in a case where it is determined that there is an error on the motor. The motor controller and the motor control method determine failure of location detection in a sensor-less manner and enable the motor to be stably stopped according to such a determination. |
| US07791307B2 |
AC motor controller
A system, method, and device for monitoring an AC induction motor are disclosed. The exemplary system provides the architecture of an intelligent motor controller. On one hand, the controller has self-commission and adaptive tuning capability and can provide smooth start and stop for motor driven systems. On the other hand, the controller can provide fault detection, power metering, and history data logging, to ensure motor operates under optimal conditions. The exemplary system may have one or more sensors for monitoring characteristics of the AC induction motor and producing one or more inputs from the characteristics. |
| US07791299B2 |
Process for controlling an electrically driven motor vehicle window
A process for controlling an electrically driven window pane for a motor vehicle which has an operating element for triggering the pane motion. After the operation of the operating element, the window pane is moved by a driving motor until a soft-stop position is reached, the motion of the driving motor being detected for determining the window pane position. A multiple operation of the operating element within a definable time period causes an overshooting of the soft-stop position to the mechanical stop, in which the position of the pane is newly defined. |
| US07791296B2 |
Motor protection system
To precisely detect the temperature of a power assist motor without using a temperature sensor and enhance an overheating protection function. A calorific value calculating unit calculates a calorific value based upon the difference between a calorific value by current supplied to a motor and the quantity of heat radiation. The output of the calorific value calculating unit is accumulated and an accumulated value is input to an accumulated value buffer. A cumulative value TS acquired by adding initial temperature T0 to a cumulative value Td is input to a ratio map of a target current value, ratio is read, and a target base current value is limited according to the ratio. The cumulative value TS used in the map is not an actual motor current value and is calculated based upon unlimited current acquired in an unlimited current calculating unit. |
| US07791295B2 |
Field weakening control apparatus for permanent magnet motor and electric power steering using same
A motor control apparatus which controls an output voltage reference for an inverter driving a permanent magnet synchronous motor based on d-axis and q-axis current references, d-axis and q-axis current detected values, and a computed frequency value. When a torque reference specifying torque greater than maximum torque that the motor can output is input, a limit value for a phase angle that is a deviation between a rotation phase reference of control and a rotation phase value of the motor is varied depending on a quantity of the predetermined state. |
| US07791294B2 |
Starting control apparatus and method for motor
An exciting coil of a motor is formed to be controlled by using an analog timer, to thus control an excitation control circuit of a motor control apparatus, whereby an excitation control circuit which excites the exciting coil of a motor control apparatus can be simplified and complexity can be reduced by simplifying a circuit construction of an excitation controller. The apparatus includes an auxiliary winding (sub-coil) and a main winding (main coil), and an exciting device electrically connected with the auxiliary winding and the main winding, determines an excitation application time and an excitation time and generates an excitation current according to the determined excitation application time and the excitation time. |
| US07791292B2 |
Vehicle comprising a battery drive and a method for operating a vehicle of this type
Electrically driven passenger transport vehicles are supplied with energy by an external electric supply network. If the external energy supply fails, vehicles of this type require special auxiliary devices that do not rely on the supply network, for example rely on auxiliary vehicles, in order to move said vehicles again. A vehicle can move independently during a failure of the external energy supply, by switching the electric drive of said vehicle to a battery drive. |
| US07791289B2 |
Color adjustable lamp
A color adjustable lamp may be controlled using a well-known TRIAC dimmer circuit. The color adjustable lamp comprises two or more light sources. Each light source may output light having a different color. By setting an output intensity of each light source, light having a desired color may be output. A circuit or a processing unit comprised in a lamp driving circuit may detect a set phase angle of the TRIAC dimmer circuit by determining a shape of the supplied alternating voltage. According to the determined shape, the circuit or processing unit controls a lamp driver circuit for each light source in order to control the intensity of the light output by each light source. |
| US07791288B2 |
Driving circuit for and semiconductor device for driving laser diode
A driving circuit supplies a suppression current (I4) which reduces a decrease in a driving current (Idrive) immediately after occurrence of an overshoot at the time of the rise of the driving current (Idrive) to a laser diode (1). The driving circuit draws a suppression current (I5) which reduces an increase in the driving current (Idrive) immediately after occurrence of an undershoot at the time of the fall of the driving current (Idrive) from the driving current (Idrive). |
| US07791283B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting apparatus
There is provided highly efficient discharge lamp lighting apparatus capable of reducing its cost by reducing high withstand voltage components on the secondary side of a high voltage transformer and stabilizing, its circuit operation. A discharge lamp lighting apparatus (1) comprises a high voltage transformer (2), a switching circuit (4) for driving the primary side of the high voltage transformer (2), and a triangular wave generation circuit (15) for determining the operation frequency of the switching circuit (4). The triangular wave generation circuit (15) includes a frequency switching means (25) for switching the operation frequency of the switching circuit (4) between before and after the lighting of a discharge lamp (3). At the secondary side of the high voltage transformer (2), a resonant circuit having a capacitance component consisting of only a parasitic capacitance (CCFL) is also formed. Before the lighting of the discharge lamp (3), the switching circuit (4) is operated at a frequency around the series resonance frequency of the resonant circuit on the secondary side. After the lighting of the discharge lamp (3), the switching circuit (4) is operated at a frequency around the frequency at which the phase difference between the voltage and the current on the primary side becomes minimum. |
| US07791279B2 |
Flexible plasma display panel assembly incorporting base members coupled with connection members for supporting the flexible panel assembly
Provided is a plasma display panel having flexibility. The plasma display panel includes a panel assembly that displays images and has flexibility, a plurality of base members that are attached to a surface of the panel assembly and support the panel assembly, and connection members that connect the base members to each other and are installed to be bent in the same direction as the panel assembly is bent. The base members that support the panel assembly having flexibility on a rear surface of the panel assembly can be bent or folded in the same direction as the panel assembly by the connection members. |
| US07791275B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element and manufacturing method of the same
The present invention provides an organic EL element on which a protective film, which can be thickened and has a high barrier property, can be formed with high productivity, and a method of manufacturing the same. An organic electroluminescence element having a substrate 1, a first electrode 2 provided thereon, an organic luminescent layer 3, a second electrode 4, and a protective film 5 in this order, wherein the protective film 5 is formed with carbon-containing silicon nitride (SiNxCy), and the carbon content in the protective film 5 is continuously altered. The protective film of the element is formed by using an organic silicon compound, and nitrogen and hydrogen as a source gas, with a plasma CVD method while altering the voltage. |
| US07791273B2 |
Electroluminescent light emitting device
An electroluminescent device having a light emitting layer (25) containing phosphor particles (31, 32), wherein the phosphor particles protrude from the light emitting layer to cause the surrounding layers to conform to the protrusions, thus increasing the performance of the lamp. Methods of constructing a lamp using a temperature above the softening temperature of the insulating layer of the device are also disclosed. |
| US07791272B2 |
Light-emitting device comprising protective layer with irregular surface
A light-emitting element includes a protective layer in contact with an upper electrode and a circular polarizer in contact with the protective layer. |
| US07791270B2 |
Light-emitting device with reduced deterioration of periphery
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device where periphery deterioration can be prevented from occurring even when an organic insulating film is used as an insulating film for the light-emitting device. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device where reliability for a long period of time can be improved. A structure of an inorganic film, an organic film, and an inorganic film is not continuously provided from under a sealing material under a cathode for a light-emitting element. In addition, penetration of water is suppressed by defining the shape of the inorganic film that is formed over the organic film even when a structure of an inorganic film, an organic film, and an inorganic film is continuously provided under a cathode for a light-emitting element. |
| US07791263B2 |
Electron emitting structure by field effect, with emission focussing
An electron emitting structure that emits electrons by field effect, including: at least one electronic emission zone indicated by a cathode electrode positioned according to a first axis and an extraction gate electrode positioned in a second axis, with an electrical insulating layer separating the cathode electrode from the gate electrode, wherein the electronic emission zone includes a plurality of electron emitting elements electrically connected to the cathode electrode, wherein the electron emitting elements are disposed in rows in openings in the gate electrode and the electrical insulating layer, the gate openings are disposed in rows between two bands of the gate electrode; and focussing means for focusing electronic beams emitted by the electron emitting elements. |
| US07791258B2 |
Activation effect on carbon nanotubes
Particles, which may include nanoparticles, are mixed with carbon nanotubes and deposited on a substrate to form a cold cathode. The particles enhance the field emission characteristics of the carbon nanotubes. An additional activation step may be performed on the deposited carbon nanotube mixture to further enhance the emission of electrons. |
| US07791255B2 |
Packaging for piezoelectric resonator
The invention concerns an assembly comprising a piezoelectric resonator (14) and a case (10), the case including a base part (11), on which the resonator is mounted, a wall (12) extending from said base part so as to surround at least partially said resonator, and a cover fixed to said wall in such a way as to close said case. The base part includes a main portion (17) and at least two conductive vias (16a, 16b). The conductive vias electrically connect The piezoelectric resonator to an outside circuit through the base part, and each of the conductive vias is surrounded by a insulating lining (18) so as to insulate the vias from the main portion (17). The main portion (17) of the base part (11) is divided into two parts by an insulating partition (21) in such a way that the two conductive vias are on different sides of the partition. |
| US07791254B1 |
Hybrid ultrasound transducer
In a nondestructive testing system, a preamplifier is connected to a piezoelectric element and is tuned to optimize the amplitude of a signal input to the piezoelectric element and the shape of a response signal. A receiver amplifier couples the signal received from the piezoelectric element to an ultrasound system. |
| US07791253B2 |
Multi-layer gas matrix piezoelectric composite transducer
A piezoelectric transducer (10) includes (a) a first gas matrix piezoelectric composite (12) having a side including at least one positive pole (+) and another side including at least one negative pole (−); (b) a second gas matrix piezoelectric composite (14) having a side including at least one positive pole (+) and another side including at least one negative pole (−); and (c) a substrate (28) having a first side (22) and a second side (24), wherein the substrate is positioned between the first gas matrix piezoelectric composite and the second gas matrix piezoelectric composite. Either the first or second gas matrix piezoelectric composite may include a plurality of piezoelectric rods (15), wherein each piezoelectric rod includes at least one positive pole (16) end and at least one negative pole end (18). |
| US07791251B2 |
Biomimetic electro-active paper actuators
This invention relates to biomimetic electro-active paper actuators which are ultra lightweight, have a large deformation feature, are operated with low power consumption, are remotely driven by microwaves, and have suitable response speed, which are comprised of paper wherein micro fibrils of cellulose are arranged in a predetermined direction, electrodes which are deposited on both sides of the paper, a film rectenna which receives an electric field from outside and converts it into direct power, and a PAD logic circuit (power allocation & distribution) which receives a signal of direct power and converts/controls it into power force. |
| US07791249B2 |
Frequency coded sensors incorporating tapers
A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate on which is formed a transducer that generates acoustic waves on the surface of the substrate from electrical waves received by the transducer. The waves are carried along an acoustic track to either a second transducer or a reflector. The transducers or transducer and reflector are formed of subsections that are constructed to operate at mutually different frequencies. The subsections of at least one of the transducers or transducer and reflector are out of alignment with respect to one another relative to the transverse of the propagation direction. The out of aligned subsections provide not only a frequency component but also a time to the signal output signal. Frequency response characteristics are improved. An alternative embodiment provides that the transducers and/or reflectors are continuously tapered instead of having discrete frequency subsections. |
| US07791246B2 |
Axial motor
An axial motor includes an armature side stator (13), a pair of rotors, and a pair of stators, which are arranged with gaps left therebetween in the axial direction of a drive shaft (34). The armature side stator (13) includes armature coils (24). The pair of rotors are a first rotor (12) and a second rotor (14) that are arranged on both sides of the stator (13) and include inducers (20, 21, 27, 28). The pair of stators are a first field side stator (11) and a second field side stator (16) that are arranged respectively on oppositely spacing sides of the first rotor and the second rotor. The first and second rotors (12, 14) are mounted to the drive shaft (34). The first and second field side stators (11, 15) include respectively first and second field coils (18, 31) arranged in a toric form about the axis of the drive shaft (34). The first and second field coils (18, 31) are supplied with currents in opposed directions such that magnetic fluxes are generated in the first and second field coils (18, 31) in opposed directions. |
| US07791245B1 |
Optimized electric machine for smart actuators
An electric machine includes a plurality of magnets for generating a first magnetic field. A magnet holder retains the plurality of magnets. A first stator is disposed radially outward from the magnet holder for generating a second magnetic field. The first stator includes a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. A second stator is disposed radially inward from the magnet for generating a third magnetic field. The second stator has a plurality of stator poles separated by slots with each of the stator poles having a concentrated winding with a respective number of turns formed around each respective stator pole. The magnet holder and magnets retained therein are rotatable between the first stator and second stator. |
| US07791237B2 |
Fault-tolerant synchronous permanent magnet machine
A fault tolerant synchronous permanent magnet machine is disclosed that reduces rotor losses by limiting eddy-current losses in the retaining sleeve. The machine limits eddy-current loss by any one or combination of axially segmenting the retaining sleeve, providing a highly electrically conductive non-magnetic shield to the retaining sleeve, and by configuring stator teeth width, stator teeth tip width, and slot distribution of the stator. |
| US07791234B2 |
Motor end frame assembly and motor incorporating the same
An electric motor includes a stator, a rotor positioned adjacent the stator and cooperating with the stator to generate a torque, and a bearing support assembly coupled to the rotor to at least partially support the rotor for rotation. An end frame includes a post positioned to engage and support the bearing support assembly. The end frame and the bearing support assembly cooperate to define a space therebetween. A mainframe is coupled to and cooperates with the end frame to substantially enclose the stator, and a set of electronics for controlling the motor is mounted in the space. |
| US07791229B2 |
Low heat leak, high torque power shaft for cryogenic machines
A shaft assembly and method for reducing the heat leak into the cryogenic region of a superconducting electrical machine comprising a rotor shaft extension assembly capable of transmitting large amounts of torque with substantially increased thermal impedance. The shaft assembly contains a plurality of concentric structural cylinders composed of high strength, low thermal conductivity structural materials. The structural cylinders are connected in series by means of welded joints or strong interlocking “finger” connections, in such a way that the coldest cylinder is connected to the cryogenic machine. An optional intermediate heat sink that allows the shaft extension member to rotate freely within the confines of the heat sink further reduces the heat leak into the cryogenic environment. Splined adapter hubs are typically used to connect the cylinder assembly to the rotor of the superconducting machine and the external device. |
| US07791227B2 |
Electromagnetic morphing apparatus for hot pluggable architected systems
In electronic devices with signal traces positioned between a ground layer and a voltage reference layer, systems and methods are provided for connecting a hot pluggable device to the electronic device in a manner that diminishes signal degradation due to parasitic effects. The first device has a second reference layer near the connector that connects to a second device voltage reference layer maintained at a given voltage level across the connector. In the first device near the connector the signal trace is positioned in between a ground layer of the first device and the second reference layer which is maintained at a given voltage by a voltage regulator of the second device. The signal return current travels past the second reference layer to a first reference layer of the first device which is maintained by the first device's voltage regulator through AC decoupling capacitors minimizing the current return path discontinuity. |
| US07791222B2 |
Multi-output power supply device
A multi-output power supply device includes a first power switch, a first switch controller that controls the first power switch, a transformer that transforms a power supplied from the first power switch, first through Nth output circuits connected to a secondary side of the transformer, where N is a positive integer greater than 1, a second power switch that switches the power output from one of the first through Nth output circuits, a second switch controller that controls the second power switch, a feedback circuit that feeds back output voltages of the first through Nth output circuits, and a feedback compensation circuit that performs a switching operation complementarily with the second power switch to compensate for a resistance of the feedback circuit. Accordingly, when power output to one of the output circuits is blocked, the multi-output power supply device can stably control the power output to the other output circuits. |
| US07791220B2 |
Automatic sensing power systems and methods
An automatic sensing power system automatically determines a power requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system. |
| US07791219B2 |
Control system for electrical loads of a vehicle
Described herein is a control system (1) for electrical loads (2) of a vehicle (3), in particular a motor car. The control system (1) comprises a plurality of wireless control devices (4) for controlling the electrical loads (3), configured for being arranged in a removable way in respective housing seats (5) and for functioning even when they are removed from their housing seats (5). Furthermore, the housing seats (5) and the control devices (4) are shaped so as to enable placing in a removable way of at least some of the control devices (4) in different housing seats (5). |
| US07791215B2 |
Intra-bundle power line carrier current system
A system including associated equipment for transmitting radio-frequency power line carrier signals on high voltage ac or dc transmission lines within a multi-conductor bundle, one path for which is provided by one or more conductors located at the center of the bundle, and the other by the remaining conductors connected in electrical parallel and arrayed in a generally circular pattern around the center. Insulated conductor spacers hold the conductors in their symmetrical configuration and insulate the center conductor, allowing it to serve as a radio frequency path similar to that in a conventional coaxial cable. The system provides low attention, low vulnerability to external noise and low radiation of the carrier signal while providing redundant channels—three for ac transmission lines and two for bipolar dc transmission lines. |
| US07791213B2 |
Vertical motion wave power generator
A vertical motion wave power generator having a flotation device, a vertical support structure fixed to the ocean bottom, and a single power shaft attached rotatably to the flotation device. By the use of a pair of one-way clutches the single power shaft converts the up and down motion of ocean waves into continuous unidirectional rotational force to drive an electric generator. The power shaft, transmission, and generator are all attached to the flotation device and move up and down in unison with the flotation device. |
| US07791208B2 |
Power semiconductor arrangement
A power semiconductor arrangement is provided that includes a power semiconductor chip being electrically connected to a set of plug-like elements with at least two plug-like elements and further including a sheet metal strip line including a set of openings receiving the first set of plug-like elements, where the set of openings in the sheet metal strip line and the set of plug-like elements establish a press fit connection. |
| US07791206B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor device, via holes are formed around a chip buried in a package, and conductor layers are respectively formed to be connected to one end and another end of the conductor filled in the individual via hole. Portions (pad portions) of the conductor layers which correspond to the conductors are exposed from protective films, or external connection terminals are bonded to the pad portions. The chip is mounted with flip-chip technology so that at least some of electrode terminals thereof are electrically connected to the conductor layers. |
| US07791203B2 |
Interconnects for packaged semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing such devices
Packaged semiconductor devices and assemblies including interconnects and methods for forming such interconnects are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a packaged semiconductor assembly includes a die attached to a support layer. A plurality of interconnects are embedded in and project from the support layer, such that the support layer at least partially retains the interconnects in a predetermined array. An encapsulant is molded around each of the interconnects and encases at least a portion of the die, support layer and interconnects. |
| US07791201B2 |
Integration of dissimilar materials for advanced multifunctional devices
A device including a layered heterostructure with an oxygen-containing material, with a carbon layer and an amorphous oxygen diffusion barrier protecting the carbon layer from etching by oxygen. One or more of a metal, a carbide or an oxide may be in contact with the amorphous oxygen diffusion barrier that has the lowest free energy of oxide formation in the device. Various devices are disclosed as are varieties of carbon allotropes. Methods of protecting carbon, such as diamond from the oxygen etching in processes such as device manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US07791198B2 |
Semiconductor device including a coupling region which includes layers of aluminum and copper alloys
An improved reliability in a region of a junction between a bonding wire and an electrode pad at higher temperature is achieved. A semiconductor device 100 includes a semiconductor chip 102, AlCu pads 107, which are provided in the semiconductor chip 102 and which contain Al as a major constituent and additionally contain copper (Cu), and CuP wires 111, which function as coupling members for connecting inner leads 117 provided outside of the semiconductor chip 102 with the semiconductor chip 102, and primarily contain Cu. The AlCu pads 107 and the CuP wires 111 are encapsulated with an encapsulating resin 115 that contains substantially no halogen. |
| US07791196B2 |
Semiconductor device having a smaller electrostatic capacitance electrode
A semiconductor package includes a uniform thin insulating film covering the internal circuit formed on a silicon substrate. A plurality of thick island insulating films are formed underlying respective pad electrodes, which connect the internal circuit to an external circuit. The silicon substrate is polished from the bottom to have a thickness less than 0.6 mm. The thick island insulating films reduces an electrostatic capacitance of the pad electrodes to reduce the propagation delay of a signal passing through the pad electrodes. |
| US07791188B2 |
Heat spreader having single layer of diamond particles and associated methods
A heat spreader is presented which can provide effective thermal management in a cost effective manner. The heat spreader includes a plurality of diamond particles arranged in a single layer surrounded by a metallic mass. The metallic mass cements the diamond particles together. The layer of diamond particles is a single particle thick. Besides the single layer of diamond particles, the metallic mass has substantially no other diamond particles therein. A thermal management system including a heat source and a heat spreader is also presented, along with methods for making and methods for use of such heat spreaders. |
| US07791187B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device of the invention includes a semiconductor substrate having a first insulating section formed on one surface thereof. A first conductive section is disposed on the one surface of the semiconductor substrate. A second insulating section is superimposed over the first insulating section and covers the first conductive section. A second conductive section is superimposed over the second insulating section. A third insulating section is disposed over the second insulating section and covers the second conductive section. These first conductive section, second insulating section, second conductive section, third insulating section, and terminal altogether constitute a structure. A third opening is formed between adjacent structures. The third opening is formed passing through the third and second insulating sections to expose the first insulating section. |
| US07791185B2 |
Pin grid array package substrate including pins having curved pin heads
An electrically conductive pin comprising a pin stern and a pin head attached to the pin stem. The pin head is adapted to be mounted onto a surface of a microelectronic substrate to support the pin stem. The pin head has an underside surface defining a continuous curve configured to allow gases to escape from a pin-attach solder region adjacent the underside surface. |
| US07791182B2 |
Semiconductor component having maximized bonding areas of electrically conductive members connected to semiconductor device and connected to leadframe and method of producing
A semiconductor component and method for producing. The semiconductor component includes a semiconductor device and a leadframe. A package layout is defined and the orientation of electrically conductive members with respect to the semiconductor device and inner contact areas of the leadframe is altered so as to maximize the interfacial bonding area. The constraints of the standard package dimensions and the component assembly method are taken into account. |
| US07791173B2 |
Chip having side pad, method of fabricating the same and package using the same
A semiconductor device includes a first chip having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface connected to the top and bottom surfaces. The first chip includes a chip substrate; a lower conductive pattern over the chip substrate; an interlayer dielectric layer over the lower conductive pattern; and an upper conductive pattern over the interlayer dielectric layer. At least a portion of the lower conductive pattern and at least a portion of the upper conductive pattern are exposed on the side surface of the first chip to collectively form a side pad. |
| US07791172B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
The invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a semiconductor layer which has a source region, a drain region, and a channel forming region which is provided between the source region and the drain region; and a first insulating layer, a first gate electrode, a second insulating layer, and a second gate electrode which are layered over the semiconductor layer in that order. Part or all of the source and drain regions is formed using a metal silicide layer. The first gate electrode contains a noble gas element. |
| US07791171B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, two epitaxial layers are formed on a P type substrate. In the substrate and the epitaxial layers, isolation regions are formed to divide the substrate and the epitaxial layers into a plurality of islands. Each of the isolation regions is formed by connecting first and second P type buried layers with a P type diffusion layer. By disposing the second P type buried layer between the first P type buried layer and the P type diffusion layer, a lateral diffusion width of the first P type buried layer is reduced. By use of this structure, a formation region of the isolation region is reduced in size. |
| US07791164B2 |
Electrical fuse, semiconductor device having the same, and method of programming and reading the electrical fuse
Provided are an electrical fuse, a semiconductor device having the same, and a method of programming and reading the electrical fuse. The electrical fuse includes first and second anodes disposed apart from each other. A cathode is interposed between the first and second anodes. A first fuse link couples the first anode to the cathode, and a second fuse link couples the second anode to the cathode. |
| US07791150B1 |
Room temperature hydrogen sensor
A sensor for selectively determining the presence and measuring the amount of hydrogen in the vicinity of the sensor. The sensor comprises a MEMS device coated with a nanostructured thin film of indium oxide doped tin oxide with an over layer of nanostructured barium cerate with platinum catalyst nanoparticles. Initial exposure to a UV light source, at room temperature, causes burning of organic residues present on the sensor surface and provides a clean surface for sensing hydrogen at room temperature. A giant room temperature hydrogen sensitivity is observed after making the UV source off. The hydrogen sensor of the invention can be usefully employed for the detection of hydrogen in an environment susceptible to the incursion or generation of hydrogen and may be conveniently used at room temperature. |
| US07791145B2 |
Semiconductor structures for latch-up suppression and methods of forming such semiconductor structures
Semiconductor structures and methods for suppressing latch-up in bulk CMOS devices. The semiconductor structure comprises a shaped-modified isolation region that is formed in a trench generally between two doped wells of the substrate in which the bulk CMOS devices are fabricated. The shaped-modified isolation region may comprise a widened dielectric-filled portion of the trench, which may optionally include a nearby damage region, or a narrowed dielectric-filled portion of the trench that partitions a damage region between the two doped wells. Latch-up may also be suppressed by providing a lattice-mismatched layer between the trench base and the dielectric filler in the trench. |
| US07791143B2 |
Semiconductor constructions
In some embodiments, an opening is formed through a first material, and sidewall topography of the opening is utilized to form a pair of separate anisotropically etched spacers. The spacers are utilized to pattern lines in material underlying the spacers. Some embodiments include constructions having one or more openings which contain steep sidewalls joining to one another at shallow sidewall regions. The constructions may also contain lines along and directly against the steep sidewalls, and spaced from one another by gaps along the shallow sidewall regions. |
| US07791142B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection diode
Provided is an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection diode including: a well formed of a first conductivity in a semiconductor substrate; an active region that is formed of a second conductivity in the well and includes a plurality of first active lines extending in a first direction; a sub-region of the first conductivity including a plurality of first sub-lines extending in the first direction, the first sub lines being formed in the well, arranged to surround an outer region of the first active lines, and arranged in alternation with the first active lines; a device isolation region separating the active regions and the sub-regions; a plurality of active contacts arranged in a row in the active regions; and a plurality of sub-contacts arranged in a row in the sub-region. |
| US07791138B2 |
Semiconductor component and method
A semiconductor component and method of making a semiconductor component. One embodiment provides a first metallization structure electrically coupled to charge compensation zones via an ohmic contact and to drift zones via a Schottky contact. A second metallization structure, which is arranged opposite the first metallization structure, is electrically coupled to the charge compensation zones via a Schottky contact and to drift zones via an ohmic contact. |
| US07791136B1 |
Trench MOSFET having trench contacts integrated with trench Schottky rectifiers having planar contacts
An integrated configuration comprising trench MOSFET having trench contacts and trench Schottky rectifier having planar contacts is disclosed. The trench contacts for trench MOSFET provide a lower specific on-resistance. Besides, for trench gate connection, planar gate contact is employed in the present invention to avoid shortage issue between gate and drain in shallow trench gate. Besides, W plugs filled into both trench contacts and planar contacts enhance the metal step coverage capability. |
| US07791132B2 |
High-voltage vertical transistor with a multi-gradient drain doping profile
A high-voltage transistor includes first and second trenches that define a mesa in a semiconductor substrate. First and second field plate members are respectively disposed in the first and second trenches, with each of the first and second field plate members being separated from the mesa by a dielectric layer. The mesa includes a plurality of sections, each section having a substantially constant doping concentration gradient, the gradient of one section being at least 10% greater than the gradient of another section. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07791126B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device integrated on a semiconductor substrate of a first type of conductivity comprising a matrix of non-volatile memory cells organized in rows, called word lines, and columns, called bit lines, the device including a plurality of equidistantly spaced active areas with the non-volatile memory cells integrated therein, each non-volatile memory cell having a source region, a drain region and a floating gate electrode coupled to a control gate electrode, a group of the memory cells sharing a common source line of a second type of conductivity, an implanted region of said second type of conductivity inside at least one of the plurality of active areas in electric contact with the common source line, and at least one source contact aligned and in electric contact with the implanted region. |
| US07791122B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
In a full CMOS SRAM having a lateral type cell (memory cell having three partitioned wells arranged side by side in a word line extending direction and longer in the word line direction than in the bit line direction) including first and second driver MOS transistors, first and second load MOS transistors and first and second access MOS transistors, two capacitors are arranged spaced apart from each other on embedded interconnections to be storage nodes, with lower and upper cell plates cross-coupled to each other. |
| US07791118B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area. |
| US07791117B2 |
Image sensor and image sensor integrated type active matrix type display device
To fabricate an active matrix type display device integrated with an image sensor at a low cost and without complicating process, an image sensor laminated with TFT and a light receiving unit is formed on a light receiving matrix, a display matrix is arranged with TFT and pixel electrodes on a matrix and formed with an electrode layer functioning as a black matrix, a lower electrode of the light receiving unit is formed by a starting film the same as that of the black matrix, a terminal for fixing potential of an upper electrode is formed by starting films the same as those of a signal line, the electrode layer or pixel electrodes and the terminals function also as shield electrodes for a side face of the light receiving unit since potential thereof is fixed. |
| US07791114B2 |
Method and apparatus providing CMOS imager device pixel with transistor having lower threshold voltage than other imager device transistors
A transistor of a pixel cell for use in a CMOS imager with a low threshold voltage of about 0.3 V to less than about 0.7 V is disclosed. The transistor is provided with high dosage source and drain regions around the gate electrode and with the halo implanted regions and/or the lightly doped LDD regions and/or the enhancement implanted regions omitted from at least one side of the gate electrode. The low threshold transistor is electrically connected to a high voltage transistor with a high threshold voltage of about 0.7 V. |
| US07791112B2 |
Channel stress engineering using localized ion implantation induced gate electrode volumetric change
A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure uses a volumetric change ion implanted into a volumetric change portion of a gate electrode that is located over a channel region within a semiconductor substrate to form a volume changed portion of the gate electrode located over the channel region within the semiconductor substrate. The volume changed portion of the gate electrode is typically bidirectionally symmetrically graded in a vertical direction. The volume-changed portion of the gate electrode has a first stress that induces a second stress different than the first stress into the channel region of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07791107B2 |
Strained tri-channel layer for semiconductor-based electronic devices
A semiconductor-based structure includes a substrate layer, a compressively strained semiconductor layer adjacent to the substrate layer to provide a channel for a component, and a tensilely strained semiconductor layer disposed between the substrate layer and the compressively strained semiconductor layer. A method for making an electronic device includes providing, on a strain-inducing substrate, a first tensilely strained layer, forming a compressively strained layer on the first tensilely strained layer, and forming a second tensilely strained layer on the compressively strained layer. The first and second tensilely strained layers can be formed of silicon, and the compressively strained layer can be formed of silicon and germanium. |
| US07791105B2 |
Device structures for a high voltage junction field effect transistor manufactured using a hybrid orientation technology wafer and design structures for a high voltage integrated circuit
Device structures for a high voltage junction field effect transistor and design structures for a high voltage integrated circuit. The device structure is manufactured using a hybrid orientation technology wafer with a first semiconductor layer with a first crystalline orientation, a second semiconductor layer with a second crystalline orientation, and an insulating layer between the first and second semiconductor layers. The device structure includes an epitaxial semiconductor region having the second crystalline orientation and first and second p-n junctions in the epitaxial semiconductor region. The epitaxial semiconductor region extends from the second semiconductor layer through the insulating layer and the first semiconductor layer toward a top surface of the first semiconductor layer. The first and second p-n junctions are arranged in depth within the epitaxial semiconductor region between the second semiconductor layer and the top surface of the first semiconductor layer. |
| US07791104B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An n-type InGaAs light absorbing layer and an n-type InP layer (first conductivity type semiconductor layer), which is a window layer, and a multiplication layer are multilayered one atop another on an n-type InP substrate. By selectively diffusing impurities and implanting ions, a p-type InP region second conductivity type semiconductor region) is formed on a part of the top surface of the n-type InP layer. The top surfaces of the n-type InP layer and p-type InP region are covered with a surface protection film. A cathode electrode (first electrode) is connected to the underside of the n-type InP substrate. A ring-shaped anode electrode (second electrode) is connected to the top surface of the p-type InP region. A low-voltage electrode surrounds the anode electrode. A voltage lower than that of the cathode electrode his applied to this low-voltage electrode. |
| US07791103B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor substrate
A Group III nitride semiconductor substrate is formed of a Group III nitride single crystal, and has a diameter of not less than 25.4 mm and a thickness of not less than 150 μm. The substrate satisfies that a ratio of Δα/α is not more than 0.1, where α is a thermal expansion coefficient calculated from a temperature change in outside dimension of the substrate, and Δα is a difference (α−αL) between the thermal expansion coefficient α and a thermal expansion coefficient αL calculated from a temperature change in lattice constant of the substrate. |
| US07791102B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection devices and methods for protecting semiconductor devices against electrostatic discharge events
Methods and devices are provided for protecting semiconductor devices against electrostatic discharge events. An electrostatic discharge protection device comprises a silicon substrate, a P+-type anode region disposed within the silicon substrate, and an N-well device region disposed within the silicon substrate in series with the P+-type anode region. A first P-well device region is disposed within the silicon substrate in series with the first N-well device region and an N+-type cathode region is disposed within the silicon substrate. A gate electrode is disposed at least substantially overlying the first N-well and P-well device regions of the silicon substrate. |
| US07791101B2 |
Indium gallium nitride-based ohmic contact layers for gallium nitride-based devices
Light emitting devices include a gallium nitride-based epitaxial structure that includes an active light emitting region and a gallium nitride-based outer layer, for example gallium nitride. A indium nitride-based layer, such as indium gallium nitride, is provided directly on the outer layer. A reflective metal layer or a transparent conductive oxide layer is provided directly on the indium gallium nitride layer opposite the outer layer. The indium gallium nitride layer forms a direct ohmic contact with the outer layer. An ohmic metal layer need not be used. Related fabrication methods are also disclosed. |
| US07791093B2 |
LED with particles in encapsulant for increased light extraction and non-yellow off-state color
In one embodiment, sub-micron size granules of TiO2, ZrO2, or other white colored non-phosphor inert granules are mixed with a silicone encapsulant and applied over an LED. In one experiment, the granules increased the light output of a GaN LED more than 5% when the inert material was between about 2.5-5% by weight of the encapsulant. Generally, a percentage of the inert material greater than 5% begins to reduce the light output. If the LED has a yellowish YAG phosphor coating, the white granules in the encapsulant make the LED appear whiter when the LED is in an off state, which is a more pleasing color when the LED is used as a white light flash in small cameras. The addition of the granules also reduces the variation of color temperature over the view angle and position over the LED, which is important for a camera flash and projection applications. |
| US07791090B2 |
GaN based LED having reduced thickness and method for making the same
A device having a carrier, a light-emitting structure, and first and second electrodes is disclosed. The light-emitting structure includes an active layer sandwiched between a p-type GaN layer and an n-type GaN layer, the active layer emitting light of a predetermined wavelength in the active layer when electrons and holes from the n-type GaN layer and the p-type GaN layer, respectively, combine therein. The first and second electrodes are bonded to the surfaces of the p-type and n-type GaN layers that are not adjacent to the active layer. The n-type GaN layer has a thickness less than 1.25 μm. The carrier is bonded to the light emitting structure during the thinning of the n-type GaN layer. The thinned light-emitting structure can be transferred to a second carrier to provide a device that is analogous to conventional LEDs having contacts on the top surface of the LED. |
| US07791087B2 |
Device for defeating reverse engineering of integrated circuits by optical means
An integrated circuit and method are provided for preventing reverse engineering by monitoring light emissions emitted from transistors and such electrically active devices in the integrated circuit. The method prevents, in an integrated circuit, a pattern of light emitted from at least one active device in the integrated circuit from being detected external to the integrated circuit by fading the light emitted from the at least one active device in the integrated circuit and that is emitted external to the integrated circuit. Bright light emission emitted in substantial close proximity to the at least one active device in the integrated circuit, and emitted external to the integrated circuit, fades a pattern of light emission emitted from the at least one active device. |
| US07791084B2 |
Package with overlapping devices
A die package is disclosed. The die package includes a substrate, a first device attached to the substrate, and a leadframe structure attached to the substrate. The leadframe structure includes a portion disposed over the first device, and a second device is attached to the first portion of the leadframe structure. |
| US07791072B2 |
Display
An active matrix display comprising a light control device and a field effect transistor for driving the light control device. The active layer of the field effect transistor comprises an amorphous. |
| US07791070B2 |
Semiconductor device fault detection system and method
An outer border, and a seal ring substantially co-extensive with and spaced from the outer border is disclosed. A plurality of fault detection chains extend from adjacent the outer border to within the seal ring. At least a first one of the plurality of fault detection chains includes a contact pad, a first metal feature coupled to the contact pad by a first via in a passivation layer, a second metal feature coupled to the first metal feature by a second via, and a substrate contact coupled to the second metal feature by a third via. |
| US07791068B2 |
Vertical organic light emitting transistor assembly and horizontal organic light emitting transistor assembly
A vertical organic light emitting transistor assembly and a horizontal organic light emitting transistor assembly are provided. The vertical organic light emitting transistor assembly comprises a first/second vertical transistor and a first/second organic light emitting diode perpendicularly integrated with the first/second vertical transistor, respectively. The horizontal organic light emitting transistor assembly comprises a substrate, a third vertical transistor and a third organic light emitting diode. The third vertical transistor and the third organic light emitting diode are arranged abreast on the substrate. By integrating the organic light emitting diode and the vertical transistor into a unitary electronic element, the vertical transistor can efficiently drive the organic light emitting diode so that the organic light emitting transistor assembly can overcome limitations caused by existing manufacturing processes and adapt to extensive applications. |
| US07791066B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof and method for writing memory element
An object is to provide a higher-performance and higher-reliability memory device and a semiconductor device provided with the memory device at low cost and with high yield. A semiconductor device of the invention has a memory element including an insulating layer and an organic compound layer between first and second conductive layers. When melting, an organic compound of the organic compound layer aggregates due to surface tension of the organic compound. By applying a voltage to the first and second conductive layers, writing to the memory element is carried out. |
| US07791065B2 |
Ultrasensitive optical detector having a large temporal resolution and using a waveguide, and methods for producing said detector
An ultrasensitive optical detector with high resolution in time, using a waveguide, and a processes for manufacturing this detector. The detector is configured to detect at least one photon and includes a dielectric substrate and at least one detection element on the substrate, configured to generate an electrical signal starting from energy of the photon received, and a guide element to guide the photon, the energy of which is then absorbed by the detection element at an absorption zone which is less than 100 nm thick. The detection element is substantially straight on the substrate and is short, and the guide element includes a single mode light waveguide with strong confinement, placed on the detection element. The detector is particularly applicable to detection and localization of operating defects in a semiconducting circuit. |
| US07791064B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode formed on a silicon substrate via a gate insulation film in correspondence to a channel region, source and drain regions of a p-type diffusion region formed in the silicon substrate at respective outer sides of sidewall insulation films of the gate electrode, and a pair of SiGe mixed crystal regions formed in the silicon substrate at respective outer sides of the sidewall insulation films in epitaxial relationship to the silicon substrate, the SiGe mixed crystal regions being defined by respective sidewall surfaces facing with each other, wherein, in each of the SiGe mixed crystal regions, the sidewall surface is defined by a plurality of facets forming respective, mutually different angles with respect to a principal surface of the silicon substrate. |
| US07791062B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and fabrication method thereof
Provided is a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a first nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer formed above the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a delta doped second nitride semiconductor layer formed above the active layer. According to the present invention, the optical power of the nitride semiconductor light emitting device is enhanced, optical power down phenomenon is improved and reliability against ESD (electro static discharge) is enhanced. |
| US07791061B2 |
External extraction light emitting diode based upon crystallographic faceted surfaces
A light emitting diode is disclosed that includes a support structure and a Group III nitride light emitting active structure mesa on the support structure. The mesa has its sidewalls along an indexed crystal plane of the Group III nitride. A method of forming the diode is also disclosed that includes the steps of removing a substrate from a Group III nitride light emitting structure that includes a sub-mount structure on the Group III nitride light emitting structure opposite the substrate, and thereafter etching the surface of the Group III nitride from which the substrate has been removed with an anisotropic etch to develop crystal facets on the surface in which the facets are along an index plane of the Group III nitride. The method can also include etching the light emitting structure with an anisotropic etch to form a mesa with edges along an index plane of the Group III nitride. |
| US07791059B2 |
Electric device with phase change resistor
An electric device has an electrically switchable resistor (2′) comprising a phase change material. The resistance value of the resistor can be changed between at least two values by changing the phase of the phase change material within a part of the resistor called the switching zone (12′) using Joule heating of the resistor. The device comprises a body (24′) encapsulating the resistor, which body comprises at least two abutting regions (26′, 28′) having different thermally insulating properties. These regions form a thermally insulating contrast with which the dimension of the switching zone can be determined without having to alter the dimensions of the resistor. Such a device can be used in electronic memory or reconfigurable logic circuits. |
| US07791054B2 |
Photo controller for switching a load in a hazardous environment
A photo controller circuit for use in hazardous areas has an output switching (OS) circuit comprising an alternistor for ON/OFF switching of a load, and an optoisolator for gating the alternistor. A light to voltage converter (LVC) circuit generates a DC voltage proportional to detected incident light. A hysteresis control (HS) circuit comprises a voltage comparator for generating an output depending on the DC voltage and the state of the OS circuit. An integrator and switching (IS) circuit turns on and activates the optoisolator when the output of the HC circuit indicates the detected incident light is below a selected level, and turns off and deactivates the optoisolator when the output of the HC circuit indicates the detected incident light is above a selected level. The IS circuit time delays the output of the HC circuit prior activating or deactivating the optoisolator. The electronic components are rated for 125° C. |
| US07791049B2 |
Ion implantation apparatus
A beam line before incidence on a beam scanner is arranged with an injector flag Faraday cup that detects a beam current by measuring a total beam amount of an ion beam to be able to be brought in and out thereto and therefrom. When the ion beam is shut off by placing the injector flag Faraday cup on a beam trajectory line, the ion beam impinges on graphite provided at the injector flag Faraday cup. At this occasion, even when the graphite is sputtered by the ion beam, since the injector flag Faraday cup is arranged on an upstream side of the beam scanner and the ion beam is shut off by the injector flag Faraday cup, particles of the sputtered graphite do not adhere to a peripheral member of the injector flag Faraday cup. |
| US07791045B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting slow neutrons by lyman alpha radiation
A method and apparatus for detecting slow neutrons by monitoring Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) nuclear reaction induced by neutrons incident on a gas cell containing 3He or a mixture of 3He and other atoms and/or molecules. Such a method and/or apparatus includes the use of, for example, liquid 3He and 4He mixtures as a scintillation counter for the sensitive detection of neutrons using Lyman alpha radiation produced by the 3He(n,tp) reaction. The radiation can be detected with high efficiency with an appropriate photo-detector, or alternatively, it can be converted to radiation at longer wavelength by absorption in scintillation materials, with the radiation channeled to a photodetector. Because of the simplicity of the system and the fact that the radiation production mechanisms can be measured and/or calculated independently, the method and/or apparatus also has the potential for service as a calculable absolute detector. |
| US07791042B2 |
Method and apparatus for selectively performing chemical ionization or electron ionization
An ion source includes structure having separate first and second ion volumes therein, and electron source structure having first and second portions that selectively supply electrons to the first and second ion volumes, respectively. The electron source structure has a first operational mode in which the second portion substantially prevents a supply of electrons to the second ion volume and in which electrons are supplied to the first ion volume under control of the first portion, and has a second operational mode in which the first portion substantially prevents a supply of electrons to the first ion volume and in which electrons are supplied to the second ion volume under control of the second portion. |
| US07791038B2 |
Neutron detection
In some embodiments, an electron multiplier includes a neutron-sensitive composition having, in weight percent, approximately 30% to approximately 60% silicon oxide, approximately 20% to approximately 60% lead oxide, and approximately 1% to approximately 15% boron-10 enriched boron oxide. The composition is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade. The electron multiplier can be in the form of a microchannel plate, a microfiber plate, or a microsphere plate. |
| US07791036B2 |
X-ray line array detector
The present invention relates to an X-ray line array detector in which a bundle of light-guide fibers is provided between an emergent surface of a scintillator and an incident surface of an array of photosensors, and the bundle of light-guide fibers has at least one bend, or an incident direction and an emergent direction are not in a same line, so that X-rays transmitting through the scintillator can not irradiate photosensors and integrated circuits behind them, and that damage resulting from long-term use or a large dose of X-ray radiation can be avoided, thereby prolonging lifetime of the line array detector. Further, a shielding body provided between the emergent surface of the scintillator and the incident surface of the array of photosensors can further shield the photosensors and their integrated circuits from interference of X-rays, so that good protection of the photosensors and their integrated circuits is achieved, thereby enhancing greatly anti-radiation performance of the detector and doubling the lifetime. |
| US07791034B2 |
Imaging apparatus, radiation imaging apparatus, and radiation imaging system
An imaging apparatus capable of reducing a line noise artifact in a simple configuration without complicated operations includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in row and column directions and having a photoelectric conversion element and a switch element; a plurality of signal wirings connected to the plurality of switch elements in the column direction; a read-out circuit connected to the plurality of signal wirings; and a power source for supplying a voltage to the photoelectric conversion element. With the configuration, the plurality of pixels are classified into a plurality of groups, and the power sources are independently provided for each of the plurality of groups. |
| US07791029B2 |
Digital identification and vector quantization methods and systems for detector crystal recognition in radiation detection machines
A digital method and system allowing crystal identification in radiation detector machines is described. The crystal identification is based on recognition of radiation detector signal shape through discrimination of detector signal's dynamic characteristics. The digital method is based on recursive and non-recursive algorithms, such as adaptive filtering combined or not with quantization methods. These digital algorithms, commonly used in other engineering applications, were modified and tailored for radiation detection. Although the method was specially designed for crystal identification measurement, which is exemplified here, it can effectively recognize the detector signal shape in any radiation detection context. |
| US07791027B2 |
Apparatus and method providing a hand-held spectrometer
According to one aspect, an IR spectrometer includes a light source adapted to illuminate a sample, a grating adapted to spectrally disperse a light that has illuminated the sample, a MEMS array adapted to be electrostatically actuated by a controller to control a diffraction of the light, a detector configured to detect the light, and a power source adapted to supply power to the light source and to the MEMS array, wherein the controller is adapted to control the MEMS array so as to manage a power consumption of the IR spectrometer. In one embodiment, the IR spectrometer includes a housing sized and arranged to house the light source, the grating, the MEMS array, the controller, the detector, to and the power source in a hand-held device. |
| US07791026B2 |
Microbolometer infrared security sensor
An infrared sensor, comprising a focal plane array (FPA) of resistance microbolometer infrared detectors connected in such a manner to produce different pixel formats to meet specific detection requirements. Typically each imaging pixel may be a mosaic comprising a number of sub-pixels connected in parallel (although other configurations are possible), resulting in enhanced performance and ease of manufacture by micro-fabrication methods. The FPA may be integrated with a readout microcircuit on the same substrate so that with appropriate signal processing one is capable of forming an image of the field of view of interest, facilitating target recognition and very low false alarm rate. |
| US07791025B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing relative outward flow characterizations of fabricated features
An apparatus and method for characterizing gas flow through features fabricated in a hollow part. A pressure regulated cooled gas is applied to an interior of the part to the features fabricated in the part. At the same time, a pressure regulated heated gas is applied to an exterior part skin; and the heated gas has a controlled temperature differential from the pressure regulated cooled gas applied to the part interior. An infrared signature of escaping gas and the surrounding part skin is analyzed by a classification method to identify acceptable and unacceptable fabricated features. |
| US07791023B2 |
Electron holography system
In electron holography observation using a transmission electron microscope, searching of conditions of an electron optical condition which are necessary for realizing a requested spatial resolution is sophisticated and for persons unaccustomed to operation of the electron microscope, the observation is time consuming work. In addition to the fundamental electron microscope proper, an input unit for inputting a spatial resolution requested in the holography observation, a calculation unit for calculating positions of electron biprism and specimen necessary for realizing the requested spatial resolution from the inputted value and parameters characteristic of the device and mechanisms for moving the two positions for realizing the obtained calculation results are provided. |
| US07791022B2 |
Scanning electron microscope with length measurement function and dimension length measurement method
A scanning electron microscope with a length measurement function includes an electron gun for emitting an electron beam, a measurement target region setting unit for setting a measurement region for a pattern formed on a sample, a storing unit for storing the designated measurement region, a beam blanker unit for controlling an irradiation of the electron beam depending on the measurement region, and a control unit for extracting the designated measurement region from the storing unit, interrupting the electron beam with the beam blanker unit in a region other than the measurement region, irradiating the electron beam onto the sample in the measurement region, capturing an image of the measurement region, and measuring the pattern. The measurement region may be a pair of regions having the same areas as each other. |
| US07791019B2 |
Ambient pressure pyroelectric ion source for mass spectrometry
A compact, low power ambient pressure pyroelectric ionization source. The source can be constructed using a z-cut lithium niobate or lithium tantalate crystal with an attached resistive heater mounted in front of the atmospheric pressure inlet of an ion trap mass spectrometer. Positive and negative ion formation alternately results from thermally cycling the crystal over a narrow temperature range. Ionization of molecules such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol or benzoic acid results in the observation of the singly deprotonated species and their clusters in the negative ion mass spectrum. Ionization of molecules such as triethylamine or triphenylamine with the source results in observation of the corresponding singly protonated species of each in the positive ion mass spectrum. The pyroelectric crystals are thermally cycled by as little as 30 K from ambient temperature. Ion formation is largely unaffected by contamination of the crystal faces. This ion source is robust. |
| US07791017B2 |
Method to simultaneously determine pore hydrocarbon density and water saturation from pulsed neutron measurements
A method comprising using inelastic and capture gamma-ray count rates from two detectors in a borehole logging tool and determining formation water saturation. In this method the formation water saturation is determined without prior knowledge of the carbon density in the pore hydrocarbons. |
| US07791013B2 |
Biological microarray line scanning method and system
A line scanning arrangement for imaging microarrays includes a line illuminator that converts output from one or more lasers to a radiation line. The laser output passes through a single mode fiber and a module that converts the laser light to the radiation line. The line is confocally directed to sites on the microarray, and retrobeams returned from the sites are collected on an imaging detector. The microarray is moved in the imaging apparatus so as to progressively illuminate an array or matrix of sites for imaging. |
| US07791011B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method thereof and electronic apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a light sensing part for each of pixels; and one or more rod members made of a light transmissive material above the light sensing part for each of the pixels. |
| US07791009B2 |
Eliminating illumination crosstalk while using multiple imaging devices with plural scanning devices, each coupled to an optical fiber
A system includes a plurality of scanning devices and light receivers, enabling a plurality of images of a site to be displayed using output signals produced in response to light from the light receivers. To avoid crosstalk caused by light receivers receiving light emitted by a plurality of scanning devices, different wavebands of light can be applied to different scanning devices, the received light can be filtered, or the light can be supplied to one scanning device at a time to multiplex either frame-by-frame, or pixel-by-pixel, or the light supplied to each scanning device can be modulated and the received light demodulated so that an image is produced in response to light from a single scanning device. Expensive components such as laser light sources, optical detectors, a controller, and processor can be shared by multiple imaging devices to minimize the cost of the imaging system. |
| US07791008B2 |
Single spot focus control
The present invention discloses methods and systems for improved focusing of imaging systems for the acquisition of high-quality focused tissue image data. A light emitter (L) aims a focusing light beam (FLB) towards an object of interest (O) so that the focusing light beam (FLB) is at an angle relative to the optical axis (OA) of the imager (I). If the object of interest (O) is out of focus, the focusing light spot (FLS) will appear above or below the focal point in the image (I). The pixel difference between the center of the focusing light spot (FLS) and the focal point indicates the range adjustment value. The range between the imager (I) and the object of interest (O) can then be adjusted according to the range adjustment value using a lookup table or calculations. |
| US07791003B2 |
Collapsible insulated food delivery bag
An insulated bag has generally flat top and bottom walls connected by foldable back and opposite side walls which cooperate to define a chamber having a front opening for receiving a food product. Flexible closure flaps extend from the bottom wall and opposite side walls and have releasable fasteners for closing the front opening. Each wall has an outer fabric covering and a porous inner liner and also inner and outer layers of flexible thermal insulation material. A vapor barrier film separates the inner and outer layers of insulation material in each wall and provides for moisture absorption by the inner layers. The top and bottom walls each have a compartment with an edge opening closed by a releasable fastener, and a vacuum insulation panel is confined within each compartment. The top and bottom walls move between a collapsed storage position and an expanded position to receive the product. |
| US07790999B2 |
Laser beam welding method
A method of producing a welding seam with a single laser pulse, the laser pulse and the work piece being moved relative to each other at a high velocity. This results in the length of the welding seam formed being primarily the product of pulse duration of the laser pulse and the relative velocity of work piece and laser pulse. The invention also relates to a method in which the work piece moved at high velocity relative to the laser beam is subjected along the welding seam to be formed to repeated applications of a single laser pulse. In that case the length of the welding seam is defined principally of the product of pulse duration of the laser pulse and the relative velocity of the work piece and laser pulse divided by the number of applications. |
| US07790996B2 |
Status indication for emergency stop push button
An emergency push-button includes a housing that, in turn, includes at least one guide surface and an actuator supported by the housing. The actuator may be reciprocable along a generally linear axis between an actuated position and a released position. The actuator has at least one indicator window located thereon. The emergency push-button may further include an indicator disposed proximal to the actuator head and being biased for movement therewith. The indicator may include an indicator surface that has indicia thereon that provides status of the emergency push-button and that is configured to be selectably viewable through the indicator window of the actuator head. The indicator further includes at least one arm extending therefrom that is engageable with the at least one guide surface. Upon reciprocation of the actuator head to the actuated position, the at least one arm is configured to be urged by the at least one guide surface of the housing to a position whereby the indicator is moved and, in turn, the indicia, to reflect a change in status that is viewable through the at least one window. |
| US07790995B2 |
Break away base for electrical device
A device and method that contains an electro-mechanical break away sensor that de-energizes power or stops the flow of electricity to a pole upon a vehicle colliding with the pole or otherwise activation of the sensor. The sensor is omni directional and operates regardless of direction of impact from the vehicle or activation and has the ability to disconnect power when the pole falls due to a shear impact such as when there is a collision or the pole falls due to tension created by wind or weight failure. The sensor may also be activated by an authorized user such as one that is performing maintenance on the pole. |
| US07790993B2 |
Anti-intrusion device primarily for an electronic payment terminal
The present invention relates to an anti-intrusion device for the protection of housings. It applies in particular to the protection of a housing of an electronic payment terminal or of a housing for entering a confidential code (also known as a “PIN-pad”).The anti-intrusion device according to the invention makes it possible to detect any attempts to open a housing. It comprises at least one spring (3), the spring being arranged in such a way as to be under pressure and to act electrically on an electronic circuit (2) when the housing is closed, and to no longer act on the electronic circuit when the housing is open. |
| US07790988B2 |
Hermetic sealing cap, electronic component accommodation package, and method for producing hermetic sealing cap
A hermetic sealing cap can be provided which is capable of suppressing that a production process becomes complicated, and additionally of suppressing that a solder layer wetly spreads inward on a sealing surface. This hermetic sealing cap (1, 30) includes a base member (2), a first plating layer (3, 31) that is formed on the surface of the base member, and a second plating layer (4, 32) that is formed on the surface of the first plating layer and is less oxidized than the first plating layer, wherein a part of the second plating layer in an area (S1, S5) inside an area (S2, S6) to which an electronic component accommodation member is joined is removed so that the surface of the first plating layer is exposed, and the surface of the first plating layer that is exposed in the area from which the second plating layer is removed is oxidized. |
| US07790985B2 |
Device for repair of a contact pad of a printed circuit board
Methods and devices are provided for repairing a damaged contact pad that is located on a first surface of a printed circuit board and connected to a via that passes through the circuit board. According to the method, a countersink hole is created in the first surface of the printed circuit board in a location that is substantially centered on an axis passing through the via, and a replacement structure is inserted into the countersink hole. The replacement structure has a stem portion, a head portion, and a shoulder portion that connects the stem and head portions, with the angle of the shoulder portion substantially matching the angle of the shoulder of the countersink hole. The stem portion of the replacement structure is permanently attached to sidewalls of the via so as to electrically couple the head portion of the replacement structure to the via. |
| US07790984B2 |
Apparatus for controlling cable of robot
The cable control apparatus includes a body disposed above the arm and a fixing ring having a through-hole fixed in the conveying hole; a conveying ring; a cable tube for integrally housing a plurality of control cables and including one end connected to the conveying ring with being inserted into the conveying hole of the body and the other end connected to the head of the industrial robot through the through-hole of the fixing ring; and a elastic member externally inserted to the cable tube and including one end connected to the fixing ring and the other end connected to the conveying ring for returning the cable tube to an original position through elastic force after the conveying ring slides the cable tube in order to sustain the cable tube between the arm and head not to be loosen. |
| US07790971B1 |
String-replacement assembly for musical instruments
A string-replacement assembly may be installed within an inner cavity of a body of a guitar. The assembly includes a plurality of cartridges each configured to contain a supply of replacement string therein, corresponding to a particular gauge of string for the guitar. Each supply of replacement string is rotatably mounted within a cartridge. A free end of each supply of the replacement string can be threaded through an exit opening in the body of the guitar for installation on a topside of the guitar. When string breaks or needs to be replaced on the topside of the guitar, a portion of the supply of the replacement string may be readily advanced from a corresponding cartridge to a desired length, and installed in a playing position on the topside of the guitar, to replace a removed portion (associated with the breakage or replacement) of the string. |
| US07790968B1 |
Inbred corn line G07-NPID2449
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPID2449, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPID2449 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred G07-NPID2449 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPID2449 and plants produced by said methods. |
| US07790966B2 |
Tomato plant line TZ368
The present invention relates to a new and distinct inbred tomato lines and hybrids. This invention also relates to plants and seeds of such inbred tomato lines and hybrids, and to parts thereof. The invention also relates to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such inbred tomato lines and hybrids with themselves or other tomato plants. |
| US07790965B1 |
Soybean cultivar S07-03DL157708
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-03DL157708 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-03DL157708 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-03DL157708. |
| US07790962B2 |
Downy mildew resistant lettuce
The present invention relates to a lettuce cultivar having resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) and which has an extraordinary high number of green, round-shaped leaves. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-22 RZ, referred to as Socrates, representative seed having been deposited under NCIMB Accession No. 41325. |
| US07790957B2 |
Genes that confer regeneration ability to plants, and uses thereof
A gene relating to the regeneration ability of plants was successfully isolated and identified using linkage analysis. Furthermore, methods for breeding highly regenerative varieties, methods for transforming unculturable varieties, and methods for selecting transformed cells, wherein these methods utilize this gene, were also discovered. The present invention is useful in fields such as cultivar improvement and gene analysis that uses transformation methods. |
| US07790954B2 |
Generation of plants with altered oil, protein, or fiber content
The present invention is directed to plants that display an improved oil quantity phenotype or an improved meal quality phenotype due to altered expression of an HIO nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an improved oil quantity phenotype or improved meal quality phenotype. |
| US07790953B2 |
Soybean seed and oil compositions and methods of making same
Methods for obtaining soybean plants that produce seed with low linolenic acid levels and moderately increased oleic levels are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for producing seed with low linolenic acid levels, moderately increased oleic levels and low saturated fatty acid levels. These methods entail the combination of transgenes that provide moderate oleic acid levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. These methods also entail the combination of transgenes that provide both moderate oleic acid levels and low saturated fat levels with soybean germplasm that contains mutations in soybean genes that confer low linolenic acid phenotypes. Soybean plants and seeds produced by these methods are also disclosed. |
| US07790950B2 |
Use of phytoene synthase for controlling transgene escape
The present invention is related to a recoverable block of function (RBF) system for controlling transgene escape and transgene containment in plants. The RBF-system comprises at least one blocking construct (BC), wherein the BC comprises as the blocking gene a nucleotide sequence or crtB gene encoding phytoene synthase, which is used alone or in combination with other BCs. The crtB gene expresses under the control of a germination specific promoter or a promoter constitutively repressed by a Recovering construct (RC) and blocks the germination of a transgenic seed. The blocked germination is recoverable by a user controlled intervention including addition of an effective amount of gibberellin and sugar and may involve so called recovering constructs (RCs), wherein the recovering gene may encode ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase or ent-kaurene synthase. |
| US07790946B2 |
Subatmospheric pressure wound therapy dressing
A wound dressing apparatus for use in subatmospheric pressure therapy includes an outer member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed and defining an internal reservoir, a port associated with the outer member and in communication with the internal reservoir for applying subatmospheric pressure to the internal reservoir to facilitate treatment of the wound bed and removal of fluid therefrom, an inner member at least partially positionable within the wound bed and confined within the outer member, and an adhesive agent in contact with a peripheral section of the outer member to facilitate attachment of the peripheral section to the periwound tissue. The adhesive agent is preferably substantially devoid of contact with the inner member. In one embodiment, a layer of adhesive material is disposed on the peripheral section of the outer member. |
| US07790944B2 |
Method for separation of constituents from matrices
The present invention provides an apparatus useful for the separation of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and inorganic constituents from various matrices. A method of separating such constituents is also provided. |
| US07790941B2 |
Oxygenate-to-olefin conversions in a baffled reactor
The invention concerns methods and systems for minimizing back-mixing of feedstock flow in converting oxygenates to olefins. In one embodiment, back-mixing is reduced by providing a reactor that includes baffles to reduce the hydraulic diameter of at least a portion of the reactor. Some or all of the baffles can also serve as cooling tubes for reducing temperature gradients in the reactor, and thereby maximize light olefin production. |
| US07790939B2 |
Alkylaromatics production
A process for alkylation or transalkylation of an alkylatable aromatic compound having reactive impurities with an alkylating agent to produce a monoalkylated aromatic compound, comprising the steps of contacting at least a portion of said alkylatable aromatic compounds and said alkylating agent with a first molecular sieve catalyst in a guard bed under suitable conditions to remove said reactive impurities and form a first effluent comprising monoalkylated aromatic compound, unreacted alkylatable aromatic compounds and unreacted alkylating agent; contacting said first effluent with a second molecular sieve catalyst different from said first molecular sieve catalyst in said reaction zone under suitable alkylation or transalkylation conditions to produce additional said monoalkylated aromatic compounds; and maintaining said water content from about 1 wppm to about 10 wt. % based on the combined weight of said alkylatable aromatic compound and said alkylating agent in said reaction zone for the majority of the on-oil time. |
| US07790938B2 |
Process for producing alcohol
The invention relates to a process for producing an alcohol including hydrogenating an aldehyde using a hydrogenation catalyst and subjecting the resultant product to distillation/purification, wherein the resultant hydrogenation product is subjected to distillation/purification in the absence of the hydrogenation catalyst or in the presence of the hydrogenation catalyst in such an amount that does not cause a dehydrogenation reaction. |
| US07790936B2 |
Process for preparing alkylated aromatic compound
The present invention provides a process in which a ketone is directly reacted with an aromatic compound in a single reaction step to obtain the corresponding alkylated aromatic compound in a higher yield. By reacting an aromatic compound with a ketone and hydrogen in the presence of a solid acid substance and a catalyst composition containing Cu and Zn in a ratio of Zn to Cu ranging from 0.70 to 1.60 (atomic ratio), the corresponding alkylated aromatic compound is prepared. |
| US07790935B2 |
Process for preparation of citalopram and enantiomers
The present invention provides a process for preparation of 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran carbonitrile comprising reacting a compound of formula IVa, in the presence of a base with a compound of formula RX, wherein R is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl which may be optionally substituted with electron withdrawing groups and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, CN, OTf and OR1, wherein Tf represents trifluoromethanesulfonyl group, and R1 is optionally substituted alkyl, Z is a cyano group or a group that may be converted to a cyano group; further wherein RX is selected such that an intermediate ether derivative, a compound of formula Va formed from said reaction cyclizes to a compound of formula VI, and where Z is not a cyano group, conversion of the group Z in the compound of formula VI to a cyano group to form 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran carbonitrile. The present invention also provides novel ether compound, a compound of formula Va and a process for preparation thereof. |
| US07790933B1 |
Formaldehyde synthesis
A process is disclosed for the synthesis of formaldehyde from methane starting with the oxychlorination of methane to produce methylene chloride. Hydrolysis of methylene chloride yields the product formaldehyde. Byproduct chloroform and carbon tetrachloride are recovered and hydrogenated to provide additional methylene chloride. |
| US07790931B2 |
Process for preparing tetrafluorobenzene carbaldehyde alkyl acetal
A process for preparing tetrafluorobenzene carbaldehyde alkyl acetal represented by the following formula (II), comprising reducing tetrafluorocyanobenzene represented by the following formula (I) with a metal catalyst containing a platinum group metal in the presence of an alkyl alcohol represented by R—OH (R is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms) and an acid; (I) wherein m is 1 or 2, n is 0 or 1, and m+n is 2, (II) wherein m and n are the same as those in the formula (I), and R is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. |
| US07790926B2 |
Alpha, omega-difunctional aldaramides
Alpha, omega-difunctional aldaramides, in particular diaminoaldaramides, dihydroxyaldaramides, bis(alkoxycarbonylalkyl)aldaramides, and bis(carboxyalkyl)aldaramides, and processes for preparing the aldaramides are provided. |
| US07790922B2 |
Purification of acetic acid from wood acetylation process using extraction
There is shown a method of purifying glacial acetic acid containing terpene and terpenoid impurities. Substantially dry acetic acid containing terpene and terpenoid impurities is combined with water and a suitable organic solvent, which is substantially immiscible with acetic acid and water, to form a separating composite extraction medium having a weight ratio of acetic acid:water of at least 1:1. The components are separated into an organic phase and an aqueous acid phase, with the terpene and terpenoid impurities concentrated in the organic phase, and with the aqueous acid phase purified of terpene and terpenoid impurities. The purified aqueous acid phase is recovered, and the purified acetic acid is dried. |
| US07790920B2 |
Preparation of acetic acid
A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed. The process comprises carbonylating methanol to form a reaction mixture comprising a catalyst, catalyst stabilizer, acetic acid, methanol, methyl iodide, methyl acetate, water, and carbon monoxide and introducing at least a portion of the reaction mixture to a distillation column to separate into a bottom steam comprising the catalyst and catalyst stabilizer, a sidedraw stream comprising acetic acid and water, and an overhead stream comprising methanol, methyl acetate, methyl iodide, and water. The process of the invention eliminates the use of flash tank. |
| US07790919B2 |
Removing hydrocarbon impurities from acetic acid production process
A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities from an acetic acid production process is disclosed. The method comprises distilling at least a portion of the heavy organic phase from the decanter of the acetic acid production process into a vapor stream comprising the majority of methyl iodide (i.e., over 50% of the methyl iodide from the heavy organic phase) and a bottoms stream comprising the majority of acetic acid, methyl acetate, methyl iodide and the hydrocarbon impurity (i.e., over 50% of each of the components from the heavy organic phase); extracting the bottoms stream with water, an acetic acid aqueous solution, or with a methanol aqueous solution to form an organic phase comprising the majority of the hydrocarbon impurity (over 50% of the hydrocarbon impurity from the bottom stream) and an aqueous phase comprising the majority of methyl iodide (over 50% of the methyl iodide from the bottoms stream); and recycling the aqueous phase to the carbonylation reaction. |
| US07790917B2 |
Adamantyl group-containing epoxy-modified (meth)acrylate and resin composition containing the same
The present invention provides an adamantyl group containing epoxy-modified (meth)acrylate and a resin composition containing it which are imparted by transparency, optical characteristics such as (durable) light resistance and the like, heat-resistance, and good mechanical properties.For example, they are an adamantyl group containing epoxy-modified (meth)acrylate having the following general formula (I) and a composition containing it. In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents a halogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group which may contain a hetero atom. Plural R2 may be the same or different, and m represents an integer of 0 to 4 and n represents an integer of 0 or more. |
| US07790914B2 |
Method for dimethyl carbonate synthesis
There is provided a catalyst for dimethyl carbonate synthesis which has a high conversion rate under the supercritical condition of CO2 and can be handled easily. The catalyst for dimethyl carbonate is obtained by loading SO42− or PO43− on a carrier composed of a compound having a solid acid site, and is used to produce dimethyl carbonate from acetone dimethyl carbonate and CO2 in a supercritical state. The component having a solid acid site is preferably one or more of ZrO2, Al2O3, and TiO2. |
| US07790913B2 |
Fullerene derivative and methods for producing same
The present invention provides a method for producing a fullerene derivative comprising reacting: a fullerene; an organometallic reagent (A) comprising B, Al, Zn, Sn, Pb, Te, Ti, Mn, Zr or Sm; and a copper compound (B). |
| US07790912B2 |
Devices containing chiroptical switching materials and methods of making and using the same
A polycarbodiimide polymer that is reversibly switchable between two distinct optical orientations is described. The polymer is useful in forming devices such as filters, storage media, actuators, and displays. Methods of making and using such polymers are also described. |
| US07790911B2 |
Advanced preparation method of organic-transition metal hydride complexes as hydrogen storage materials
The present invention relates to an advanced preparation method of organic-transition metal hydride used as hydrogen storage materials, the method including: preparing organic-transition metal-aluminum hydride complexes by reacting the organic-transition metal halide with metal aluminum hydride compounds; and preparing the organic-transition metal hydride by reacting the organic-transition metal aluminum hydride complexes with Lewis bases.Since the preparation method of the organic-transition metal hydride according to the present invention does not use catalysts, it has advantages that it does not cause problems due to poisoning and can prepare the organic-transition metal hydride at high yield under less stringent conditions. The hydrogen storage materials containing the organic-transition metal hydride prepared from the preparation method can safely and reversibly store a large amount of hydrogen. |
| US07790906B2 |
Method for the purification of betaines
The invention relates to a method for purification of synthetically-produced compounds, comprising a betaine structure in the molecule, for example, indocyan green, characterized in that reaction by-products, starting materials and/or other impurities such as NaI used during production are separated by extraction. |
| US07790902B2 |
Isothiazole derivatives useful as anticancer agents
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula 1 and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof, wherein X1, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the above compounds and to methods treating hyperproliferative disorders in mammals by administering the above compounds. |
| US07790899B2 |
Synthesis of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)phenylmethyl)carbamide and its tartrate salt and crystalline forms
Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)phenylmethyl)carbamide. Also disclosed herein is the hemi-tartrate salt of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)-phenylmethyl)carbamide and methods for obtaining the salt. Further disclosed are various crystalline forms of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)phenylmethyl)carbamide and its hemi-tartrate salt including various polymorphs and solvates. |
| US07790896B2 |
RNA-selective probes for live cell imaging of nuclear structure and function
The present invention is directed to fluorescent compounds and methods of making said compounds that selectively bind to cellular RNA. The fluorescent compounds of the present invention are useful for live cell imaging applications. |
| US07790892B2 |
Aromatic compound and organic electroluminescent element containing the same
A novel aromatic compound having an anthracene skeleton structure and an asymmetric molecular structure; and an organic electroluminescence device which comprises a cathode, an anode and an organic thin film layer comprising at least one layer containing a light emitting layer and sandwiched between the cathode and the anode in which at least one layer in the organic thin film layer contains the above novel aromatic compound singly or as a component of a mixture. The organic electroluminescence device exhibits a great luminance of emitted light, a great efficiency of light emission and a high purity of color, emits bluish light, is excellent in stability at high temperatures and has a long life. The organic electroluminescence device can be provided by utilizing the novel aromatic compound. |
| US07790891B2 |
Process for the preparation of pyridine-methylsulfinyl compounds
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), or a salt thereof, wherein Q is ═CR8— or ═N—; and R1-R8 are as herein defined; comprising the reaction of a compound of formula (II), or a salt thereof, wherein Q, R1-R7 are as herein defined; with a reducing agent selected from a trivalent phosphorous compound, an oxidizable solvent and a sulfonic acid chloride; and, if desired, the conversion of a compound of formula (I) to another compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof. |
| US07790883B2 |
Process for the preparation of thiazolopyrimidines
A method for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof; from a compound of the formula: (IV); wherein L represents a leaving group. |
| US07790882B2 |
Monophosphine compound, transition metal complex thereof and production method of optically active compound using the complex as asymmetric catalyst
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein ring A is void or a benzene ring optionally having substituent(s), R1 and R2 are each independently a phenyl group optionally having substituent(s), a cyclohexyl group and the like, R3 and R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group and the like, and X is a residue represented by —OR5 or —NHR6 wherein R5 and R6 are a lower alkyl group optionally having substituent(s), an aralkyl group optionally having substituent(s) and the like, a asymmetric transition metal complex containing the compound as a ligand and a production method of optically active compound using the complex as an asymmetric catalyst. |
| US07790880B2 |
DI-(1-Imidazole) metal phthalocyanine compound, composition comprising the same and preparation method thereof
Disclosed herein are a di-(1-vinylimidazole) metal phthalocyanine compound in which 1-vinylimidazoles as ligands are included in a phthalocyanine having a metal, a composition comprising the same and a preparation method thereof. The di-(1-vinylimidazole) 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. |
| US07790878B2 |
RNAi modulation of RSV, PIV and other respiratory viruses and uses thereof
The present invention is based on the in vivo demonstration that RSV and PIV can be inhibited through intranasal administration of RNAi agents as well as by parenteral administration of such agents. Further, it is shown that effective viral reduction can be achieved with more than one virus being treated concurrently. Based on these findings, the present invention provides general and specific compositions and methods that are useful in reducing RSV or PIV mRNA levels, RSV or PIV protein levels and viral titers in a subject, e.g., a mammal, such as a human. These findings can be applied to other respiratory viruses. |
| US07790875B2 |
Detection of group B Streptococcus
The invention provides methods to detect group B streptococcus (GBS) in biological samples using real-time PCR. Primers and probes for the detection of GBS are provided by the invention. Articles of manufacture containing such primers and probes for detecting GBS are further provided by the invention. |
| US07790871B2 |
Anti-TNFα antibodies and methods of use
Novel TNFα antibody polypeptides and nucleic acids are disclosed. Methods of utilizing the polypeptides to treat TNFα-related diseases are also disclosed. |
| US07790862B2 |
IL-17 and IL-23 antagonists and methods of using the same
The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-17, IL-23 via it's p19 subunit or both IL-17 and IL-23 (via p19). IL-17 and IL-23 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. |
| US07790855B2 |
KID3 and KID3 antibodies that bind thereto
The invention provides the identification and characterization of disease and cancer-associated epitope, KID3. The invention also provides a family of monoclonal antibodies that bind to KID3, methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases that express KID3. |
| US07790853B2 |
Determination of bone-sialoprotein in bodily fluids for oncological problems
The invention relates to antibodies or a plurality of antibodies against human bone sialoprotein (BSP), characterized in that the antibodies bind to epitopes which are present only in human bone sialoprotein from tumor cells, the post-translational glycosylation of which is modified or incomplete in the region of amino acids of 120 to 135, containing the amino acids TGLAA (SEQ ID NO: 2), in comparison with normal bone sialoprotein from bones. The antibodies are put to use in an immunoassay for the diagnosis and prognosis of tumor diseases, in particular the diagnosis and prognosis of bone metastases in the case of primary breast carcinoma. |
| US07790851B2 |
Human cytokine receptor
Cytokines and their receptors have proven usefulness in both basic research and as therapeutics. The present invention provides a new human cytokine receptor designated as “Zcytor16.” |
| US07790850B2 |
Method and composition for crystallizing G protein-coupled receptors
Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR. |
| US07790849B2 |
Enhancement of retroviral gene transduction employing polypeptides comprising the fibronectin heparin II binding domain
An isolated polypeptide includes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID No. 13 and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, such as an isolated nucleic acid including the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID No. 17. The isolated polypeptide includes two heparin binding polypeptides connected in tandem and the isolated nucleic acid encodes these. The polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences can improve retroviral vector mediated gene transfer efficiency into target cells. |
| US07790847B2 |
Genetically programmed expression of proteins containing the unnatural amino acid phenylselenocysteine
The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that can incorporate the unnatural amino acid phenylselenocysteine into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides encoding the novel synthetase molecules, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing the unnatural amino acid phenylselenocysteine and translation systems. The invention further provides methods for producing modified proteins (e.g., lipidated proteins) through targeted modification of the phenylselenocysteine residue in a protein. |
| US07790838B2 |
Graft copolymers and method to prepare same
A thermally processable graft copolymer formed from a water soluble polymer and a water insoluble polymer, wherein the graft copolymer forms a hydrogel upon exposure to water. A method to form such a hydrogel-forming graft copolymer by copolymerizing a water soluble 2-substituted-2-oxazolines with a water insoluble 2-substituted-2-oxazoline. A method to form such a hydrogel-forming graft copolymer by transamidating a poly-2-oxazoline with a carboxylic acid terminated water-insoluble polymer. |
| US07790837B2 |
Ion-conducting sulfonated polymeric materials
Sulfonated polymers are made by the direct polymerization of a sulfonated monomer to form the sulfonated polymers. The types of sulfonated polymers may include polysulfones or polyimides. The sulfonated polymers can be formed into membranes that may be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells or as ion exchange membranes. The membranes formed from the sulfonated polymers exhibit improved properties over that of Nafion®. A heteropoly acid may be added to the sulfonated polymer to form a nanocomposite membrane in which the heteropoly acid is highly dispersed. The addition of a heteropoly acid to the sulfonated polymer increases the thermal stability of the membrane, enhances the conductivity above 100° C., and reduces the water uptake of the membrane. |
| US07790828B2 |
Precursor solution for polyimide/silica composite material, its manufacture method, and polymide/silica composite material having low volume shrinkage
A process for preparing a precursor solution for polyimide/silica composite material and a process for forming a polyimide/silica composite material film on a substrate, including adding a monomer of a silane compound to allow a poly(amic acid) to carry a silica moiety; adding a monomer of formula (R6)xSi(R7)(4−x) to allow the silica moiety to carry a photo-polymerizable unsaturated group; and adding a monomer of formula R8N(R9)2 to allow the poly(amic acid) to carry a photo-polymerizable unsaturated group, where R6, R7, R8, R9, and x are as defined in the specification. Also, a precursor solution for polyimide/silica composite material and a polyimide/silica composite material. The composite material is useful in microelectronic devices, semiconductor elements, and photoelectric elements. |
| US07790827B2 |
Silicone polyether-amide block copolymers
Silicone block copolymers containing polyether-amide units, processes to prepare such silicone block copolymers, and their use in various personal care, cosmetic, household care, and healthcare formulations are disclosed. |
| US07790825B2 |
High refractive index ophthalmic device materials
High refractive index copolymers suitable for use in ophthalmic devices are disclosed. The copolymers comprise a single aryl hydrophobic monomer as a device forming monomer. In addition, the copolymers comprise a non-polymerizable block copolymer surfactant. The copolymers have a reduced tendency to form glistenings when stored in water at physiological temperatures. |
| US07790819B1 |
Bicyclic organosilicon compounds as electron donors for polyolefin catalysts
Cyclic organosilicon compounds that may be employed as an electron donor for polymerization catalyst systems, polymerization catalyst systems employing the cyclic organosilicon compounds as an electron donor, methods of making the polymerization catalyst systems, and polymerization processes to produce polyolefin are disclosed. The organosilicon compounds, which are useful as electron donors in polymerization catalyst systems for the production of polyolefins, are represented by the formula: where Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 may be identical or different and are each hetero-atoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, Si, B, and P. R1, R2, R3, and R4 may be identical or different and are each hydrocarbon-based substituents to Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. The subscripts i, j, m, and n are independently 0 to 3 R5 and R6 may be identical or different and are each a bridging group with a backbone chain length between the two hetero-atoms Q1 and Q3, and Q2 and Q4, respectively, 1-8 atoms. The bridging group is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic bivalent radicals. |
| US07790816B2 |
Method of maintaining heat transfer capacity in a polymerization reaction system
This invention relates to a process for maintaining heat transfer capacity of a cycle cooler while polymerizing olefin(s) in the presence of catalyst and a carboxylate metal salt by controlling the amount of carboxylate metal salt present in the reaction system. In particular, the invention relates to maintaining a cycle cooler performance parameter substantially constant while polymerizing olefin(s) in the presence of a carboxylate metal salt and a conventional-type transition metal polymerization catalyst compound, or a metallocene-type polymerization catalyst compound. This invention further relates to a process wherein the cycle cooler performance parameter is a heat transfer capacity of the cycle cooler, a pressure drop across the cooler, or a cooler approach temperature of a cycle cooler. |
| US07790812B2 |
Epoxy resin curing agent produced by heating anhydride and polyester in presence of hydrogen and hydrogenation catalyst
The present invention relates to a process for producing an acid anhydride-based epoxy resin curing agent, an acid anhydride-based epoxy resin curing agent, an epoxy resin composition, and a cured product and optical semiconductor device using the same. The process for producing an acid anhydride-based epoxy resin curing agent according to the present invention comprises heating a mixture containing a polyvalent carboxylic acid anhydride and a polyester resin in the presence of hydrogen gas and a hydrogenation catalyst. |
| US07790809B2 |
Thermoplastic vulcanizates with advantageous adhesion to polar substrates
A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising (i) a dynamically-cured rubber, and (ii) a thermoplastic polymer component, where the thermoplastic polymer component includes (a) a propylene-α-olefin thermoplastic copolymer characterized by including at least 5% by weight up to 35% by weight units deriving from α-olefins, and having a heat of fusion, as determined by DSC, of less than 80 J/g, (b) and a functionalized thermoplastic polymer. |
| US07790808B2 |
Method for producing a thermoplastic resin composition
Disclosed is a method for producing a thermoplastic resin composition, the method including a first step of melt-kneading 100 parts by weight component (A) and from 15 to 200 parts by weight of component (B) to form a melt-kneaded material, and a second step of melt-kneading from 35 to 2300 parts by weight of additional component (B) with the melt-kneaded material formed in the first step, wherein component (A) is an elastomer having a melt viscosity, as measured at a temperature of 230° C. and a shear rate of 121 sec−1, of 1500 Pa·s or more and the component (B) is a polyolefin resin. |
| US07790805B2 |
Impact-modified blends
A thermoplastic molding composition suitable for producing article having improved surface quality is disclosed. The composition includes A) at least one polymeric resin selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyester carbonate, polyamide, polyalkylene terephthalate and polyoxymethylene, and B) a co-precipitated mixture of graft polymer B.1 the preparation of which entailed redox initiation and graft copolymer B.2 the preparation of which entailed persulfate initiation. |
| US07790797B2 |
Matt polymerization glue
The adhesive bonding of matted PMMA with customary polymerization adhesives leads to very shiny bond seams, since the cured polymerization adhesives have a shiny surface. This emphasizes the very joining zones which it is intended that the viewer of bonded products should not perceive. The adhesive should therefore be matted after curing. The adhesive has for its basis a polymerization adhesive, preferably a (meth)acrylate-based adhesive. Two different kinds of silica are added as disperse powder to the polymerization adhesive, namely a silica powder having an average particle size of from 1 μm to 10 μm (matting agent) and a silica powder having an average particle size of more than 10 μm up to 200 μm (texturing agent). |
| US07790795B2 |
Scratch and mar resistant polymer compositions, methods for making and articles made from the same
Provided is a polymer composition comprising a thermoplastic, an ethylene alpha-olefin plastomer, a fibrous inosilicate and a slip agent. The polymer composition exhibits superior scratch and mar resistance as indicated by a Ford Five Finger scratch resistance on Ford Fawn 2ZK grain of at least 15 N. Also provided are shaped articles made from the polymer compositions. Also provided are methods for making scratch and mar resistant polymer compositions. Finally, articles made from the polymer compositions are also provided, particularly automotive exterior, interior and fascia parts, requiring scratch and mar resistance. |
| US07790791B2 |
Injection molded article and method for the manufacture thereof
The molding defect known as “splay” is reduced in poly(arylene ether) injection molding compositions including specific amounts of poly(arylene ether), rubber-modified polystyrene, triaryl phosphate, and aryl phosphite. The molding compositions are particularly useful for injection molding articles with large, thin sections, such as battery cases for the back-up batteries used in wireless towers. |
| US07790790B2 |
Flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer compositions
Flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition and non-halogenated flame retardant. |
| US07790789B2 |
Pre-fiber gel materials and compositions, methods of manufacture and uses thereof
A pre-fiber gel material is described herein that includes: a) at least one amide-based and/or polyamide-based composition; and b) at least one lactam gelling agent, wherein the gel composition has sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness upon the mixing of the at least one amide-based or polyamide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent that the composition can be spun into a fiber. In addition, methods are provided herein that teach that the production of a pre-fiber gel composition, including: a) providing at least one amide-based compound; b) providing at least one lactam gelling agent; and c) mixing the at least one amide-based polymer and the at least one lactam gelling agent such that there is sufficient viscosity and sufficient cohesiveness in the composition so that it can be spun into a fiber. |
| US07790788B2 |
Method for producing chemical mechanical polishing pad
There is provided a method for producing a chemical mechanical polishing pad, the method comprising the steps of (1) producing a sheet-shaped polymer molded article and (2) irradiating the sheet-shaped polymer molded article with an electron beam within an irradiation dose of 10 to 400 kGy.A chemical mechanical polishing pad produced by the above method has advantages that it is excellent in removal rate and scratches and in-plane uniformity on a polished surface and that it shows a stable removal rate even when polishing a number of objects to be polished successively. |
| US07790787B2 |
Aerogel/polymer composite materials
The invention provides new composite materials containing aerogels blended with thermoplastic polymer materials at a weight ratio of aerogel to thermoplastic polymer of less than 20:100. The composite materials have improved thermal insulation ability. The composite materials also have better flexibility and less brittleness at low temperatures than the parent thermoplastic polymer materials. |
| US07790783B2 |
Water-base ink composition, inkjet recording method and recorded matter
A water-base ink composition comprising: a chromatic color pigment covered with a water-insoluble vinyl polymer; a titanium dioxide pigment; and water; and a water-base ink composition containing, in addition to a chromatic color pigment, dispersant and water, both a titanium dioxide pigment and silica pigment. |
| US07790782B2 |
Resin composition
A resin composition for molding, added with a nucleating agent suitable for promoting crystallization of a polyester capable of having a crystal structure, and in particular of a biodegradable polyester, and a molded product containing, the resin composition for molding thus improved in the crystallinity has either a cyclic compound expressed by general formula (I): (where each of A1, A2, A4 and A5 commonly or independently expresses —CO— or —NH—, each of A3 and A6 commonly or independently expresses hydrogen, halogen, optionally-substituted aliphatic group or optionally-substituted aromatic group) and having both of —CO— and —NH— in the molecule, or a mixture of (i) a cyclic compound having —CO— but no NH in the molecule and (ii) a cyclic compound having no —CO— but NH in the molecule, together with the polyester capable of having a crystal structure. |
| US07790778B2 |
Prepolymer, polyol composition and process for making a flexible foam
Isocyanate-terminated prepolymer having an NCO-value of 5-30% by weight and being the reaction product of an excessive amount of diphenylmethane diisocyanate comprising at least 80% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyol having an average molecular weight of 2000-10000, an average nominal hydroxy functionality of 2-6, an oxyethylene content of 21-45% by weight and a structure of the type -PO-PO/EO-EO wherein the PO block comprises 60-90% of the PO and the ratio of tipped EO:random is 3:1 to 1:3, and a process for preparing a flexible foam by reacting in a mould and at an index of 70-120, the above prepolymer or a composition comprising this prepolymer and b1) a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyol, having an average nominal hydroxy functionality of 2-6, and a oxyethylene (EO) content of more than 50% by weight; and optionally b2) a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyol, having an average nominal hydroxy functionality of 2-6, an EO content of between 20-50% by weight and a primary hydroxy content of at least 50%, calculated on the number of primary and secondary hydroxyl groups; and c) water; and optionally d) additives and auxiliaries known per se. |
| US07790774B1 |
Preparation of guar suspension from guar splits
A continuous process forms liquid or semi-solid suspensions of water-hydratable guar particles in a non-aqueous solvent directly from hydrated guar splits. In particular, guar splits are hydrated, compressed to form wet guar flakes, and then dried. The dried guar flakes are then combined with a non-aqueous carrier fluid. Finally, the guar and carrier fluid mixture is homogenized, and, if desired, the homogenized guar and carrier fluid mixture may be shear milled to further size-reduce the average particle size of the guar particle. |
| US07790769B2 |
Merocyanine derivatives
Disclosed are merocyanine derivatives of formula (1), wherein R1 and R2 independently from each other are branched C4-C22alkyl; or branched C4-C12 alkenyl; R3 and R4 independently from each other are cyano; COR7, COOR7; CONR7R8; SO2(C6-C12)aryl; C2-C12alk-1-enyl; C3-C12cycloalk-1-enyl; C2-C12alk-1-inyl; C2-C12heteroalkyl; C3-C5heterocycloalkyl; C6-C10aryl; or C1-C9heteroaryl; wherein at least one of R3 and R4 is cyano; R5 and R6 independently from each other are hydrogen; C1-C6alkyl; C5-C8cycloalkyl which may be substituted by one or more than one C1-C4alkyl; and R7 and R8 independently from each other are hydrogen; C1-C22alkyl; C2-C12alkenyl; C2-C12alkinyl; C3-C12cycloalkyl; C3-C12cycloalkenyl; —(CH2)tCOOH; C7-C12aralkyl; C1-C12heteroalkyl; C2-C11heteroaralkyl; C6-C10aryl; C1-C9heteroaryl. The compounds are useful as UV absorbers for protecting human hair and skin against the damaging effect of UV radiation. |
| US07790764B2 |
Biologically active macrolides, compositions, and uses thereof
The present invention provides a compound of formula (II).The present invention further provides a composition comprising at least one compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, alone or in combination with at least one additional active agent. The present invention further provides a method of treating a condition treatable by the inhibition of vacuolar-type (H+)-ATPase and a method of treating cancer. |
| US07790762B2 |
Compounds and methods for thiol-containing compound efflux and cancer treatment
Methods for therapy of cystic fibrosis and other conditions such as cancer are provided. The methods comprise one or more agents capable of increasing thiol-containing compound transport via a transporter system (i.e. ABC transporters such as MDR-1 or MRP-2) in cells. Other embodiments include the use of agents to modulate transport of thiol-containing compounds within the cell. Therapeutic methods involve the administration of such agents to a patient afflicted with cystic fibrosis, cancer and/or another condition responsive to stimulation of thiol-containing compound transport. |
| US07790761B2 |
Blockade of voltage dependent sodium channels
Compounds of Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are capable of blockading voltage-dependent sodium channels and are useful in particular, in treating glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. |
| US07790753B2 |
Derivatives of N-[phenyl(alkylpiperidine-2-yl)methyl]benzamide, preparation method thereof and application of same in therapeutics
Compounds of formula (I) as defined herein: are useful for treating behavioral disorders associated with dementia, psychoses, in particular schizophrenia (deficient form and productive form) and acute or chronic extrapyramidal symptoms induced by neuroleptics; for the treatment of various forms of anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and compulsive obsessive disorders; for treating various forms of depression, including psychotic depression; for treating disorders caused by alcohol abuse or weaning from alcohol, sexual behavior disorders, eating disorders and for treating migraine. Moreover, the compounds of the invention may be used for treating painful muscle contracture in rheumatology and in acute spinal pathology; for treating spastic contractures of medullary or cerebral origin; for the symptomatic treatment of acute and subacute pain of light to moderate intensity; for treating intense and/or chronic pain, neurogenic pain and intractable pain; for treating Parkinson's disease and Parkinson-like symptoms of neurodegenerative origin or induced by neuroleptics; for treating partial primary and secondary generalized epilepsy of simple or complex symptomology, mixed forms and other epileptic syndromes in addition to another antiepileptic treatment, or in monotherapy, for the treatment of sleep apnea, and for neuroprotection. |
| US07790751B2 |
Azinyl-3-sulfonylindazole derivatives as 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 ligands
The present invention provides a compound of formula I and the use thereof for the treatment of a central nervous system disorder related to or affected by the 5-HT6 receptor. |
| US07790745B2 |
Tetrahydroisoquinoline LXR Modulators
A compound of formula I wherein X, R1, R2a, R3a, R3b, R4a, R4b, R4c and R5 are defined herein. |
| US07790742B2 |
Substituted 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for their preparation and therapeutic use
The present invention relates to substituted 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinoline compounds of the structure of formula I and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them wherein the R groups are herein defined. These are excellent inhibitors of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE), in particular of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger of subtype 3 (NHE3). As such these compounds are useful in the treatment of various disorders of the renal and respiratory systems such as acute or chronic renal failure, pulmonary complications, biliary function disorders, respiratory disorders such as snoring or sleep apneas and cardiovascular/central nervous system disorders such as stroke. More specifically, the present invention relates to substituted 4-phenyl-tetrahydroisoquinolines, derivatives thereof and compositions containing them formulated in combination with other compounds which also regulate the intracellular pH environment such as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase and inhibitors of the transport systems that carry bicarbonate ions, such as of the sodium-bicarbonate co-transporter (NBC) or the sodium-dependent chloride-bicarbonate exchanger. |
| US07790740B2 |
Imidazopyridine substituted tropane derivatives with CCR5 receptor antagonist activity for the treatment of HIV and inflammation
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are as defined hereinabove. The compounds of the present invention are modulators, especially antagonists, of the activity of chemokine CCR5 receptors. Modulators of the CCR5 receptor may be useful in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases and conditions, and in the treatment of infection by HIV and genetically related retroviruses. |
| US07790735B2 |
Methanocarba cycloalkyl nucleoside analogues
The present invention provides novel nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives that are useful agonist or antagonists of P1 and P2 receptors. For example, the present invention provides a compound of formula A-M, wherein A is modified adenine or uracil and M is a constrained cycloalkyl group. The adenine or uracil is bonded to the constrained cycloalkyl group. The compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment or prevention of various diseases including airway diseases (through A2B, A3, P2Y2 receptors), cancer (through A3, P2 receptors), cardiac arrhythmias (through A1 receptors), cardiac ischemia (through A1, A3 receptors), epilepsy (through A1, P2X receptors), and Huntington's Disease (through A2A receptors). |
| US07790732B2 |
5-Chloro-4-alkyl-3,4-dihydro-quinazolin-2-ylamine derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3 are as described in the specification and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and tautomers thereof. Compounds of formula I have good activity on the 5-HT5A receptor. Therefore, the invention provides a method for treating diseases related to this receptor, for example, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and schizophrenia. |
| US07790728B2 |
Pyrazine derivatives useful as adenosine receptor antagonists
The present disclosure relates to a compound of formula (I) wherein: A is an optionally substituted monocyclic or polycyclic aryl or heteroaryl group; B is an optionally substituted monocyclic nitrogen-containing heteroaryl group; and either a) R1 and R2 are chosen from a hydrogen atom and specified substituents, or b) R2, R1 and the —NH— group to which R1 is attached, form a moiety chosen from the moiety of formulae (IIa) and (IIb): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a N-oxide thereof. The present disclosure also relates to a method for treating a subject afflicted with a pathological condition or disease susceptible to amelioration by antagonism of the A2B adenosine receptor. |
| US07790725B2 |
Thiazolidine derivatives and medicinal use thereof
A thiazolidine derivative represented by the formula (I) wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof exhibit a potent DPP-IV inhibitory activity, and can be provided as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes, an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of obesity and the like. |
| US07790724B2 |
c-fms kinase inhibitors
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula II: wherein A, R1, R2, R3, R4, X, Y and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. |
| US07790715B2 |
Organic compounds
Novel substituted piperidines of the general formulae (I) and (II) with the substituent definitions as explained in detail in the description are described. The compounds are suitable in particular as renin inhibitors and are highly potent. |
| US07790714B2 |
Oxadiazoanthracene compounds for the treatment of diabetes
The present invention provides methods of use of oxadiazoanthracene derivatives of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A, B, C, R, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as herein described, and wherein said methods of use include uses for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders and diseases, such as diabetes. |
| US07790710B2 |
Imidazopyridine derivatives useful as iNOS inhibitors
The compounds of formula (I) in which R1, R11 and A have the meanings as given in the description are novel effective iNOS inhibitors. |
| US07790707B2 |
S1P receptor modulating compounds and use thereof
The present invention relates to compounds that have activity as S1P receptor modulating agents and the use of such compounds to treat diseases associated with inappropriate S1P receptor activity. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention relate to aryl oxoimidazolidinyls. |
| US07790704B2 |
Thrombopoietin mimetics
Invented are non-peptide TPO mimetics. Also invented are novel processes and intermediates used in the preparation of the presently invented compounds. Also invented is a method of treating thrombocytopenia, in a mammal, including a human, in need thereof which comprises administering to such mammal an effective amount of a selected hydroxy-1-azobenzene derivative. |
| US07790703B2 |
Phosphonate compounds
The present invention relates to phosphonate compounds, compositions containing them, processes for obtaining them, and their use for treating a variety of medical disorders, e.g., osteoporosis and other disorders of bone metabolism, cancer, viral infections, and the like. |
| US07790700B2 |
Derivatives of partially desulphated glycosaminoglycans endowed with antiangiogenic activity and devoid of anticoagulating effect
Partially desulfated glycosaminoglycan derivatives are described, particularly heparin, and more particularly formula (I) compounds where the U, R and R1 groups have the meanings indicated in the description. These glycosaminoglycan derivatives exhibit antiangiogenic activity and are devoid of anticoagulant activity. |
| US07790698B2 |
Use of adenosine receptor agonists in therapy
Compounds of the class of adenosines, represented by structural formula I, wherein R is C1-4 alkoxy, and X is H or OH, are useful in a method of preventing, treating, or ameliorating various conditions or disorders, e.g., inflammation, which comprises administering a compound of formula I to a subject in need of such prevention, treatment, or amelioration, for example, at a dosage which gives rise to a peak plasma concentration in the subject that is less than the EC50 value of the compound at adenosine receptors at nH 7.4. |
| US07790692B2 |
Hepatocyte growth factor nucleic acid sequence to enhance musculocutaneous flap survival
The present invention relates to the use of growth factors in improving tissue survival. In particular, the invention describes methods for enhancing organ transplant, musculocutaneous flap or skin graft survival by administering a nucleic acid sequence encoding hepatocyte growth factor. |
| US07790688B2 |
Compositions and methods for increasing muscle mass, strength, and functional performance in the elderly
Compositions and methods for increasing muscle mass, strength, and functional performance in the elderly by delivering a selection of amino acids, carnitine, and carboydrates with a low glycemic index. |
| US07790685B2 |
Combinations of human proteins to enhance viability of transplanted stem cells and progenitor cells
Embodiments of the present invention include the use of placental alkaline phosphatase alone or in combination with human transferrin and, optionally, human α1-antitrypsin to enhance the proliferation and survival of transplanted stem cells and stem cell-derived progenitor cells. |
| US07790683B2 |
Leptin-related peptides
The present invention relates to methods and compositions containing novel leptin peptides, preferably for the modulation of body mass (i.e., weight), more specifically for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications in homeostasis of body weight and adipose tissue mass. |
| US07790682B1 |
Engineered human acidic fibroblast growth factors and associated methods
An engineered, purified polypeptide of acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) is described, the amino acid sequence of which consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 1. The engineered polypeptide provides 70 times the mitogenic activity of wild type acidic fibroblast growth factor. Other engineered FGFs are also described, having altered properties, including reduced heparin binding affinity and increased mitogenicity as demonstrated with a model mammalian cell line derived from mice, NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. |
| US07790681B2 |
Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with GLP-1 receptor ligands
Compositions of the invention, including compounds that bind to a receptor for a glucagon-like peptide-1, an incretin, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an exendin, or an agonist, an analog (preferably an agonist analog), a derivative, or a variant of any of aforementioned compounds, are used in the prevention and treatment of arrhythmias associated with cardiac ischemia, cardiac ischemia-perfusion and/or congestive heart failure. The invention relates to both the method and compositions for such treatment. |
| US07790679B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulations
A method of stabilizing an aqueous protein or antibody formulation is disclosed herein. Additionally, stable pharmaceutical formulations are contemplated which comprise a biologically active protein, a destabilizing concentration of preservative and a stabilizing concentration of osmolyte. |
| US07790675B2 |
Method for increasing frataxin expression
Use of human erythropoietin or a derivative of erythropoietin having the biological activity of human erythropoietin of increasing the expression of frataxin for the production of a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia or for the treatment or prevention of a disease associated with Friedreich's ataxia. |
| US07790672B2 |
Method of using lectins for prevention and treatment of oral and alimentary tract disorders
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms resident in the alimentary tract of humans and animals can be prevented and treated by administering to the alimentary tract of the human or animal an effective amount of a composition containing at least one lectin capable of binding to an infective microorganism and diminishing its infective capability of the microorganism. The lectin is administered dispensed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic vehicle. Peptic ulcer disease caused by infection with H. pylori can be treated by oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen. A beneficial ecology of H. pylori can be maintained in infected patients by chronic oral administration of lectins that bind to the pathogen. |
| US07790671B2 |
Implantable pump for protein delivery for obesity control by drug infusion into the brain
Methods and compositions are provided for suppressing appetite by surgically implanting a drug infusion pump into a site in a subject, and delivering a stable suspension of an appetite suppressing agent a region in a central nervous system of the subject. The appetite suppressing agent binds to a target receptor on a neural cell in the central nervous system and modifies the receptor function to suppress appetite. |
| US07790666B2 |
Detergent compositions
This invention relates to compositions comprising certain lipase variants and a fabric hueing agent and processes for making and using such compositions. Including the use of such compositions to clean and/or treat a situs. |
| US07790662B2 |
Perfuming method and product
One aspect of the invention relates to a laundry detergent product comprising (a) a package comprising (1) a container; and (2) a closure; (b) a fluid laundry detergent pourable at ambient storage temperature and comprising at least one material copourable from the package with the fluid laundry detergent, wherein the material is selected from: (1) a detergent-copourable perfume composition; (2) a fabric care additive; (3) a laundry-specific detersive additive; (4) an enzyme; (5) a volatile malodorous compound; and (6) any combination thereof; (c) a headspace; and (d) a detergent-non-copourable perfume composition. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods for making or assembling the fluid laundry detergent package. |
| US07790660B2 |
High efficiency polyalkylene glycol lubricants for use in worm gears
A polyalkylene glycol based lubricant composition that contains specified rust inhibitors and antioxidants has lowered operating temperature and is particularly suitable for use in worm drive gearboxes. The rust inhibitors consist of an N-acylo arcosine and an imidizole while the antioxidant consists of an alkylated diphenyl amine and a hindered phenol. |
| US07790655B2 |
Cell display of antibody libraries
The present invention relates to a viral vector encoding for a library of antibodies or antibody fragments that are displayed on the cell membrane when expressed in a cell. The present invention provides cells comprising the viral vector nucleic acids and methods of screening the libraries for antibodies or antibody fragments with desired characteristics. |
| US07790653B2 |
Method and composition to reduce the amounts of arsenic in water
The present invention relates to a method for removing arsenic in arsenic contaminated water, especially for small drinking water systems such as those used in individual homes, rural areas, and small communities, by simply contacting arsenic-contaminated water with an arsenic removal medium. The present invention also relates to the composition of the arsenic removal medium, which comprises particles of calcium carbonate minerals and magnesium carbonate aggregates. |
| US07790650B2 |
Catalyst comprising nanocarbon structures for the production of unsaturated hydrocarbons
The present invention relates to catalysts comprising at least one support and at least one layer applied to said support, said layer containing a) 20 to 95% by weight of at least one aluminum, silicon, titanium or magnesium oxide compound or a silicon carbide or a carbon support or mixtures thereof, and b) 5 to 50% by weight of at least one nanocarbon. The catalysts can be used to produce unsaturated hydrocarbons by means of the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkylaromatics, alkenes and alkanes in the gas phase. |
| US07790642B2 |
Waterproof sheet and a process for the manufacturing thereof
A waterproof sheet which allows for better adhesion between multiple waterproof sheets, the sheet including at least one layer of waterproof material arranged between a first and a second layer of spunbonded fabric, the layers of spunbonded fabric having a surface covered by waterproof material and being laterally offset one with respect to the other so as to have a projection of the first layer with respect to the second layer on one side and a projection of the second layer with respect to the first layer on the opposite side. |
| US07790641B2 |
Bicomponent sheet material having liquid barrier properties
The invention provides a sheet material comprising bicomponent filaments having first and second polymer components that are arranged in substantially distinct zones within the filaments, with the first polymer component formed of a relatively lower melting polymer and the second component formed of a relatively higher melting polymer. The filaments of the nonwoven fabric layer are densely arranged and compacted against one another to form smooth, substantially nonporous opposite outer surfaces, and the nonwoven fabric layer are calendered such that the lower melting sheath polymer is fused to the contacting surface portions of adjacent filaments to impart strength and coherency to the nonwoven fabric layer. The sheet material has excellent breathability and liquid barrier properties and may be useful in house wrap, medical garments, and envelope applications. |
| US07790640B2 |
Absorbent articles having biodegradable nonwoven webs
The present disclosure generally relates to absorbent articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an absorbent article comprising a surge management layer comprising a nonwoven web. The nonwoven web includes a filler fiber and a binder fiber. A portion of the cross-sectional area of the filler fiber is hollow, and the binder fiber includes a sheath component and a core component. |
| US07790638B2 |
Humidity-regulating composite materials
The invention concerns improved moisture-regulating composites comprising a sheetlike substrate material, a water-soluble hygroscopic substance and a water-absorbing polymer polymerized onto the substrate material in the presence of the hygroscopic substance and comprising a plasticizer, methods of making them and their use for moisture regulation. |
| US07790636B2 |
Simultaneous irradiation of a substrate by multiple radiation sources
A method for configuring J electromagnetic radiation sources (J≧2) to simultaneously irradiate a substrate. Each source has a different function of wavelength and angular distribution of emitted radiation. The substrate includes a base layer and I stacks (I≧2) thereon. Pj denotes a same source-specific normally incident energy flux on each stack from source j. For simultaneous exposure of the I stacks to radiation from the J sources, Pj is computed such that an error E being a function of |W1−S1|, |W2−S2, . . . , |WI−SI| is about minimized with respect to Pj=1, . . . , J). Wi and Si respectively denote an actual and target energy flux transmitted into the substrate via stack i (i=1, . . . , I). The stacks are exposed to the radiation from the sources characterized by the computed Pj (j=1, . . . , J). |
| US07790634B2 |
Method for depositing and curing low-k films for gapfill and conformal film applications
Methods of making a silicon oxide layer on a substrate are described. The methods may include forming the silicon oxide layer on the substrate in a reaction chamber by reacting an atomic oxygen precursor and a silicon precursor and depositing reaction products on the substrate. The atomic oxygen precursor is generated outside the reaction chamber. The methods also include heating the silicon oxide layer at a temperature of about 600° C. or less, and exposing the silicon oxide layer to an induced coupled plasma. Additional methods are described where the deposited silicon oxide layer is cured by exposing the layer to ultra-violet light, and also exposing the layer to an induced coupled plasma. |
| US07790632B2 |
Methods of forming a phosphorus doped silicon dioxide-comprising layer
This invention includes methods of forming a phosphorus doped silicon dioxide comprising layers, and methods of forming trench isolation in the fabrication of integrated circuitry. In one implementation, a method of forming a phosphorus doped silicon dioxide comprising layer includes positioning a substrate within a deposition chamber. First and second vapor phase reactants are introduced in alternate and temporally separated pulses to the substrate within the chamber in a plurality of deposition cycles under conditions effective to deposit a phosphorus doped silicon dioxide comprising layer on the substrate. One of the first and second vapor phase reactants is PO(OR)3 where R is hydrocarbyl, and an other of the first and second vapor phase reactants is Si(OR)3OH where R is hydrocarbyl. |
| US07790626B2 |
Plasma sputtering film deposition method and equipment
The present invention relates to a technology for depositing a thin metal film by using a plasma sputtering technique on a top surface of a target object, e.g., a semiconductor wafer or the like, and on a surface of a recess opened at the top surface. The film deposition method is characterized in that a film deposition process to deposit a metal film on a sidewall of the recess by generating metal ions by way of making a metal target sputter with a plasma generated from a discharge gas in the processing container and by applying to the mounting table a bias power to cause a metal film deposition based on a metal ion attraction and a sputter etching based on the plasma generated from the discharge gas simultaneously on the top surface of the target object. |
| US07790612B2 |
Increased grain size in metal wiring structures through flash tube irradiation
A method for forming a wiring structure includes forming a metal layer on a substrate, and annealing the metal layer by irradiating the metal layer with light emitted from at least one flash tube, thereby growing crystalline grains of the metal layer. |
| US07790611B2 |
Method for FEOL and BEOL wiring
A method for forming a conductive structure of sub-lithographic dimension suitable for FEOL and BEOL semiconductor fabrication applications. The method includes forming a topographic feature of silicon-containing material on a substrate; forming a dielectric cap on the topographic feature; applying a mask structure to expose a pattern on a sidewall of the topographic feature, the exposed pattern corresponding to a conductive structure to be formed; depositing a metal at the exposed portions of the sidewall and forming one or more metal silicide conductive structures at the exposed sidewall portions; removing the dielectric cap layer; and removing the silicon-containing topographic feature. The result is the formation of one or more metal silicide conductor structures formed for a single lithographically defined feature. In example embodiments, the formed metal silicide conductive structures have a high aspect ratio, e.g., ranging from 1:1 to 20:1 (height to width dimension). |
| US07790606B2 |
Method of forming an interconnect structure
A method of forming an interconnect structure in a semiconductor device in which via holes (62) defined in a dielectric layer are filled with a filler material (64), such as a porogen material, before a further dielectric layer (66) is deposited thereover. Trenches (72) are formed in the further dielectric layer and then the filler material exposed thereby in the via holes is removed. The method provides a robust process which affords improved via and trench profile control. |
| US07790604B2 |
Krypton sputtering of thin tungsten layer for integrated circuits
A method of depositing a bilayer of tungsten over tungsten nitride by a plasma sputtering process in which krypton is used as the sputter working gas during the tungsten deposition. Argon may be used as the sputtering working gas during the reactive sputtering deposition of tungsten nitride. The beneficial effect of reduction of tungsten resistivity is increased when the thickness of the tungsten layer is less than 50 nm and further increased when less than 35 nm. The method may be used in forming a gate stack including a polysilicon layer over a gate oxide layer over a silicon gate region of a MOS transistor in which the tungsten nitride acts as a barrier. A plasma sputter chamber in which the invention may be practiced includes gas sources of krypton, argon, and nitrogen. |
| US07790601B1 |
Forming interconnects with air gaps
Disclosed is a process of an integration method to form an air gap in an interconnect. On top of a metal wiring layer on a semiconductor substrate is deposited a dielectric cap layer followed by a sacrificial dielectric layer and pattern transfer layers. A pattern is transferred through the pattern transfer layers, sacrificial dielectric layer, dielectric cap layer and into the metal wiring layer. The presence of the sacrificial dielectric layer aids in controlling the thickness and profile of the dielectric cap layer which in turn affects reliability of the interconnect. |
| US07790600B2 |
Synthesis of zeolite crystals and formation of carbon nanostructures in patterned structures
A method is provided for incorporating zeolite crystals in patterned structures, the zeolite crystals having pores (channels) with an orientation which is defined by the topology of the zeolite crystal type and the geometry of the patterned structure, resulting in pores parallel with the length axis of the patterned structures. The patterned structures may be vias (vertical contacts) and trenches (horizontal lines) in a semiconductor substrate. These zeolite crystals can advantageously be used for dense and aligned nanocarbon growth or in other words growth of carbon nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) within the pores of the zeolite structure. The growth of CNT is achieved within the porous structure of the zeolite crystals whereby the pores can be defined as confined spaces (channels) in nanometer dimensions acting as a micro-reactor for CNT growth. A method for growing carbon nanostructures within zeolite crystals is also provided, by adding, after creation of the zeolite crystals, a novel compound within the porous structure of the zeolite crystals whereby said novel compound is acting as a carbon source to create the carbon nanostructures. The improved growth method gives a significantly higher carbon density (yield) compared to state of the art techniques. |
| US07790599B2 |
Metal cap for interconnect structures
A structure and method of forming an improved metal cap for interconnect structures is described. The method includes forming an interconnect feature in an upper portion of a first insulating layer; deposing a dielectric capping layer over the interconnect feature and the first insulating layer; depositing a second insulating layer over the dielectric capping layer; etching a portion of the second insulating layer to form a via opening, wherein the via opening exposes a portion of the interconnect feature; bombarding the portion of the interconnect feature for defining a gauging feature in a portion of the interconnect feature; etching the via gauging feature for forming an undercut area adjacent to the interconnect feature and the dielectric capping layer; depositing a noble metal layer, the noble metal layer filling the undercut area of the via gauging feature to form a metal cap; and depositing a metal layer over the metal cap. |
| US07790598B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for advanced solder bumping
According to some embodiments, a method, apparatus, and system are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes providing solder resist material on a surface of a substrate, applying mask material on top of the solder resist material, reflowing solder located in an opening formed through both the solder resist material and the mask material, and removing the mask material after the reflowing of the solder. |
| US07790591B2 |
Methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices including metal oxide layers
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device are provided including forming a charge storage layer on a gate insulating layer that is on a semiconductor substrate. A blocking insulating layer is formed on the charge storage layer and an electrode layer is formed on the blocking insulating layer. The blocking insulating layer may be formed by forming a lower metal oxide layer at a first temperature and forming an upper metal oxide layer on the lower metal oxide layer at a second temperature, lower than the first temperature. |
| US07790590B2 |
Selective W-CVD method and method for forming multi-layered Cu electrical interconnection
A substrate provided thereon with an electrical insulating film which carries holes or the like filled with a Cu-containing electrical interconnection film is subjected to a pre-treatment in which the surface of the electrical insulating film and that of the Cu-containing electrical interconnection film are treated at a temperature of not more than 300° C. using, in a predetermined state, a gas of a compound containing an atom selected from the group consisting of N, H and Si atoms within the chemical formula thereof, before selectively forming a W-capping film on the electrical interconnection film. After the completion of the pre-treatment, a W-capping film is selectively formed on the electrical interconnection film and then an upper Cu electrical interconnection is further formed. |
| US07790589B2 |
Method of providing enhanced breakdown by diluted doping profiles in high-voltage transistors
A method of fabricating high-voltage semiconductor devices, the semiconductor devices and a mask for implanting dopants in a semiconductor are described. |
| US07790588B2 |
Dual gate of semiconductor device capable of forming a layer doped in high concentration over a recessed portion of substrate for forming dual gate with recess channel structure and method for manufacturing the same
A dual gate of a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate divided into a cell region with a recessed gate forming area and a peripheral region with PMOS and NMOS forming areas; first and second conductive type SiGe layers, the first conductive type SiGe layer being formed over the cell region and the PMOS forming area of the peripheral region, and the second conductive type SiGe layer being formed over the NMOS forming area of the peripheral region; first and second conductive type polysilicon layers, the first conductive type polysilicon layer being formed over the first conductive type SiGe layer and the second conductive type polysilicon layer being formed over the second conductive type SiGe layer; and a metallic layer and a hard mask layer stacked over the first and second conductive type polysilicon layers. |
| US07790586B2 |
Plasma doping method
An impurity region is formed in a surface of a substrate by exposing the substrate to a plasma generated from a gas containing an impurity in a vacuum chamber. In this process, a plasma doping condition is set with respect to a dose of the impurity to be introduced into the substrate so that a first one of doses in a central portion and in a peripheral portion of the substrate is greater than a second one of the doses during an initial period of doping, with the second dose becoming greater than the first dose thereafter. |
| US07790582B2 |
Method for fabricating polysilicon liquid crystal display device
A method for fabricating a polysilicon liquid crystal display device includes: forming a first amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; forming a photoresist pattern on the first amorphous silicon layer; forming a second amorphous silicon layer over the photoresist pattern and the first amorphous silicon layer; defining a channel region on the first amorphous silicon layer; crystallizing the first and second silicon layers; forming an active layer by patterning the crystallized silicon layers; forming a first insulating layer on the active layer; forming a gate electrode on the first insulating layer; forming source and drain electrodes electrically connected to the active layer; and forming a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode. |
| US07790580B2 |
Metal-induced crystallization of amorphous silicon in thin film transistors
The invention provides a method for forming thin film transistors including a polycrystalline semiconducting film. The method comprises depositing a first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film on to a substrate; depositing a second layer of thin film on to the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film; patterning the second layer of thin film so that the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film is exposed at selected locations; exposing the first and second layers of thin film to a nickel containing compound in either a solution or a vapor phase; removing the second layer of thin film; and annealing the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film at an elevated temperature so the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film converts into a polycrystalline semiconducting thin film. |
| US07790573B2 |
Process for producing SOI substrate and process for regeneration of layer transferred wafer in the production
A process for producing an SOI substrate includes the steps of forming an oxide film on at least the front surface of a first silicon substrate, implanting hydrogen ion from the surface of the first silicon substrate and thereby forming an ion implantation area in the inside of the first silicon substrate, laminating a second silicon substrate onto the first silicon substrate via the oxide film and thereby forming a laminated body of the first silicon substrate and the second silicon substrate bonded with each other, and heating the laminated body at a predetermined temperature and thereby separating the first silicon substrate at the ion implantation area and thereby obtaining an SOI substrate wherein a thin film SOI layer is formed on the second silicon substrate via the oxide film. The first silicon substrate is formed by slicing an ingot free of an agglomerate of vacancy type point defects and an agglomerate of interstitial silicon type point defects grown by a CZ method in an inorganic atmosphere including hydrogen. The layer transferred wafer separated from the SOI layer is used again as the first silicon substrate. |
| US07790568B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a STI region on the semiconductor substrate; forming a channel region on the semiconductor substrate; implanting impurities into the STI region; and performing a thermal treatment to diffuse impurities to a side of the channel region. |
| US07790567B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for forming the same
Provided is a semiconductor and a method for forming the same. The method includes forming a buried insulating layer locally in a substrate. The substrate is etched to form an opening exposing the buried insulating layer, and a silicon pattern spaced in at least one direction from the substrate is formed on the buried insulating layer. A first insulating layer is formed to enclose the silicon pattern. |
| US07790565B2 |
Semiconductor on glass insulator made using improved thinning process
Methods and apparatus for producing a semiconductor on glass (SiOG) structure include: subjecting an implantation surface of a donor semiconductor wafer to an ion implantation process to create an exfoliation layer in the donor semiconductor wafer; bonding the implantation surface of the exfoliation layer to a glass substrate using electrolysis; separating the exfoliation layer from the donor semiconductor wafer, thereby exposing at least one cleaved surface; and subjecting the at least one cleaved surface to a wet etching process. |
| US07790562B2 |
Method for angular doping of source and drain regions for odd and even NAND blocks
Source implantations are performed at a first implantation angle to areas between stacked gate structures of a NAND string. Drain implantations are performed at a second implantation angle to areas between the stacked gate structures. The drain implantations create lower doped regions of a first conductivity type in the substrate on drain sides of the stacked gate structures. The source implantations create higher doped regions of the first conductivity type in the substrate on source sides of the stacked gate structures. |
| US07790560B2 |
Construction of flash memory chips and circuits from ordered nanoparticles
Methods, apparatus and systems form memory structures, such as flash memory structures from nanoparticles by providing a source of nanoparticles as a conductive layer. The particles are moved by application of a field, such as an electrical field, magnetic field and even electromagnetic radiation. The nanoparticles are deposited onto an insulating surface over a transistor in a first distribution of the nanoparticles. A field is applied to the nanoparticles on the surface that applies a force to the particles, rearranging the nanoparticles on the surface by the force from the field to form a second distribution of nanoparticles on the surface. A protective and enclosing insulating layer is deposited on the nanoparticle second distribution. The addition of a top conductive layer completes a basic flash memory structure. |
| US07790554B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuit device with high and low breakdown-voltage MISFETs
Provided is a manufacturing method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a plurality of first MISFETs in a first region and a plurality of second MISFETs in a second region, which comprises forming a first insulating film between two adjacent regions of the first MISFET forming regions in the first region and the second MISFET forming regions in the second region; forming a second insulating film over the surface of the semiconductor substrate between the first insulating films in each of the first and second regions; depositing a third insulating film over the second insulating film; forming a first conductive film over the third insulating film in the second region; forming, after removal of the third and second insulating films from the first region, a fourth insulating film over the surface of the semiconductor substrate in the first region; and forming a second conductive film over the fourth insulating film; wherein the third insulating film remains over the first insulating film in the second region. The present invention makes it possible to raise the threshold voltage of a parasitic MOS and in addition, to suppress occurrence of an NBT phenomenon. |
| US07790553B2 |
Methods for forming high performance gates and structures thereof
Methods for forming high performance gates in MOSFETs and structures thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method including providing a substrate including a first short channel active region, a second short channel active region and a long channel active region, each active region separated from another by a shallow trench isolation (STI); and forming a field effect transistor (FET) with a polysilicon gate over the long channel active region, a first dual metal gate FET having a first work function adjusting material over the first short channel active region and a second dual metal gate FET having a second work function adjusting material over the second short channel active region, wherein the first and second work function adjusting materials are different. |
| US07790546B2 |
Method for forming storage node of capacitor in semiconductor device
A method for forming a capacitor in a semiconductor device comprises forming an inter-layer layer on a semi-finished substrate; etching the inter-layer insulation layer to form a plurality of first contact holes; forming a first insulation layer on sidewalls of the first contact holes; forming a plurality of storage-node contact plugs filled into the first contact holes; forming a second insulation layer with a different etch rate from the first insulation layer over the storage-node contact plugs; forming a third insulation layer on the second insulation layer; sequentially etching the third insulation layer and the second insulation layer to form a plurality of second contact holes exposing the storage-node contact plugs; and forming the storage node on each of the second contact holes. |
| US07790543B2 |
Device structures for a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor and methods of fabricating such device structures
Device structures for a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) that is suitable for operation at relatively high voltages and methods of forming same. The MOSFET, which is formed using a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, includes a channel in a semiconductor body that is self-aligned with a gate electrode. The gate electrode and semiconductor body, which are both formed from the monocrystalline SOI layer of the SOI substrate, are separated by a gap that is filled by a gate dielectric layer. The gate dielectric layer may be composed of thermal oxide layers grown on adjacent sidewalls of the semiconductor body and gate electrode, in combination with an optional deposited dielectric material that fills the remaining gap between the thermal oxide layers. |
| US07790542B2 |
CMOS devices having reduced threshold voltage variations and methods of manufacture thereof
Stress enhanced transistor devices and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, a transistor device comprises: a gate conductor disposed above a semiconductor substrate between a pair of dielectric spacers, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a channel region underneath the gate conductor and recessed regions on opposite sides of the channel region, wherein the recessed regions undercut the dielectric spacers to form undercut areas of the channel region; and epitaxial source and drain regions disposed in the recessed regions of the semiconductor substrate and extending laterally underneath the dielectric spacers into the undercut areas of the channel region. |
| US07790541B2 |
Method and structure for forming multiple self-aligned gate stacks for logic devices
A method for forming multiple self-aligned gate stacks, the method comprising, forming a first group of gate stack layers on a first portion of a substrate, forming a second group of gate stack layers on a second portion of the substrate adjacent to the first portion of the substrate, etching to form a trench disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the substrate, and filling the trench with an insulating material. |
| US07790535B2 |
Depletion-free MOS using atomic-layer doping
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing are provided. A dielectric layer is formed over a substrate, and a first silicon-containing layer, undoped, is formed over the dielectric layer. Atomic-layer doping is used to dope the undoped silicon-containing layer. A second silicon-containing layer is formed over first silicon-containing layer. The process may be expanded to include forming a PMOS and NMOS device on the same wafer. For example, the first silicon-containing layer may be thinned in the PMOS region prior to the atomic-layer doping. In the NMOS region, the doped portion of the first silicon-containing layer is removed such that the remaining portion of the first silicon-containing layer in the NMOS is undoped. Thereafter, another atomic-layer doping process may be used to dope the first silicon-containing layer in the NMOS region to a different conductivity type. A third silicon-containing layer may be formed doped to the respective conductivity type. |
| US07790525B2 |
Method of achieving dense-pitch interconnect patterning in integrated circuits
Components in integrated circuits (ICs) are fabricated as small as possible to minimize sizes of the ICs and thus reduce manufacturing costs per IC. Metal interconnect lines are formed on minimum pitches possible using available photolithographic printers. Minimum pitches possible for contacts and vias are larger than minimum pitches possible for metal interconnect lines, thus preventing dense rectilinear grid configurations for contacts and vias. The instant invention is an integrated circuit, and a method of fabricating an integrated circuit, wherein metal interconnect lines are formed on a minimum pitch possible using a photolithographic printer. Contacts and vias are arranged to provide connections to components and metal interconnect lines, as required by the integrated circuit, in configurations that are compatible with the minimum pitch for contacts and vias, including semi-dense arrays. |
| US07790523B2 |
Mask for forming a thin-film transistor, thin-film transistor substrate manufactured using the same and method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor substrate using the same
A mask that is capable of forming a thin-film transistor (TFT) with improved electrical characteristics is presented. The mask includes a drain mask pattern, a source mask pattern and a light-adjusting pattern. The drain mask pattern blocks light for forming a drain electrode. The source mask pattern blocks light for forming a source electrode and faces the drain mask pattern. A distance between the drain and source mask patterns is no more than the resolution of an exposing device. The light-adjusting pattern is formed between end portions of the source mask pattern and the drain mask pattern to block at least some light from entering a space between the source and drain mask patterns. |
| US07790522B2 |
Defect-free hybrid orientation technology for semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor material having two crystal orientations. The semiconductor material forms an active area of the device. A device channel is formed on the two crystal orientations, which include a first region formed in a first crystal orientation surface of the semiconductor material, and a second region formed in a second crystal orientation surface of the semiconductor material wherein the first crystal orientation surface forms an angle with the second crystal orientation surface and the device channel covers at least an intersection of the angle. |
| US07790516B2 |
Method of manufacturing at least one semiconductor component and memory cells
A method of manufacturing at least one NAND-coupled semiconductor component is disclosed. A layer structure is formed on or above a semiconductor substrate. The layer structure is patterned to expose at least one region to be doped. The exposed region is doped and annealed. The patterned layer structure is at least partially removed. Replacing material is formed in the region in which the patterned layer structure has been removed, thereby forming the at least one NAND-coupled semiconductor component. |
| US07790515B2 |
Semiconductor device with no base member and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor component which has a semiconductor substrate provided with an integrated circuit on an under side of the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of external connection electrodes provided on the underside of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of interconnections each of which includes one end portion connected to each of the external connection electrodes of the semiconductor component and the other end portion extended outside the semiconductor substrate. An under fill medium is provided to cover at least an underside of the semiconductor substrate and at least the side surfaces of the external connection electrodes. A sealing medium is provided to cover an upper side and a side surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the under fill medium. The undersurface of the under fill medium is flush with the undersurfaces of the interconnections. |
| US07790513B2 |
Substrate based unmolded package
A semiconductor die package is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor die package has a substrate. It includes (i) a lead frame structure including a die attach region with a die attach surface and a lead having a lead surface, and (ii) a molding material. The die attach surface and the lead surface are exposed through the molding material. A semiconductor die is on the die attach region, and the semiconductor die is electrically coupled to the lead. |
| US07790511B2 |
Method for direct heat sink attachment
A system and method of attaching a heat sink to an integrated circuit chip includes providing a compliant material for constraining the heat sink's mechanical motion while simultaneously allowing for thermal expansion of the heat sink. |
| US07790509B2 |
Method for fine-pitch, low stress flip-chip interconnect
Attaching a semiconductor chip to a substrate by applying mechanical vibrations (150) to a polymeric compound (130) and the contacting areas (114, 124) of a first (113) and a second (121) metallic member immersed in the compound, while the two metallic members approach (140) each other until they touch. The mechanical vibration causes displacements of the first member relative to the second member, and the vibration includes displacements (150) oriented at right angles to the direction (140) of the approach. The polymeric compound (130) includes a non-conductive adhesive resin paste (NCP) and filler particles; the paste is deposited before the attaching step. The first member (113) is affixed to the chip and the second member (121) to the substrate. |
| US07790508B2 |
Method for forming a structure
Method for constructing a line or dotted structure on a support, especially for constructing strip-like electrically conducting contacts on a semiconductor component such as a solar cell, by applying an electrically conducting paste-like substance containing a solvent adhering to a support and subsequent hardening of the substance. After the substance is applied to the support, a medium containing a polar molecule is applied on the support and/or the substance, through which the solvent contained in the substance is extracted. |
| US07790507B2 |
Semiconductor die collet and method
Semiconductor device assembly die attach apparatus and methods are disclosed for improvements in attaching a semiconductor die to a die pad. Preferred methods of the invention include steps for positioning a semiconductor die on a bearing surface of a collet and retaining the die on the bearing surface of the collet using a vacuum force. A pushing force is also exerted on the die adjacent to the applied vacuum force. The pushing force opposes flexion of the die in the direction of the vacuum force. In further steps, the die is placed on a die pad, and die attach adhesive is interposed between the die and the die pad. A preferred method includes applying a pushing force to bow the central region of the die toward the die pad. In a preferred apparatus of the invention, a collet has a body including a bearing surface for receiving a die and a vacuum for holding it. A chamber encompassed by the bearing surface is adapted for applying the force of expelled gas against a die borne on the bearing surface. The collet is configured for holding a die surface against the bearing surface and for simultaneously pushing outward on the center region of the die so held. |
| US07790506B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices encapsulated in chip size packages
A semiconductor device having a rectangular exterior appearance includes a substrate for arranging an integrated circuit on the surface thereof, at least one rewire electrically connected to the integrated circuit via at least one pad electrode, at least one electrode terminal formed on the rewire, and a resin layer for completely sealing the substrate including the rewire such that the electrode terminal be exposed to the exterior. Slopes are formed at the corners between the backside and the side faces of the resin layer; and other slopes are further formed at the corners between the surface and the side faces of the resin layer. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the semiconductor device sealed with the resin layer from chipping or peeling irrespective of an impact occurring at the corners of the resin layer. |
| US07790504B2 |
Integrated circuit package system
An integrated circuit package system is provided providing a first structure, forming a compression via in the first structure, forming a stud bump on a second structure and pressing the stud bump into the compression via forming a mechanical bond. |
| US07790499B2 |
Observation apparatus and method for observing void in underfill resin
A disclosed observation apparatus for observing a void generated in an underfill resin upon mounting a body to be mounted on a substrate via the underfill resin in flip-chip mounting includes: a mounting unit mounting the body to be mounted on the substrate; and an observation unit observing behavior of the underfill resin while the mounting unit is mounting the body to be mounted on the substrate. |
| US07790495B2 |
Optoelectronic device with germanium photodetector
An optoelectronic device comprises a photodetector feature, an interfacial layer disposed above at least a portion of the photodetector feature, and a vertical contact disposed on at least a portion of the interfacial layer. The photodetector feature comprises germanium and is operative to convert a light signal into an electrical signal. The interfacial layer comprises nickel. Finally, the vertical contact is operative to transmit the electrical signal from the photodetector feature. |